we should alwayes fight the Heauen to gaine By Prayers Plaintes and charitable Deedes To raise vp Earth on Earth our Strength we straine So base a Courage worldly Honour breedes This doth prouoke the Darts of GODS Disdaine By which of some the wounded Conscience bleedes All headlongs runne to Hell whose Way is euen But by a narrow Path are drawn to Heauen 77 Of Vengeance now the Store-house opned stands O what a Weight of Wrath the World now beares Through Terrour straight why tremble not all Lands When GOD in Rage aThrone of Iustice reares And pours down Plagues whilst brandishing his Brands The Pest being past the World next Famine feares Still thinke that Mischiefe neuer comes alone Those who feare more what is the lesse doe moue 78 Since that the World doth loath celestiall Food That spirituall MANNA which Soules Nectar proues By Grace drawn forth from the Redeemers Blood A Gift no Guerdoun giuen to whom he loues Those who terrestriall things thinke only good Them Want shall trie whom no Aboundance moues For Ah of some so fat the Bodies be That of their Soules they not the Leannesse see 79 GODS Creatures oft condemn'd shall once accuse Those who in VVantonnesse them vainly spent And justly what vnjustly they abuse Shall vnto them more sparingly be lent That which they now superfluously vse Shall made a Curse not Natures Neede content A barren Soule should haue a barren Earth Oft temporall Plentie breedes a spirituall Dearth 80 Those in the Dust who still prophanely roule Whose thornie Thoughts do chock that heauenly Seede Which by the Word was sown in euery Soule Shall likewise want what should their Bodies feede What Most they trust shall once their Hopes controule By earthly Hunger heauenly Thirst to breede Thus those like Babes whose Iudgement is not deepe VVho scorn'd a Treasure shall for Triffles weepe 81 What Sauces strange a Fault which Custome clokes To vrge the Bodies Appetit are made Which Natures selfe sufficiently prouokes But of the Soule when carnall Cates it leade The Appetite which Ah euen Nature chokes What Art is vs'd to quicken it when deade VVhen Bodies do too much Soules nought disgest But when the Others fast are fit to feast 82 Base Belly-gods whose Boord is Sathans Bate Whose Iudgements to your Taste rest only thrall The LORD in wrath shall cut away your Meate And for your Honny furnish you with Gall Like lothsome Beasts since you the Acornes eate Yet looke not vp to see from whence they fall Sonnes prodigall who from your Father swerue You keeping worse then Swine shall justly sterue 83 To waken some which sleepe in Sinne as dead The LORD ere CHRIST do come all States to try Since being abus'd shall breake the Staffe of Bread And as we him make Earth vs fruits deny The Corne shall wither and the Grasse shall fade Then to nurce Men being rather bent to die As dutifull to him by whom they breed GODS Creatures pure his Rebels scorne to feed 84 Now in this Tyme which is the last esteem'd The Spirits impure do all in one conspyre And worke that GOD by Men may be blasphem'd To purchase partners of eternall Fire That who should them condemne hath vs redeem'd Makes Enuie blow the Bellowes of their Ire The wicked Angells irritated thus Not seeke their safetie but to ruine vs. 85 More neere doth draw Saluation to the Iust The more the Dragons Mind doth Fnuie wound That Men the Slaues of Death the Sonnes of Dust As Heires of Heauen with Glory should be crown'd And that perpetuall paines they suffer must Though all Immortall to no Bodies bound Nought true repose to the enuious brings Whom their owne harme or others good still stings 86 Mans Foe who first Confusion did deuise By long Experience grown profound in skill Through strength oft try'd our Weaknesse doth despise And knowes what best may serue each Soule to kill He to his part our Passions doth entise And to betray our Wit corrupts out Will Whom GOD not guardes those Satan soone may winne Whilst Force doth charge without and Fraud within 87 That Heire of Hell whom justlie GOD rejects Who sought by subtiltie all Soules to blind Not onely Shafts in secret now directs By Inspirations poysoning the Mind But euen a Banner boldly he erects As this Worlds Prince by publick power design'd From shape to shape this Proteus thus remoues Who first a Foxe and last a Lyon proues 88 He since his Kingdome now should end so soone Doth many Circes and Medeas make That can obscure the Sunne and charme the Moone Raise vp the Dead and make the Liuing quake Whilst they by Pictures persons haue vndone Do giue to some from others substance take Three Elements their tyrannie doth thrall But oft the fourth takes Vengeance of them all 89 Whilst in his Hand the Bolts of Death he beares Still watching Soules the craftie Hunter lyes With inward Fancies and with outward feares Whom he may tempt continuallie he tryes Whyles rumbling Horrour sounds assault the eares Whyles Monstrous Formes paint Terrour in the Eyes He who with GOD euen in the Heauen durst striue Thinkes soone on Earth Mens Ruine to contriue 90 As many did possess'd by Spirits remaine When first CHRIST came Saluation to beginne So lykewise now before he come againe Some Bodies daylie which they enter in By desp'rat meanes would be dispatch'd of paine Else bound in Body loose their Soules to Sinne And if that GOD not interpos'd his Power Straight euery Soule Hells Tyrant would deuoure 91 In some whom GOD permits him to abuse The Lord of Darkenesse doth at diuerse Houres His subtill Substance fraudfullie infuse Till they his Spirit his Spirit their Soules deuoures He as his owne doth all their Members vse And they as Babes with Kniues worke with his Powers O monstrous Vnion Miracle of Euils Which thus with Men incorporates the Deuills 92 When earst in Delphos after vglie cryes The Priestresse Pithia seeming to be sage Big by the Deuill delyuered was of Lies She to the Terrour of that senselesse Age Still panting swolne Hell flamming through her Eyes Roar'd forth Responses by Prophetick Rage She to her LORD whilst prostituted thus An Image was of whom he filles with vs. 93 Of those who are possess'd in such a sort Some to themselues whom Sathan doth accuse They Mad or He in them whyles brag whyles sport And whilst they would the Lookers on abuse Do secrets to themselues not known report And of all Tongues the Eloquence can vse All what each Age deuis'd obseruing still The Deuill knowes much but bends it all to ill 94 O Heauens be hid and lose thy Light O Sunne Since in the World O what a fearefull thing The Deuill of some so great a power hath wonne That what was theirs he doth in bondage bring Then from their Bodie speakes as from a Tunne As sounds from Bells or Floods through Rockes do ring Deare Sauiour ryse and in a Iust disdaine
States with Steell array Whilst Worldlings would but Worldly Treasures winne No euen Religion must make Peace decay And Godlinesse appeare the Ground of Sinne Then let the World exspect no Peace againe When sacred Causes breed Effects prophane 22 Such Warres haue bene such some are yet to be What must not once plague Adams cursed Brood Ah that the World so oft those Flammes did see Which Zeale had kindled to be quensh'd with Blood Whilst disagreeing thoughts in deeds agree Some bent for Sprituall some for Temporall Good Hells Fire-brands rage whilst Zeale doth weakly smoake When Policie puts on Religions Cloakc 23 All Nations once the Gospells Light shall see That Ignorance no just excuse may breed Trueth spreads in spite of Persecution free The Blood of Martyrs is the Churches Seede That it contemn'd or they condemn'd may be All on the Word their Soules may sometyme feed The Word by which All Helpe or Harme must haue Those Knowledge damnes whom Conscience can not saue 24 When bent to mitigate his Fathers Wrath Mans mortall Vaile the God-head did disguyse The VVorlds Redeemer was engadg'd to Death And rais'd Himselfe to show how VVe should ryse Those twelue whole Doctrine builded on his Breath To beare his Yoke all Nations did entyse They Terrours first and then did Comfort sound For ere the Gospell heale the Law must wound 25 In simple Men who seruile Trades had vs'd The Wysest of the World are greatest Fooles The holy Ghost one Trueth all Tongues infus'd And made them teach who neuer knevv the Schooles Yea vvith more povver the Soules of Men they bruis'd Then Rhetorick could do vvith golden rules The Spirit vvhen GOD the Soules of Men conuerts Doth moue the Teachers Tongues the Hearers Hearts 26 As Temporall Power nere to the hottest Pole At first being sprung then spred in other parts One State ou'r all did to the Starres extoll By morall Vertues and by Martiall Arts Till colder Climats did that Heat controll Both shovving stronger Hands and stouter Hearts That Miserie Reliefe Plagues follovving Sinne Slaues Libertie Lords Bondage did beginne 27 The Light of Heauen first in the East did shine Then ranne the Course kept by the Earthlie Light And did as Zeale in Realmes ryse and decline Still giuing Day to some to others Night The Faith of Men yet toyl'd it first to fyne And left no Land till loath'd not forc'd no flight The Gadarens in their Land did CHRIST confyne Till to his presence they preferr'd their Swyne 28 Where are these Churches seuen those Lanternes seuen Once Asias glorie grac'd by sacred Scroules With Monsters now as then with Martyrs euen The Turke their Bodies Sathan rules their Soules Lands then obscure are lifted vp to Heauen Whose Soules like Linxes look whilst theirs lyke Owles Those whom the Word renown'd are known no more Those know GOD best who scarse knew Men before 29 The Worlds chiefe State old Rome with Glory gain'd Of which the losse her Nephewes shame did seale The Gospells Trueth at Rome once taught remain'd Yet from that puritie her Heires appeale Thus temp'rall Power and Spirituall both Rome stain'd Growne cold in Courage first and last in Zeale The Church first stood by Toyles whilst poore still pure And straight whilst Rich being rent fell when secure 30 From offring Grace no Storme the Word can stay Ere Iudgement come to those who will receaue In this last Age Time doth new Worlds bewray That CHRIST a Church ouer all the Earth may haue His Righteousnesse shall barbarous Realmes array If their first loue more ciuill Lands will leaue To Europe may America succeede GOD may of Stones raise vp to Abram Seede 31 The Gospell once being preach'd in euery Place To Lands of which our Fathers could not tell And when the Gentiles all are draw'n to Grace Which in the new Jerusalem should dwell Then shall the stubborne Jewes that Trueth embrace From which with such Disdaine they did rebell Who first the Law last shall the Gospell haue CHRIST whom he first did call shall last receaue 32 When GOD would but be seru'd by Jacobs Brood By his owne Mercie not their Merites mou'd The Gentiles did what to their Eyes seem'd good And Sathans Slaues the workes of Darkenesse lou'd They vnto Idoles offred vp their Blood Yea bow'd to Beasts then Beasts more beastlie prou'd Those whom GOD did not chuse a God did chuse And what they made did for their Maker vse 33 But when that onely Soyle too narrow seem'd To bound GODS Glory or to bound his Grace The Gentiles Soules from Sathan he redeem'd And vnto Shems did joyne of Japhets Race The bastard Bands as lawfull were esteem'd The Strangers entred in the Childrens place The Infidels grew glorious by their Faith Whilst Mercies Minions Vessels were of Wrath. 