answering method that th' offence And cure at one same gate might enter in And the salvation parallel the sin Thus what a Maiden lost a Maid restores A Virgin caus'd a Virgin heal'd our sores Evah transgres'd but you revers'd may read In Maries Ave both her name and deed Vpon Luke 1. 45. Blessed is she that beleeved c. Epig. 2. SUch news blest maid as this bright Angel brings Of such unheard of inconsistent things 'T is as much wonder that thou couldst beleeve As 't is that God could those strange works atchieve What hand could interweave but his alone A Moment and Eternity in one Th' incomprehended essence and a span The creature and Creator God and Man Or which is lesse yet hard enough to do Comprise in one a Maid and Mother too 'T was only God this work to pass could bring And onely thou that couldst beleeve the thing Epig. 3. VVHen in our flesh thou deign'st to lodge no room My God would serve thee but a Virgins womb But in our hearts being pleas'd by faith to dwell It is not now thy lot to speed so well For such oh horrid is our sinful state Thou canst find none that 's not adulterate To find Easter for ever THe change in Februs if there any be Or that which first ensues note carefully And the next Tuesday doubt it not all That doth succeed Shrove Tuesday you may call Shrove-Tuesday past you may be bold to say That Sunday six weeks after ' s Easter Day The other Moveable Feasts 2. TWo days Good Friday Easter doth precede Fourty from thence to Holy Thursday lead Ten more unto Whitsunday numbred be And one week after that to Trinity Good-Friday Passio Domini Epig. 1. HEe 's dead Insult the Infernal Powers the dread Messias Jesus whom you fear'd is dead But stay rejoyce not neither it is from His death that your great Empires fall doth come 'T was a strange combat this wherein to slay The foe you fought with was to lose the day Yet thus it was the Field had been your own Had you not our great Champion overthrown But through his sides your selves accurst you slew And he being ruin'd by you ruin'd you Vpon Luke 22. 44. And his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground SEe here my soul what weight in sin remains When he whose shoulder all things else sustains Bow'd underneath the load if he that stood In equall poize with God sweat clods of blood And the Almighty groan'd to undergo The burthen what must finite creatures do Vpon Matth. 27. 52 53. And the graves were opened and many bodies of Saints which slept arose Epig. 3. THe Prince of life was slain and nothing now Remain'd on earth whose greatnes did not bow To Death's all conquering power you would have thought The world it self would quickly have bin brought To its last gaspe and all the creatures have Been buried with their maker in the grave When lo midst all these spoils appal'd with fear From his own holds the enfeebled Conquerour Flies with distracted steps and leaves his prey Free and unguarded to escape away From their close dungeons the enfranchis'd dead Are sent again the sacred streets to tread But wonder not it was but time to flie When he beheld his Kingdome seized by So strange a wile Death found alas too late That he had brought a prey within his gate That would destroy his rights and that 't was vayne To think to stay where Jesus was though slayne So sure it was that he a wondrous thing Who came in Captaine would go out a King Easter-Day Resurrectio Domini Epig. 1. I Know not where the greater wonder lies That God should dy or man from death should rise But this I know th' are both enough to make The Angels faith if not upheld to shake God is immortal and for him to dy Were to be stripped of his Deity And for fraile man being dead to rise again Is in effect to cease to be humane Neither if you consider them alone Can be without a contradiction And when all tongues have argu'd what they can God must be God and man can be but man But start not at it 't is not thus that we Must measure this transcendent Mysterie If you would view these Natures rightly 't is As they concurre in our Hypostasis And thus considered they no more oppose Man-God did die God-Man from death arose 'T was one same Person both these mazes trod Yet rose he not as Man nor dy'd as God Epigr. 2. CHrist all the Sabbath bound in Grave did ly The Sabbath types out vast Eternity And 't was Eternal death indeed our sin Infinite that it was had wrapp'd us in But he by carrying brake those bonds and quit Us from Eternal death by suffering it Happy exchange now though we die yet shall Our death not stretch to that great Festival Death may our Corps indeed a while surprize But we on that great Sabbaths Eve shall rise Epigr. 