est hoc nomen non Hebraeum This a Syrian and no Hebrew name hinting him to have been some great mans son of that name and Country usual in Scripture to denominate men sons of their Fathers without other addition Neither is that Objection enough against it 1 Cor. 1.16 for it says not that many Noble but that many Noble are not called and one in Twelve is not many And this seems to me the more probable as wiping off that scandal of Julian the Apostata That mean Fishermen and such were easily seduced and therefore Christ did receive persons eminent in Learning Saul was so and of Authority in the State Nicodemus was so of Wealth and Ability Zacheus was so and so was Joseph of Arimathea and then why not so this Bartholomeus From whose deep silence in the Scripture even in the midst of all the Apostles contentions misprisions or other infirmities for which most of them were at sometime or other reprehended by their gracious Master I cannot but commend his prudence meekness unity modesty and taciturnity that let fall nothing to the breach of either and recommend them to your imitation For as silent and reserved as he appears in Scripture yet Ecclesiastick story rendreth him loud and eloquent in the advancing of his Masters Gospel First unto the Lycaonians and afterwards to the remoter Indians and lastly to the barbarous Armenians whereby their King Astyages for converting his Brother Palemon that after became Bishop of the place he was put to death or rather many deaths in one One so complicated as passed all parallel but the Barbarity of that place and Tyrant being first stoned and afterward excoriated Flayed alive Giving his kin and all that he had Job 1. not as Job saith for his life but for the Faith and Truth of Christ his Master nor is there yet an end of him For some write that they let him hang on the Cross till the day following still preaching Christ till they beheaded him and then indeed that was mercy An. Dom. 51. And hence it is called Duplex Festum A double Feastival some keeping the Five and twentieth of August to his memory others with us the Four and twentieth POEM 34. Fair Elims Wells and Palms did prerecord Th'Apostles and Disciples of our Lord Number and Nature both did signifie Their Doctrines pleasant Fruit and Victory Let us too pitch our Tents here rather dwell That each may have his Palm and Sacred Well May these Palms flourish to the day of Doom i th' hearts of men and all their sins o'ercome Scriptures are justly call'd Salvations Wells In draught whereof Saint Bartholomew excels His Name well suiting sure th' Original Hence doth him Son of Water-drawer call What Springs to Fields to Souls is Bartholomew Who to cool heats of sin brings a cold Dew Some think this was Nathaniel then his stile Runs high a man in whom was found no guile Some think him Princely born and that his Name the Son of Ptolomy imports the same Whose ere he was he for his Master gave His skin Christs truth not his own life to save Being such a fruitful Saint then 't is but Reason His Feast be kept in such a fruitful Season The COLLECT The Gospel Luk. 22. v. 16. unto v. 25. The Epistle Acts 3. ver 12 unto vers 17. O almighty and everlasting God which hast given grace to thine Apostle Bartholomew truly to beleeve and preach thy Word Grant we beseech thee unto thy Church both to love that he beleeved and to preach that he taught through Christ our Lord Amen S. MATHEVS For God to become man a Virgin soule for to conceaue bring forth yet not foule are Miracles yet these good Mathew brings as tidings fittest for an Anaclls wings Are to be sould by 〈…〉 The Plate here Vpon the Festivall of S. MATTHEVV DISQUISITION 32. OBserving Ecclesiastick order the first is here become one of the last scil Saint Matthew the first Pen-man of all the New Testament one of the last among these glorious worthies but so among the last as some choise Dish is at a Feastivall so of the last as none of the least remarkable conversions Mat. 9.9 and though under his own hand yet that of the Holy Spirits Guiding cannot be suspected of immodesty and as Jesus passed by from thence he saw a man sitting at the Receipt of custome named Matthew and said unto him Follow me and he Arose and followed him Wherein you have Christs Invitation and Saint Matthews resignation Our Saviours voice and his Saints Eccho Psal 27.8 somewhat like Davids Psalm 27. Seek yee my Face Thy Face Lord will I seek First the Invitation Mat. 9.9 as Jesus passed He saw c. where are the circumstances and substance of the call circumstances first of Person Jesus and Matthew Matthew a rich man a covetous rich man a covetous rich man in a corrupt office stiling himself the Publican in an Emphatical acknowledgment while the other Evangelists call him Levi and so needing a Jesus Mar. 2.14 Luke 5.27 c. 9.56 Salutare Nomen the saving name of Him who to that end came into the world Luke 9. and here passing forth from curing the Palsied mans body he healed Matthews soul it was his businesse thus to be doing Good even his meat and drink to do the will of his Father who would not the death of a sinner c. his Goodnesse still more amplified from the place and time for that he called Matthew sitting at the Receipt of custome Other Disciples Christ called as they were doing good Mat. 4.18 as Peter and Andrew from Fishing James and John mending their Nets c. But O the Miracle of Mercy he called Matthew when doing hurt and injury executing his hatefull office Sitting at the Receipt of custome and sitting the worst posture of evill the worst of all those three degrees of sinne Psal 1.1 observed out of Psalm 1.1 Now Matthew was a Graduated Publican seated in the chair of the scornful Genebrard in Psa 1. which is worse then either walking in the Counsell of the ungodly or standing in the way of sinners insomuch that Publicans and most hated persons were grown convertibles the Jewes paying no Custome before their Captivity that being indeed alwayes the leader of oppressions so that Publicans we find sometimes joyned with Heathens Mat. 18. sometimes with Harlots Mat. 18.17 c. 21.31 Luk. 15.1 chap. 21. but alwayes with sinners But now to the substance of the Call He saw and said c. he saw not only with Corporall eyes as hee saw many so but with eyes of compassion with eyes of Dilection Vbi Oculus ibi Amor. Here Christ's eye and Affection went together he saw him as a Pearl on a Dunghil as a chosen vessell for a better office He saw him with such eyes as looked on Israel in Egypt Exod. c. Exod. 3. as looked on Saint Peter weeping or on
