Ravishment Lay like the Doctors in Astonishment As men rejoyce in a darke Cloudy day To see the Sunne his suddaine Beames display So did they startle at Christs Lightning words Whilst her soft greetings Mary thus affords My loving Sonne why hast thou stayd behind And not as doth thee Natures duty bind Return'd with us Behold I and thy Father Have sought thee sad for three dayes space together Soone as we found thee missing by the way We hither came and sought thee night and Day We searcht with carefull thoughts most diligent The City where we used to frequent With heavy hearts God knows we lookt for thee Whom Christ undaunted answer'd grave and free I st possible that you forget so soone The favours late which God for you hath done Deare mother wot you not that I must goe About my Fathers Businesse t' undergoe More travels yet you know the Prophesies Of Ancient Seers you know the Mysteries Disclosed by the Angell Gabriel That I am sent to ransome Soules from Hell That I must preach to Spirits thrall'd in Jaile My Fathers will which shall o're sinne prevaile You know what meanes Heavens word mens Light Gods Breath From Simeon Anna and Elizabeth And in your selfe the Spirits ravishment Reveales the cause of my Birth and Discent My Fathers zeale so burnt within my breast Against these strayes I could not but contest Whose Oracles of me and many more Your true Beleeving heart layes up in store Although the same as yet you seeme to smother You cannot but remember them good Mother These words of his the blessed Virgin waigh'd And safe them up within her mind she layd Out of the Temple then wtth her he goeth And presently they set for Nazareth Where Mary found his Will with hers agreeing Though Him she held the Authour of her being And her sole Head yet then the Head subjected Unto the Limbes and nothing he rejected To Undergoe in his Minority For their behoofe and best commodity Or murmur'd at which his deare Mother Maide Or Josephs voyce of charge upon him laid But as a Sonne or rather Servant true He yeelds them Honour and Obedience due What they at home or else abroad assign'd Labour or care in Body or in minde As an Apprentice Carpentary Drudge To toyle for them he never once did grudge But wrought his Taske and servile Trade uprighâ— Not needing checkes nor frowning oversight Base idlenesse by Nature he abhorr'd Which made him worke when some as Outlaweâ— roar'd For he accounted meat not duely got If daily for the same he labour'd not He for our sakes sustained poverty To purchase wealth for us and Dignity In this poore plight the curse Christ underwent To earne his bread with sweate and small content Yet what he gain'd would scarce weak Nature feed And it griev'd him to see his friends in need What therefore he of meat earn'd by his sweat The Overplus he gave the Poore to eate Thus Christ shot up in shape and thriv'd in Grace And all Good men lov'd him that saw his face For he preferr'd Gods praise before his owne More prizing Truth then they Judae as Crowne But to describe his worth his modest lookes And qualities would fill up many Bookes The matter farre exceeds my strength and wit My Forme turnes proud except thou temper it O Holy Ghost and curb'st my swelling sense Above fraile Natures botched excellence With humble thoughts Christs Innocence to quote To note his plaine Attire and seamelesle Coat Worne in his Youth but parted since which now To burne as tainting Rage false Christians vow To seeke gay clâ—aâ—hes never did curious Pride Tempt him he onely car'd his skin to hide He knew that Man attir'd in ruffling Robes Begs seldome Grace and vents but faigned sobbes Nor can he shed salt teares our Guardians food Nor well submit for his perpetuall good As for this cause they used heretofore In vilesi weeds Gods Favour to implore He knew that our First Parents bare and poore Went till Figge leaves Coates of Skins they wore Which like these Lâ—nes our Gallants now would scorne For Satan prompts they were more Nobly borne Wherefore to rob their Factours must persever Silke wormes and Beasts for Shamois Plush Bever No Pleasures shape so farre his minde endeares To Idolize the same though young of yeares No Envious Stings nor motions Arrogant Once prickt his heart nor thoughts extravagant For he was so sincere sweete Natur'd mild That none with Passions knew him once defil'd Though from without he often Temptings had As Man while he conversed with the Bad Yet with contempt and a most brave disdaine He past them by not soyled with one staine For as the Sunne the worlds faire radiant Eye Doth Dunghils touch and stinking Jakes survey And yet his Beames escape from tainting free So this blest Youth though he did daily see Notorious sinnes and Beast-like filthinesse Himselfe he kept untoucht from wickednesse He labour'd oft in Childing woman-wise Of our fraile Passions and infirmities He had as Man our Naturall Affects But yet without Excesses or defects And not as we orecome with their delight Or seeming Good or spurr'd on with despight In midst of Darkenesse shone Divinest Light Errour he turn'd to knowledge wrong to Right The words contempt he changed into Grace Fables to Truth our slips to surer pace He did exchange our Lustfull sports to sorrow And on to worke our Humane Natures borrow For Lazarus he shed forth Teares of Griefe And he much Griev'd for Salems unbeleefe Ambition did his Man-heads Fancies raise But that Flight was to raise his Fathers praise His High desires stretcht plyant Soules to win To blissefull Joyes from Sathan death and sinne His mounting sparkes to Magnanimity Extended mixt with zeale and Charity His lofty thoughts aspir'd but to the Crosse That Theater which ransom'd Adams losse He Chastly long'd yea and he lusted too With flames of Love for he the Church did wooe He sought her Love with zealous Oracles Sometimes with teares sometimes with Miracles He Coveted for wealth not worldly wealth But for Eternall Goods mens saving Health He felt within his Soules essentiall Parts Great Joy to heare of True Beleevers hearts For barbed Steed he chose a bare-backt Asse Fishers for Mates for Pallace the Low Grasse He burn'd with wrath when he drove from Gods House Those Huckesters out whom he with whips did touze But his short wrath converted into zeale Not for Revenge but for the sinners weale He seem'd to grudge or Envy at the Priests Because he saw them live like Antichrists He much repin'd that Purenesse went to wracke That Satans sway did keepe Gods Kingdome backe He languished with Feares and Agonies The night before his deaths Extremities But those deepe Feares sprung of weake natures sense Not of Despaire or want of Innocence So from our Passions Christ as Mithridate Of Vipers wrought good Motions New begat For Jewish Thalmuds he the Gospel taught For their Old
time got Captiv'd John And through a frisking Wench slaine thereupon I heare quoth he that thou a Prophet art From Heaven sent Salvation to impart Thy Deeds import no lesse for who but One Of Gods owne Choyce or his beloved Son Can doe such workes beyond set Natures reach Or utter such deepe points as thou dost preach Enflamed with the sparkes of thy renowne Which flyes abroad throughout our spacious Towne I come to thee desirous to be taught In the true way and so to Heaven brought Our Saviour turn'd to our Faiths Alphabet And him to learne Truths A.B.C. did set Not Principles of mens Philosophy But Rules which Stony hearts doe mollify He must said Christ who will Gods Kingdome see Become New-borne and so an Infant be That saying is quoth Nichodemus strange How can I now my Ancient yeares exchange For a New Birth I shall get sooner roome In an old Tombe than in my Mothers wombe Jesus convinc'd his Errour and mistake With this reply Thou dost my speeches take In a wrong sense for truth I tell to thee None enters Heav'n nor shall Gods Kingdome see Except he be of Water and the Spirit First borne and then that place he shall inherit That part of Man borne of the Flesh is Flesh More Old than of the Spirit which is fresh Young and Gallant he which is borne hence Leads a new Life and voyd of Lusts Offence When the wind blowes thou hear'st a noyse and sound But know'st not whence it comes nor whither bound So fares it with the Holy Spirits man How he came rapt with Blisse he can not scan He knowes not how his Spirit New became By Grace unseene from the Great Spirits Flame When Nicodemus heard this Lesson rare He answered these things not likely are How can it be that Man without Commotion Of Natures sense should apprehend this Motion Of his New-Birth by the quicke Spirits Seed And grow so strong except some thing him feed Except some Rayes which we not Outward see Or God-head rap the Mind how can this be Bear'st thou a Doctours Style and dost thou teach Said Christ and know'st not this which I doe Preach I speake the Truth and what my Soule hath seene I testify yet all in vaine hath beene If when I speake of Earth youâ—le not beleeve Sure if I tell of Heaven you will grieve None ever yet that Glorious place ascended But through the word which from that Place descended Yea none comes there but who by faith on earth Beleeves Gods Word the second Adams Birth The Womans seed foretold in Paradise Who should confound the Charmers Sorceries Who was fore-doom'd to be sâ—ung in the Heele By the Old Serpent and Gods wrâ—th to feele Whom men lift up and wicked Satan stung As the Brasse-Serpent in the Desart hung Out of this Text all ye who are misled With glozing sinnes your destiny may read That no man shall behold Gods Glorious Face Unlesse by Grace Regeneration raze Sinnes aspicke stings for those stings that zeale And Love be stampt in him with Heavens Seale Unlesse we leave to serve the Old Mans Lord And hate his Life and Lawes in thought and word Unlesse we looke on Him who was lift up On Calvares Crosse and pledge him in his Cup Unlesse we leave our sinnes and to conspire Against his Saints Hell is indeed our Hire Hell is Mans Hire Except his Earthly Clod Be sanctify'd and rebaptiz'd from God His Braine Heart Tongue and Soules chiefe Faculties In one must with Christs Nature sympathize Which spight of sinne Gods Spirit soone or late By Grace effects in the Regenerate Which comes to passe by pondring Truths Record Christs Testament his Covenants and word Shunning Scandall the cause of foule offence By a pure Life Faith Love and Penitence And lastly by oft cheering up the Soule With that Repast which Nature doth controule That Mysticke Lambe unseene yet reall flesh Slaine yet living now Soules to refresh Thus doth the Holy Ghost worke and Create A new borne Babe a Soule Regenerate Ev'n He that quickned Christ in Maries wombe Will breath on him and make him then become By Motion calme unseene and secret meane Christs lively Member pure Reformed Cleane Conformed to the Head our Elder Brother Whose last command was this Love one another Now by these signes our Britaines sure may know Whether they be of his true Christian Row To be Baptiz'd without the Sacred Spirit Is surely never Heaven to Inherit They be but Nurles half Christians dwarfes or elves Nor Hot nor Cold which doe perswade themselves By Baptisme bare with Water the Communion And Outward workes to be of Saint-like union For what will our great Charters Seale availe If to performe the Covenants we faile That is to love our New mans Lord and Head Learne his New Law and a New life then lead God by Christ's death more power did restore With that Free-will which Adam lost before Grace gave to us this Supernaturall Free gift to cope with the Will Naturall This Will our New-man hath from Bondage free Because true Faith brought Bondage on his knee Which as Love-tokens each good Christian hath Left him by Grace to lead him in Christs path But if he slights this Path being Catechiz'd How can he be with Flames Characteriz'd How dares he say that he doth harmelesse save His Sureties triple vow except he rave If he delights in Carnall talke or Lust More than Gods Word his Faith lies in the dust Devotion failes whilst sinne in Man doth raigne Whilst Satans raigning fancy guides his braine Nor can Gods Graâ—e within his heart fix anchor Till it be cleans'd of rust and Natures rancour Or if it burne it quickly may expire By Carnall meanes and blasts except the Fire Of zeale be kept still in by daily use With watch and ward from Holy things abuse Except the Soule for God Faiths Tything powres Heapt daily from the foure and twenty houres This is a Mystery which few observe And fewer like but give themselves to serve The vicious Times more for Promotion striving Or Plots to please rich humourists contriving Then Grace to beg with humble hearts and sorry Then first to seeke before their owne Gods Glory Joyne we our wills to his we shall be pure For Christ his death Old Adams Plagues did oure But now a dayes in worldly Policy Some temporize to hide their Lunacy Like Adams nakednesse till time more mellow And ripe shall change their Youthfull haires yellow Or else because against the Holy Ghost For sinning they doe tremble to be lost If once New borne of the same Flaming Spirit They lose their Talent or chance to bury it O causelesse doubts like to Hob-goblins Feares As though Gods spirit loathes the sighs and teares Of his poore Converts nay he will assure And helpe to make their rathe Election sure No Fits stop them like Agues stormes or Raine But Grace moves to their Centred Hearts againe Though I confesse that
Servants stript Murtherd his Sonne and were themselves extirpt These severall sorts of Temporizers toucht We find by Christ himselfe and sharpely coucht Under these pithy Parables like them Which praise the Tree and yet the Fruite contemne For some there are as Jesus did rehearse Who by the High way side good Corne disperse And this the Birds catch up and prey upon Some sow in Barren ground too neere the Stone Which wanting Earth moisture wants encrease So hardned Faith can never harvest Peace And though Gods word be Preacht on Sabbath dayes Yet lacking Rooâ—e it withers decayes Such Auditors and outward Formalists Stand both excluded out of Christian Lists Some seed springs faire but choakt with thornes and Tares Soone faile like braines too full of worldly cares When Satans weedes of vanity or Lust Grow up with Faith then Faith lies in the dust So in Gods Church spring Heresies accurst Unlesse Good Pastours weed them up at first But blest be they who sow in Fruitfull ground Their Graine shall sure a hundred fold abound Like Mustard seed though at the Prime but smal Yet at the Harvest it growes full and Tall. If Adams Sonnes could with a zealous mind Receive Gods Word his Spirit they should finde His holy Gifts would multiply with store From blisse to blisse they should rise more more Such Prophesies of Christs are come to passe Where we may see as in a steely glasse How some â—ay for Gods Messengers a traine Yea and to slay their Masters Sonne againe How neere some runne into damnations brinke Like Beares to eate his Flesh his Blood to drinke For doe not they with Blasphemy mistake To bragge that they did Flesh materiall take When Christ before his Passion as he sate At Supper did no such communicate In reall forme nor yeeld for them to gnaw His Limbes which then and there entire they saw His Flesh and Blood Christ consters to be Life And Quickning Spirit and to end all strife He saith that Man must have another Birth The Elder borne of flesh or Carnall earth The second of the Spirit New and quicke Whereto a Saint with constant faith must sticke For as the flesh subsists with earthly Bread So by his Deaths Record the Soule is fed His Sacrificed flesh with mouthes Confession And Hearts Beliefe receiv'd heales all Transgression And doth through Grace the Spirits food impart Unto Gods Image pure Mans noblest part This made Christ say The flesh cannot availe For Blisse but that his quickning words prevaile This quickning food Christs Spirit satisfide When Satan try'd his Body mortifide Mans person here not onely lives by Bread But with the word of God he must be fed This unseene meate Christ had as he did tell Whereof they knew not at Samariaes Well On which Eternall â—ates those Soules that feed Of Carnall food shall never stand in need Nor at Doomesday when Hagges howle out Alasse Shall Soule-fed Saints to condemnation passe This Living water free'y without sale Christ cry'd to all a â—hirst both great an small To drinke beleeve and feed on Christ implyes The selfe same thing in our great Sacrifice Our Bodies food by Nature rots at last Converts to dung and to the draught is cast Or is to Humours chang'd but Christ his food Transformes us to his quickning flesh and blood Of the like Substance form'd and Quality As the New mans by Christs Conformity The Rocke a figure was the Vine a signe Blest be the Branches grafted in this Vine So blest be they who make true Ghostly use Of this Rocke Vine and Blood without abuse As here our Soules feed on Christs flesh and blood By faith so musing on his Sacred food We shall raisd up to higher Dignity Feed on Christs Godâ—ead and Humanity Where now we feed on Christ the Lambe divine We then shall Feast through Christ with God in Trine Gods word begat the Churches Sacraments Of sundry formes yet One in their intents The Circumcision and the Easter Lambe Our Baptisme and the Eucharist became Mysterious signes Christs Image to renew By Grace in man the Gentile as the Jew In which as they their Faith infolded fixt So we on Christ Baptiz'd and Câ—ucifixt For in the Cloud the Nation circumciz'd Were in the Desart to Faiths Rocke baptiz'd An easie yoake for us two Objects free Both which they darkling saw through Crystall we â—They God admir'd in their old Sacrifice As we doe Christ in ours with Extasies Faith saved them and did their soules releeve And the same God saves us if we beleeve Since they were sav'd beleeving in the Shadowes Then why not we receiving him that made us Yea sure we may according to our Creed And zeale feed on his Flesh true Flesh indeed Not Chymicke-like with changing Accidents But as our New-man feeds with Soule-rapt sense Not with our Teeth nor yet Fantasticke flesh But as himselfe at Supper did expresse It for Soules Food to his Disciples then As now with his Deaths type to Christian men Who this beleeves and helpes the wounded man Without a Fee like the Samaritane If he be Lowly as the Publican Asham'd of sin and doth the best he can To please the Lord he shall be borne anew Of Gods bright Spirit and see all things New The Sacraments typ'd with New properties The one doth cleanse the Babes impurities The other cheeres us up by Sacrifice Of Bread and Wine Food of new Qualities Vnder whose veile they blest by sacred Word We minde in Trance the Body of the Lord And then we checke the World the Flesh the Devill For Saints wel know that nothing which is evil Nor yet that Flesh wherein our Spirits move Shall Heaven see till Grace our sins remove Which may not be unlesse we will Repent To Natures griefe and Fiends astonishment How we become New borne no more we know Than Nicodemus how the wind did blow But by our Faith that Gods Sonne crucified Doth now on his Right hand sit glorified Above all Thrones A Saviour Priest and King Triumphant over sin the Dragons sting And may heale us as the Brasse Serpent hung Did Israelites by fiery Serpents stung If we receive this Viands excellence With Inward taste more than with Outward sense But why did Christ Evangelize Salvation In mysticke sort and aime at Reprobation By sentences to carnall wits so darke Was it that we more seriously might marke The Sence when they should moralized be By Clerkes of our Leviticall Degree Perhaps such Tropes propt with Divinity May worke in some with greater Majesty So Saints sometimes to States Tyrannicall Have read by Riddles or in Generall Grave Lectures on the Gospels Lightning Text Least their seeds growth by spleene or by pretext Of winding Lawes were dasht with dis-respect Or silenced themselves with foule neglect If bluntly they or headlong out of Season Preach much of Peace to Tyrants voyd of Reason Christs flocke well knowes his voyce but on the rest That stray let Wolves
