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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
whoâ—ly Like those proud Angels darkned for their Folly There was no way to make Legitimate Mans Bastard slips nor to repaire our state With Faiths Free-will Divine and absolute Of whose essentiall Forme Some now dispute There was no way for Adam nor his Seed Nor Nature left to do this Glorious Deed Since that the vapour of the Dragons Gall Had fouly blackt their Gifts Organicall There was no way this worke to bring to passe But by Regeneration to deface The sting of sinne and by a New-made Creature Borne of the Spirit and of Humane Nature To do Gods will which Adam fail'd to doe One that could live here poore and patient too Voyd of sâ—nne spleene and thoughts deformitieâ— Voyd of all guile and lustfull vanities One that could fixe his Faith on God alone Of Power earth with Heaven to attone One that could breake the Devils combinations One that could brook the triall of Temptations One who mankind was able to renue And with New gifts their nature to endue Yea such a one that could endure the rod Of his for Sinnes of men displeased God And that partaking of Divinity Could with the Head unite Humanity And lastly One that able was to tread Downe sâ—nnes delight the wily Serpents Head This Raresâ— One the Trinity did see Could not among Mens Race nor Angels be For the brightest Angels unfaithfull prov'd And the best men were bad though well belov'd To satisfy Gods wrath there needed then A Higher power for the Sinnes of men To sacrifice before their full attonement No Blood of Beâ—sts could make this reconcilement No Prayers made to Angels Starres nor Saints No Purging Flames could stint sad Soules complaintes No Dove-like Sighes nor Cataract of Teares No Fasts nor Hermits Garbs could ease their fears Not Incense not the blood of all the World Nor all their merits yet together hurld But blood of Man that never had offended Of a New-man downe from Above descended Of a New Mould endowed with Free will Which Adam lost with power to barre all ill Who taking on himselfe all mens transgressions Would dy that death which by their owne confessions They had deserv'd and by that meanes t' asswage Gods Justice and supplant the devils rage The Fathers Word then and his bosome Sonne By whom for whose sake all things were done Consented to be borne of Humane flesh With dowries meet the fainting to refresh Whereby their eyes might see his reall light Though Infinite yet not to hurt their sight Gods owne true Heire the light and Spring of Life Did willingly assume to end all strife To bound himselfe although ubiquity To Calendar in Time Eternity Christ undertooke a new to represent The second Adams Part to which Intent And to redeeme us from his Fathers Doome He our fraile flesh tooke in a Virgins wombe For Nine Moneths space shut up in narrow place Whose strength no place can hold no Time nor space Almighty God his Promise to make good To his adopted Saints of Adams Brood That One of Evaes Seed in time to come Should at the last the Serpent overcome And triumph by his Death on Hellish Sinnes As Sampson did on Dagons Philistines Had moved Joseph one of Davids House To take the Virgin Mary for his Spouse Both knowne to be of Zorobabels Race Which branch'd from Davids Root hold up to grace Their Pedegree though they were clouded then Through poverty Whereby appeares to men How much to Lawfull meanes Gods Purenesse tends Whilst thus by Wedlocks veile He shrouds his Ends How Maries lowly minde by Grace Divine For her Babes worth did Evaes pride decline But leaves the Rich with Mammons Pitch defil'd For She was Poore and He a Carpenter Yet God did them before Great Folkes preferre A Slighted Paire his two-fold Instrument To bring Christs Birth to full accomplishment Now Sixe Moneths came since Grave Elizabeth Of John conceiv'd And then to Nazareth God sent againe the Angel Gabriel Glad Tidings of much wonder to foretell That there the Blessed Virgin should with Child Conceive not by the Male but by the Mild And Gentle Sparks breath'd from the Holy Ghost And that likewise in Judaes Hilly Coast Elizabeth her Cosen then was blest Though Old and barren with an Embrion Guest Who born should roome make for the highest King As his Tong-loos'd would shortly sing This Signe the Angell added to Confirme The Maidens Faith and make his Message firme For Malachy had prophesied that John Eâ—ias-like should preach ere Christ came on The Angell gone in hast the Virgin-Saint Went with these newes her Cousen to acquaint At whose Approach the Sixe months Embryon sprung And she a Psalme God Magnifying sung I need not since Old Wives of it can prate The Angels Ave Mary here relate His words to her were Newes Miraculous But wrest for vowes they prove Idolatrous When mumbling on fine Beades like Parrats Chaâ— They beg in a strange tongue they know not what Yet by the New-mans leave we paraphraze And paint her Dowries forth in modest phraze Not Suppâ—iant wise to court Imagery But to renew like Saints her memory All haile to thee O Mary full of Grace Happy be they who see thy Virgins face Among the Angels Legions rais'd on high And there advanc'd for thy Humility Which didst Christ by the Holy Ghost conceive As Clay Gods stamp did by his Word receive Blest be thy Name O Mayd Gods Spouse Mother Which broughtst a Sonne our Saviour and our Brother Such Greetings thou didst from the Angell merit Before thou knew'st Conception by the Spirit Whereby thou didst Manoahs Wife excell Though Sampsons birth an Angell did foretell But why seeke I to overcloud thy Praise With these poore lines lame hobling sorry Laies To pray to thee would derogation be To his high worth who saved thee and me For not the Woman but the Womans Seed Did Satan foile and ransome Adams Deed To praise thee more then thy deare Son in Bookes That were to racke thy praise on Tenter-hookes As if God thee a goddesse did install Conceiv'd without sinnes sting Originall In Heav'n thou shin'st no more to be molested With Sinners songs to superstition wrested Where leaving thee Gods Treasures to contemple I greet on Earth thy Infants former Temple Concluding thee of Female kind the best The mother of my Saviour ever Blest The Type of that true Church in which we thrive And therefore Blest in the Superlative But when that Joseph knew his Bride with Child By him untoucht he thought he was beguil'd In his late choyce and therefore privately Like a Just man most loath her publiquely To shame by letting all their Neighbours know Her fault suppos'd with Indignations Brow He purposed the matter to protract Or to give up the Note of the Contract He studyed how this new Affinity He might shake off and shun her company One while he thought to pocket up the Fraud Yet fear'd to be to his owne house a Baud. Love Griefe
Galilee in Jury Am carryed with a rapid zealous Flame To see how Christ a Child a Man became A Man Baptiz'd as we his Members â—e Tempted by Satan yet got bravely free Though Jesus had escapt the Hunters snare Yet Judgement crost the Tyrants jealous Care For out of hand after the Butchery Of Bethlems Babes deceas'd in Misery With entrailes scorcht proud Herod to his Sons Leaving his State waving in dissentions First having caus'd even in deaths agony His Eldest Sonne to beare him company When three of them stood for their Fathers place And each of them would beare a Royall Mace With factious sides to make their challeng good These Aliens borne of Edoms-viper-Brood Contended for their Sires usurped Throne The Rule of Laws from Jewries People gone Since Shiloes Birth Gods messenger of Peace The vigour of their Lawes began to cease As afterwards by Titus came to passe Who did their Laws and Nations state deface As likewise when in fierce Domitians raigne And Trajans Davids stock were sought and slaine But all their claimes appealed unto Rome The Brethren stood confind to Caesars doome Who by Decree for taming of their fury Most Politique then Tripartited Jewry To Archelaus by style of Ethnarchy South-jewries Land he gave the Tetrarchy Of Galilee and Jordans Land betwixt The other two he left for portions mixt The Brothers broyles thus quieted at last When all those stormes were overgone and past Joseph advis'd from Heaven with his Bride Brought backe the Child from Aegipt But aside Turn'd doubting Archelaus the Tyrants Son Who then to sway South-judaes Land begun To Nazareth Northwards in Galilee Where suckled was the Infant Jesus free From worldly Broiles as to a Nazarite Belong'd His head unpoll'd by Legall Rite There Mary not omitting any mild Or watchfull care for nursing up her Child Directed him now weaned from her breast One while to goe another while to rest His Infants time beguil'd wiâ—h Lullabies With gentle smiles sweete songs or soft replies She fed him not with Suckets nor Conserves But with that meate which strengthens tender nerves To dyet him for health was her chiefe Care Not urging him to eate of dainties rare But victuals fit for Nature thin and spare Butter and Honey were his daintiest fare She knew that Soules in pampred bodies pine That Both corrupt through lushious cheere and Wine But no man him with Idolls durst present Nor with those sights whose pictures represent Horn'd Bugges or Houshold gods for she her selfe Could never brooke to