earthly might For then my seruants would be prest to fight Belike the saying of the wise men much Moued mens minds who called Christ a King But this is sure gainst Romanes all did gruch The hope of freedome flouring state would bring Vaine was their hope whom God ment not to free VVho fights gainst God should he with such agree Our heauenly King in his especiall grace Doth spirituall gifts vpon his friends bestow He loueth them that loue him to imbrace VVho such sheepe are this shepherd true doth know Shaddowes haue shewes wanting their proper weight VVho vvants the ground are fed vvith fond deceight In this my moane although I do digresse Iust cause I haue Christs kingdome me constraines This same is it vvhich Sathan vvould oppresse Herein the vvicked most do tire their braines The singer sweete of Israel saw this age Which caus'd him muse why vainely they do rage Ye mortall men vvho haue on earth your time Like pilgrims poore to plod in vncoath vvayes What are ye here but drosse earth clay and slime Can ye prolong your life vvith yeares or dayes Your glasse doth run though sand in glasse do stay But being run you hence must poast away Vpon the charge Pilate to Christ did lay Our vvisdome vvould he should declare againe If of himselfe he then the vvords did say Or that some other to speake so did him traine But as Iewes name the Deputy did deny So he declarde on whom the blame did lye Then he demaunds what our sweete Lord had done Sith earthly pompe of Kings he did not claime For that with spight the Iewes this threed had sponne Gainst proper life of Sauiour so to aime The heathen yet he doth assay to teach Though he did here matter aboue his reach Harken to him who is a glorious King Whose gouernement whose lawes and other rights Are fram'd from heauen of him the Angels sing Of him to talke each godly one delights For ods are great twixt that which shall decay And this dread King which shall indure for aye Stoope stately Kings vnto this King indeede Your greatest glory to his is not a sparke He you defends his taske is you to feede He is your light and guides you in the darke All possible good from this great Good doth flowe His are your crownes to him your crownes ye owe. And Pilate said A King now art thou then Iesus replyes Thou saist I am a King This title much doth trouble carnall men Who causlesse heare but conscience hath a sting Yet of that sting they haue no sence at all Which forceth them to greater dangers fall Euen for this cause saith Iesus I am borne Into this world for this cause I did come Witnes to beare to truth which most men scorne Yet friends to truth that heare my voyce are some What is the Truth thus Pilate then did say But turn'd his backe and would no longer stay A question sweete Pilate thou didst propound Why wouldst not stay to heare our Lords reply Thou shouldst haue heard him error soone confound This gracefull Good would not to teach deny But thou foreshewest how some of chiefest place To talke of truth accompt it their disgrace But glorious Truth shall in the end preuaile Against all foes who seeke to presse it downe Sathan doth know in vaine he doth assaile This onely Good his ministers yet must frowne Banding their might against this highest grace Working their spight that do this truth imbrace Most splendent Truth thy glorious golden rayes Many degrees surmounts the shining sunne Thy marueilous might and thy most worthy prayse None can declare for when we all haue donne We come too short thy greatnes to declare Thee to disgrace yet flesh and blood doth dare But Sunne to darke we know is practise vaine To warre with heauen will proue a fearefull fight God such doth hate as do his truth disdaine Against such foes he girded is with might Who for the truth would not his life then spend Seeing God is prest his owne right to defend To Iewes now Pilate goeth yet once againe And to them said In Christ no cause I finde Your custome is I one should loose from paine At this your feast then Iesus he doth minde Ye Iewes your King if now ye meane to choose Your minds vnfold will ye I Iesus loose Me thought this was like to a sudden stay Forc'd by retrait where egre battaile meetes Where man doth man with mutuall might assay And bloodlesse bodies earth then gladly greetes But then againe both armies forces tryes Till one of them must yeeld with fainting cryes So then this comfort corsiue I may call For what refreshing found my sad lament My chiefe of choyce my soule I saw in thrall So I perceiued the Iewes to murther bent Faces of men are tables of their minde By outward signes mens malice ye may finde For wicked Iewes their clamours now began We will not Iesus Barrabas we will Like craues their like let loose a murtherous