Tale With Carnall taste that fruit of sugred Bale And longed too because she was forbidden Or else because like to a Guesâ— unbidden The Tempter which is likely watcht the houre When she was lesse Devout ere he could powre His Banâ— on her in a Corporeall shape That in the Fiâ— shee for the fruit might gape She sooner might all Enemies withstand Than Pythons mists unseene alwayes at hand Wher once he welcom finds he ther doth bring Moe Spirits like himselfe that Soule to sting As to a Frier chanc'd who tempted chose Once rather to be drunke than Soule to lose By Lust or Murthers Choyce But by that feate He whoor'd and slew the Husband in his heat So Sathan playes at this time with us all Old Adams seede he knowes in Generall That we by Nature fraile and wavering are Luâ—tfull and Proud then in particular He knows to what vain pleasure more than other We are most prone whilst we Devotion smother Which so observ'd by him with damned Craft He Guilds that Pleasure faire before his shafts He shoots from which ô Christ we have no fence Nor helpe but thy deare Crosse and Innocence To put them by with daily watch and Cares Least like to Eve he catch us unawares When Sathan saw that God to Man assign'd The worlds whole Rule he by a masked kind Of shape devis'd with Lies to tempt Eves mind And by her meanes her Husbands wits to blind O subtle Fiends inevitable Fetch Above a Cheaters or Projectors reach To set upon the weakest of the Twaine Before he dar'd the Husband in to traine He knew the power of a Favorite And what Man 's second selfe the Night-Crow might Suggest to bring strange matters to effect This mov'd the Fiend the Woman to select And worke upon her Frailties imperfection Because he knew the Man had more perfection He knew the Man had more Composed wit More ancient stay'd and harder to be hit He knew the Woman had a moyster Braine More shallow nice and of a smoother graine More pliant than the Male to be allur'd With Tales and Toyes whereof he stood assur'd Therefore Yee Men beware of Womens guiles Take heed Yee Women of Old Sathans wiles Tempt not your Husbands unto vanity To Idols Pride nor sloths Infirmity And let us hence both Men and Women all The Divell chase the Author of our Fall He grudg'd to see those of an Earthly Fâ—ature Above him set sometimes a Heavenly Creature That Humane-kind such Creatures New strange Should breathe that Aire where he did hope to range Rage despight to have Man thrown below Or at the least in Furies fell his Fellow Wrought on his Spirit all to Vengeance bent Till at the last he got his Lewd Intent About that time more Wise than any Beast With speckled skin like Golden Damaske drest The Serpent stalk't in Edens Paradise Him Sathan seaz'd and in his shapes disguise Thus with his Charmes to hide his cunning Hate He tempted Eve in absence of her Mate Faire Dame more fit for thy sweet Beauties Grace As Goddesse to possesse the Highest Place And all the world to Rule then to be curb'd Of thy Freewill or in thy Choice disturb'd Hath God forbidden you that Fruit to taste The fruit of Knowledge which shall ever last Which Life renewes and makes an Ideot wise Eate it and spare not Be not too Precise Yee shall not Die that 's but a scaring Crow To bleare your fight least you this secret know For God well knowes that tasting of this Tree You like Himselfe will soone Immortall be The woman firâ—d with Sathans faire discourse Resisted not but ranne th' Ambitious Course Of Lucifer who climb'd the highest staire Of Mysteries built Castles in the Ayre And rapt with false Imaginary Toyes Of being wise like God with hope of Joyes She started not with that odde Tree to grapple But thence she pluckt what God forbad the Apple One two or more as likt her Palate best With whose sweete Taste her Husband she possest As likewise with the vertue of the Fruite Which did with their high towring Fancies suit Ev's haughty mind was soon too soon persawded And Adams too wherby they were degraded Of Innocence true Joyes and Quiet Life Made Slaves to Vices Death and Endlesse strife The Devill too which ranged then unbound With borrow'd shape in stricter Chains was bound Yet mounting aâ—d descending with his Mates To try and sting as Faith grows or abates Hence Passions from Hels poyson soone began since To make Young Adam an Old worldly mâ—n With vaine Proud thoughts his Seede were ever since Swolne ban'd in every State Province The Elder Part against the New rebels With wily Plots till Grace the Foxe expels Hence spring those Plagues which now defile the Earth Cold Charity our sly and needlesse Dearth Distrust of God Ambition Simony Base Idlenesse Carowsing Gluttony Damn'd mungrell Matches Saints with Reprobates High purchast Names Envy in all Estates Malice Law-suites Deceits and Avarice Pride Thriftlesse Pompe and every other vtâ—e Whose foule Excesse like Fire's abuse I blame So to prepare roome for Devotions Flame For such as those the first Old world was drown'd As Our shall shortly burne about us round For such the Lord our Tongues did first confound At Babels Towre from one Hâ—rmâ—nious sound For such as those the Hebrewâ— were rejected And unto such are most of us subjected By that Old Pythons Satâ—â—ns subtilty Unlesse Faith helpe and 〈◊〉 Humility We are indeed beset by him that speaks And through a thousand throats now playes the Reaks In tempted Braines suborning men for Pelfe To sell the Spirits Gifts yea Heaâ—en it selfe Our mother Eve in Serpents shape he tempted To gull and gaine-How shall our Earthlings now Escape when that Bad Humours overflow The Bodies State when Tares do over top The Gospels Seede and when we see him hop Sweare and Carowse even on the Sabatth Day And every other Day to catch some Prey O wits bewitcht by the false Serpents Art Who sacrifice to Fiends your Noblest Part Ther 's nothing more than Prayer which they feare Because they know that 's musick in Gods Eare. When they heare Abbaes Peale ring from Mans Heart With hate of present sinne they soone depart And leave the Forts which they usurped then The Humours Braine and Heart of Man I meane And where they finde no Catechizing is Nor weekely Sermons us'd but All amisse For want of Meanes Gods Tythes kept backe like spoiles There Sports with Oathes with Healths they mingle broyles But woe to them who do Gods Tythes ingrosse Whereby ensues of Christian Soules such losse If Curst they were who ravish'd them at first Who dimme Faith 's Light are they not more accurst Transferring by those Prâ—yes to yawning Hell Like Antichrist more Soules than Tongue can tell And here with drery eyes I must lament The Fate of my poore Native Soile neere rent By Fiends a sunder through the Words defect For
stop the Old mans wily race Deatb Crownes a Saint and none can dy in Christ Except he living here become his Priest For Gods Elect must lead a Righteous Life Subject to Christ as to her head the Wife She knowes no male but one she stands in Aw Yet loves him deare and his Advice is Law Sweet heart quoth he lose not the mornings Prime But as Christ thee doe thou redeeme the Time With Prayers Zeale true Love and Fruitfull Deeds For of ten thousand Soules scarce one well speeds Now he that hath discretion in his pate Must marke these Maximes ere it be too late When strife for Love dreames we take for watching When Praise for Preyes and Grace we looke for Catching And when from Fasts we fal to Feasts and bibbing Then Abbaes streame stayes in the lowest Ebbing Our Advocate craves it to flow againe The Father yeelds and so to every veine Their streame flowes faire untill our changling fooles Have sought to other Streames from Muddy Pooles The Trinity then loathing Braines so sicke Their Motions stop and men dye Lunaticke From which Relapse Distrust and Lunacy Blesse we our selves as from Apostacy If I speake well or rave with puft up Learning Judge they who have the Spirit of Discerning In the meane time keepe we Gods Trumpets Feast And watch till it shall summon us to Rest. All Feastes expir'd in Christs his Oracles Or were exchang'd for our Soules Spectacles In memory to keepe our Saviours Name The Blessed Virgins and th' Apostles Fame With watch against the brats of Antichrist Which beare Christs Name but not the markes of Christ. To blaze these Newes I finde none more Divine Then Epiphanius and Saint Augustine Since the decease of those good Fishermen Which toyl'd to free soules from the Devils den For he that markes them blazing Heretickes May soone convince our moderne Catholickes Who were baptiz'd and styl'd Regenerate Went out from us but since degenerate Christs Oracles next to th' Apostles Time Shone as bright starres six hundred yeares in prime But afterwards by Pompe and Sodomy They were left Breathlesse for Anatomy Yet to the Spirits Feast of Shavelings slighted Our West hath beene by Prophets late invited To cleanse Christs Church from Superstitious Feasts Proclaiming Truth against the Mounted Beasts Mysterious charmes Soule-gulling Merchandize Which Gospel seem'd till Wickliff prov'd them lies Truthes Oracles which Antichrist supprest Are freely now in our owne Tongue exprest Each Parable made plaine to Babes reveal'd And every Mysticke Leafe lyes now unseal'd In spight of the Red Dragons Floud and Fraud And maugre all the Trickes of Babels Baud So that we may unlesse our Riots let Escape and breake out of the Hunters Net Strange Fires croaking noise from Balaams lips Cannot dash out our Light nor yet eclipse Those Rayes whereby the murthered Lamb of late Cheares up his Faithfull Bride and Sions state Relying on his Ayd and powerfull Arme His Spirit warmes and keeps from Leaguers harm But clandestine and by sly cheating trickes Some winne more Games to Babels Meretrix He that deceived Eve by subtill Traine Would our returne into her stewes againe Perswade By Sions Rents they shortly hope To blurre our Church and re-invest the Pope With his Old Keyes and with his Golden Crosse In Gods owne Temple Graces to ingrosse And for small cause to excommunicate Nay for neglect of Fees to shut Heavens Gate They hope to put by Satans Tares late sowne Our Laymens ward of Premunire downe But why cast I such Goblin doubts abroad When the Last Knell determines our aboad Our short aboad on Earth O let us then Repent and waile our sinnes deare Country-men Let us renew whilst that it is to Day Our Sacrifice and vowes of Love repay Oft musing on Saint Paules advice that now We Christ no more after the flesh must know But as it were in traunce the New-mans way To waigh his Crosse and Passion every day The Service which belongs to Him alone Withdraw not from that All-sufficient One By kneeling to our fellow-servants downe For Ghostly helpe who saved but their owne Deare Soules by vertue of that Costly Blood Which on the Crosse was shed for our joynt good If we beleeve as Saints have done before us In Christ alone Hels sting can never gore us Thinke on my words O ye backe-sliding Soules Who pay to Saints your vows like Market Tolles Thinke on your owne and Christ his painefull death The Judgement day and gaping hell beneath Our dayes are few Times period is at hand And Christ his Arke will shortly saile from Land The waves of sinne swell high Love growne too cold In most mens Hearts Mens ruines doth unfold True Faith for want of more Devotions heat Exiled pleads before Gods Judgement seate Against Mankind as at the Flood of Noah To plague the world with flames worse annoy Mens hearts are hardned like the Fiends of Hell For if a Prophet doe sinnes doome foretell Disswading them from Broiles O how they swell At the Good man with rage and passions fell Imposing for his paines Rackes shackles shame Or silencing or blacking his good Name Before Doomes-day this darke Prodigious fault Must follow next upon the Whores assault For though the Church Triumphant doth rejoyce To see her Fall our Jarres supplant our Joyes And so instead of Psalmes to Heaven sent We temporize or with her Complement Awake therefore ye watch-men with your flocke Lest you and they be hurld against the rocke Of scandall to our Churches infamy Ending in Schismes Broyles or Phlebotomy Thinke on the Fowles which ere the Sunne did set Abram had watcht and then huge darkenesse met Awake I say out of your slumbring sleepe Look to your charge in time Christs wandring sheep Behold our Soules great Shepherd is at hand Though some are loath the Signes to understand The last dayes Bell or Clocke of Mortals time Be watchfull ye were best will shortly chime Christ shortly comes the Faithfull to requite And to confound our Mysticke Gyants might No Tyrants threats no double tongue will serve Fee nor Reward the guilty to preserve Gods Darts like Comets threate our Westerne Orbe And Justice will the Austrian faction curbe Gods Angell now beginnes to goe about To warne before Doomes-day the Christian Rout Already hath his Holy Trumpets sounded Christ shortly comes to save the sick and wounded Watch Fast and Pray and cheare up one another This is Gods will by Christ our Elder Brother His warning peale rung forth unto the Jewes But scorn'd by them he left to us these Newes Because they slighted what they might have held The Word of Life the Light which they beheld The Lord remov'd his precious Candlesticke Clear'd others sight and left them blind and sick The Obstinâ—te I meane not all of them For some beleev'd before Jerusalem Demolisht lay yea thousands were baptiz'd Both then and since of the Crew Circumciz'd Some Jewes baptiz'd were by th' Apostles some At Christ