see a Labans Elfe Woe to those fondling dads who tempt the soules And pliant braine of their soft little Fooles With such Trim trash the unmarkt Nursery Of Faithlesse Feares and blind Idolatry She those defects with sacred Care repair'd Which Mother Eve by Satans fraud impair'd Gods Instrument to beare and breed that Child Which jarring Earth with Heaven reconcil'd And when more yeares came on she did assay To teach his tongue a Psalme or else to Pray Whereto his Will became more forward bent Then Courtly Lads to learne smooth Complement No Boye 's permitted she her house to haunt Such Rakehel Boyes which us'd to lie and taunt Like those rude Impes which heretofore did yalp And call Bald pate Elishaes reverend scalp No Mayd of hers durst sing a wanton song Within her eares or his nor to the Throng Of Reprobates those whom she knew defil'd Would she from home adventure out her Child And if she had such was his Inclination His inward Lore prevented Education There is no doubt but by Infusion He Had needfull what the Spirit knew to be Soone as his Childhoods Stature did encrease His mirthfull-fits began soone to decrease For without griefe how could that Heavenly spark Heare men to sweare like fiends like curres to bark How could he but lament to see them crouch To Stockes and yet the Godhead to avouch How could he chuse but grieve at their Extortions Debates and spending of their dearest portions To see a Brother fight the Courtier faigne The Lawyer lye and all for cursed gaine To see men strive for Place and Soveraignety Like fiends for pride who lost their dignity To see the Townesman pawne his soule for wealth The Husbandman Cornes price to raise by stealth Successively there budded every yeare New Hopes of him which did his Mother cheare His godly talke delighted Josephs heart And made him oft his labours lay apart Both Joseph and the blessed Virgin much Astonisht were to heare his Childhood touch On such profound and Heavenly Mysterieâ— Concerning Faith and Love how they arise In Adams Sonnes and why they set againe Wherefore it stormes and why God sends us raine His onely Reading was the Prophets Booke He would not once on lying Legends looke But on his Fathers Lawes both day and night He fixt his mind with all his will and might While other Lads were aw'd with Tutors curbe He serv'd the Lord that swayes the Heavenly Orbe He never tooke a meale but still the Lord He glorify'd with his Thankes-giving word And as himselfe liv'd Innocent and pure So by his faire ensample from impure And childish crimes he many Children drew To give God praise as still in yeares he grew When Jesus had twelve tedious Winters past He travell'd to Jerusalem at last In company of his supposed Sire And his deare Mother-maid in whom the fire Of zeale then burnt to see and solemnize In Abibs month the Legall Sacrifice Where when they had beheld the Rites past over At their great Feast then stil'd the Lambs Passeover These sacred Saints returned homewards bound But with the Stuffe when Jesus was not found They after search their friends and company Forsooke and backe againe most heavily They hyed fast and lookt him all about Among their Kinsfolke every where throughout The City till they found Him in the Temple Where Saints Gods works accustome to contemple And there amidst the Doctors of the Law They saw and heard how Jesus put in awe And pos'd Grave Rabbies whom he out did single For Questions deepe that made their eares to tingle His Arguments their Fallacies did quash That they were stroke as with a Lightning flash So faire a square so just a Symmetry The Godhead held with his Humanity His Actions sure his Godhead did expresse Yet in his Flesh we mortall him confesse That to dash Lyes brave Flames he never wanted With smiles he pleas'd and with his frownes he daunted His Godhead darted Awe and Majesty His Humane Presence shone with Lenity They wondred at his words well coucht so sage So well compos'd to put by wrangling rage On Scriptures Ground without Chymeres of Clerkes Without Latriaes or Douliaes Quirkes Such Doctrine in a Child such sparklings rare Amazed them as late did Bethlems Starre Such thoughts confus'd most sensible of Signes Doubting th' effects rack't perplext their minds Whilst with the Scribes Christ thus disputing stood Mary to meet her darling almost proud Betwixt Seraphicke Love and
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
so thou please 2. As thou didst drowne proud Pharaohs Host And guid'st thine owne through Marine Coast So thine Elect through every Age Thou didst preserve from Satans rage So didst thou raise to life againe Thy Prophets twaine in Sodome slaine So didst thou Lord in Judgement meete In Eighty eight the Spanish Fleete And save us then and since againe From Ruine Losse and Powder-traine Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 3. Their Leaguers force thou did'st divide When we most fear'd Hels raging Tide Reforming Faith in Publicans Among the Britaines Dutch and Danes Bohemians Swethens Polanders The Swizzers French and Hollanders To counterpoize Great Babels side And by thy Word to tame her Pride Which neere hath rent her Triple Crowne When every Bird requir'd their owne Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 4. O Gracious God how strange is this That thou hast cal'd blind Strayes to Blisse And didst for us New Kings beget When Old Elizaes Sunne was set The Tent she pitcht James setled sure And Charles now Raignes like Cynosure With Golden starres encircled round He doth not slight the Gospels sound But still renues the Holy Fire Bequeath'd him by his Royall Sire Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 5. When Bavares Duke and Ferdinand Had yok't thy Flocke in Germane Land There rose up from the Northerne Zone A Machabee who eas'd their moane Nor is it lesse miraculous That thou hast rais'd great Bourbons House Against the Eagle to make head When Both would gripe thy Turtles dead And this diverting of their Force Spinnes Truce for us in them Remorse Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 6. A thousand yeares the Fiend was curb'd And no great Plague true Saints disturb'd He made no fierce prodigious warre Till Wichliffe preacht what Berengare And former Saints had vow'd with cares Against the Masse and Mauzzimes wares But afterwards when by thy Word Some were Reform'd with Fire and Sword He then pursu'd thy New borne Flocke Because they chose Faiths living Rocke Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please 7. Even to this day Hels Magogs still Thy Servants racke their Blood doe spill O when shall we poore Pilgrimes be From Satans wiles and tumults free O when shall we their Period see And sing to thee our Jubilee Exempt from cares and Carnall stings O Glorious God and King of Kings Not in this world till Christ doth come In person first all Soules to doome Lord grant us Peace our Crosses ease Or them release if so thou please Amen The Fourth Dayes EXERCISE The Argument Christ having Preacht the Gospel and New-Birth Confirm'd the same by wondrous signes on Earth The Priests conspire his Death Judas revolts His Supper Bloody Sweate and sore Assaults IF I had dranke at pale Pirenes well As to the wise Bellerophon befell Or that I had Vrania for my guide I might transcend the Starres and hope to ride On the Pegasean Steed with Azur'd Reines Untill the Poles resounded with my Straines Such Lofty wishes through Poeticke guile Farre be they from my Low and trembling stile Not Phaeton nor waxe-wing'd Icarus But Lucifers and Adams Fall should scare us From mounting high to Pinacles and Towers Where Lightnings Flash where raigne the Aiery Powers Which may our Carnal thoughts blow to despaire Such mighty sway beare Spirits in the Aire Like them whose Hearts once toucht with hallowed Fire Have quencht the Flame by ruffâ—ing to aspire Or like our Eves who in this Evening Age When they should kneele climbe up proud Honours stage Where Mammon they adore and Christ by halves As if Gods Grace would breathe on Golden Calves No sure his Spirit loathes Ambitious Fires But the milde Soule and humble he inspires Such as of Yore were Jewries Fishermen The Virgin Mary Anna Magdalen God will not hold him guiltlesse that presumes To touch his Ark with Flanting robes or plumes Avaunt then Gallants with your Idoll-Fumes Depart ye Ladies with your nice perfumes Kisse not Gods Sonne ye proud imperious Lords For he abhorres High lookes Bug-beares bigge-words A simple Garbe contents our Saviours Cratch Smooth glozing Termes take those who Termely catch Sad Sackeclothes weed becomes this age of Our Where Fiends unseene waite ready to devoure As lawfull spoyles our Kingdomes fairest flower This suites me plaine my Applications sowre Yet wholesome like to Lemmons in a Fever To curbe those putrid Fumes of Head and Liver Which now of late the Gentry of this Isle With Riot Pride and costly Feasts defile Then O Great Britaine take it for no wrong If I enchaunt thine eares with a meane song Not grounded on false Druydes Antique Tales But wrapt in Christ his Swathes found in Wales From that wild Place where Satans Policy Failed to tempt his Will and Phantasie Arrived then to thirty yeares of Age Our Saviour to perfect his Pilgrimage Returned backe to Galilee againe In the third lustre of Tiberius Raigne Where he on