the night For with our Feast suits not this sight of sorrow You know quoth he our Sabbath is to morrow And by our Law we are by Moses Taught That but till night no hanged Body ought To lye unburied lest it taint the Aire Defile the Land or Health with smels impaire We vow'd our selves a Nation consecrate To God who hates all things contaminate Such as might barre us to be Sanctified In Soule and in our Bodies purified Our Soile likewise while we from vices stand Absolv'd is styl'd Jehovahs Holy Land Which Holinesse of Body Soule and Soile Makes for his Buriall me to keepe this coile O let not then the Nailed Coarse endure Polluted long for want of Sepulture Since not so much as any Carrion Beast Is left uncover'd at our sacred Feast My Countrey men have wreackt their ut-most teene On him and you their bloody minds have seene When Barrabas that Robber they preferr'd Befor his Life whom now to be enterr'd I beg and crave at your most gracious hands And none of them I thinke this Boone withstands Or if they should by scrupulous surmise Oppose my suit that he againe will rise Within three dayes from Death to Newer Life Because he did so Prophesie In briefe I am content they watch the silent Grave Or seale it up And what more would they crave When Pilate knew that Christ was dead indeed After some pause he at the last agreed With this Proviso that the Priests should set His Seale and with a Guard the Tombe beset Then instantly unto his great renowne Good Joseph tooke the breathlesse Body downe Enwrapt it in a shrowd and it convey'd To a New Tombe where no man else was layd An Epitaph upon our Saviours Corpse hanging upon the Crosse. MArke Worldling heere a Tragicke Miraâ—le Suspend vaine Hopes and view this Spectacle The Sonne of God hanges fixed to that Tree With nayled Handâ— and Feet thy Soule to free From his Dread Fathers Curse and the same paine Which thou of right shouldst feele Hee doth sustaine Gods wrathfull Cup to ransome Adams Fâ—ll And lustes he drinkes with vinegar and Gall. To adde more woes in presence of his Mother Like Kidâ—-flesh boyl'd in the Dammes Milke their Brother See how the Priests doe flout the Romans mangle His Harmelesse Corpse whom they could neere entangle In the least Word or Act whilst he did Preach His Fathers Will and in the Temple teach He tendred Grace and eas'd Lawes Penalties He cur'd their Feavers Palsies Leprosies Restor'd their Lame gave Sight to Blinded Eyes Rais'd up the Dead and for these gifts he dies He Praying dyes and then gore-Gore-Blood did come From his pierst side with that cleare water from The Pericardion Skinne about his Heart Which late it held to coole that Moving part O wretched Men who did Gods wrath provoke And were the cause of this great Bloody stroke A Lamentable Hymne in the Memoriall of our Saviours Passion AS our sinnes did Our Saviour pieâ—ce So must we bathe with teares his Hearse Though One of his Bloods many drops Exceeds all Teares and Passion stops How can our Soules chuse but complaine To see our Prince Messias slaine Not for himselfe but for our Cause Who daily breake our Makers Lawes How can the Members chuse but weepe That the Good Shepherd for the Sheepe The Head of all our Humane Race Should lose his life with such disgrace With bitter â—ibes more bitter stripes And dismall Deaths most bitter Gripes His Forehead Crown'd with pricking Thorne His Hands and Feete Crosse-naild and torne Christs senses all pay'd for that sinne Which the first Man delighted in For the faire Fruite of Paradise The Jewes hood-wink'd his harmelesse Eyes For Adams lisâ—ning to his Wife His Eares heard sâ—outes and raylings rife For hand-reaching to the Tree His feeling grip'd with Tortures see For the sweet fruites delicious taste With bitter gall he brake his Fast And where the Fruite Eve Fragrant smelt He Skulles foule scent at Golgoth felt This dolefull doome to Christ besell Though he dislodg'd the Fiends of Hell And though their Prince fail'd him to win With his three snares or charmes to sinne Within that wilde or Desart place Where Christ withstood him to his Face Yet now in part he got his Will And to that end with poisned skill By Judas meanes had made his way For greedy gaine him to betray He got his Will bruiz'd Adams Heele And mad with Rage made Christ to feele As he was Man his utmost shaft Since him he miss'd to gull with craft Nor could him charge in thought or word That he transgrest against the Lord. Onely because our sinnes he bore God suffer'd Satan him to gore By Sinners hands hells Instruments The Guiltlesse Lambe with Punishments Which we indeed and none but we Had well deserv'd for Adams Tree To Undergoe from Crowne to foote With all the Paine of Hell to boot The Sixth Dayes EXERCISE The Argument The foure great wonders wrought at Christ his Death How Paradise receiv'd his Ghostly Breath Purgatory condemn'd and Tombes expence The Crosse is prais'd what profit comes from thence I Sing no songs of antique Saturnalls Emblemes of Time Sithes mowing Festivalls Though Saturnes name I wrest to that set day On which our Saviours Corpse entombed lay Nor daigne I once his memory to greete Who fled to Latium from his Native Creete Nor strike I at that Melancholique Spheare Whose Motion ends not till the Thirtieth yeare No such conceites intoxicate my Braine To thinke that Ovids Taâ—es might grace my strain No such Capricious Toyes wits whimsey-dances Nor dreames of Raving Pates take me with trances Improper for a Christian Scribe to hold Or them to blaze abroad like Bardhs too bold Who in this Age of impudence and scorne Turn'd more Baboones then Babes for Christ New-borne Would gul the world with leud Fantastique fables Our Youth with Cupids baits or Eâ—vish Bables No line shall glide through my New sacred Pen Save that whereto Gods Angels say Amen But who will heare or credit our Reports When men wax deafe bewitcht with Babels sports When though they know that her Chiefe Forts were taken Her Lovers sundred and her Basans shaken By them that hate the Whore yet still they strive By the Old Dragons false prerogative To build her Walles like Jerichoes againe And blow up Sion with Hels Powder-traine Looke how they Plot to undermine our walles And to repaire their owne Just ruin'd falles See how Romes Mungrels mercenary whelpes Goe on to bite the Saints And how she helpes Some viper-like their Neighbours hearts to teare Under pretence of Purgatories feare Behold how Mammon tempts our brightest starres To fall downe from the Orbe of Peace to Jarres Whilst Humane Arts doe want no Licencing They threat Gods Heraulds with a silencing But O! are not those wordlings much too blame Or doe they not obscure the Spirits Flame Well meriting from Heaven punishment Exemplified with Arrowes Pestilent For their Ecclipse of zeale