Types substantiall Truth he brought And our New-man in him Regenerate Shall doe the like if we cooperate We shall Gods word love more than Superstitions And follow Truth more than Humane Traditions The which Christ grant who felt excepting sinne All Natures griefes which we are plunged in From those Ten Lawes in stony Tabâ—es wrot By God himselfe he never swarv'd one Jot But them observ'd inviolated all Yea and the Morall as the Ceremoniall On Sabbath daies no man could him prevent But that he would the Synagogue frequent Which Nâ—â—e I may not silent overslip How sacredly Christ did all men outstrip In honouring the Seaventh feastfull Day At which time he most joyfully did pray With Davids Tunes both Hymnes and Psalmes he sung His heart whole Peales to his deare Father rung Of Jubilees and Thankes for Humane Good For sending him to save his Flesh and Blood Yet nerethelesse he seem'd not to gainsay But that Good deeds might well be done that day Or Casuall workes forc'd of Necessity Those would not barre the workers Piety No more then Davids deed when as he fed Constrain'd by Hunger on the Holy Bread For as he said God made the Sabbath day For Man not Man for it On it to pray On it to satisfy weake Natures Need And yet with mounting thoughts to save his Creed He must Praise God the Authour of his Calling And others by his steps confirme from Falling More often on that dayes Solemniz'd Feast Then other dayes not limited for rest Sixe dayes God left for Natures wordly Carke But that day to refresh th' Immortall Sparke Gods Lawes he kept unabrogated Holy Which none besides himselfe did ever wholly Above all sinnes which he saw raigning here Idolatry he loathed most for deare His Fathers Honour was to him and next To this great sinne his soule was oft perplext To see debate amongst his Neighbours Those Of Abrahams seed whom of meere Grace God chose And singled out from Superstitious Nations Peculiar to avoid their profanations For He the Sonne of Love borne from Above Could not endure the Opposites to Love He could not brooke without anxiety And troubled thoughts to see Cold Charity To see them with fat gifts the Lawyers feed To nourish Pride whilst others starv'd for need Therefore against all Malice he contested Nay them who hated Good men he detested He spent the best part of his Youthfull houres In hearty suite unto the Heavenly Powers For their conversion from such carnall pleasure And for their Wils restraint with Graces measure Because his life he might securely lead Till thirty yeares were full accomplished Himselfe he mated with the simplest Jew But seldome with the Proud or Heathenish Crew To shunne Vaineglory and the Serpents rage With Servants forme he cloakt his Parentage To Old and Young though but of meane Repute With whom he met he gave the first salute With Peace God speed Good morrow or Adieu And chiefely to the vertuous whom he knew So stampt in Soule after the New-mans Forme Who did their best the Old man to reforme With gracious words he ever heartned those According to his Naturall dispose To such as griev'd in body or in minde He shew'd himselfe most pittifull and kind With word and deed he sought their Amity And to accord their strife and enmity Though he no thankes for Peace-endeavours had More then in Aegipt Moses of the Bad. He never Place nor puft up Glory sought Nor what he not perform'd did promise ought His Word and Meaning still agreed in one Grounded upon their substance Truth alone He for ill use his Tongue did never traine Nor ever tooke the Name of God in vaine All wrangling Sects he shun'd the Pharisees For Pride and for Faith wrackt the Sadduces He hated them who scandaliz'd the Law And nourisht strife for Profit without aw Of God or Man as likewise their lewd Members Which kindled needlesse fires rak't up in Embers He scorn'd for Gold our Mercenaries hire To cloake the Right or Clients draw like wire He loathed wyles and lyes and loved Truth More than his life In hottest time of Youth When choller gall and passions domineere In him no signe of wrath did once appeare He used more to hold his Peace then speake Comparing those to Sives which secrets leake Against the Bodies loathsome Maladies To live as if he were in Paradise A diet spare both to the whole and sicke He still advis'd and Fasting the best Physicke This moved him to fast in Youth farre more Than in his Greene more springing yeares before He knew the worth of Dyets Excellence That a small thing workes Chyles nutriments Because the Blood and Humours Ebâ—â—litions Deriv'd from Food evapourate pollutions Toward the braine and soules chiefe faculties Distemp'red by the Bodies Qualities He affected Dyet even at a Feast Whereat Good man he came a seldome Guest By this stay'd course of Constitution sound His Body grew no Humours did abound Pernicious but with Daniels might compare Or the like choycest Saints for sober fare And by this stint to Nature his Complexion Most rare arriv'd to Beauties chiefe perfection As Carbuncles doe in the darkest Night Afford to all the Roome about them Light So was Christs Life of all the Neighbors seene To shine that none could taxe him of one sinne Or justly say that he at wealth did ayme Or Honour for he did them both disclaime As opposite to what the Trinity Affects in Man divine Humility With daily Prayers Fasts and watchfullnesse He still repulst the Darts of wickednesse He had so much and yet he made no boast Thereof Divine gifts of the Holy Ghost That Satan fail'd to peepe in or contemple The smallest chinke of his faire Spirits Temple Perhaps not thinking that the Godhead would Descend so low but leave Hell uncontroul'd Yet our defects that were most miserable He had as Man but not one damnable Which might have beene to Purity a Barre Or for our Ransome which might work a Jarre He honour'd God the Authour of his Good He loved Man as his owne Flesh and Blood His whole pure Heart not mixt by halves or hire He vow'd to God and kept his vow entire He never halted betwixt God and Baal Nor ever made of Soules Mechanique sale Which was the cause he went by day unshot And with those shafts that fly by night unsmote Gods holy Angels guarded him without Gods holy Spirit guided him throughout From those close Baites of the Infernall Angle Which more or lesse all Adams Brood entangle For proofe or Losse according to their Creed But Saints at last God succours in their need With Patience strength and Faith Apostolicke Whereby they may unto their Saviour sticke As God inspiring Gifts and their true sence As God and Man Christ drew their Quintessence And left the same within the Gospell coucht Which Saints have since with Martyrs seales avoucht Thus Jesus liv'd and spent his youthfull dayes And yet my Pen sets out not halfe his
attempt And bring to passe which Satan well foreknew Although he strove Gods Judgements to eschew In vaine he strove our Sun-shine to eclipse Where such as these come from a Christians lippes Alas what poore weak Fame a Nine dayes wonder Doe worldlings rove at if their Ends they ponder When men ground Faith on Humane Policy The Lord reputes it but Hypocrisie When he vouchsafes to lend some Miracles He doth it to confirme his Oracles To be divine and not Humane positions He doth it freely without Compositions And with a Caveat too that none waxe proud As though the gift were for their Owne allow'd Why should a Saint expect for Miracles Whilst he enjoyes Faith and Truthes Oracles For this regard did Jesus put to flight With Holy writ the Fiend with all his slight Thou shalt not tempt by any meanes said he The Lord thy God who first Created thee That is the Scripture thou shouldst muse upon And if infring'd what vengeance hangs thereon Thus Jesus twice already for our faults Endured had the Devils bold assaults Him now againe the third time he assayles To captivate or make him strike his sayles And knowing nothing in this worldly frame Can tempt a Saint like to Ambitions Flame Nor sooner can the finest wits defile As is Recorded on old Athens File Then to be pointed at by Peoples Prease Loe this is he the rare Demosthenes He comes no more with Scripture in his mouth But with the whole worlds Empire North and South The Eâ—st and West he labours to entangle Christs Senses like to Tybers Fishing Angle Wherewith his Vicar Crownes like Gudgeons tooke That Beast with Lambes two Hornes Dragons hooke So long agoe described by Saint John The man of sinne and that Perditions Sonne Whom Cardinalls at his Installment Grace With Triple Crowne and on Masse Altar place He rapt him in the twinkling of an eye To a high Mountaines Top thence to descry As from Mount Neâ—o where Canaan was showne To Moses many Kingdomes of his owne All the round world he there made to appeare In a false Mappe doubling the Hemisphere The like Romes Prelate scarcely could install For his to Right Castile and Portingall So Satan did his Monarchy contrive As Neptune stood on his Prerogative That great Command with triple forked Mace By Lot to me and not to him did passe Out of meere Grace and Love I beare to thee Sayes he to Christ if thou wilt worship me And homage doe these Crownes I give in Fee These States for thee and thine for ever be No greater snare could Lucifer invent Our Second Adams minde to circumvent No Motive nor more working Argument Then Scepters or a Mitred Governement As Mahomet tooke hold upon the First With th' Alcoran and of them all the worst Of Christian men usurp'd aspiring higher Both swords to manage and approaching nigher To the red Dragons claymed Jurisdiction With Soules and Bodies sale and interdiction But Gods deare Sonne did out of hand Controule These Lofty towring Flames Soules tainting foule He would not listen to Supremacies Nor to the worlds suggeste Primacies His Kingdome was not of this worldly station Of mortall Stampe but for sick soules translation By Fiery Tryalls to Jerusalem Not built with hands a place which fooles contemne To coole therefore our Thoughts irregulare Our Saviour thus put by the Serpents snare Not asking him as our late Exorcists Vaine questions but him packing from the Lists He could no longer his Just zeale refraine But instantly repuls'd him with disdaine Avant Satan make here no more abode Packe hence I charge thee in the Name of God Thou of my Faith hast made sufficient Triall But of his Rights I cannot brooke denyall I cannot heare with Patience Blasphemy Against my Fathers endlesse Royalty Who swayes this Globe by Aristocracies Democracies and awfull Monarchies The Lord thy God as Scriptures doe observe Thou worship shalt and him alone must serve Such Checking Words spoke with a Conscience cleane Free from ambitious thoughts and Deedes obsceane With vowes and Fasts aswell to purifie Themselves as the Old man to mortifie Oft naming Jesus Christ our Advocate Will quickly Satan chase or subjugate There needs no Charmes Masses nor Exorâ—ismes No holy water Reliques Crosse nor Chrismes To dispossesse or send the Devill packing Let such those trust where Faith Love are lacking When as I know as who is free my selfe â— braine or dreame neere cast upon this shelfe With Gales of worldly winds in shew most faire Gulling my Sense like Atomes in the Aire With false Selfe-love by him an Idoll prays'd With subtle Theames by his suggestions rays'd Such as on wits for want of vowes have play'd Or with such Quirkes as our late Sects display'd Or with wild fits and moods extravagant Let me but say with Jesus Christ Avant At their first comming with a pious mind At Christs sweete Name God sends them backe confin'd Let me review his Wounds I may be bold To conjure Satan from his strongest hold This Shield I take no other helpe I looke From Heaven or Earth against this Fishers â—ooke Christs coate I weare no other Ayd I crave Then His who other crave doe surely rave To other Saints whom they Gods Courtiers caâ—â— I say with Job Poore helpers are ye all Against Sinnes Rage and Satans proud Bravadâ—â—s Against his Plots his wiles and Ambusâ—adoes My Faith though weake supported mee witâ— Armes Contritions Grones prevented all my Harmes In Christ his Robes I feared no Annoyance Fenc'd with his shield I â—â—ung at him defyance After Resisting I did ever finde My Foes departed and good motions sign'd Or printed in my Heart unknowne to me From brutish Elves to guard my New-man free This should be writ in Cedar or in Gold The man Newborne who is for Grace enrold Shall sure be tempted by some wicked Fiend Whom if at first he doe suspect for Friend And not receive his Baytes with hearts delight That Man shall winne the Field through Christ his Might And from thenceforth with greater dowries blest Shall surely live and dye a Saint profest His Soule with Christ shall rest in Paradise His Body at Doomes-day with Joy shall rise In this we have our Master for Example Who by the Crosse on Satans head did trample As living he his motions had repell'd And with Gods Word three times had him refell'd Although he was alone and destitute Of Humane helpe yet he made Satan mute After his Conflicts to congratulate And him releeve in the like hungry State As was Elias who in Horeb past His Forty daies by meanes of fore-repast It is recorded that the Angels came Which shewes Gods Care Faiths strength Satans shame But here 's a doubt a question scrupulous Which to decide for me were perillous Lest that I seeme in Negromanticks vers'd Or that my Rule by Saints might be revers'd Whether these Assaults Reall were or visions Or mixt with Satans Jugling Apparitions To argue that Gods Sonne
then he would restore To Israel the Kingdome as before Forgetfull so of Jesus Crucifixt Were they and to a Carnall Monarch fixt Whereto Christ answer'd It concernes not you To know the times and seasons which ensue Such secrecies the Father doth reserve Unto himselfe Do you my words observe Who am your King the Head of humane-kind As I to you so to my Flock be kinde My Gospell Preach the weak ones Catechize See that my Sheepe yee feed my Lambes Baptize Invoking on as you have learn'd of me The Father Sonne and Holy Ghost all three Which Last shall shortly you Baptize with Fire As John with Water and your Soules inspire As Gods Viceroy or Angell of the Lord By Heat of what I taught the saving word Untill I come in Person from Above See that yee Watch and one another Love Such or like words when Christ had fully ended He in a Cloud up to the Heavens ascended Where he as God and Man all thoughts beholds Preferred by the Father and there holds As Man for Men a Mediatours place On Gods right hand Saints joyfull to imbrace As God and Man Paules Fury he did fright As God and Man Saint Steven saw his Light So did Saint John from Pathmos see his glory When he reveal'd his future Churches story By Visions have some others ravisht beene That they from Earth his Power there have seen For had we seen him here with Carnall sight Our Darknesse could not comprehend his light Whilst his Disciples there with carefull Eyes Watcht as he went two Angells humane-wise Apparell'd white appearing to them said Yee Galileans why are yee dismai'd Why gaze yee up This Jesus who is hence To Heaven gone shall so returne from thence Seeke not therefore his reall presence heere On Earth untill as Judge he do appeare Meane time on Gods right hand a Prince and Priest He raignes and doeth you in your vowes assist On Whitsunday next after Christs ascent He ravisht his Disciples with content Who then attended at Jerusalem For the last promise which he made to them That he would send Gods Spirit in his steed To rectify and ayde them in their need And while the world should last his Church informe In some or other place with wondrous Forme When that high feast of Pentecost was come And for that end they meeting in one Roome With one consent there fell a bustling noise Or suddaine sound replete with stirring joyes As of a mighty Breath and rushing Wind Which fill'd the House and wonder-rapt the mind For Cloven Tongues appear'd to them like Fire And sate on each of them and did inspire Their Soules with giftes of the great Holy Ghost So that the Standers by of Aliens Coast Astonisht were th'Apostles joyes to heare Men of a diff'rent Tongue and Climate there Poore Hebrew Fishermen that never went Far out of Jewry Land extatick bent With them in their owne Language to agree And in their zeale to God to be so free And fluent of their Phrase that Babels Breach Seem'd reconcil'd by their harmonious speech Some thought they were like Bardhs Enthusian rapt Or that strong Wine in them such Blabs had clapt That men before the third houre of the day Should rave with Wine they wondred with dismay They were amaz'd till Peter made it knowne That for Christs sake God sent this wonder downe Not for Mad fits but for Soules joyfull feast God sent the Holy Ghost this wondrous Guest O Wondrous Guest that vents forth Abbaes Cry Within the Heart the will and memorie O wondrous Guest the Heavens Harbinger That scornes not to become the Messenger Betwixt our Soules and God to beare our Love And our weak Faith to strengthen and improve That sever'd Earth from Chaos medley Puddle And rays'd our Orbe out of the lumpish Huddle And though the Earth were heavy hung it faire With store of stuffe in the loose fleeting Aire This is that Prime and ever quickning Mover Of all the world Angells and Mens approver That spirit which through all Gods Prophets spoke Which taught the sense of Mysticks to unlock Which clear'd the Wits of simple Fishermen To preach those Newes which Doctours fayl'd to pen Which rulâ—d in every Age since Christs Ascent The Church and dayly yeelds Soule-nourishment Which at our feast Christs Body doeth convay Into our Hearts by his Spirituall way Which sent the gift of Printing now of late Old Babels spelles and mists to dissipate And by the Word to rescue Thralles from death As he at first the gift of Tongues did breath Which animates the Saints with courage rare In midst of Tortures Tyrants to out dare Which glads the Lowly and the Penitent And thousands doth unite in one Consent Of Christian Faith though sundred much in place Tongues rites or forme yet one in sacred race O Holy-ghost how strange is thy proceeding Angells and mens capacities exceeding No pen can limne thy Raptures most profound No humane voice can thy hid Graces sound One thing I blunder out what thou conceal'st From carnall Clarkes to Children thou reveal'st Then let my Soule O Lord be like these last Whilst others feast on Peacocks let me fast Or tast no other Food but what conduces To praise thy Name without prophane abuses And let all them who view these humble Lines Prove better'd in their thoughts with contrite signes If the old man they labour to deface And do their best the new man to imbrace Not like our moderne Gulles who grow Profane Lest they be markt with brand of Puritane Let us Gods Spirit by these Wonders seeke These Wonders wrought the first day of the Weeke Our sevenths Light now styled The Lords day Thrice hallowed and sanctifi'd for Ay For this rare Blisse to Christian Soules accrewes That Christ his rising up their hopes renewes To Rise like him ingrafted in his stock To quench their thirst with him the living Rock To bud a new as Branches of his Vine To feed on Angells food his word divine He led the way to Resurrections blisse And us invites to follow him in this High flight without diverting towards Earth But with due care of the new Spirits Birth Our former resurrection in this Life To gaine th' immortall prize through strong beliefe With those true joyes which did but Monarchs know They would foregoe their Crownes the same to ow A glimpse whereof for undestanding Soules Wee read by John reveal'd in mystick scroules With those delights wreathes and immunities Which God allots to Saints in Paradise But for the Temper Place Degrees or Site No Astrolabe nor Braine of worldly wight Can apprehend the height Dimension Rayes Unlesse they fall on false Poetick wayes Yet Paradise some to the Moone confine And there to be another World define Of moving Groves by Galilees late Glasse Where Apuleius found his Golden Asse Whence likewise came Dame Errours Charmed Lamp Which kindled Legends of th' Elisian Camp And Limboes field which Royall James to hit False Dreamers home