Truth at Nazareth commented But thence repuls'd the next Coast he frequented With this true Note by that respectlesse Towne No Nation heeds a Prophet of their Owne And having chose his Prime Apostles there Who to that end predestinated were He Preacht good Newes unto the true Beleeveâ— To cherish his New Church and to releeve her Good Newes indeed which thralled Soules restore To greater Grace then Adam lost before The Tree of Life that of Old Adams foiling And it of all Luxuriant Sappe dispoyling Christ did transferre to Mortall men on Earth Who hardly could beleeve the Second Birth They thought that none but an Old Serpent could Cast off his Skin and so renue his Old Inveterate New None but the Phaenix dead Could of his Ashes reare another Head With lively Parts as burnisht as the First This seem'd a worke Divine which no man durst Attempt before our Saviour made it plaine That Humane Impe must here be Graft againe And re-baptiz'd by the bright Holy Ghost Whose Name and Gifts he blaz'd through Jewries Coast. Elixirs dreame nor Pythagorean Change Could work this Feate Ghostly Willes exchange Not Sun nor Stars not Humane sâ—ed nor Sence Could breed or cause this quickning Quintessence That spirit which breath'd on the Waters crude When that earths Lumpe confused lay and rude From a thicke Chaos th' Elements did sever And with all quickning Thaw did Ice dissever Transforming what he would have new straite Harmoniously by Number Measure waight This Love-bred Flame grac'd the pure Virgins wombe And none but him such wonders great become This Doctrine Christ to Nichâ—demus taught Who then of him Soule-Consolation sought When at the bruite of his strange Miracles This Learned Scribe to heare Christs Oracles Had stole to him at Salem in the night Fearing the Factions of th' Herodians Might Who nere about that
therefore the Fiend Conspir'd to bring to passe his damned End Which was to ruine Christ and all his Crew Before he could on Earth Gods Church renew But could none other of th' Apostles winne Save this Perditions Child to act that sinne Judas suborned thus his Instrument Against his Lord and Master did invent An ambushment Christs Body to betray Though he his owne and Soule did cast away To Satan for a Prey For when he saw As Purser that he could no money draw More than he had by Christ his Company And that at Simons house in Bethany Whilst he summ'd up with avaricious Care His Theft he markt how Christ went poore and bare Not caring for the world or worldly gaine His chiefest ayme and would not then restraine The woman which powr'd Nard upon his Head And feete an Oyle that might him much bestead If to the Druggist sold he murmur'd sore He could not catch as he had done before This when our Saviour mark'd Why doest thou grudge Judas said he like a pelfe-serving drudge This Oyntment sold disposed to the poore I grant might have their wants relieved more But they are alwayes here so am not I. Embalmed thus know I shall shortly dye And through the world where shall be read my story Her loving deed shall publisht be with glory These words distasted foule Iscariots thought And to betray him now he hourely sought Away he went to the Chiefe Priests in hast And told them of Christs life and of this waste Now is the Time quoth he for you to take him Whilst he at night to Prayers doth betake him He names himselfe the Christ. I heard him say He would Gods Temple raze and â—ast away And afterwards râ—build it up as well In three dayes space in spight of Men and Hell The Priests were all of such a Chapman glad And presently a Contract with him made That their Catch-poles might without jeopardy Arrest him by the Nights obscurity For thirty peeces of that Countrey Coyne Which to their Treasure house they did purloyne By shifts and fraud for which they were reprov'd Of Christ before which them to malice mov'd Farre more for that than any other cause Though they surmiz'd the breach of Moses Lawes For plucking Corne upon the Sabbath day Or bringing downe their Temple to decay About that time the Paschall feast to hold On Maundy Thursday so enstyl'd of Old Jesus did sup that Evening tide his last At Salem in an upper roome where plac't With his Disciples twelve he first tooke Bread Bâ—est brake and gave it them whereon they fed After his blessing This my Body is His body sure Mans sacrifice for Blisse If rightly tane by a Just true Receiver With Inward taste and of a true Believer For otherwise who toucht Christ in the Prease Aswell as the Blood-flux'd had found more ease In the remembrance of his body naild Vnto the Crosse whereby the Saints stand baild From terrours here and in the world to come Nay warranted in Spirit they become Against doomes-day from the darke second death He blest the Cup alike with holy Breath After the New mans way and bad them drinke The Sacred Wine and on his Blood to thinke As lately at our New mans Sacrifice With bright day-light confounding Heresies My ravisht Muse beheld the Heavenly Vine With Purple Grapes for Mortals prest to Wine â—This costly food Soules Manna purging vice The figure of his Bodies Sacrifice This Type of Blood unbloudyed Mystery Christ left for Saints to keepe in memory His death untill his comming from above Where yet he sits to intercede and move For Penitents his Father wrong'd by Man This way I feed through Faith And who dares scan Another sense yet with Humility Let him here stop as with the Trinity Of Persons in the Godhead which he ought More to admire than by transcendent thought To soare more high than Eagles to the Sunne Where by the stame his sense may be undone Since how wee change to Christ no more hee knowes Then Babes the manner how the Spirit blowes The Sunne drawes up Earths vapours And so can Christ lift like Stephen up our Inward Man This humblenesse of mind when Christ had supt That Evening as it were to interrupt Our Future doubts he shew'd by stooping downe To wash his Servants feete with Love unknowne To which he added that the Marke for ever True hearted Christians from the false to sever Was mutuall Love which a Commandment New He styl'd for without Love Faith proves untrue Our soules and bodies are the Church where God In the third person holds his sweete abode But if we hate good men God dwels not there For the true Churches Roofe Love ought to beare The Sacrifice all done Christ went his way Out of the City as he us'd to Pray Accompanyed with his Disciples true For Judas was departed to his crue His Masters nippe made him the sooner goe Doe quickely that which thou intend'st to doe To execute his Treason and Compact And to receive his bire while Jesus rackt With griefe prepar'd by Fervent Love aswell As Faith and vowes against Sin Death and Hell With his ensuing griefes he had acquainted His Chosen Mates how he should be attainted Bound and arraign'd that night how thereupon As scattered Floâ—kes his servants would be gone And him would leave amidst his Bloody foes Enthrall'd and sore distrest with dismall woes But Peter trusting to his rusty sword Seem'd to distrust his Lords Propheticke word No Mortals force nor death nor Furies grimme From Gods deare Sonne should ever sever him Before the Cocke crow thrice thou wilt deny Replyed Christ me and my Company Thou and thy Mates before the Mornings peepe Will flye for feare like weake and heartlesse Sheep There close unto Jerusalem confin'd Neere Olives Mount a place for him assign'd By Destiny which was his Fathers Will To vent the throbs which did his Inside fill A Garden styl'd of Old Gethsemanee Secure at Nights from Worldlings Company There Jesus felt what might the stoutest quell A world of griping cares of Torments fell The dreadfull vengeance which the Godhead past Upon Mankind his owne so over cast And almost sunke with Agonies of sorrow That one had thought he could not live till morrow His tender Body did extreamely languish And did partake of more and sadder anguish Then other mens wanting the Nature Male In the mixt frame of his Conception Female Or weaker earthly Flesh whereby he stood So tortur'd that he sweated drops of Blood So sensible so full of piercing paine That he could not but more then man complain Like him whose youthfull Lockes chang'd into Gray In one nights space on fame that the next day He should be slaine But Sweates to sacrifice Of streaming Blood exceedes all prodigies And shewes that Saints by meanes most violent Win Grace to Natures sore astonishment Christ by this Strange Pro-passion tortured Shewes that his Mind as Body languished His Agony surmounted all mens
