feele endlesse Paine â—â—u shall with Christ in Peace for ever Raigne â—â—ch blisse pursues a Pious-minded Peere And such I hope attends you there and heere Which to seale up and to set forth Your Traine â—eere take your Choise of Posies various Straine Without the New-mans Robes none are indeed True Noble-men but borne of Mongrell Seed To be borne Great great Honour some esteeme it But to doe Good I greater Honour deeme it Vertue so farre excells Sires Heraldry As doth Day-light the Darke the Sap the Dry. A Noble Minde surmounts a Noble Birth But who hath Both-shines like Sunne on Earth Magnus honor nasci praelustri stemmate Major Stemma Piis Factis nobilitare suum Quantò Lux Tenebras Siccum vel Succidus Humâ— Tanto depictos Mens Pia vincit Avos Virtus Naturam superat sed amictus utrisque Dotibus ut Lumen Solis in orbe nitet THE CHVRCH MILITANT HERE ON EARTH FOVNDED AND RENEWED BY OVR SAVIOVR CHRIST Who is this that comes from Edom with red Garments from Bozrah Esay 63. The Argument The Church is built on Christ who under-went The Curse Rose up and then to Heaven went This wonder-rapt some Angels of that Spheare That they with Ioyes speake of his comming there IN Paradise the Church of Christ began WheÌ„ after Breach God opened unto Man The hopefull meanes whereby he might deface The Sting of Sinne and bee restor'd to Grace If on the promise of the Womans Seed Man would rely he might redeme his Deed. But Bloody Cain with his accursed Race Went Whoring after Satan sleighting Grace And then the Church in Seth Methusalem In Noe and his Arke in Godly Sem And Iaphet fix't from whence no liking Cham She downeward past to Iob and Abraham And settled in the Circumcized Ligne Vntill the Promis'd Seed with Light Divine And Gospels Sound arriu'd graft things anew And by his Crosse our Charter did renew The Gentiles then by his Apostles blest From Heaven gain'd the Holy Ghost for Guest To cheere their Church within her to reside And evermore her Christian Broode to guide As long as they Him for their Rock protest Whome Peter thrice for all his Mates Confest So Thousands did with Angels Gifts encrease From Age to Age and found in Conscience Ease As testify the Pulpet and the Presse Which holp our Church to bloome with good successe Others since the Word late came in vse â—pir'd have wrot and Preacht of Faiths Abuse 〈◊〉 so likewise we see that in our Dayes 〈◊〉 feele the Heate of that bright Spirits Rayes 〈◊〉 them our New man reapes the Fruits of Truth â—â—â—nsformes Old wily Age to Saintlike Youth â—â—y for Eve for Adam Christ he sings â—â—ose Blood then Abels speakes forth better things â—â—rancing Soules with Gifts Propheticall â—â—d otherwhiles with Numbers Sphericall â—â—at by those Meanes and sweet enchanting Layes â—â—ey might confirme themselves as call home strayes â—irst like Babes with Bells smiles mixt with threats â—weanes the weake before their Sence he beaâ—es â—â—th Zealous Charmes from worldly vanities â—â—apting them for purer Qualities â—hich our Good Sire with Metaplastick Mould â—â—nds ready to infuse more fine then Gold THis Prudent course Some take in Verse as Prose For stilling Swarming Bees or Stubborne Foes To winne Applause to their more waighty work Which in their Braine like ember'd Fire did Lork They tickle first with smooth Conceptions Youth Laurell their Name and then gaine Roome for Truâ—â— To spread without Repulse or sowre Distast Before they dresse rare Manna for their Tast Clozing their Feast with Healths from Sions Fount Like Petrarch Beza and Mâ—randols Count Who with ripe Fruite by good mens Suffrages Ransom'd their Froth and greener passages Such Wits I wish with Lines of Sacred Truth From Carnall Dreames to scare our Straggling Youth And such I hope by Grace here to produce As Types of Vertue drawne for Holy use â—N the Lords Day though not with full content â—ate sung Christs from Olives Mount ascnt 〈◊〉 to that Orbe whose height no Earthly Scribe 〈◊〉 by the Booke or Astrolabe describe Though Galilees new Glasse a World espies Within the Moone yet Moone-sick are the Spies While clog'd with flesh not Spirit-rapt they pry â—o Gods Thrones Transcendent Mystery 〈◊〉 Heav'n I glaunc'd wherein his Man-hood rests â—â—eparing Roome for his Beleeving Guests Who su'd to Christ Mens Advocate alone â—ot parcelling his Worship into halves 〈◊〉 Iewes for Moloch Baal and Golden Calves â—hat so the Sabaoths change at Pentecost â—ucceede with Gifts sign'd by the Holy Ghost The Comforter which should the Church renew And grace thenceforth the Gentile and the Jew Till the Returnes as Man-Emanuell Within the Cloudes to Iudge the World and Hell HEre now againe with Fiery Flights I horer And his Ascent more spaciously runne over Then I did late because our Church hath drest And cookt upon another Day this Feast The way of Christs up to Gods Orbe Ascention Transcends above fraile Natures Apprehention I dare not wrest Christs Body nor confine His God-head There He Raignes a Man-Divine As Man He sâ—es for Men. As God he sends The Holy Ghost to gratifie his Friends And by Infusion heere his Church to grace If we Beleeve and Love and Pray for Grace Although as God his Presence never â—ayles us His Bodies Absence heere yet more availes us As he is Man or else his Bodiâ—s Sight Had made us Carelesse of the Spirits Light His Manhood by his owne Experience saw Our Natures weakenesse how Fiends would draw Vs from Gods will and from true Innocence Whereby none could avoid Hells Pestilence Unlesse himselfe did stand within the Gap â—etwixt our Sinnes and Wraths fierce Thunderclap â—nd that made him remove his Person hence â—o Heaven there to ease our Punishments â—y suing to Gods Grace as Advocate â—hat for his sake he would repayre our State GReat were the Angels Ioyes when Iesus came â—n humane shape with such Imperiall Fame Vp to th' Empyrean Sphere where none before Of that New Forme could like a Phaenix soare â—s by his Crosse lay husht Hells damned Crowd So wondring heere Some Angels sung alowd What 's He that mounts and sits on Gods right hand With Bozraes Robes come from red Edoms Land Clad like to One who hath the Winepresse trod Yet looking like unto the Sonne of God Who did ride on the Cherubins and fly Yea fly upon the wings of winds most High Perhaps He is a New Melchisedeck Gods Spouse to grace or her with Gemmes to deck Or else the Cause of this New Mans Ascent Might be her Vowes and Offrings to presert Or for her Strayes to sue as Advocate Those whom the Gospels Light reclaimes of late His comming here with such Triumphant Port Doubtlesse to Men Salvation doth import This Mystery and Ioyfull Spectacle Above all Wonders prove a Miracle Vnparalell'd that by Divinity Infus'd in Flesh men gaine Eternity And that the Gentiles as the Iewish Tribes In Truths rare Secrets grow most learned