3. THe Phoenix birth no more admire nor what Old Bardes of her renewed age have wrote The Fables which of that strange Bird you read Are in our Jesus verified indeed He 's the true Phoenix uncompell'd that flies Into the Mountains forked tops and dies His Tombe like hers with sweet perfumes is fill'd The gums whereof such fragrant smells do yeeld As Heaven it self delights to sent and those Blest Spirits above rejoyce therewith to close Dead from his Grave as from a second Wombe New-borne like her he back again doth come Into th' astonished world more faire to see And bright then ere before he us'd to be Only in this our Phoenix comes before The other that once rays'd he dies no more Ascension Epigr. 1. COme down blest Saviour 't is no sin to pray Thee down I hope upon Ascension day So to descend as I would have thee do Is not indeed to fall but mount unto A Zenith which thou ne're before couldst gain Even my proud heart which rebel lusts have ta'ne And mann'd against thee this my God is it That I would have thee come and see and get Get this strong hold into thy hands and make Her high-rays'd bulwarks at thy storming shake And droop their heads make my stout thoughts to fall Prostrate before thy glorious feet and all The powers within me to ly low and be Subject henceforth unto no King but thee Do this dear Lord and my glad soul shall say To me thou ne're ascendedst till to day Epigr. 2. Look in what sense the Son of man was said To be in Heaven whil'st yet on Earth he stayd In the same sense we grant his body though In Heaven may still be say'd to be below He is ascended all agree that same Material flesh and blood of his that came From the pure Virgins Womb Heavens now retain And until all things be restor'd again Must still retain it yet it is confest That when
glorious restitution which was wrought This day almost beyond all humane thought That was thy Birth but this may well be sed To be thy resurrection from the dead And ours indeed in thine for all the while That thou wert banish'd death possess'd this Isle And we lay buried in thy losse but when Thou once returnd'st we all reviv'd agen And breath'd new life for which great mercies we Must ever pay our thanks to it and thee June 1. YOung men this Month is yours your Country shows What honor she to springing virtue owes When as a pledge thereof she 's proud to wear Your name inscrib'd upon her Calendar Goodness at any time acceptance wins But 't is best priz'd when it in youth begins The Feasts of June 2. THe ' leventh of June bright Barnabas obtains The twenty fourth the new-born Baptist gains The nine and twentieth day apart is set To him that first for Christ forsook his net Barnabas Apostle upon Acts 11. 22. c. Epig. 1. SSee what an humble soul can yeeld to do Barnabas by the Apostles sent into An ample Province to command and guide The Church of Antioch freely doth divide His charge with Saul the convert and is glad To have him share in all the power he had Good men for Christs behoof their interests wave And are content to part with all they have Let thy Church thrive so they their prayers begin And 't is no matter who doth lose or win Vpon Acts 11. 26. Epig. 2. FRom Barnabas and Saul's advice the Name Of Christians first to Christs Disciples came They preach'd not for themselves and could not brook To see their hearers dote upon the look Or garbe of any earthly Minister How great soever or polite he were 'T was Christ that own'd the building and 't was fit They thought't should bear his Name that purchas'd it Christians rejoyce in your great stile to bear This title is more glorious then to wear Imperial Crowns But pay your thanks withall For this great grace to Barnabas and Saul 'T was Christ indeed from whom your honour sprung But through those golden Pipes it pass'd along Vpon Acts 15. 39. Epig. 3. WHo would have thought that there could ever fall Such bitter strifes 'twixt Barnabas Paul That they whose tongues so sweetly did accord In the confession of one God one Lord One Spirit of grace who one same hope enjoy'd One Faith one Baptism that were both emploi'd In one same Function and so long had stood Twin-like conjoyned in one Brotherhood That they should jarr and jarr fo sharply too That they must part oh this is sad to view Good Lord how loose are mens affections tide Whom every trivial difference can divide Our comfort is when once w' are knit to thee That bond no time shall ever cancel'd see John the Baptist Epig. 1. JOhn was that voice that in the Desart cryed All Judah heard it and was terrified And who will wonder if they shook with fear When they such shrill and dreadfull sounds did hear All I admire's how this to pass should come That he should get this Cryer that was dumbe Epigr. 