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
then the Game Behold the Hunt is up THE SOVLES EXERCISE The Argument Before the Great and Fearefull Day of Doome Which by true Signes neere past will shortly come Great Brittain's warn'd the Old Mans tricks to scan And with more Love to lodge the Inward Man O That Men would think on the Latter day Whose Signes began with Horror and Dismay Since Sathan was let loose to rack and scorch With Martyrs Flame our late Reformed Church No Preterperfect nor the Future Tense But then the Praesent suits the Creatures Sence When Time shall be no more but ever Light Or ever Darke From this Perpetuall Night Of Sadnesse Lord defend my Spotted Soule That canst at Will the Gates of Hell controule And by sweet Trance canst ope the Milk-white way To lead my steps to that Eternall Day How oft hast thou from Weaklings rays'd thee Prayse Then grant me Grace to warble out these Layes Which I began with th'Hunt is up to day That I may chase Hels Instruments away The wily Foxe the Wolfe and ravenous Beare But not with Yâ—alpes poore silly Sheepe to feare Noâ— to disturbe like Taverns roaring Boyes Good Christians Nightly Rest with Hellish Noise Or with base Fidlers Tunes who gape for Gaine Their Lusts from Strangers Windows to maintaine Fly Buffâ—ons hence no flouts nor wanton glance Nor scuffling Tones suit w th our Newmans trance Not for wits Froth nor Poets potting Pen Nor for Old Dreames shall any Godly men Taxe me withall My ayme is Libertines And Sluggards to rouze up by Christian Lines And that th'Elect of Brittaines Ile may blush To jarre for Trifles Nifles or a Rush At least to let them know that we should side With him whose Rights with Mammon they divide But let Divines without Scholastick Cavell And Politicks without damn'd Machiavell Tell us how comes Mankind so prone to Evill 〈◊〉 from Oâ—d Adam Custome or the Divell Or rather from this mixt Triplicity By Gods just Doome for mens Impiety Our States-men stand here gravel'd nor define Can Nature such deepe Points but the Divine On these Resolves assures our Pilgrimage That to secure from the Old Creatures Rage Our New-mans Sparke we must contend buckle With Men Fiends ere Grace this Infant suckle We must Believe and Pray do Fruitfull Workes And crush the Snake which in our bosome lurkes For these Attempts the Serpent to unmaske In Eden first Mans Crosse row is my Taske The two from whom our Heralds all agree With one Consent to draw Mens Pedegree Be they Crown'd Kings or Subjects bond or Free Adam and Eve the Male Female Tree Were form'd by Him who both the Globs Created Whereof the One with Goodly Rights estated God gave to them from Taxe or Tribute free And so their Race enjoyed it till the Fee By Giants wav'd and Nemhrods Tyranny The upper like a Spangled Canopy With Christall propt to lift their minds with wonder He left for Breath for Heat to seat them vnder And to observe the Influence Motion Height Not racking Starres with Negromanticke Sleight Because Man should with Angels linkt in One Harmonious League on God depend alone To do his Will who rais'd him from the dust To praise his Name without the least distrust Not Creatures Thrones or Principalities Nor courting other Gods with Sacrifice For who would sue to an Inferiour Lord The King in place that heareth every word God for this End and for his Glories sake Assigned Man his Comforts to partake He left all things to his Elections Sway Except One Tree in Eden to assay And try by One Command his Creatures mind Whether he would prove Constant or Unkind Yea God forbad to tast the Curious Tree Of Good and Ill because He did foresee That Longing Fits in Maladies would end That worldly Craft did restlesse Cares portend That Innocence once lost Man would divide Christs Soveraignty and with the Divell side That he the Golden meane would soone neglect And fall into Excesse or the defect That Will uncurb'd to damned Actions tends That Pride much knowledge puffes shame Pride attends For when good knowlâ—dge with the Ill did match Then they began a Mungrell Brood to hatch Like those who heretofore with Pagan Rite And Schoolemens Glosse disguis'd Gods hoâ—y Light Although such Plagues ensued by the Breach Of Gods Command yet doth Experience teach The Fruit it selfe so strange in Operation Perhaps might bring with it some Alteration And helpe