Ravishment Lay like the Doctors in Astonishment As men rejoyce in a darke Cloudy day To see the Sunne his suddaine Beames display So did they startle at Christs Lightning words Whilst her soft greetings Mary thus affords My loving Sonne why hast thou stayd behind And not as doth thee Natures duty bind Return'd with us Behold I and thy Father Have sought thee sad for three dayes space together Soone as we found thee missing by the way We hither came and sought thee night and Day We searcht with carefull thoughts most diligent The City where we used to frequent With heavy hearts God knows we lookt for thee Whom Christ undaunted answer'd grave and free I st possible that you forget so soone The favours late which God for you hath done Deare mother wot you not that I must goe About my Fathers Businesse t' undergoe More travels yet you know the Prophesies Of Ancient Seers you know the Mysteries Disclosed by the Angell Gabriel That I am sent to ransome Soules from Hell That I must preach to Spirits thrall'd in Jaile My Fathers will which shall o're sinne prevaile You know what meanes Heavens word mens Light Gods Breath From Simeon Anna and Elizabeth And in your selfe the Spirits ravishment Reveales the cause of my Birth and Discent My Fathers zeale so burnt within my breast Against these strayes I could not but contest Whose Oracles of me and many more Your true Beleeving heart layes up in store Although the same as yet you seeme to smother You cannot but remember them good Mother These words of his the blessed Virgin waigh'd And safe them up within her mind she layd Out of the Temple then wtth her he goeth And presently they set for Nazareth Where Mary found his Will with hers agreeing Though Him she held the Authour of her being And her sole Head yet then the Head subjected Unto the Limbes and nothing he rejected To Undergoe in his Minority For their behoofe and best commodity Or murmur'd at which his deare Mother Maide Or Josephs voyce of charge upon him laid But as a Sonne or rather Servant true He yeelds them Honour and Obedience due What they at home or else abroad assign'd Labour or care in Body or in minde As an Apprentice Carpentary Drudge To toyle for them he never once did grudge But wrought his Taske and servile Trade uprighâ— Not needing checkes nor frowning oversight Base idlenesse by Nature he abhorr'd Which made him worke when some as Outlaweâ— roar'd For he accounted meat not duely got If daily for the same he labour'd not He for our sakes sustained poverty To purchase wealth for us and Dignity In this poore plight the curse Christ underwent To earne his bread with sweate and small content Yet what he gain'd would scarce weak Nature feed And it griev'd him to see his friends in need What therefore he of meat earn'd by his sweat The Overplus he gave the Poore to eate Thus Christ shot up in shape and thriv'd in Grace And all Good men lov'd him that saw his face For he preferr'd Gods praise before his owne More prizing Truth then they Judae as Crowne But to describe his worth his modest lookes And qualities would fill up many Bookes The matter farre exceeds my strength and wit My Forme turnes proud except thou temper it O Holy Ghost and curb'st my swelling sense Above fraile Natures botched excellence With humble thoughts Christs Innocence to quote To note his plaine Attire and seamelesle Coat Worne in his Youth but parted since which now To burne as tainting Rage false Christians vow To seeke gay clâ—aâ—hes never did curious Pride Tempt him he onely car'd his skin to hide He knew that Man attir'd in ruffling Robes Begs seldome Grace and vents but faigned sobbes Nor can he shed salt teares our Guardians food Nor well submit for his perpetuall good As for this cause they used heretofore In vilesi weeds Gods Favour to implore He knew that our First Parents bare and poore Went till Figge leaves Coates of Skins they wore Which like these Lâ—nes our Gallants now would scorne For Satan prompts they were more Nobly borne Wherefore to rob their Factours must persever Silke wormes and Beasts for Shamois Plush Bever No Pleasures shape so farre his minde endeares To Idolize the same though young of yeares No Envious Stings nor motions Arrogant Once prickt his heart nor thoughts extravagant For he was so sincere sweete Natur'd mild That none with Passions knew him once defil'd Though from without he often Temptings had As Man while he conversed with the Bad Yet with contempt and a most brave disdaine He past them by not soyled with one staine For as the Sunne the worlds faire radiant Eye Doth Dunghils touch and stinking Jakes survey And yet his Beames escape from tainting free So this blest Youth though he did daily see Notorious sinnes and Beast-like filthinesse Himselfe he kept untoucht from wickednesse He labour'd oft in Childing woman-wise Of our fraile Passions and infirmities He had as Man our Naturall Affects But yet without Excesses or defects And not as we orecome with their delight Or seeming Good or spurr'd on with despight In midst of Darkenesse shone Divinest Light Errour he turn'd to knowledge wrong to Right The words contempt he changed into Grace Fables to Truth our slips to surer pace He did exchange our Lustfull sports to sorrow And on to worke our Humane Natures borrow For Lazarus he shed forth Teares of Griefe And he much Griev'd for Salems unbeleefe Ambition did his Man-heads Fancies raise But that Flight was to raise his Fathers praise His High desires stretcht plyant Soules to win To blissefull Joyes from Sathan death and sinne His mounting sparkes to Magnanimity Extended mixt with zeale and Charity His lofty thoughts aspir'd but to the Crosse That Theater which ransom'd Adams losse He Chastly long'd yea and he lusted too With flames of Love for he the Church did wooe He sought her Love with zealous Oracles Sometimes with teares sometimes with Miracles He Coveted for wealth not worldly