2. ENoch that walk'd with God and Abraham His chosen friend to whom the promise came Moses the Steward of his house and he That up to heaven on fiery Steeds did flee These doubtless had great visions and descried More of their God then all those times beside Yet 't was not all those Saints nor any one Before or after equaliz'd our John Who had the honour at one time to hear The Father speak and see the Spirit appear And with his hands unworthy to baptize The Son that in the Fathers bosome lies Great John well did thy Saviours tongue proclaim That amongst all that out of women came Like thee there was no Prophet who alone Distinctly sav'st at once the three in one Epigr. 3. BEhold here how the great high Priest doth stand To be baptized by his servants hand And fear oh man how thou those seals refuse Which Christ thy Lord himself rejoyc'd to use And whatsoe're the frail dispenser be Remember John had sins as well as he Peter Apostle Epig. 1. PEter the rock that whilome stood so sure That he unmov'd was able to endure The blasts of Hell it self now down is thrown By a poor Damsels feeble breath alone Lord what is man if thou withdraw thy hand When such firm rocks as Peter cannot stand Vpon Luke 22. 61. Epig. 2. SAthan now thought that he had given so sore A wound to Peter that he never more Should raise again his bruised head but lie Weltering for ever in his blood and die And who indeed that heard our Peter swear And curse if ere he knew who Jesus were Would think there could be any hope of cure For such a desperate deadly Calenture But see poor sinners what a power there lies In your relenting Saviours gracious eyes When he no sooner casts a pittying look On wretched Peter whom all life forsook But he revives again and with his tears Gives proof that yet some hope of grace appears Lord if thine eyes have such a power indeed Where-ere they look repentant tears to breed Oh look on me that I who have sin'd as deep As Peter did may go with him and weep Vpon Mark 14. 72. Epig. 3. T' Was thought of old the Cocks shril voice did make The Princely Lions warlike heart to shake But this I 'me sure not all the Fiends in Hell Conspiring could have rung so sad a knell In Peters ears as this Cocks voice did do When now the second time he loudly crew But fear not Peter 't was sweet Chanticleer No Screetch-Owl this thy troubled ears did hear Or rather indeed 't was thy griev'd Lord that spake By this Birds tongue and cry'd awake awake It is enough thou 'st thrice deny'd my name Peter awake and sin no more for shame Return to him that loves thee so that he For all this yet is gone to die for thee Thus crow'd the Cock thou heardst and strait didst rise And back return'dst poor soul with weeping eyes O God that when we hear him crow we knew But how to take such hints and do so too July I. FRom five this Month sometimes deriv'd its name Which now great Julius doth more justly claim 'T was he indeed new form'd the year and gave The Months those measur'd portions which they have And 't was but fit the Father of them all One child in twelve by his own name should call Heathens all yeeld great Prince it should be so Who to thy pains their perfect Aera's owe We Christians grant it too who by thy aid More punctual in our years of Christ are made The Feasts of July SAd Maudlin July 's two and twenti'th claims The twenty fift's assign'd to greater James Mary Magdalene Epig. I. MAry when I thy former state recall What sins what Devils thou here wert fill'd withall Yet see thee now all brightly
cloathed sit At thy beloved Saviours glorious feet I cannot but admire that bounteous grace That takes such sinners to so sweet a place Yet when I think what floods of tears below From thine even almost drowned eyes did flow How oft thou bath'dst thy Saviours feet and then With thy torn locks didst wipe them dry agen I should have wondred if that place had bin Too good for such a soul t' have lodged in Tears mixt with faith such power in heaven do bear That they can place the greatest sinners there Vpon John 20. 13. Epig. 2. MAry her buried Lord she thought had lost Yet see how dear this small adventure cost Her tender heart mark how she wept and prai'd To know but where her breathless Christ was laid But thou my sencelesse soul Oh dreadfull word Canst loose the presence of thy glorious Lord Days without number yet scarce find a tear To witnesse that thou once didst hold him dear Ah my vile heart if thou thy Christ didst prize As Mary did thou wouldst have Maries eyes Vpon Mark 16. 9. and John 20. 17. Epig. 3. SEe here what links of comfort meet to crown Her drooping head who but even now powr'd down Such streams of tears no mortall eye must see Their raised Lord till first his Mary be Blest with the Vision till those eyes that wept So much for grief as much for joy have leap'd Nor is' t enough to feast her eyes alone With this glad sight hee 'l use her lips upon A glorious Message to his Brethren she Shall an Apostle to the Apostles be Themselves he means shall see the truth ere long But they shall owe it first unto her tongue So carefull is our gracious Lord that those That mourn for him shall not by mourning lose James Apostle Vpon Acts 12. 