the Humours to exasperate As the Breach did the Soule contaminate So Meales without Thanksgiving cause disease And Physicke with Gods blessing turnes to Ease Do not all things on which our Bodies feed Blood Choler Fleame and Melancholy breed Do not we see that things Inanimate As Roots and Gummes nay Minerals abate Or raise the force of things more excellent Doth not dimm'd Eyes the Saphire blew content And Hemlocks Juice like Vapors of strong Wine Disturbe the Braine and Humour Christaline Doth not the Jet insult upon a Straw As Steele is by the Loadstone kept in awe What Franticke Lust comes by Cantharides What Flames by Circes charm'd Hippomanes How luckily Quicksilver mortifi'd Hath for the Wormes and the great Poxe bin tri'd Yet Sublimate doth like to Hell inflame To Poyson turnes and kils the Vitall Flame How have the Lungs by Orpiment beene cur'd And the Faint Heart by Liquid Gold secur'd How forcible 'gainst Plagues and Feavers are Mirrhe Saffron Aloes Stibium Bezoar Garlicke allayes raw Ayre and watrish Food But Mads like Wine the Dry Braine and the Blood Wine-bibbers know that Vines with Coleworts war As rampant Lust is cool'd by Nenuphar Sometimes I saw a Glutton crost in Will His Trencher daub'd with Colloquintids Pill How by the Sunne Glasse things remote may fire To yeeld the reason would not Reason tire Or why Tobacco or the Vomick Nut Opium or Henbane do the Sences glut Or why the Juice of Spurge or Tithimall Held to the Gummes cause all the Teeth to fall If such as these with us worke Miraâ—les And growing plants yet more what Obstacles Can Atheists plead to barre Our Fatall Tree Or that of Life but that it grew so free Whereby on Man no ferall Deaths disease The Fruite once tane by him could ever seize Untill God did th' impaled Garden fence Or drowne it by the Flood for Lusts Offence This Fruit we reap't by knowing Good and Ill When as the Precepts Breach defil'd the will But to returne where now I did digresse Man stayd not long before he did transgresse And violate the Law with Carnall sence Slighting his Makers Love and Providence Man had large Grace and Freedome of Election But he of Both did quickly make defection He knew th' Events the Covenant his Doome For Life or Death and what would sure become Of him and his if he Gods will transgrest Yet would he be of Knowledge more possest Than well became a Creature limited Yea and perhaps the Woman coveted Assoone as Sathan told his form all
Frogs or Locusts wast our meanes of Light When the Baptiz'd our New mans Gifts do slight And sell mens Soules when one betrayes another And of Christs flocke the Brother hurts the Brother When Children to their Sires rebellious prove And Wives to Husbands faile in mutuall Love These tearing Vnions Bond by loves divorce Those razing Natures Fort without remorce When both these States the Churches mysticke type Each other cloy with Tares or fruite unripe When men create New Christs both here there Or then in Heaven Christs body seeke elsewhere When his bright Light shines in the utmost West Which like to Lightning rose first from the East When most mens zeale shall frozen be and cold Then every houre looke for the End foretold Which End steales on like Daniels desolations Or Noahs Flood which overtooke all Nations Whilst they were feasting like our Libertines Who slight these Flames as they those Crystall signes Heed Readers then your Monitors advise And scorne not this his Servants Sacrifice Other good Rules to us Christ left behind To cleare the sight of the most sinfull blind And those in solid words more comprehending In one short Parable more by descending From Generals to formes Particular Conducting Saints to the Archangels war With easie steps and edifying phraze More than by thorny doubts Meanders maze Which course if Preachers now adayes would trace With Catechizing Lectures to make place For Seed to spring not halfe so many Tares Would choke pure-seeded hearts with worldly cares If in their Sermons to the simpler sort They leave to canvase and to make report Of matters past their reach and Apprehensions Or such deepe points which might provoke contentions As Gods Essentiall Forme Pelagian doubts The Soules Free-will hels place or whereabouts Departed Saints are seated till Doomes-day And not the Pulpit beate with an Affray On Bellarmine and other Clerkes unknowne