man Haue ye no care the spotlesse blood to spill Drop blooddy teares my moysture waxeth dry Like sommers drouth that for more raine doth cry Poore Iotham now me thinkes I do thee see Who didst rebuke thy vnkinde countrymen In offer made to trees who King should be They rule refus'd but hooking bramble then Would needes be King and then had his desire The tyrants rule is like consuming fire Ah my Redeemer this oft thou didst foretell In parables and in thy preaching plaine That of the Vineyard wherein is vttered well How for great good they thee requite with paine Gods heire thou art to kill thee these now ment Thou being slaine they to possesse are bent Possesse ye shall and cruelly be destroyd Oh wicked men your glory shall decay Your pleasant land shall lye both waste and voyd To all the world ye shall become a pray Such who will not that Christ should rule alone Must finde his might where they must waile mone Ye will not him that would your proper good Ye him reiect that came you to redeeme Oh people blinde that thus Gods grace withstood So light to set of him beyond esteeme Vertue in place we haue no care to minde But being gone we gladly would it finde The first Adiunct My sweetest Sweete my Lord my loue my life The worlds bright lampe farre cleerer then the sunne What may this meane cannot I end this strife This ranckorous spight by wicked Iewes begunne O man most pure for wretches most forlorne Must my great God to men be made a scorne He made his soule an offring for our sinne His will was such his death doth life prolong He dying for vs then did our life beginne His is the gaine to him all ioyes belong Although our guilt did force our Lord to faint Yet all his foes could not with sinne him taint Thou Light of God in whom no darknes dwels Sole reconciler and worker of our wealth Thy bitter pangs all
ventured life from death to set vs free His bitter pangs what pen or wit can tell My Lord indured th' extreame paines of hell Cast we our sight on one that parteth hence Striuing for life when soule away must poast In such we see cleane gone to be their sence They yeld to that which cleareth euery coast So when that death his message pale hath done He sweeps all hence and thus the fort is wonne Or thinke thou standst this present at the barre Before the iudge that pryes into thy blame Thou knowst thy guilt thy discord makes the iarre Thy sinnes preuaile forcing thy vtter shame The irefull iudge begins with angry frowne And e're he speake thy conscience casts thee downe O Sauiour sweete thou hadst thy proper sence With perfect health thou didst approch this place All furious fiends of hell thou driuedst hence Death hath no power thy godhead to deface The angry iudge thou needest not to feare Thou hadst no sinne and yet our sinne didst beare Our sinnes did force that far from natures reach These blooddy drops should still from our sweet head In these euen yet presumers he doth teach They be not bold the tract of hell to tread Lest all too soone they fall into the snare The angry iudge doth for his foes prepare These drops declare his inward sad lament For greater griefe no earthly tongue can tell They shew his loue to vs what good he ment He would we knew his griefe did farre excell Oh why do men delight with sinnes to dwell When sinnes do weigh the sinner downe to hell He gaue the checke to vs for former sleepe Graunting vs leaue of ease to take our fill That had no care in anguish him to keepe With good regard who suffred for our ill Behold quoth he of darknes now the hower Of Sonne of man sowle sinners haue the power Iudas that treason harbored in his brest Knew well that here our Lord did oft resort Vnto this place knowledge had wrought thy rest If all in time thou wouldst haue found comfort But murtherous wretch this onely did thee good Thou thirstie wert after th' innocent blood O monstrous change that from a friend of trust Thou art a fox and wilt thy friend betray Companion once and now mongst thieues to thrust As chiefest guide the spotlesse Lambe to fray Cannot great fauours cause thee to returne Thou wofull wretch at goodnes that dost spurne How many speeches tending to our health What feruent vowes he sent beyond the sky All wayes were sought still to procure our wealth His grace to none that would he did deny Might not his grace from treason thee reclaime But at his life thou traytour now wilt aime Ye couetous carles that for a little gaine Set soule to sale as though there vvere no hell Looke on this Iudas thinke vpon his paine His endlesse pangs all torments far excell The very fire the forged far doth passe And like hell fire no torment euer vvas Consider yet vvhile here vve haue a space What griefe it is to be exilde