34 That chosen Flock whom to Himselfe he drew Who saw not Jacobs fault nor Israels sinne When we regener'd they degener'd grew To lend vs Light their Darkenesse did beginne Yea worse then we when worst GODS Saints they slew And when that his Vine-yard they come to winne They first his Seruants kill'd and then his Sonne Nought growes more fast then Mischiefe when begunne 35 Sonnes of the second Match whom CHRIST should crownè Ah bragge not you as Heritours of Grace The naturall Branches they were broken downe And We wild Oliues planted in their Place Feare feare lest Seas of Sinnes our Soules do drowne Shall He spare Vs who spar'd not Abrams Race As they for lacke of Faith so may we fall What springs in some is rooted in vs all 36 Till ours be full though Israels Light lyes spent Our Light shall once them to Saluation leade Is GOD like Man that he should now repent That Promise which to Abrams Seede was made For his great Haruest ere that CHRIST be bent The Iewes shall haue a Church and Him their Heade Both Iewes and Gentils once one Church shall proue We feare their Law they shall our Gospell loue 37 This Signe it seemes might soone accomplish'd be Were not where now remaines that Race of Shems The Gentils Dregs and Idoles which they see Makes them loth all for what their Law condemns To be baptiz'd yet some of them agree Whilst them their Mates their Mates the World contemnes And why should we not seeke to haue them sau'd Since first from them Saluation we receau'd 38 When the Euangell most toyl'd Soules to winne Euen then there was a Falling from the Faith The ANTICHRIST his Kingdome did beginne To poyson Soules yet ere the Day of Wrath Once shall Perditions Child that MAN OF SINNE Be to the World reueal'd and plagu'd to Death GOD may by Tyrants scourge his Church when grieu'd Yet shall the Scourge be scourg'd the Church relieu'd 39 The ANTICHRIST did come with Power and Might By Signes and Wonders to delude the Eyes Thus Sathan seemes an Angell whyles of Light That who the Truth contemn'd may trust in Lies And this with Iustice stands euen in
GODS Sight That he in Darkenesse fall the Light who flies And O this is the vttermost of ill When GOD doth giue one ou'r to his owne Will 40 This Aduersarie of CHRISTS heauenly Word He should himselfe extoll by Sathans Wit Ouer All that is call'd GOD or is ador'd And of Iniquitie no Meanes omit Though worthy of the World to be abhorr'd He in the CHVRCH of GOD as GOD shall sit This Hypocrite huge Mischiefe borne to breede Should looke like GOD yet proue a Deuill indeede 41 This Mysterie of Sinne which GOD doth hate Euen in Pauls Time beganne and since endur'd Yet could not then be known till from the Gate That which then stopt was raz'd and it assur'd The Romane Empire then it was so Greate That of lesse States the Luster it obscur'd The Let which then remain'd being once remou'd This ANTICHRIST the next Aspirer prou'd 42 That spirituall Plague which poysons many Lands Is not the Turke nor Mahomet his Saint Nor none who to crosse CHRIST directly stands He whom the Spirit takes such great Paine to paint It must be one who in the Church commands No Foe confess'd but a Professour faint For if All did him know None would him know Fain'd Friends false Foes may whom they will ou'rthrow 43 Ere that Day come which should the Iust adorne And shall discouer euery secret Thought The ANTICHRIST whose Badge whole Lands haue borne The Prophet false which lying Wonders wrought The Beast with the blasphemous Mouth and Horne Shall be reueal'd and to Confusion brought For Causes hid though GOD a Space spare some Their Iudgements are the heauier when they come 44 The shamelesse Whore which sits vpon seuen Hills Whose Sight lasciuious riotously roules Whose Wine doth make Kings drunke snares thousands will The Deuils chiefe Baud adulterating Soules The Cup of Wrath that filthy Strumpet filles Whose boundlesse Lust no Law no Time controules That stumbling Blocke by whom so many fell Shall once burne here and euer in the Hell 45 The Part where now that Whore her Court doth hold Vile Habylon abominable Towne Where euery thing euen Soules of Men are sold Low in the Dust to lie shall be brought down Her Nakednesse all Nations shall behold And burne that Body which their Soules did drown Whore as she sow'd so shall she reape huge Euills Of the Worlds Mistresse made a Den of Deuils 46 Flie faithfull Christians from that Sea of Sinne Who hate the Whore and the two horned Beast Flie flie in time before their Griefe beginne Lest as their Pleasures so their Plagues you taste When as the Lambe the Victorie doth winne He of fat things will make his Flocke a Feaste This Cloud dispers'd the Sunne shall shine more bright Whilst Darkenesse past endeeres the present Light 47 Now in the dangerous Dayes of this last Age When as he knowes that CHRIST to come prepares The Deuill shall like a roaring Lyon rage And to catch Soules shall set a thousand Snares He gainst GODS Saintes twise deadly Warres shall wage Whilst some Presumption tempts and some Despaires If that this Time not shortned were deceau'd GODS chosen Children hardly could be sau'd 48 Some for a glorious Vse who once did serue As Starres to Eyes cleare Lights of Soules esteem'd Loe stumbling Blockes from their first Course doe swerue Not what they were else were not what they seem'd Such justly damn'd Lights Foes as they deserue From Darkenesse more shall neuer be redeem'd Church Angells all all for Examples vse So that their Fall doth many thousands bruise 49 Men so the World shall loue Religion hate That all true Zeale shall in Contempt be brought The spirituall Lights Eclipse shall grow so greate That Lies the Truth Truth shall a Lie be thought Yet some shall weigh their Works at such a Rate As they Themselues not CHRIST their Soules had bought All just to seeme not be their Thoughts shall bend Not bent to edifie but to contend 50 Some Signes are gone which registred were found To rouze the World before that dreadfull Blast But Ah what All now see and I must founds I wish they were to come or else were past Those Signes those Sinnes I sing do warne shall wound This Age too ag'd and worthy to be last It Signes that shadow'd were doth so designe I must historifie and not diuine 51 The Deuils last charge to shunne CHRIST gaue aduyce Since all the World would be seduc'd by Lies He now whilst all adore their owne Deuyce Taints all mens Hearts or else vpbraides their Eyes The Froth of Vertue and the Dregs of Vice Which onely last the Worlds last Period tryes So high a point Impietie doth winne Not grieu'd no not asham'd men bragge of Sinne. 52 Men with Themselues so much in loue remaine That Rich without and poore within being worne They if not gorgeous Garments do disdaine Though the first badge of Bondage which was borne Yet pampred Bodies famish'd Soules retaine Which seeke the Shadow and the substance scorne Ere high aduanc'd all once must humble proue Those first themselues must loath whom GOD will loue 53 The Greatest number now prophanely sweares And dare to Brawle or Iest name GOD in vaine Yet that Heauen Thunder or Earth burst not feares Lest so they crush'd or swallowed should remaine Some vomit forth polluting purer Eares That what them first may others after staine A filthie Tongue and a blasphemous Mouth Of Sathans Seed doe showe a mighty Growth 54 That Auarice which the Apostle told When as the World declynes Mens Mindes should sway Doth rage so now that euen their GOD for Gold Not onely Men Men in our time betray To Sathan some for gaine their Soules haue sold Whilst what their Hearts hold Trueth their Words gain-say By Ethnickes once those must condemn'd remaine Who change Religion Earthlie things to gaine 55 What Age ere this so many Children saw Who with their Parents O vnhappie Stryfe Plead still at Law though wronging Natures Law And helpe to haste their Death who gaue them Lyfe Now Vertuous Words to vitious Deeds do draw The Loue of GOD is rare of Pleasure ryfe This Darkenesse showes that it drawes nere the Night Sinne it must shortly fall since at the hight 56 Then euen the most of Miserie to make The Soules of some which still being euill grow worse All Sence quyte lost in Sinne such pleasure take That frozen Myndes can melt in no remorse No threatned Terrours can their Conscience wake Sinne hath so much the Spirit so litle force No Physick for the Sicke which liue as sound A Sore past sense doth shew a deadly wound 57 As such a Burden it did burst to beare Through Horrour of our Sinnes the Earth doth shake And shall it selfe oft-tymes asunder teare Ere CHRIST his Iudgement manifest doth make Or else I know not if it quake for feare Of that great Fyre which should it shortly sacke The liuing Earth to moue dead Earth doth moue Yet earthlie Men then
A ♡ DOOMES-DAY OR THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORDS IVDGEMENT BY Sr. WILLIAM ALEXANDER KNIGHT AH Printed by ANDRO HART and are to be solde at his shop on the North-side of the high Street a litle beneath the Crosse ANNO DOM 1614 TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE ROBERT Viscount Rochester Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of his Majesties most honourable priuy Councell THAT the World may haue some publicke testimonie of that priuat loue which your Vertues long since had begotten with my thoughts my Lord this is a small sparke flowne from a great Flame towardes you whose glory is that you onely of all the subjects of this Isle haue the Altar of your honour adorned with offrings from both the Nations in this kind as if your Worth were the Center where both our affections should meete making an vnion in minds a course both worthy of the credite of your place and of your estimation with the world Who more great with Augustus then Mecoenas none so great with the Muses This subject may be thought by some of too melancholicke a Nature for your youth and state but yet is vnnecessarie for neither it may serue for that Macedonians Page who vsed euery Morning to call to him PHILIP thou must die though not so importunatly vrging yet when looked on it is a dumbe remembrer both of death judgement of all what was in the World of what is likely to be when it ends But long may you liue your Fortune still striuing to equall your Worth your Worth to exceed your Fortune and the World to admire both both being ripe before your yeares This for the present is but like vnripe fruits an imperfect piece wrested from a mind many wayes distracted involued in doubtfull designes the successe of some whereof I hope hereafter hauing purchased me fame from the World who for that effect will leaue no way of worth within the compasse of my power vnattempted may make me the more able to communicat it with another for none can giue what he hath not himselfe alwayes I purpose when my mind is more calme to end this Worke but neuer that desire which I haue To serue your Honour S. WILLIAM ALEXANDER To. Sr. W. A. LIKE Sophocles the hearers in a trance With Crimson Cothurne on a stately Stage If thou march forth where all with pompe doth glance To moue the Monarches of the Worlds first Age Or if like Phoebus thou thy Selfe aduance All bright with sacred Flames known by Heauēs Badge To make a Day of Dayes which scornes the Rage Whilst when they end it what should come doth Scance Thy Phoenix-Muse still wing'd with VVonders flies Praise of our Brookes Staine to old Pindus Springs And who thee follow would scarce with their Eyes Can reach the Spheare where thou most sweetlie sings Though string'd with Starres Heauēs Orpheus Harpe enrolle More worthy Thine to blaze about the Pole WILLIAM DRVMMOND A DOOMES-DAY OR THE GREAT DAY OF the Lordes Iudgement The first Houre THE ARGVMENT GOD by his workes demonstratiuely prou'd His Prouidence impugning Atheisme