left for his New Church to trace God grant that they may sink with some remorce Into our Hearts and that they Nature force With her proud wanton brats to lay aside Our pranks and view what from our Saviours side Two-fold besides his Hands and Feete did slow That to Christs Yoke they by those signes may bow An easie yoke if on those double Rillets They humbly poare without vaine quirkes and quillets If inwardly his Crosse they muse upon As Mary did with dolefull teares and John While Natures Light the New mans Glory lay Thus on the Crosse in dolefull paines dismay The Sunnes Noone-light mourn'd for such cruelty From twelve to three with Sable Canopy At sight whereof Romes fierce Centurion quakt And like to Aspen leaves most Newtrals shakt Note here the Nature of the Clay and Waxe The one turnes hard the other soft doth waxe By the Sunnes Heate or Fire And so were then The lookers on some mild some hardned men Some mollifyed by Grace griev'd with remorce Some scorch'd by fiends yell'd out till they were hoarse Chiefly some Scribes were hardned more more For they Christ still derided as before Though Nature did her childrens deeds deplore Some 〈◊〉 necked Jewes held on with taunts to gore The fainting Lambe Now if thou he Gods Sonne Come downe from thence or else thy Fame is done Where are become thy famous Miracles Thy latest vaunts stupendious Oracles That Gods faire Temple ruinâ—d to the ground Thou in three daies couldst build it up more sound Physitiâ—n heale thy selfe Couldst others cure And raise to life and not thine owne assure Some mockt his comming forth from Galilee His Native home suppos'd Hurle downe the Tree Great Nazariâ—e and teare those boring Nailes Which trouble thee At him another railes Couldst thou a man from death to life restore Which in the Grave had laine foure dayes before And canst not now thy dearest selfe redeeme Thus did they like mad Bedlems scoffe skream While the poore Lamb almost brought to despaire Soules by his Crosse and patience to repaire Perplext as well for their obduracy Of heart as for their foule conspiracy Like a Childing Woman o'recome with Throes He cryed out in height of all his woes Borne downe with waight of mans mortallity His Fathers wrath his Nations Cruelty And prest with Satans threats of Tyranny Eli Eli Lamasabachthani In English why hast thou forsaken me My God my God When I forsake not thee Some hearing that and doth our Great Messias Vouchsafe said they to call upon Elias Well let him come and save this Royall man With Fatall Fire from Heaven if he can Neere to deaths point he made his Mone I thirst That is for Soules Salvation which accurst By Justice stand in a suspended plight Like to be chain'd with Spirits of the night Unlesse O Father this my Sacrifice Thou wilt accept to purge their damned vice But his leud Foes with unrelenting Gall In stead of drinke to quench his thirst withall Soone dipt a Spunge in gally vinegar Which on a Reed reacht him although eager And bitter too he tasted to fulfill The Prophesie as thereby Lust to kill In Adams Seed and likewise to distaste The Fatall Apples sweete delicious taste Since now all needfull things for Humane good Christ had fulfill'd by shedding of his Blood Which through his Nailed Hands and Feete did streame With paine in Soule and Body most extreame The New-mans Offring powr'd out to asswage Gods wrath conceiv'd against the Old mans rage And knowing that all Prophesies relation Were to the bottome brought by his Oblation He said Now all is at a finall End Into thy hands O Father I commend My Spirit O forgive this Crying sinne Which they of Blindnesse are now plunged in At which Last words groan'd out with Sacred breath The Lambe of God mens Saviour seal'd his death Assoone as He had yeelded up the Ghost Whilst at his death the rout insulted most Blacke hideous clouds which had begunne before Quite dimm'd the Sunne The Earth then labour'd sore As if her wombe some uncouth Birth would vent Her Center shooke with Throes so violent That Salems Temple veile asunder cleft A signe that Levies brood should be bereft Of the Holy of Holies by Entaile The High Priests roome and parted by that vaile Then rent so that the vulgar gazed on The Mysticks hid and Tetragrammaton With great Jehovahs Name which Satan feares They saw disclosed in Hebrew Characters This Rupture chanc'd soone as by Pilates Tâ—â—ine Our Prince Messias on the Crosse was slaine When Nature was or Natures God perplext As one then glossd at Athens on the Text Of this Eclipse if Credit be to Greekes But Holy Writ informes us that with shriekes Some Jewes that saw those signes disclaim'd their crimes And beating of their brests bewail'd the Times Others stood still and lookt on him with feare When they beheld his side pierc'd with a speare God grant their race which roam as yet like Cain May turne to Christ and so redeeme their staine Preferring more the Crosse than Aarons Riâ—es Christs living Temple more than Carnall sights Now yee that read or heare this Tragedy Tell me did any man more causelesse dye If ye retaine a sympathyzing sense With ours on Earth and know what past from hence Yee Passengers who saw that bloody day Was any griefe like his declare I pray That harmelesse Soules should for leud soules attaint Be pain'd deserves a pitteous sad complaint When faithfull Pythias should for Damon dye A Tyranâ— could not brooke that Tragedy But that Gods Sonne to free men from hell-â—â—ares Should suffer death might Tygers more to â—â—ares His Cares transcend all mens Capacity His Love surmounts Seraphicke Charity O thinke on Christ his Passion sinnefull Man What here I pen'd with understanding scan And never let his Bloody Crosse depart By worldly charmes or wiles out of thy Heart But every day in spite of tempting vice Thinke on the Crosse the New mans Sacrifice How he spent yeares Man to regenerate Who did the World but in few Daies Create Thinke how He dy'd to ransome us from Death By whose sweet Word man first receiv'd his breath At Evening tide on this their Sabbaths Eve Among the Jewes who then for Christ did grieve One Joseph was of Arimatheas Towne An upright Man a Counsellour well knowne In Salem for his zeale good deeds and wealth One that Believ'd but as it were by stealth In visits close for feare of Factious Scribes Which in those dayes possest the Jewish Tribes With doubtfull Schismes He griev'd the Priests to see So fierce and so unnaturall to be Like to those Cains Spaines Inquisitions bounds Who trounce poore Soules beyond Religions bounds As to complot the murther of their Brother But now his griefe he could no longer smother Undauntedly not caring to be shent He for Christs Body unto Pilate went Entreating him that from the Crosse he might Remove the same and bury it in
and coyn'd Transubstantiacion Then Vulcans built Soules Purgatories Forge And by those Flames phantasticke lies did forge For neere about that time did Alchymy Begin to raigne with Schoole-Theology When Satan was let loose from his Restraint To play upon the Conscience of a Saint Woe to the Time that our Wâ—st Church forsooke The New-Mans way which Berengarius tooke And dar'd Christ Body so to understand Which till Doomes day doth sit on Gods Right hand Since his Ascent and there in Heaven stayes Till Saints at rest his Foes supprest he layes Thence Purgatory sprung Romes forged Bull Of Satans plot to fill their Bellies full Like Bels false Priests by making men believe They could Redeeme or Purge poore Soules that grieve In that Third place for their Offences past Which Pardons bought with money might lay wast And frustrate if Romes Indulgence assure When she her selfe of Sicknesse cannot cure By Miracle or Charme nor stop one houre Of Deaths Arrest by her Transcendent power Much lesse can she fraile Mortall wight abate Anothers paine when Physicke comes too late Some Fathers dream't at doomesday not before Soules should be purg'd with flames or lesse or more But in this Life where time is limitted Soules must be purg'd or they are forfeited Soules may be purg'd with Sighs Fasts Contrition By Faith with workes which some hold in derision Soules may be purg'd and that with Sacred fire If them Gods Grace with Faith and Love inspire T is not enough to have a Christians Name Except we be Baptiz'd with Christ his Flame The Jewes did vaunt of Abraham for their Father Where they should joy of Abrahams Faith the rather T is not enough to be Baptiz'd alone For so were Jewes in Jordans Floud by John Nor yet sufficient to Communicate So Judas did yet Excommunicate The gentle Sparke that stirres the Heart and Braine Must pray Gods Spirit in those Seates to raigne For whose Content as he was Catechiz'd So with Loves Flame he would be Re-baptiz'd Which done he harmelesse growes an Infant twice In worldly Craft and in Christ onely wise Though tempting fiends with carnall baites he feares Yet Serpent-wise a newer Coate he weares A Coate quite voyd of Seames or Factious Schismes Which with Gods Word he weares for Exorcismes Soules Comforter then to Gods Sonne doth marry The Vnderstanding Conscience Memory Those Three-fold parts of this adopted Soule Whose Name with Saints New Man hee doth enroule And signes with Abbaes Seale The Man vowes Love And this rare vow the Trinity approve Thence-forward giving him the Two fold Flame Of Christ his Crosse and Zeale with Christian Name To purge his Outward Man of Earthly drosse Which may be styl'd our Purgatories Glosse Long since God earn'd the New man for his Sonne And gave through Christ him Free-will thereupon Which for his Faiths support can never faile him But in the proofe and combat shall availe him The Sonne by whose deare Blood he 's Justified Loves him because his Will is purified He loves and makes his first Election firme By sending One his Conscience to confirme Because he chose his Patterne and his Crosse When as he mought false joyes and wealth ingrosse According to the Freedome of his Will Which Grace restor'd and Faith had School'd from ill He carkes for him and sues for his Persev'rance He heares his griefes warrants his delivrance The Holy Ghost as Mans