2. cum Mat. 20. 21. Epig. 1. GReat James the first of all the twelve I think Thou of thy Saviours bloody cup didst drink But grieve not at it 'T was the readiest way To gain that room for which thou once didst pray Who holds it now let bolder tongues report This onel ' I know thou didst bid fairly for 't Vpon James and John the two sons of Zebedee Epig. 2. GOod God what odds 'twixt these two brethren lyes This first that last of all the Apostles dies This an untimely bloody death abides That in a gentle quiet slumber glides Out of the world if he at all be gone From hence and must not rise again anon Both sued indeed mov'd with a like unfit Ambition on their Lords two hands to fit And undertook in lieu thereof to sup Their parts with him of his unpleasant cup This had a share but that for reasons best Known to his Lord 's reserv'd for longer rest How little is it Lord that we can know Of men by what betides them here below Some die for Christ and those that do not so Are oft as dear to him as those that do To will to die for him though 't do not come To pass in his account is Martyrdome Vpon both the Jameses Epigr. 2. NEither of the Jameses ever was in Spain They had their tasks elsewhere that did detain Their pains and persons Paul indeed we know Had a design into those parts to go Which if he did not execute the blame If any from his troubles onely came Which kept him back not from his changed mind Which firmly still to serve them was enclin'd Yet how it comes to passe I cannot tell But Paul that had deserv'd of them so well Is laid aside and James receiv'd alone To be the Patron of that Nation Yea not content with this through blinded zeal In points of Faith from Paul they do appeal To James his doctrine as if heaven's had made Him to be judge of what the other said And that his purer Comments must give light To those more doubtful texts that Paul did write But fools they one day to their cost shall know That one same Spirit in both their pens did flow And that these wretches that dishonour Paul Shall that day find no friend of James at all August 1. AVgustus name this Month inscrib'd doth bear A name that still is sweet to every ear Sweet for the peace he gave the world for though At his first entrance Seas of Blood did flow Ore all the earth he stopp'd the deadly spring And golden rest into all lands did bring But that which made him most unparallel'd Is that his reign the Prince of peace beheld The Feasts of August 2. AVgust the twenty fourth to Bart'lemew The twenty ninth's the headless Baptists due Bartholomew Apostle Epig. 1. HOw is it Lord that there 's no mention made In all thy book of what was done or said By this thy great Apostle other men Of meaner rank and gifts thy sacred Pen Finds time to speak of but of him alas There doth not one bare word distinctly passe Was it to teach us that those Tapers are Not ever of most worth that brightest glare That deep-fraught souls lie always snug and low Whilst empty hulks loom big and lofty show Or is' t enough that thou hast let us see A proof in some of what the others be Men bring not all their wares to open test A few found right give credit to the rest Lord we submit and by the things we hear Of Peter judge what all his brethren were Vpon Luke 22. 29 30. Epig. 2. IT is not much great Bart'lemew indeed That of thy works and labours we do read But this we from thy Lords own mouth do find That thou a Throne and Kingdom hadst assign'd As well as John and Peter had whose pains The holy Text so punctually explains And who will think that servants labors came Short of his Mates whose wages is the same Vpon Acts 5. 12. Epig. 3. INto the Temples Porch the twelve withdrew And thou amongst the rest great Bart'lemew There you all preach and work such mighty things As no man else dare think of equalling What thou distinctly dost I do not hear But of one stamp 't is sure your actions were So great and glorious as did justly strike A fear in all men to attempt the like Some souls thou winst I doubt not too for who Can think such gracious words in vain did flow From thy blest lips as yet indeed they be But like the windfall's to the loaden tree Thy work lies further off where heavens intend Whole Nations to thy powerful voice shall bend The Circumcision's Peters charge but thine God knows how many Regions shall confine John Baptist beheaded Epig. 1. YOu that for love of outward peace or gain From preaching all the truths of Christ refrain That dare not touch the times nor lance the sore Of States and Courts which ranks more and more That see the great ones run themselves to Hell And damn their souls with sins too palpable Yet you stand dumb the while and will not go And tell