Neighbours Amity How then could they thinke on Priority And stand on Points of Prelates Primacie Without distrust of some Conspiracie THe Truth is this who were styl'd Bishops then They fish'd not for fraile Wealth but Soules of Men Not to enrich themselves with Private store But like Saint Paul the Crosse they thought on mâ—â—â— From Christian Caesars they got Liberties But not so great to claime Regalities About the Yeare Sixe Hundred sixty sixe We finde that Rome began to play more Tricks Then she durst act within the Ages past As Paul and John fore-told her Breach at last And never left to lift her Lofty Crest Till she Gods Word had darkned in the West And dar'd upon the Caesars State to prey The maine great Let to her Prodigious Sway. She never ceas'd to stirre up raging Fires Till she at Trent concluded her Desires Repugnant to the Vow which she profest At her First Rise Sixe Hundred yeares at least At such wild Fits I onely glance not carpe This Taske I leave for an iambicks Warpe THE OCCVRRANCES OF THE THIRD AGE From the yeere of our Lord 200. untill the yeere 300. At which time Dioclesian and Maximinus raigned Emperours of Rome The Argument Next to the Greekes the Latine Scribes begin Idolaters unto Christs Church to win Romes Tyrants fret and Saints they martirize Saint Anthony into a Desart flyes WIthin this Age the Church most Militant And Cautious strove to shun exorbitant Attempts of Foes one while to secret Caves Constrained to retire sometimes to tame the Braves Of her owne Tribe Domesticke Mutineers Shee us'd the Spirits Sword 〈◊〉 the Jeeres And Flouâ—ing Stuffes of Fâ—rrainers to daunt Which did at her Poore Robes and Altars taunt She fought against Caetilius and his Traine And prov'd their Vaunt for Outward Glories vaine Her State was then unsetled New and Poore But Time to come might make her flourish more A thousand of such Taunts and Fiery Darts A Thousand of great Dangers Envious Arts By Satans Plots she daily underwent While Caesars sought their Pagan-Gods Content The neerer that the Church drew to her Time Of Liberty least that too high she climbe Satan suborn'd his Agents in this Age Against her Race to shew their utmost Rage He knew her Thraldomes Date to Iohn foretold Would shortly end And that made him so bold AS otherwhiles a Woman Chast and Faire Dishevel'd seemes or with loose dangling Haire So without Art and in her Native Dresse The Church at first for want of Time to dresse And to compose her Outward Ornament Came forth to spread her Saviours Testament Not carking much for Superficiall Weaâ—e But in the Heart the New Mans Gifts to beare And yet both Chaste and Faire She comely shone With Constant Faith built on the Corner-stone And though she liv'd and raign'd of Men unseen With Carnall Eyes yet of Good Angels seen Heard in the Quire which to the Lambe belongs Answer'd by Saints with Sympathizing Songs Nay seene and knowne of Men Reborne anew Both then and now who never kneel'd to Baal But to One Christ the Saviour of us all Who by his Word and bright Diâ—rnall Light Hath late disperst the Tempests of the Night Sav'd us like Peter out of Herâ—ds Iayle From Babels Powder-traine for Saints availe For which sweet Grace redintegracious Love The Saints on Earth with Those of Heaven above United in One League shall ever sing Melodious Songs to our Triumphant King OUr Latine West unto the Church of Greece Acknowledge must her selfe in some degrees Inferiour and oblig'd From her she had the Forme Of Christian Rites false Altars to reforme As she the Substance from Ierusalem More neere to Greece then Rome the Church Supreme From her she borrow'd her prime Words of Art Those Second coin'd Intentions to impart From Man to Man by Termes Discourse and Tongue What otherwise would dormant lye unstrung Her Noblest Name of Christian Catholick The Eucharist the Faith Apostolick Types Symboles and Ecclesiasticke Lawes What be they but Greeke words for Christian Cause Disguis'd in Latine Robes Faith to expresse And to worke on Mild Hearers more or lesse The Sev'nty Soribes translated Iewries Ioyes To the Greeke Tongue by Philadephus Choise Saint Paul and Luke divulg'd in Graecian Tone Christs Mysteries yea and Saint Iohn wrought on His Auditours in Graecian Vestiment Fit in that Age to further his Intent Greece more to praise ere Rome saw Christ his Light Some Greekes of Philip cray'd his Masters sight NO marvell then that Greeks ere Latinists Did publish Workes fought in our Christian Lists With Infidells against their Rites obsceane Towards the Period of the Second Sceane To celebrate this Age Tertullian rose With Tullian Phrase to daunt the Churches Foes False Heretickes and Jewes whom he refells And but for Dreaming Fasts his Part excells Whilst he gainst Marcion makes Christs Body good Truths Figure not Imaginary Food Since Figures shew not false but things indeed And in another Place quoth he We feed By Hearing on the Word Inâ—arnate blest With Understanding chew through Faith digest SAint Cyprian him succeeds who famous made By Monuments which cannot faile nor fade The Churches Union and the Martyrs Crowne Which since himselfe receiv'd in Carthage Towne This Saint bids us the Holy Bread to part And breake by Faith not with sharpe Teeth nor Art While we confesse That which is broke to Parts Divine-Humane both God and Man imparts Out of his Bookes we cull at Carthage Towne How he did frâ—t and all the Councell frowne To heare that any should Romes Pope install The Bishop of all Bishops Generall NExt after him Minucius Foelix came In Roman Robes Caecilius overcame With Dialogues and foil'd his Heath'nish Dreames So did Arnobius by the Spirits Beames In the like Garbe the Gentiles Rage abate And shewes the Cause why Christians Idolls hate By Fabian Bath'd He grac'd this Centers Age Who first of Caesars wore the Christian Badge LOng had the Church been rackt with bitter woes In travell like a Woman tir'd with Throes To bring that faire Light forth and Blessed Birth Which in th' Elect shines with Harmonious Mirth The Inward Man I meane whose Praise we sing Grac'd to that end with Will by Heavens King Through all the Roman Empire tortured And by fierce Tyrants hands sore Martyred In every Age during her Pilgrimage Heere in this World untill Maxentius Rage Became supprest by zealous Constantine She felt what Dioclesian Maximine And what their Praetours could impose of Force Upon her Limmes without their least remorce She felt Christ in his Members felt againe What Hangmen could inflict of Hellish Paine And what their Predecessors could inflict Upon her Lambes by Proclamations strict Prefiguring our late New Christian Fry Whom men professing Christ in Flames did fry And yet they fail'd by their Decrees severe Or Wolvish Decius them to daunt with feare But that in midst of Paine by Satan stung They to the Lambe Allelujaes sung Slighting the Gridiron