If harsh my Tune seemes to your tender Earâ— Let Your mild Grace with my plain meaning beare As well because the matter I rehearse Requires bare naked Truth in simple Verse As that I might the vulgar sort allure To our New-man from their Old wayes impure Since Gentle words may for their Babes afford A winning Call to Jordans Bathing Ford And that I might hold on my Countries Guise Course Russet yet sincere without disguise Of Art or Sense lest that you might suspect That I on Truth no Exercise erect For if I cring'd with Charmes adulterate Of Pick-thank Soothes or borrowed Termes of state I should then cast before your Eyes a Mist Not spreading Truth like an Evangelist For Christian Peace with pure Devotions Flame But Wilde conceites blowne up for worldly Fame And so instead of noysing her Effects I wrong her worth and shew my owne defects Truth is the Starre which grac'd my New-Mans Flame O would I could to you so blaze her Fame As once fell out before the Persian King When her Renowne Salathiels Sonne did ring With such a Peale that all the Court confest Truth onely Great fit for a Monarches Breast Our Onely God Created but One Sunne From Pole to Pole Times yearely Race to runne No more lent He then this Gift Vniforme One Truth to sway our Soules and to informe All Adams Seed of the Right way to Heaven One safe High way not Labyrinth'd but Even This Royall Way is Jesus Christ alone Who left us Truth our Discords to atone To guide our steps into his Churches Fold Without hard Yokes or selling soules for gold And to confound as with a Lightning Sword The Obstinate by his Mysterious Word Upon this Words bright Substance we depend Fixing on Christ our Faith and Soveraigne End With Will prepar'd enfranchised by Grace His holy Life and Gospels Light to trace And to take up with zeale when so he please His Crosse and bitter Cup before soft Ease Besides this Way to gaine the Top of Heaven All Paths like Quicke sands are or puft up Leaven Of which false steps are Ladders for the Turkes From Mecha rapt and those stupendious Workes Father'd on Saints by Men possest with Fiends In Legends fam'd for base Simonious ends Not for One Faith one God one Advocate But many Christs and Idols to create To shun such Bogges By-wayes and Fallacies I have set forth the Soules sweet Exercise Kindled by Truth Jehovahs bosome Daughter Who by his Son wrapt in the Scriptures brought her By her mild Rayes reflecting on my strains Your Grace may reap some fruit And for my pains Sweet Prince I crave no other recompence Then that you take them into your Defence With my true vowes till in your riper Age You them oppose against the Old Mans Rage The preface to the Reader OVr New-mans Lord be prays'd for evermore Who with New Layes augmented hath our store And by his Rayes hath lately rais'd my wil To Sacrifice above Acquired skill He stirr'd me up with Zeale on Sions stage To act a Part though in my drouping Age Having outgone the step which Sages call Lifes Fatall Yeare the Climactericall My Morals He turn'd to Diviner wayes My Romane Dactyles into English Layes My rugged Prose He chang'd to Smoother Lines That with New-straines I might win Libertines Maugre his Spleene who doth this Worke confine Will Poets preach or sing of things Divine Shall Knights usurpe the place of Clergie men To praise Gods Church or Christ his Life to pen He may as well Apollinarius taxe Or as enrag'd against Old Ephres waxe Both which by Tunes on Grecian Lyre did strive To settle Faith in the Church Primitive He may aswell blame Nazianzens Quill Prudentius Claudians or S. Austines skill As strike at Poets for recalling Soules From Darknesse unto Light by Sacred Scrowles Were Sions Muse to Clearks alone entail'd The Criticke might with Semeies sting have rail'd On the sweet Post hume of our Royall James Which ravish English Eares with Davids Psalmes He might with Theons Tooth good Bartas bite Or for Doomes-Day our Noble Sterline smite Or if he feares to hit so high a Mark Why claimes he not Zoiles priviledge to bark At Him whose worth deserves Vlisses style Whom Grotius taught Christs Passion to compile Our starres late grac't my Raptures of the Bride How then dare Momes the Bridegroomes praise deride But can a Prophet rise from Galilee Or Waâ—es in Tune shape Truths Evangelee Or can her Geese compare with English Swans To sing good Newes to Contrite Publicans To paint such Flights no Mortall should presume Unlesse his Pen were of a Cherubs Plume Unlesse the Poet rapt above the Pole Charme Men from Jarres Fiends from taking Toll So that the End be good Truth ought to passe Though by a Scythian nois'd or Balaams Asse And whilst we not Divineâ— Flames profane With false Poetique Dreames Devotions Bane There is no Sexe in Soules Aswell the Least As Greatest here shall shine at Christ his Feast At the Lambs Feast where Saints for ever sing The Simplest Swaine on Earth joyes as the King Now if our Wales such Novelties relates Disdaine them not Yee Noble English States But pry into them like her Silver Mine For which of late her Alpes yee undermine And since yee see her Wombe and Bowels yeeld Lime Coale and Marle to raise the wearied Field Then why likewise may not her Streames affoord Some Swans aswell as Thames or Humbers Foord If not to chaunt their Native Melody At least to tune a harmelesse Rhapsody Whereby from Fiends some Converts may bee drawne To ransome Wares which they had left in pawn That with our Head the Members sympathize God breathes into mens Hearts New Faculcies For when his Sonne ascended up on High He captive led our Wils Captivity Renew'd of Grace our Charters Liberties And gave rare Gifts with Flaming Novelties Which if some hide or Miser like engrosse They frustrate make their Freedome by the Crosse Least therefore I encurre that Prejudice I publish here my New-mans Exercise With this true Warning shot or Tolling Bell That the Old Man Yee Readers first expell Before yee mend these Raptures or proscribe With Catoes Broach or Brand a Christian Scribe By a non licet least your Negatiue Barre that which sorts with Saints Affirmative That this my Worke in substance comprehends An Offering which to Christ his Glory tends Not Noised forth like Chymiques Quintessence For sordid Gaine but strife and Carnall Sence The Gangrenes of this Age to cauterize I freely vent my Soules Wâ—â—kes Exercise And though my Tone like Gileads shibbeleth Suits not nice Tongues nor Davids Leekes your Breath Yet doth my Muse with Englands Faith agree And hopes by Trance our Saviour Christ to see In Bethlems Cratch and on Mount Calvary His Rising vp and Triumph I descry And blunder forth by the like Mystery But with sharpe Hounds my Muse and Memory I 'le first assay Olâ— Reinards Brood to stoup View
though the Tithes some Annually collect Amounting in each Parish to the summe Of hundreds twice yet the poore Curates roome Is scarcely worth nine or ten pounds a yeare Nay some there be which counting that too dear Hire yearely Cocks for halfe that sum to crow And what Soule-food such creatures chaunt you know Nor Parish-poore helpe they nor Churches Rate But as it were in sinne Inveterate Cloath with Church-goods their Sacrilegious backs Not dreaming once of Hell or inward Racks For their converting Tythes to private store Which were ordain'd for Churchmen the Poore Nor weighing yet what Temporalâ— despight And fearefull plagues on tythe-ingrossers light Upon their house and Crime-partaking fry Here in this world to rot their memory And some of these I knew in Jayles to lye For Treasonâ— Debts and some die sodainly And some likewise I knew their Widows Heires And Children tir'd with Broyles Law-affaires Take Learnings hire away Learning decayes Unlesse Gods Spirit by unusuall wayes Immediately to bring rare things to passe Inspire some wits with new Caeâ—estiall grace But if both faile what Chaos may ensue I le leave to scan till Time brings them to Rue And waile with howling paine and soule-sicke groane Alacke the Day that we our Mothers moane Contemn'd and pill'd her bare since Saracens Her dues to keepe fear'd like the Pestilence All Labourers deserve their Day-reward But much more they who watch the soule to guard To this I adde the scandall and offence Which they procure to sects of tender sence Who taxe our Church and Levites Common-weale With Jeroboams Plot and want of zeale For gracing Clerkes of blind inferior ranke As though we had no Church but Babels Banke On Willow trees our Trumpets up to hang Or those sad Layes which there the Captives sang Denouncing Fate farre worse then Iewries woes With Plagues to light on Sions jeering foes So Romish Scribes quip us with scurrile songs Unjustly for conniving at such wrongs And twit our Church with Coblers and Sow-gelders When as the fault lies not upon our Elders But on some gracelesse greedy minded wights Who seizing on the Tithes put out our Lights As formerly their Monkish Hypocrites Had like to Kites snatcht up those Tithing Rights So Popes were taxt for granting Tythes and Tolles To men more fit to feed their Mules then Soules So though Carmarthins Clerkes for Parishes Enrowl'd fourescore yet fifty three of these The Popes for Drones improperly assign'd Their Tythes which were of Old by Caesars sign'd For painefull Bees and made Authenticall To their sole use by Councells Generall Whence Sions Vines like Osneyes nipt at first By Wolsey in the Spring quencht Henries thirst In Summers rage and serv'd in Autumne since As baites for sinne but now gone from the Prince To Chapmens hands in time of Winters cold Church-Farmes by them are dearely set and sold With small regard to Clerkes or the New-borne As if Hels-stormes their consciences had torne Hence grow Mault-wormes unlicenc'd Ale and Beere With Shifts to rack for what men farm'd so deere O would these Lines like pricking Goades might prove To stirre up zeale with more Seraphicke Love Or now at last that some would imitate Those few which rendred backe unto the State Tith-spoyles as did the Noble Huntington And in our dayes Religious Dodington For I avow they Achans stile deserve Who rob the Church her good Shepherds starve Or cause in them the New-mans zeale to freeze By their unjust purloyning of her Fleece I speake not of that Fleece which Orpheus sung But of true Prophets there by worldlings wrung Of their Fee simple rights and lawfull Fees Not due to Drones but to industrious Bees Whoss Art spreads Sermons forth like Chrysostomes Sweeter than Honey or the Honey-combes For if they starve how can the Flocks survive How can they rise to Faith in Knowledge thrive Since Faith by hearing springs Love by Gods word Since both waxe dark where Prophets are abhor'd Hearts unprepar'd for vowes and Fasting dy Or rave with Pride or pine with Malady And then their soules like Slaves are bought and sold When Sathans Ambush breaks into the Hold For want of Guides and watchfull Centinels Whose Meanes were stopt by worldly Machivils Our Parliament mov'd with their Brethrens teares Their Civill Iarres their grievances and feares Proclaim'd some publicke Fasts for Sacrifice With vowes of late for their enormious vice That so they might the wrath of God allay And by good Jacobs Ladder make their way With Abstinence to stint the fuming blood As with Soule-sighes our Angell Guardians Food But if the Shepheards Limbes with Frost benumme Lye languishing or of the Palsie dumbe How shall their Flocks the use of Fasts discerne Or learn what may the minds true health concern How shall they Fast and feele for Discord griefe If they be barr'd of Sermons Soules reliefe How shall they Fast from inbred Avarice If none shew them the way to Sacrifice How shall they fast from foule Conspiracies From Rapines Bribes Deceits and Piracies How shall they stand secure from Perjurers If no man them from cursed Oathes deterrs And when such Slaves uncatechized sweare Who lives not of false proofes in dayly feare How shall our Juries wave Knights of the Post If they as these contemne the holy Ghost How shall we scape these last nam'd Philistines Dwelling in Mesech or with Libertines Hence I collect that there ensues this curse Where Teaching failes there Soules grow worse and worse Proud Nemrod will not leave his rufling Port Nor crouch to Christ in Penitentiall sort With vile Attire much lesse with inward Shrift As for sinnes Guilt hath been old Suppliants drift But fool'd by Lust he knowes Dame Pleasures house More than Gods Church or the Old man to touse Nay in the Church he dares his Bravery Of Plumes to shew or rather Ravery The Drunkard still goes on to play the Sott And more then Fasting Rules to ply the Pot. By heath'nish healths mad fits and lavish cost Polluting gifts breath'd from the Holy Ghost So that moist vapours to the Head ascend And Rheums from thence into the lungs descend The fourefold humours foame the blood inflames More capable of Pestilentiall Flames Then of mild Natures heat vowd for impression Of Gifts divine to hinder Fiends Oppression Our Gluttons will not cease to breake the Law Nor spare one dish to ransome Lazars Jaw But what the Earth the Sea and Aire produce Their Panders dresse for their full panches use With Spice exchang'd for Englands dearest wealth Without regard to Soules or Bodies health For which delight Dayes Fasting to prophane Some wish they had the long necke of a Crane That so they might like to the ravenous Wolfe Powre downe more store into the Gurmands gulfe And though their penance were to take a Purge To have the Cramping Gout or the like scourge Yet will they feed on Cates varieties At the same meale in spight of Maladies Of Lawes advice of friends
Physitians threats And the repugnant Nature of the meates Nay though they know some meats may cause offence Unto the Weake the Old man will dispence That on a Friday in a Papists sight They feast on Flesh his Conscience to despight Against the rules of Civill Modesty As if they meant their Neighbours Swine to tye To Meazeld troughs against the Owners Will Who bred them up with other kind of Swill As bad perhaps as Sugar-sops or Fish Which raise up Lust more than the fleshy dish Of old it was not so Good Christians then In feeding with the Jewes like Prudent men Abstain'd from Porke and puddings stuft with Blood They liv'd content with their Mosaicall Food To win weak soules to Christ they seem'd content lawes With all things except sinne indifferent For whose deare sake they would each Countryes Observe and weare a Fooles coate were there cause And so sometimes we play the Humourists Faiths essence sav'd to raise up Catechists But since our Head commands a Publicke Fast How dare the Members gape for much Repast But mutually joyne with their Christian mates Of the same Church to calm the threatning Fates On Jonathan a thundring sentence past Because he brake unwittingly a Fast And shall our Gulles unpunished escape Who wilfully commit an Heath'nish Rape And violate the Law with carnall taste Out of crosse-spleene conceite and wanton waste Nor for restraint of Wind necessity Or for raw Ayre but of meere Vanity A little serves the Hungry Maw to heale Why then will they devoure more at a Meale Than twice five ounces of substantiall Food And so much weight of drinke to do them good More frugall yet when Fasting dayes commence Least Fumes oppresse the Braine Sleepe presse thâ— sence To keepe in plight thereby the Bodies Frame For the Soules Feast and Belly Gods to shame Such Food as will not over soone corrupt Bisket Rice Pulse or soft Panades supt A smal thing cheeres the heart Midriffe calmâ— As wines one draught kept Timothy from Qualmes Why then will Christians play the Epicures And frustrate make the Soules and Bodies Cures By causing Fumes to breath up to the Braine Where they beget the Soules and Bodies paine Excesse of Meats beyond the Golden Meane Turnes into Fat and Excrements uncleane It taints the blood breeds Dropsies Feavers Gouts Or duls the wit and makes them heavy Louts Unweildy for Faiths Active Qualities To please our God with humble Sacrifice Of Vessels some are Rough some Porcellane Of Bodies some turne Pure and some Prophane Note this in Beasts their dung lets us to weet That Swine and Dogs smell rancke the Stags more sweet Now Gryllus chuse thy mould Hogs Stags or Dogs If Stags be scant Dogges stinke then take the Hogs And wallow in his mire untill thou feele The meazell'd Plague and like a Dizzard reele These Points and others moe grave Levites preach Where they enjoy their Rights how the breach Of Fasting comes which makes me tel my friends He that neglects the Churches moane offends For which and the like crimes he ought to sob Who thinkes it no offence Gods Tythes to rob The Arts contempt and robbing them of Hire Cause many Plots and strange combustions fire In humane breaâ—ts Divines to Simonize And other Wits to raile and Libellize At Lawes or Times or else they fly from home To Doway Spaine Saint Omers or to Rome Whence what ensues I leave for Politiques To judge while others turne home-Empiriques False Sycophants or Mountebanks to seeme More wise or skilfull in the worlds esteeme When to themselves they guilty are of fraud But Need allures dame Beâ—uty like a Baud To prostitute or rather want of Grace That makes the Whore the Modest to outface Yet now I hope our forraigne-built Plantations Will Britaine free from many Imputations When Drones remov'd the rest more elbow roome Shall have to thrive like Honey-Bees at home Unlesse which God avert the Pestilence Abate our swarmes and crosse good mens Intents Mean time the world on wheels runs mad by fâ—ends And furies led whom they mistake for friends One while they tempt to Apish imitation Whilst Pygmies swell with Gyaâ—â—s transformation With â—urld bold Ruffians Haire immodest face Proud costly