Love ebbes and flowes His sweet gifts more or lesse into him blowes And chiefely him he graceth who is mild Free-hearted Just and not with wiles defild One that adores not creatures nor yet swells With Merits puffe In such a one he dwels In such a mind He breathes Truthes gentle gales Which scornes old charmes vaine legends dreams and tales Thus Sanctified with Christ incorporate A Bastard slip becomes Legitimate 〈◊〉 with Christ partaking of that Feast Of Vnity which brings eternall Rest. Thus is a Man borne of Immortall seed A Saint new-made a Priest a Prince indeed Nay a true King commanding Lordly passions Which Monarches have enthrall'd in fearefull fashions Thus Saints are Crown'd and thus is tendred grace If men doe not their Charters Seales deface But not before the Old man be supprest Shall any mortall wight be this way blest O Grace more rich then Chinaes glittring Treasure O Love more sweet then Mahomets faign'd pleasure Elected tby he Father without merit At the Sonnes suite and sealed by their Spirit This Grace suite and Seale of Gods Majesty The persons working in the unity For dust and ashes sinfull Mans Salvation And with New flames his Spirits inspiration Doe wonder-rap my Soule with Extasies In gazing on their Lights supremacies With glaunâ—es more beseeming Prophets visions Then those which Arrians blurr'd with blind misprisions That to speake much of their Transcendencie Would me confound halfe put in Jealousie Lest I offend my God or goe awry With narrow bounds to stint this Mystery Like Lucifer who for opposing Christ Was throwne to Hell to father Antichrist Thence with his Mates to tempt and poyson such As dare to scan Gods Secrets over much â—ith our weake Braines can hardly apprehend Those Axiomes which to Quadrate circles tend How dare we Clouded with infirmity Rake for more Light of Heavens Trinity Whose knowledge long lay hid from sinfull Men For our first Parents fall till Christs time when It pleased God three persons to reveale By Him which he did formerly conceale From Carnall wits as from Crownd Popes he did The Gospels use and which as yet lyes hid From their crownd-shaven Crew and Babels Rable Who darkling grope for Christs Communion Table As they doe likewise for that Orbe of Rest Which for good Soules departed God hath blest Yet our New man sees by his rayes reflection As through a glasse enough of Gods perfection And roome enough without such purging flames For Saints to sing Allelujahs Psalmes To satisfie our Faith whilst by high mounting Some meet with Aiery foes their strength surmounting Nor must we scale the Sun-beams with those Eagles Whom glory pride or curious Art inveagles To know Gods will conceal'd from humane breast Or to eate more than gluttons can digest This sure I know by Holy Inspirations God breathes in humblest mindes most Revelations For when our Hearts with lofty thoughts arise Fiends scrue themselves into our phantasies Yea they will tempt the most Regenerate And Holiest Men as the most reprobate Some under Forme of Art they slily Charme With hired plots to work their Neighbors harme That by their sowing daily Tares of strife The Father Sonne the Husband and the wife Friends kindred Towne and Country Folkes may vary So as with Christ their Soules can hardly marry Such sleights use Hellish Fiends though few suspect Their shining Baytes yet surely Gods Elect Know that all make-bates have just cause to tremble As well as they who being at Masse dissemble These Members helpe to make up Antichrist For without Parts how can the head
subsist But chiefly Hell claimes those men who beleeve They may for Gaine coyne doubts our Church to grieve To yoke weake Soules and Faith to falsifie Which through Christs death alone doth Justifie Without Romes purging flames or Humane deeds Trentals Masses or ringing more then needs To foole weake minds which knew not Paradise Was promised by Christ where in a trice His Spirit did arrive with the Good Thiefe And there for ought we know might find reliefe With Abram Moses Daniel and the rest Of Saints untill his Body rose releast From Josephs Tombe wherein it lay interred As Jonas staid within the Whale as buryed Or to speake plaine his Spirit without sâ—int Vnited with his Sire in Triumph went As for the certaine place of Paradise Let this our curious Intellect suffice That Gods high Orbe hath many glorious Mansions Unlimited by Locall spans dimensions Like as to us on Earthly Many Lands Beyond New-Guiny which none understands As yet If sundry Starres our world exceed In compasse why doe some their Fancies feed With hopes of Limboes Rest Elisian Groves Or the like Place which none but Rome approves But leaving these for wits Fantasticke flim-flams More fit for Apes or Owles then New borne Lambs God give me Grace the Scriptures sense to follow The solid Truth without Abysses hollow Not daring to maintaine Hels Paradox With the old Serpent and the Wily Fox That after death Christ suffred more unresâ— Since he himselfe said Consummatum est The manner how Christs Soule went downe to hell Before his Body rose I dare not tell Nor search that depth Yet who can safe deny But that his Soules Triumphant Majesty Did there descend or from some Higher place By vertue of his God-head hell deface Which whether part in sulphurd cavernes glowes Or at the Poles part Frozen hard who knowes Christ did descend Hels fury to asswage For where his Spirit is not fiends doe rage So undiscern'd by sense some fiends may dwell Within the Aire as in the utmost Hell T is probable a Battell might be fought By fiends although unknown to mortall thought In that darke time when Christ gave up the Ghost Which battell soone they through his Godhead lost Whilst that in Spirit quickned up he went And preacht to them in Errours prison pent For by his Death Christ spoyl'd them in a trice Of their chiefe sway and Principalities When in Mens hearts the Gospels buds did bloom And at the noyse Hels Oracles fell dumbe This mov'd Saint Paul to publish for Christs glory Death where 's thy sting And Hell thy victory Yet my Rule is where Holy writ for Guide I find obscure when gravell'd I abide Another Theame I take another Lampe I light anew and quite forsake the dampe Of Sulphur'd Meteours and erroneous spels Which smoakt out first from blind Monasticke cels For of Deepe Gulfes a holy Ignorance I farre preferre before a curious Trance I now returne backe to my Saviours Grave Where yesterday I left a Virgin-Cave Afforded by the Arimatheans care Which ever since did to the Church declare This Mystery that as a Virgins Wombe Became his Birth so dead a Virgin-Tombe When Joseph had the Body there transferr'd He decently forthwith the same enterr'd 〈◊〉 Nichodemus ayded in the Night To doe their Master this last pious Right Without much pompe or Prides solemnities Or Ceremonies us'd at Exequies By carnall Friends who oftentimes consume In Glozing showes for Ostentations fume More substance to set out a Funerall Then would well serve to build an Hospitall â—o shew the Fruites of Love at Obsequies 〈◊〉 not amisse but not Hels Sacrifice â—o pacify Dis or Persephone 〈◊〉 Masses Orphean Harpe or Orgian Plea This Baal and Bacchus did the One for Gaine The other his mad Revels to maintaine This Dives doth whilst at his Lordly Gate Poore Lazarus with Christ incorporate Begges needfull Almes for his deare Passions sake Yet cannot have them though his Head doth ake This Dives did while the Prince Palatine With Britaines royall seed forc'd from the Rhine Their proper Right as from Bohemian Prague Stood to our shame confined to the Hague This Dives did when thousands did lament In London streetes with Fevers pestilent What Obeliskes with teares of Crocodiles What Mourning weedes with cryes maskt under wiles Doe our false Christians sumptuously prepare Perhaps for cursed bones with care on care Did Dives to his Tombe with pompe convayd Passe Lazarus in Abrams Bosome layd Leave off for shame such Heathnish Sacrifice And for your Dead build roomes of richer price Nay for your selves with lasting Royall State Whereby you may passe for Regenerate More Hives for Bees with necessary stuffe Heere or abroad to shunne vaine glories puffe Ye may erect with lesser cost and charge Your duties in some measure to discharge Redeeming Plagues I meane the Temporall Which on frayle men for carnall pleasures fall That way will help to expiate and to cover Those sins for that great vengeance which hangs over Your heads unmarkt Lo how Virginea vents Forth heavy grones and new-found Land laments See how New-England under noble Gorge Against the Dragon craves a new S. George All three looke for their Infant Age no more Out of their Mothers ranke superfâ—uous store Then what shee riots There brave Monuments May be set up to Christian mens contents Farre fitter then in needlesse shewes at home And these will passe old Peters pence to Rome Or if you be home-tide and wealth betide Christs Members feed but doe it without Pride Above all things I wish you to forbeare From Burying Coarses in Gods Temple where His Word is Preacht O doe not taint the Aire With Gâ—lgothaes which can not but impaire Your tender healthes by damps and exhalations From sulphurs sweat Earths put id oppilations Our Saviours deeds should for a patterne stand Who from the Temple with a Whip or Wand Drove Chapmen out and such who over bold With in that sacred place wares dayly sold. My Fathers House sayd he appointed was For Prayer not a Money-changing place Why may not in the Fields a heape of stones Serve as the Church for Graves to rotten Bones Resembling that which neere to Mamre sold Dead Abrams Wife for Sepulture did hold Or the Church-yard crost by Masse-Mongers old From Gâ—blins haunt their Carkasses might hold For shall the words of that Mahumetan Spoke at his death confound a Christian man To Saladine one winding Sheet is left Of all his state by cruell death berest Who then will doate on Shrines and Mauzzimâ— Wares Give mee the Quick let Satan take his Tares With them in Reliques who Religion place Besainting Bones within a Silver Case Let not the Church nor glozing Epitaph Grace my poore Corpse From Crowes the Cynicks sâ—â—ffe May guard me for a need Were Martyrs bones Quite burnt in Flames And shall rich Marble stones Enclose my Coarse Farre be it from my thought Who higher place crave then for Money bought That station I expect