vrg'd The Deuills from Heauen from EDEN Man remou'd Of guiltie Guestes the World by water purg'd Who never sinn'd to die for Sinne behou'd Those who him scourg'd in Gods great wrath are scourg'd Some temporall Plagues and feareful Iudgements past Are cited bere as Figures of the last 1 THou of whose Power not reach'd by Reasōs hight The Sea a Drop we Earth a Mote may call And for whose Trophees stately to the sight The Azure Arke was rear'd although too small And from the Lamp of whose most glorious light The Sunne a sparke weake for weake eyes did fall Breath thou a heauenly Furie in my brest I sing the SABBOTH of eternall rest 2 Though All in all defin'd by nought confin'd O thou whose Feet the Cloudes for Dust afford Whose Voyce the Thunder and whose Breath the Wind Whose Foot-stoole Earth Seate Heauen Workes of thy Word Guards Hostes of Angels mouing by thy Mind Whose Weapons Famin Tempest Pest and Sword My cloudy Knowledge by thy Wisdome cleare And by my Weaknesse make thy Power appeare 3 Loe rauish'd LORD with pleasure of thy Loue I feele my Soule enflam'd with sacred Fires Thy Iudgements and thy Mercies whilst I moue To publish to the World my Spirit aspires LORD by thy Helpe this Enterprise approue That the Successe may second my Desires Make Sathans race to tremble at my liues And Thine rejoyce while as thy Glory shines 4 Yee blinded Soules who euen in Frailtie trust By moments Pleasures earning endlesse Paine Whilst charg'd with liuing Chaines vile Slaues to Lust Of Earth and earthly till en-earthd againe Heare hold and weigh my Words for once yee must The strange Effects of what I tell sustaine I go to Sing or Thunder in your Eares A Heauen of comfort or a Hell of feares 5 All my transported Thoughts at randone flie As stray'd to search that which they can not find Whilst silent Wondring makes a settled Eye A huge Amazement clouded hath my Mind How some dare scorne as if a fabulous Lie That Those should rise whom Death hath once declin'd And like to Beastes a beastly Life they leade Who nought attend saue Death when they are dead 6 But yet what I admir'd not strange doth seeme When as I heare O Heauens that such should breath That there be Men if Men we may esteeme Tronkes which are voyde of Soules Soules voyde of Faith Who all this World the Worke of Fortune deeme Not hoping Mercy nor not fearing Wraith There is no GOD Fooles in their Harts do say Yet make their Harts their Gods and them obey 7 The glassie Heauens which Glory doth array Are Mirrours of GODS admirable Might There whence forth spreads the Night forth springs the Day He fixt the Fountaines of this temporall light Where stately Starres enstall'd some stand some stray All sparkes of his great Power though small yet bright By what none vtter can no not conceaue All of GODS Glory Shaddowes may perceaue 8 What glorious Lights through crystall Lanternes glance As alwayes burning with their Makers loue Spheares keep one Musicke they one Measure dance Like Influence below like Course aboue And all by Order led not drawne by Chance With Majestie as still in Triumph moue And prodigall of light seeme showting thus Looke vp all Soules and gaze on GOD through vs. 9 This pondrous Masse though oft deform'd still faire Great in our sight yet then a Starre more small Is ballanc'd as a Mote amidst the Aire None knowes how hung yet to no side doth fall And yearely springs growes ripe fades falls rich bare Mens Mother first still Mistresse yet their Thrall It centers Heauens Heauens compasse it both breed Bookes where of GOD the gnorant may reed 10 What ebbes flowes swells and sinkes who constant keepes Which from the Earth burstes in aboundance out As she her Brood would wash or for them weepes
Who hauing life what dead things proue doe doubt Who first did found the Doungeons of the Deepes But one in all ouer all aboue about The Floodes for our delight first calme were set But storme and roare since men did God forget 11 Who partes the swelling Spoutes which sifte the Raine Who raines the Windes the Waters doth empale Who frownes in Tempests smiles in Calmes againe And doth dispense the Treasures of the Haile Whose Coach of Cloudes doth driu'd by Windes remaine Whose Darts dread Thunder-bolts makes men looke pale Euen this to shew those workes themselues haue wonne As smoke doth fire as shaddowes doe the Sunne 12 God visibly invisible who raignes Soule of all soules whose Light each light reflects All from confusion freed and still retaines The greatest rules yet not the least neglects Fore-knowes the end of all which he ordaines His Will each Cause each cause breeds fit Effects Who did make all all thus could only leade None could make all but who was neuer made 13 Vile Dog of Truth who would the ground ouerthrow Thou thee to marke thy darkned Iudgement leade For if thy Selfe thou must thy Maker know Who all thy members prouidently made Thy Feet tread Earth to be contemn'd laid low To looke on Heauen exalted was thy Head That there thou might the stately Mansion see From whence thou art where thou should seeke to be 14 The World in Soules Gods Image cleare may see Though Mirrours bruis'd whē fallen sparks dimm'd far flown They in strict Bounds strict Bonds kept captiue be Yet walke ouer all this All and know not known Yea soare to Heauen whiles from their Fetters free And there see things which can not well be shown None can conceaue all must admire his Might Of whom each Atome giues so great a light 15 When troubled Conscience reades accusing Scroules Which witness'd are euen by the brests owne brood O what a Terrour wounds remording Soules Who Poyson find what seem'd a pleasant Food A secret power their wandring thoughts controules And damning Euill an Author proues of Good Thus heere some Mindes a Mappe of Hell do lend To shew what Horrours damned Soules attend 16 To grant a God the Deuill may men entyfe By Magicke when conjur'd such to vpbrayd Who borrowing bodies Horrour doth disguyse Lest some his vglinesse might make afrayd Whyles in more monstrous Formes doth roaring ryse Till euen as charm'd the Charmer stands dismayde He bellowing foorth abominable lyes Blood in his Mouth and Terrour in his Eyes 17 Who saues the World lest that it ruin'd be By him whose thoughts as Arrowes ayme at ill Saue One who is more great more good then he Who makes His Power repugnant to his Will Of this with which oft Sathans words agree He forc'd affords a Testimonie still From euerything thus springs to GOD some praise Men Angels Deuils all must his Glory raise 18 Though trusting more yet some transgresse as much As those who vnto GOD draw neuer neare For what the Fitst not see the Last not touch Ones Eyes are blind the others are not cleare Their Mindes false Mirrours figure GOD but such As Waters straight things crooked make appeare Their Faith is neuer firme their Loue not bright As Ankers without holdes Fyres without light 19 Their Iudgements Fond by Frailtie being confind Whose Soule as Water Vanitie deuoures Doe faine in GOD what in themselues they find And by their Weakenesse judge the POWER of POWERS Then the Vnbounded bounding by their Mind Would staine Heauens Garden with terrestriall Flowres Men still imagine Others as They are And measure all things by Corruptions Square 20 They thinke that GOD soft Pleasure doth affect And Iocund Loftie Lul'd in Ease as Great Doth scorne contemne or at the least neglect Mans sickle abject and laborious State That he disdaines to guerdon or correct Mans good or euill Toyes free from Loue or Hate That when Earth is his prospect from the Skyes As Men on Beasts on Men he casts his Eyes 21 No high in Heauen from whence he bindes and frees He in voluptuous Ease not wallowing lyes What Was what Is what Shall be all he sees Weighs euery Worke each Heart in secret tryes All Registers then filling first Decrees Giues or abstracts his Grace Cause End both spyes His Contemplation farre transcends our reach Yet what fits vs to know his Word doth teach 22 Then to confirme what was affirm'd before That no GOD is or GOD doth not regard Who do blaspheme say fooles or who adore This oft due Vengeance wants and that Reward Then Godly Men the Wicked prosper more Who still presume where they haue oft despair'd Such as they thinke feele Paine and dreame but Ioy Whilst they what can be wish'd do all enjoy 23 The Sunne in all lyke Comfort doth infuse The Raine to all by equall portions parts Heauens Treasures all alyke both haue and vse Which GOD to all as one to him imparts Each Mindes free State lyke Passions do abuse Each bodies Bondage by like Sicknesse smarts Thus all aliue alike all Fortunes trie And as the Bad euen so the Best do die 24 O Men most Simple and yet more then Mad Whose Soules your Hearts whose Hearts Sinne hath subdu'd Whilst good Men now are grieu'd though you be glad They weake yet pure you strong yet stain'd and lewd Huge are the oddes betwixe the Best and Bad Which darkely here hence shall be clearely view'd When of GODS Wrath the Wind sifts Soules at last They shall abide you vanish at a blast 25 GODS Benefites though lyke to both design'd On outward Eyes whilst Iudgement doth depend The inward Eyes a mighty difference find To ballance both whilst spirituall Thoughts ascend The Gift is one but not the Giuers Mind The Vse is one but not the Vsers end GOD so would clogge the one the other raise Those take themselues to please They Him to praise 26 The Good oft euill the Euill oft good may haue And by the contrarie both may be cloyd But as they are all make what they receaue Not reall of it selfe but as employ'd Those temporall Treasures Monuments do leaue As by a Blessing or a Curse convoy'd But this is sure what euer GOD doth send To Good-Mens good to Euil-Mens euill doth tend 27 GOD to cure Soules doth diuerse Baulmes applie Whilst his intent still the euent doth crowne Some are press'd downe lest they should swell too hie Some are rais'd high lest that they should sinke down Some must haue Wealth their Charitie to trie Some Pouertie their Patience to renowne He who made all knowes all and as they neede Not as they wish makes things with his succeede 28 Since Worldly things GOD makes both sorts possesse Ingratitude or Gratefulnesse to moue Let vs seek greater things though seeming lesse Which to one sort doth only proper proue That secret Grace whose power none can expresse Whose fruits are Vertue Zeale Faith Hope and Loue The Wickeds Treasures Godly men may gaine But