robes with Gold and needlesse Lace And thriftlesse puffes winkt at perhaps to raigne For Trades increase Customes or Mercers gaine For whose support with rich Caparizons Tâ—ades with Coach-mares make oft comparisons By these our Off-springs tainted 〈◊〉 Turne Harpyes Peacockes or Hermaphrodites By these high sailes hath Hospitality Sunke in deepe Gulfes with Christian Charity The multitude of sinners gone amisse Makes â—inne to seeme the lesse and so doth this Another while our Gentry with delights They traine to tread Gods gifts with dogs kites Or else to gape for Others goods at Play Oft to the losse of their owne worldly stay Whilst Satans wily fiends subordinates Confirme such Gamesters for his Reprobates But late they triumph'd when against the Rheume Some did create a God of Indian Fume Whereby men craz'd their memory and wits And parcht their Vitall Blood more then befits O Custome charm'd besotting Christendome Besotting Braines against the day of Doome Tobaccoes smoake no other Humour drawes Then Spawling which it selfe doth chiefly cause Nor doth this Hells evaporating Puffe End here although worse then a Candles snuffe To qualify the Dampish sooty Braine It must be moistned oft for Tavernes Gaine With Wine or Beere that the heate Naturall May swim with Flegme as the Moist Radicall Lies dampt with drouth of sense-benumming smoake And this they doe so long untill the Heate Of Nature failes corrupt with sulphures sweate The Braine thus soild how shall Gods grace erect The Spirits Temple in the Intellect By hearing Faith gets roome but if by fits Their senses quaile their quailing hurts the wits Then let this be in Brasse or Marble plac't Who smoakes Tobacco much he doates at last Who can deny but Satan in our Age Is let more loose with violence to rage And with his Angels daily goes about To batter Faith and true Zeale to roote out He is let loose to range about at Pleasure And more then Love pricks men to dreame of Treasure We prate of Faith but Pride eates up the fruites We talke of Peace but that ends in Law-suites For feare of humane Plots Saints oft are dumbe And Love is by the Dragons wiles become A thing of naught a Cypher without fellowes Whilst Golden hopes of Lucre blow the bellowes As Passengers their ship being weake and riven To sâ—ndry Coasts for many Leagues are driven Of gusts and stormes of Gulfes they make report Before they can arrive at Safeties Port So now are Saints by Gog and Magog vext And glad to fly with civill Broyles perplext Out of their Native soyle to Strangers Armes For refuge against Mars his fierce alarmes As witnesse now of late the Valtoline France Belgia Hesse all Dutchland and the Rhine So others are by suits and quarrells
his death when Saints rose from their Tombe How many Jewes turn'd Christians in one day Who had the gift of Tongues on Whitsunday Some Christian Jewes when Roman Rage had rent Judaeas state to Jordans Pella went To Antioch Tyre Arabia Babylon To Corinth Creet Damascus Macedon And to remoter Coasts in hope of rest Whence after James decease in time distrest Some fell some grew By these the Gentiles rose From darkenesse to Soules light tooke up the Crosse Preacht Christ mixt with Jewes they were ingraft In one faire stocke untill by Satans craft The Nicholaites and the Nestorian Sect Did with false drugges the Easterne world infect In vaine therefore we looke for more Conversion Of moderne Jewes before the Worlds subversion Then what is past unlesse which Jewes abhor Our Romanists leave off Shrines to adore Much lesse Elias to descend in Flesh With Enoch since their Spirit some possesse And since the Formers gift infus'd in John He clear'd the way for the Creators Sonne Already hath the Gospels Larum rung To quicken soules whom the Red dragon sâ—ung Yea Nations to our Auncestors unknowne Heard lately of Mount Olivets renowne And might unto the Christian Faith be wonne If Britaine Spaine and Holland joyne in one Religious League to traffique on the Mayne For Indian Soules more than for Worldly Gaine As Spaine exchang'd her wares for Gold and spice So we by Peters Net may sacrifice And catch more Preyes for Christ then Spaine hath done Except henceforth our New Mans course she run What braver gaine can be then Soules to win From Heath'nish spoyles and superstitious sin What taske can Pilgrims take more happily Then th' Abissine for Manuscripts to try Who as they say hath those unknowne to us Which will strike dumbe all Sects Idolatrous What easy meanes and secondary wayes Hath God lent us now in these latter dayes Since Printing and the Loadstone he made knowne To cleare the darke and put the Poâ—e-starre downe That so his Word might with the setting Sunne Conclude the worke which in the East begun O Noble Europe how I pitty thee If that great Plague which some Divines foresee Due for thy Wiles and Pride light on thy flocke Americans raised to the Living Rocke Whereof sometime thou vauntst in Aprill-youth While Feasts for Fasts and Lies thou take for Truth But I leave these as secrets of the Lord As yet thou hast his Pledges and his Word Which may till Doomes-day last if thou repent And banish Schisme the Baâ—e of Loves content How many stout Confesâ—ouâ— like bright Starres Hath God inspir'd to 〈◊〉 our jarres How many men of Ghostly Ranke as Lay Yea Mitred Saints have gone the Martyrs way Grave Cranmer Ridley Hooper Latimer And Ferrar fam'd in Englands Register Not fearing like true Members of their Head To suffer rather death then be misled Or to connive with false dissembling Brow At Babels Charmes though ne're so faire of show How many Heraulds hath he sent of late Yet slighted all to warne each Christian state To sue for Grace their follies to forbeare And to prepare with true Religious feare For their New Birth and Spirits Renovation Before the day of wrath Earths conflagration Among the rest his Grace enlightned me In Britaines Isle Soule-dangers to foresee And by a Sparke lent from his Heavenly Flame To Sacrifice and spread the Newmans Fame To this effect and that I might regaine Some swarmes for Christ I chose a tinckling strain Wherewith I found like John in Jewry-Land Repent Repent Gods Kingdome is at hand Admonitio Christiana EXitus Orbis adest Chaos fatale diei Extremae subit atra brevi Campana sonabit Vos igitur moneo Praeconis more Litate Pectoris ex imis Christo Nova sacra Monarchae Ille Dei Sermo concludet Ovesque Luposque Judicii extremi Sermone Venite vel Ite Ite hinc in Furias in Topheâ— ite Ferae Fida sed ad Ferias Turba venite Poli. A Christian Admonition THe Fatall end which shal the world confound Draws neere Doomes-dayes Bell will shortly sound In Preachers Type I warne you then to bring New Offerings from the Heart to Christ our King For He Gods word will cloze the Latter day Thus by his word Come Sheep Wolves pack away Packe hence to Hell ye Creatures wild To Heaven Come ye the True and milde A Hymne of Repentance to be sung for the ease of an afflicted Conscience WHat strange assaults of sins surrounding tide Breake in upon our Soules on every side How fearefully Gods darts of vengeance glide So neere they glide we cannot turne aside We feele enough to pull downe Pride More terrours then we can abide It is no wrong but Justice which we feele Though we were scourg'd with Wires of keenest steele Or broiled on the Coales or flay'd alive We merit not Doomes respite nor reprieve Because in time we did not grieve For sinne nor sought in Grace to thrive Sinne is the cause of our Law-suits and jarres Sinne is the cause of our late Civill warres The former robs us of our meanes of Thrift The latter of our friends with bloodier drift For want of shrift and hearts uplift Fiends doe as Wheate our Passions sift We ought indeed more godâ—y to have beene Before we felt Gods Judgements for our sinne We ought indeed his Arrowes to prevent With Prayers Vowes and houres more frugall spent Yet we repent with heart neere rent His Talents use by us mis-spent We will not yet of Freedome quite despaire No Gracious God we know thou canst repaire Our drooping state though plunged in the mire Of mangie sinne or scortcht with Troubles fire Thou canst refraine thy Judgements Ire Our Temples cleanse our Soules inspire Thou at a becke Soules-tortures canst remove Or else asswage our griping fits above Straind Natures reach as thy Sonne Jesus did Poore Publicans of their diseases rid Yea though griefes were of causes hid Their utmost sting thou canst forbid To thee alone for Mercy we appeale Who heretofore the Israelites didst heale By Serpents stung and sundry others cure By Miracle thou canst Soule-ease procure Nay health assure and cleanse us pure As thou didst Naaman though impure Lord pitty us and blesse our Second Birth As thou with heate showres dost barren earth As Peter Paul the Thiefe in Calvary And her whom Jewes tooke in Adultery Thou didst cheere up in misery Because they did for Mercy cry Behold how Satan wheeles about our braine More busy now than ever with his traine Of fiends unseene to circumvent our will He knows us weake and therefore bends his skill The more his mallice to fulfill Because we are so craz'd and ill He stiles our Heathenish spoiles states purging pills Our jarring Pleas as necessary ills Our Niggardize good thrift Pride decency Our drunken healths kind Fellowship and why He knowes that Carnall fallacy Enwraps the Soule in Lunacy Against his snares we have no other fence Then thy Sonnes merits Blood and Innocence
O God most Just and for his sake we trust Thou of meere Grace wilt us repute as Just Before we be by Satan crusht Before our Bones lye in the dust Now is the Time or never to us ayd For after death when we in earth are layd What Sacrifice what Offering wilt thou have Thy Christ hath ransom'd us and thou dost crave No more then his deserts to save Sinners from Hels devouring grave Christ is our Head him onely we adore Christ is the Saint whose helpe we still implore Christ is the Light which harts more cold then Ice Hath warm'd and chear'd by the Soules Exercise Christ is the Lambe that paid the price To Justice due for humane vice This Sacrifice regardfull of the strife Twixt Heaven Earth for our sicke soules releife Most gracious Lord we to thy Grace present Not to fulfill Romes Amulets intent Or unction charm'd for Sacrament But with pure Faith Loves Balme to vent Both which thou hast from Heaven sent Both which on Earth yeeld thee content Amen The Second Dayes EXERCISE The Argument The Mystery explain'd of Christ his Birth Why he came poore and strange to Carnall Mirth Here they are toucht who soile his Feastivalls With Riot Pomp or drunken Bacchanalls THe Scribe of late who blaz'd the Churches state From Christs Ascent till this yeares present date Now represents a more Soule-quickning part And to win strayes drops on the stony heart Alluring them by sacred charmes to watch And waite on Him who made poore Bethlems cratch Borne there without Male-Sire in Judaes Land Like Daniels Mountaine-Stone cut without hand More glorious than the Romane Capitoll Or Rhodes Colosse in the Sev'n Wonders Roll. For this sweet Trance to rebaptize the Will To rowze the Braine the Soule with zeale to fill Draw Christians neere and view the Stable-Cratch Where lay the Virgins Son Draw neere dispatch And humbly greet this Heav'ns Earths umpeere Whose Joyfull Feast good Christians every yeere Do solemnely renew for twelve Dayes space Till that bright Starre ends at his Native place Wisemen they were who did this Light partake Led by that Flame which through the Prophets spake Had we their Star or Iacobs Staffe for Guide Diviner Dreames our Fancies would betide We might then hope with safety and with Ease To passe the Spanish Straights and Mid-land Seas In spite of Moorish Pirates or Algiere And without feare of Turkes to domineere Till we arriv'd at last on Joppaes Strand And so from thence survey that Holy Land Where dwelt sometime a Shepheard Royaliz'd Out of whose Ligne Our Saviour Humaniz'd The second Adam our soules Shepheard came As well from God as from Just Abraham But how cam'st thou quoth Zeale to found out Truth In tuned forme a worke for Joviall Youth No humane skill can ancient yeares exchange From whence then spring these Tunes these motions strange In thee whose Beard bewrayes that Melancholy Strives to supplant the sanguine humour wholy He that inspir'd poore Fishermen to rowle Deep Mysticks with New Tongues and to enrowle For after-times his Gifts on them conferr'd Hath now fresh Heat into my veines transferr'd To scare the Proud to cure the crazed Foole Like that which sometimes stirr'd Bethesdaes poole He guided me to Bethlem Nazareth To Jordan Salem and Gennesâ—reth Whence by Christs Birth Deeds Crosse and rising up From death to Life we cheere up Soules that droop For there is no distemper nor disease But if we fixe on Christ we shall find ease Christ paid the Price for our infirmities Christ onely is the New mans Sacrifice To honour Him with Soule-rapt Extasie God breath'd in me sweet-working Poesâ—e Slight not then Readers my conceites but heare With spungy eares what I deliver here God grant that these work more sung of his Sonne Then all my former workes and I have done Old things are done we must be borne anew Rise Libertine and Christ his Birth renew Rise up thou lazy Soule thou pampred Sot T is neere Sun-set leave we this sensuall Cot For Castawayes who spend their time in pleasure And cannot in a yeare find one dayes leasure To meditate upon Christ crucifyed With humble thoughts and vessels sanctifyed Nor on Christs Birth how that his Incarnation Availes us more than Adams first Creation O why came he into the world a stranger And would be borne in a poore homely Manger Why did the Lord of Lords himselfe abase To take on him our faults but to give place To Justice which equality requir'd Which to shame Pride harmoniously desir'd Gods Righteous Zeale did satisfaction aske But Man could not performe so great a taske The infinite high Wisdome was offended And for a price as infinite intended The whole world shooke the Elements did warre The Planets starres and humours fell to jarre All chang'd their former course The Sun lookt pale Fiends into Hell were like Mankind to hale There were but two and they from goodnesse fell How could their Race then be but slaves to Hell Soft hasty wit I saw the New man comming Just at their Fall to curbe the Devils cunning I saw their Griefe their Penitence and Crosse I saw Gods Grace Conditionall after Losse I saw Gods Seale of Pardon for their Sinnes When their bare Limbs he cloth'd with Coates of Skinnes For when our Parents sinn'd they were asham'd Shâ—me wrought remorse Then Christ Gods Mercy claim'd The second of the Glorious Trinity Tooke pitty on Mans losse of unity The Word that spake when Light and Life began Claim'd share of Grace for his Reformed Man As a Just Sire and his Mild wife do treat How their lewd Child they might reclaim or beat So Justice did and Graâ—e expostulate What should become of Adam and his Mate Justice alleadg'd their voluntary Fall But Grace oppos'd the Serpents Charmes and Gall The One protested Death but the kinde Other Sought with Gods Love the sting of Sinne to smother The One did Man a Turne-coat Traâ—tour name The Other on his Frailty layd the blame The One Mans wicked Thoughts insisted on The Other Mans Repentance stood upon Justice strict Law but Grace against Laws Scourgâ— Gods Court of Conscience did most strongly urge And sweetly pray'd her Sister not to ranke Mankind with Fiends for One though mortall Prank This Matter then of mighty consequence Betwixt them Both yet standing in suspence With various Pleas concerning our Salvation Or in Hells Flames our finall Reprobation The Virgins two did mutually agree To compromit the same to Gods Deâ—ree On which Suspence these Glorious Attributes With Zeale and Love concluded their Disputes Th' Almighty then consulted not with any Of Angels Ranke though there he had full many Not for their Zeale with Seraphins approv'd Nor Cherubins though them he dearely lov'd They Spirits were but of a Creatures mould Then mystickly the Father did unfold The Matter to his Sonne and Holy Ghost Gods Honour sav'd how Man might not be lost Nor left depriv'd of Light and Favour