wealth But for Eternall Goods mens saving Health He felt within his Soules essentiall Parts Great Joy to heare of True Beleevers hearts For barbed Steed he chose a bare-backt Asse Fishers for Mates for Pallace the Low Grasse He burn'd with wrath when he drove from Gods House Those Huckesters out whom he with whips did touze But his short wrath converted into zeale Not for Revenge but for the sinners weale He seem'd to grudge or Envy at the Priests Because he saw them live like Antichrists He much repin'd that Purenesse went to wracke That Satans sway did keepe Gods Kingdome backe He languished with Feares and Agonies The night before his deaths Extremities But those deepe Feares sprung of weake natures sense Not of Despaire or want of Innocence So from our Passions Christ as Mithridate Of Vipers wrought good Motions New begat For Jewish Thalmuds he the Gospel taught For their Old
harme the Soule Then let not worldly wits our New Man Scorne Though vile he seeme or of the Hope forlorne For he that outwardly lookes vilified May passe yet for a Creature Justified Whil'st that he beares the Cribbe where Christ was borne In mind with his Red Crosse and Crowne of Thorne Be meeke therefore ye States and people all All from the Kings Bench to the Coblers Awle Thanke God for them whom for your Good he sends And ponder that which to your safety tends Repent ye of your Sinnes depend on Grace That so Christs merits may your sinnes deface Thinke Daily on the New Mans Crucifixe And Christ his Cratch in your Remembrance fixe Pray oft against lewd Francies Provocation And let your Deeds to Love have more relation Compare our yeares from Christ his Incarnation With the Floods Time from Adams first Creation And one Thousand sixe Hundred fifty sixe May to the World a Fatall Period fixe In Desolation to all hardned Hearts In Dissolution of our Earthly Parts If all the Signes foretold by Daniel Christ Paul and S. John fall out with Antichrist True Signes indeede which Faith and Love withdraw By Warres Pride Schismes and Wiles in winding Law Besides this Signe that Gods two Prophets lay Martyr'd ere Babel could her charmes display And who can tell but when th' Electors fayle Romes Empire sets and Doomes Day shall prevaile That Empire which began when Christ was borne Ere he returnes shall set and be forlorne Since that which barr'd in Paules time his Revealing Lies waste what bootes the Antichrists Concealing Now whilst we looke for Times extreamest Date And Christ his Comming either soone or late Let us salute his Cratch his Birth admire And pay our vowes to him wiih zealous fire Great Abraham rejoyc'd to see his Dayes When rapt to Paradise he felt his Rayes So did that Baptist Babe in Mothers Wombe Spring by Instinct with Joy to heare him come Conceiv'd in Flesh of that Immortall Flame Which promis'd was Sinne Death and Hell to shame So Angells sung of him Propheticke Layes So Simeon sung with Anna songs in praise Of Bethlems Babe both ravisht at his sight When Mary cloz'd her due Mosaicall Rite Acknowledging the true Messias Borne Of Evahes seed to save the Soule forlorne And so shall we in minde feele Musick rare If we muse on our New Mans Birth with care I meane that Sparke which at our Baptisme rose Within our Hearts three Monsters to oppose Then freely we his Gospell may imbrace And sing this Lullaby with measur'd pace The Holy Ghost to save fraile Adams Race Breath'd a sweet Flame in Mary full of Grace This Flame infus'd in Flesh both Man and God We greet and cloze his Birth with Simeons Ode Thy Birth and Name doe saving Health betide O Maide-borne Man God by the Fathers side Thou art the Gentiles Light Emanuel The Glory Head and Crowne of Israel Whose Glimpse we having seene in sacred Trance Lord now in Peace us to that Light advance That Light which thou conceived'st in our Flesh To save Mankind and Satan to suppresse The Light of Soules thy true essentiall Forme Of Mary borne Eves Off-spring to reforme Whom with Thee and thy Spirit three in one We honour praise and serve Great God alone Without depending upon Angels Saints Or such whom Baal for Advocates be Saints A Hymne in Memory of our Saviours Birth and Incarnation ALL yee that are of Spirit mild And long to greete the Virgins Child Lay by a while your worldly Cares The Outward mans bewitching snares And let us now submissive sing The Cradle-cratch of Heavens King Blest be the wombe which Jesus bare Blest be his Name that saves from care Fraile Adams seed if they repent Their time mispent to Satan lent Christs onely Name doth Satan shame Then let us all sound Christ his Fame Let every Heart submit to Christ For without Christ none can subsist Blest be the Brests which gave him sucke Blest be thy Cratch which hadst the lucke O Bethlem with a Starre to boote To spread abroad King Davids roote In thee was the Messias borne Jewes Shiloh Prince yet held in scorne Because he did not personate A Royall Babe with open state But that he lay in Manger base They waigh'd not well the Mysticke Case That Mary did Eves want supply Our New-man Adams qualify How Christ was come to humble Pride And by Low Ebbes Flouds to divide That Christ at first grew like a Graft From Heaven sent to put downe Craft Whence like a shrub but Cedar now The hugest Tree he makes to bow And so must we stoope often Low Ere we shall like this Cedar grow We must embrace his Cribbe and Crosse Ere parted be our Gold from Drosse We must Cashiere wilde Fancies wags Our high Conceits and Merits brags Then Yee that hope Gods Babe to meet Waigh more then Plumes your Peacocks feete Sith Christ before a bed of Downe Preferr'd a Cratch beate Pleasures downe I meane those snares which ye shall fâ—nd To cheat good Time and mad the mind And beare about you more his Markes Then Carnall Toyes or Nine dayes sparkes Observe what things ye vow'd of late At your New Birth to shun and hate Ere ye presume to kisse this Child O