the Life the Truth the Way And when the Lord of Life They Cruciâ—y'd They did not know that 't was for Them He Dy'd Mercy may Plâ—ad their Ignorance for Them But 't is Our Knowledge which may vs Condemn Instead of Praise wee load Him with Our Scorns Wound him afresh and Crown him with worse Thornes We say He is our Saviour God and King Yet trample on his Blood as a Vile Thing Iudâ—s his Cursed part wee daily Play And Him wee â—ail as Master Wee Betray The Wonders of this Day wee Heighten thus Makeing it vseless that Hee Dy'd for vs. Prodigious Day on which ev'n God did Pray To God to take the Bitter Cup away A Day in which Philosophy Descry'd That Nature or the God of Nature Dy'd A Day in which Mortallity may Cry Death Thou art Swallow'd vp in Victory O may this Day bee in All Hearts Engrav'd This Day on which GOD Dy'd and Man was Sav'd On the Day of the Resurrection of Our Blessed SAVIOUR Or Easser Day HAil Glorious Day on which th' Almighty gave To His New World the First Fruits of the Grave Hail Glorious Day in Thy Illustrious Light What Faith could scarce Bâ—lieve Appear'd to Sight Hail Thou most Glorious Day for 't was on Thee Death Lost his Sting the Grave His Victory Ere the Blest Dawn of this Day did Begin On which God Rose from Death and Man from Sin The Pious Magdalen prevents the Light Her steddy Soul Darkness nor Tombs could Fright She of that Pow'r to Guard Her could not Doubt By which Her seven Divills had been cast out Hâ—r Duâ—y's to His Corps Shee does Begin Assoon as She could Pay Them without Sin But All those Perfumes which with her Shee Beates Were not so Sweet as was Her Love and Teares Both which did Rise in Her to such an Hâ—ighth As made her Gratitude Resemble Faith David would not the Love of Man Preferr Could Hee have known the Love which shin'd in Her Argells to whom Her matchless Griefs were known To ease them From the Tomb Rell'd off the Stone But nor the Earth-quake nor that Glorious Sight Had or the Pow'r to Please Her or to Fright Nor could the Honour Shee did then Obtain Of speaking with Blest Spirits Ease Her Pain For those who IESUS seek as Mary did Can but in finding HIM be satisfy'd Who could Believe a Woâ—an would Display More Love then â—ee who on Christs Bosome Lay. Or that to Hers Blest Peters Love should Yeild On whose Confession Christ His Church did Build Yet She came Early'r to His Tombe then They And stay'd and wept after They went away Nothing could o're her Grieâ—s the Conquest win Yet Love made want of Faith in Her no Sin For when an Angells News stopt not her Tears Christ to Reward them instantly appears Soe Apt He is to bring that Soul Releif Whose Trembling Faith springs but from Love Grief Both which in her Hee did so Highly Prize As She First saw Him of All mortall Eyes And sends Her his Apostle ev'n to Those Whom He to be the Worlds Apostles Chose Never did Love and Sorrow Hers Excell And never Both were Recompens'd so well As 't was a Woman which Death first Brought In So 't was a Woman did the Glory win To tell the World with Her Obligeing Breath The Lord of Life had broke the Bonds of Death Death which till then did valiant Men perplex Now should not Fright Those of the softer Sex Myriads of which through Faith in IESU'S Name Have run to Deaths Embraces through the Flame Elijah like from Earth They did Retire And Climb'd to Heav'n in Chariots made of Fire True Grief does Cause Our Comforts not Destroy For Those who Sow in Tears shall Reap in Ioy. And when Death comes to State vs in the Face His Pow'r we Smile at by the Pow'r of Grace Christ by His Riseing has made Death to bee Only the Gate to Blest ETERNITY Such then as strive to gett Admittance there While They fâ—ar Dâ—ath to enter Heav'n They Fear Those who like Magdalen their Saviour Love Now Hee is Ris'n should seek the Things Above Since wee in Magdalen so well are taught Christ to a Soul by Love and Tears are brought Still let vs strive by Both Our Souls to bring VVhere They with Hers may Allelujabs Sing â—n the Day of the Ascenâ—ion of Our Blessed