Flesh to thratle Tales Dreames Here they shall find despis'd by worldly Men Saints basely layd as in a Dungeon Den. Here they shall finde Gods Babe in poorest Bed Though borne to tread upon the Serpents Head Yet though Dull Men were silent in his Praise The holy Angels with Harmonious Layes And shouts of Joy divulg'd his Horoscope They sung of his sweet Grace and future hope They chanted out Gods Glorious Name with Mirth Good Will and Peace to men through Christ his Birth For at this Time when All One Colour wore Whilst Epicures out-slept their Dainties store Some Shepheards watch't their Flockes neere Bethlems Towne To whom the Angels made these Tidings known For Drowzy Drones here is Authenticke warning Some Mysteries disclosed for their Learning The first Man in the Spring was form'd of Earth Of God and man in Autumne Christ his Birth Began and with more Light rose from the East But now it sets in Stormy Winter West Some thinke Christs-Tide false beares Decembers Date Because the Taxe was by the Romane State Exacted in September as they prate And S. Johns Birth beares March for antedate Abiaes Course cast up for Zachary Yet this supposed true to shunne their Cry I say what if the Fiery Comforter Christs Deputy the Churches wise Supporter Indifferently Dispenc'd with this Exchange That with S. Mathewes Memory we change The same and with S. Michaels Jubilee Whereof the first records Christs Pedegree And Birth as th' other serves to represent His Churches State through Civill Discord rent Or else because the World shrunke to old Age This changed Feast calmes Melancholies rage To comfort us amidst our Stormes and Snowes When to the Root the Sap fall from the Boughes Perhaps rude Goates Coucht under Capricorne Now Good Men tame or Tares divide from Corne New Hearts presenting with the New yeares Sunne For Incense Gold and Myrrh unto Gods Sonne Who at this Feast tooke Flesh and Circumcision Whereto his Starre led Wisemen in Procession Proclaiming him in Salem King of Jewes For all fierce Herods craft vext with the Newes That Israels Prince Whose Spring of Pedegree Eternall was in Bethlem borne should be His Craft availd him not for they by God Were the same way home to Returne forbod And though in stead of Christ poore Babes he slew He did by death his Deed soone after rue But why came they to Christ with Gold Store Of precioue Gummes who might from Heav'n have more Was it to shew that Christ our Royall Head High Priest and Judge Commands the Quick and Dead By vertue of his God-heads Triple Mace Of Justice Mercy and Inspiring Grace Vniting Man to Gods Conformity â—y these three Gifts Types of the Trinity A Priest to Mediate Preach and Sacrifice A King to Raigne a Judge to Punish vice And that more oft than Incense Myrrh or Gold God might with Faith perfumed Hearts behold Or did these Sages of their owne accord Present such Gifts as welcome to the Lord Or which is likely did Gods Spirit move Those holy Pilgrims to expresse his Love And Care for his Beloved in Distresse Who at that sudden pinch were Money-lesse That with such needfull Meanes they might supply Their wants when he forewarned them to fly To Egypt from the Tyrants bloody sword Till their Returne from Exile by his Word When they that sought the Infants Life were dead And Herods Sonne Installed in his stead This Passage sure beleeve it as your Creed God never failes the New Man in his Need But gives his Angels charge as for his Sonne That he dash not his Foot against a Stone But missing Christ why were poore Infants slaine That for the Head the Members suffer paine And that their Types as Blazing Stars display Who Christians slay they Christ himselfe wouâ—d slay And why blest He a Virgin with his Birth And made her first Christs Temple here on Earth That was no Lady Crown'd with worldly Honor Nor with Rich glaring Robes tooke State upon her And why grac'd he poore Shepheards with these Newes Not full-fed Peeres Princes nor wealthy Jewes Not Rabbies Popes nor Lordings of the Church Who lookt for Christ yeâ— liv'd upon the Lurch Let Dogmatists resolve these Doubts that know Why Thunder smites high Trees spares the Low Gods Grace Pride can never brooke each other Nor dwells Humility and Pomp together The Former doth our Breach with Heaven repaire The Latter whilst it swells bursts into Aire For there some play with Aiery Fancies Elves Till Hell devowrs the Tempters and themselves Gods Church seemes poore to Carnall Libertines In Heavens she sups though hard on Earth she dines God chose the weakest to confound the Wise That Man with Christ by simple means mighâ— rise Embracing more his Crib for Soules behoofe Than Satanâ— Crowne in this our world of proofe Yet God allowes to shun an Anarchy For Orders sake a kinde of Hierarchy With Pastours Pow'r in every Christian State To Bind or Loose or Excommunicate To heale the sickly and to bath his Flocke With Waters streaming from the Living Rocke More fishing for Mens Soules then Carnall Preyes More glorying in the Crosse than worldly swayes Whom Christ bids Feed and not like Wolves to bite us Whom Christ bids Watch as Paul exhorted