yee that are by Nature wild The Third Dayes EXERCISE The Argument The Life which Christ led in our vale of Teares Vntill of Age he grew to Thirty yeares How then he was Baptiz'd by Holy John And tempted thrice by Satan thereupon THough Christ a Child inherent Righteousnesse Originall and Actuall did possesse And in his Youth sufficient gifts inherit To cope with Hell yet by the Sacred Spirit He was not led into the Wildernesse Till to more yeares he grew of Manlinesse That in all points like us excepting sinne He might on Earth his Humane course begin Cloath'd with our fâ—esh expos'd to scorners gall Temptations Death and yet o'recomming all For never God his children leaves for trials Till he them armes gainst Satans false espials Now I review the shadow of his Diall Backe to his Swathes with a short true Memoriall Of his rare gifts and Heavenly Qualities Which more more shot forth with properties Convenient for his greene and tender Age Whil'st here he went his earthly Pilgrimage From his Conception Birth and Cradle Blest I doe proclaime of Babes this Babe the Best Nature and Grace contended in his Feature Till they it form'd a peerelesse lovely Creature And what they did if ought at all let slip His God-head made compleat their workmanship O would my Lord now doe the like for This This weakeling which with awfull sense I kisse This Embryon or Conception of my braine Christs Portraiture which I shall draw in vaine Except the Spirit of th' Evangelists The Holy Flame which guided to the lists Of the Triple Combat this Man of men Doe purify my style from Blots uncleane And my swift Trance from Superstitious fury Whilst I from Wales to
great Presumptuous sinne Concernes them much who have New-formed bin As many were soone after Christs Ascent Possest with Gifts to Schooles Astonishment By the Immediate wondrous Inspiration Of Gods bright Flame though by the Instigation Of Satan they chance afterwards to fall To Lunacies yet let them hope with Paul And Peter falne by Christ his Blood Remission For who dares judge Grds Grace without misprision Or sentence our Grave Cranmer for his feares Since at his Death he purg'd his Fall with Teares And sacrific'd his Hand first to the fire Because it did against his Heart conspire Let them take up these words with Job and say Ile put my trust in him though he me slay T is true I fell which Fall I will not Cover I was Soule-sicke but God may me recover Barre Aire and Bloud of motion Circulare Meteours the one Heart-griefes the other scare The Body feeles sins Symptomes and diseases So feeles the Soule till Grace them both releases Which never failes a Saint though for a while Foule Lustfull fogges Faithes working may defile Let none despaire that hath Repentant beene Or can but once a day sigh for his sinne Many grave Rules and Documents profound Christ left and did unto the Jewes expound Amongst which others here I will relate The Lowly Pure the Poore and desolate The Peace-maker and for the Faith opprest These with the Zealous he pronounced Blest Christ termes those Blest of Spirit Poore and Mild Then what is Mans Great Spirit Satans Child His bristling up with Braggadochian vaunts With fuming Spleene with Gall and Girding Taunts His standing on fond Natures brittle Pinion Or his owne Merits puffe or Wits opinion His sleighting of a Saint that favour craves As if himselfe were Pope Christs Members slaves His thundring peales of Penalties high rackt As if his owne swell'd Head no Surgeon lackt His false designes to bring home Massy Crimes From Forraigne Climes in Antichristian Times His Challenges for Honours wrong'd repaire Or by Law-suites Saints Fortunes to impaire What Spirit swayes shewes the Red Dragons Mace Not of the Lambes but wicked Belials Race So farre was Christ from wrath or vengeance taking So farre from spoyling foes or greedy raking That he bad Peter to put up his Sword When he had Malchus smote and at his word Confessing he was Jesus though they were Scar'd at his voyce he will'd them not to feare And when his owne Disciples did presume To urge him like Elias to consume Those men with fire which wilfully deny'd To harbour him the fiend then undescry'd By them he checkt and said that they did rave For he came not to kill but Soules to save Who then beleeves Saint Patrickes Oracles That Irish Kernes he kild by Miracles Or credit our New Sects who doe conspire To plant our Saviours Church by Sword and Fire So farre liv'd Christ from Pride at once he had But one plaine Robe wherewith his backe was clad One Coate he wore to shrow'd his naked skinne A Seamelesse Coate to cover Adams sinne A Coate indeed wrought uniforme and plaine To shew that he recover'd backe againe Our former suite of Innocence entire Without those seames of Schoolemens nice attiâ—e Which likewise we like Turtle Doves must weare At our New Birth with Love and filiall feare Not slashing it like Schismatiques unbid Nor casting Lots as Romes fell Souldiers did Who not content to gore his Guiltlesse side And Body slay his Rayment did divide The Fóxes had their Holes the Aiery Foule Their proper Nests But he poore harmelesse Soule Like Noahs Dove on earth could scarce have footing No certaine Lodg nor comforts worth the booting Glad in his Travels to receive releife Of them who for his sake received Life Instead of Ease he Persecution felt Chose Desarts oft and into Brine did melt His Eyes with griefe to see such Combination Such Pride among his owne selected Nation He spent the day in Preaching and good deedes The night in Prayer for their foule Misdeedes Yet liv'd he more contented with his Fate Than Solomon with all his Royall state Before whose pompe traines Illustrious muster He priz'd the Lillies for their native Lustre Such Artlesse flowers he saw of goodlier hew And Glaring more then any Maske or shew This Christ exprest with Gospels Majesty With Practicke patience Love and Poverty Teares