THE CHVRCH MILITANT HISTORICALLY Continued from the Yeare of Our SAVIOVRS Incarnation 33. untill this present 1640. BY WILLIAM VAUGHAN Knight LONDON Printed by Tho. Paine for Humfrey Blunden at the Castle in Corn-hill 1640. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE RICHARD EARLE OF CARBERY The Argument The Authour here my Noble Lord acquaints What Paths they tread who lead the lives of Saints What Comforts he shall finde what good successe While he walks in the New-mans Diocesse I Sound not forth Old Souldours turn'd to Swine By Harlots Charmes by fulsome Cheere or Wine But the New-borne a Theame to Worldlings strange â— sing the Minds more then the Bodies Change I sing the Churches Change Eclipse Decrease Her East and West with her Full Moones Encrease Such Newes I blaze which no good Protestant Shall justly taxe for Sparkes exorbitant Like to those Brats expos'd to Brambles Flame By Midwives Doome to hide the Parents shame Or those for which of late our Pauls Church-yard And Smith-field in the Spoiles with Vulcan shar'd Truth smites the Chast while Wantons long to heare False Tales at which they Nod or fondly Ieere Fooling away the Time their pretious Time Lent them for better use in Prose or Rime To win some Strayes by meanes of Vertuous Books Not Soules to tempt with Fornications Hookes There with much Gall Gulls one another flout Hoere for Mistakes the Lie or Toyes they pout Forgetting Satans Ambush for Good Wits Tongues trip Pens blur None free from Passions Fits And yet for Words and Names Externall things They persecute their Christian Mates with stings â—ill tir'd at last with Conscience-griping Cares Both Parties howle within the Divels Snares Others by Lines and Cubes aspire to know The Higher Orbes or in the Globe below They levell Spires the Climates or the Lawes â—nto whose Depth they pry no more then Dawes And yet to gaine applause or Golden Fees They hope for Swans to chop their gaggling Geese Some Court Faire Dames with Fancies Madrigalls Chaulking the way to Paphian Lupercalls Which they frequent with uncontrouled Lust Till Honour Wealth and Health lye in the Dust. Sometimes Pelagian-wise they ruminate On Mans Free-will and the Predestinate Till they from Grace quite excommunicate Doe pitch on Hell and on the Reprobate Now of long-handed Kings the mounted state Anon their slips or Fall they personate With Satyres sting untill themselves are stung Or else they sooth Great men with glozing Tongue Untill they feele worse Racks with Conscience sear'd Then Poets faign'd for stroaking of Joves Beard Some other whiles they dare more Curious peepe Into the Concaves of th' Infernall Deepe Of Limboes Vault or Purgatories Paine Redeem'd for Gold the long-white Robe to staine With such Bald Stuffe most Writers doe oppresse In hope to purchase Fame the Printers Presse Which shewes that Soules like Seas tost with unrest Wave till they set into Gods Port of Rest Or else that they like Swine fall to worse Seas Then Gaderens for their prodigious Pleas Remonstrances and Problems which they pend Of Rampant Zeale the Churches Peace to rend SO busie is Mans Braine It alwayes workes And seekes to know what from the Sences lurkes Abstruse and hid like Planets moving still But in default of Objects good or ill Because it findes no businesse from without Turnes Monke within an Ideot or a Lout Or on it selfe with Atomes and Chymeres Playes Whirligig untill it ends in Feares Distractions Lies and Schismes just Penalties Due for the Search of Knotty Novelties For want of Grace and of Celestiall Armes Sighes Teares Vowes thus by the Serpents charmes Are Men seduc'd Old Adams Tree to tast And with vaine Fruit to break their needlesse Fast. Because Gods Word whereby they might be sav'd They slighted 't is no marvell though they rav'd But our New man wean'd from the Carnall Teat By Truths calme Breath the Flaming Paraclete With Drier Braine holds a Cleere Intellect So solid that he others can direct A safer Course of knowledge to affect Then what the Wind-mill grinds of Satans Sect. Though Natures sting in our Originall Hath made us prone into the Snare to fall Yet we New-borne fight with the Spirits Sword And triumph by the Second Adams Word Over the Dragons false enchanting Arts With constant Faith repelling all his Darts Those sober Cates contenting our repast Which lawfull are for tender Soules to tast We would seeme Inward more then Outward wise Yet Both addresse with Saints to sympathize For carnall Samians transubstantiate Change The Old Mans Quirk the New man we exchange Instead of Lethes Lake or Phlegeton â—e Tophets Paine sing due to Babylon For Limbus Patrum or th' Elizian Camp Gods Paradise for Saints renewes our Lamp A Dolphin bore Arion from the Seas â—mphions Harp they say did Thebes appease But Jesus Christ the Third day to have rose From Josephs Tombe we really disclose Or by a Whale we Jonas bring to Land Who Niniveh converted out of hand For Cerberus we blaze proud Satans Losse For Hercules his Club our Saviours Crosse. For Triviall Tales and sence-alluring Toyes We read on Bookes Soule-ravishing to joyes For Thalmuds we the Scriptures native sence And for Nice Schoole-mens Glosse in our Defence We can produce by Truths Prerogative The Chiefest Starres of the Church Primitive Or those who in the Last and Present Age With Volumes rare repair'd our New mans Stage To banish Humane Lies and Brain-sick Dreames What Tree more full what Field yeelds riper Theames Then Christ his Life and the New Testament Or in her Swathes the Churches fragrant scent This Lady here my New man warbles forth Though fully not according to her worth Yet so My Lord that you may cleerely see Though she was long obscur'd she now raignes free Cloath'd with the Sunne Crown'd with a dozen Starres And no Eclipse you from her Influence barres But out alasse how many boast of Faith Who never markt what Christian Scripture saith For what is Faith without Good works or Fruit But a dead Stock not worth a Moores pursuit Unlesse he dreames of Mechaes fond Delights Or Millenairs to snare Voluptuous Wights Or of vaine works of Supererogation Soules to bewitch with Babels Fornication Our Saint is not with such Conceits defil'd Nor turnes with such Extravagances wild For he well knowes that as good Trees will bud And beare good Fruit so Saints doe alwayes Good And never scorne to greet the Simplest Man To call home Strayes they labour what they câ—â— Such is our Saint the Naked he actires And helps to warme their Soules with zealous Fires According to his Power great or small He saves distressed Saints from Tyrants Thrâ—â— He sues for Peaoe and grieves to see debate And daily prayes Lawes Rigour to abate If he be forc't to Law in his defence He doth it without splâ—â—n or Saints offence And if his Clapper hap to clatter wild Before Sun-set he growes more Calme and mild Or if that Filmy Piece in others blabbs His shame he counts