Flesh to thratle Tales Dreames Here they shall find despis'd by worldly Men Saints basely layd as in a Dungeon Den. Here they shall finde Gods Babe in poorest Bed Though borne to tread upon the Serpents Head Yet though Dull Men were silent in his Praise The holy Angels with Harmonious Layes And shouts of Joy divulg'd his Horoscope They sung of his sweet Grace and future hope They chanted out Gods Glorious Name with Mirth Good Will and Peace to men through Christ his Birth For at this Time when All One Colour wore Whilst Epicures out-slept their Dainties store Some Shepheards watch't their Flockes neere Bethlems Towne To whom the Angels made these Tidings known For Drowzy Drones here is Authenticke warning Some Mysteries disclosed for their Learning The first Man in the Spring was form'd of Earth Of God and man in Autumne Christ his Birth Began and with more Light rose from the East But now it sets in Stormy Winter West Some thinke Christs-Tide false beares Decembers Date Because the Taxe was by the Romane State Exacted in September as they prate And S. Johns Birth beares March for antedate Abiaes Course cast up for Zachary Yet this supposed true to shunne their Cry I say what if the Fiery Comforter Christs Deputy the Churches wise Supporter Indifferently Dispenc'd with this Exchange That with S. Mathewes Memory we change The same and with S. Michaels Jubilee Whereof the first records Christs Pedegree And Birth as th' other serves to represent His Churches State through Civill Discord rent Or else because the World shrunke to old Age This changed Feast calmes Melancholies rage To comfort us amidst our Stormes and Snowes When to the Root the Sap fall from the Boughes Perhaps rude Goates Coucht under Capricorne Now Good Men tame or Tares divide from Corne New Hearts presenting with the New yeares Sunne For Incense Gold and Myrrh unto Gods Sonne Who at this Feast tooke Flesh and Circumcision Whereto his Starre led Wisemen in Procession Proclaiming him in Salem King of Jewes For all fierce Herods craft vext with the Newes That Israels Prince Whose Spring of Pedegree Eternall was in Bethlem borne should be His Craft availd him not for they by God Were the same way home to Returne forbod And though in stead of Christ poore Babes he slew He did by death his Deed soone after rue But why came they to Christ with Gold Store Of precioue Gummes who might from Heav'n have more Was it to shew that Christ our Royall Head High Priest and Judge Commands the Quick and Dead By vertue of his God-heads Triple Mace Of Justice Mercy and Inspiring Grace Vniting Man to Gods Conformity â—y these three Gifts Types of the Trinity A Priest to Mediate Preach and Sacrifice A King to Raigne a Judge to Punish vice And that more oft than Incense Myrrh or Gold God might with Faith perfumed Hearts behold Or did these Sages of their owne accord Present such Gifts as welcome to the Lord Or which is likely did Gods Spirit move Those holy Pilgrims to expresse his Love And Care for his Beloved in Distresse Who at that sudden pinch were Money-lesse That with such needfull Meanes they might supply Their wants when he forewarned them to fly To Egypt from the Tyrants bloody sword Till their Returne from Exile by his Word When they that sought the Infants Life were dead And Herods Sonne Installed in his stead This Passage sure beleeve it as your Creed God never failes the New Man in his Need But gives his Angels charge as for his Sonne That he dash not his Foot against a Stone But missing Christ why were poore Infants slaine That for the Head the Members suffer paine And that their Types as Blazing Stars display Who Christians slay they Christ himselfe wouâ—d slay And why blest He a Virgin with his Birth And made her first Christs Temple here on Earth That was no Lady Crown'd with worldly Honor Nor with Rich glaring Robes tooke State upon her And why grac'd he poore Shepheards with these Newes Not full-fed Peeres Princes nor wealthy Jewes Not Rabbies Popes nor Lordings of the Church Who lookt for Christ yeâ— liv'd upon the Lurch Let Dogmatists resolve these Doubts that know Why Thunder smites high Trees spares the Low Gods Grace Pride can never brooke each other Nor dwells Humility and Pomp together The Former doth our Breach with Heaven repaire The Latter whilst it swells bursts into Aire For there some play with Aiery Fancies Elves Till Hell devowrs the Tempters and themselves Gods Church seemes poore to Carnall Libertines In Heavens she sups though hard on Earth she dines God chose the weakest to confound the Wise That Man with Christ by simple means mighâ— rise Embracing more his Crib for Soules behoofe Than Satanâ— Crowne in this our world of proofe Yet God allowes to shun an Anarchy For Orders sake a kinde of Hierarchy With Pastours Pow'r in every Christian State To Bind or Loose or Excommunicate To heale the sickly and to bath his Flocke With Waters streaming from the Living Rocke More fishing for Mens Soules then Carnall Preyes More glorying in the Crosse than worldly swayes Whom Christ bids Feed and not like Wolves to bite us Whom Christ bids Watch as Paul exhorted Titus Yet Little Flocke that bleat'st through Tyrants Rage Grudge not there shortly comes a Newer Age. He that reveng'd on Herod and his House The Blood of Bethlems Babes will right his Spouse The Blood late spilt in our West Christian Lands God will require at Gogs and Magogs hands God will his Servants wrongs ease or conclude Whom Tyrants snar'd in Aegypts Servitude God will revenge their Cause Complaints and Teares Whom our Make-bates by Tricks set by the Eares No Motion Plea Decree nor false Demurre Of Jarring Braines can Heavens Sentence blurre For with the Beast and Lords that tooke his part They shall in Tâ—phets Flames for ever smart The Members for their Plots Bribes Misdeeds Their Perking Heads for iustifying their Deeds For suffering Elies Sonnes on Saints to prey For sparing Agags whom the Lord bids slay Be patient then Yee Servants of the Lord Poore Nabaoths who feare the slaughtring Sword The Sunne will shine after some Thunderclaps New Heavens Joyes will smoother all Missehaps And God will plague those Lords who make a Prey Of Christians Goods nay worse who Christians flay Let none that holds of Faith the smallest Graine Despaire but that with cheerefull minde againe Though girt with Flames as the three Children were He may without Annoy or Servile Feare Of the Soules Guilt escape from his Distresse If he beleeves that Gods bright Word tooke Flesh And di'd for him he cannot doe amisse Gods Grace appeares in dangers most extreme Betwixt the Bridge and the devouring streame Nay plunged in the Deepe ore Head and Eares God may reprieve or rid him of his Feares Transplanting him to that Eternall Rest Where griping Griefe shall never him molest As the good
Thiefe whom they did Crucifie With Christ and others sav'd can testifie Let this suffice None ever miss'd Reliefe Who fixt on Christ alone his Hearts Beliefe From hence poore Josephs though in Closest ward May looke for Liberty with Angels Guard From hence good Davids though in Banishment May hope for Calmer Dayes and some Content From hence Gods Prophets may in their distresse Like Jeremy and Paul expect Redresse From hence may Saints though in their Tents beset By Millions of proud Foes deliverance get He that warn'd Joseph with the Babe to fly From Herods Sword to Egypt will supply Their wants and ayd them in their Pilgrimage Against insulting Foes and Satans Rage And though they feele the Plague Saints may respire Casting like Paul the Viper in the Fire Or were their Eyes drawne out their Noses slit Or all their Members rackt they may hope yet With Inward Joyes to be more ravished Than if unmaim'd their Bodyes flourished Nay were they flay'd for crossing Hells Decrees Like the sev'n Brethren in the Maccabees They shall o'recome those Furies Insurrection And joy like Job to see the Resurrection For they well know that their Redeemer lives And for that Martyrs Sight dare pawne their lives S· Stevens Sight who here on Earth entraunc't Saw Jesus first on Gods Right hand advanc't Which with his stoning seal'd confirmes our Creed That Martyrs Blood became the Churches Seed And that al those who would see Christ in glory Must beare his Markes heed his Passions story In Spirit where saw John th' Evangelist The Throned Lambe but in his Banisht List In Pathmos where he saw by Revelation The Churches State and Babells Fornication To feele Remorse some feede their Ravishments With Herods Sword unsheath'd on Innocents That bloody Sword wherewith the Eagles Peeres Did persecute neere for Three hundred yeeres The Christians Race And which lay then suspended Till Satan it to Babells Whore Commended As witnessed old Chaucers Pellican Against the Griffon and his Vatican Which Berengarius long before discry'd Which the Waldenses and Albigians try'd And which as yet our Mother Christendome Like Rachel feeles in her seeds Martyrdoome To shew Faiths Tree more pregnant by the Fruite Some Lazars feed some with Apparell suite One while they Chaunt the New Mans Sacrifice And how the Lambe unâ—eal'd hid Mysteries Another while they Coâ—â—t these Festivals With Sions Songs Or Bethlems Pastoralls Yet so that whil'st they kisse the Babes Memoriall The Crosse be not forgot nor Fâ—ery Tryall Some hold it Joy and great Felicity To keepe for Saints Kind Hospitality No Wassailes Cup nor Cates variety Doth relish them like Good Society The Reason is God gave them their Request That Lady Conscience be their Dayly Guest Dame Prudence doth the Household charge o're-looke Her Cousen Thrift is Cater Care the Cooke Sobriety the Butler Will the Page And Manners set in comelie Equipage The Pots and Messes full where Zeale sayes Grace And honest Love points every one his Place Content with Wellcome carves then Doctour Diet Old Merry man and the Peace maker Quiet By stemme recite what morall Tales conduce To cheere the Heart for Soules or Bodyes use Thrice blest are they who passe the Time away With them be it in Talke at Boord or Play For living so like Angells with the wise Their Mansion seemes a Second Paradise With safer Fate than Palaces of State Than Balthazar 's with all their gods of Plate Others steale Houres from the Immortall Part With Games and Gambolls to delude the Heart Or which is worse with Bacchanalian Potting And surfeiting oft to their Bodyes rotting Which wanton Jiggs more oft accompany Then Sacred Hymnes with Soule-rapt Harmony Mirth fits the Time so doth good Cheere and wine But the excesse bewrayes a Libertine That never quakes at the rich gluttons Fate Nor ever strives to be Regenerate Drowne Hoary Cares with Healthes hang up sorrow For who will care what may befall the Morrow Let Papists fast let Puritans goe whistle They are but Turkes who against Wine will Bristle No sullen Stoick no crabbed Criticke Foole Shall tast the sweets of Aristippus Schoole Such Revells keepe our Roring Epicures Whilst they protract the New Mans wholsome Cures But no such Course shall my new Sparkling Breast Conceive to Counterpoize my Saviours Feast I love his Cratch feare his Judgements Thunder Both which warne me to slight a nine Dayes wonder For Pampred Sin can hardly be kept under Except vaine things from the Divine we sunder Who will be puft with windy Lushious Fare And leave the Soule halfe starv'd in Satans Snare How dare they spend in Drinke like Franticke Elves Thrice more than serves men abler than themselves Or wast in Smoke at Games or such Abuses The meanes left them for more convenient Uses When as such Deeds stinke in our Makers sight And waigh'd they prove with in his Ballance Light How dare our Sots on Carnall Sense rely When as they know that they at last must Dye And after Death feele Hellish paine for ever With Rackes Flames worse than a Bedlem Feaver Where Dives fail'd to have with Tortures wrung One waters Drop to coole his scorched Tongue But why touch I licentious Saturnalls Christian I am and Christ his Festivalls I humbly with new Raptures celebrate From whence I bar the Hare-brain'd Reprobate Whose Lampes may dimme our Altars of Devotion Therefore I leave them to their Frantick Motion And to be fatned for those Mysticke Fowles Which at Gods Feast shall snatch their Flesh and Soules Yet now because at Newyeares-tide they say They will turne New I greet them on that Day Not with Rich Plate nor Bowls of Liqour'd Sin But Gifts fetch 't from the Spirits Magazin Not with Delights of Putrifâ—actions Kind But which preserves to fortifie the Mind Doth Flesh and Bloud distrust what I have written Let Flesh and Blood be circumciz'd or Smitten Let the Old Man with will uncircumciz'd Be puncht or else with quickning fire Baptiz'd So that our Thoughts be New Christ represented In sacred Swathes and with New vowes presented I weigh fierce Herods Threats no more than chips And lesse I prize his Plot his Sword or whips For with the Magies rapt I more behold Gods Babe in Manger layd than Thrones of Gold O would I had beene living in those dayes To feede mine eyes with that New Comets Rayes Which led those wise Arabians from the East To see him whom I glaunce at in the West But whither hath my zeale transported me At this great Feast our Wimers Iubilee To place poore dust and Ashes neere Divine Conceits like Romane Coleworts by the Vine Yet not so great is the Antipathy But that true Saints may feele some Sympathy Betwixt the Members and their Generall Sith a mild Sence will make them Musicall Indeed sweet Love and union helpe to hide Like Masticks velvet what they finde too wide A Blemish or a Scarre on Faces foule But causelesse Nips can never
stones meete our Willes conformity Though Nature doth Impostumated swell Or burne with Feavers like the fits of Hell The Spirit yet more strong in the Vacation Will overcome and settle our Vocation Gods Mercy will with Natures moods dispence If fixing on his Sonne our Confidence And Rest we kneele twixt Love and reverend feares To Him alone with contrite sighes and teares Unfaignedly sweet Abbaes sound to greet Oft looking downe on our vile Peacockes feete O would these Layes might now rebound with Ecchoes And pierce the Eares of Earths Magnificoes With sad Portents reverberating Rue And Wormwood moods for slighting what is true Because they doate despising Saints Correction On Idoll-praise of Good my Lords reflection And derogate from Gods Prerogative Not giving thankes to him by whom they thrive With Titles more than Donâ— then Gundamore Like Herod or proud Babels scarlet Whore Gods wrath in spight of all their brave reputes Will squeeze their Pompe and Popelike Attributes Truth echoed Ruth and he that scornes her Eccho Pigmaâ—ion turnes Don Quishot or a Hicco Truth spake this doome with Trumpets sounding loud God helpes the meeke and tumbles downe the proud So spake her voyce in them that bad us shunne High Seats rich Robes to weare the homely spun Old Sackecloathes weed plaine stuffe or Camels haire Contritions Garbes puft Honours to impaire So spake bright shining Truth that Noble Dame In them that warn'd the Outward man to tame Who by Saint John at the Lambes Feast records That Fouâ—es shall eate the flesh of Mighty Lords When poorest Saints and meanest of Esteeme Shall feed with Christ though they unworthy seeme To Carnall Eyes and whilst those Potentates Or pamp'red Lords with all their Glistring states For want of Wedding Robes shall be excluded And to become a shamefull prey concluded Meane while to gaine a Name like Alexander Some live by Bloudy spoyles or else they squander Their surest Meanes on Earth for the support Of their high pompe and blazing starres report But after death O Fooles what Harvest shall Ye reape by Fame or Port Pontificall Or if perchance ye live to dappled Age Will not a lingring hell abate your Rage Would God these Lines might prove Angelicall That they were stampt in Letters Capitall For never Age durst be so bold to call Like Ours Damn'd Pride of Graces Principalâ— Christ wils us not to Judge men for that sinne Whereof we know our selves have guilty beene For looke with what rough measure we doe mete To others God will make the like complete Upon our score To cure a Brothers sight T is fit our owne be cleare to Judge aright We must not give Gods holy things to dogges Nor Minister his Mysteries to hogges For hoggeâ— in Mire the finest Pearles will tread And envious dogs with Bruitish Passions led Will snarling-wise their Masters Guests molest Whom he invited to his marriage Feast These dogs and â—ogs Christ warnes us to prevent Full cautiously lest us they circumvent And interrupt our entry into blisse The Gate whereof is straite and many misse To find it out Although they have been Call'd Yet very few are chosen and install'd True Saints so narrow is the heavenly Gate Some know the Way but comming there too late They are repuls'd some boast of Miracles And of great Merits yet find Obstacles And for their vaunts are dasht Not every one That cals Lord Lord or knowes Gods murthered Son Shall enter there with glozing snares and Nets The hollow Hearts prove then the greatest Lets As doe their Bragges of Meritorious workes Or naked Faith Here the slie Serpent lurkes Unseene of Carnall eyes and will betray Soules with faign'd Ecchoes till they lose their way But if they like our highest Fathers will They must shun ill and so climbe up his Hill How many thousands doate on worldly Pleasure So long untill they lose Soules sacred Treasure Sometimes Hels theeves breake in and all is gone Some other time wanting the Corner stone Their house fals downe which whilst they build againe Death summons them or tortures them with pain That they forget their Master and their charge And lose thereby his Grace and their discharge All yee therefore that mind the Heavenly Palace Take Christs advise Build not for carnall solace On Bog or Sand but build upon the Rocke Your Temple where you need not feare the shocke Of Tyrant-waves nor foggy Earths eruptions Nor undermining Fankes nor Theeves irruptions And then you shall be sure though Natures date Concludes your State to meet with happier Fate To Counterfeits much blame Christ did impute And such as gave their Almes for vaine repute He willes us not to strive for Wealth or Place Nor for Good workes to looke for Humane Grace To love his Friends and not on them to prey Nay to forgive and for our Foes to pray We must not on a Brother wrecke our teene Nor let the Sunne goe downe upon our spleene We must remit not onely seven Times But Seventy times seven and that betimes Lest that we run that wretched Stewards race To whom his Lord compassioning his Case Suspended all his Debts untill he heard How he had dealt with others sore and hard He God forbad with Babling to abuse But when we pray the briefest Termes to use More tending to his Praise then our supplies Which last wee season must sometimes with sighes Not Parrot-like by roate but from the Roote And Bottome of the Heart with Abbaes Note The Module whereof himselfe declar'd Thus having us from tedious Formes debarr'd Father most High thy Name be glorâ—fide Thy Kingdome come As doth in heaven betide Thy will on Earth be done Food daily give To us As we our Foes Lord us forgive And let us not be tempted by the Devill The World or Flesh but free us from all Evill This pithy Forme the Lord to us did leave For patterne pure if we it well conceive We must in chiefe looke on Gods Sacred Power And sanctifie his Name before we powre Devotions forth for our owne Private Ends. We must doe nothing worldly but what tends More to his Praise than to our owne respect He warnes that we false Christians must expect Who the true Faith to bring into neglect Will forge strange things well-nere to foole the Elect False Balaams who not holding Love for Roofe Would cover Faith with Golden Clouds aloofe False Teachers like the Scribes and Pharisees Who should seduce the world with Dreames and lies Who like Jewes Rabbies for Supremacies Should gape and Hunt for Lordly Primacies Over his Members whom he Brethren styles A Caveat true for Antichristian Wiles Yea and for Lords if they good Christians grieve Under pretext of Gods Prerogative To these he other addes signes that portend The Judgement day at hand and the worlds End When that we see strange Plagues Fraud Famine Jarres With Massacres of Saints and Bloody warres When Mauzzims Type raignes in Gods holy place Like Caesars set for Sions last disgrace When