Titus Yet Little Flocke that bleat'st through Tyrants Rage Grudge not there shortly comes a Newer Age. He that reveng'd on Herod and his House The Blood of Bethlems Babes will right his Spouse The Blood late spilt in our West Christian Lands God will require at Gogs and Magogs hands God will his Servants wrongs ease or conclude Whom Tyrants snar'd in Aegypts Servitude God will revenge their Cause Complaints and Teares Whom our Make-bates by Tricks set by the Eares No Motion Plea Decree nor false Demurre Of Jarring Braines can Heavens Sentence blurre For with the Beast and Lords that tooke his part They shall in Tâ—phets Flames for ever smart The Members for their Plots Bribes Misdeeds Their Perking Heads for iustifying their Deeds For suffering Elies Sonnes on Saints to prey For sparing Agags whom the Lord bids slay Be patient then Yee Servants of the Lord Poore Nabaoths who feare the slaughtring Sword The Sunne will shine after some Thunderclaps New Heavens Joyes will smoother all Missehaps And God will plague those Lords who make a Prey Of Christians Goods nay worse who Christians flay Let none that holds of Faith the smallest Graine Despaire but that with cheerefull minde againe Though girt with Flames as the three Children were He may without Annoy or Servile Feare Of the Soules Guilt escape from his Distresse If he beleeves that Gods bright Word tooke Flesh And di'd for him he cannot doe amisse Gods Grace appeares in dangers most extreme Betwixt the Bridge and the devouring streame Nay plunged in the Deepe ore Head and Eares God may reprieve or rid him of his Feares Transplanting him to that Eternall Rest Where griping Griefe shall never him molest As the good
Types substantiall Truth he brought And our New-man in him Regenerate Shall doe the like if we cooperate We shall Gods word love more than Superstitions And follow Truth more than Humane Traditions The which Christ grant who felt excepting sinne All Natures griefes which we are plunged in From those Ten Lawes in stony Tabâ—es wrot By God himselfe he never swarv'd one Jot But them observ'd inviolated all Yea and the Morall as the Ceremoniall On Sabbath daies no man could him prevent But that he would the Synagogue frequent Which Nâ—â—e I may not silent overslip How sacredly Christ did all men outstrip In honouring the Seaventh feastfull Day At which time he most joyfully did pray With Davids Tunes both Hymnes and Psalmes he sung His heart whole Peales to his deare Father rung Of Jubilees and Thankes for Humane Good For sending him to save his Flesh and Blood Yet nerethelesse he seem'd not to gainsay But that Good deeds might well be done that day Or Casuall workes forc'd of Necessity Those would not barre the workers Piety No more then Davids deed when as he fed Constrain'd by Hunger on the Holy Bread For as he said God made the Sabbath day For Man not Man for it On it to pray On it to satisfy weake Natures Need And yet with mounting thoughts to save his Creed He must Praise God the Authour of his Calling And others by his steps confirme from Falling More often on that dayes Solemniz'd Feast Then other dayes not limited for rest Sixe dayes God left for Natures wordly Carke But that day to refresh th' Immortall Sparke Gods Lawes he kept unabrogated Holy Which none besides himselfe did ever wholly Above all sinnes which he saw raigning here Idolatry he loathed most for deare His Fathers Honour was to him and next To this great sinne his soule was oft perplext To see debate amongst his Neighbours Those Of Abrahams seed whom of meere Grace God chose And singled out from Superstitious Nations Peculiar to avoid their profanations For He the Sonne of Love borne from Above Could not endure the Opposites to Love He could not brooke without anxiety And troubled thoughts to see Cold Charity To see them with fat gifts the Lawyers feed To nourish Pride whilst others starv'd for need Therefore against all Malice he contested Nay them who hated Good men he detested He spent the best part of his Youthfull houres In hearty suite unto the Heavenly Powers For their conversion from such carnall pleasure And for their Wils restraint with Graces measure Because his life he might securely lead Till thirty yeares were full accomplished Himselfe he mated with the simplest Jew But seldome with the Proud or Heathenish Crew To shunne Vaineglory and the Serpents rage With Servants forme he cloakt his Parentage To Old and Young though but of meane Repute With whom he met he gave the first salute With Peace God speed Good morrow or Adieu And chiefely to the vertuous whom he knew So stampt in Soule after the New-mans Forme Who did their best the Old man to reforme With gracious words he ever heartned those According to his Naturall dispose To such as griev'd in body or in minde He shew'd himselfe most pittifull and kind With word and deed he sought their Amity And to accord their strife and enmity Though he no thankes for Peace-endeavours had More then in Aegipt Moses of the Bad. He never Place nor puft up Glory sought Nor what he not perform'd did promise ought His Word and Meaning still agreed in one Grounded upon their substance Truth alone He for ill use his Tongue did never traine Nor ever tooke the Name of God in vaine All wrangling Sects he shun'd the Pharisees For Pride and for Faith wrackt the Sadduces He hated them who scandaliz'd the Law And nourisht strife for Profit without aw Of God or Man as likewise their lewd Members Which kindled needlesse fires rak't up in Embers He scorn'd for Gold our Mercenaries hire To cloake the Right or Clients draw like wire He loathed wyles and lyes and loved Truth More than his life In hottest time of Youth When choller gall and passions domineere In him no signe of wrath did once appeare He used more to hold his Peace then speake Comparing those to Sives which secrets leake Against the Bodies loathsome Maladies To live as if he were in Paradise A diet spare both to the whole