often shed true zeale and thereupon His Fathers Doome for Sinners undergone To stint our daily Cares for worldly pelfe The Morrowes Carke he bids leave to it selfe For why should we distrust our Fathers Ayd When we see Fieldes with various Robes array'd And Sparrowes bred without Mans industry Then how much more will he our Need supply Before we thinke on things meere Transitory Seeke first said Christ the Joyes of Heavenly glory And then be sure of this you shall have more Than serves your turn out of his bounteous store Or at the least what Nature may suffice Food Rayment Lodging or the like supplies Have you forgot the many Thousands fed With a few Fish and Barley Loaves of Bread To teach us thrift the scraps when they were filâ—d Most frugally to be laid up he will'd Looke carefully the Fragments be not lost Or cast away quoth he the Gentle Oast A faire advice to them that spend on Hounds What serves for Humane use though wealth abounds This Rule likewise a warning Type I place For them that waste their Inward Food of Grace Distributing in Playes some Pearles to Hogges Christs holy scrappes as Huntsmen cheere their Dogges When we must keepe the Reliques of our boord Ought we not more the Sacred Word to hoor'd The smallest crummes and passagâ—â— of Grace May stead the weake in their New holy Race O let us then without Sophisticke Brabble Reserve all Remnants of the Mysticke Table Least that the Seed which Christ the better Part Most needfull calls misse rooting in the Heart Least Martha-like with Household toyle â—pprest We want the Food which Mary liked best The Word which she so well disgested then That her best Choyce crownes her Saint Magdalen To weane us from aspiring to Promotion The Old mans plot the Serpents shining Motion When some of his Apostles strove for place Jesus did thus their lofty mindes abase He tooke and rank't a Child in midst of them Protesting that though he of scorned stem Were held by them yet Meeke and Innocent His Spirit might an Elders worth prevent And that unlesse a Child we imitate In harmelesse Love we seeke Gods Lambe too late Doubtlesse there is a great Antipathy Betwixt the World and Heaven for Quality And Motion when the Church here Militant Failes to Consort her Tunes extravagant With the Elects Allelujahs Vnion The Greatest here may misse of Saints Communion But if our thoughts shine circled in the Ring Of mutuall Love with constant Faith a thing That may not be except the Holy Ghost Infuse those flaming Twinnes then will the Hoasâ— Of Angels Quire by the like Sympathy As Load
wise answers still outstript their reach Sometime they did with questions him assay To know if they should unto Caesar pay Tribute or no whereby they might for Treason Attach him but they failed for that season So wary in his talke they found him still They could no way entrap his Tongue for ill Nor taxe his life with the least hainous Fact At last the bruite of his late famous Act How Lazarus revived from his Grave Where he had laine for foure dayes space that gave More cause of envy and astonishment New Jealousies fewell of discontent But most of all when loud Hosannaeâ— shout To welcome him the City rang throughout How many griefes on his Humanity How many wrongs on his Divinity Did they from time to Time when they should render Him gratefull thankes inflict though thankes were slender Instead of thankes his Favours they requited With Adders stings his wonders they backebited And tooke him for a Witch or Conjurer With Belzebub in League that he did erre Dislodging Fâ—iends but by the Prince of hell But how Christ raisd the dead they could not tell Which way that chanc'd before the latter date Of crooked Time doom'd to a flaming fate That some reviv'd they had some instances But they were few or but few houres in trances Never did Enoch pay his debt to death Death never stopt the zealous Thesbites breath For these they had their Schoole-distinctions cleare But Christs late Act amazed them with feare They fear'd the losse of their high Temporall sway Lest this New man might turne mens hearts away From Moses Lawes and make their Offerings lesse They had of late by Rome felt some distresse Their yearely gaines which did support their pride They doubted much would fall with his Spring-tide This mov'd the Scribes with their High Priest and Judge Proud Caiphas so at Christ his Fame to grudge Which to deface a Councell they did call Of their chiefe Priests and Scribes in Caiphas Hall Where Annas styl'd the High Priests Suffragan Or SAGAN to Jewes Metropolitan Whose Daughter was that time to Caiphas Wife Conspired thus against our Saviours life Right Reverend Rabbies and renowned Scribes The Countenance of our most holy Tribes Have we not suffer'd griefes enough of late But that more cares must now infest our state A Counterfeit Messias a New Man Jesus of Galile a Puritan Thinkes now because he is a Nazarite Profest to change the Priesthoods Ancient Rite And Ceremonies of Mount Sinaies Law Behold how he doth labour to withdraw The fraile and giddy-headed multitude From our Traditions which he tearmeth rude Humane and not Divine If this World hold Farewell Peace offrings which our State uphold We must bid Moses with Gods Lawes adieu And Aarons Tinkling Bells shall lose their due We shall no more meete here before the Lord If this upstart with his unlettred word Shall by New dreames raise up a Newer sect Than Holy Johns whom none of us suspect Of Fraud To Schismes this matter sure will tend Which in short time our Synagogue will rend Romes greedy Kites will of these Newes be glad Nor Herod will be thereof very sad But both will joyne to share our finest wooll And downe they will our goodly Temple pull How shall our Levites then themselves sustaine Nay how shall our Grand Mitred Prelate raigne To represent great Aarons Majesty If this Impostour maskt with poverty Doe stop the gap through which to