Apud Anglos CUr duo stant Libri Clausi Anglis Regia in Aul◠Lumina Caeca duo Polubra sicca Duo Num sensum Cultumque dei tenet Anglia Clausum Lumine caesa suo sorde sepulta sua Responsio Authoris PEctore Qui retinet Claudat merit ò ille Libellos Et Christus Pietas ut sit operta monet Scotia dat Tenebras duplices Perfida sordes Hinc Anglis praestant Pollubra Lustra Libri Scotia Testatur Flagrans non lumina caeca Anglis nec penitùs Pollubra sicca nuper A Christian paraphrase upon those Verses Like Hermit poore c. LIke Christian well resolv'd in place obscure I meane to spend the Remnant of my Dayes In unfrequented Paths of Folk Impure To meditate on my Redeemers praise And at thy Gates ô Death I le Linger still To let out Life when God and Nature will A mourning Weed my Body shall attire My Staffe the Crosse of Christ whereon I le stay Of true Repentance Linkt with Chast desire The Couch is made whereon my Limbs I 'le lay And at thy Gates ô Death I 'le Linger still To let out Life when God and Nature will My Food shall be of Christian Manna made My Drink the Streames flow'd from my Saviours Side And for my Light through Earths erroneous Shade The Beames of Grace shall be my safest Guide And at thy Gates ô Death I 'le Linger still To let out Life when God and Nature will Teares and Flowers strew'd upon the Hearse of Mrs S. S. Dying Sept. 15. 1641. SInce it is Solomon that saies A virtuous woman shall have praise Do modest paper tell the Truth Of my deare Sarah's Aged Youth And when thy Inkie-moysture dries I will supply it from mine eyes So though of her we are bereft Her faire example may be left To th' Imitation of the best Wonder and Envy of the rest God the Beginning was and End Whence did her Acts flow whither tend The Scripture was her Booke of Books Nor only object of her Looks But the true Glass by which she drest Continually her Head and Breast Each day she hallow'd but that same Which to our Lord owes time and Name With knowing zeale and strictest care Observ'd and kept she every where Church-publike-exercises led Which Home-Devotions Ecchoed Strong Prayer was the Lock and Key To every Harmeless night and day Those Arrows wing'd and Headed flew With Sighs and Tears of Heavenly dew I although not for Sins nor years She was a Magdalen for Teares Remembring the great Bridegrooms cry I 'm wounded with thy melting eye An eye that cared not to looke In any unless Sacred Booke Wherin if she found Christ's name there Fix'd her delights and pleasures were Nor only Student Agent she And Practiser of Piety Devotions Handmaid did awaite Each Day 's approaching and retreate Thinking of all the time God lent That best was in his service spent That Calling Here Christ and she chose Which prophane worldlings most oppose And as she Mary hence appeares So Martha too for house-Affaires Who like th' Aegyptian Emblem right To we are her own house did delight Oh had she had that Snailes slow pace In parting from mine Armes Embrace No Planet she that lov'd to stray To see or to be seene so gay But kept Jobs Covenant with her eyes And turn'd them from such Vanities A well Tun'd Cymball was her Tongue And not a Loud one loosely rung Her Mind still gratefully content Envying none for what God lent Her Hand was open Evermore To Good but chiefly to such Poore Sweet unto all pure at the Heart Without the Zeale pretending Art Covering the Good Graine she did sow That so it might the better grow She was a Rose for Sent and Hiew No Garish Tulip but for view Neat without Niceness was her dress None of those Isai'h doth express No Phancy-follower was she But of th' Apostles D cency She was that Merchants ship well fraught Not that which Apes and Peacocks brought Her Needle did succeed her Booke And both by course the whole day tooke What rare doth Nature propagate That her Art could not Imitate Old subtle Time could ne'r steale by Her Active Hand or studious Eye But one Adorn'd her outward store While t'other Deck'd her Mind much more And all this ready to impart With Humble not Imperious Art Nay even her Recreations were For Body's so as Soul's welfare Not to be Infinite the rest You find in Solomon exprest What there he speakes Prov. 31.10 c. is here as true Of this as that Good-House wifes due Thus like the Sun in her own Sphaere Her House she mov'd and only there Through all whose parts she did dispence Her Motion Light or Influence And such a Sun at Noone to set Must needs a long sad Night beget To him indeed whose rest and light Was in his Faithfull Sarah's sight Faithfull as ever Abra'm's Dame For Grace and Love worthy Her Name She made a Competency wealth And oft Nurs'd Sickness into Health By joyning to her Skill and Cares The Cordiall of Prayer and Teares Oh could mine have as much prevail'd When her o're hasty Death assail'd So one as shade and Body They Did even together move or stay One will and nill one Joy and Feare One Comfort unto both one care While others Plough with Oxe and Ass Th' Apostles Yoake here equall was One Soule as in two Bodies dwelt And both the same Affections felt Nor could Death Altogether part Whom God united so in heart His soule with hers to Heaven ascends While to her Grave his body tends Nor long erect can be that Head Whose better part 's already dead Like Thee best halfe I mould away I dayly haste and only stay A while by God and Thee design'd To Care for one Thou left'st behind Earths Joyes for Thee Too narrow were More worthy of an Heavenly Sphere And too much Heaven 't was for me Here to Enjoy both Fruit and Tree As deare a Mother as a Wife Thou dy'dst to give Another life Delivered by Fates Controule At once almost of Child and Soule Those Twins of Innocence yet Thine The brighter of the two doth shine What not all vertues prevalent Such praemature Death to prevent No God too hath his early Fruit Which when he 'l plucke who shall dispute Grace made her Twenty Five as old As many that have Fivescore told Her yeares were few yet her life long God's lov'd Iosiahs oft dye young This Plant from out Earths Soyle of vice Hath God remov'd to Paradise Yet lest his lower Garden bee Bereft quite of so Good a Tree A Branch in Mercy he hath Given Which water'd with the dew of Heaven May it so sprout and shoot up here As one day to be planted where Now it s own Stem Grows ne'r to Dye But flourish to Eternity Where Tumults Sin and Sorrows cease Their roome supply'd with Ioy and Peace Where short-breath'd-Time Eternall grows And Health that no diseases knows Where