WhoÌ„ they with Latine there would tumble down If they shoot not Wits Squibs against the Truth Nor Legend-dreames to sindge the eares of Youth If they Preach nothing but Christ Crucified And saving Faith sinne would lye mortifyed Their zeale would spring if they with zealous mood Expound Christs Gospell to be understood Men would repent sinnes Baites if they disgrace Dividing the Lawes Thunder from mild Grace Some kind of sinnes which daily he beheld Committed by poore humble Soules he held More veniall of compassionate regard He pittyed them and their petitions heard If with Contritions Grones they did lament And of their sinnes unfainedly repent To shew his Love unto the Convertite To lift up Soules from discontented plight And that none should despaire of Clemency He did these short similitudes apply A man had lost one sheepe of many score But finding it with toyle rejoyced more Than for the rest which never stray'd at all From their owne Ranke his whistle or his call A Woman next he cited who did boast More of one silver peece which she had lost And after search recovered then of nine Left in her purse that never made her whine For further proofe he brought the Prodigall Who spent his meanes both use and Principall Most lavishly yet afterwards Repenting With teares he found his Fathers hearts relenting That his Returne a New-man from a Beast He welcom'd with a Calfe and made a Feast Such Joy Christ said transports the Angels Quire When men Repent and seeke their Heavenly Sire They triumph more for One poore Convertite Then for lesse Strayes or more in life upright So pittifull was Christ that to unfold His Love Remorce and mercies manifold Were endlesse paines above Capacity Of Humane wit clog'd with Infirmity As may appeare by that Adulteresse Led by the Scribes when seeing her heavinesse He bad her to goe home and sinne no more And when himself stood tortur'd at deaths doore He comforted the Theefe with Paradise Because he askt for Grace with dolefull eyes But for the Higher sort who proudly dar'd Maskt under Lawes pretence with burdens hard To Tyrannize upon mens Consciences And by Schoole Quirkes or wrested sentencâ—s Of Scripture to molest the Churches union Those with a woe he doomed for disunion With such who force the gift of Chastity Unlesse God gave it on Humanity Who barring Saints Gods Im age to beget Would weave for foule Asmodâ—eus Priests a Net Christ utterly mislikt such Scandalists Like them who dare beyond Religions Lists As petty Kings to Lord it by their gripes Wounding the Poore worthy of many stripes Those he Judg'd to be for above all sins Then raigning strong and whereby Satan wins Most in our Age smooth-fac'd Hypocrisy He loathed as foule thoughts Soules Leprosie Eight severall woes therefore against the Scribes He thundred for their hollow deeds and Bribes Who knew his Masters will and did it not But wilfully would loyter play or plot Some lewd designe against his Masters profit Or saw his losse and not informes him of it Such witting slaves he sentenced to be Worthy of smart in a most high degree It griev'd him much to see Wisemen contend Like Ideots and fond children to no end For shaddowes on the wall for Dignity Short lasting Pompe for so true Liberty Quite losing through their Pride and vaine desires They quench the flame of Intellectuall fires Christ saw these Flashes Dreames and Fooleries And oft lamented them with weeping eyes To shun therefore Gods wrath and to fulfill While we on earth survive his Fathers will Of force we must he said forsake our owne Though dearest Lusts and tread Temptations downe We must take up his Crosse and that prefer As Heavens doore and our Remembrancer Before our Parents Children or Alliance And on his Blood to fixe our whole Affiance To Penitents through Faith hee preach't Remission Of sinnes but Plagues for temporiz'd omission The which with Teares hee Prophesied would light For wilfull sinne on every faithlesse wight This Judgement on Jerusalem foretold By Romes proud Conquests afterwards tooke hold When Abrahams seed the Circumcized Ligne Were quite expulst the Land of Palestine And sithence we the Christians of the West Yea and the East whom Infidels molest Have felt for sinne Gods Plagues of Vengeance due And shall feele worse unlesse we change our hue With better Leaven then the Pharisees Our Faith like ill