Frogs or Locusts wast our meanes of Light When the Baptiz'd our New mans Gifts do slight And sell mens Soules when one betrayes another And of Christs flocke the Brother hurts the Brother When Children to their Sires rebellious prove And Wives to Husbands faile in mutuall Love These tearing Vnions Bond by loves divorce Those razing Natures Fort without remorce When both these States the Churches mysticke type Each other cloy with Tares or fruite unripe When men create New Christs both here there Or then in Heaven Christs body seeke elsewhere When his bright Light shines in the utmost West Which like to Lightning rose first from the East When most mens zeale shall frozen be and cold Then every houre looke for the End foretold Which End steales on like Daniels desolations Or Noahs Flood which overtooke all Nations Whilst they were feasting like our Libertines Who slight these Flames as they those Crystall signes Heed Readers then your Monitors advise And scorne not this his Servants Sacrifice Other good Rules to us Christ left behind To cleare the sight of the most sinfull blind And those in solid words more comprehending In one short Parable more by descending From Generals to formes Particular Conducting Saints to the Archangels war With easie steps and edifying phraze More than by thorny doubts Meanders maze Which course if Preachers now adayes would trace With Catechizing Lectures to make place For Seed to spring not halfe so many Tares Would choke pure-seeded hearts with worldly cares If in their Sermons to the simpler sort They leave to canvase and to make report Of matters past their reach and Apprehensions Or such deepe points which might provoke contentions As Gods Essentiall Forme Pelagian doubts The Soules Free-will hels place or whereabouts Departed Saints are seated till Doomes-day And not the Pulpit beate with an Affray On Bellarmine and other Clerkes unknowne WhoÌ„ they with Latine there would tumble down If they shoot not Wits Squibs against the Truth Nor Legend-dreames to sindge the eares of Youth If they Preach nothing but Christ Crucified And saving Faith sinne would lye mortifyed Their zeale would spring if they with zealous mood Expound Christs Gospell to be understood Men would repent sinnes Baites if they disgrace Dividing the Lawes Thunder from mild Grace Some kind of sinnes which daily he beheld Committed by poore humble Soules he held More veniall of compassionate regard He pittyed them and their petitions heard If with Contritions Grones they did lament And of their sinnes unfainedly repent To shew his Love unto the Convertite To lift up Soules from discontented plight And that none should despaire of Clemency He did these short similitudes apply A man had lost one sheepe of many score But finding it with toyle rejoyced more Than for the rest which never stray'd at all From their owne Ranke his whistle or his call A Woman next he cited who did boast More of one silver peece which she had lost And after search recovered then of nine Left in her purse that never made her whine For further proofe he brought the Prodigall Who spent his meanes both use and Principall Most lavishly yet afterwards Repenting With teares he found his Fathers hearts relenting That his Returne a New-man from a Beast He welcom'd with a Calfe and made a Feast Such Joy Christ said transports the Angels Quire When men Repent and seeke their Heavenly Sire They triumph more for One poore Convertite Then for lesse Strayes or more in life upright So pittifull was Christ that to unfold His Love Remorce and mercies manifold Were endlesse paines above Capacity Of Humane wit clog'd with Infirmity As may appeare by that Adulteresse Led by the Scribes when seeing her heavinesse He bad her to goe home and sinne no more And when himself stood tortur'd at deaths doore He comforted the Theefe with Paradise Because he askt for Grace with dolefull eyes But for the Higher sort who proudly dar'd Maskt under Lawes pretence with burdens hard To Tyrannize upon mens Consciences And by Schoole Quirkes or wrested sentencâ—s Of Scripture to molest the Churches union Those with a woe he doomed for disunion With such who force the gift of Chastity Unlesse God gave it on Humanity Who barring Saints Gods Im age to beget Would weave for foule Asmodâ—eus Priests a Net Christ utterly mislikt such Scandalists Like them who dare beyond Religions Lists As petty Kings to Lord it by their gripes Wounding the Poore worthy of many stripes Those he Judg'd to be for above all sins Then raigning strong and whereby Satan wins Most in our Age smooth-fac'd Hypocrisy He loathed as foule thoughts Soules Leprosie Eight severall woes therefore against the Scribes He thundred for their hollow deeds and Bribes Who knew his Masters will and did it not But wilfully would loyter play or plot Some lewd designe against his Masters profit Or saw his losse and not informes him of it Such witting slaves he sentenced to be Worthy of smart in a most high degree It griev'd him much to see Wisemen contend Like Ideots and fond children to no end For shaddowes on the wall for Dignity Short lasting Pompe for so true Liberty Quite losing through their Pride and vaine desires They quench the flame of Intellectuall fires Christ saw these Flashes Dreames and Fooleries And oft lamented them with weeping eyes To shun therefore Gods wrath and to fulfill While we on earth survive his Fathers will Of force we must he said forsake our owne Though dearest Lusts and tread Temptations downe We must take up his Crosse and that prefer As Heavens doore and our Remembrancer Before our Parents Children or Alliance And on his Blood to fixe our whole Affiance To Penitents through Faith hee preach't Remission Of sinnes but Plagues for temporiz'd omission The which with Teares hee Prophesied would light For wilfull sinne on every faithlesse wight This Judgement on Jerusalem foretold By Romes proud Conquests afterwards tooke hold When Abrahams seed the Circumcized Ligne Were quite expulst the Land of Palestine And sithence we the Christians of the West Yea and the East whom Infidels molest Have felt for sinne Gods Plagues of Vengeance due And shall feele worse unlesse we change our hue With better Leaven then the Pharisees Our Faith like ill bak't bread soone putrifies O hardned hearts O most unhappy men How oft sought Christ like to a carefull Hen Her wandring Chickens or a loving Brother To reunite your strayes and wrongs to smother How oft likewise hath he recalled home Into his Flocke our Westerne Christendome God grant our Bâ—itaines may regard this pittance These crummes of mine not slighting their admittance Into his Fold least Antichristian foule Devoure their seed and their New man controule Lest for their want of Faiths Lampe-oyle in Heaven They be like to the Foolish Virgins driven From the Kings Feast or that they hide their Talents Or they shut out for want of wedding rayments Or like those Clownes who their Lords
and Roamers Feast Let carnall Sots poare on Carnalities Whilst we Christs Body see with Angels eyes Or at the least while with our New mans sight We doe discerne from Carnall Sense his Light After this way hid from the Old mans brood Our Noblest part receives Christs mysticke Food Some other times He prov'd his Oracles Concerning fruitlesse faith by Miracles As when he to a Figge-tree did repaire For fruite which a farre off seem'd greene faire In show but finding there not ought but Leaves Incens'd he it with indignation leaves Because he found it backward in the yeelding And not well Graft he left it for a Hielding And from thenceforth a Reprobated Tree For when he said Let never fruite on thee Ripe or unripe â—e from â—ence forward found The Boughes fell dead withered to the Ground What shall I write of Tabors Mount the Story Where three Disciples saw his shining glory In all his workes of greatest Eminence He ever had his end and Reference To Constant Faith and to his Fathers Will Which for Mans good he thirsted to fulfill The number of the signes which Jesus wrought Were infinite beyond mans Wit or Thought Whereof the first was water turn'd to Wine To grace a Marriage-feast by Deedes divine At Cana wrought a Towne of Galilee Which him confirm'd the Mysticke Vine to be That as raw water tooke the taste and shape Beyond mens reach of Natures rarest Grape So might dull Thoughts though cold receive impression Of the Fire-cloven tongu'd zeales expression He by his word made simple Fishermen More wise then Doctours without Booke or Pen. He made the Blinde to see the Lame to goe The dumbe to speake the sicke past cure forgoe Their Palsies Dropsies and Issues of blood Yea from his Vesture toucht proceeded good He forc't his Foes the Luciferian rout To quake and at his word he chas'd them out He many freed with Reall fiends possest Cleansed Lepers and all as were distrest With Feavers Fire or Humours foaming Rage Or were diseas'd of Young or Elder Age In Body or in Minde He raisd the Dead To Life and Lazar in his Earthy Bed For foure dayes space entombed he reviv'd And thousands with small victuals he reliev'd Which deeds his Power prov'd Omnipotent That could raise Food and make his guests content He walked dry-foote on the liquid Seas He calm'd rough stormes with words Be still Peace Words cyphring him Gods mighty Sonne and Word Which could so soone both windes and waves accord Not one who had of Faith the smallest graine Departed from his sight uncur'd of paine He cur'd their Bodies griefes their sinnes remitted He calmâ—d Gods wrath and nothing he omitted Expedient for the Soules salvation here Whereby we might before Gods Throne appeare Made pure by Faith free from Concupiscence Originall and sinnes deriv'd from thence By meanes of his great Merits excellence His words his workes and Virgin-Innocence He knew the thoughts and Plots of Salems Clerkâ— And did strike home at their slye muttring quirks And all these wonders of amazement full Christ acted to provoke a Nation dull Yea to confirme his Gospels Oracles Transfer'd from God he wrought such Miracles To make our Soules to see the Heavenly Light With Eyes of Faith and here to live upright According to his Patterne more to raise Our Makers Glory then our causelesse praise To muse on more the New mans lasting Food Then Transubstantiate Toyes of Flesh and blood That we by fiends and worldly wiles perplext Might find sound Cure in his true Gospels text Christs Testament which in the Church more bold Then wise some in their hands not Hearts do hold But t is in vaine to turne the Scriptures over To quote some Text and presently to hover About our worldly businesse as if borne Like Butter flies or Natures shamefull scorne To flutter time away with painted wings But we must plod on these Eternall things With serious care that when our Tempters come As come they will they may not find us dumbe Or Planet strucke but finding us prepar'd With Jesus in our mouthes and hearts out dar'd They out of hand will from our Lodge depart To other Rankes their venome to impart Such wonders were atchieved for three yeares space To witnesse Christ Gods Sonne and in Gods place The first at Canaes Marriage did appeare The last concludes by healing Malchus Eare. More Miracles were by our Saviour wrought To satisfie the true Believers Thought Then living in that Age. But these suffice To manifest his God head to the Wise To Penitents and hopefull Catechists Which were left by the foure Evangelists For if the Precepts all which Jesus taught With Wonders wrought were to our knowledge brought They would confound the Hearers memories And fables seeme in Baals blind Oratories Gods word is pithy short and ponderous Where Humane Glosse is long and frivolous We have enough Christs Gospel to confirme We crave no more to keepe our Inside firme Than what we by the Spirits Pen-men finde Recorded there to edify the Minde If any cover more let them take heed That they smart not for their Presumptuous deed As sometime sought a Princesse fond with zeale Of Christ his deeds to adde an ampler deale Those which Saint John omitted she desir'd To bring to Light but while she thus aspir'd A wandring Fryer of like Holynesse From Italy arriv'd and did possesse Her mind so much that he by Revelation False dreames deceites and Satans provocation And faigning that he got into his hand Saint Peters Relique shoâ—e in Jewrieâ— Land Had soone perswaded her that from her wombe A Prophet borne should afterwards become The man that should those Miracles omitted Divulge to Light whereby he was admitted Because more Holy in her vaine opinion Then other men to be her Carnall Minion Untill at last A Dukes Inheritrix With a great Belly turn'd a Meretrix BUt all Christs workes could not from Martyrdome Protect his Life such was the Godheads Doome That him to sting the Serpent should aspire And him to slay now men and fiends conspire That Yeare when Caiphas sate in Aarons roome By Deputation from Imperious Rome In th' Eighteenth yeare of Old Tiberius Raigne When Pontius Pilate for ambitious gaine And bloody spoyles had rackt Judaeaes Land About seven yeeres with his Praetorian Band Then Christ his Fame for raising Lazarus From death and for such deeds Miraculous Began to spread abroad with glorious wings And then it pleas'd the Soveraigne King of Kings To free his Sonne from Earthly cares and feares And to recall him from this vale of teares Where he had liv'd among the Jewish Route For three and thirty yeares or thereabout The period now approacht of that Decree Foredoomed by the Sacred Trinity That Gods deare Sonne New Creatures to create Should for Old Adam dye a shamefull Fate The Jewish Scribes of Salems Hierarchy Had long before with plots begun to try How him they might intangle in his speech But his
broome Of Discipline sweeping foule Lusts away And the Worlds love which bring into decay The Heavenly Seed choakt up with Pompe cares Like Earthly Graine with Cockle Thornes Tares What makes a Surgeon use Corroding Waters For Festred Soares but that they are Abaters Of the proud Flesh why doe Physitians give Their Bitter Pilles unto the Sicke that grieve Of causes hid but that the bodyes sink Cannot be Purg'd of Filth and Humours stink By sweet Receipts no more should Gods Eâ—ect The Joyes of New Jerusalem expect Without first passing through the Bloud red Seas Of Sorrowes deepe to gaine perpetuall ease I meane not Griefe for losse of worldly wealth Or Carnall Friends but losse of Saving health Griefe for the wordes ecclipse Griefe for our sinne Griefe for the Snares which Saints are toyled in Who to this dying Doctrine will encline His Heart and to Austerity confine His Life he shall be crowned for his durance With Heavens Blisse whereof Christ gives assurance With these true Golden Rules seal'd in the Heart None gaines the Godheads love without some Smart Who Christ his markes more here of Torture beares In Heaven be the brighter Garland weares A Hymne explaining the cause of our Saviours Sufferings on the Crosse together with the effects of his Buriall WE were the Cause and none but we Why Christ was naild unto the Tree We were the Cause worse then the Scribes Nay worse then Judas with his Bribes Of Christ his death and Guiltlesse Bloud We tore his Flesh like Vipers Brood We drunk his Bloud like Cannibals Who men Redeem'd when they were Thralles The Jewes misus'd Him but one day Whereas we dayly him betray And Crucify the Lord againe Saints in his Limmes for spite or Gaine We rave farre worse then did the Jewes Our Carnall Lusts and Ghostly stewes Our Pride Deceites and Avarice Our Riots Feasts and Fopperies Our Healthes Debates and losse of Time Shew why Christ up the Crosse did climbe Let us then waigh with Penitence Sinnes fiery sting the Crosses sence Let us bewayle our wretchednesse Which brought our Saviour to distresse And think upon these Rules with Feare That Trees which are both dry and seare Shall sure be fell'd since blooming Wood Hath beene destroyed as with a Floud And that all Soules shall suffer losse Unlesse they muse upon the Crosse And thereby hope for inward Peace The Spirits gifts and sinnes release By vertue of that Costly Price Which hung thereon for Sacrifice For which high Deed while we have breath We never will forget his Death But in our Mindes wee will infixe His Merites Love and Crucifixe His Living Rock can hide our Soares As Josephs Vault entomb'd his Coarse We may to Blisse rise up from Bale As Jonas did from out the Whale If on his Wounds wee fixe our Soules Like Doves that pitch on Rocky Holes The Seventh Dayes EXERCISE The Argument Old thinges made New now is Jewes Sabbath Day Chang'd to the Lords to mind our Saviours sway Who Rose stay'd here sixe Weekes then went his way To Heav'n Men Inspir'd on Whit-sunday OUr two Dayes storme is cleer'd come let us sing And Tribute pay to our Triumphant King Who trampling on our Foes hath led the way To Resurrections Port on the third Day After his Death which first of their Weekes Date â—ld Hebrewes Calendar did Calculate O Blessed Day most blest in the Exchange Whilst