Day 49 Ashwednesday 56 The solemn Fast of Lent 62 Palm Sunday 75 Good Friday 80 Easter Day 106 Ascension Day 135 Whitsunday 155 Trinity Sunday 177 The Lords Day in Generall 186 Rogation Week 201 S. Andrews Day 208 S. Thomas Day 221 Conversion of S. Paul 231 The Purification 239 S. Matthias Day 247 The Annunciation 256 S. Marks Day 265 S. Philip and Jacob 270 S. Barnaby's Day 277 S. John Baptist 299 S. Peter's Day 319 S. James his Day 330 S. Bartholomew's Day 337 S. Matthew's Day 321 S. Michael the Arch-Angel 329 S. Luke's Day 339 S. Simon and Jude 346 All Saints Day 353 The four Ember Weeks 364 The Vigils or Eves of Festivals 368 The Doxologie 371 ERRATA In Votum Authoris line 5. r. accendat Ad Malignantes Poemata l. 3. r. if l. 6. r. texts To Rigid Humorists l. 22. r. ivgenuous P. 19. l. 26. for rupis r. rapis p. 136. l. 6. r. Christian p. 138. marg r. Enar. p. 354. l. 3. r. Assentation p. 155. l. 26. r. Candid p. 358. l. 8. r. Groat p. 362. marg r. Euthymius To his valued FRIEND the AUTHOR How much I love that Gallant civill man Who fears Gods Laws and does not mans offend Yet dares be active nay does all he can To vindicate the fame of his dead Friend How much more Dear Sparke must I Honor thee Who vindicat'st the Churches Piety I must acknowledg I with Reverence look Upon thy Parts and highly prize thy Merit For who impartially peruse thy Book Shall find thou hast an high seraphick Spirit Imagine Gold could be from Gold refin'd So is thy soul from others souls sublim'd Ad Malignantes Poemata I hear some Quarrell Authors that have writ In verse such strong and sublimated things As â—f such subjects for verse were not fit Let them know this God chose the Pens of Kings To wâ—…e in verse and Christ alledg'd them more Then all the Text he found in Moses store Let them know learned Moses and wise Job Writ both in verse before those glorious Kings And all the Prophets call'd the sons of God In verse have written high mysterous things Let them know who dares on such verse fall foul Hath but a squint-ey'd ill composed Soul Fran. Wortley To the Author in contemplation of his Primitive Devotion THe Churches Liturgy Her Discipline Her sweet indulgencies Her love divine Her Fasts Her Feasts Her Sacraments and all That Tongues of men and Angels Order cal By wholsome Precepts and choice presidents This Author with high Charity presents Instructing us the ready Way to know What to our God what to the Church we owe. All morall vertues stand in great esteem With grave Philosophers shall not we deem Diviner Graces much more to surmount Yes To this end SPARKE renders in Account The lives and deaths of most refined Saints Which he from Times records so lively Paints That we by their examples might become Such as they were in Life or Martyrdome Great Harmony did grace her Pristine State Till the red Dragon grew predominate In her Meridian thousand souls did bring At her Behests their free-will offering In her eclipse no Herbert not a Donne SPARKE only sings her Resurrection To shew my best Affection and my Zeal To this good Work I give Heart Hand and Seal Thomas Shirley In opus eruditum Authoris ingeniosissimi CRudeli lacerare manu pia viscera Matris Infoelix studuit Nequitiae soboles Omine foelici sanavit vulnera Sparkus Non passus tumulo saucia membra dari Hic petit Antiquos veris ornare Coronis Vates Angelicos celebrare Choros R. DUKESON D.D. To my worthy Kinsman M. Ed. SPARKE upon his Pious Reflection on Primitive Devotion I Were ingrate should I thy lines ore'-look And not repay some tribute to thy Book Amongst those virid wreaths of Poetry Then interweave one Lawrell branch from me Whil'st thou thy light dost through the world disperse Accept of this Reflection on thy Verse Methinks Th' hast here thy skil in Musick shewn Most fitly to a Land that 's out of tune A happy harmony of Sions Songs Variety yet no Divisions First a plain Note a Rellish then doth close Each Poem's grafted on a stock of Prose How sweetly both the Courteous Reader Greet When the Prose runs so on the Verses feet Cease Old Religion to lament thy fate Here 's yet a Prospect of thy Pristine state Though the old lights snuft out which clearly shone To other Lands But dazled this our own Our comfort is we are not quite bereft Here is a SPARKE of the old Lamp yet left Blown from above into a Holy fire Whose flames shal last when as this SPARKE flies higher RICH. BETENSON On the worthy work of my respected Friend M. Ed. SPARKE When Pious Asa with his Fathers Slept How solemnly his funerals were kept A curious bed's contriv'd by Arts devices Fild all with Indian gums Arabian Spices This bed the case wherein his corps the Jewel Are for the * 2 Chro. 16.14 BURNING made the precious fuel As if that Asa's body did aspire To meet his soul and mount up in that fire Dead Saints dead days now put into their Urne See here a sweeter brighter flame doth burn Kindled from holy SPARKES whence doth arise No smoak to hurt save only envious eyes Whilst my admiring Muse at distance stands Desiring at this flame to heat her hands Wherewith emboldned neerer she presumes To steal a Sent of these thy sweet Perfumes But I recant my words and pardon crave That I compar'd thy Book unto the Grave Or Vrne of Saints for by thy Pen's perfection Saints are not buried but have Resurrection The cozning witch in counterfeit disguise Made but a seeming Samuel to rise Whom cunningly she did with mantle hide To cloak her cheat which else might be espide But who will not thy worthy Work applaud No falshood here no forgery or fraud Thou really dost from the dust retrive And make not one but All-Saints to revive Yea by the pains which thou on them expends Easter doth rise Ascension day ascends Thy Poetry is pleasant Pictures fine Thy Prose profound but oh the prayers divine Thus hast thou pleased us in every part Our fancies judgments with our eyes and heart THO. FULLER To the Author upon the sight of the first sheet of his Book My worthy friend I am much pleas'd to know You have begun to pay the debt you owe By promise to so many pious friends In printing your choice Poems it commends Both them and you that they have been desir'd By persons of such Judgment and admir'd They must be most by those that best shal know What praise to holy Poetry we owe. So shall your Disquisitions too for there Choice learning and blest piety appear All usefull to poor Christians where they may Learne Primitive Devotion Each Saints day Stands as a Land-mark in an erring age to guide fraile mortals in their pilgrimage To the Coelestiall