bak't bread soone putrifies O hardned hearts O most unhappy men How oft sought Christ like to a carefull Hen Her wandring Chickens or a loving Brother To reunite your strayes and wrongs to smother How oft likewise hath he recalled home Into his Flocke our Westerne Christendome God grant our Bâ—itaines may regard this pittance These crummes of mine not slighting their admittance Into his Fold least Antichristian foule Devoure their seed and their New man controule Lest for their want of Faiths Lampe-oyle in Heaven They be like to the Foolish Virgins driven From the Kings Feast or that they hide their Talents Or they shut out for want of wedding rayments Or like those Clownes who their Lords
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
therefore the Fiend Conspir'd to bring to passe his damned End Which was to ruine Christ and all his Crew Before he could on Earth Gods Church renew But could none other of th' Apostles winne Save this Perditions Child to act that sinne Judas suborned thus his Instrument Against his Lord and Master did invent An ambushment Christs Body to betray Though he his owne and Soule did cast away To Satan for a Prey For when he saw As Purser that he could no money draw More than he had by Christ his Company And that at Simons house in Bethany Whilst he summ'd up with avaricious Care His Theft he markt how Christ went poore and bare Not caring for the world or worldly gaine His chiefest ayme and would not then restraine The woman which powr'd Nard upon his Head And feete an Oyle that might him much bestead If to the Druggist sold he murmur'd sore He could not catch as he had done before This when our Saviour mark'd Why doest thou grudge Judas said he like a pelfe-serving drudge This Oyntment sold disposed to the poore I grant might have their wants relieved more But they are alwayes here so am not I. Embalmed thus know I shall shortly dye And through the world where shall be read my story Her loving deed shall publisht be with glory These words distasted foule Iscariots thought And to betray him now he hourely sought Away he went to the Chiefe Priests in hast And told them of Christs life and of this waste Now is the Time quoth he for you to take him Whilst he at night to Prayers doth betake him He names himselfe the Christ. I heard him say He would Gods Temple raze and â—ast away And afterwards râ—build it up as well In three dayes space in spight of Men and Hell The Priests were all of such a Chapman glad And presently a Contract with him made That their Catch-poles might without jeopardy Arrest him by the Nights obscurity For thirty peeces of that Countrey Coyne Which to their Treasure house they did purloyne By shifts and fraud for which they were reprov'd Of Christ before which them to malice mov'd Farre more for that than any other cause Though they surmiz'd the breach of Moses Lawes For plucking Corne upon the Sabbath day Or bringing downe their Temple to decay About that time the Paschall feast to hold On Maundy Thursday so enstyl'd of Old Jesus did sup that Evening tide his last At Salem in an upper roome where plac't With his Disciples twelve he first tooke Bread Bâ—est brake and gave it them whereon they fed After his blessing This my Body is His body sure Mans sacrifice for Blisse If rightly tane by a Just true Receiver With Inward taste and of a true Believer For otherwise who toucht Christ in the Prease Aswell as the Blood-flux'd had found more ease In the remembrance of his body naild Vnto the Crosse whereby the Saints stand baild From terrours here and in the world to come Nay warranted in Spirit they become Against doomes-day from the darke second death He blest the Cup alike with holy Breath After the New mans way and bad them drinke The Sacred Wine and on his Blood to thinke As lately at our New mans Sacrifice With bright day-light confounding Heresies My ravisht Muse beheld the Heavenly Vine With Purple Grapes for Mortals prest to Wine â—This costly food Soules Manna purging vice The figure of his Bodies Sacrifice This Type of Blood unbloudyed Mystery Christ left for Saints to keepe in memory His death untill his comming from above Where yet he sits to intercede and move For Penitents his Father wrong'd by Man This way I feed through Faith And who dares scan Another sense yet with Humility Let him here stop as with the Trinity