Maker crau'd If that his Will had bene by him transgress'd The Woman LORD whom I from thee receau'd She made me eat as who my Soule possess'd The Woman said the Serpent me deceau'd Both burdend Others None the Fault confess'd Which Custome still their faultie Race doth vse All first do rinne to hide next to excuse 67 But he who tries the Reines and viewes the Hart As through the Clouds doth through fraile Bodies see And is not mock'd by Mens ridiculous Art By which their Crimes made more more odious be Who proudly sinne they must submissely smart Loe GOD crau's compt of what he did decree And those who joyn'd in Sinne are punish'd all All Adams Partners crush'd were with his Fall 68 GOD thus first damn'd the Fountaine of Deceate O most accurst of all the Beasts which breede Still wallowing in the Dust a lothsome state Drawn on thy Belly basely shall thou feede The Woman Thee thou shall the Woman hate Which Hatred still inherite shall her Seede Whose fierce Effects both mutually shall feele Whilst he shall breake thy Head thou bruise his Heele 69 And Woman weake whose Thoughts each Fancie blowes I will encrease thy Griefe thy Ioyes restraine And since thy Iudgement doth depend on showes Thou to thy Husband subject shall remaine And bringing forth thy Brood with bitter Throwes What was with Pleasure sown shall reape with Paine Those Beauties now which mustred are with Pride In withred Wrinckles ruinous Age shall hide 70 Fond Adam thou obeying thus thy Wife What I commanded violat who durst Cares shall exhaust thy Dayes Paines ende thy Life Whilst for thy Cause the Earth becomes accurst With Thornes and Thistles guerdoning thy Strife Who sweating for thy Food art like to burst And looke no more for Rest for Toyle thou must Till whence thou came thou be turn'd backe to Dust 71 By Angels arm'd barr'd from the pleasant Place When wretched Adams Pilgrimage was past The Tree of Sinne ou'rshaddowing all his Race They from their minds all Loue of GOD did cast Them to reclaime who did contemne his Grace Who wearie was with striuing at the last Of all the VVorld a Haruest made by Raine He did resolue to trie new Seede againe 72 Yet since that Noah vprightly had liu'd He and his Race stood safe on Horrours hight And when all Creatures Ruine was contriu'd They liu'd secure the fourtie-day-long Night To make the World repent that good Man striu'd His swelling Bulwarke battering in their Sight But with the Wicked nought can well succeede In whom Perswasions Obstinacie breede 73 As the Worlds sinnes ou'rflow'd GODS Wrath ou'rflam'd VVhich when rais'd high down Floods of Vengeance pours As Noahs Preaching oft times had proclaim'd Heauens threatning straight to drown the highest Tours Clouds clustred Darkenesse Lightnings Terrour stream'd And rumbling Thunders vshered vgly Shours Whilst rauenous Tempests swallow'd vp the Light Day dead for Feare brought forth abortiue Night 74 From Guests prophane that Earth might be redeem'd The Lights of Heauen quensh'd in their Lanterns lay The Azure Vaults all but one Cisterne seem'd Whilst safe the Waters All things did decay The Fire drown'd out Heauens all dissolu'd were deem'd Air Water grew the Earth as wash'd away By monstrous Stormes whilst All things were ou'rturn'd Then safe GODS Wrath in all the World nought burn'd 75 Men to the Mountaines did for Helpe repaire Whence them the Waues did violently chace In Natures Scorne came scallie Squadrouns thair The Forrests Guests inheriting their place By too much Water no for lacke of Air All were confounded in a litle Space The Elements with Anguish we enjoy All must nurse one One thus may all destroy 76 That vaulting Vault against the Storme did striue VVhich all the Creatures of the VVorld contain'd And whyls through Depthes whyls through the Clouds did driue Not by the Compasse nor the Rudder rain'd No Port no Land was where it could ariue VVhilst Earth with VVaters leuell all remain'd The VVaues the VVorld all else being hush'd at once Roar'd forth a Consort with Mens dying Grones 77 But when ouer all GODS Breath did Ruine blow The Arke with others Sinne from Death did saue Him whom the raging Floods did not ou'rthrow VVho of GODS Iudgements Iudge did all perceaue A litle Liquor did at last ou'rthrow VVhich to his Sonne to mocke Occasion gaue Thus Drunkennesse disdainfull scorne doth breede A fertile Vyce which Others still succeede 78 As the first World did first by Pryde offend Whose burning Rage to such a hight did win That it to quensh GOD did the Waters bend O Drunkennesse the second Worlds first sinne The course of Vice that Element must end Which is oppos'd to it which did beginne In euery thing GODS Iustice we may spy As Floods drown'd Pryde Flames Drunkennesse must dry 79 When Men againe to fill the World did weare Straight in their Soules did Satan raise his Throne O what a Burden Nature dost thou beare Since that to Sinne and Liue seeme both but one Men Babels Towres against the Starres did reare Since lyke deseruing fearing what was gone As though that GOD could but one Plague command Ah Fooles what Strength against his Strength can stand 80 Whilst fondly They proud weaknesse did bewray Who can the Depths of His high Iudgements sound By making their owne Tongues their Hearts betray Those Titans straight the Thund'rer did confound Here diuerse Tongues the Worke of Men did stay Which afterwards the Worke of GOD did ground The Mind not meanes effectuall doth remaine What help'd Apostles hindred the Prophane 81 When purpos'd to dissolue quicke Clouds of Dust GODS Wrath as stubble Sinners doth deuoure That Towne to sacke which had not tenne Men just He Brimstone rain'd O most prodigious Showre Their Bodies burn'd whose Soules were burn'd with Lust What faire was vglie what was sweet grew sowre Yet of that Fyre Lot scap'd the great Deluge GODS holy Mountaine is a sure Refuge 82 I recken not the ruine of those States Which being but Strangers to the ground of Grace Were caried head-long with their own Conceits And euen though brightly blindlie ranne their Race GODS firme Decrees which fondlie they call'd Fates Did bound their Glory in a litle Space Whil'st Tempests huge toss'd their tumultuous Mindes Lyke Reeds by Riuers wauering with all Windes 83 Such rais'd not for their good but for GODS ends When bent his owne to punish or support Do as his Arrowes hit but where he tends Else of themselues their power doth nought import When he his spotted Flocke to purge intends They are but Tooles vs'd in a seruile sort To fanne or cleanse as Fannes or Beesomes they Which when the Worke is done are throwne away 84 Proud Ashur first did daunt all other Soyles Till barbarous Persia did become her Head The Greekes did glory in the Persians spoyles Whose Prince at last Rome did in Triumph lead Rome rauishing the Earth bred bloody Broyles Yet was by whom she scorn'd a Widow
rested where the stately Citie stood Saue Heapes of Horrour rais'd of Dust and Blood 104 But murdring Saints in Wickednesse growne bold That Towne which long was drunke last drown'd with Blood That Towne by which who bought the World was sold Sold with Disgrace beheld her scorned Brood Them lou'd by GOD Men did in Honour hold And loth'd by GOD with them in Horrour stood Then Iewes whom GOD high rais'd and low doth bow What Name more glorious once more odious now 105 When of Saluation joyfull Newes were spred VVith spirituall Grace all Nations to bedew VVhilst famish'd Soules that sacred Nectar fed The LORD strange Iudgements Millions made to view And those who first fierce Persecutions bred A jealous GOD with Vengeance did persew His Wrath against Themselues against their Foes Is quensh'd is kindled by his Seruants Woes 106 By him who first gainst CHRIST did Ensignes pitch His Brother Mother Wife and Selfe was slaine The Great Apostat wounded in a Ditch Did grant with Griefe the Galileans raigne Of him whose Errours did whole Realmes bewitch The Death most vile did viler Doctrine staine A monstrous Death doth monstrous Liues attend And what All is is judged by the End 107 He who made Hymens Torch drop Blood and Teares The Nation most Humaine being Inhumaine Did blood when dead at Mouth Nose Eyes and Eares As vomiting his Surfet so againe In Crime and Crowne his second fraught with Feares The bloody Band by mutuall Blowes was slaine The King the Duke the Friers deuis'd that Ill The King the Dake the Friers the King did kill 108 Whos 's Sight is so eclips'd which now not sees In euery Kingdome Prouince Towne and Race On Princes Subjectes Men of all Degrees What weighty Iudgement Sinners Steppes do trace Which not the Crowne more then the Cottage frees The Wicked Man sayes GOD shall haue no peace A Countenance calme may maske a stormy Mind But Guiltinesse no perfect Ease can find 109 Those temporall Plagues are but small Smokes of Ire To breach a Brest which is not arm'd with Faith And are when GOD due Vengeance doth require Of Indignation Drops weake Sparks of Wraith As Lightning is to Hels eternall Fire Or to a Tempest huge a litle Breath So are all those of this which I proclame A Puft a Glance a Shaddow or a Dreame 110 As weigh'd by GOD still ballanc'd hings this Round Which Sinne growne heauie now quyte downe ward beares Exhausted Courage Horrour shall confound Till Hopes high Towers rest all ou'rflow'd with Feares All shall together fall as by one Wound Not hauing Time to flie no not for Teares On Day as Night as on the Wearied Sleepe Death steales on Lyfe and Iudgements way doth sweepe 111 All clearely see who Lyfes short Race do rinne The last Decree though being suspended yet That fatall Doome inflicted first for Sinne Though not attended doth not doubted hit And of all Soules the Processe doth beginne For straight when Death arrests the Iudge doth sit For this first Charge all fortifie the Mind As Death vs leaues so Iudgement shall vs find 112 Death each Man daylie sees but none fore-sees The Wage of Sinne the Jubilie of Cares First Iudgement threatned base Corruptions Lees Inheritance which serues all Adams Heires Iust onely Equaller of all Degrees The Charge enjoyn'd for no Respect which spaires What Agues Wounds Thoghts Paines al breathing Breath Are Heraulds Sergeants Vshers Posts of Death 113 Death Doores to enter at and Darts to wound Hath as the Heauen hath Starres or Sea hath Sands What though not sicke not stab'd not choak'd burnt drown'd Age matchlesse Enemie all at last commands O what Designes this Emperour Pale doth bound Built of bare Bones whose Arche Triumphall stands Ah for Ones Errour all the World hath wept The Golden Fruite a leaden Dragon kept 114 Then since Sinnes Hang-man Natures vtter Foe By whom true Lyfe is found Lyfes Shadow lost A thousand Fancies interrupting so When least exspected doth importune most Haste haste your recknings all must pay and go Guests of the World poore Passengers who post And let vs stryue a Change being wyselie made To die alyue that we may liue when dead 115 All thinke whilst sound what Sicknesse may succeed How in the Bed imprison'd yee may be When euery Object Loathsomnesse doth breed Within without that Soule or Eyes can see To trembling Nature which still death doth dread Griefe paints out Horrour in a high degree The Bodie in the Bed Thoughts in it roule The Conscience casting vp a bitter scroule 116 But when externall Powers beginne to faile That neither Tongue can giue nor Eares receaue Friends wretched Comforters retir'd to waile To agonize the soule alone do leaue Which Satan straight with Squadrons doth assaile Being bent to force whom first he did deceaue Who once entys'd then to accuse beginnes To wakened Soules vpbraiding buried Sinnes 117 That fatall Conflict which all Flesh doth feare By helpes from Heauen being foughten past and wonne Whilst it to Heauen triumphing Angels beare This mortall Race magnanimouslie runne As being ordain'd to decke the highest Spheare The Soule shall shine more glorious then the Sunne Whilst cloath'd with Righteousnesse a Priest a King Hell where thy Victorie Death where thy Sting 118 O when to part GOD doth the Soule permit Rais'd from her Shell a Pearle for Sion chus'd She recollects accomplish'd ere she flit Her Faculties amidst fraile Flesh diffus'd As Iudgement Reason Memorie and Wit Being all refyn'd no more to be abus'd Then parts in Triumph free from Earthlie Toyles Yet longs perchance to gather vp her Spoyles 119 Let all those Plagues smoakes of our Makers Ire Make all in time their inward State reforme Those Plagues of which loe euen to sing I tyre Ah what do those who beare their vglie Forme Yet they but kindlings are of endlesse Fyre And litle drops which do fore-goe a Storme Looke looke with Clouds Heauens Bosome else doth swell To blow the Wicked to the lowest Hell The second Houre THE ARGVMENT THat threatned Time which must the World appall Is that all may amend by Signes fore-shown Warres rumor'd are the Gospell preach'd ou'r All Some Jewes conuert the Antichrist is known Deuils rage Vyce raignes Zeale cooles Faith failes Starres fall All sorts of Plagues haue the last Trumpet blown And by prodigious Signes may plaine appeare That of the Sonne of Man the Signe drawes neare 1 THough thundring down those who transgresse his Lawer And with Disdain his Bountie do abuse As Adamants do Irne Repentance drawes The LORD to loue Those whom he first did chuse A Space retir'd from the tempestuous Waues The Port of Mercie must refresh my Muse Whose ventrous Flight all Loftinesse must leaue And plainly sing what all Men should conceaue 2 The LORD delights not in a Sinners death But Sheep which stray toyles to recouer still To please a Sonne who had deseru'd his Wrath His Calfe long fed the Father straight did kill Not