Crosse-fixed place Romes Empire lay so large I dare not trace BUt sure I am Saint Paul in bloudy Rome When Nero raign'd endured Martyrdome There having twice before that Tyrant stood His Faiths Defence he sealed with his Bloud About the time when that mad Bouteseu Had fir'd the City with his wanton Crew Because he â—ong'd to sing the sacke of Troy And by such Types would execute his Toy To cloake the Fact and stop the Mutiny Yet not repenting of his villainy He authour'd Christians of those dismall cryes And butcher'd them to bleare the Peoples eyes Among that guiltlesse Troupe then suffered Paul Who had fore-wrote what should him there befall This chosen Saint hath left brave Monuments Unto the Church which Satans Ambushments Can never trap nor Canker-fretting Age Consume but they stand firme in spight of Rage IN Albions Orbe an arched stately Roome The chiefest Pile I thinke in Christendome Of Pauls sole Name revives his memory Till Doomes-dayes blast the River Thames shall dry In the meane time grave Saint-like Ministers Accompanied with Asaphs Quiristers Sing praise to God for gracing of Saint Paul Who once had beene a bloody-minded Saul Of late repair'd it shines with zealous Fire â—s erst with flames rag'd the stupendious spite Blest be their Zeale their Cares and good Intent Which have re-built this famous Monument Resembling that of Salems Second one Renew'd by Iewes first built by Salomon LIke these so did all Christs Apostles Fish And on some Coast or other never miste To catch for Christ some choise and dainty Prey Bartholomew and Thomas knew the way â—nto the East and there engrav'd their Names â—aint Mathewes Paines sev'n flouded Nilus fames And pretious Iohn the Belâ—ll Abissine From him and Philip claimes Christ a Faith Divine Achaia vaunts of good Saint Andrewes Cares With whom he pawn'd his Bones till those rich wares Some Scottish Saints by a Greeke Monke redeem'd Them and their worth like precious Gems esteem'd While Mark from Peters mouth Gods Word compilâ— To leave it her Niles Alexandria smiles Sea-spousing Venice too did sacrifice Unto Saint Mark a goodly Edifice The latter James Christs kinsmâ—n by the flesh In Salem liv'd disorders to redresse Where hee though stiled just as spectacle Of shame was throwne downe from the Pâ—â—â—aâ—le Which Satan mov'd to Christ. There he expir'd And Roman Force the place soone after fir'd Yet hath his Fame to after-Ages spred His Bishops Seat with Christians flourished By Princes grac'd and for Antiquity Puts Antioch downe and Romes Priority At the First Councell Iameâ— â—aâ— President There Sâ—inâ—t cloz'd up the Circumcised Renâ— In Salem â—ate the High Commission Court Where they decided doubts of most import Galicians since built up a sacred 〈◊〉 At Compostell which later Wits profane Adoring â—â—mes as if Humanity Should offer Vowes due to the Trinity ABout the Time of Iames his death to 〈◊〉 The Fatall Web for sinfull Salem spunnâ— Upon the Siege the Christian Iewes fore-warn'd By Oracle from Christ fled thence unaâ—â—'d With Humane helpes but guarded by Divine Supplica themselves to â—ella they confine Where they on Iâ—rdans Bâ—â—ks securely lay While Rebell-Iewes were slaine and fold away SO stood the Church with them who flourish'd first Next Christs Ascent most pure untill accurst The Iewish Nation for their Crying sinne And hardned Hearts deep woes were pluâ—ged in And then God pleas'd for Iewries unbeliefe The Gentiles to adopt to Iewries griefe And our Church seemes to them a stumbling sinne Till all th' Elected Gentiles be come in As unto them of Antichristian Race She seemes till Babel feeles her last disgrace But why were Saints like Christ so foulely slaint Because the more they suffâ—red here more Gaine They reape the Nobler Crowne in Heav'n they gaiâ—â— And shall judge those who put them hereto paine IF you would know by Times Gradation mâ—c Domitius and Domitian yeelds you store Read Tacitus when Rome lay wast with fire How Christians felt the Formers Franticke Ire Some crucifi'd some burnt and some were â—as'd In wild beasts skins by Mastives torne and chasd So cruelly that who did them contemne In hate to Nâ—â—â—â—s spleene then pittied them Though Christians were to manifolded paine Throughout the twelfe yeere put of Neroes Raigne â—et like to Palme supprest the more they grew The Church the more by Martyrs did renew Athmos with Romes whole Empire tells what paine The Church endurd in the last Flavians Raigne â—ith greater Numbers Martyrs Calendar â—anonizing then in mad Neroes yeare â—uring which Rage some Brethren false did rove The Deacons Sect lewd Family of Love â—nd hee that durst afore Christs Darling bath â—ut felt the Doome of his incensed wrath The Bath-walls fell crushd Cerinthe underneath As soone as Iohn had menac'd him with death THE OCCVRRANCES OF THE SECOND AGE From the yeere of our Lord 100. untill the yeere 200. At which time Severus raigned Emperour of Rome The Argument Saint John deceas'd Fiends Seedes of Error sow Yet doth the Church though persecuted grow And from her Wombe spring up a Learned Crew Of Saints who with their bloud do Truth renew HE that desires a Saint-like Life to lead Let him the steps of ancient fathers tread Who neerest liv'd unto th'Apostles times Thence I collect the Course in Raptur'd Rimes Which Christ his Church then for her members held What Pathes they trac'd and wherein she excelld If wee mislike her Plainenesse or their Marts Love bids us chastely gaze and winke at Warts For like the Moon at full sometimes the Church Raignes knowne from her who lives upon the lurch Dispersed through the World Apostolicke Yet like our God in Three one Catholicke In sundry shapes repleat with sacred Fire With many Tongues in Spirit yet entire And Essence one who though diversifi'd For Rites or Forme 〈◊〉 yet â—ustifi'd By Faith with Him who tryes mens Consciences Beares with their â—â—ips and heares her Grievances Returne quoth hee Yeâ— people full of strife Who Me have wrong'd like a rebellious Wife Alluding to which challenge in his Word Before the Lord and Angeâ—â—s I record That I beleeve no Church on Earth this day Then Britaines Church goes a more knowing 〈◊〉 In substance pure and in her good intents Seal'd rightly with the Newmans Sacraments And with the Best her Elders I conferre Yet dare not say her Troupes doe never erre Nor brag that shee hath neither Mole nor Wen While shee cohabits heere with mortall men But pray that she in Fruit more pregnant thrive As shee in shape is like the Primitive And that with flames of mutuall Love wee glow As forward as in height we seeme to grow One thing I adde against her Foes in briefe And therewithall to ease our Weaklings griefe Although I honour with my heart and Pen The Couneclls Fathers and the Ancient men Who wrote before the seventh Century Became bewitcht with Babels Mystery Yet we no more give credit to their Lore Their Matter Tropes and Topick