Paradise We leade Mens Soules the simple and the wise I doe protest it grieves me to the Heart And I foresee we shall hereafter smart If he goes on in this his New-found motions Though Begger-wise yet may it breed Commotions For did you note when through the Streetes hee past Upon a bare-backt Asse how some did cast Their Garments on the way with Branches greene Held in their hands like Fooles to have him seene And for a Demy-god observ'd the Crowd Hosanna with great Shouts proclaiming loud And all because he had by Satans Ayd To Lazarus late dead new Life convayd Indeed some signes he workes and men possest With Fiends he cures having some league profest With Belzebub for which he hath no warrants From God or us to execute such arrants Annas had scarce exprest himselfe at full When Caiphas like to Basans bellowing Bull Began to roare Shall we put up this wrong And not suppresse him ere he be too strong Have we not yet both Swords at our Command Pilate will not deny if we demand His Armed helpe to take a Mutineere Who calles himselfe Gods Sonne to domineere The sooner by that high and lofty style But let us now attache him by some wile Lest to some Desart he depart againe When he shall heare that we would take him fain And thither will a world of people flocke Itching to heare what of the Living Rocke Or the New Birth he blunders out to bleare Their silly sight and so away to beare The Palme from us or draw them to despise Our Ancient Rites and Stately Sacrifice T is meeter for one man though Innocent To dye then that we live in discontent Yea and that Lazarus his late raisd minion Shall suffer too to stay the worlds opinion And then with shame the Rabble rout shall see That Prophets never rose from Galilee For our new King in Bethlem must be borne With state and pompe not like this wretch forloâ—n Who for a Throne shall mount the Crosse most royall And for a Mace shall beare a Reed as loyall This is his doome though he the dead revive That dares affront our high Prerogative Deriv'd from God with Ephodâ— golden Gard With Vrim which and Thummim we regard Which evermore Jehovah did assigne Over his Church to us of Levies Ligne At least untill our Great Messias come Of Judaes stocke in Kingly Davids roome Before which day Elias must descend From Heaven downe things crooked to amend In the meane time let us our State defend Against New wits which labour it to rend By broaching forth a New Religions Forme Under pretence the Ancient to reforme From all Traditions and Formalities By their New fâ—ames the Spirits Novelties Before his fame soare up a higher pitch Clip we his wings lest his New Sect bewitch The better sort with Hells attractive charmes His sudden fall will stop all future harmes So Caiphas yalpt and all the Sadduces Approv'd his plot with some proud Pharises From that time out they sought to apprehend The Lambe of God And Satan to that end Because he thrice fail'd in the Wildernesse To Tempt him with his Baltes to wickednesse With all his Art began to play his part And to his Mates his poyson to impart Ayming at Peter whom he thought to sift As wheaâ—e He had already to his drift Snar'd Judas in by Nets of Avarice To gape for gaine and some of those supplies Which by Free-hearted men for their Reliefe Had beene conferr'd to turne like a false Thiefe To his owne use With him
Hate he at the last agreed To please the Rout whom Caiphas with his mates Of Herods side to murther animates And thereupon the Roman Hypocrite First washt his hands as if he were upright And cleane from Blood shed by his owne command Alluding that he could not them withstand When as he might the Prisoners Life defend Or him before the Romane Senate send Or conster with mild sense Jewes wrested Laws Or on the cause like grave Gamaliel pause But to content the giddy multitude He chose the suite with slaughter to conclude Adjudging to the Crosse in Caesars Name Christ to be nail'd whom he found void of blame Whom neither he nor yet th' Incestuous King Could once in compasse of set Treason bring Nay when he heard the People Christ upbraid With Tide of Gods Sonne he seem'd afraid As witnessed his Conscience prickt within As openly he said I find no sinne Deserving Death what evill hath be done They yelling still he stiles himselfe Gods Sonne Himselfe a King to Caesars wrong a King The former merits Death the Latter thing No lesse than death The first is Blasphemy The other Treason in a High Degree By our just Lawes he well deserves to dye Without delay demurre or remedy Let then your Judgement passe securedly His Blood on us and on our children lye His Death on us and on our Nation rest Yells ominous And so they live unblest For ever since their Nation far'd the worse By this entail'd hereditary curse The Romans since on whom they did rely Like Aegipts Reed in stead of Aydes supply Or humane Ruling Lords prov'd Hellish Rookes With rapines spoyles and circumventing Hookes Imbru'd in blood by Albines Briberies Felix Florus and others Butcheries Such griping Tyrants prov'd at last their Foes Ransackt their City turn'd their weale to woes Burnt their Temple and made them slaves abhor'd As they had scorn'd and Crucified the Lord And to this day they either live in Bonds Of servitude or like Caine vagabonds To Christians odious for their bloody workes For killing Christ as odious to the Turkes For their Religion or patcht Alcoran Beares Christian showes as lies Mahumetan They breathe and that is all by Brokery Onely to keepe the Nations Memory Least if they perisht quite some doubts againe Might grow perhaps of the Messias slaine Their Land which once with milke and honey flow'd Lies waste and curst as with a Fatall Cloud In stead of Wine Figs Balsame and good seedes Repleate with Snakes wilde Beasts stinking weeds Like a rude desert growne for where the Horse Of Ottoman once swayes he leaves a Curse When that the Judge had so deliver'd him