for the best whose thoughts sway'd by his Breath Had squair'd his Actions onely by his Will His Calfe GODS Lambe both feasted the Prophane His Best was grieu'd GODS only Sonne was slaine 3 Who can expresse consider or conceaue Our Makers Mercy our Redeemers Loue Or of that Spirit the Power which who receaue By sacred Ardour rauish'd are aboue O to Creat to Sanctifie to Saue Ingratitude to Gratefulnesse may moue Who weighes those Works else damned were his State Must if no more be grieu'd for being ingrate 4 First ere by Ends Beginnings could be prou'd Whilst Time nor Place to limit nought attain'd All wholly Holy wholly to be lou'd GOD in Himselfe and All in him remain'd Whilst both the Sunne and Spheare in which he mou'd That which contain'd and that which was contain'd Truth lightned Light All in Perfection stood More high then Thoughts can reach all GOD all Good 5 All this alone the LORD would not possesse But would haue some who taste his Goodnesse might Which by being giuen in no Degree proues lesse What darker growes the Sunne by giuing Light Not that his Blisse ou'rflow'd no not beguesse All was of Purpose prouidently right His Glories Witnesses GOD Men did raise That they might it admire Him serue and praise 6 VVhen GOD in Vs no Kind of Good could see Saue that which first was from Himselfe to fall Great was his Fauour making Vs to be Euen ere we were much lesse deseru'd at all What since in vs Affection must be free Who dare presume to make our Makers Thrall He first vs freely made when nought of Nought When sold to Sinne with his owne Blood vs bought 7 Though Some sometime inspir'd by GOD we see Doe gratefull I not meritorious Deedes The Fruit not Root of Mercies sauing Tree Which was CHRISTS Crosse whence all our Rest proceedes As owing Most they should most humble be To Him whose Grace in them such Motions breedes From whom for Good a Mind and Meanes they had Where Others were abandon'd to be Bad. 8 The LORD to those whose Soules produce his Seale Good things doth giue as who them justly owes bound by his Promise pleaded with true Zeale Which all the Arguments of Wrath ou'rthrowes Whilst they from it to Mercy do appeale Which justifies all that Repentance showes GOD Sinnes confess'd with Griefe with Ioy forgiues That which Faith humbly seekes Power freely giues 9 He who when Pilgrims all their Trouble sees The faithfull Soules from Danger doth secure And them from Fetters of Corruption frees Grieu'd for the Grieues which Mortalls must endure But now for them fulfilling first Decrees He would true Rest perpetually procure At that great Court which must determine All Euen till CHRIST rise as Iudge from Adams Fall 10 Their Blood which Tyrants by euill Angels led Like worthlesse Waters lauish'd on the Dust From out the Altar cryes all that was shed From Abel till and since Zacharie the Iust To see the Wicked with Confusion cled When judg'd by Him in whom they would not trust The sorrow of his Saints doth moue GOD much No sweeter Incense then the Sighes of such 11 GOD is not slacke as Worldlings do suppose But onely patient willing all to winne Times Consummation quickly shall disclose The Period of Mortalitie and Sinne And for the same his Seruants to dispose Else charg'd by Signes the Processe doth beginne Signes which each Day vpbraide vs with the last Few are to come some present many past 12 What fatall Warnings do that Time presage A due Attendance in the World to breede Though oftner now some vs'd in euery Age And some more monstrous straight the Day preceede Ah flie the Flames of that encroaching Rage And arme against these Terrours which succede For whom the First not feares the Last confounds As whilst the Lightning shines the Thunder wounds 13 Whilst threatning Worldlings with the last Deluge Old Noah Scorne acquir'd but neuer Trust Though building in their Sight his owne Refuge So were the People drunke with Pride and Lust And ere the comming of the generall Iudge To damne the Bad and justifie the Iust Euen when the Tokens come which CHRIST aduis'd As Noahs then CHRISTS Words are now despis'd 14 Euen as the Lifes last Day to None was shown That still attending Death all might liue right So that great Iudgements Day is kept vnknown To make vs watch as CHRIST were still in Sight Like Virgins wise with Oyle still of our own That when the Bridegrome comes we want not Light Liue still as looking Death should vs sur-prise And go to Beds and Graues as we would rise 15 O what great Wonder that so few are found Whom those strange Signes make grieu'd or glad appeare Though that Day haste which should their Soales confound Or from Corruption make them euer cleare If holy Jerome thought he heard the Sound Of that dead Trumpet thundring in his Eare What jealous Cares should in our Brests be lodg'd Since greater Sinners nearer to be judg'd 16 When Will to Man or rather Man to Will Was freely giuen then Discord did beginne Though Brether earst one did another kill Of Those who first were borne Lifes Race to rinne Thus striuing as it seem'd who did most Ill The Father fell the Sonne did sincke in Sinne Loue Adam lost but Cain kindled Wraith The Author breeding Actor bringing Death 17 Thus at the first Contentious Worldlings jarr'd Of all the World when only two were Heires And when that Nations were then Nations warr'd Oft sowing Hopes and reaping but Dispaires Base Auarice Pride and Ambition marr'd All Concord first and fram'd Death diuerse Snares Though as a Wind soone blasted is our Breath We furnish Feathers for the Wings of Death 18 Though as the sacred Register records Strife is still boyling mortall Mens Desires The thing most fertile which the World affords Of which each litle Sparke may breede great Fires Yet that portentuous Warre which CHRISTS own Words Cites as a Signe when Iudgement Earth requires It is not that which vaine Ambition bends By partiall Passions rais'd for priuat Ends. 19 Such was the Warre which in each Age was mou'd When by prepostrous Cares from rest restrain'd Bent to be more then Men Men Monsters prou'd Whilst others Lords who their owne Slaues remain'd For whilst aduancement vaine they fondlie lou'd The Deuill their Soules whilst they but Bodies gain'd So with their owne disturbing euery State They bought Hels Horrours at too high a Rate 20 CHRIST came below that Soules might be relieu'd Not to breed Peace but worse then ciuill Warres Broyles among Brethren scarse to be beleeu'd Euen twixt the Sonne and Sire engendring Iarres GOD must be pleas'd who euer else be grieu'd The Gospels growth no Tyrants malice marres As Egypts Burdens Israels Strength did crowne The Truth mounts most when Men would presse it downe 21 Those Warres which come before that fatall Day End things begunne and endlesse things beginne Are not vs'd Broyles which
This Serpent bruise this Liuiathan raine 95 The Sunne and Moone now often-times looke pale As if asham'd the Shame of Men to see Or else grown old their force beginnes to faile That thus so oft eclips'd their Beauties be And ouer their Glory Darkenesse doth preuaile Whilst faint for Griefe their Ruine they foresee For as superfluous they must shortly fall When as the light of Light doth lighten all 96 The Heauenlie Bodies as being grown lesse strong Do seeme more slacke as wearie of their Race So that Tyme rests reform'd as being runne wrong All Climats still new Temperatures embrace What strange Effects must follow then ere long Some Starres seeme new and others change their place So altred is the starrie Courts Estate Astrologues want intelligence of late 97 Each element by diuerse Signes hath showne That shortly euill must be discern'd from good The Earth ag'd Mother now is Barren grown Whose Wombe oft worne now torne doth fâ—ile in Brood And may since staggering else be soone ou'rthrowne What wonder Weake through Age and drunke with Blood With Blood which still to GOD for Vengeance cryes And as o'reburden'd groning groueling lyes 98 The liquid Legions by tumultuous Bands Whose bellowing Billowes to transcend contend Do whyles vsurpe whyles leaue possessed Lands In Monsters fertill fishes rarely lend Whilst crown'd with Clouds each murmuring Mountain stands Which acted first but suffer must in end A mighty Change Heauens Monarch novv concludes Floods first quensh'd flams flams straight shall kindle floods 99 The Aire whose Power impetuous Nought can bound Doth cite all Soules to GODS Great Parliament Whilst thundring Tempests roare a rumbling Sound And the last Trumpets Terrour represent Those Blasts denounce the Ruine of this Round Which Heauen in Showres seemes weeping to lament Thus Waters wash Winds wipe and both conspire That Earth so purg'd may be prepar'd for Fire 100 The Water Earth the Aire would it ou'rthrow Whose Rage by Ruine only is represt The High things still insulting ou'r the Low Till once the Highest haue consum'd the Rest The fourth must end what the first three fore-show Whose proofe is last reseru'd as being the Best A firie Triall euery thing defines And All at last to a Perfection fines 101 Then Natures Selfe not strong as of before Yeeldes Fruits deform'd as from a bastard Seede That monstrous Minds may be admir'd no more Whilst monstrous Bodies more Amazement breede All the Portentuous Brood of Beasts abhorre And since prodigious ominously dreade From their first Forme since all things thus decline All in another Shape must shortly shine 102 Few Signes or none remaine Mens Minds to moue Till of the Sonne of Man the Signe craue Sight That Glory which vnspeakable doth proue CHRISTS Substance no his Shaddow yet our Light Whose Majestie and Beautie from aboue Shall ere he shine make all about be bright The Comming of the LORD that Signe bewrayes As Lightning Thunder as the Sunne his Rayes 103 Yet this vile Age what Rage some Mockers breeder That big with Scorne disdainfully dare say What change mad Minds with such fond Fancies feedes From the first Forme since nought below doth stray The Sommer Haruest Winter Spring succedes The Moone doth shine by Night the Sunne by day Males procreat and Females do conceaue Some dayly Life do lose some it receaue 104 O Atheists vile else Christians voyde of Care From GODS Tribunall who in vaine appeale That CHRIST to judge the World doth straight prepare You thus contemning Signes a Signe reueale Whose Harts obdur'd the Nearenesse doth declare Of your Damnations our Saluations Seale And whilst your Hart both Heauen and Hell derides Your Iudgement Heauen your Torment Hell prouides 105 Yet foolish Soules their Pleasures still affect And marrying Wiues what Mirth may moue deuise But whilst asleepe their Safetie they neglect CHRIST as a Theefe against them shall arise And in a Rage when they Him least exspect Shall slouthfull