Maximes store Derived from Old Adams double Tree Nor further then wee finde them to agree With Gods owne Word or Oracles Divine Dare wee consent with them in every Line For men may erre yea Learned Countells erre By Factionâ— sway'd as other whiles they were And as Eusebius markt the Church began To be unchast soone as th' Apostles ranne The Hower-glasse out of their lives Pilgrim age By Cerinths Toyles and Nicholaites Rage Or by those Fogges which Epiphanius brands For Heresies of Antichristian Bands Or Sects whose Augustine expells the mists Be they Pelagians or the Donatists AT the New Rising of the Second Age In the First yeere came Trajan on the Stage Adopted Caesar by good Nervâ—es choise Broiles to prevent and Cares to counterpoise In his precedent Raigne Domitians Act Against the Church in Rome was somewhat slackt But otherwhere the Praetours for their Gaine By Christians goods escbeat renew'd againe The Old Decree and in their Liberties Practiz'd on Saints their former Cruelties But leaving them a while to racke and rage I now glance on the Wonder of that Age. OF Him I sing who would have kneeled downe But was forbod unto an Angel knowne Of all the Apostles longest to have seene The Churches course eclips'd by Tyranis spleene One while assail'd anon strong Militant Iohn saw her curbe Conetits exorbitant Thou haft O glorious Saint beheld her Pure Like to the â—unne dispelling Clouds obscure When Shepheard Pan deceas'd then Oracles From that time ceas'd through Christian Miracles For when Tiberiâ—t swayd Fiends waild their losse While they shipt Tamâ—â— forc'd to bruite â—he Crosse And to proclaime in Midland Seas with dread That Pan the great God Pan was newly dead Thou hast survivd thy Brethren and thy Mates Thou hast beheld strange Turnes of worldly States The Temple sackt Ierusalem destroyd Thy Native soile all harried and annoyd Thou liv'st to see weedes of blacke Heresies Amidst the Church spring up Apostafies Grownerife the Saints with Persecutions flame Scorcht every where and put to open shame Thou hast out-dar'd a dozen Emperours Since thy good Lord triumphed over powrs When thou beganst to shine Tiberius raignd They saw thy Lifes sun-set whom Trajan paind What dangers wrackes and buffetings of Fiends Hast thou oft felt What snares of glozing Friends Portents to make the Patientâ—â— Iob dismaid Thou hast out-liv'd thy Charge the Widow-Maid Thy Mother deare adopted on the Crosse To thee his Minion left to ease thy losse When therehence out thou tookst her to thy house As a true Nunne to helpe thy Christian vowes HOw long shee liv'd with thee to calculate An Angel must the certaine Time relate Or name the Place where her Blest Body lyes Whether she was in Body Enoch-wise Immediately to Heaven assumed up Or dwelt with Iohn till Age made her to stoup And payd her debt as other Mortalls doe To Nature much it skills not us to know Since now with Christ her Soule Triumphant rests And as her Life deserv'd with him she feasts Admitting no such Mediatrix style Or Goddesses as some themselves beguile That she doth oftentimes command her Sonne To heare a Sinners suite or Orison SAve that I might be into Whirle-pooles brought Or for my Guesse be too Sagacious thought I would Conjecture at the Time when Iohn Before the Siege of Salem undergone Departed into Corinth Ephesus Or other Coasts where Titus and Timotheus Were by Saint Paul ordain'd to Over-see There to confirme each Saint in his Degree As they by Him who all those Churches bare Upon his shoulders first were bred with Care There he consum'd the Remnant of his Age Untill to Pathmos by Domitians Rage Confin'd he saw in spirit Christ againe Who then and there by Revelations plaine To his Rapt Sence though hid from Carnall Braine Did prophesie the future Churches staine For Comfort of th' Elect the Lord appear'd Unto this Saint and his Wits Sences clear'd To understand what plagues he will effect In the last dayes for his true Words Neglect THese Mysteries Christ opened unto Iohn Whom he reserv'd so long And thereupon I humbly glance by leave of Holy Wits To whom my Muse her Raptures here submits That when One asked Christ what Iohn should do Whether he should remaine behinde or go His Answer was unto this bold Assay If my will be to have him here to stay Untill I come what matters that to thee And long he staid as all may cleerely see Before his Death he did so settle things That Greece his Praise aswell as Asia rings In Norvaes Raigne he came with his Release To Ephesus where he deceas'd in Peace While Trajan sway'd as Graecian Clearks relate Having escap'd an Oily scalding Fate Impos'd on him by fierce Domitians Rage Who then exiled him to Pathmos Cage Where though cub'd up a while from Christians sight He saw what cheer'd his Soule His Masters Light BOth in his time and after soone began The Divels Plots to scare the Christian man Which Valentinian and Menander spred And many moe which Weaklings then misled For whose Mistakes Saint Irenaeus griev'd Two hundred yeeres ere Epiphanius liv'd To blazon them and other Heresies Which then obscur'd the New Mans Sacrifice After Saint Iohns decease till Adrian raign'd The Roman Praetours still the Christians Pain'd Who so confirm'd were for the Fiery Crosse They fear'd not Death nor Paine nor Fortunes Losse The Truth when rackt by Inquisition strict That Christians much were wrong'd by Romes Edict Great Trajan then did unto Pliny write To mitigate the Fiery Trialls Spight Yet not to spare them if they were brought in Damn'd policie so cloaking Bloody Sinne In which implicite Snare Ignatius bound Like Christs fine Corne by Lions Teeth was ground NExt after this the Second Century Points at some Saints of Glorious Memory As Pillars of that Age with whom as Chiefe Succeeding those fore-nam'd I ranke in Briefe A Martyr'd Sire of Naples Palestine One that foretold his death to Antonine When shortly after did a Cynickes Hate Conclude with Flames the Swans Prognosticate Having first wrote to calme the Emperours Spleene his Defence and to Romes Senatours In Iustines time which by the yeeres account Since Christs Ascention up from Olives Mount One Hundred shone good Christians liv'd content With simple Meanes and scorn'd the Blandishment Of Gaine or Pompe with all false worldly Wares But fixt on Christ and Cure of Soules their Cares Platoes and Moores Eutopiaes Common-Wealth Compar'd to them seemes but Promethean stealth Phant asticke Dreames or Speculations Flame Which being unpractiz'd breed the Authours shame They taught and wrought with Reall Charity As if that day they were arraign'd to dye Not like to Stoicks dissembling Lookes austere But against Sinne with Discipline severe With Vowes and Fasts the Outward man to tame Not for Repute or Superficiall Fame But with intent to keepe their Vessels pure And to seale up their Christian Calling sure They promis'd not but what they did performe And squar'd their