and sicke He still advis'd and Fasting the best Physicke This moved him to fast in Youth farre more Than in his Greene more springing yeares before He knew the worth of Dyets Excellence That a small thing workes Chyles nutriments Because the Blood and Humours Ebâ—â—litions Deriv'd from Food evapourate pollutions Toward the braine and soules chiefe faculties Distemp'red by the Bodies Qualities He affected Dyet even at a Feast Whereat Good man he came a seldome Guest By this stay'd course of Constitution sound His Body grew no Humours did abound Pernicious but with Daniels might compare Or the like choycest Saints for sober fare And by this stint to Nature his Complexion Most rare arriv'd to Beauties chiefe perfection As Carbuncles doe in the darkest Night Afford to all the Roome about them Light So was Christs Life of all the Neighbors seene To shine that none could taxe him of one sinne Or justly say that he at wealth did ayme Or Honour for he did them both disclaime As opposite to what the Trinity Affects in Man divine Humility With daily Prayers Fasts and watchfullnesse He still repulst the Darts of wickednesse He had so much and yet he made no boast Thereof Divine gifts of the Holy Ghost That Satan fail'd to peepe in or contemple The smallest chinke of his faire Spirits Temple Perhaps not thinking that the Godhead would Descend so low but leave Hell uncontroul'd Yet our defects that were most miserable He had as Man but not one damnable Which might have beene to Purity a Barre Or for our Ransome which might work a Jarre He honour'd God the Authour of his Good He loved Man as his owne Flesh and Blood His whole pure Heart not mixt by halves or hire He vow'd to God and kept his vow entire He never halted betwixt God and Baal Nor ever made of Soules Mechanique sale Which was the cause he went by day unshot And with those shafts that fly by night unsmote Gods holy Angels guarded him without Gods holy Spirit guided him throughout From those close Baites of the Infernall Angle Which more or lesse all Adams Brood entangle For proofe or Losse according to their Creed But Saints at last God succours in their need With Patience strength and Faith Apostolicke Whereby they may unto their Saviour sticke As God inspiring Gifts and their true sence As God and Man Christ drew their Quintessence And left the same within the Gospell coucht Which Saints have since with Martyrs seales avoucht Thus Jesus liv'd and spent his youthfull dayes And yet my Pen sets out not halfe his
then hope to shew a Converts Love And to my Lord a constant Soule yet prove But though salt teares doe faile sighs shall abound Which with my Heart well-nigh in sorrowes drown'd I once againe present to thee Dread Lord And without shift here of mine owne accord I humbly doe confesse my grievous crimes For which I merit Hell unlesse betimes It please thy Grace some pitty to extend On me vile wretch my weake thoughts to bend Towards thy Lawes forgiving what is past That my sinnes be from thy memorials rack't The which I begge for thy Sonne Jesus sake Whom I henceforth will never more forsake Thus poore Saint Peter bitterly complain'd And liv'd to Christ a servitour unfaign'd Chiefe Elder of that memorable Towne Where by that Name first Christian men were known One of the Prime Apostles in Commission With James and others for all doubts decision Toyling with them to feed the New-mans flocke Which built their Faith upon the Living Rocke Which Pastours place he did so well improve That all true Saints Saint Peters deeds approve Nay he that roome did since so well discharge That roaming Rome doates on Saint Peters charge And till this day to gratifie his Fame Our chiefest Townes hold Temples of his Name This happy Lot did to this Saint befall Whereas the Traitor Judas by his Fall Exemplifies to us what Carnall Scribes Shall reape at last for their Truth-choaking bribes For sale of Soules and what great dangersly For them in store who plot most wickedly Good Christians ruines hir'd for Golden Fees To play the Waspes by wronging painfull Bees But we have now more sobs of griefe to vent For Pilates Doome recalls us to lament Scarce did the day sad Frydayes Morne begin To dawne when that about their Bloody Sin The Clergie met consulted and arraign'd Of Treason Christ with Accusations faign'd Nor paused they too long what should become Of him They had already read his Doome That Christ should dye for their whole Nations good Lest his New sect might put downe Levies Brood And to this end soone as the Sun had rose Because they would not the least minute lose Themselves not daring on that Sabbaths Eve Him to condemne lest they their Nation grieve Or scandalize for sitting then on Blood When they should more prepare to do some good They Jesus led to Caesars Judgement Hall Who had reserv'd Offences Capitall Such as concerned not Religions Breach Or their Misdeeds who did false Doctrine teach To be heard by his President alone To Pilate there with glozing bitter mone They Christ accus'd how he himselfe a King Had styl'd to Caesars wrong About which thing When Jesus was demaunded he stood mute Griev'd at his Nations spite loath to dispute Or make his power knowne unto his Foes For whose Salvation he resolv'd those woes To undergoe and his deare Blood to give In Sacrifice for them that would believe But when the Judge had oft to him reply'd He said that never he on Man reli'd His Kingdome was not earthly but Divine To which high Orbe he did his thoughts confine Which by this signe and Argument he prov'd For if he were a King on Earth belov'd His Armed troopes his Scepter would defend Whereas the cause which made him to descend From Heaven downe was Sacred Truth to shew To sinfull men who for Gods Grace would sue Truth was to Pilates Eares so rare divine And mysticke that he could not it define But askt him what Truth was yet would not stay To heare it blaz'd but wondring went away And told the Jewes I find no heinous