SAVIOUR HAil Thou most sad and Joyfull Day on which Earth grew more Poor that Heav'n might grow more Rich. Th'Apostles Christs Ascention did Deplore Fearing They Lost what They did but Restore No wonder it Surpriz'd the Gazers Sights To See a Cloud lâ—volue the Light of Lights To that Cloud only was the Blessiâ—g giv'n To be the Chariot which bore God to Heav'n The Truths which David Suâ—g did then Appear Darkness His Closett Clouds his Chariots were In Sacred Things How soon is Reason Lost Till'tis Enlighten'd by the Holy Ghost For They with Grief on his Ascention Look Tho then Hee in Our Right Possession took Of that Blest Kingdom where 'till that Glad time The Human Nature ne're before could Climb The Happy Cloud on which Hee Dâ—ign'd to Ride Approaching Heav'n the Gates did open wide And Allelujahs Angells did Begin Seeing the King of Glory enter In. Hells and Deaths Powr's Hee did before Defeat And Now His Crosses Triumphs are Compleat For to the Blood of it the Pow'r was giv'n To Reconcile All both iâ— Earth and Heav'n Angells are now from fâ—ar of falling Free'd Captivity by Him being Captive Led Since that Blest Harmony was heard on Earth Which Heav'n did make at His Porâ—entours Birth What Pen but one took from an Angells wing Can write the Tryumphs His Return did bring Angells Rejoyc'd who Musick are and Love That Those they guard Below shall Reign Above And shall on those Bright Thrones for ever Dwell From which by Pride some of Their Order fell While Heav'n did thus Rejoyce Men sink with Grief Two Angells therefore Fly to Their Relief Who told th' Apostles while They Gaze and Mourn That as Christ went from thence He should Return Such High Ambassadors such Charming News Banish'd their Sorrows and did Joy Infuse A Joy which tho subâ—ime was not Complâ—ate Till God indu'd them with the Paraclâ—te On the Day of Pentecosâ— commonly call'd Whitsunday HAil Welcome Day on which the World may Boast Th'Apostles first Receiv'd the Holy Ghost God Vsher'd in the Vast Gift He design'd By a most mighty and a Rushing wind To shew the Blessed Spirit does Abhorr To Rest in any Place not Cleans'd before God a Consumeing Fire Himself does Call Now in Illuminateing Fires does â—all The God of Nature Natures Laâ—s did turn And made that to Inspire which vs'd to Burn. Mans Nature
O do not Refuse These the First Fruits of my Converted Muse A Muse which in vain paths too long has trod And now do's Consecrate her self to God This Change O Muse Most happy is for thee Mount Sion now shall thy Parnassus bee Thou never yet Could'st Sore to such a height As that from whence thou now begin'st thy flight The Spires of Airy Verse climb not so high As to the Fâ—et of Sacred Poetry Mother Vouchsafe My Influence to be Now I thy Prodigall Return to Thee On the Day of the Anuntiation Of the Blessed Virgin HAil Happy Day On which Blest Gabrie'll flew To bring the Ioyfull'st News the World ere Knew In Raptures He left Empty His High Place When sent to Her whom Heaven had fill'd with Grace Blest Virgin what might Thy Employments bee When Gods Ambassador appeard to Thee Who can Beleeve that thy Devotions were Since God still Helps not Interrupts Our Praye'r And more Improbable it does Appear Thou then wert thinking on The Joy so near Such Lofty Thoughts found in Thy Soule noe Place For Humbleness was one part of Thy Grace But since to tell it vs God Judg'd not Fitt 'T were Sin to be too Prying into It. Yett wee may well beleeve what-ere they were They best Prepar'd Her the great News to Heare She Fled not when the Angell She Beheld For Grace is against Terror the Best Shield Tho She was Troubl'd yett She did not Fear When His Strange Salutation She did Hear But when the Glorious News He did Impart O! who can tell th'Emotions of her Heart The Truth She doubts not in the least Degree Yet She did humbly ask How this shall bee Since She had not Known Man And this being said A Bright Vermilion did her Face Invade Blushes on her great Modesty had Pow'r Tho t' was an Angell was Her Confessour He then