Seruants suddainly surprise As Such shall wish their Talents strictly try'd That from his Face them Hilles them Hells might hide 106 O Multitude O multitude as Sand A day of Horrour strange shall straight appeared Come down and in the threshing Valley stand The threshing Valley lo the LORD drawes neare And else doth take take heed his Fanne in Hand Light Soules as Chaffe with Wind euanish heere The Haruest is ripe and the Wine-presse is full Yea Wickednesse ou'rflowes all Harts are dull 107 Seale Viall Trumpet Seuenth opens poures sounds What doth not intimate GODS Great Decree Which Natures Course Mans Faith GODS Mercy bounds Euen in a time when Time no more should be The Fire is kindling else which All confounds GODS Hand lo writes his Ballance rais'd we see When Souls are weigh'd GODS wondrous Works to crown The Weightie must mount vp the Light fall down 108 But ere the Depthes of Wrath I enter in When as Repentance shall no more haue place As GOD a while deferres some Soules to winne I will suspend my Furie for a Space That ere the Hight of Horrour do beginne My Thoughts may bath amidst the Springs of Grace To cleare some Soules which Sathan seekes to blind LORD purge my Spirit illuminat my Mind DOOMES-DAY OR THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORDS IVDGEMENT The third Houre THE ARGVMENT WHilst Angels Him conuoy Saints attend The Heauens as Smoak all fled before his Face CHRIST through the Cloud With Glory doth descend With Majestie and Terrour Power and Grace What flie walke grow swim All What may ende do end Earth Air and Sea All purg'd in litle Space Strange Preparations that great Court preceede Where All must meet whom any Age did breede 1 IMmortall MONARCH Ruler of the Rounds Embaume my Bosome with a secret Grace Whilst lifted vp aboue the vulgar Bounds A Path not pau'd my Spirit aspires to trace That I with brasen Breath may rore forth SouÌ„ds To shake the Hart fixe Palenesse in the Face LORD make my swelling Voyce a mighty Winde Lift vp the Low beate downe the lofty Mind 2 What dreadfull Sound doth thunder in my Eares What pompous Splendor doth transport mine Eyes I wot not what aboue my selfe me beares He comes He comes who all Hearts Secrets tries Showt showt for Ioy who long haue rain'd down Teares Houle houle for Griefe in Ease who wallowing lies Now shall be built and on Eternall Grounds The Hight of Horrour Pleasure passing Bounds 3 Now no more firme the Firmament doth flie As leapes the Deere fled from the Hunters face Loe lyke a Drunkard reels the Crystall Skie As Garments olde degraded from their grace All folded vp the Azure Pallions spy Which with a noyse doth vanish from the Place The Lanterne burnt Light vtters vtter Worth Drawne are the Hingings MAIESTIE comes forth 4 Who can abide the Glory of that fight Which kils the Liuing and the Dead doth raise With Squadrons compass'd Angells flamming bright Whom Thousands serue ten thousand Thousands praise My Soule entranc'd Rest rauish'd with
and worne with Paines And yet it last which ail this Trouble wrought From molten Mountaines shall ou'rflow the Plaines Ah ah curst Gold what mak'st thou not Men doe Being sought ouer all the Earth and in it to 24 Fond Coueting made our first Parents fall And since the same hath still held downe their Race Whose Iudgements were to senslesse things made thrall Which GOD most low and they most high do place Nought in themselues to vs by vs made All The which we first and then they all things grace But straight dissolu'd they shall to Hell repaire To braue a Multitude by them drawn th aire 25 At Heauen when hence if certaine to arriue These barbarous Soules were well who free from Noy Walke naked feede on Herbes and for Nought striue But scorne our Toyles whose Treasure is their Toy As Adam first when innocent they liue And goldlesse thus the golden Age enjoy We barbarous are in Deedes and they in Show Too litle they and ah too much we know 26 What huge Deluge of Flames enflames my Mind Whilst inward Ardour that without endeeres A Light ou'rflowing Light doth make me blind The Sea a Lanterne Earth a Lampe appeares That crystall Couering burn'd which it confin'd The Way to Ruine fatall Lightning cleares Dust equalls all which vnto it returne All Creatures now one funerall Fire doth burne 27 The stately Birds which sacred were to Ioue Whos 's Pourtraits did great Emprours Powers adorne Whilst generously their Race they striu'd to proue Which Titans Beames with bended Eyes had borne Shall fall down headlongs burning from aboue As Phaeton was faind Ambitions scorne As fit to fall who of themselues presume Those raging Wrath doth at the first consume 28 The sixt and last of that vnmatched Kind If each of them doth liue a thousand Yeeres Shall Sabboth haue in Ashes still confin'd Whose Birth Death Nest and Tombe all one appeares That only Bird which ouer all others shin'd As ouer all Lights that which Nights Darkenesse cleares He from renuing of his Age by Fire Shall be preuented ere that it exspire 29 The Salamander which still Vulcan lou'd And those small Wormes which in hote Waters dwell This liues in Fire that dies from it remou'd But those last Flames shall both from Breath expell Those Creatures thus by burning Heat oft prou'd Show tortur'd Soules may pine yet breath in Hell If those in Fire and with Delight remaine May not the Wicked liue in Fire with Paine 30 That pompous Bird which still in Triumph beares Rould in a Circle his ostentiue Taile With Starres as if to braue the starrie Spheares Then seemes at once to walke to flie to saile His Flesh which kept nought to Corruption weares Against Destruction shall not now preuaile Those painted Fowles shall then be Baites for Fire As painted Fooles be now for endlesse Ire 31 The Indian Griphon Terrour of all Eyes That flying Giant Nimbrod of the Air The scalie Dragon which in Ambush lyes To watch his Enemie with a Martiall Care Though breathing Flames touch'd by a Flame straight dies And all wing'd Monsters made since hurtfull rare Types of strong Tyrants which the Weake oppresse Those rauenous great Ones Prey vpon the Lesse 32 Their nimble Feathers then shall nought import Which with their Wings both leuell Sea and Land The Faulcon fierce and all that actiue Sort Which by their Burden grace a Princes Hand And they for Prey their Bearers bent for Sport Do thrall great Monarches which euen Men command Ere fallen on Earth their Ashes quenshed be Whom soard of late aloft Men scarse could see 33 Those Birds but turn'd to Dust againe shall raine Which mutinous Israel with a Curse receau'd And those for Sport so prodigally slaine For which what shame some Belly-monsters crau'd Long Necks like Crans their Tastes to entertaine From which the PHENIX hardly can be sau'd In Bodies base whose Bellies still are full The Soules are made choak'd with grosse Vapours dull 34 The feathred Flockes which by a Notion strange I know not how inspir'd or what they see Or if their inward Following outward Change As true Astrologues gathering Stormes foresee In quaking Cloudes their murmuring Troupes which range To waile or warne the World hiu'd on some Tree Nought vnto them this Generall Wracke fore-showes Men Angels no not CHRIST as Man fore-knowes 35 The rage of Tyme those Changelings to appease Like fained Friends who Fortune only wooe Which haunt each soyle whilst there they find their Ease Though I confesse this showes their Greatnesse too Who at their Will vse Kingdomes as they please Euen more then Monarches with great Hostes can do But yet where ere they be they then shall fall GODS Armie I his Arme doth stretch ouer All. 36 Those which themselues in Ciuill Warres do match Whose sound triumphall Lyons puts to flight The Mornings Vshers vrging Sleepes dispatch Whose Wings applaud their Voyce saluting Light The Labourers Horloge ordinarie Watch Whose Course by Nature rul'd goes alwayes right Those Trumpeters dissoluing many Dreame May then not see the Day which they proclaime 37 So suddainlie all shall with Ruine meet That euen the Fowle which still doth streames pursue As if to wash or hyde her loath'd black Feet Then swimmes in state proud of her snowie hue Who vs'd with Tragick Notes though sad yet sweet To mak Meanders Nymphes her dying rue She being surprys'd not dreaming of her death Shall not haue time to tune her plaintiue Breath 38 The winged Squadrons which by feeling find A Body though Inuisible of Aire Both solid waste clos'd open free confin'd Whilst weigh'd by lightnesse stayes by mouing there As Swimmers Waues those Fliers beat the Wind Borne by their Burdens Miracles if rare The Feathers fyr'd their stretched Armes do shrink And by being lighter heauier down they sinke 39 That sort which diuing deep and soaring hie Lyke some too subtill trusting double wayes Which swimme with Fishes and with Fowles do flie Whilst still their course the present Fortune swayes At last in vaine their liquid Fortresse trie Of Wrath the Weapons nought saue Ruine stayes To flie the Aire down in the Depthes they bend For want of Aire down in the Depthes they end 40 Wing'd Alchimists which quintessence the Flowres As oft-tymes drown'd before then burn'd shall be Then measuring Artists by their nombrous Powers Whose workes proportions better do agree Which do by Colonies vncharge their Bowres Kill Idle one sting Foes what needs fore-see Men talke of Vertue Bees do practise it Euen Iustice Temperance Fortitude and Wit 41 What Agonie doth thus my Soule inuest I thinke I see Heauen burne Hells Gulfes all gape My panting Heart doth beat vpon my Brest As vrging Passage that it thence may scape Reft from my selfe yet no where else I rest Of what I was reseruing but the shape My Haires are bended vp swolne are mine Eyes My Tongue in silence Myndes amazement tyes 42 Who can but dreame what Furies plague
hath chang'd thrise thrise about He bursted forth neglecting Mothers Grones Though from him first as poore fond weake Teares flow Doth straight of GOD a talking Image grow 31 So sowne by Death where rests fraile Mortalls Seede The Earth conceau'd shall to grow Big begin And though at first a mouing Masse doth breede Shall stay from Trauell till the Time forth rin Whilst vitall Moisture Ashes dry doth feede That marrow Bones Bones Flesh Flesh takes on Skin Till all at last being to Perfection worne Graues are deliuered Mankind is new borne 32 The spirituall Powers shall soone haue repossess'd Their ancient Rowmes recognised by Grace Which were they thence by Natures Rigour press'd To Death by Sinne morgag'd but for a Space But now redeem'd who had bene thus distress'd All Members moue Power pour'd in euery Place What could corrupt all worne vnto an Ende They spirituall Bodies bodied Spirits ascend 33 Then shall not Weaknesse passing each Degree A Progresse haue Perfection to attaine But from Infirmitie made freely free They Shape Proportion Strength and Knowledge gaine All Qualities at once accomplish'd be That to augment there nothing doth remaine The first and second Birth do differ farre First Men were made now rais'd then grew now are 34 Some Gentiles fond who from the Trueth did stray When by Apostles told did scorne this once Yet trusted Grounds which vaine Inuentions lay By fabulous Doctrine Learn'd and Fooles at once That by Prometheus Men were made of Clay And by Deucalion quickned out of Stones Thus had their Soules to see the Trueth no Eyes Who loth the Light GOD giues them ouer to Lyes 35 Great Armie oft as if one Bodie moue Whose Soules it seemes the Trumpets Sound doth swey So when this Charge is thundered from aboue One Moment makes who were or are obey O strange Alarme