reigneth c. MErcifull GOD who hast made all Men and hatest nothing that thou hast made nor wouldest the death of a Sinner but rather that he should be converted and live have mercy upon all Jewes Turkes Infidels and Hereticks and take from them all Ignorance Hardnesse of Heart and contempt of thy Word and so fetch them home blessed Lord to thy Flock that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites and bee made one Fold under one Shepheard JESUS CHRIST our Lord who liveth and reigneth c. EASTER DAY DISQUISITION 13. THis Festivall is as ancient as the Resurrection of our blessed Lord himselfe and therefore ought to be proportionably sacred to its subject as it was highly venerable to the Primitive Fathers of the Church witnesse their innumerable Sermons on it and most solemne Acts even of both Sacraments reserved for the same however this stolid disobedient Age contemn the devotions of Antiquity Christiani sine Christo as though they would be Christians by passing Acts of Oblivion upon the Records of Christianity But God hath still his thousands in our Israel whom I shall here greet with the old Christian salutation * The Eastern and Greek Churches salutation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ is risen desiring the Reader but to Eccho with joy and gratitude that same usuall Response The Lord is risen indeed or to Paraphrase it with that good Christian who meeting his enemy said Surrexit Christus Christ is risen the Reconciler and therefore let us be friends again The first stone of Christian Faith was laid in this Article of the Resurrection in this was the first promise performed Ipse conteret He shall bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 Augustine for in this Trophaeum de morte excitavit He triumphed over Death and Hell And the last stone of our Faith is laid in the same that is the Day of Judgement of which God hath given assurance unto all men saith St. Paul at Athens in that he hath raised Christ Jesus from the Dead Acts 17.3 In this Christ makes up his Circle in this he is truly Alpha and Omega His coming in Paradice in a promise and his coming to judgement in the clouds are tied together in the Resurrection and therefore all the Gospel all our Preaching our Believing and endeavour are all contracted into this one Article of the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.14 1 Cor 15. and that being all the signe Christ would at any time afford the Jews the Pharises Saduces or any that importuned him the signe of Jonas and the destroyed Temple still turning upon the Resurrection Matth. 12.35 And so true is that of Tertullian Resurrectio mortuorum est summa consolatio vivorum The Resurrection of the dead John 4.18 is the main Consolation of the living as without which all Christs former Actions and Passions had been fruitlesse 1 Cor. 15. But by which we hold our hopes of Immortality 1 Cor. 15.17 from whence all the Sundays of the year cheerfully borrow new Denomination and are as 't were new Christned The Lords Day in memoriall of this happy Reparation So that Ludolphus out of Nazianzen and others may well call this day Solennitas solennitatum the Festivall of all Festivities Most of the Learned applying that of David to it Psalm 118. Haec est Dies quam fecit Dominus Ludolph de vita Christi in Locum Psal 118.24 This is the Day which the Lord hath made c. And not onely for our gladnesse but also inverting it for his Honour Haec est Dies quae fecit Dominum So St. Cyril in locum This is the Day which in a sense made the Lord i.e. declared For hereby saith the Apostle was he wonderfully declared to be the Sonne of God Wonderfully indeed the wonder of all Miracles wrought by a God testified by Angels seen of Men of Men not onely as witnesses but partakers and yet a no lesse Benefit then Miracle a benefit both Corporall and Spirituall extending to both parts of Man And whereas Christs former Miracles for the most part tended but to the Bodies good as Restitution of Limbs Eyes to the Blind Ears to the Deaf Tongue to the Dumb and Feet to the Lame or else for Restauration of health as Healing diseases casting out Devils raising the Dead This an extensive benefit to both parts of man or for human sustenance as feeding many thousands with few Fishes multiplying the Loaves metamorphosing of Water into Wine c. But this miraculous benefit and beneficiall Miracle of Christs Resurrection extendeth it self both unto Soul and Body And first it cheereth up the Drooping body comfortably telling it That shall not alwayes sleep in Dust not ever be the Food of worms and companion of creeping things but shall be one day raised raised to incorruption to the society of Angels and vision of the blessed Trinity that even Flesh and Bloud though not as yet a while shall one day inherit the Kingdom of God So that the Body now the Body of every faithfull penitent may be as confident as ever Job was Scio quod Redemptor vivit I know that my Redeemer liveth John 19.25 c. and that he shal stand at the latter day upon the earth And though after my skin Worms destroy my Body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see c. And that not onely in Calvins sense Calvin in locum of a Temporall Restitution but even in Jobs own sense and the Fathers Exposition of a literal and numerical Reinvestion Again This likewise secures the Soul that she is Christs holy One whom he will never suffer to see corruption assureth Her that she neither hopeth nor beleeveth in vain 1 Cor. 15. This is the Foundation Article But happy Time This happy Day for us whereon Christ became the eldest child of the Grave the First born of the Dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 15.20 The first fruits of them that sleep all comfortable Relatives First still implying the later Christs Resurrection altogether as sure as Death Rom. 4. Rom. 4.25 Who died for our sins and rose again for our Justification For us you see Both not for Himselfe but us and that for both parts of us Souls and Bodies As if your meditation please to draw neer the Sepulcher Luke 24.6 Luke 24. you shall there meet with two Angels that will witnesse the Surrexit and tell you Non est hic Why seek you the living among the Dead He is not here but is risen But er'e with Peter and John we enter the Sepulcher Luke 24.6 't will be no uncivill Digression to take notice of the Company we meet with there that were the first Evangelists of these glad tidings and those were no lesse then Angels v. 4. to no greater then Women v. 10. Some mention but one yet St. John expressly telleth us of two Angels Duo propter