did of the Myst'ry so much Show As it was fiâ—t She and the World Should Know Saying On Thee The Holy Ghost shall Come And the most High shall Overshade thy Wombe When Faith Part of the Meaning did vnfold Of what Gods wing'd Ambassador had told She said Behold the Hand Maid of the Lord Bee it to Me according to Thy word NOe Wonder the Stupendious News he brought Imploy'd her Faith and entertain'd her Thought She Ponder'd Why God Her Should before All Her Sex to that Amazeing Glory Call Vnshapen thoughts might have throng'd in a pace Had not Faith told her It was Gods Free Grace So Gloomy Clouds Strove to Vsurp the Skies Vntill the New Created Sun did Rise She wonder'd yet beleev'd what GABRIEL said How She could be a Mother and a Maid More then a Miracle it did appear That She her SAVIOUR and the Worlds should Bear Yett under so much Faith She did not Bow She Knew it would be so but knew not how Thus Abrah'am on Gods Promise still Rely'd Tho on the Altar He his Son had Ty'd His Stretch'd out Arm stops at an Angells Cryeâ— And trembling Isaacs Place a Ram supplies Yet for th' Obedience which he did Intend God gave him the vast Title of GODS FRIEND And then Confirm'd to him the great Decree That in His Seed All Nations Blest should bee Those still the best Rewards of Faith Receiv'd Who even against Hope in Hope Beleiv'd Few o're that Precipice of Faith have trod Vnless the Mother and the Friend of God On the Nativity of Our Blessed LORD and SAVIOUR comonly called Christmas Day HAil Glorious Day which Miracles Adorn Since 't was on Thee ETERNITY was Born Hail Glorious Day in which Mankind did View The SAVIOUR of the Old World and the New Hail Glorious Day which Deifies mans Race Birth Day of IESUS and through Him of Grace In Thy Blest Light the World at once did See Proofs of His God-head and Humanity To prove him Man He did from Woman come To prove Him God 't was from a Virgins Wombe Man nere could faigne what his Sâ—range Birth prov'd True For His Blest Mother was a Virgin too While as a Child He in the Manger Cryes Angells Proclaim His Godâ—ead from the Skyes Hee to So vile Cradle did Submitt That Wee through Faith in Him on Thrones might Sit O Prodigie of Mercy which did make The God of Gods Our Humane Nature take And through Our Vaile of Flesh His Glory Shine That Wee thereby might Share in the Divine Hail Glorious Virgin whose Tryumphant VVombe Blesses All Ages past and All to Come Thou more then Heal'st the Sin by Adam's Wife She brought in Death but Thou brought'st Eâ—dless Life Noe greater VVonder in the VVorld could bee Then Thou to Live in it and HEAV'N in thee Heav'n does Thine own great Prophesy Attest All Generâ—tions still shall Call Thee Blest To Thee that Title is most Justly paiâ— Since by Tâ—y Son VVee Sons of God are made On the Day of Circumcision of Our BLESSED SAVIOUR HAil Thou Instrâ—ctive Day on which Wee See God in the Flesh from Gods Law was not Free The Author of Our Faith did then Submit To what was but the Signe and Seale of it How Dare wee then in Disobedience Run When God exempts not from His Laws His Son Near whose Blest Birth as well as Death was Spilt That Sacred Blood which weshes off Our Guilt A Double Ransome for Our Soules Hee Paid That from Sins Captives Wee might Sons bee made Till this Illustrious Day the World nere Saw A Debtor and Fulfiller of the Law 'T was Fitt the Law of Works should then give Place To the more Glorious Covenant of Grace On the Day called Epiphany Or the Manifestation of Our Blessed SAVIOUR to the Gentiles HAil Glorious Day On which the Middle wall 'Twixt Iews and Gentiles First began to Fall The Jews Whom God from Egypt made Retire And gave for Guides Pillars of CLOUDS and FIRE The Jews VVhom God from Pharoahs Bondage Lead And whom by Daily Miracles Hee Fed. The Jews in whom God tooke soe much Delight That His owâ— Hand their Sacred Laâ—s did Write The Jews whose VVarrs God did with VVonders Bless Whose Captains Pray'd their Hosâ—s into Success The Jews whose Prophets God Himself did Teach And who of their Messiah sti'l did Preach The Jews who yet after False Gods did Run VVherefore the True left them to be Vndone The Jews enslav'd by Herod and by Rome And groan'd till their Deliverer was come Yet when He came They from the Inne did bring Into a Stable both Their God and King VVhich does their Name with Ignominy Blott For Beasts Admitted Him when They would not VVhen in Impiety They Ran so Farr God lead the Gentiles to Him by a Starr To their New Faith that Glorious Guide was giv'n To evidence it was inspir'd by Heav'n And that the Doubting VVorld thereby might see God will a Guide to those that