Of Persons in the Godhead which he ought More to admire than by transcendent thought To soare more high than Eagles to the Sunne Where by the stame his sense may be undone Since how wee change to Christ no more hee knowes Then Babes the manner how the Spirit blowes The Sunne drawes up Earths vapours And so can Christ lift like Stephen up our Inward Man This humblenesse of mind when Christ had supt That Evening as it were to interrupt Our Future doubts he shew'd by stooping downe To wash his Servants feete with Love unknowne To which he added that the Marke for ever True hearted Christians from the false to sever Was mutuall Love which a Commandment New He styl'd for without Love Faith proves untrue Our soules and bodies are the Church where God In the third person holds his sweete abode But if we hate good men God dwels not there For the true Churches Roofe Love ought to beare The Sacrifice all done Christ went his way Out of the City as he us'd to Pray Accompanyed with his Disciples true For Judas was departed to his crue His Masters nippe made him the sooner goe Doe quickely that which thou intend'st to doe To execute his Treason and Compact And to receive his bire while Jesus rackt With griefe prepar'd by Fervent Love aswell As Faith and vowes against Sin Death and Hell With his ensuing griefes he had acquainted His Chosen Mates how he should be attainted Bound and arraign'd that night how thereupon As scattered Floâ—kes his servants would be gone And him would leave amidst his Bloody foes Enthrall'd and sore distrest with dismall woes But Peter trusting to his rusty sword Seem'd to distrust his Lords Propheticke word No Mortals force nor death nor Furies grimme From Gods deare Sonne should ever sever him Before the Cocke crow thrice thou wilt deny Replyed Christ me and my Company Thou and thy Mates before the Mornings peepe Will flye for feare like weake and heartlesse Sheep There close unto Jerusalem confin'd Neere Olives Mount a place for him assign'd By Destiny which was his Fathers Will To vent the throbs which did his Inside fill A Garden styl'd of Old Gethsemanee Secure at Nights from Worldlings Company There Jesus felt what might the stoutest quell A world of griping cares of Torments fell The dreadfull vengeance which the Godhead past Upon Mankind his owne so over cast And almost sunke with Agonies of sorrow That one had thought he could not live till morrow His tender Body did extreamely languish And did partake of more and sadder anguish Then other mens wanting the Nature Male In the mixt frame of his Conception Female Or weaker earthly Flesh whereby he stood So tortur'd that he sweated drops of Blood So sensible so full of piercing paine That he could not but more then man complain Like him whose youthfull Lockes chang'd into Gray In one nights space on fame that the next day He should be slaine But Sweates to sacrifice Of streaming Blood exceedes all prodigies And shewes that Saints by meanes most violent Win Grace to Natures sore astonishment Christ by this Strange Pro-passion tortured Shewes that his Mind as Body languished His Agony surmounted all mens
those Joyes through worldly Toyes Lord here we yeild thee thanks though soyld with Errours And round about beset with many Terrours For turning Brittaines Iland from a Beast To be Baptiz'd and of Baptiz'd the Best While she doeth firmely to thy Pledges stick To thy true Seales and Spirits Candlestick Praysed be thou who hast to us reveald The Certaine Meanes whereby we may be heal'd Of Natures Spots and those Contagious Evills Heapt on us by the World the Flesh and Devills More in these Latter Times then heretofore When our Great Tempter lay enthralled more And of his Stings curb'd by the Holy Ghost Till Babels Whore perk'd up and rul'd the rost Which sacred Meanes we humbly pray thy Grace May still support us in our New-mans Race As we begunne so with more Love to burne Untill thy Sonne Incarnate shall returne With Finall Doome to judge the Dead and Quick The Dead in Faith and the Church Catholick A joyfull Hymne to be sung on the Lords Day winding up the Sevenths Dayes Exercise REjoyce yee Saints hoyse up your highest Sayles And magnify with loud Hosaâ—â—aes hayles The Lord that first saluted from the Grave Fraile Adams Sonnes and them their debts forgave Spread forth his Sabbaths Palmes sing joyfull Psalmes