fault No Treason Theft no Criminall assault Nor crying sinne In utt'ring of which speech One whispred him his Wife did him beseech As he himselfe did love not to proceed In Judgement against Christ for any deed Pretended by the Jewes but to take heed Of their false Bills It makes my heart to bleed Said she to thinke what troubles most extreame I for his sake have suffred in a Dreame This Message I scarce risen from my Bed Have sent to thee lest that thou be misled To yeild consent for shedding guiltlesse blood Therefore for mine and for thy Future Good Be not severe against that Righteous man When Pilate did this dreame and message scan And knew the Priests had of meere Envy brought Jesus before him without cause he sought By all faire meanes to free him from their spite And him of causelesse Treason to acquite Feare pitty fraud wrought on his Policy But Fraud at last got the supremacy And thereupon he shifted for a while To lengthen out the cause or them beguile To satisfie his Wife or else to brew A plot to make the Envious King to rue To curry favour or to Complement Because he was of Herods Government At Nazareth bred up in Galilee That part which Caesarâ—â—yl'd â—â—yl'd the Tetrarchy Who at that time lay in Jerusalem He Christ transferr'd to him and caused them What circumstance or proofe that might conduce Before the Tetrarchs Throne there to produce And to obey what Herod would adjudge Whom you shall find quoth he a Meeter Judge A man that Better knowes your Countries Laws Than I a stranger doe shew him the cause Herod seem'd glad at first the Man to see Of whom he heard such Fame in Galilee Or that John Baptist was rose up againe Whom for a Dauncing wench he late had slaine In hope he might behold some Miracle Wrought in his sight or heare some Oracle Which might delight his curious carnall sence With Courtly Newes or Projects excellence But finding Christ in outward habit plaine Of sad aspect and that he could not gaine What he desir'd from him to see or heare With Thankes to Pilate now his Friend most deare By this late act of tendred Amity For till that time both liv'd in enmity He sent Christ backe to the Pretorian Barre Despis'd by him his Guard and men of warre Yet morall-wise betokening Innocence They veil'd the Lambe in white and packt him thence Thus was the Lambe of God Mens Saviour tost By wicked men from pillar unto post When that Romes Praetour saw he must content Or move the Jewes to wrath or discontent And thinking that some corporall correction Might qualifie their spleene or Insurrection He scourged him But that they deem'd too light For they like Dragons gap'd his blood outright To sucke Yet Pilate seem'd to calme their spite Like to those rash and partiall Politicians Who punish Saints to pleasure Antichristians Because they had a Customary Right Or Indulgence to bleare the vulgars sight To pardon one against that Festivall He sought to save or else to make reprivall Of Jesus But they all cry'd out amaine Not him but Barrabas Jesus in vaine Thou offrest us for this man may amend If Jesus scape thou art not Caesars friend This Barrabas was a notorious Thiefe With murther stain'd the more was Pilates griefe For of the both he Jesus favoured Yet seeing their
Physitians threats And the repugnant Nature of the meates Nay though they know some meats may cause offence Unto the Weake the Old man will dispence That on a Friday in a Papists sight They feast on Flesh his Conscience to despight Against the rules of Civill Modesty As if they meant their Neighbours Swine to tye To Meazeld troughs against the Owners Will Who bred them up with other kind of Swill As bad perhaps as Sugar-sops or Fish Which raise up Lust more than the fleshy dish Of old it was not so Good Christians then In feeding with the Jewes like Prudent men Abstain'd from Porke and puddings stuft with Blood They liv'd content with their Mosaicall Food To win weak soules to Christ they seem'd content lawes With all things except sinne indifferent For whose deare sake they would each Countryes Observe and weare a Fooles coate were there cause And so sometimes we play the Humourists Faiths essence sav'd to raise up Catechists But since our Head commands a Publicke Fast How dare the Members gape for much Repast But mutually joyne with their Christian mates Of the same Church to calm the threatning Fates On Jonathan a thundring sentence past Because he brake unwittingly a Fast And shall our Gulles unpunished escape Who wilfully commit an Heath'nish Rape And violate the Law with carnall taste Out of crosse-spleene conceite and wanton waste Nor for restraint of Wind necessity Or for raw Ayre but of meere Vanity A little serves the Hungry Maw to heale Why then will they devoure more at a Meale Than twice five ounces of substantiall Food And so much weight of drinke to do them good More frugall yet when Fasting dayes commence Least Fumes oppresse the Braine Sleepe presse thâ— sence To keepe in plight thereby the Bodies Frame For the Soules Feast and Belly Gods to shame Such Food as will not over soone corrupt Bisket Rice Pulse or soft Panades supt A smal thing cheeres the heart Midriffe calmâ— As wines one draught kept Timothy from Qualmes Why then will Christians play the Epicures And frustrate make the Soules and Bodies Cures By causing Fumes to breath up to the Braine Where they beget the Soules and Bodies paine Excesse of Meats beyond the Golden Meane Turnes into Fat and Excrements uncleane It taints the blood breeds Dropsies Feavers Gouts Or duls the wit and makes them heavy Louts Unweildy for Faiths Active Qualities To please our God with humble Sacrifice Of Vessels some are Rough some Porcellane Of Bodies some turne Pure and some Prophane Note this in Beasts their dung lets us to weet That Swine and Dogs smell rancke the Stags more sweet Now Gryllus chuse thy mould Hogs Stags or Dogs If Stags be scant Dogges stinke then take the Hogs And wallow in his mire untill thou