vpright on the Tree His Dying Posture was too good for Thee This made thee beg what th' Impious did Deride That thou might'st bee Revers'dly Crucify'd That Humble way which thou didst Choose to Dy Honor'd the Cross which Christ did Sanctiâ—y Hee a sure way to Endless Life does Choose Who in this VVorld His Life for Christ does Loosâ— O Happy Loss which brings the Highest Gain Since those who Dy for Christ with Him shall Raign On the Day of St. Paul HAil Great Apostle Greatest of them All Since from Christ Glorify'd Thou hadst Thy Call A Call which made Thee stop Thy Fierce Pursuiâ—e And Preach that Faith which Thou didst Persecute Taught by Gods Word Thee I the Greatest Call Since from thy Riseing Thou didst never Fall Thou with that Sacred Priviledge weâ—'t Blest VVhich God 〈◊〉 on none â—f all the Rest. And Thou Encourag'd by the Pow'r of Grace Peter withstoodst when Faulty to the Fâ—ce The Christian World in Sacred Records see The care of All the Churches Lay on Thee Thy Pen in writing more of them was Bâ—est Then the Inspired Pens of All the Rest And the Blest Spirit Testifies of Thee Thou more then All didst work abundantly Thy Tribe of which so Few Gods wrath did Scape VVhile They maintain'd a Murther and a Rape VVas yet the Tribe from which his Hand did Choose The First of All the Monarchs of the Iews And which did more the Fame of it Renew The great Apostle of the Gentiles too Since Iacob Lov'd his youngest Son so well God made His Tribe most other Tribes Excell To Benjamin more Glory it does bring To give vs That Apostle then a King Of all the Sacred Colledge Thou Alone For OUR APOSTLE we with Justice own The Gentiles Teacher Heav'n does thee Declare And wee of the West World all Gentiles were Since Thou thine Office dost so Magnify My Muse delights in magnifying Thee As God to Thee most Mysteries did show So Hee made Thee most Suff'rings vndergoe Thy Life Like Thy great Masters seemes to bee Continuall Scenes of Vary'd Misery He who most vex'd the Church God Judg'd it Fit Should bee afflicted most in Planting It. By which his Sacred Justice has made known Only Great Suff'rings should great Sins Attone Stripes Prisons Dangers and all else wee Dread Were by his Providence Thy Daily Bread But tho the Loads were great which Thou didst beâ— Yet vnder them Thy Comforts greater were For the vast Priviledge to Thee was Lent Of being in All States of Life Content To what Amazeing Raptures wer't Thou brought When Thou wer 't vp to the Third Heaven caught Such were the Joyes thou didst Partake of there Thou but in Negatives couldst them Declare Yet wee those Joyes for Worldly Trifles sell Which ev'n Thy pen did want the Pow'r to Tell. That Blest Apostle to whose Eies was shown What the Church call's the Reâ—elation Tho Hee to Picture Heav'n enough did see Yet fell in Revelation short of Thee For Wee of what Hee saw Partakers are But thou sawst things not Lawfull to Declare Those Iews which at thy Miracles did 〈◊〉 Brought thee to Dy before a Roman Iudge But Felix trembl'd and his Tongue was Dumâ—â— Hâ—aring thee Treat of the great Day to come Such Pow'r those have which Gods Cause Vndeâ—take That from the Barr They mâ—ke their Judges Quakâ— And when to Festus and Agrippa led That before them thou for the Faith shouldst Pleaâ— The King confest thou didst so well Perswade That He was then ALMOST a Christian made God with such Argu'ings sâ—ill did thee supply That from their Force