Lives last gaspe Sinne to prevent Requir'd his Friends that not with Monument They would enclose his Corps but secretly Conceale the same lest men might foolishly It Idolize in Zeale to doe him grace Which would redound at last to their disgrace To Iohn the Twelfe now Caesar Homage swore And that the Mid-time of this Age did gore OF all the Ages since the Word made Flesh First rose on Earth none for the Church had lesse Of Learnings Light then this Tenth Century Dull'd through the Damps of Hells great Mystery Full Fourescore yeares os Ignorance prevail'd That Knowledge seem'd extinct the Gospel fail'd Who could repeat the Pater-Noster Creed And Ave Maries oft though with small heed Or gloss'd on Shrines or mumbled Latine Masse In Schooles he did for a good Graduate passe But if he made Monastick Legends knowne A Doctours Cap became his shaven Crowne Whether this chanc'd by Romes deep Policie That none might dive to her Supremacie Which she had newly Crown'd or that the Warres Anxiety embroyling Soules with Cares Prevented Learnings Growth we find small Signes In that tempestuous Time of Vertuous Lines Or Monuments to move Posterity Not to accuse them of Impiety Such was the Blindnesse of this darkned Age That none scarce acted on the Muses Stage Parts to be seene of Gotams Auditours So busie were Old Fooles in building Towres And strong Monastick Cells where they found Peace Or to defend their Reliques from the Prease Of Souldiers stormes which from the North did fall Norwegians Danes and Pirates robbing all Onely some Foppish Tales they left behinde Thereby to cheat not edifie the Minde What Miracles were wrought in such a Place Which they conceiv'd their Monkish Haunt to grace How Dunstan hookt catcht Satan by the Nose With many moe absurder Lyes then those Like Oberons imagin'd Fairy Dance Or Arthurs Knights or the Twelve Peeres of France How Patrick killâ—d Five Hundred Yeares before Thousands of Irish Kernes by Charmed Lore How David did a mighty Mountaine move And by his Word the Massy Earth remove With such Fond Tales they gull'd the Multitude That 't is no marvell we account them rude YEt o're his Church the Spirit vigilant Neglected not their Dreames extravagant To interrupt by raising up the Wit Of Aelfrick to reforme their raving Fit Which worke perhaps not usefull for that Age But for our Doubts we doe conceive them sage I meane for Christ his Body in suspence With Some which till this Age in Ghostly Sence I dare be bold to say Saints ever tooke Not Carnall-wise but by the New-mans Booke This Reverend Clerk in ancient Saxon Style Describes what Blots the Sacrament defile And proves the Sence and Manner of the Feast To suit with None but with the Spirits Guest From the tenth Chapter of the Corinths First He thus compares The Israelites a thirst Dranke of Christs Rock with a Spirituall Tast And on his Flesh though Clouded brake their Fast. As our New-man or zealous Catechist Admires Christs Body in the Eucharist So they prais'd God for Manna and Rock-water Types of the Churches Twinnes how he begat her OUt of the Forrest of this Century Excepting Rudenesse Broiles and Butchery I apprehend no memorable Course To beautifie my Lines But worse and worse All things decline This onely I conclude Imperiall Otho to extinguish Fiend And mortall Jarres for Chusing Emperours On Sev'n conferr'd the first Elective Pow'res Eternizing the Period of this Sceane Whose Former Acts we count Rude and obsceane This Otho by Pope Gregories Assent Did to assure the Almaines Government And to content the Rhines Count Palatine Because he next of Charlemaine his Ligne Deserv'd that Honour which his Race hath held Till Force of late the Golden Bull expell'd For this brave Act the Authour got the Praise To be enstil'd the Wonder of those Dayes As they who do that Order violate Shall be proclaim'd Usurpers of the State FOr an Appendix to my Register I must not over-passe Pope Sylvester Who by Hell-Charmes Spells Negromantick Lies And Magick Arts defam'd the Papall Keyes Preparing roome by that Catastrophe To the Next Age tost with a Sinnefull Sea THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE ELEVENTH AGE From the Yeare of our Lord 1000. untill the Yeare 1100. About which time Godfrey of Lorraine became King of Ierusalem and Henry the First Raigned King of England The Argument Hells Highest sleights a Thousand Yeares restrain'd Breake out when Priests the Searlet Hat had gain'd The Clergy barr'd of Wives The Masses Cake Turnes Flesh. The Holy Land now Christians take NOw to glance on the Churches Darken'd wane Who can deny but Rome became profane When Satan was let loose a Thousand Yeares After St. Iohns Prediction as appeares Even till these Times with Curses Fire and Sword And secret Slights to martyrize Gods Word Both Sun and Moone stood then eclips'd of Light And Starre-like Men from Grace declined quite The Heav'ns were mov'd Strange Meteors scar'd the East But Earth-quakes most appall'd the troubled West Mens Consciences o're-clouded were with Mists When Satan rang'd from his Confined Lists With leave to prey upon those Romanists Who had forsooke Christs Word for Antichrists In giving heed unto Erroneous Spirits Cashiering Marriage and their Saviours Merits Yoaking their Flockes not of Necessity But to subvert true Christian Liberty I meane the Spirits Freedome and Gods Word Not that which Fooles do to the Flesh afford By Pilgrimage to Saints Idolatry With wonders wrought by Fiends their Faith to try By Lies and Dreames bred in Scholastick Braine For Belly-work Ambitious Ends or Gaine With Carnall Sence advancing Superstitions And spotting Faith with needlesse Mens Traditions With such Flim-Flams since Satan was let loose And since Romes Clergy Christ his Rivall chose Were there False Church possest and to this day Some goe in those strange Labyrinths astray Not willing to be won nor to decide By Scriptures Light the Quarrells of their Side ABout this Time the Cardinalls arose Unto their Sway till then a Secret Close For though the Name were knowne of Cardinalls Yet were they rankt but Deacons Principalls Or Parsons of Romes Parishes to serve The severall Cures not Prelates to conserve The Papacies Resplendent Majesty As since they grew by Satans Subtilty On each of these his Holinesse conferres A Scarlet Hat to Higher Place preferres And amplifies with Bishopricks their State Whereby they might live eminent from Hate And Envy safe the better to support Their Princely Pompe and his Magnifique Port. At their Install he so much scarlet shares To cloth their Mules that by those Scarlet Wares Saints may divine where Babels Whore abides Which on a Beast of scarlet Colour rides THese Men shut up within the Conclave close And having by most Suffâ—ages him chose Who stands for Pope they then his usuall weare Pluck off and in their stead bring glorious Geare A Scarlet suit Red stockings and Red shooes On which because he claimes that he can loose Or bind mens Sinnes a