testimonii sufficientiam Two for a full and sufficient Testimony by the Jews own Law Witnesses of all sorts from Heaven and Earth too Angels tell the Women He is not here but c. Angels I they were alwayes ready attendants on our Saviour Et congruum fuit ut Rex Coelorum Satellitium haberet Angelorum Most fit it was that the King of Heaven should alwayes have such a Guard such a Retinue and had so at his Conception Luke 1. an Arch-Angell at his Birth Luke 2. a Multitude of the Heavenly Hoast In his Temptation Mark 1. in his Agony Luke 22. Angels ministred unto Him At his Apprehension had he so pleased could have easily prayed down more then twelve Legions i. innumerable company of Angels had he meant to countenance Religion propagated by the Sword and to come home here to his Resurrection And so likewise afterward to his Ascention miraculously proclaimed by Angels And if These to the Creature be appointed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How much more ought they to be alwayes Ministring spirits to their Maker Heb. 1.14 Pennati proceres induti vestibus albis Matribus hi Christum jam surrexisse reportant These winged Mercuries of Heaven here tell the seeking women to their joy and astonishment He is not here but is risen To women then Christ first was manifested to three women and to them doubly by the voyce of Angels and his own First appearance John 20. Three pious women Mary Magdalen Joanna and Mary mother of James v. 12. who to the glory of their Sex were led by their Devotion as the three wise Men by the Star unto their Saviour for they were seeking Christ Mark 28.5 'T is not here worth while to dispute whether or no Christ first appeared to his Mother as some contend since the Evangelists mention not his appearing unto her at all but sure we are 't was to her Sex I and to her Name also Mark 16. Mary Magdalen Apostolorum Apostola as Cajetan calleth her she was the first preacher of the Resurrection the Apostoless of the Apostles and various are the reasons of this Condescention I passe the phansie of some Misogynists as too light that it was because they are the more garrulous the more divulging Sex to spread a rumour sticking too rigidly on the 10. and 11. verses This might hold in secular affairs perhaps but here too contrary to Christs humble modesty Nemini dixeris still prefaced to all those Acts tending to his honour See thou tell no man more probable is that of Ludolphus In Lenim en doloris On Christs part as an Antidote and Cordiall to their Deeper sorrows First he appeared to them lest by his longer absence their griefs should prove too strong a Passion for those weaker vessels Woman why weepest thou v. 15. To asswage their sorrow and comfort them Then at other side saith Beda Quae prima ad culpam prima ad veniam Woman that first made hast to sinne now come first to Pardon She that first broke her Faith in Paradice Bedas Reasons in Locum first recovereth it at the Sepulcher Contendit de morte rapere vitam quae prius de vitâ rapuit mortem That Sex saith he which first snatcht Death as it were out of Life here contends as much to fetch Life even out of Death Aemulemur saltem Foeminas Though that Angelicall Attendance on our Saviour passe our dull Earths Imitation I our Souls and their most active Graces Yet let us at least aemulate these Womens piety Men for shame lest that feebler Sex prove the strongest in Devotion and Vertue appear so farre of the Foeminine Gender as not derived à viro Again let Women imitate them lest with the Foolish Virgins they Eclips the Glory of their vertuous kind and honour their Sex onely with that worst of Arguments Corruptio optimae est pessima The corruption of the best proves the worst Those that will accompany them must note how they came Early and not Empty Early Nec ubi mox abiit nec tamen orta dies In the Dawning saith Saint John while it was yet dark John 20.1 No deferring holy Duties Poenitentia sera raro seria Especially delay not Penitence Christ himself must he sought Early in the Day of Life Age and Sicknesse being Dies mortis days of Death in the morning of this day i.e. in times of strength and health Early in this Morning i.e. in the prime of youth with Samuel and Timothy nay in the very Dawning i.e. in the time of tender innocency as Saint Jerom of Eustochium Materno lacte That she sucked in Piety with her Mothers milk loving to hear Children Balbutire Christum Epist ad Eusiock Chanting Hosanna's er'e they wel could speak None ever came too soon to CHRIST or can make too much hast to Heaven Many Esau's with too late Teares to gain a Blessing And as early so these came not empty reflecting upon that Nemo vacuus Exod. 23.15 Exod 23.15 None shall appeare before me empty saith the giver of all things And minde it you cheap Auditors and Readers Quaelibet Aromata Vnguenta Each here brought her Oyntments and sweet Odours And such must be our addresses Odore virtutum suavitate Orationum With flowers of Vertue and Fragrancies of Prayer Revel 8. With the pretious Unguents of Alms and Hospitality Rev. 8. Psalm 141. All which indeed are like Mary Magdalens effused Oyntment Matth. 26. And to close this with St. Bernards sweeter Allegory Tres mulieres sunt Mens Lingua Manus The three good Women here bringing pretious Oyntments and sweet Odours must be saith he the Mind the Tongue the Hand Serm. in Loc. Those of the Mind are Zeal Compassion Patience Those of the Tongue are Prayers and good Exhortations Those of the Hand are Charity and Distributions Thus having saluted the Company Observe next the Person and his Motion He John 1.1 is not here but is risen He a word of the Person He that was the Word John 1. He that was born among Beasts lived among Publicans and died among Thieves He whom they attached bound reviled He whom they buffeted scourged thorned He whom they nailed pierced crucified whose Sepulcher they stoned sealed watched and that with the Garrison appointed to guard the Temple saith Josephus yet He so little the Plots of the impious prevaile against the Righteous He who sitteth in Heaven so laugheth them to scorn and Catastropeth all their wits into Dirisions The Person He. that Ipsissimus He the very selfe-same Christ awakeneth his Divinity which seemed before to sleep and at once conquereth those Fatall Enemies Sin Death and Hell even to a sensible Demonstration Luke 24. Videte palpate Handle me and see me Luke 24.35 When the Priests and Scribes those grand Councellors at Law expected from the Grave an Habeas Corpus the Body which they gave it they receive from Angels a non est inventus He