Reason nor Faith could Fly Such Divine Logick thou didst allwaies vse That who Resisted was without Excuse When Nerâ— haâ— the Bright Poppâ—ja gain'd To such a Sin as all her Beauty Stain'd Blest Paul as Holy Chrisostome does write Converted and therâ—by made her more Bright For after to the Faith Hee her did win Romes Glories could not Tâ—mpt her to a Sin WHich made the Tyrants Rage so blind and High That who His Mistress sav'd Hee doom'd to Dâ— That Faith for which Our great Apostle stood He did when Call'd by Christ Seal with â—is Blood And when Romes Pow'rs he had by Death O'recome God Crown'd the Head he Lost with Martyrdome A Crown which Monarchs ought to value more Then That which once His Murth'rer Nero wore O May wee Learn from Him to Dy to Sin That Wee thereby the Crown of Life may Wiâ— On the Day of St. Andrew THE APOSTLE BLest Saint whom Two Peculiar Honors Crown'd Thou wer 't the First that the Messiah found and e're the Gospell Christ to Thee did Tâ—ach Thou didst the Gospell to Blest Peter Preach Of the First Brothers which on Earth did Live The Eldest to the youngest Death did give But of those First wee in the Gospâ—ll Read The younger did to Life the Elder Lead In them the Different Maxims are Descry'd Twixt Those whom Nature and whom Grace does guide That Holy Zeal Christ did on Him Bestow Made â—im into Remoâ—est Regions goe Wild Scythia which did Civill Nations Fâ—ight Own'd to His Piety the Gospells Light Those Hee set Free whom Sin in Chains did hold Sin which had more Benum'd Them then their cold To Fam'd Bizantium afterwards hee Sailâ— Where by His Pains so much the Faith Prevail'd As Hee that City with a Mitre grac'd And in that See Pauls Belov'd Stachys plac'd After those Parts did Rev'rence IESUS Name He then to Patrae in Achaja came Aegeus the Pro Consulls Office bore who with blind Zeal blind Idol's did Adore As God he worship'd Statues which he made Thus by Ill breeding most men are Betray'd Seldome wee wipe ouâ— Prepossessions staines For what Our youth Receives Our Age Reâ—eines Since to False Gods Hee thought his Zeal was Due How had it heightend had he known the True Our Blest Apostle being griev'd to see Th' Achajans bent to such Idolatry Shew'd them that Adoration should bee paid To that God onley which the World had made The Gospells Iâ—fluence as the Suns is Felt Thâ— Clay it hardens and the Wax doth melt Fâ—r what Our Saint taught of the Word of Life Iâ—rag'd the Husbaâ—d but converts the Wife Fair Mâ—ximilla when the Truth Shee heard Despis'd those Idols which Her Husband Fear'd And wondâ—â—'d when in Grace shee did Partake How men beleev'd their Hands Their Gods could make In her new Faith so Happy Shee appears That Shee did Court her Lord to it with Tears But tho Her Beauties He did much Adore Yâ—t Hee did His Revenge and Idolls more A Cross Decussaâ—e Hee with speed does 〈◊〉 VVhich sort of Cross still bears St. Andrews Name And on it did Our Martyr Crucify VVhose Limbs he did not Naile to it but Ty Those Cords more Cruell were by Farr then Steel
stately Church Erect On the Day of St. Ioâ—n the Apostle HAil Great Apostle who so happy prov'd As to be call'd th' Apostle IESUS Lov'd A Name which does to thee more Glory bring Then wer 't Thou stil'd the Vniversall King Who well can think Linus and Cletus were Who next to Blessed Peter fill'd Romes Câ—air The onely Heads Christ to His Church did give While â—hou who on â—is Bosome Dwâ—llst didst Live Thou on whose Head while Thousands did Admire The Spirit did sitt in Cloven Tongues of Fire Thou whom that Spirit did Inspire to write The Loftiest Gospell which it did Indite Thou whose blest Tongue by God himself was Chose That Book to Dictate which His Word did Close Thou to whom Christ while yeilding vp the Ghost Gave Gifts the Like of which none Else could boast Hee left His Blessed Mother to Thy Care And by Adoption made Thee His Joint Heir None could whilst Thou on Earth mad'st Thy abodâ— Bee above â—hee who Brother wer 't to God Yet this great Truth must Contradicted bee