through Christ his Crosse Which worldly minds prize lesse then chaffe or drosse Another kind of Body I expect Which like to his my Saviour will erect This moved mee my Children three to bury In the Church-yard whilst I saw most men hurry Proud Carkasses into the Church polluting Gods house and zeale with superstition suting This moved mee New Cambrioll to Baptize In New found land whilst others Idolize Their native smoake with sloath griping Cares Caught with false Pleasures baytes in Satans snares This moves good wits whilst here they make abode To send so oft â—oud sounding Bâ—okes abroad To cure or curbe litigious Braines that Rave And by such Fruits to build them selves a Grave A quickning Grave that when their Sinewes rot The Saints for them might praise the New mans As I doe for Great Brittaines shining Lights Or them whom Andrewes Posthume now invites Lot Andrewes that shames Beauford and Gardiner And yet all Three were styled Winchester For how shall wee discerne another Man Then with bright Trueth his living workes to Scan Whether a Lambe or Wolfe he led his Life In Peace with Christ or with Hell Fiends in strife What more then Swan like Songes keep Men alive Or can on Earth their Noble deeds revive Beare witnesse then my two-fold Epitaph Whilst Windy wits lye swill'd like Swine with draffe This Glasse renewes brave Roberts Memory Of Essex Earle the Flower of Chevalry WhoÌ„ Flanders Lisbon Cales Spaines Iles nor France Nor Irish Force could daunt with Shot or Launce Home-Ostracisme this Famous man did foile Whom Mars durst not affront in Forraigne Soile But his sweet Soule because he Sacriâ—â—câ—d Christ Cleer'd from Guilt and Saints him Canoniz'd Or if the Seas and Land contend for Roome The Seas will Ebbe and shew us Desmonds Tombe Scotland his Birth England his Tilting Fame Venice claim'd his venture Ireland his Name Whilst these Foure strove to build a Monument For Desmonds Corpse the Seas crost their intent Because the Seas for Worthyes might appeare To match the Land they took this Noble Peere Thus Two by Sea and Land have Lawrelles got While worthlesse Lords like Falling Fire-drakes rot Thus Vertue some Crownes with a Living Tombe Which more doth them then Coronets become And longer will then Mausolaeans last When Time shall Pomp and nine dayes Wonders blast Hence I inferre that God hid Moses Tombe Lest men might Saint his Bones in time to come Hence I resolve from Graves old Folkes began To make an Idoll of a Mortall man Hence I conclude to hang a Hearse with Scutcheons Serves for a Bait to catch our Heyrs like Gudgeons For without worth Guilt honours proves but vaine And Styles the scumme of a Fantasticke Braine Without the New mans Robes none are indeed True Noble Men but borne of Mungrell seed Let men therefore besides the Cynicks Staffe Upon my Grave Engrave this Epitaph Taint not the Church with Skulles O yee that mourn Nor with Wormes-meat the Yard will serve my turne Rob not the quick a dead man to adorne But bury me as poore as I was borne Only a Shrowd for decencie I crave Such as my Saviour wrapt in Josephs Grave I hated Pompe and Drunken Sacrifice When I breath'd Ayre much more in Paradise Man here is but a Steward of his Pelfe For others bound aswell as for himselfe To cark and care according to the Talent Which so to him was on Condition lent For which mispent he must one day account Be he a Knight a Baron or a Count. Looke how Christ did the second Adam live So must we sure if we intend to thrive In Piety we must esteeme the Crosse Though sad true wealth pamp'ring ease soules losse Therfore when Honour Gaine or worldly Pleasure Doe thee befall suspect the Heavens displeasure Unlesse thou out of hand to some good use Convert them without Riot or Abuse Looke where so e're thy worldly Treasure is There lyes thy Bane thy hindrance into Blisse No man two Masters serves with conscience cleane God and the World but he becomes uncleane And quickly soild with sense-alluring Toyes Which him bereaves of true Immortall Joyes For by superfluous Cares and Worldly Wealth The way is quite blockt up from Saving wealth The serious thought of which Impediments Made wisest Men amidst their sweet Contents As sometime did the Samian Tyrant fling To season Joyes into the Sea a Ring To mixe some Worme-wood Cares and Objects sad To live like Angells here in Sack-cloth Clad To fly to Celles from Warres and worldly wrath Like Austriaes Charles and Turkish Amurath To choose a dying Life retir'd from Ease Rather like Monkes then like nice Damocles Or like some Kings maligned Favorite That dreames not of a Fall till Envy smite To live with Lushious Cheer and pleasing plenty Fore-seeing that at last scarce one of twenty Which gives himselfe to Carnall Liberty Escapes unstung with some Calamity If not living yet surely at Deaths Gaspe The Libertine shall feele the Hellish Aspe Poison his Soule unseene with Mortall sence Mauger his Heires vaine Obits and expence For after death all Sacrifice is vaine Nor can Rewards redeeme the Soule from Paine The which empoisoned thus barr'd of Gods sight Of the least glimpse of comfortable Light With the rich Glutton in the lowest Hell Till Doomesday roves among the Furies fell And then the Body in more hideous state Joyn'd with his Spirit he cryes out too late For Mercy when the second Death is come Which by the first he might have smitten dumbe And Conquer'd too if like our Saviour He Had living di'd or living sought to be Reborne and form'd after his Image true With Faith and zeale contending to eschew His Spirits Foes the Letts unto the Crosse Which every Christian Soule ought to ingrosse As Mysticke Type and Seale of Mans Adoption His Ransome lent from Lordly Sinnes Irruption Unhappy is that Wight that never felt The Crosses waight whose Heart did never melt At others smart but living all at Randon Gods Justice to dull ease did him abandon Since it is hard to have smooth comforts twice Both in this World and in the Heavens likewise Yea most unhappy He who for his sinne Was never Chastned but hath suffred beene As Epicure not Checkt by Sickenesse Griefe As Epicures till checkt by Sicknesse Griefe By Shipwrack Fame Friends losse want of Reliefe By our Creatour to consume amisse His usefull Talent and to swarve from Blisse Without controule or maisterly reproofe As if God slept or sleighted mans behoofe So on the other side I count him Blest Who in this World felt Sorrow and unrest For we ne're feele the comforts of Gods Spirit Till our Flesh quailes or outward troubles stirre it Fraile Flesh Bloud may not in Heaven reside Till Christ his flames the same have purified The Crosses sight the Carnall mind confounds But it lookes bright and with perfumes abounds Within Gods sight who thereby maketh roome For his rare gifts to lodge in with the
then he would restore To Israel the Kingdome as before Forgetfull so of Jesus Crucifixt Were they and to a Carnall Monarch fixt Whereto Christ answer'd It concernes not you To know the times and seasons which ensue Such secrecies the Father doth reserve Unto himselfe Do you my words observe Who am your King the Head of humane-kind As I to you so to my Flock be kinde My Gospell Preach the weak ones Catechize See that my Sheepe yee feed my Lambes Baptize Invoking on as you have learn'd of me The Father Sonne and Holy Ghost all three Which Last shall shortly you Baptize with Fire As John with Water and your Soules inspire As Gods Viceroy or Angell of the Lord By Heat of what I taught the saving word Untill I come in Person from Above See that yee Watch and one another Love Such or like words when Christ had fully ended He in a Cloud up to the Heavens ascended Where he as God and Man all thoughts beholds Preferred by the Father and there holds As Man for Men a Mediatours place On Gods right hand Saints joyfull to imbrace As God and Man Paules Fury he did fright As God and Man Saint Steven saw his Light So did Saint John from Pathmos see his glory When he reveal'd his future Churches story By Visions have some others ravisht beene That they from Earth his Power there have seen For had we seen him here with Carnall sight Our Darknesse could not comprehend his light Whilst his Disciples there with carefull Eyes Watcht as he went two Angells humane-wise Apparell'd white appearing