what must this meeting proue Where Ruine only hath prepar'd the Way All knowne when mustred though not numbred th aire A dreadfull Censor no Mans Spot will spaire 36 Those which the Depthes disgested did containe As bent to drinke those who them oft did drinke To Heauen exhald though still'd through Fruites by Raine That daintie Tasts more delicate them thinke Their Tronkes drawn downe when once throwne vp againe Though dead and buried moue not swim nor sinke A Death which Drunkards do deserue to haue To lie with Liquor in a liquid Graue 37 With Kisses cold of Thetis choak'd of late Who her three Mates faln in her Bosome leaue Some Windes and Waues against each Rocke do beate Till them for Food the scaillie Troupes receaue That Fishes Men Men may those Fishes eate Chang'd Qualitie and Forme whose Flesh may haue Mans Substance it may transsubstantiat oft But shall the same that first mount last aloft 38 Muse doe not striue aboue thy Strength to mount As Mortalls Braines those Hosts could comprehend Which not Seas Sands nor yet Heauens Starres can count Then whilst swarm'd forth they Heauens high Court attend All Faculties of Memorie surmount Being raisd from Dust more thicke then Dust in End But yet a Part most known by Fame design'd May leaue a more Impression in the Mind 39 The first great Troup inunding from the Deepes Which long haue wandred with the watrie Brood Which glutted Neptune in his Caues did keepe When all his Guests were surfaited of Food Are those amidst the roaring Waues who sleepe Since first they fell drown'd by the generall Flood Those who of GOD the Threatnings still did scorne Till Death at once one Fleece ouer all had shorne 40 What strange Deluge from that Deluge doth flow Of Monstrons People terrible to see Whose Stature showes what time it had to grow The Duarfes with them with vs would Giants be Ere bended was the many-colour'd Bow All that had falne rise from corruption free Where raging Depths had Iustlie lodgd their Dust Still drown'd when dead who burn'd aliue with Lust 41 Thence comes the Tyrant who did sway the State Where fertile Nilus mollifies the Mind Whom to confirme his owne with Wonders great GOD did obdure and made by brightnesse blind With guilded Slaues which flattering his conceat The LORD to him would needs inferior find Those all like him by his example made As oft to sinne he shall to Iudgement lead 42 Mad Man to whom by wondrous Blowes abroad The Arme of GOD had justlie Terrour brought Foole who had seene the proofe of Arons Rod What danger was thou might in time haue thought Whilst vaine Magicians emulatiug GOD The same in show but not in substance wrought Vaine Sophists to be mock'd but mocke the Eyes Trueth naked trueth Lies are though painted Lies 43 What made thee doubt that he whom thou did spie Turne Streames to Blood might mixe them with thy Blood That he who made thy Lands first borne to die Would saue the liues of his friend Abrams Brood Where his might march he who the Depths did drie That he would make them drowne who him withstood But those whom GOD will lose he makes them blind Those headlong runne who are for wrack design'd 44 Those who with haste the Hebrue Hoste pursu'd Whose glancing Armes each Eye shouts fill'd each Eare Who lack'd no stately show which might when view'd In them breed Courage and in others feare The Troupes by them contemn'd ere seene subdu'd Who did themselfes as if in Triumph beare And spuing Blasphemie from Prides low hight Euen challenge durst the LORD of Hostes to fight 45 Lo from the Mudde they now creep poorelie out As from a Prison which vpbraids their Blame And spoyld of all which compasse them about Ryse naked vp yet kept by feare from shame They heare Heauens Trumpet horriblie to shout Which straight they thinke their Sentence will proclaime And euen great Pharo vyle amidst his owne Can by no signe more then the rest be known 46 What Fooles then ryse who neuer could be pleas'd Though settled Owners of a fertile Ground Where vnder them euen Thousands were well eas'd And then their Masters more contentment found Whose traitrous Hopes still on new conquests seas'd Till death did show how litle might them bound That as all Lands could but strict limits giue Last for the Seas vaste like their Mynds did striue 47 Ah for Mans madnesse who enough can mourne From whom still pure that there might rest no place Who makes his rage euen in the Depths to burne And standing runnes in walking woods his race Makes Neptunes Azure all to purple turne And filles with blood the wrinkles of his Face What thirst of Mischiefe thus torments Man still That it no Sea can quensh nor Land can fill 48 The Grecian Seas shall giue those Bodies back When floting Athens camp'd in Wooden Walls Which Mountaines Plaines and Floods dry Fields wold make Scourg'd all the Windes rank'd Nature with their thralles Which all conspyrd seeme to procure their wrack Both Sea and Land being famous by their falles As if that King who could not
him or else for him were kill'd And as for Bondage borne free but from Graues Did liue to him and died to Sathan Slaues 87 By Violence Death diuerse did surprise Still since the World first peopled did remaine But Men in Mischiefe fondly grown more wise By Bolts vnseene some moe of late are slaine Since some new Sulmons no Deuils did deuise Those Sulphurous Engines bragging GOD againe Which Men yea Towres and Townes in Pieces teare Then Thunder now Men more the Canon feare 88 Those soone start vp which fell whilst as lesse strong By Vulcan forc'd succumbing Thetis ror'd And thundring forth the Horrour of her Wrong The Burden vrg'd straight in Disdaine restor'd The airie Region raging all a long Which Death to them did suddainly afford And by a Blow most strange no Scarre being found The Bones all broken and the Flesh still sound 89 Those whom of Earth the Superfice as forc'd Did beare not burie suffer not receaue By men euen dead as oft aliue extorc'd To Auarice else Crueltie still Slaue Those shall from Dust no sooner be diuorc'd Then they who sought the Center for a Graue Whose Bodies with their Soules did seeme to striue Which first at Hell should with most Haste arriue 90 The mutinous Hebrewes who gainst him repin'd Whose Face as glorious Rayes reflecting still Com'd from the Thunderer like cleare Lightning shin'd GODS Secretarie who first pen'd his Will As soone as they whose Dust no Weight confin'd They rise whom Earth did burie first then kill To offer bent Pride burning in their Brests As like Himselfe whom Pluto tooke for Priests 91 That scorn'd Diuiner is with them expos'd Fooles who fore-know not for their Fate prouide Who by his Wife when lurking was disclos'd And whom at last Earth did as strangely hide And that the Caue which burn'd might so be clos'd He as Romes Best who vnder Ground did ride There greedie to doe good or to get Fame That where his Bodie died might liue his Name 92 Some Feauer strange when Surfets seeme to moue Those of the Earth who in the Entraills dwell Whilst it though trembling raging seemes to proue If it may drinke the World and spue forth Hell They from the Dust as quickly shall remoue As those by Pouder who in Pouder fell By Tyrants fierce being pin'd no freed from Paine VVho falne on Earth or toss'd through Air remaine 93 Now Orpheus shall not neede as Poets faine To charme the Furies with harmonious Sounds Nor Hercules by Violence in vaine To force the Dungeons of the shadowie Bounds The Guests below shall once turne backe againe To see what they haue lost superiour Rounds The Prince of Darknesse will be pleas'd with this Since sure to haue them judg'd for euer his 94 The Earth her Entraills quickly shall discharge That GOD all who had Soules at once may see His Prisoners at last Death must enlarge At that Great Iubilie all once set free Who were so long in passing Charons Barge Some from Obliuions Flood brought backe shall be Ere Cerberus can barke all shall be gone And ere they can be miss'd turn'd euerie one 95 Those whom soft Egypt alwayes Slaue to Lust By Spices Oyntment Baumes and Odours rare To scorne Corruption and to mocke the Dust Did keepe when lost with a ridiculous Care And vs'd as Pledges whyles to purchase Trust Their Bones worth Nought when clad worth lesse when bare Their Vailes renew'd no sooner they resume Then whom at first Corruption did consume 96 Those Piramids whose Points seem'd threatning Heauen Not solitarie Tombes but courted Thrones The huge Mausoleum one of Wonders seuen That Obeliske which grac'd Augustus Bones Late Monuments those aemulous to Euen Of Marber Porphyr Iasp and precious Stones None hides his Guest from this great Iudges Sight Nor yet him sends more gorgeous to the Light 97 Of Place the Distance distant Time not breedes Some who one Field empurple by their Fall Whose Entraills straight another Mansion needes Lest else Corruption might encroach on all Their Bodies Friends as whyles for Pompe succeeds Not seeme farre borne to burie but enstall But though each Part a seuerall Kingdome takes A suddaine Vnion now one Moment makes 98 That Dreame-diuiner by two Tribes call'd Syre Though by them lost who did his Brethren saue His Dust from Goshen quickly shall retire And with the Rest a second Hymen haue Where he when dead as Faith did first inspire Where His might liue Possession did receaue Or since by Him so benefited once That Land ingrate to frustrat of his Bones 99 The third Time then some liue from Tombes rais'd twise Their Resurrection represented else Whom Death it seem'd did but a while disguise For acting Wonders which Amazement tells When wak'd by Force as who did drousie rise They drawn from Lethe or Obliuions Cells Straight with the Place all Priuiledge did leaue Made as who dream'd or in high Feauers reaue 100 Till soar'd from hence where they so long haue striu'd Still charg'd with Flesh all Soules infirme remaine And with their Burdens those who were reuiu'd Their former Frailties did resume againe So that vnknowing where a whyle they liu'd Maim'd Memorie was bounded by the Braine Through earthly Organs Spectacles impure Soules reach but Objects such as they procure 101 Some fondly curious would haue then enquir'd VVhat Lodgings last those Both-world-guests did leaue Which if remembred reuerenc'd and admir'd They would not wrong by Words what none conceaue Great Paul whose selfe could not tell how retird VVhom the third Heauen when rauish'd did receaue He what he saw return'd could not relate Past Mortalls Senses to Immortalls greate 102 Such Soules when last to their first Tents turn'd backe Their Toyles thereby and others Glory grew Whilst to the VVorld that VVay GOD cleare would make That Faith when firme might Death it selfe subdue But then they Flesh as when first left did take Which now at last the LORD will all renew Their Resurrection when no Time confines Whilst rais'd ripe Fruites of what they first were Signes 103 Thus the great Tisbit strangelie did restore That none might trouble haue who gaue him rest Her Sonne whose Victualls did when waste waxe more Like to the like when in like State distrest That Prophet did who crau'd his Spirit in store Not to be press'd by such a second guest Whose Graue wak'd one that there he might not sleepe Where he when dead a quickning power did keepe 104 The blest Bethanian highlie shall reioyce When next he calls who show'd such tender loue As euen to weep for him as a chiefe choyce Till he was brought free from white bands aboue The first who in the graue did heare that Voyce Which from all Graues must make their guests remoue And greater Power when glorified may show Then from fraile Flesh when but breath'd forth below 105 Those soone start vp who quickly come to Light As to applaud what was accomplish'd known CHRISTS acting suffrings when most low at