from God What ioy it is to view his pleasant face What paine it is to feele his heauie rod. Thrise happie they that cleaue vnto thy grace Thrise cursed they that will not life imbrace O vvretched man bereft of inward peace Commest thou arm'd vvith vveapons and vvith lights A cutthroate crew serue for thy shames increase Are these thy mates belike feare thee affrights A guiltie conscience brings a restlesse griefe Easlesse in ease finding no sound reliefe Thou stately citie of the highest King Fitting thy name that hadst the prince of peace Whilom whose praise the virgins faire did sing What time thy glory the chiefest did increace Thy famous temple deuotion that relieues Is now become a den for lothsome thieues And must thy rulers now their forces bend To send their seruants forth in all the haste To binde this lambe and then his blood to spend What do ye long to see your land lye waste All this was done the Scripture to fulfill Who can dissolue what God alone doth will In these we see that bring such weapons stoare How foes with might Gods children doe oppresse They haue no truth and as for iustice loare They likewise want which causes should redresse Trusting to flesh this stay as it is wurst So for this fault they are of God accurst Forward they march bringing along their light Their lanterns that a little light containe With other helpes to guide them in the night Vsing the lesse and from the great refraine To dim that light each one doth now prepare For light of world no whit at all they care Christ knowing well the secrets of mankind This instant sawe what should to him betyde Forward he goeth against the crue vnkind From whom he could haue parted cleane vnspyde Whom do ye seeke said he to me now tell Iesus of Nazareth said they and downe they fell This hath the taste of his most soueraigne might Who with a word could strike them to the ground Weake is mans power if God begin to fight His only breath can all his foes confound If slender touch huge mountaines maketh smoke How dates then man his Maiestie prouoke The harmlesse Lambe deuoide of sinfull spot Askes the offenders and doth them preuent Wanted they lawes was piety cleane forgot Should they not loue and keepe the innocent Yes yes they knew th'innocents blood would cry For sharpe reuenge against this carelesse fry Whom do ye seeke he verely did scorne Their fond attempt deriding all their force Yet offereth grace to men that were forlorne And sure he had euen of his foes remorce For from themselues he would they should confesse That weaponlesse he could their wrong represse Oh vvhen vve heare that of his francke accord Our God is good to his professed foes How kinde a good is this our soueraigne Lord Vnto his friends on vvhom he grace bestowes Oh loue this Well and Fountaine of all grace Tender his truth and all his heasts imbrace No vvhit dismaid Christ said Euen I am he Which ready speech prooueth he fear'd not death This holy Sauiour vvould his owne flocke free By suffring shame and stopping of his breath Learne courage hence Gods cause if vve defend He fights for vs that life for vs did spend Now Iudas stood vvith all this armed traine Like Bayard bold forecasting no mishap Vnto himselfe whereby he might refraine The further ill by falling in the trap Thus one vile sinne another sinne doth chaine Vntill it bring th' offender to his paine Whom do ye seeke the second time he said Iesus of Nazareth they say to him againe That I am he before I not denayd If me ye seeke from these I pray refraine This that the word fulfil'd might be he spake Of them thou gauest I will not one forsake Now louing Lord I thinke vpon this care Thou hadst for vs and I remember well Seeing thou alone to suffer didst prepare For so
passions farre excels Our soules sweete shepheard cared for our health Thus as my Loue constrained was to groane So me permit againe refresh my moane I grieue that sleepe so sore did me oppresse Sinne in my selfe moues me to sad complaint For wicked men to watch themselues addresse To pamper pleasure where 's one that seemes to faint What lawes forbid to that in haste we poast The best offends though hypocrits yet will boast Iudas slept not nor any of his traine Night after night men watch if pleasure call Our head did watch I could not sleep refraine Thus to my will I was become a thrall Ah crooked vvill that vvouldst me so misleade That vnder foote my Lords vvill I should treade I vvell recount vvhat harmes haue come by sleepe VVhile Samson slept he then did lose his might Sleeping Sauls sonne his kingdome could not keepe VVhile Sisera slept Iael him slew outright In towne of vvarre if all should seeke for rest Quickly they should with enemies be opprest How glad is Satan