Or it must Ruine Romes Supremacy Whose Sons alas with too much guilt maintain Onely Their Bishops o're Christs Church can Raigne God might to Thee so Long a Life Dispence That such Vsurping might have noe Pretence Tho Tyrants Thee to Patmos did Condemn Yet there Thou saw'st the New Ierusalem God shew'd Thee thence lest too Long Life might Cloy Those Glories which through Faith thou shouldst Enjoy Let none Admire since Christ Lov'd Thee so well That Hee so Long left Thee on Earth to Dwell For since to serve Him here Hee did Decree To do His will on Earth was Heav'n to Thee Thus Angells tho from God They take their Flight Yet finde in Their Obedience Their Delight Thou onely of Thy Blest Society Christ did permit a Naturall Death to Dye Mans Fury did the Rest to Death Decree But Age it self to God presented Thee Which proves All Those as sure to beav'n shall Climbe Who Dye in Christ as those who Dy For Him Many might else from His Blest Doctrine Fly Iâ— all who taught it had been Doom'd to Dy. Which sinfull Fear that All men might Decline God who Their Lives did shorten Lengthen'd Thine On the Day of St. Matthias THE APOSTLE VVHen Cursed Iudas the sad Breach had made By having both His Lord and Soul Betray'd Peter by Scripture Lets th' Apostles See They were Impowr'd to fill the Vacancie Which to effect They Invocated Heaven And Lots did Cast the Spirit not been given Our Saint and Iusâ—us were the Blessed Pair Of which One should by Lot fill Iudas Chair Hail Glorious Saint who to the Honour got Of the Apostleship by Sacred Lot Thy Blessed self wer't both the first and Last Whom God that way in that High Office Plac'd And what the Lot Declar'd the Holy Ghost Confirm'd on the great Day of Pentecost For then the Spirit vnto Thee was given As God bestow'd it on the Blest Eleven Tho Iustus â—ist of that Supream Degree For which Hee then stood Candidate with Thee Yet to the Second Christ did Him admitt Since For the First th' Apostles Judg'd Him Fitt Hee knew their Prayr's th'vnerring Lot did guide And it was God did the great Doubt decide To which Hee did Submitt without Appeal And what it gave a Miracle did Seale By which the Churches Priesthood God made known Shall be continued by Election That Sacred Office which so Long did shine In Levi's Tribe and in High Aarons Line Now was by Gods Decree to yeild the Place To the more Glorious Ministry of Grace None therefore to th' Apostolate e're gott Of Levi's house either By Choice or Lott Christ Calling none to it of Aarons Line Declar'd Hee did that Priesthoods End Designe After Our Saint was with the Spirit Blest His Soul Allow'd his Body little Rest Through many Regions Hee the Gospell spread And Those reviv'd who in their Sins were Dead Authors in Various Narratives abound Where t was that Hee with Martyrdome was Crown'd In Ancient Martyrologies wee Read The Jews first Ston'd Him then Cutt off his Head But if Greek Offices may bee beleev'd Hee on a Cross his Martyrdome Receiv'd Hellen the mother of Great Constantine In whom Exalted Piety did Shine The Relicks of Our Saint did so Esteem That she remov'd them from Ierusalem And at new Rome much Time and Treasure spent In giving them a Second Monument From thence as Old Church Histories have said His bones to other Cityes were Convay'd And even to our Times Triers and Rome Contest in which of Them they have their Tombe Since of His Dust so much Esteem is had Much Greater to his Doctrine should bee pai'd On the Day of St Mark THE EVANGELIST HAil Great Evangelist whose Sacred Pen Inspir'd by God has taught His wayes to Men Before Hee did Receive His saveing Call Into what sad Back-slideing did Hee Fall Great Epiphanius has expresly showne Thaâ— of the Guilty number he was One Who when they Literally vnderstood They were to Eat Christs Flesh and Drink His Bâ—ood Th' Amazeâ—ng Doctrine They diâ— so Abhorr That They withdrew and walk'd with Him no more Yet the like words mistaken are bâ—come And made an Article of Faith by Rome Averroes pray'd Hâ—aring such Doctrine prest His