To his Praetorian Band or Sergeants grim With the Mad Jewes applause they Christ attir'd In Purple Robes as if he had aspir'd By mutiny to make himselfe a King Which he worse loath'd then they the Serpents stingâ— A Crowne of Thornes they plaited on his Head And him blasphem'd with abase Sceptred Reed Saluting him All haile thou King of Jewes With bended knees wee le pay thee all thy dues Yea Pilate too for all his Inward sting Proclaim'd Behold the Man the Jewish King And to the Crosse he fixt that style alike In Characters of Hebrew Latine Greeke When they had mockt their fill with many bobs And scornes they took from him those royall robes Apparrell'd him in his owne Coate againe And fell anew to their deriding veine Besmearing him with spittle on the Face And with a Cane they lasht him in disgrace O bloody Folke the grieved Soule to gore To torture him who tortur'd was before Hood-winking him like Boyes at blind mans Buffe With Frumps who smote they did him lately cuffe And now againe vext him till Nature stoupt And but for Heavens strength had deadly droopt The Thornes wherewith they crown'd his tender Head Put him to so much paine that almost dead His Soule was forc't most grievously to grone The thought whereof would melt ev'n hearts of stone They heard the Praetours doome yet would they adde More fewell to the flame to make him sad They heard his groaning sighs that no sorrows were like to his his face seem'd plow'd like furrows They wreath'd his Head with thornes and yet that wreath Saves us from prickling Thornes of sinne and Death When Judas now had seene his Master bound Reviled beaten spet upon and found Guilty of Death he grieved but too late Felt deadly gripes and therewith desperate He to the Temple speedily resorted There left his hire and to the Priests reported Loe here I yeeld you backe the Price of Blood The man quoth he did never harme but good He whom I sold I know is Innocent A Righteous man from God a Saviour lent Your Eyes have seene his mighty Miracles Your Eares have heard his Gospels Oracles His words and life his Innocence expresse For who with sin can taxe him more or lesse Ah woe is me that I have liv'd the day For a base Bribe my Master to betray Looke thou said they to that for dy he shall Were he more Just to save us from a Fall For if he liv'd opinions would arise And Caesar then would stop our Sacrifice T is better that one dye than many fall That one miscarry then we perish all This policy the Jewish Church profest And the same course Great Babels whore possest As testifies her Hate to Protestants Whom for no cause shee calls Extravagants Excluding them from Romes Society Although one God they serve in Trinity But that she feares the Radiant Gospels Light With their New-man might quite expel the night Of Ignorance and Superstitious mists Which darken yet her roaming Romanists With bribing sale of Pardons meritorious Redeeming Flames to sinners most notorious For so that Whore her Lovers beares in hand If they bequeathe unto her Goods or Land Or Fight for her Croisadoes Liberty Under her guard they need not feare to dy She will appease like an Indulgent Mother Gods Justice though for murth'ring of a Brother But from the West returning to the East See here what rage seaz'd on the Traitours brest Judas distract with furious discontent By Satan and his Spirits Instrument Choller adust departed out of hand And wanting Grace his Passions to withstand He hang'd himselfe and to be markt the more The Lunaticke his waight downe headlong bore Till all his Bowels gusht to publique view And at his death such words as these did spew And shall I live quoth he a Traitour nam'd For selling guiltlesse Blood alwayes defam'd What hope of Rest when God doth me debarre Of inward Peace When he proclaimes me warre And lets those slaves which I was wont to tame Base Passions now to blacke my former Fame O let the Sea on me Christs quarrell wreake With vengeance with a Milstone at my necke Curst be the houre that ever I was borne I am undone My Wife all quite forlorne My Children must unpittyed vagabonds Range through the world my self in satans bonds For t
is decreed that I in Hell must lye And that Another must my charge supply Nothing but horror sounds without within My Soule like Zims and Oyms full of sinne Scritcheth out aloud Judas Iscariot Come away to Hell for thou hast forgot And renounc't thy Baptisme betraying God The Sonne of God make here no more abode On Earth I come I come a Damned Ghost By you O Furies to be ever tost God frownes because my Master I did sell And now because God frownes I le downe to hell The fearefull end which Judas made so knowne So common ranne disperst through all the Towne That Salems Clergie stood as men agast And doubting lest for their rash sentence past And treachery the hand of God might strike With vengeance them for their false deedes dislike They all agreed their Church not to defile With Bloods Reward but so to reconcile The fact with workes of Merits bastard kind That God might seeme to them like Mortals blind This made them play for cloaking of abuses Bo-peepe with Faith and turne to Pious uses The Thirty pence the hire of treachery As Zachary foretold their Salary Buying therewith the Potters field to Bury Poore strangers in thereby to slacke Gods fury O fond conceit to doe an Injury And afterwards like Hallifaxes Jury To fit and see the wronged man redrest When doome forepast could never be reverst Nor ransomed with guerdon Competent Chiefely for Blood to which they gave consent Against Gods Lambe not of Religious care But factiously the Churches Fleece to share Without reproofe or Shepherds Brow severe For this made them to Christ such mallice beare Fearing lest that in time the Cautious wise Might counterchecke their maskt hypocrisies If this New man in that luxurious Age Should draw their Flocke to his New Pasturage With Parables infolding