vvhen vve yeld to sleepe How sad sweete Iesus vvhen vve slouth imbrace Sleepe not securely yet that are Christs sheepe VVith sighes and groanes pray vnto God for grace For in our sinne if God vvith iudgement ceaze Late will it be his iustice to appeaze Now in my moane to him I will returne Who trayterously had made a cursed change The Vine most true this withered branch did spurne Such wander wide who in by-paths do range O treasonfull wretch my Lord as thou hast sold Shall those fowle lips to kisse my Lord make bold The subtill serpent seeking to seduce Shroudeth himselfe vnder a faire pretence In heart hath hate with tongue he taketh truce His spightfull spirit he shields with sweete defence His chearefull looke who gaue the glad all haile Fed fowle conceite his treason should preuaile Our tainted nature quickly will vs teach To follow that we can in others blame What needes the serpent th'apple faire to reach We hazard all as though we vvere past shame The vvay to hell appeareth wondrous faire The end vvhereof doth lead to fowle despaire Regard in Iudas vvhen fraile flesh begins To nibble a little vpon the Serpents baite How such vvill make a sport of all their sinnes Doubtlesse such sinners neere to Sathan waite For so at first the diuell Iudas tooke And held him fast vpon his siluer hooke Christ is betrayed of many in this life For art thou where Religion is abused And hast no care then to confute that strife There is great feare thy selfe shall be refused Thou stragling sheepe herein thou goest astray Thy silence proues thou Iesus doest betray Else doest thou take on thee a Christians name Following not that thou seemest to professe Thy owne vilde life Religion much doth shame Thou Christ betraiest that doest his truth represse Repent thee soone for former life mispent And turne to God while God to grace is bent Iesus to Iudas vseth words most kinde For Friend he saith a reason to me render Why thou art come as if he would him binde From former good his owne estate to tender But none more blinde then wilfull blinded bee That to renownce which offereth cause of glee Traytor thou camest another to annoy To annoy him who euer sought thy good Thy good he sought and thou wilt him destroy But be thou sure thus thirsting after blood That thou thy selfe of blood shalt haue thy fill Though thou delight the guiltlesse blood to spill This to conclude our Prince of might did foyle Not onely Sathan but all his darkesome traine Betray not Christ by giuing backe the spoyle Vnto his foes from so vile sinne refraine As God in Christ hath shewed his bountie large So haue great care still to regard thy charge On Peter now if we shall cast our sight Else on vs all the Apostles to our Lord Cause great we haue not to boast of our might That weaknes are and fall of franke accord Yet in our fall as we feele want of strength So God relieues and succour sends at length God suffred vs to see our weak'ned state That seeing it we should detest our sinne He did vouchsafe to open wide his gate His gate of grace that we should enter in But that his grace to vs did much abound He had iust cause for aye vs to confound The wounded soule from vs may comfort finde For though we fell yet God did vs vphold He tendred vs and we againe him minde Yelding him thankes and praises manifold How so e're Lord of frailty we offend Succour thou vs and vs with Grace defend What now remaines vnto the hardned Iewes Iewes that would not our Lord as King should raigne Raigne yet'he must although they doe refuse Refuse that list he will his right maintaine I know when time of darknes shall expire Our glorious King will haue his full desire For of this nation our Sauiour did foretell That as they sought from them his state to cleare So God in wrath would them from thence expell Who did reiect his louing Sonne so deare Learne hence therefore if ye desire Gods grace Haue good regard Gods Christ ye doe imbrace If Christ alone ye would in you should raigne For he delights within our soules to dwell Haue good regard affections to restraine That are not good but of our flesh do smell If Christ vs guide our gaine exceeds esteeme We haue more store then all the world can deeme The last of all yet first in next complaint Is the selfe same who was chiefe actor made Who seeth not he did true Iustice taint Doubtlesse the wicked make of sinne a trade These yet forsooth must equitie pretend Though to the world oppression they defend Why Pilate why thou art a man of might Thy country lawes vilde violence doth detest As thou art Iudge thou ought'st regard the right And haue great care the poore be not opprest Desire to please should not thy minde peruert That rightfull cause thou shouldest so subuert FINIS