feele The meazell'd Plague and like a Dizzard reele These Points and others moe grave Levites preach Where they enjoy their Rights how the breach Of Fasting comes which makes me tel my friends He that neglects the Churches moane offends For which and the like crimes he ought to sob Who thinkes it no offence Gods Tythes to rob The Arts contempt and robbing them of Hire Cause many Plots and strange combustions fire In humane breaâ—ts Divines to Simonize And other Wits to raile and Libellize At Lawes or Times or else they fly from home To Doway Spaine Saint Omers or to Rome Whence what ensues I leave for Politiques To judge while others turne home-Empiriques False Sycophants or Mountebanks to seeme More wise or skilfull in the worlds esteeme When to themselves they guilty are of fraud But Need allures dame Beâ—uty like a Baud To prostitute or rather want of Grace That makes the Whore the Modest to outface Yet now I hope our forraigne-built Plantations Will Britaine free from many Imputations When Drones remov'd the rest more elbow roome Shall have to thrive like Honey-Bees at home Unlesse which God avert the Pestilence Abate our swarmes and crosse good mens Intents Mean time the world on wheels runs mad by fâ—ends And furies led whom they mistake for friends One while they tempt to Apish imitation Whilst Pygmies swell with Gyaâ—â—s transformation With â—urld bold Ruffians Haire immodest face Proud costly robes with Gold and needlesse Lace And thriftlesse puffes winkt at perhaps to raigne For Trades increase Customes or Mercers gaine For whose support with rich Caparizons Tâ—ades with Coach-mares make oft comparisons By these our Off-springs tainted 〈◊〉 Turne Harpyes Peacockes or Hermaphrodites By these high sailes hath Hospitality Sunke in deepe Gulfes with Christian Charity The multitude of sinners gone amisse Makes â—inne to seeme the lesse and so doth this Another while our Gentry with delights They traine to tread Gods gifts with dogs kites Or else to gape for Others goods at Play Oft to the losse of their owne worldly stay Whilst Satans wily fiends subordinates Confirme such Gamesters for his Reprobates But late they triumph'd when against the Rheume Some did create a God of Indian Fume Whereby men craz'd their memory and wits And parcht their Vitall Blood more then befits O Custome charm'd besotting Christendome Besotting Braines against the day of Doome Tobaccoes smoake no other Humour drawes Then Spawling which it selfe doth chiefly cause Nor doth this Hells evaporating Puffe End here although worse then a Candles snuffe To qualify the Dampish sooty Braine It must be moistned oft for Tavernes Gaine With Wine or Beere that the heate Naturall May swim with Flegme as the Moist Radicall Lies dampt with drouth of sense-benumming smoake And this they doe so long untill the Heate Of Nature failes corrupt with sulphures sweate The Braine thus soild how shall Gods grace erect The Spirits Temple in the Intellect By hearing Faith gets roome but if by fits Their senses quaile their quailing hurts the wits Then let this be in Brasse or Marble plac't Who smoakes Tobacco much he doates at last Who can deny but Satan in our Age Is let more loose with violence to rage And with his Angels daily goes about To batter Faith and true Zeale to roote out He is let loose to range about at Pleasure And more then Love pricks men to dreame of Treasure We prate of Faith but Pride eates up the fruites We talke of Peace but that ends in Law-suites For feare of humane Plots Saints oft are dumbe And Love is by the Dragons wiles become A thing of naught a Cypher without fellowes Whilst Golden hopes of Lucre blow the bellowes As Passengers their ship being weake and riven To sâ—ndry Coasts for many Leagues are driven Of gusts and stormes of Gulfes they make report Before they can arrive at Safeties Port So now are Saints by Gog and Magog vext And glad to fly with civill Broyles perplext Out of their Native soyle to Strangers Armes For refuge against Mars his fierce alarmes As witnesse now of late the Valtoline France Belgia Hesse all Dutchland and the Rhine So others are by suits and quarrells
Hate he at the last agreed To please the Rout whom Caiphas with his mates Of Herods side to murther animates And thereupon the Roman Hypocrite First washt his hands as if he were upright And cleane from Blood shed by his owne command Alluding that he could not them withstand When as he might the Prisoners Life defend Or him before the Romane Senate send Or conster with mild sense Jewes wrested Laws Or on the cause like grave Gamaliel pause But to content the giddy multitude He chose the suite with slaughter to conclude Adjudging to the Crosse in Caesars Name Christ to be nail'd whom he found void of blame Whom neither he nor yet th' Incestuous King Could once in compasse of set Treason bring Nay when he heard the People Christ upbraid With Tide of Gods Sonne he seem'd afraid As witnessed his Conscience prickt within As openly he said I find no sinne Deserving Death what evill hath be done They yelling still he stiles himselfe Gods Sonne Himselfe a King to Caesars wrong a King The former merits Death the Latter thing No lesse than death The first is Blasphemy The other Treason in a High Degree By our just Lawes he well deserves to dye Without delay demurre or remedy Let then your Judgement passe securedly His Blood on us and on our children lye His Death on us and on our Nation rest Yells ominous And so they live unblest For ever since their Nation far'd the worse By this entail'd hereditary curse The Romans since on whom they did rely Like Aegipts Reed in stead of Aydes supply Or humane Ruling Lords prov'd Hellish Rookes With rapines spoyles and circumventing Hookes Imbru'd in blood by Albines Briberies Felix Florus and others Butcheries Such griping Tyrants prov'd at last their Foes Ransackt their City turn'd their weale to woes Burnt their Temple and made them slaves abhor'd As they had