is not here but is risen Hence then our Faith and Hope are quickened sufficiently both confirmed and fortified Now what though Afflictions and Diseases torture and even crucifie our Body What though our burdenous Tombstone stop up the mouth of our Grave and forbid Re-entry into the world what though the inviolable course of Nature seal up our Sepulcher for Time ner'e to open what though Corruption set worms and other noysom creatures as 't were to watch our carcasses yet shall they maugre all these the very same I say shall one day likewise find themselves redintegrated by this powerfull Resurrection we shall not be stoln away either by Mortality or Time then feare no more to trust thy Body then the Sower doth his Grain unto the Earth The Grave must come to Restitution and give account of each Dust and Atome committed to her trust and not so much as an hair of our head shall perish Luke 21. Luke 21.18 While the head is above water no fear of drowning Mirum esset si caput per unum corpus per aliud intraret 'T were strange indeed that the Head should enter Heaven at one door and the Body at another Socinus therefore was but sottish to deny the consequent of ours from Christs Resurrection Decet quemadmodum praecessit caput Bernard Serm. in Resurrect sequantur membra It is but naturall proportion that as the Head is gone before we all the other members should follow after Thus being acquainted with the Person observe next his Motion His progressive or Egressive motion Wherein are also those two poynts of locall motion Terminus à quo He is not here and Terminus ad quem He is risen The first is whence he rose and that was à statu mortuorum not from any Poeticall Limbus but from the state of the Dead à Sepulchro From the Grave From triumphing over Hell it selfe as Davids 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the Septuagints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will bear it all Psal 116.10 He is not here Where our Meditations have overtaken the Disciples and are entring the Sepulcher where we find nothing but the Linnen left and Watchmen stupified But that Agnus occisus jam Leo vincens That Lamb which was slain Terminus à Quo. is now the Triumphing Lion of the Tribe of Judah too holy an One to see corruption He is not here in Earth or earthly Elements that is every where according to his Deity and Spirituall Influences Accedas Saducaee Sepulchrum inspice Come hither then Atheisticall Saduce and let thine Eye tutor thine Infidell Heart to a belief of the Resurrection Mark but the method of the Linnen Bern. in Fest Lineamina posita bene disposita That not onely remaining but keeping the severall postures of the parts that wore it And would a Thiefe have left it thinkest thou or left it so distinguished Or if the World had had a Thiefe so Honest Quam opportunitatem habuisset What time could he have had of stripping off those cleaving Sear-Clothes and bearing forth the Body so many Souldiers so many Watchmen present No no 't was that same Power onely which loosned formerly Saint Peters Fetters made this Winding sheet fall off the Deity it selfe so kept this Citie that the Watchmen watched but in vain In vain indeed for the sight of an Angell countenanced like lightning so terrified and amazed them that as though they had been struck with Lightning they became 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 28.4 Even as dead men Fitter to be buried in the Sepulcher then to watch it So that the envious Sanedrim endeavour to revive them with money that usuall Aqua vitae of ill fainting Causes hiring the Souldiers to say That His Disciples came by night and stole him away The Jewes strong delusion to this day O stulta insania dormientes testes adhibent Rhemigius in locum Alas fond dream of sleeping Watchmen saith Rhemigius if they slept how could they perceive the Theft If not perceiv'd how could they witnesse it Not taken away and therefore risen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For He is not here And this is the strangest Epitaph that er'e was read on Sepulcher Non est hic Turn over all the leaves of Story and Antiquity become Companions of the Sunne like Drake and Cavendish travell the whole Circle of the Earth view all the Monuments Pyramids and Tombs of Mortals and you shall still meet with there a Trophae of Deaths Conquest a Stone ingraven with an Hic jacet Here lieth such Christs Epitaph or such an one Here he lieth be he a Nebuchadnezzar a Nimrod or Baltshassar Here the bright Hellen and great Alexander Here the wise Cato and learned Aristotle or what ever other Grandees of the world Here lie their Bodies bound in Fetters of Corruption chambred up in Dust prisoners to the Grave and Captives unto Death Hic jacet But in an holy Pilgrimage come we to our Saviours Sepulcher and to our equall joy and wonder we meet with Ensignes of Death's overthrow the stone removed from off his Grave and there an Angel penning this his Epitaph No his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Song of victory Non est hic He is not Here. Hee who is Life it selfe could not be detained of Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Apostle 'T was impossible he should be holden of it But like his Type Samson Ruptis Laethi vinculis He breaketh the bonds of Death and casteth his Cords from him Nor from himselfe alone but from his Servants also 1 Corinth 15. 1 Cor 15.15 Where you may see one of them out-braving Death and Hell Where is thy sting where thy victory To which S. Bernard sweetly alluding Vbi opprobria Judaee Vbi fabulae Vbi vasa Captivitatis Where now thou stony Jew are all thy cruelties Alas Where are now the sports the Reed and Purple of your injured King and all those other Instruments of his Captivity Vbi mors victoria tua Bern. in Fest Nay Death it selfe Where 's now thy conquest Then alluding to the Answer as well as to the Question Confusus Calumniator raptor spoliatus The Mocker is mocked He that sitteth in Heaven hath laughed them to scorn and Death is swallowed up in Victory by CHRISTS glorious Resurrection Non est hic He is not here Mark Christian Reader Christus non quaerendus in Terrenis CHRIST is not to be sought for in these earthly Transitories I am sure not to be found there Not in the Avaritious man his Coffer Achan found a Non est hic in the Golden Wedge He is not here Not on the Ambitious Pinacle Haman found a Non est hic Hest 4. In the Chair of the scorner He is not here Not in the voluptuous mans bed Cant. 6. The Spouse her selfe found a Non est hic In Ease Idlenesse or worse He is not here And therefore