Charity Repentance Faith and Hearts Humility No doubt but they acknowledged the Word To be Divine and worthy of Record Which Jesus taught confirm'd with Miracles But Satan had cast forth such Obstacles Of Merits Clouds before their Carnall sence That they might slight the Spirits Quintessence The Bread of Life the New mans nourishment As crosse to that which they for Lucre vent Gods holy Writ corrupting with Traditions With Thalmuds Quirkes and thorny Expositions For Juries Church with Carnall Pharisees Was branded then and with dull Saduces Which with their Monkes Essences would deface By Merits bragges Gods Covenant of Grace Making the weaker sort of Soules beleeve That they could stint Gods wrath or it reprieve But why blame I the Jewes Apostacy When now the time of Daniels Prophesie Was come that their Messias should be slaine Not for himselfe but for Anothers staine The more vile wretches we that gave the cause By the flat breach of our Creatours Lawes He Legions might of Angels to his Ayd Have cal'd but then Mans ransome was not paid He might to Hell all Adams race have cast But then he had left none his Grace to tast And this sweet Grace of his made him to beare Such wrongs in Jewry Land and to forbeare With us our debts which none could satisfie But he alone whose Merits Justifie This is my Faith the upshot of my Creed Thy Blood O Christ can save fraile Adams seed If they Repent believe and turne to God Thou wilt absolve them from thy Fathers rod Yea from hell-Hell-flames for thy worths excellence Restor'd what Adam lost Soules Innocence Thy humble Life and Death upon the Crosse Have crost Gods Sentence and repair'd our Losse Let therefore to his Crosse our zeale returne And never cease with Holy Flames to burne Untill we end sad Fridayes Sacrifice And see what Christ paid more for Humane vice I meane not onely that which Helene found With rubbage soil'd but the Crosse solid sound Which scorching Soules for new Jerusalem Aâ—ords to Saints a more expedient Theame We never saw the Crosse where Christ was fixt Yet we beleeve that he was Crucifixt Now to his Death his sore tormenting Death They led Gods Lambe to end his wearyed breath With floutes and shoutes they led him to the Crosse The waight whereof by force they did impose Because his Lambe-like strength began to faint And could no longer beare it by constraint On Simon of Cirean a labouring man A good poore Soule an honest Publican Whom there by chance the Ruffian Souldiers met Upon the Raised Crosse they Jesus set With loud Out-cryes as at a May-pole Game And to the same with Contumelious shame His hands and feete with piercing Nailes they fixt And like a Judge plac'd him two Theeves betwixt The more to spite him But the Morall is Some he shall doome to Hell and some to Blisse For these two Theeves were of a diffrent Faith Th' one railes at him the other meekely saith We faulty are but this man guiltlesse dyes Remember me Good Lord when thou doest riseâ— To whom sweet Jesus instantly replyes This day thou shalt with me to Paradise Which words well markt who will not thence inferre But Grace workes more than Merit and averre That Christ Gods power had when Crucified He could so soone a Theefe make Justified To reape that Harvest where he never sow'd Even Blisse which with their Caterwalling loud Some hunted for yet could not with it meet Like Cats for Fish that would not wet their feete But th' unbaptiz'd that liv'd not to restore What he had rob'd doth wonder-rap me more To see him Crown'd a Saint in Heaven Above Then that I dare discusse Gods hidden Love Who of meere Grace payes some at Sun-set hires Equall with them whom earlier he inspires Or aske the King why he to Honour screwes Some men of lesse desert than mine in shewes Faith wins us Grace So while proud Rabbies laught Poore Women wept and at the Crosse were taught With Swan-like Song though in deaths Agony Christ warned them by way of Destiny Shed not yee Daughters of Jerusalem Your Teares for me but for your selves shed them My Father to whose care I recommend My Soule will to his children comfort send The dayes will come when they that Barren are More safely shall then Women Fruitfull share When many shall in perills dolorous Cry out yee Caves and Mountaines cover us For if a Blooming Tree of verdant sap Be thus cut off how shall the dry escape To shew what Love is unto Parents due His Mother Mary at his last adieu Whose Soule with his as Simeon did relate Was as with sword pierst in that Bloody fate Having with constant mind whilst others fled Staid by the Crosse till she should see him dead He comforted with John Behold thy Sonne With charge to him Behold thy Mother John Two sacred Saints joyn'd in one Legacy Two Soules fast knit in Saint-like Amity John therefore home the blessed Virgin tooke And never she her Sonne bequeath'd forsooke But in his house remain'd a Widow-Mayd Untill her debts to Nature she had paid These pithy Types of Charity and Grace Christ dying
conceiv'd for Hauking fit Others more Sage in Types describe that Place A Starry Soile engâ—rt with Crystall Glasse Or Sea translucent with stones pretious rankes Pearle Amber Beds of Corall on the Bankes These may as Tropes rowze up the drowzy mind But to empale Gods Mansions were to blind The Artizans and to confound the Sense If curiously they break to Edens fence The azur'd Spheare wherto my hopes are bound Spirituall stands above this massy Round Of lively frame not like our mortals Land Or Temples built by carnall Creatures hand A Common-wealth secur'd from fiendes alarmes Wonne by our Saviours bloud and Ghostly Armes Which long before he promis'd to prepare For them that would through Faith his Foes out-dare There in the midst of Saints God rear'd for them A Metropole the New Jerusalem Not of Materialles wrought in Earthly mould But of Celestiall stuffe more bright then Gold Then Diamonds which Liquids may deface Or