Soul with the Philosophers might Rest. Heathens have no beleif so wild and Odd As both to Worship and to Eat their God But Peter did to Mark the Truth Dispence And shew'd the words had a Spirituall Sence His Faith thus Fix'd He ne're again did Fall But was to Peter what Luke was to Paul And after Hee His Convert was become Hee did Attend Him when He went to Rome The Earliest Writers diffâ—r where and when The World did ow the Gospell to his Pen. Which Peter did Review and then Decreed It should bee in Divine Assemblies Râ—ad Papias and Eusebius Declare 'T was writt at Rome and at His Câ—nverts Pray'r But the Veâ—etians will not this Adâ—itt They say It was at Aqâ—ilejâ— writt And that the Greek Originall's with Them VVâ—ich They of Aâ—l tâ—eir â—reasures mâ—â—t Eâ—teem Blest Peter who at Rome was in Restraint Egypt to Free Thither employ'd our Saint True Gospell Charity in this VVee see â—hile him they bâ—â—d â—ee does sett others Free Free from worse Chaines then Tyrants make vs bear 〈…〉 are than Nero's heavyer Nile to her People ne're such blessiâ—gs brought As They enjoy'd by the Blest Faith he taught Fair Alexandria was the Happy place Which with His Doctrine Hee did oftnâ—st Grace By which mâ—re Fam'd by much it did become Then for its bâ—ing Alexanders Tombe Or for those Pyramiâ—s to which were given More heighth then to that Tower which threaâ—end Heav'n Or to those mountaines which by Gyants paines Were Raisd to Scale the Skies from Phlegra 's Pâ—aines Yet Hee his Mitre did not there Confiâ—e
Rome saies it was in Asia the Less Nicephorus averrs it was in Greece And that by His Vile Murtherers Decree Hee suffer'd Death upon an Olive Tree That Rage which in their Hearts his worth had bred Turnd vndesign'dly Just to Crown his Head For since the Learn'd to Learning doe allow A wrâ—ath to Crown it of an Olive Bow Our Saint whose knowledge reach'd the Last Degree Was Crown'd not with an Olive Wreath but Tree But Piety did to His Body give As Little Rest when Dead as when Aliue Kingdomes and Ciâ—ties did a while Contest In which of them his precious Dust shâ—ust Rest. All yeild at Last to Coâ—staâ—tines strong Claâ—me Who built a â—emple to the Apostles Name Which though a Pile of so much Art and Cost That of the Like the whole World could not boast Yet since t was made to those great Saints a Tombe Whose Blood and writings taught all Christendome The Famous Structure more Renown'd does prove For what 's there Bury'd then for all above On the Day of St. Simon the APOSTLE HAil Sacred Cananite whose God-like Pains For Thee the Title of the Zâ—lâ—t Gains More â—ustly Due if wee the Truth Respect From Labouring for Thy God then from Thy Sect VVhat Creature e're so many Lands did Run Vnless his Fellow-Traveller the Sun Egypts and Affricks heat and Barren Sand Could not His Zeal or Frighten or Withâ—tand The Libian Lyons Barr'd not vp his VVay Nor the VVild People Savager then They. Hee did Fulâ—â—â—l what was in Scripture Read On Lyons and on Adders Hee did Tread Against Their Venome Antidotes he had The Words of Faith that Bâ—lme of Gilead These wreâ—ched People who with heat were vext Much in This VVorld but much more in the next Hee by his Pâ—ous Life and Preaching brings To Rest vnder the sâ—â—dow of Gods Wings Those were the Seeds of Faith he there did Sâ—â— VVhich to great Heigth in Future times did grow After He had Asia and Affrick taught Into VVest Europe He the Gospell brought At last into Oâ—r Brittain He did Come The Guilty Scene of his Blest Martyrdome Hee like the Sun vp in the East did gett â—hin'd o're the South then in the West did Sâ—tt His Holy Life his Doctrine so maintain'd That Many People Hee to Iesus Gain'd But others who Themselves to Sin had Sold Did to Destroy him open Counsells hold And as the Greek Menologies Agree Those Monsters Crucify'd him on a Tree With Joy Hee saw his Blood for Iesus spilt His Faith was on the Rock of Ages â—uilt There in an Vnknown Grave his Body Lies Vntill a Glorious Body it shall Rise â—ight not His Blood which our