is it to have a Friend of the Judg before we come to the Barr and that is our consolation if not our own default Christ is ascended our Best friend our Brother our Advocate and now we have a Mediatour in Heaven I till this Peace-maker went up Sin had set open war 'twixt heaven and earth Justice with an unbound Arm fetched a more heavy stroke not only on single persons but upon whole Cities Gen. 17. Gen. 7 Gen. 19. nay on the whole sinful world Gen. 7. then no Moses in the gap no Jacob there to wrestle for a blessing but now happy day for us the Angel of the Covenant is gone up to hold the hand of the striking God of Abraham our Aaron is at the high Altar to pray for the People Heb. 9.24 The Sanctum Sanctorum Hebrews 9.23 Christ our high Priest is entered into the Heaven of Heavens once for all to make an Attonement for us what place then is there now left black Dispaire but only Hell Rouse thee afflicted soul and ly no longer in the groanes of Cain For though the envious man Satan be ever pleading against us at the throne of God yet now is salvation in heaven saith Saint John and the power of Christ which casteth down the accuser of the Brethren Rev. 12.10 c. Rev. 12.10 There his Intercession cries louder for us then our sins against us Ostendit Patri vulnera saith Saint Augustine He is ever shewing to his angred Father those wounds He suffered for our sins and so whatever he be with us God is in Him appeased Thus pleadeth he our cause before the eternall Judge an Advocate 1 John 2.1 1 John 2. If any man sin c. Yet for all this presume not Ransomed Soul bee not high-minded but fear God forbid sinne should because grace abounds Desperation like Saul slayeth thousands but Presumption her ten thousands This were even to crucifie the Son of God afresh and grieve the Holy Spirit Eph. 4.30 Ephes 4.30 Lastly Though wee have now one yet have we but one Mediatour in Heaven we dare not admit of that Delusion that there are as many Saviours as good men Each one meriting for himselfe some for others and no fewer Intercessours then Saints and Angels since Noah Job and Daniel shall deliver but their own soules by their righteousnesse Ezech. 14. Ezeck 14.14 We dare not so rob God of his Honour nor derogate from Christ's all-sufficient merits and intercession for all the thinne Distinction of Mediatio Redemptionis Intercessionis Away with cobweb shifts and Aiery phansies Listen to infallibility 1 Tim. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one Mediatour between God and man even He that was both and none but He Jesus Christ then to close with St. Bernards Counsel Ascendit Christus sequamur Fratres sequamur Agnum quocunque ierit sequamur patientem resurgentem multo lubentius Asceudentem c. Christ is now ascended into Heaven what do we groveling so on earth Letus follow Brethren let us follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth Let us follow him suffering Bernard in Festum Arising much more willingly ascending exaltationem concupiscimus omnes We all love to be exalted born Corahs all of an aspiring Nature yet change but the object set Heaven and grace in the place of earthly transitories and keep your Ambition stil Si consurrexistis coascendite if risen with Christ Ascend with him Borrowing the wings of the Dove Scalam de vitiis make a ladder of your Sins saith Aug. every one of which subdued is a new stepp toward Heaven POEM 17. THose three steps of Christs later Passion Were answer'd in his exaltation By triple opposites building him high As his foundation laid debasingly The degradation of his bitter death Sweetned by Reviviction Resum'd Breath His bed made in the dust with worms to ly Was fairly oppos'd by his Ascent on high And for his stooping to the infernall Pit He now at Gods Right hand of power doth sit The first step we have trod Le ts now ascend The rest and Heaven shall be our journies end To th'Mount of Olives then for That 's the place Christs wonted Pulpit that must have the Grace Of this Triumphant wonder there while he Instructs and comforts his disciples see Elijah in his Antitipe again Transported thence in a coelestiall wain The Clouds his Chariot and the nimble winds His winged horses Angels in their kinds His Train and Lacquayes yet no needed ayd As is of Enoch and Elijah said Thus stately mounted his etherial Chaire Glides through the yeilding Regions of the Ayre To th' everlasting doors which open wide To th' King of Glory who brings a spring Tide Both of new Joy and wonder to that place Where ne're till now appeared a Humane Face And if some serious minds Christs Passion thought Even to Heavens Quire some silence to have wrought And for awhile the Saints and Seraphins Thence interrupted in their sacred Hymns O here by contrary's what Floud of joyes When Christ ascends with such a Raptive Noise David as though H 'had heard the Melody Streight Tunes his Harp and joyns i th' Harmony Angels and Saints all one glad Chorus Sing The Welcome Triumphs of their Glorious King Where Gods Right hand being his triumphant throne He still for us makes Intercession And such as needs no help who Rivals joyn His honour and their own successe Purloyn As Angels Pry this Death so let us Scan What 's said or done to Them as here to Man Then from Christs Mount now let our souls take Rise Whos 's Olivet speaks Peace and victories Follow our Leader in this holy Fight From Earth and Sin leading to glorious Light Follow the Lamb we should whereso'ere he goes Through joyes Spirituall through temporal woes Suffering or Rising follow him but sure Ascending we will easily endure Born Corahs all yet be but Heaven the Hill We climb and then keep our Ambition stil Souls are but sparkles of Coeiestial fire O let them to their Center then aspire Though Bodies are slow Pac'd Let souls ascend And bodies will ore'take their joyes i th' end That so a full Beatifying ascent As Christs may be our Journall's complement The COLLECT The Epistle Act. 1. v. 1. to 12. The Gospel Mar. 16. v. 14. to the end Grant we beseech thee Almighty God that like as we do beleeve thy only begotten Son our Lord to have ascended into the heavens so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend and with him continually dwel who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the holy Ghost one God world without end Amen The comminge of the Holy Ghost Act. 2. 1 And when the day of Pentecost was come they were all with one accord in one place 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heauen ect 3 And there appeared unto them clouen tongues like fire and it sate upon each