hight That the last part on this Worlds Stage was shown Else to vpbraid as a prodigious sight Them who did haste what bent to haue ouer-thrown And others all thus rais'd more glad do ryse Of Soules birth once then of their Bodies thryse 106 There come those two from whence no Flesh can know Yet not more soone then whom fraile Eyes saw dead Of which as Types one to each World did show That Mortalls might be straight Immortall made Grosse Bodies mount and some Death not ouerthrow A Laberinth whence Nature none can lead In most euill tymes most good to be mark'd so Those did from hence mans common Way not go 107 That godly man by GOD judg'd Iust to be Translated was that he might not see Death Being Death to him his LORD despis'd to see Whilst poysond with vile Mens blasphemous Breath Or else at last from Pangs and Horrours free He priuiledg'd from all the signes of Wrath Did part not die from Sinne not Life estrang'd Soules must remoue else haue their lodging chang'd 108 Whilst him saue GOD who ought disdain'd to feare Vile Baals Scourge of Kings who scorn'd the Ire With flamming Steeds a burning Coach did beare The Wind being Wagoner an Angell Squire Twix this grosse Globe and the celestiall Spheare Zeale did triumph euen as it fought with Fyre That Heauen and Earth both might his Glory know As earst his Toyles when but contemn'd below 109 As where he liue or lyes to turne or stay To dispute easie is hard to conclude The LORD perchance committed him to Clay As one with whom He on Mount Tabor stood Else not dissolu'd but changd when borne away And some thinke kept apart yet to do good For without all no Saints perfected be The Maide-borne-bodie so Heauens onely see 110 A loude Alarme still doubling from aboue The Word Eternall may make Breath abound All this vaste Circuit doth a Trumpet proue Whose Concaue wastes not but maintaines the sound At the first blast nought else saue it did moue As drearie Silence had prepard the ground But till all Eares be fill'd it higher swells A horrid Echo roaring from the Hells 111 Those guiltie Soules what further comfort shields From sleepe whose Conscience with the Bodie stares Then when they see as Grasse ouer all the fields Men grow about them O what frozen Hearts Earth labour'd long a Monstrous Haruest yeelds Which straight Heauens Husband loe grindes sifts and parts Who can but thinke how such endure this sight And yet what they attend makes it seeme light 112 He who them hates that he should others grace Both Grief and Enuie tortures them at once Of two who rest companions in one place One pleas'd doth joy the other desp'rat moues One parts as pointed for Eternall Peace The other sign'd for paine stayes howles and grones Thus of the Godlies good the first degree Is from the wicked that they parted be 113 Those Creatures who still sound did neuer fall That fatall Summons do no sooner heare Then those whom it forth from the Dust doth call Where they had slept euen manie a hundreth yeare Soules lodgings thus which had bene ruin'd all Straight builded then first perfect do appeare The Iust they first the Reprobat last moue Which bide below whilst others flie aboue 114 Those Temples then which not dissolu'd still stay A Mysterie difficult to conceaue All debt of death not dying shall defray The other life being com'de ere this them leaue The Bodies then all frailtie burn'd away Being quintessenc'd new qualities receaue Which though still quicke yet in their Sinnes being dead Ere mortall prou'd shall be Immortall made 115 If oft to gaze a multitude remaines To hold his Court whilst it some Prince attends Who still being mette with many stately Traines Doth make a Musters of imagin'd friends As by small Brookes a Flood swolne when it raines Till that on him it seemes the World depends That Pomp to all a reuerent aw imparts And strykes with Terrour Malefactours Hearts 116 Thinke with what glory CHRIST must wondring wonne Whilst thundring Terrour and yet lightning Grace He might come clad with Starres crown'd with the Sunne But to his brightnesse such as base giue place His court at first of heauenly Hostes begunne From hence enlarg'd is in a litle space O what strange noyce doth all the World rebound Whilst Angells sing Saints shout and Trumpets sound 117 My rauish'd Soule transcending Reasons reache So earnest is to surfet on this sight That it disdaines what may high thoughts empeach Whilst mounting vp to Contemplations hight Which flight so farre doth passe the power of speech That only Silence can pursue it right And that my Spirit may be refresh'd that way It must a space amidst dombe Pleasures stray FINIS
that Light Whose least-least part may all the World amase That of our Spirit which doth the Powers condense Of muddie Mortalls farre transcends the sense 5 A Fyre before him no resistance findes Fierce sounds of Horrour thunder in each eare The noyce of Armies Tempests and Whirle-windes A weight of Wrath more then ten Worlds can beare Thinke what a Terrour stings distracted Mindes When Mountaines melt and Valleyes burst for feare What what must this in guiltie Mortalls breed Whilst all this All stands trembling like a Reed 6 The GOD of Battells Battell doth intend To daunt the Nations and to fetter Kings He with all Flesh in Iudgement to contend At Mid-night comes as on the Mornings wings O tyme of Ruine ending without End Huge time of Vengeance where all ballanc'd hings The LORDS Great Day a Day of Wrath and Paine Whose Night of Darkenesse neuer cleares againe 7 That Element still cleare in spight of Nights Which as most subtill mounted vp aboue To kindle there perchance those glorious Lights Which dy'd by it as deckt by Beautie moue Of curious Fancies else to stay the Flights As which may not be touch'd a bounds did proue That they presume no higher things to see Then are the Elements of which they be 8 Marke how Aeolian Bands loos'd from the Bounds Where them in Fetters the Eternall keepes As if the angrie Spirit of all the Rounds Like Tyrants rage till Heauen to quensh them weepes Whose rumbling Furie whilst it all confounds Whyles cleaues the Clouds whyles parts the deepest Deepes By Noyse aboue and Violence below Earth-quake and Thunder both at once to show 9 Euen so Fire which was made nought to annoy To liquid Limits clos'd with Clouds retire Lest what it fosters it might else destroy O when enlarg'd and kindled by GODS Ire It him at Midnight doth as Torch conuoy All all will seeme a PYRAMID of Fyre To GOD what is this Vniuersall Frame Now but a Moate at last a litle Flame 10 The Axell-trees on which Heauens Round doth moue Shrunke from their Burden both fall broken downe Those which to Pilots point out from aboue Their Wayes through Waues to richesse or renowne And so though fix'd the Strayers helpers proue Nights stately Lampes borne in an Azure Crown Those guyding Starres may as not needfull fall When worldlings wandrings are accomplish'd all 11 The Vagabonds aboue lasciuious Lights Which from fond Mindes which did their Course admire By strange Effects obseru'd from seuerall hights As Deities Altars Idoles did acquire Thrown from their Spheares expos'd to Mortalls sights As abject Ashes excrements of Fire They in their Ruines farre from what before Shall damne the Nations which did them adore 12 With Ludgings twelue design'd by seuerall Signes Now falls that Building more then Crystall cleare Which the dayes Eye though circling all confynes Still tempring Tymes and seasoning the Yeare All temporall Light no more to ryse declynes That Glory may eternallie appeare All then being Infinit no bounds attend Tymes and halfe tymes being past Tyme takes an end 13 As slymie Vapours whilst like Starres they fall Shot from their Place do hurle alongst the Skie The Pleiades Arcturus Orion all The glistring Troupes Lights languishin do die Lyke other Creatures to confusion thrall They from the Flammes as Sparkes from Fyre do flie The Heauens at last grieu'd for their falling Spheares All else dry'd vp weep down their Starres for Teares 14 As Leafes from Trees the Starres from Heauen do shake Darke Clouds of Smoake exhausting those of Raine The Moone all turnes to Blood the Sunne growes Blacke Which whilst those Monstrous Formes they do retaine Of Vengeance Badges Signes of Ruine make And not eclips'd by vsuall meanes remaine Those common Lights obscur'd the Iust shine bright The Wicked enter in Eternall Night 15 VVhilst staggering reels this Vniuersall Frame The Heauens bow down with GOD as being his Seat His Scepter Iron his Throne a fyrie Flame To bruise the Mighty and to fyne the Great VVho of his Glory can the Greatnesse dreame VVho once was valued at a litle Rate GOD by his Word did first make all of nought And by his Word shall judge All of each thought 16 When GOD his people did together draw On Sions Mount to register his Will He that they might attend with reuerent Aw Came clad with Clouds sterne Trumpets sounding shrill And threatned Death whilst thundring forth his Law To all that durst approach the trembling Hill What compassed with Death he thus did giue Ah who can keep or violat and liue 17 Since this confounding Forme did Myndes to tame That of their Yoke all might the burden know Those dreadfull Statutes terriblie proclaime All Flesh for feare shall fade away below How they were kept when GOD a count doth claime A tyme of Terrour more then words can show He gaue in Mercie shall exact with Ire The Mountaine smoak'd the World shall burne on Fire 18 In spight of Natures powers which then exspyre Through liquid Limits breaking from aboue Lo down-ward tends the Tempest of this Fyre The Airie Region doth a Fornace proue To boyle her Guests the Vessells of GODS Ire Which tortur'd there can no where else remoue Flammes which should still for their confusion rage Thus kindled first perchance nought can asswage 19 The growing Creatures which doe mount most high And as their earthly Bounds they did disdaine Would whilst their Tops encroach vpon the Skie Base Men vpbraide who not their Strength doe straine With heauenly Helps still higher vp to flie And spurne at Earth where rooted they remaine Those leauie Bands while as they fan the Air As fittest Baits for Fire first kindle thair 20 Who can imagine this and yet not mourne What Battell must succede this huge Alarme Of Lebanon the stately Cedars burne The Pines of Idus fall without an Arme The fertill Forrests all to Flames do turne And waste the World which they were wont to warme To plague proud Sinners euery thing accords What Comfort once Confusion now affords 21 The smoaking Mountaines melt like Waxe away Else sincke for Feare O more then fearfull things They which the Fields with Riuers did array As if to quensh their Heat drinke vp their Springs Like faded Flowres their drouping Tops decay Which crown'd with Cloudes stretch'd through the Air their wings As did the Raine the Fire doth sease all bounds What Last the First the Last at First confounds 22 Then of That Birth Hills shall deliuered be Which big by Nature they so long haue borne Though it fond Mortalls Slaues by being free To make Abortiues haue their Bellies torne Gold as when Midas wish O just Decree Shall flow superfluous Couetice to scorne What of All else did measure once the Worth Shall then ly loath'd by Aguous Earth spued forth 23 The godly Kings wise Sonne from Ophir brought With Ethnickes joyn'd all welcome are for Gaines What Spaniards now in other Worlds haue sought That golden Fleece still winne