Forefathers spilt Have helpt to Fill the Measure of that Guilt VVhich often drown'd Our Islands in a Flood Of Royall Noble and Plebejan Blood So that No spott of Earth hath e're been more No nor so much moistned with Human Gore And even in our Faâ—all Dayes we Saw Great Brittain made a True Acheldama O May wee from all Sinning so Refrain As God may never make it One again VVhen our Repentance shall his Wrath Atone The Inward Peace will bring the Outward One On the Day of St. Iude THE APOSTLE HAil Blessed Juâ—as whose Devotion 's Flame Hath made Atonement for that guilty Nâ—me The Cursed Iudas who to gaiâ—e was Ty'd Sold Him for whom the Blessed Judas Dy'd His Question to Our Saviour does Detect He also did His Temporall Raign expect Which Error all his Bretâ—ren did Admitt Till the Blest Spirit Led them out of it To worldly Glories men Aspire at most Vntill enlighten'd by the Holy Ghost But for a nobler Empire then They Sâ—rive More Solid Farr then All this World can give T was Long before the Câ—urches did admit His Blest Epistle into Sacred Writt During that guilty time wâ—at was become Oâ— the Infallibility of Rome Eâ—ocâ—s Apocalâ—ps the Church of Old Next to wâ—at was Canoâ—â—caâ—l did holdâ— Oâ—r Saint His Prophâ—sie did therefore Cite Which Since no Pen that was inspir'd did Write Was the Câ—eif Râ—ason Divers could Afford Why Tâ—ey did doubt t was not the Sacred word Yet some Epistles written by Blest Paul Were still admitted as Canonicall Tho Hee to Reach the Eâ—ds which he did Press Aratâ—s quotes and Epimeâ—ides Who though not guided by the Heavenly Light Yet They the truth in severall things did write Of Romes Vnerringness ill Proof She makes By First Suspecting what at Last she takes If by the Help of Study and of Time She to know what 's Caâ—onicall does Climbe Others to such Infallibility May have at lest as good a Right as Shee Either that Title she should not Admitt Or Shee should give vs better Proofs of it Th' Inspiration which our Saiâ—ts Epistle beares Highly Instructive to Mankind appears Servaâ—t to Christ and Brother to Blest Iâ—â—es Tâ—e wâ—ighty Titles are which Hee Esteem's Tho â—ee might â—ustly by Gods Sacred word Have stâ—l'd himself THE BROTHER OF THE LORD Yet that vast Title Our great Saint Declines By which His Humbleness the Brighter Shines Many Great Nations of his Teaching boast But Perâ—ia seems indebted to it most Their Magi who in High â—steem were held Finding their Wisdome unto Goâ—s did yeild Which should have Led them into Sâ—veiâ—g wayes Did only their Revenge and Envy Raisâ— Which did not Let them Rest vntill that They His Life did take who taught to Life the Way His Converts when the News They vnderstood Their Sâ—râ—ames of Tears mixt with his Streams of Blood But thaâ— Bâ—est Mâ—rtyrdome Hee did abide 〈◊〉 them in the Faith for which He Dy'd On the Martyrdome of his Sacred Maiesâ—y KING CHARLES THE FIRST OF BLESSED MEMORY THat Sacred Head three Kingdoms did Adore For what it was more then for what it woâ—e That Heaâ— by â—orth mâ—re then by Biâ—th the Bâ—st Which Dayâ—y prov'd Oâ—aâ—les were not Ceaâ— Is not Condemn'd as t is bâ—leiv'd by Some 〈◊〉 is with Glory Crown'd by Martyrdome And tho his Rebels Power thus to Dispence His Fate make Some to question Providence My Faith by it is Rais'd and not Deprest Since the worst they could doe did prove the Best For that Black Voâ—e which then Pâ—onounc'd his Doome Serv'd to Conâ—eigâ— him to a Nâ—bler Crown Of whose Dâ—ration none can doubtfull be Since t will ouâ—-live his Murth'reâ—â— Infamy Glory like time Progâ—ession does reqâ—ire VVhen iâ— Advances not it does Expire And his had Reach'd to such an Height befoâ—e Nothing but such a Death coâ—â—d Raise it more And though Some dare alledge 't was but a Few 〈◊〉 or his 〈◊〉 or 〈…〉 Yet that it self does all excuse defeat To Let so few Commit a Sin so Great All are too Guilty they are who did Siâ— To shed his Blood and Those Permitted it VVith a Sublimer joy he mounted on The Scaffold then he did Ascend the Throne For Heav'n had