his dayly Sacrifice Who must haue skill in Divine Surgery For Lions heart soft hand and Eagle's eye Both so searcht out and lance the putrid wound Whilest the bruis'd Spirit must be gently bound But what need I tell you what God requires Who read of Nadab and Abihu's fires Yet let me cheere your paines your Converts may Once shine as Heaven but you as Starres for aye Vpon the great Eclipse of the Sun Mar. 29. 1652. Math. 16.3 Acts 1.7 THough the Grand First Cause need no Instruments Yet Second He adopts to work Events By which though rare productions here are done Yet none for vig'rous Influence like the Sun Whose active vertue and strong operation Is even halfe Parent of our Generation His Trinity of Motion Light and Heat Effecting wonders too Changes so great That most things receive Detriment or Blisse According to his Approach or Recesse Sure then th' Eclipsing of his Fountain-beam Must be of sad Concernment to the streams And that as the degrees of restrain'd Light Most Dismall when most near a Totall Night Yet ther 's more in 't then our Star-gazers tell Christ is the Sun in Davids Paralell Ps 19. For all those friendly Qualities before And some sublimer Influences more Our very Light and Life that to both parts To Soul and Bodie Being Well-being imparts His distances set our passions degrees Our Sorrow Joy Feare Hope as he good sees Causing those different Seasons in our Soul With whom 't is Spring when he doth Sin controule And first plant Grace but when he draweth nigh With warmer beams 't is then her Summer high Rip'ning thereby those Plants of Grace so fast That brings a fruitfull Autumn too at last But when Sins angry Tropick Him recals A Frozen Winter then our Soule befals Our Consolations strait go Retrograde Then Sin and Judgment driving all the Trade So that we here Rejoyce all or do mourne According to his Absence or Returne If his Remotenesse then so fatall be How Direfull his Eelipse poor Soule to Thee When thy black Sins 'twixt Him and thee disclos'd With Satans aggravations interpos'd This is the terrible Eclipse I This That horrid houre and power of Darknesse is The t'other Nature or meane Arts can teach And scarse can voluntary Agents reach But This concernes no other and therein The prime parts chiefly Souls Eclips'd by Sin Wherein benighted though somtimes we mourne Yet let thy beams of Comfort too return And then though We more Frozen then the Pole Warm'd with thy Count'nance-Light shall soon be whole Away then with your Superstatious Fears Of that Eclipse which Naturall appears Nor startled be with the Bugbear-Praesage Of the praetending Wisards of the Age Whom if Men would observe as well i' th Misse As in their Hitts would their Delusions hisse Were not our Sins more likely Prophesies We might their Ridling Oracles despise But with an holy Terror guard your lives ' Gainst This which Souls of Divine light deprives Which if it happen totall ne'r returnes To light againe but still in darkness burnes Take Antidotes spirituall Sins lament And thereby true-ill-consequents prevent Nay then the beams of grace shall ne'r decline Till this bright Sun in glory on Thee shine Vpon the three Theologicall graces Faith Hope and Charity 1 Cor. 13. ult 1 Pet. 4.8 ALl Graces are presented in this Trine That make a Soule here and hereafter shine grace 1 Faith is the Magna Charta of our soules That our chiefe Evidence for Heaven inroules grace 2 Hope is the Anchor of each floating mind That in most stormy times doth safety find grace 3 And Charity 's the good Samaritan Befriending both parts of poore wounded Man grace 1 Faith is an Eaglet through the Sphears can pry And there the Son of righteousness descry grace 2 Hope like the dying man clincheth her Fist Upon the Promises fast holding Christ grace 3 While Charity more like the hand that lives In goodness trades amply receives and gives grace 1 Faith like the Stomack entertaines the food The Diet spirituall Christs flesh and bloud grace 2 While Hope the Faculty digestive acts And wholesome nourishment from thence extracts grace 3 But Charitie 's sublimer Chymick Arts Nutrition distributes to all the parts Though all co-operate in our Salvation Yet differ they in object and duration grace 1 Faith Promises and Threats both comprehends Knits past and Futures Origins and ends grace 2 Hope only at some Future good directs Her Ayme and that with patience too expects grace 3 Both those look up Love so and round about They first set forth but This holds longest out grace 1 Faith indeed like the Element of fire An Heaven-borne grace doth thither still aspire But once there Centred doth for ever rest Driving meane time but private Interest grace 2 Hope like the water hath its ebbs and flows Muddy or cleare as Sun'd or Clouded shows Whose fluid Optatives may more extend Yet This too 's some what of a Selfish end grace 3 But Charity 's diffusive free as Aire Whose upper Regions unto Heaven repaire Her lower embrace Earth a Grace o' th' way And of the Country both shall ne'r decay These to the Soule kind Presents needs would give And first Faith tenders her a Perspective Hope some flowre-buds and Fruit-blossoms doth bring But Charity 't is gives Perfection's Ring Vpon a Clock an Houre-glasse and a Watch. Iob. 8.9 Psa 102.11 Mat. 24.44 Luk. 12.39 TReble Monitions me thinks here we have Our life our Soule and Body too to save By guiding warning arming us for Grave Time is the measure of our life and see All these the measurers of that time be To God to man to thy selfe fit all three The Clock speakes loud how fast our time doth spend The Glasse our Frailty whispers as a friend The Watch saith vigilance yet both will mend Lament we by the Clock then mispent houres Ejecting Sins as sands through the Glass showr's And for the Future watch ' gainst who devours The order'd Clock bids Heart Tongue Hand agree The Glasse transparent hints fidelity The Watch shews low-pitch'd Soules wound up must be What oyle to Clocks such unto Hearts is Grace Sins are to Soules what stones are unto Glasse Watches and hearts long must not cleansing passe If bodies thinke Times be too swift a Rice Be Soules as Centerish and mend their Pace Till both haste home with equall speed and Grace When griefe or sicknesse clip the wings of Time Which slowly Creep's with Bodies that decline Let Soules the more in Contemplation climbe That when Times Path may be no longer Trod Bodies may rest in their own first abode And Soules returne unto their Fountaine God These are a Good man's use of all the Three Not Ensignes of Pride Cares or Vanity But Monitors of Sin Death Piety Vpon a passing Bell. Math 24.31 1 Cor. 15.52 HArk hark what noise is this a Passing Bell That doth our own Fate in an others