to them said Yee Galileans why are yee dismai'd Why gaze yee up This Jesus who is hence To Heaven gone shall so returne from thence Seeke not therefore his reall presence heere On Earth untill as Judge he do appeare Meane time on Gods right hand a Prince and Priest He raignes and doeth you in your vowes assist On Whitsunday next after Christs ascent He ravisht his Disciples with content Who then attended at Jerusalem For the last promise which he made to them That he would send Gods Spirit in his steed To rectify and ayde them in their need And while the world should last his Church informe In some or other place with wondrous Forme When that high feast of Pentecost was come And for that end they meeting in one Roome With one consent there fell a bustling noise Or suddaine sound replete with stirring joyes As of a mighty Breath and rushing Wind Which fill'd the House and wonder-rapt the mind For Cloven Tongues appear'd to them like Fire And sate on each of them and did inspire Their Soules with giftes of the great Holy Ghost So that the Standers by of Aliens Coast Astonisht were th'Apostles joyes to heare Men of a diff'rent Tongue and Climate there Poore Hebrew Fishermen that never went Far out of Jewry Land extatick bent With them in their owne Language to agree And in their zeale to God to be so free And fluent of their Phrase that Babels Breach Seem'd reconcil'd by their harmonious speech Some thought they were like Bardhs Enthusian rapt Or that strong Wine in them such Blabs had clapt That men before the third houre of the day Should rave with Wine they wondred with dismay They were amaz'd till Peter made it knowne That for Christs sake God sent this wonder downe Not for Mad fits but for Soules joyfull feast God sent the Holy Ghost this wondrous Guest O Wondrous Guest that vents forth Abbaes Cry Within the Heart the will and memorie O wondrous Guest the Heavens Harbinger That scornes not to become the Messenger Betwixt our Soules and God to beare our Love And our weak Faith to strengthen and improve That sever'd Earth from Chaos medley Puddle And rays'd our Orbe out of the lumpish Huddle And though the Earth were heavy hung it faire With store of stuffe in the loose fleeting Aire This is that Prime and ever quickning Mover Of all the world Angells and Mens approver That spirit which through all Gods Prophets spoke Which taught the sense of Mysticks to unlock Which clear'd the Wits of simple Fishermen To preach those Newes which Doctours fayl'd to pen Which rulâ—d in every Age since Christs Ascent The Church and dayly yeelds Soule-nourishment Which at our feast Christs Body doeth convay Into our Hearts by his Spirituall way Which sent the gift of Printing now of late Old Babels spelles and mists to dissipate And by the Word to rescue Thralles from death As he at first the gift of Tongues did breath Which animates the Saints with courage rare In midst of Tortures Tyrants to out dare Which glads the Lowly and the Penitent And thousands doth unite in one Consent Of Christian Faith though sundred much in place Tongues rites or forme yet one in sacred race O Holy-ghost how strange is thy proceeding Angells and mens capacities exceeding No pen can limne thy Raptures most profound No humane voice can thy hid Graces sound One thing I blunder out what thou conceal'st From carnall Clarkes to Children thou reveal'st Then let my Soule O Lord be like these last Whilst others feast on Peacocks let me fast Or tast no other Food but what conduces To praise thy Name without prophane abuses And let all them who view these humble Lines Prove better'd in their thoughts with contrite signes If the old man they labour to deface And do their best the new man to imbrace Not like our moderne Gulles who grow Profane Lest they be markt with brand of Puritane Let us Gods Spirit by these Wonders seeke These Wonders wrought the first day of the Weeke Our sevenths Light now styled The Lords day Thrice hallowed and sanctifi'd for Ay For this rare Blisse to Christian Soules accrewes That Christ his rising up their hopes renewes To Rise like him ingrafted in his stock To quench their thirst with him the living Rock To bud a new as Branches of his Vine To feed on Angells food his word divine He led the way to Resurrections blisse And us invites to follow him in this High flight without diverting towards Earth But with due care of the new Spirits Birth Our former resurrection in this Life To gaine th' immortall prize through strong beliefe With those true joyes which did but Monarchs know They would foregoe their Crownes the same to ow A glimpse whereof for undestanding Soules Wee read by John reveal'd in mystick scroules With those delights wreathes and immunities Which God allots to Saints in Paradise But for the Temper Place Degrees or Site No Astrolabe nor Braine of worldly wight Can apprehend the height Dimension Rayes Unlesse they fall on false Poetick wayes Yet Paradise some to the Moone confine And there to be another World define Of moving Groves by Galilees late Glasse Where Apuleius found his Golden Asse Whence likewise came Dame Errours Charmed Lamp Which kindled Legends of th' Elisian Camp And Limboes field which Royall James to hit False Dreamers home
those Joyes through worldly Toyes Lord here we yeild thee thanks though soyld with Errours And round about beset with many Terrours For turning Brittaines Iland from a Beast To be Baptiz'd and of Baptiz'd the Best While she doeth firmely to thy Pledges stick To thy true Seales and Spirits Candlestick Praysed be thou who hast to us reveald The Certaine Meanes whereby we may be heal'd Of Natures Spots and those Contagious Evills Heapt on us by the World the Flesh and Devills More in these Latter Times then heretofore When our Great Tempter lay enthralled more And of his Stings curb'd by the Holy Ghost Till Babels Whore perk'd up and rul'd the rost Which sacred Meanes we humbly pray thy Grace May still support us in our New-mans Race As we begunne so with more Love to burne Untill thy Sonne Incarnate shall returne With Finall Doome to judge the Dead and Quick The Dead in Faith and the Church Catholick A joyfull Hymne to be sung on the Lords Day winding up the Sevenths Dayes Exercise REjoyce yee Saints hoyse up your highest Sayles And magnify with loud Hosaâ—â—aes hayles The Lord that first saluted from the Grave Fraile Adams Sonnes and them their debts forgave Spread forth his Sabbaths Palmes sing joyfull Psalmes Attend his word and to the Poore give Almes How Amiable and Cordiall is thy Word Above all Objects els O mighty Lord How ravishing with Pleasures Manifold Surmounting Musick Pomp or heapes of Gold Sounds in our Hearts the Heavenly Bridgroomes voice How sweetly ring those Peales of Hallowed Noise Thrice Holy sung by Hoasts of Cherubins Thrice answer'd by Love Flaming Scraphins O Unity thrice blest in Trinity O Trinity thrice blest in Unity For the pursuit of which Harmonious straine Though fully we cannot as yet attaine To that brave Pitch by reason of our Fogges Thy Grace yet drawes the will and dries our Bogges So if we glaunce as through a Glasse a while At their sweet Tunes and in thy Laud Compile Some zealous worke to testify our Love And ready will which therewithall may move Thy Saints on Earth to warble forth thy Prayse Thou art well pleas'd as with the Widowes Mite Who Abrams deed didst by a Ramme acquite Teach us O Christ to waigh th' effect and Cause Of this Dayes Rest like those whom at Emaus Thou mad'st with zeale to burne the selfe same day When thou didst Rise and metst them by the way That we with Vowes and Sabbaths true Delight May think on thee without the least despite Of Spleene or Gall which might prophane the Time And blacke our Soules with a Notorious Crime If we neglect our Duties and thy Call Now to appeare at this thy Feastivall Wâ—thdraw our mindes from Natures fond desires Or Ruffling showes which might put our Fires And make some justly call our Day of Rest A Carnall Time or Saturnalian Feast Restraine our Longing Fits from all excesse Of Meats and Drinke which might our Wits oppresse And by their mounting Fumes up to the Braine Thee to neglect our Noblest Part constraine And cause us Nabal-like the Sots to play When we to Thee our Thankfull vowes should pay For on this Day thy Cabinet stands ope And we on it for store of Jewells hope O let us not like to that Thorny Ground Be choakt with worldly Cares but Fruitfull found And watchfull still attending on thy Word At this thy Sabbaths Feast it to record And edify our Neighbours as our selves Before our Crimes link us with frantick Elves Or to Conclude before thou do remove As Sonne of Man in Person from Above To judge Mankinde which shortly we expect And on the seventh Day as some suspect Good Lord by vertue of thy Sabbaths Rest According to thy will grant our Request That as thou didst with Body Glorified Rise up from Death so we Soule-purified May Rise from Sinne and up to Heav'n ascend And not to Hell like damned Ghosts descend All Glory be to Thee as heretofore In Persons three one God for evermore Amen Another Hymne in our Redeemers Prayse LEt all that soil'd the Precepts Ten New Day-light crave through Christ. Amen And let all Angells Saints and Men For ever blesse Christs Name Amen Amen Amen sound we like Thunder That at our Zeale the World may wonder