scorn'd and Crucified the Lord And to this day they either live in Bonds Of servitude or like Caine vagabonds To Christians odious for their bloody workes For killing Christ as odious to the Turkes For their Religion or patcht Alcoran Beares Christian showes as lies Mahumetan They breathe and that is all by Brokery Onely to keepe the Nations Memory Least if they perisht quite some doubts againe Might grow perhaps of the Messias slaine Their Land which once with milke and honey flow'd Lies waste and curst as with a Fatall Cloud In stead of Wine Figs Balsame and good seedes Repleate with Snakes wilde Beasts stinking weeds Like a rude desert growne for where the Horse Of Ottoman once swayes he leaves a Curse When that the Judge had so deliver'd him To his Praetorian Band or Sergeants grim With the Mad Jewes applause they Christ attir'd In Purple Robes as if he had aspir'd By mutiny to make himselfe a King Which he worse loath'd then they the Serpents stingâ— A Crowne of Thornes they plaited on his Head And him blasphem'd with abase Sceptred Reed Saluting him All haile thou King of Jewes With bended knees wee le pay thee all thy dues Yea Pilate too for all his Inward sting Proclaim'd Behold the Man the Jewish King And to the Crosse he fixt that style alike In Characters of Hebrew Latine Greeke When they had mockt their fill with many bobs And scornes they took from him those royall robes Apparrell'd him in his owne Coate againe And fell anew to their deriding veine Besmearing him with spittle on the Face And with a Cane they lasht him in disgrace O bloody Folke the grieved Soule to gore To torture him who tortur'd was before Hood-winking him like Boyes at blind mans Buffe With Frumps who smote they did him lately cuffe And now againe vext him till Nature stoupt And but for Heavens strength had deadly droopt The Thornes wherewith they crown'd his tender Head Put him to so much paine that almost dead His Soule was forc't most grievously to grone The thought whereof would melt ev'n hearts of stone They heard the Praetours doome yet would they adde More fewell to the flame to make him sad They heard his groaning sighs that no sorrows were like to his his face seem'd plow'd like furrows They wreath'd his Head with thornes and yet that wreath Saves us from prickling Thornes of sinne and Death When Judas now had seene his Master bound Reviled beaten spet upon and found Guilty of Death he grieved but too late Felt deadly gripes and therewith desperate He to the Temple speedily resorted There left his hire and to the Priests reported Loe here I yeeld you backe the Price of Blood The man quoth he did never harme but good He whom I sold I know is Innocent A Righteous man from God a Saviour lent Your Eyes have seene his mighty Miracles Your Eares have heard his Gospels Oracles His words and life his Innocence expresse For who with sin can taxe him more or lesse Ah woe is me that I have liv'd the day For a base Bribe my Master to betray Looke thou said they to that for dy he shall Were he more Just to save us from a Fall For if he liv'd opinions would arise And Caesar then would stop our Sacrifice T is better that one dye than many fall That one miscarry then we perish all This policy the Jewish Church profest And the same course Great Babels whore possest As testifies her Hate to Protestants Whom for no cause shee calls Extravagants Excluding them from Romes Society Although one God they serve in Trinity But that she feares the Radiant Gospels Light With their New-man might quite expel the night Of Ignorance and Superstitious mists Which darken yet her roaming Romanists With bribing sale of Pardons meritorious Redeeming Flames to sinners most notorious For so that Whore her Lovers beares in hand If they bequeathe unto her Goods or Land Or Fight for her Croisadoes Liberty Under her guard they need not feare to dy She will appease like an Indulgent Mother Gods Justice though for murth'ring of a Brother But from the West returning to the East See here what rage seaz'd on the Traitours brest Judas distract with furious discontent By Satan and his Spirits Instrument Choller adust departed out of hand And wanting Grace his Passions to withstand He hang'd himselfe and to be markt the more The Lunaticke his waight downe headlong bore Till all his Bowels gusht to publique view And at his death such words as these did spew And shall I live quoth he a Traitour nam'd For selling guiltlesse Blood alwayes defam'd What hope of Rest when God doth me debarre Of inward Peace When he proclaimes me warre And lets those slaves which I was wont to tame Base Passions now to blacke my former Fame O let the Sea on me Christs quarrell wreake With vengeance with a Milstone at my necke Curst be the houre that ever I was borne I am undone My Wife all quite forlorne My Children must unpittyed vagabonds Range through the world my self in satans bonds For t
and coyn'd Transubstantiacion Then Vulcans built Soules Purgatories Forge And by those Flames phantasticke lies did forge For neere about that time did Alchymy Begin to raigne with Schoole-Theology When Satan was let loose from his Restraint To play upon the Conscience of a Saint Woe to the Time that our Wâ—st Church forsooke The New-Mans way which Berengarius tooke And dar'd Christ Body so to understand Which till Doomes day doth sit on Gods Right hand Since his Ascent and there in Heaven stayes Till Saints at rest his Foes supprest he layes Thence Purgatory sprung Romes forged Bull Of Satans plot to fill their Bellies full Like Bels false Priests by making men believe They could Redeeme or Purge poore Soules that grieve In that Third place for their Offences past Which Pardons bought with money might lay wast And frustrate if Romes Indulgence assure When she her selfe of Sicknesse cannot cure By Miracle or Charme nor stop one houre Of Deaths Arrest by her Transcendent power Much lesse can she fraile Mortall wight abate Anothers paine when