Canker-fretting Time the Fabrick raze The structure might be one with Fixed Starres Or like that Lamp which â—â—â—ting stints our cares An Orbe so farre transcending Edens site As doeth the Sunne the Moone the Day the Night Where He that made the Sunne more glorious spred The New mans giftes then Schoolemen ever read A Region of incomparable Light The Globe or Seat whereof no Humane sight Till Glorified can pry into nor Art By reason of the Lustre can impart No more then Paul by Christ in spirit brought Up to that Orbe of it could utter ought No more then we dare scan the Trinity Or weak Eyes see the Sunnes resplendencie Since puzled we in Natures secrets be What Natures Lord conceal'd how can we see Nay why should we presumptuously aspire To peep into Gods Ark or steale his Fire Old Scribes Prometheus voucht of Grace bereft For robbing Joves bright Fire a heynous theft Now more then this least Fancies me deceive I blaze not of that Orbe what I conceive Mansions of endlesse Joyes and sweet Repose God made for Men and Angels whom hee chose For Men and Angels who should side with Christ Against Hell-fiendes the Beast and Antichrist But whether in our Zones chang'd or refin'd Or Higher Orbes I leave it undefin'd Let this suffice no object represents There more then God to Soules departed hence Which honour'd Christ nor can divert their Sight From fixing on his Beames their whole delight Chiefly at that Eternall Jubilee When Saints shall from Hell-squadrons parted be By his great Light through Christ Saints there shall shine So bright that their new shape will turne Divine Compacted of the purest Quintessence Which Aire and Flame could work in Humane sence The Body which on Earth so clog'd the Soule Terrestriall shall no more that Guest controule But mounted up in Ovall Coach of Fire Elias-like doeth to the Heavens aspire And like high Eagles wings both here and there Comports with Christ the Manhead up to beare Of Motion swift of Strength without compare Like Seraphins all Love of beauty rare Leagu'd with the Soule in sympathizing frame Of Qualities aethereall mixt with flame Of glorious mould not subject unto sinne Disease or griefe as the first man hath been Like Cherubins all Light compos'd of Light Saints then shall raigne in a farre happier plight Install'd then Chinaes King or Tibers Priest With triple Crowne which cannot long subsist For these at death leave Corpse and States behind As those beare Bodies new like Christs refin'd With whom they reap more pleasures and content Then Tongue can tell Eares heare or Fancies vent No Sexes Forme shall then preoccupate The Sense since Fate had procreations date Worne out and cancell'd Lust in Evaes Race Her Choisest blest with even blooming Grace Because on Earth they trusted God alone And lov'd his Saints he made them with Christ One Both Young and Old though maimed burnt or drown'd Shall flourish then alike with Members sound Of Body span'd yet purg'd of Drossy Masse Perhaps like Christs which some would force to Masse With Knowledge ripe of Goodnesse voyd of Ill From Passions free and rectified in Will Perhaps at the same Age when Adam fell Or Christ Rose up triumphant over Hell There they shall sing and prayse the Lord alway Not having need at all to sue or Pray O how they move with mutuall zealous fire To prayse the Lord for sparing in his Ire Old Jacobs Tribes for chusing him and them While he did Esau and his Brood contemne They see themselves cull'd from the Gentiles throng Though they deserv'd to sing their howling Song For though God did all future things foresee He did till then no Reprobates decree But them reserv'd with Divells to partake Till Christ judge them to Tophèts burning Lake They know the state of all the damned Crew And thereupon their thankfull shoutes renew Ascribing Prayse with Hymnes Angelicall To Alpha and Omega God in all Of one consent one will one yea and nay With the like Musick and Harmonious Lay. Such Blisse on the eternall Sabbath day Crownes them when God their Bodies shall array Who in the Lambe believ'd and did their best By doing Good to gaine his Sabbaths Rest. As meaner Men made Lords weare Habites new So shall our Bodies then be chang'd anew The good invested with perfections rare The bad with hideous shapes and hellish Care Then many now which stalk with Peacocks Plumes With various Garbes with Licks and Baudes perfumes More ugly shall appeare then Toades or Bugges Which Children scare from screaming for the Dugges Nor will the Good then pitty the Distrest Because Gods love had Natures Foames supprest Embosom'd Couples which on Earth embrast The one shall be receiv'd the other cast Where humble Saints shall surely be preferr'd And Tenants set above their Lords that err'd Our Saviour Enoch and Elias led The way to shew that God the Quick and Dead Can raise that Mortalls have regain'd their Breath Yea from their Graves Saints rose at Christs his Death This Doctrine seemes to Carnall Sadduces â—carce true although they see in Summer Trees â—nd Corne to sprout with other vegetalles â—hough they see yearly many Animalls â— Swallowes are Silkwormes and Butterflies â—evived when the Sunne doth hotter rise Then since Those Life by the Sunnes heat have wonne Why should not Men by Him that made the Sunne Such Sotts have been and such I feare there are Too many Faithlesse ones that never care Here in this Life the certaine meanes to gaine Of glorious Shape in time to come againe Like skittish Maydes who at the fairy Game Do Daunce untill their Bellies swell with shame Nor how fares Truth nor what a Christian ailes Will they yet learne untill the Fiend prevailes What shall become of Body or of Soule So they may Feast and drinke without controule The Mirrours of the Moone are trimm'd a new Whose Face the foure Weekes Terme had dimm'd the Hew See they not bred of Putrefaction Flies And Barnacles from Wood or Pitch to rise To heare