Discover'd shew great Doomes-dayes signs neer gone From which Extreames Lord save our Church as well As thou Elias didst from Iezabel That with the Spirits streame she quench her Thirst Untill that Day while Babel lies accurst As long as Sun and Moone or Raine-bowes signe Shall last preserve our King like Constantine Assigning us from Stewarts Regall Ligne Good Stwards still to over-see what 's Thine Remove not hence our Churches Candlestick While firmely we to Thy Sonnes Pledges stick But for his Sake who paid the Costly Price In Judgement due for our Enormities Whereas some led by Fiends as yet do stray If they Repent reduce them to thy way That Ismaels Brood henceforth no Christians flout For Lutherans or the Wicklevian Rout For Huguenots Novatians Schismaticks For Puritans or Mungrell Catholicks When these with Peter vouch Gods Living Sonne With Paul One God One Advocate alone Exploding School-mens Dreames Hypocrisies Soules-Marchandize and winding Fallacies We then shall soone for Other Points agree Without recourse to Edens curious Tree This Fruit the Church reapes by her Childrens Peace When they from jarres then Foes from jeering cease THE PICTVRE OF THE TRVE CATHOLICK AND APOSTOLICK CHURCH Represented in English and Latine Numbers The Argument The Authour last this Corollary knits To help Our Church against mad wrangling Wits Till the Sixth Age the Spouse of Christ 〈◊〉 Pure So doth our Church And here 's her Portraiture THe Spouse of Christ shone in her Prime 〈…〉 liv'd neere th' Apostles Time But afterwards Ecclips'd of Light She lay Obscure from most mens Sight For while her Watch hugg'd Carnall Ease And loath'd the Crosse she felt Disease Because they did Gods Rayes contemne And Maumets serv'd Grace fled from them Then Starres fell downe Fiends blackt the Aire And Mungrells held the Churches Chaire But now dispelling Errours Night By Christ his Might our New-mans Light She may compare for Faith alike With famous Romes first Catholick And Paragons for Vertue bright The Royall Scribes sweet Sulamite Who train'd to Zeale yet without Traps Her poore Young Sister wanting Paps Without Traditions she train'd her Or Quillets which make Soules to Erre SO feedes our Church her Tender Brood With Milk the Strong with stronger Food She doth contend in Grace to thrive Reformed like the Primitive She hates the Darke yet walkes the Round And joyes to heare the Gospels Sound She hates their Mind in Judgement blind Who swell with Merits out of kind In Christ alone lies all her Hope Not craving Help of Saint or Pope Poore Saints to shew her Faith by Deedes She fills their Soules their Bodies feedes She grants no Weapons for Offence Save Vowes and Fasting for Defence And yet she strikes But with what Sword The Spirits Sword Gods Lightning Word Indiff'rent Toyes and Childish Slips She slights but checks grosse Sinnes with stripes Yet soone the Strayes her Favour winne When they Repent them of the Sinne. So mild is she still loathing Ill And yet most loath the Soule to kill SUch is the Lady whom I serve Her Goodnesse such whom I observe And for whosee Love I beg'd these Layes Borne from the Spheares with Flaming Rayes But who can paint the Dowries forth Of this New Mary to the Worth O let us for her Gifts restor'd Then Sacrifice to Heavens Lord Our Hearts with Psalmes like Trumpets lowd For sending her to curbe the Proud And to beare downe Romes Antichrist As she types her that brought forth Christ The Object of our Second Birth And the Prime cause of all our Mirth Thus is Our Church in Essence like The Ancient True Apostolick GOD grant this Dame our Brittaines long to sway Whereby they may to Christ new Vowes repay And blesse thee Reader with like Happinesse To hold his pledges firme with Godlinesse CAndidore Fides lustrabat Lumine Mundâ—m 〈◊〉 propiâ—s tetigit Saecula Prima 〈◊〉 Lumen at Ecclipsin 〈◊〉 labentiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Reddidit obscuram quae fuit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nec mirum Turbans tantas senfisse 〈◊〉 Carnem plus Vigiles quam sapâ—ere 〈◊〉 Seria cum nugis miscentes Sacra profâ—â—â— Idolis Flameâ— post posuere Dei Stellarum Lapsâ—s 〈◊〉 Fraâ—â— Nubilâ—◠〈◊〉 Haec tâ—ia Corrupti Causa fuers Throâ—i Sedâ—â—dâ— dispersâ—â— Teneâ—â— is Noâ—â— Deâ—â—uit Aâ—â—â— Spoâ—saâ—â—dit Christi Crâ—scit Altar Home Crescit sponsaredux Hominis fulgore Novati Dum legitur Christi Pagina Sacra Choro Nec minùs est sponsa Salomonis Nostra pudica Vel Grege Primaevo quem pia Roma tulit Uberibus vacuam Parvam Prior illa Sororem Allexit zeli Lacte sed absque dolo Absque venenaâ—is Prudens allexit Elenchis Gentes quae tenebris delituere diu Quin Nostra Greges solet enutrire tenellos Lacte magis Fortes sed refovere Cibo Odit Nostra nigrà Mentis Caligine Captos Coetus qui Meritis intumuere suis Non Carnale sapit nec Papae Numen adorat Horret enim Christi commaculare Thorum Pectora Conâ—iâ—â—is Sanctorum Corpora victa Pascit ne fieret Fabula vana Fides Armâ— virago gerit sed Qualia Flaminis Arma Enthea nempe Dei Mystica Metra Preces Condonat facili leviuscula Crimina vâ—ltu Fâ—eda sed Orbilii vindicat Acta Minis Non animam jugulat tanta est Clementia Divae Sed resipiscentes Laeta reducit Oves Talis Imago Dei sponsae nostraeque Magistrae In cujus Laudes Aetheris igne feror Tanta Novae fulget virtus Divina Mariae Sed sua quis Calamo pingere Dona potest Sat â—ihi pro Donis tantum si Psalmata dentur Dum placet Aethereo Cor Holocauma Patri Qui nuper sponsam naevis maculisque solutam Transtulit ut Fidei Roma nitore ruat Utque Novi Dotes Hominis Caeloque renati Liberiore canam Pectore voce Tubâ Sic Nostra viget similis jam Sponsa Priori Quae visit quondam Tempora prisca Patrum Det Deus ut longum regat haec Sulamitha Britannos Que possint alacres nova vota rependere Christe Concedat que purem ribi Lector Candide Sortem Ut piâ— Christigene conserves Pignora Sponse Another Hymne to the same Effect as how to discerne the True Catholick Church THe Crosse on which our Saviour di'd For many Yeares lay undiscri'd With Rubbage soil'd in Calvary Till to renew Christs Memory The Mother of Great Constantine Searcht found and left it for a Signe That Converts then might understand Christ di'd for them in Jewries Land In the like sort the Church of Christ Lay long Eclips'd through Carnall Mist Resembling Gold obscur'd with drosse As was with Earth that Woodden Crosse. And though some wisht to find her out They could not bring their wish about So strong of Might so full of sleight Was Babels Whore to bleare their Sight Untill Gods Word perform'd the Deed With Martyrs Bloud the Churches Seed Till Wicklâ—â—â—e first and Luther next Stept up her Babes stood sore perplext NOw O looke up this Gracious Queene On Sions Hill is to