we do not from zeale like worldlings range But all with joy for this our Worlds Creation And Christ his Rising minding our vocation As likewise for the Holy Ghosts descent On Whit-sunday ten dayes from Christs Ascent We Holy keepe our Lords this Seaventh day And in his Prayse our thankfull Hymnes display Who did because our sinnes the Old withstood Transferre a newer Feast cleer'd by his Bloud Though Christ was Lord Sabbaths prime perfection The manheads Crowne yet he to make defection Of that Dayes Rest did never Condescend But left it us untill Times finall End He left it us to mind th' Eternall Day When Time with baldnes never shall decay That Feast of Feasts with none can paralell For it above all Triumphs beares the Bell The Harmony whereof no Tongue can tell And more doth Our then Our the Sixe excell The which whilst we looke for let us foregoe Our Deeds prophane and Pious dutyes doe On this High day Let us congratulate With Jubilees our Resurrections state And our through Christ redinte-gratious Peace With God the Father in his Flockes increase Let us cheere up our Soules with Joyfull Psalmes ' And shew our Love by Prayers Vowes and Almes Let all the Earth let Christians all rejoyce And heare Gods word the Lord of Sabaoths voice Not in a Language strange or Noise unknowne But in that Tongue which men doe terme their owne Let them with understanding sound his Fame And Glorify Jehovahs awfull Name With Voices Musick sound and Symphony With Davids zeale and Asaphs Harmony Unanimous let us proclaime his Glory Not dreaming wise but in a reall story To be admir'd of all the Sonnes of Men And Registred with adamantine Pen All Glory be to thee as heretofore In Persons three one God for evermore Who least that Cares might dull our Inward sight Hast Weekely left us one of brighter Light Aswell to match the Hebrewes as to rayse New zeale on it for our Redeemers Praise Because Christs Faith stood firme not shakt at all His Manhead calling God God heard his Call Because his Manhead spurn'd Hells Crown of strife Preferring here on Earth an Humble Life And constantly endur'd the dreadfull shock Of Perills like a Shepheard for his Flocke And to his Father deare did pray alone For helpe he at the last did heare his Mone When he his Bloud had on the Altar shed Soone as he sayd All is now finished His sacred Soule straight way to Paradise Leaving the Crosse and his Bodyâ—â—yes â—â—yes Whence in Earths wombe after two Nights repose Brave Gyant-like refresht with wine he Rose His Body Rose from Grave from the Whales Belly Rays'd Jonâ—s-like to live Triumphantly For how could he whom God ordain'd to save Old Adams Seed be captiv'd in the Grave Thou art my Sonne Mens Light whom I begot Sayd his just Father and here take thy lot In choisest Soile The Hâ—athâ—n I give to thee For Heritage and all the world in Fee To bruize or breake for thy owne pretious merits Thou by thy bloud hast tam'd the wily Spirits O murther'd Lambe Hence-forth on my Right hand Sit in thy Humane shape none shall withstand Thy Powerfull will in Heaven Earth or Hell For thou shalt judge all Men and Furyes fell My sentence just thou hast appeas'd alone For which mysterious deed wee both are One. Because the Wine-presse thou alone hast trod Thy Flock shall ever dwell with mee their God Because for Sinne thou hast endured wrong Thou shalt divide the lest spoyle with the strong And for thy love to Man bought with
is it not Profane to Sacrifice To God before the Soule be cleans'd of Vice How many wayes may we redeeme the Times If we apply our Willes thereto betimes The Mornings prime in Prayer to the Lord We ought to Sacrifice and to record His wondrous Acts unto our Families Or Neighbours whom with Charitable Ties The Chaine of Faith hath linked in together As Fellow Saints The Noone-tide we may either In sober Meales or in Almes-giving spend The Afternoone to gentle Walkes may tend There more to prayse the Flowers variety Then Salomon in all his Royalty To suck the Hilles or fragrant Gardens Aire Or it may tend to make the Soule more faire By reading Scriptures or the Martyrs wrongs Choise Catechismes Sermons or sacred Songs To shew us zeale against a Graven Elfe Moses broke the Tables of God himselfe The like pure Flame burnt in Phinehes Soule When he with Steele foule Whoredome did controule Do we contend in Lawfull Warres debate Or in defence of our Religions state Who in Old time more constantly did brook Proud Giants scornes Or with more Patience took Their Flouts which did at his good Sermons bark Then Noe whilst he built his famous Ark Who better did Gods Chosen Souldiers guide Then Abram Josuab and the valiant David Who more resolv'd to fight in a good Cause Then the brave Maccabees for Moses Lawes Would you observe a Kings or Judges Part Their lawfull Charge grave Moses doeth impart As Subjects Dammage by their winkt at Bribes And Tyrannies old Samuels Book describes Would yee Rule well your selves a House or State These Salomon and Sirach moderate Ere Sidrach Misach and Abednego Would Idolize the Fire they undergo Nor could the Lions Den nor Medes decree From serving God enforce good Daniels Knee Do we desire to see a harmelesse Mask With Daunces Songs and Shoutes Here is a Task For our New man with David to consult And Judaes Kings whilst Incest doeth insult On that great Baptists Life from Jordan led To pay unto a Frisking Mayd his Head Comforts for Griefe wee feele in Davids Psalmes By Jeremy by Job or Tobiths Almes What wonders do the Spirits Penmen teach Perform'd by Saints beyond Dame Natures reach Do we affect to drink most wholesome Wine Go we to Cana or to Christ the Vine Where without charge both White and Red abound To cheere sad Soules while Christ his Health goes round Would wee see acted a rare Convertite Damascus shewes us Paul Christs Favorite Would we discerne the Newman in his strength The Gospell paints his Portraiture at length Would we behold She-paragons of Beauty Or of that Sexe some others False and Haughty Sara Rebecca Rachel Debora Miriam and she that nailed Sisera So Hanna Ruth Priscilla Magdalen And Philips Nunnes deserve a Prophets Pen. So Judith Ester and Susanna Chast And she within all Glorious that 's embrac't By Heavens King with Sunny Robes adorn'd Maugre the plots of men by Fiendes suborn'd Whose prayse we find blaz'd in the Canticles Extended then and since by Oracles So for her Zeale with them I parallel Christs Prophetesse the Widow Phanuel These Female sparkes invite my Soule a Guest And so the Churches Type at the Lords Feast Sweet Mary blest in the Superlative Cheeres me with her whom Zachary did wive Who brought like Sara forth in Ancient Age A Prophet to proclayme Christs Pilgrimage The Elect Lady Hulda the Prophetesse Lydia and Dorcas make a Holy Messe Then Jezabel I read and Babels Whore Both rampant bent the Church of God to gore Last Athaliaes Fate from Bloudy snares Saphiraes me from Double dealing scares As likewise do from Gadding Dinaes Fall Lots wife and Evaes Doome good Dames recall These Histories or such in Holy writ Exemplified this sacred Day befit Good Bookes advance the Newmans Sacrifice But Bad to Heathnish vice soft Braines entice Therefore let us borne of the Spirits seed Immortall scorne our Christian Mindes to feed With Tales vaine Sports or fond Lascivious Bookes Which Fiendes suggest for Soules as shining Hookes Exploites belied on Patrick Arthur Guy The Peeres of Fraunce or Spaines bald knightly Fry To the intent that from Gods word the Will Might be seduc'd t' apprehend more Ill. Arming our Mindes let us our Bodyes too The Parcels of Christs Temple not undoe With Drunken Healthes the Divells Sacrifice In these last Times nor yet Apicius-wise With various kindes of Gurmandizing Cheere Which dimmes with noysome Fumes the Spirits Cleere And the Five senses so intoxicates That Pulpits blush to see such Nodding Pates How oft saw we some at this Holy Tide More Sensuall bent then any day beside Some haunting more the Taverne then the Church Some on the Spoile some living on the Lurch And some farre more to deck their Out-side bent Then by Gods word to feele Soule-ravishment Strutting more oft to Church with Painted Wings Then to beare thence Soule-wares sacred things Yet presse I not too peevishly Precise But Christians may in comely modest wise Weare what they list so that their glittring Port Cause no offence unto the weaker sort So that their Pomp do not Devotion let I care not how in Forraigne Robes they jet What Hurrying Noise what March and rumbling Coile As if they went unto a Play or Broile Do Gallants keep wirh Coaches in the Street When they at Church should Saints most humbly greet Since God allowes to the Domestick Beast Which labour'd the sixe Dayes our Sabbaths Rest How dare they then his Creatures put to Paine More to proclaime their Pomp then Peace to gaine Such Sabbath-breakers I do greatly feare Before the Lambe preferre proud Lucifer Yet for this Clause let not the Courtly Eare Mistake my sence for I do not averre But that in their Caroach or their Sedan Without Disgust to the most Puritan The Aged Weak or those of tender feet May use what Meanes they please in Church to meet When with lowd Threates tempestuous Winds do raigne Or When the Cloudes dissolve to dropping Raine So that their Hearts be voyd of swelling Pride And that their Journey be with Christ to side Who when he did in greatest Triumph passe On Earth as Man rode on a Simple Asse Nor do I waigh such points so strict a way But Fishers Cookes and Pothecaries may Labour or save what would be cast away If on the Eve they toyle not for that Day But I could wish good Christians not to play The Epicures on the Lords Sabbath Day Causing their Cookes to dresse more Choice of Meate Then Heliogabale could digest to eat Whilst that ten Quailes or Phesants in one Dish His Pandaâ—s sauc'd with Pearle and Ambergriese God graunt that we more suting our Vocation May ruminate with serious Meditation This wholesome Feast which I have plainely drest And those New Rules which I have now exprest For Boyling Braines swelld up with Arrogance That they may stoup and feele the Spirits Traunce To do Gods Will to muse on Heavenly Joyes And not to clinche
That they who at thy Table feed In spirit must Christs Passion heed O let us then with Holy Traunâ—e From Carnall sense our Thoughts advance Let Christ behold us in the West Like to those Wise men of the East Greeting his Crosse and his Vprising As they his Birth and Manger Prizing Let Christ our vowes of Thankes behold Our Faith more Pure then Ophirs Gold Our Hearts more bruis'd then Myrrhes Perfume Our Love more sweet then Incense-fume This good Advise we will ingrosse Within our Soules and mount the Crosse. His Crosse we feele But now we heare An Angell say He is not here Christ whom yee seek is Risen up Having now made your Foes to stoup Untill Doomesday his Body none Shall see on Earth for he is gone To Heaven There behold your Christ On Gods Right hand a King a Priest An Advocate without a Fee Pleading to have Faiths Household free Draw neere his Throne and without doubt The Golden Scepter he holds out He will extend his Spirits Grace Whilst yee in Spirit seek his Face Not wresting your Soule-Feast more reall Then Paul who termes it Christs Memoriall This Traunce stirres up true Saints to Joy Like Him who though an Embryon Boy Within the Wombe seem'd to rejoice Soone as his Damme heard Maries voice The Babe did spring and so do we At our Soule-feast with Jubilee Unto the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Be Prayse both here and throughout every coast As of Old time hath been is now their due And ever shall in Heaven and Earth renew Let Heaven and Earth by Angells Saints and Men To God rebound with Glories sound Amen The New mans Song of Thanksgiving after our Ordinary Meales 1. THe Lord be Blest who gave us Food In season for the Bodyes Good Our God be prais'd for evermore Who our desires supply'd with store Of Meat and Drinke more then would serve For Natures use or we deserve No Need we feele no want we know So doth the Lord his Giftes bestow 2. He never leaves his Saints in need But Carks for them and for their Seed He leaves them not with Beggers shame To starve if they call on his Name He taught them how to blesse their Meate By giving Thankes for what they Eate No Need we feele c. 3. Unto his Flock just Abrams stock He Water gave out of the Rock With Manna fill'd their Hungry Mawes And Cloyd with Quayles their longing Crawes He Car'd for Ravens and their Breed And Ravens made Elias feed No need we feele c. 4. He David holpe in Banishment He Daniel made with Pulse content He with wilde Fruit did John sustaine And his Elect from Dearth maintaine He Thousands in the Desert fed With a few Fish and Loaves of Bread No need we feele c. 5. One Day He sends us store of Flesh Another time Fish salt and Flesh And commonly Bread Ale and Beere Milke Fruite and Wine our Hearts to cheere Yea Junckets fetcht from Sun-burnt Spaine Which do too oft our Tables staine No need we feele c. 6. How Gratious is Almighty God Unto vile Man an Earthly Clod Thus to provide and Carke for him That oft himselfe filles to the Brimme With more then serves for Nourishment For hungers sauce or Soules content No need we feele c. 7. God graunt that we his Creatures use Do Thankfull take without abuse Not loathing them as over-cloyd Nor them devouring over-joy'd That as of Need Saints toyle for Wealth So we Feast not for Lust but Health No need we feele no want we know So doth the Lord his Giftes bestow The New mans Triumph in English and Latine measures presented to the Kings most excellent Majesty WHo Christ his Birth Life Death and Rising up From Death to Life observes He soone shall stoup And quash the plots of Hells black Darkned Troup And likewise make the Outward man to droup With all his false Designes and fond Conceits Sprung from the Flesh or from the Worlds Deceites For as the Morning spreades the Dawning Light So Faith by Teaching shines and Daunts the Might Of that Huge Whale which waites with triple throat To swallow Soules as Preyes of Chiefest Note So much new Light spreades by the Gospells sound They now prayse Christ who were in Fetters bound And Sinnes keen Edge wherewith the Divell was wont To boare our Hearts turnes on the suddaine blunt And so remaines unlesse they grinde againe Their Augurs on the Whetstone of the Braine But how fares then our Souldier in that plight With Davids sling he doth the Monster smite Whether the Fiend within or from without Shootes Fire he doth for Christ stand bravely out For at the Broile his Inward Guardian springs Baptiz'd Fire-sindg'd and Grac'd mith Burnisht wings Of mounting zeale who thus the Triumph sings O happy wight which hath escapt the stings Of Mortall Jarres who though he understood His Foes Allures yet loath'd them and their brood O happy Soule which dar'd with Saints to side Against Gods Foes the Luciferian side Whom with Christs Merits arm'd nor swelling Tide Nor fiery Triall could from Christ divide Whom neither Charmes nor yet a thousand Braves Could terrify nor yet the rowling waves But to safe Port with Joy she brings the Crosse And Christ his Ship which Pirats did ingrosse Where she with Saints the Crosse Triumphant reares That Crosse which Saints on Earth have wonne â—ith Teares Happy is he who brooks a wrong-attaint For by the Crosse he lives a Canon'd Saint A Name indeed which overtops so farre The highest Spire or style of worldly Starre As doth Gods Grace above mens sinnes abound Or the Lambes Bloud more then our Merits sound Thrice happy Man I say whom Angells greete And whom Christs Will made for that Honour meete So Happy be the Best of Kings if these Our New mans Songs to judge he gently please For with our Crosse there growes sweet Inward Ease And with Our Crowne of Thornes a wreath of Peace The same in Latine Hexameter Novi Hominis Laurea Triumphalis QVi Natalitium Vitam Miracula Mortem Et Christi Corpus Redivivum mente revolvit Ille tenebrosae reddet Molimina Gentis Irrita Conatus Hominis veterisque repellet Seu de Carne fluant seu sint Phantasmata Mundi Sicut enim radiis Primordia Mane Diei Dilatat per opaca Fides sic sparsa coruscat Tergeminumque domat Monstrum Caetumque Trifaucem Qui vorat omne pecus Praedasque absorbet opimas Tantum Numen inest Fidei ut modo Carmine Christum Compede qui vincti quondam latuere salutant Quin acuta quibus terebrabat Pectora Daemon Tela repentino fiunt obtusa reflexu Sic que hebetata manent nisi devia forte voluntas Illa super Cerebri renovet Terebrata molare Quomodo tum Miles valet in discrimine tanto Nempe studet monstrum Jaculis superare Davidis Seu vis Hostilis tonat aut Civilis amictu Fraudis in orbe furit Christo Constanter adhaeret Nam Novus ex gemina Genius Baptismatis aura Numinis afflatu Zeloque micantibus alis Nascitur intus agit victoris ille Triumphum Sic canit O Faelix qui tot Certamina vidit Illaesus qui vafra Hostis stratagemata novit Et tamen haec spernit generoso pectore Miles O Faelix qui sacra Dei Praedonibus aufert Ausus ad extremum Fidei defendere causam Contra Luciferum Meritis innixus Jesu Non scloppi reboante sono non Marte nec arte Non Pugnis non mille Minis nec territus undis Donec in optati Navem ferat ostia Portus Et Crucis abductae renovata Piacula Christo Immolet Aetherea Laudes resonante Caterva Faelix quem signat Crux Ignea Nomine Sancti Nomine Pyramidas tanto exsuper ante vel Astra Quanto Peccatis existit Gratia major Quanto Hominum Meritis Sanguis praestantior Agni Ter Felix inquam quem Christi summa Potestas Angelicos inter Coetus dignatur Honore Sic quoque tu Faelix qui nostros imbibis Hymnos Judicio sensuque pio Rex optime Regum Cum Cruce nam crescit dulce Levamen Amen Eccho Cum Spina Sertum fulget O vale Vale Eccho FINIS z This Story is largely set out in that Treatise entituled Les Comptes du monde Adventureux Imprinted at Paris 1572.