That at our Noise the World agast May turne to Christ now at the last To tune his Prayse with Newer Tongues And with the Heart more then the Lunges Let Christ be Alpha in our Songes And our Omega as belonges To Catholickes of Christian stock The Spirits seed Sheep of one Flock Let all our Thoughts conspire in One To fixe our Faith on Christ alone And with one voice aloud to Sing Christ is our Head Judge Saviour King The Prince of Angells Gods Delight The Crowne of Saints Mens only Light The Womans Seed the Sonne of God Which on the Head of Satan trod The Lion borne of Judaes Ligne The Root of Jesse Mount Calvares Signe The Glorious Starre of our New Birth Whence springs our Peace and sweetest Mirth The second part BOth First and Last as we begunne Let us applaud our Makers Sonne With lowd Hosannaes every day Like chirping Birds in Moneth of May Like Consorts Tune or Ring of Bells Let us shew how our Love excells And never cease Christs Name to ring Till we meet all as in one Ring Or Circle round whence no Disunion Shall ever part our Hearts Communion Like Nightingales in Summers Bowre Let us on Christ thinke every howre And never leave to blaze his Story Untill we meet this Lord of Glory This Lord of Lord that crusht the sting Of our great Foe for which we sing All prayse to him that conquerd Sinne And did for us the Triumph winne Amen The New-mans Song of Thankesgiving after the Receiving of the Communion WE took this Day Christs Flesh and Bloud Drest in the Forme of sacred Food We fed on Bread surmounting Wealth We drank Christs Wine of Saving Health O Mystick signes O Grace Divine Transferred from the Heavenly Vine And Living Bread that came from God To warme and change our Earthly Clod We took those Signes like Baskets rare But opening them most dainty Fare We found to please our Spirits Tast We found enough to break our Fast. We felt our Soules cast in New Mould And changed from the Creature Old Love made us all of one consent Faith wrought in us the Lords Intent To mind his Passion Death and Love Till He to Judge comes from Above By these two Gifts we grow to be Christs Body from disunion free By them like Floure bak't in one Loafe The Lord feedes us under our Roofe By them like Lines we meet in one Firme Center in Gods Truth alone Gods Truth that blest our Christian spouse With happy Lot like Obeds House Blest for the Ark while there it stayd When Others were by it dismayd The second part WE yeeld thee Thanks most Gratious Lord Who doest Faiths Light to us record
the Birth of the Arabian Bird With Golden wings from Ashes Pile they gird They see huge Pompions of small seedes renew Yet they make doubt that men shall Rise anew They see the Salamander in the Flame Unscorched lives yet they are void of shame Some in our Time quite dead againe have liv'd By Miracle and some by drinks reviv'd Yea when the Bird out of the Cage did roame The Soule reverted back into her home In heavy sleepe they feele the Soule to range And yet they doubt of the Immortall change But thou hast sent O bright Celestiall Light Into our thoughts a Guest to teach us right O sacred Faith our Charter Aarons Rod Great wonder-worker betwixt Soules and God The chiefest Barre betwixt our Sinnes and Hell The Quintessence of Flowrs of sweetest smell Faith conquers all Mountaines of Sinnes removes Makes Lions Lambes and Kites more mild then Doves And may be styl'd the Gospells Golden Glosse To know aright the meaning of the Crosse. This is that Rock unseen with Carnall Eyes Whereon our Church stands firme in spite of Spies Late sent from Hell Christs Building to deface And with false Newes disperst to darken Grace This is our New mans sure and constant Rock Whose sense from Lambs old Reynard seekes to lock This pretious Gift we gaine from Grace above â—ut flyes away if we prophane Gods Love â—lipsing it on the Lords glorious day â—ith worldly mist false Fire or Heathnish play â—he old Mans Tricks his stale and stinking Leaven For if that Day we Rest not we lose Heaven I meane from Gaine Lust and unlawfull Playes Or Worke which might be done on other dayes We must refrayne and our owne Carnall wayes Set farre behinde the course of Sabbath dayes Except our Mother Church which holds the Keyes To binde or loose dispence with Exercise Or with some harmles Joyes at vacant howres To sweeten Cares and raise the vitall Powres Which might grow drowzie sad or drooping dry For want of Motion and due Symmetry Provided that the Soules chiefe faculties Be not betwitcht too much with vanities And that our sportes or Recreations bee From Spleen or Gâ—ll Bibbing or swearing free That we rejoyce in presence of the Lord Like Man and Wife of one minde and Accord Provided that what Money we shall Play Or hap to winne we count it lent away And so Conferre it to avoyd Abuse For mending wayes the Church or Lazars use But in this Point let Saints be circumspect Lest at their Play the Serpent them infect Provided still we may Advantage winne On that set day to put downe Raigning Sinne And glorify with mutuall one Accord And holy Hearts our Sabbaths gracious Lord Who knowes that Man is full of Imperfections And by degrees must climbe to more Perfections So have I seene some Children from the Dugges By leasure wean'd then terrify'd with Bugges From screaming lowd and afterwards with Bells Appeas'd like Angry Bees untill their Yelles They quite left off ashamed of their Folly And grew in time more stayd devout and Holy So I have know'n where men were most Precise In Forraigne Partes that some did exercise At Buttes with Arrowes or with Bullets Play Between the Sermon While on this High day The like Effects our Elders Tolerations May bring to passe amidst our Profanations That when our sweaty Hobs have daunc'd their fill They and their Marians mount to Sions Hill Or else deferre their Games and Alchouse Bowles â—ill sacred Liquour hath bedew'd their Soules â—or then I hope our New man will extend â—is quickning Heat that their Old man will bend â—nd stoope like Josephs Brethren overcome â—ith th'Awfull splendour of succeeding Doome â—hat shall inflicted be on Libertines â—or slighting Prophets and their sacred lines 〈◊〉 their abuse of Christian Liberty 〈◊〉 causing scandall with Impiety â—or keeping back Gods Tythes and starving those Who might Soul-fed our Sabbaths Foes oppose O would my words might pierce into the Flint And strike remorse with Numbers feeling dint In them who to support their Pride ingrosse The Meanes whereby ensues the Churches Losse In them that put no cautious difference Betwixt the Lords and other Dayes in sence Good ends and use like those who sometimes fed On the Lords Body as on Common Bread But leaving these like Achans to themselves Or to be rankt among the Fairy Elves I hope the Gospells Light which now shines bright In Brittaines Ile will so confound the Night Of misty sinnes that we shall shunne the Rock Of Scandall and be grafted in one stock As Members of our All-puissant Head Whose Ten-fold Lawes the greatest States must dread And by their Light twixt Motion Love and 〈◊〉 Cause Lesser Starres like Charles his Waine to draw That Head and Parts may joine in unity While Charles his Name renewes whole Charity Membra Caputque ligant Charites quas Carolus ambiâ— Dum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 renovat Rex nomen omen Blest be that Light which late in Oxford shone And there Inspir'd faire Englands Royall Throne Our Carriers Carts and Wayne-men to restraine Who sullied Sabbath dayes for greedy Gaine Blest be that Act which served for a Charme Amidst our vowes to stay Gods Thundring Arme That scar'd from Westminster our Parliament With Fiery dartes and Arrowes Pestilent No strict Edict could cease the Dismall knells No Judges Writ could stay sad Londons Bells No Golden Fee the Soule of Eloquence Could further Suits against the Pestilence Our Gallants then so for their Out-side styl'd Thence hurryed fast away like Creatures wilde The Courtiers fled so did Rich Londoners The Coachmen fled so did the Waggoners Both Sexes fled yea Men of all degrees Grave-diggers Gaine downe waigh'd the Lawyers Fees Though sithence some complain'd of Fees abate For many weekely Graves but few of late Our Fashions Beauties and daub'd Jezabels Tooke then for Fiends the Noise of Tolling Bells Few stay'd behind save some in hope of Gaine Or those for Christ who shrunkt not to be slaine Nay they who bragg'd of Aromatick Pots Cures for the Poxe and soveraigne Antidotes Against the Plague then brookt not London streets Lest they might daunce the winding of the Sheets But now attend a Wonder great I tell Which thousands can as yet remember well Assoone as that New Act came published The Plague abated and few perished This an Eye-witnesse of their Desolations Their Trades Decrease their Woes and Lamentations In that great Citty where the Sicknesse raign'd I then their Guest undaunted not constrain'd Do testify for our Preservers prayse And to reclaime them who shall read these Layes With Dalilaes from dallying over-long Their sweetest sinnes I meane Gods day to wrong Gods day of Rest his Wonders to display Gods day for mans best part Soules Holy-day On which High day the Spirits Gate stands ope And we may then for store of Graces hope Iâ—t not absurd New sweet Wine to put in Old Butts not first well purified within And