worth be what I heard Nor mention I Borrachoes Spanish Case Which Pilgrims vow with Healths to Baccâ—us Grace Nor yet their Flesh which Portingalls do dresse And lay with Salt for Indiaes Voyages So usefull are these Goats that none for want Of them in wild and New-found Lands can plant Which is the Cause that Brittaines Colonies Thrive not there like the Spaniards Progenies Now for my Vote or Cloze particulare Which I submit to your more Silver Haire It is not safe the moody to constraine Tread on a Worme and it will turne againe The Fits o're-past we may cull out the Bad Divide their Troupes and Cure in time the Mad. If we permit the Weanelings of their Flocks Their tender Kiddes which cannot shift on Rocks For stronger Food to champ on weaker Boughes And their Moone-sick on Plants sometimes to brouze Both these will when their Constitution growes To abler Nerves eat Hay in time of Snowes And be right glad to taste of stronger Food Aswell to our Content as for their Good And let the rest live in their Craggy Soile In hope they will no more keepe revell Coile Lest if we thence provoke their Wilder Whelpes They may turne mad with Tupping and with Yelpes Unlesse in the Mid-Summers Moone we chaine Those whom we finde most Crazed in the Braine 'T were well we could their Teeth with safety file And not our hands with Streames of Bloud defile If they disband and of their Crimes repent And will with Griefe redeeme their Punishment Let 's suffer them to spend their windy Breath Upon the Rocky Hills and Barren Heath That it may be ingross'd in After-Rowles We left them there where bustling Boreas cooles The hottest Spleen in hope that they would grow More usefull farre then we doe finde them now When Riper Time shall Humours purifie They will conforme themselves at least their Fry Since Forraigne Coasts to Beares Wolves submit I thinke we may lesse harmefull Goats admit To their Old Haunts our Daiâ—es to encrease So that henceforth their Buckes from Tupping cease Let us not then root out these Beasts with Beards Weakning our Stock an Honour to our Heards Lest we give Cause of Jeering to our Foes Who if our Stock decayes may worke us woes They pill our Barke that 's it you now will says So did our Iron-men and Tanners play So Others have by causelesse Brawles and Fees And Hâ—athnish Spoiles forc'd men to sell good Trees But here one whisperd him Touch not that Noat Lest you be term'd a rash-promoting Goat Incurring Scorne with hoobubsand out-cries For glancing at our Modernes Robberies The Swaine sbash'd his Face to Crimson di'd And the Goats Cause lies in suspense untriâ—â— Where though Great Pan an Higher skill relies Yet scornes he not a Rusticks poorâ— Supplies In all Extreames on this I set my Rest. Of Ills to â—â—use the Least of Good the Best And if I misse the Latter to attaine Yet I will hope the Golden Meâ—ne to gaine COncerning other Points of Faiths abuse As Purgatories Paine false Idolls use Courting of Saints to Christs apparant wrong Gods Sacred Word kept from the Vulgar Tongue Additions to the Masse the Papall Keyes And Priests debarr'd of Wives Let him that waightâ— The Dreames of Balaams Priests this Passage know Pride made the Pope a Simon Magus grow And then he chang'd the Spirits Gifts for Gaine For after the Decease of Charlemaine Who Sceptred Popes in the ensuing Yeares They to maintaine their Pomp the Christian Meereâ— Of Modesty transcended got elbow roome To spread the Divels Huskes in rampant Rome Which to reforme as we of late have done In Brittaines Orbe by Wickliffs Cares begun About three Ages past so let all them Who hope to see the New Ierusalem Looke backe upon the first Sixe Centuries Or if that seeme too tedious to revise Let them the next Sixe Ages well review And they shall finde Romes Faith then patcht anew That by Degrees the Popes by Phocas first And by Great Charles since rais'd became accurst And that Our Church the very same of Old Which was at Nice and Chalcedon enroll'd For Orthodoxe is Catholick and True Onely because new-scour'd enstiled New LOhere Deare Countrey-men in Pithy Phraze What some have whirl'd about with winding Maze And some I hope these short Analyses Will rellish more then long Remonstrances Since Substances yee like I simply shew Where lay our Church Pure Catholick and True Before we tooke the Name of Protestants At Auspurg late which Our Extravagants By Transmarine and false exotick Gloâ—â—e Would soile like Pitch with Appellations grosse Of Huguenoâ—s or Luthers Hereticks While they usurpe the Name of Catholicks Like Hagars Brood which Moores terme Saracen Like Hypocrites who passe for Godly Men. For why should they alone be in our West Call'd Catholicks when Thousands in the East The Abissines and Others doe contend For the like Name in Substance Use and End Why should the Parts above the Whole presume One Sister Church the Mothers Stile assume The Catholick which spreads in every Coast With Mutuall Gifts powr'd by the Holy Ghost Why should the Beames against the Sunne compact The Branches from the Oakes Good Name detract Our Churches are waigh the Comparison As Boughes or Beames Christs Spouse the Oak or Sun And for Our Church more yet I could relate To manifest her Wane Eclipse and Fate In Popish Times but that each Novice knowes What meanes the Desert where she powr'd her vowes During the Raigne of that great Mystick Whore Which preacht False Christs by the red Dragons Lore But mauger Constance Trent and Lateran The Night is past of Skreeching Ignorance And we embrace the Spirits Countenance Which at this day shines bright in Brittaines Ile And may doe long if we shun Hate and Guile Not Ecchius Moore Poole Fisher Posstvine Not Dowayes Fry nor Copious Bellarmine Can match our Calvin Zanchius Bullinger Frith Jewell Foxe Fulkes Raynolds Whitaker Andrewes Usher and those whose Melodies Mount up to Christ like a New Sacrifice With many moe in our Great Brittaines Orbe Surviving yet and able them to curbe Whose Praises Web more Curious if I spun I should then light a Candle in the Sunne Or undertake Saint Michaels Warre to pen A Taske more fit for Angels then for Men. Yet by that Mystick Type Saints may discry The Battels Issue and our Victory For such a Palme the Fiery Crosses Signe Hath gain'd as in the Dayes of Constantine But now in Embers clozing up my Fire I silently into my Thoughts retire Oft looking backe to Babels Mystery Oft musing on Faire Stons Victory Where first Six Hundred Sixty Six I fixe One Thousand then Six Hundred Fifty Sixe Times Pedegree from Mans Creation cast Till Fatall Showres for Sinne the Earth defac't I ruminate in Mind least sodainly While I deferre my Duty to supply The last great Trumpets Sound concludes the Day To Worldlings woe and Sinners sore Dismay Warres in Faiths House proclaim'd and Babylon