Physicke comes too late Some Fathers dream't at doomesday not before Soules should be purg'd with flames or lesse or more But in this Life where time is limitted Soules must be purg'd or they are forfeited Soules may be purg'd with Sighs Fasts Contrition By Faith with workes which some hold in derision Soules may be purg'd and that with Sacred fire If them Gods Grace with Faith and Love inspire T is not enough to have a Christians Name Except we be Baptiz'd with Christ his Flame The Jewes did vaunt of Abraham for their Father Where they should joy of Abrahams Faith the rather T is not enough to be Baptiz'd alone For so were Jewes in Jordans Floud by John Nor yet sufficient to Communicate So Judas did yet Excommunicate The gentle Sparke that stirres the Heart and Braine Must pray Gods Spirit in those Seates to raigne For whose Content as he was Catechiz'd So with Loves Flame he would be Re-baptiz'd Which done he harmelesse growes an Infant twice In worldly Craft and in Christ onely wise Though tempting fiends with carnall baites he feares Yet Serpent-wise a newer Coate he weares A Coate quite voyd of Seames or Factious Schismes Which with Gods Word he weares for Exorcismes Soules Comforter then to Gods Sonne doth marry The Vnderstanding Conscience Memory Those Three-fold parts of this adopted Soule Whose Name with Saints New Man hee doth enroule And signes with Abbaes Seale The Man vowes Love And this rare vow the Trinity approve Thence-forward giving him the Two fold Flame Of Christ his Crosse and Zeale with Christian Name To purge his Outward Man of Earthly drosse Which may be styl'd our Purgatories Glosse Long since God earn'd the New man for his Sonne And gave through Christ him Free-will thereupon Which for his Faiths support can never faile him But in the proofe and combat shall availe him The Sonne by whose deare Blood he 's Justified Loves him because his Will is purified He loves and makes his first Election firme By sending One his Conscience to confirme Because he chose his Patterne and his Crosse When as he mought false joyes and wealth ingrosse According to the Freedome of his Will Which Grace restor'd and Faith had School'd from ill He carkes for him and sues for his Persev'rance He heares his griefes warrants his delivrance The Holy Ghost as Mans Love ebbes and flowes His sweet gifts more or lesse into him blowes And chiefely him he graceth who is mild Free-hearted Just and not with wiles defild One that adores not creatures nor yet swells With Merits puffe In such a one he dwels In such a mind He breathes Truthes gentle gales Which scornes old charmes vaine legends dreams and tales Thus Sanctified with Christ incorporate A Bastard slip becomes Legitimate 〈◊〉 with Christ partaking of that Feast Of Vnity which brings eternall Rest. Thus is a Man borne of Immortall seed A Saint new-made a Priest a Prince indeed Nay a true King commanding Lordly passions Which Monarches have enthrall'd in fearefull fashions Thus Saints are Crown'd and thus is tendred grace If men doe not their Charters Seales deface But not before the Old man be supprest Shall any mortall wight be this way blest O Grace more rich then Chinaes glittring Treasure O Love more sweet then Mahomets faign'd pleasure Elected tby he Father without merit At the Sonnes suite and sealed by their Spirit This Grace suite and Seale of Gods Majesty The persons working in the unity For dust and ashes sinfull Mans Salvation And with New flames his Spirits inspiration Doe wonder-rap my Soule with Extasies In gazing on their Lights supremacies With glaunâ—es more beseeming Prophets visions Then those which Arrians blurr'd with blind misprisions That to speake much of their Transcendencie Would me confound halfe put in Jealousie Lest I offend my God or goe awry With narrow bounds to stint this Mystery Like Lucifer who for opposing Christ Was throwne to Hell to father Antichrist Thence with his Mates to tempt and poyson such As dare to scan Gods Secrets over much â—ith our weake Braines can hardly apprehend Those Axiomes which to Quadrate circles tend How dare we Clouded with infirmity Rake for more Light of Heavens Trinity Whose knowledge long lay hid from sinfull Men For our first Parents fall till Christs time when It pleased God three persons to reveale By Him which he did formerly conceale From Carnall wits as from Crownd Popes he did The Gospels use and which as yet lyes hid From their crownd-shaven Crew and Babels Rable Who darkling grope for Christs Communion Table As they doe likewise for that Orbe of Rest Which for good Soules departed God hath blest Yet our New man sees by his rayes reflection As through a glasse enough of Gods perfection And roome enough without such purging flames For Saints to sing Allelujahs Psalmes To satisfie our Faith whilst by high mounting Some meet with Aiery foes their strength surmounting Nor must we scale the Sun-beams with those Eagles Whom glory pride or curious Art inveagles To know Gods will conceal'd from humane breast Or to eate more than gluttons can digest This sure I know by Holy Inspirations God breathes in humblest mindes most Revelations For when our Hearts with lofty thoughts arise Fiends scrue themselves into our phantasies Yea they will tempt the most Regenerate And Holiest Men as the most reprobate Some under Forme of Art they slily Charme With hired plots to work their Neighbors harme That by their sowing daily Tares of strife The Father Sonne the Husband and the wife Friends kindred Towne and Country Folkes may vary So as with Christ their Soules can hardly marry Such sleights use Hellish Fiends though few suspect Their shining Baytes yet surely Gods Elect Know that all make-bates have just cause to tremble As well as they who being at Masse dissemble These Members helpe to make up Antichrist For without Parts how can the head
the 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
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