Attend his word and to the Poore give Almes How Amiable and Cordiall is thy Word Above all Objects els O mighty Lord How ravishing with Pleasures Manifold Surmounting Musick Pomp or heapes of Gold Sounds in our Hearts the Heavenly Bridgroomes voice How sweetly ring those Peales of Hallowed Noise Thrice Holy sung by Hoasts of Cherubins Thrice answer'd by Love Flaming Scraphins O Unity thrice blest in Trinity O Trinity thrice blest in Unity For the pursuit of which Harmonious straine Though fully we cannot as yet attaine To that brave Pitch by reason of our Fogges Thy Grace yet drawes the will and dries our Bogges So if we glaunce as through a Glasse a while At their sweet Tunes and in thy Laud Compile Some zealous worke to testify our Love And ready will which therewithall may move Thy Saints on Earth to warble forth thy Prayse Thou art well pleas'd as with the Widowes Mite Who Abrams deed didst by a Ramme acquite Teach us O Christ to waigh th' effect and Cause Of this Dayes Rest like those whom at Emaus Thou mad'st with zeale to burne the selfe same day When thou didst Rise and metst them by the way That we with Vowes and Sabbaths true Delight May think on thee without the least despite Of Spleene or Gall which might prophane the Time And blacke our Soules with a Notorious Crime If we neglect our Duties and thy Call Now to appeare at this thy Feastivall Wâ—thdraw our mindes from Natures fond desires Or Ruffling showes which might put our Fires And make some justly call our Day of Rest A Carnall Time or Saturnalian Feast Restraine our Longing Fits from all excesse Of Meats and Drinke which might our Wits oppresse And by their mounting Fumes up to the Braine Thee to neglect our Noblest Part constraine And cause us Nabal-like the Sots to play When we to Thee our Thankfull vowes should pay For on this Day thy Cabinet stands ope And we on it for store of Jewells hope O let us not like to that Thorny Ground Be choakt with worldly Cares but Fruitfull found And watchfull still attending on thy Word At this thy Sabbaths Feast it to record And edify our Neighbours as our selves Before our Crimes link us with frantick Elves Or to Conclude before thou do remove As Sonne of Man in Person from Above To judge Mankinde which shortly we expect And on the seventh Day as some suspect Good Lord by vertue of thy Sabbaths Rest According to thy will grant our Request That as thou didst with Body Glorified Rise up from Death so we Soule-purified May Rise from Sinne and up to Heav'n ascend And not to Hell like damned Ghosts descend All Glory be to Thee as heretofore In Persons three one God for evermore Amen Another Hymne in our Redeemers Prayse LEt all that soil'd the Precepts Ten New Day-light crave through Christ. Amen And let all Angells Saints and Men For ever blesse Christs Name Amen Amen Amen sound we like Thunder That at our Zeale the World may wonder That at our Noise the World agast May turne to Christ now at the last To tune his Prayse with Newer Tongues And with the Heart more then the Lunges Let Christ be Alpha in our Songes And our Omega as belonges To Catholickes of Christian stock The Spirits seed Sheep of one Flock Let all our Thoughts conspire in One To fixe our Faith on Christ alone And with one voice aloud to Sing Christ is our Head Judge Saviour King The Prince of Angells Gods Delight The Crowne of Saints Mens only Light The Womans Seed the Sonne of God Which on the Head of Satan trod The Lion borne of Judaes Ligne The Root of Jesse Mount Calvares Signe The Glorious Starre of our New Birth Whence springs our Peace and sweetest Mirth The second part BOth First and Last as we begunne Let us applaud our Makers Sonne With lowd Hosannaes every day Like chirping Birds in Moneth of May Like Consorts Tune or Ring of Bells Let us shew how our Love excells And never cease Christs Name to ring Till we meet all as in one Ring Or Circle round whence no Disunion Shall ever part our Hearts Communion Like Nightingales in Summers Bowre Let us on Christ thinke every howre And never leave to blaze his Story Untill we meet this Lord of Glory This Lord of Lord that crusht the sting Of our great Foe for which we sing All prayse to him that conquerd Sinne And did for us the Triumph winne Amen The New-mans Song of Thankesgiving after the Receiving of the Communion WE took this Day Christs Flesh and Bloud Drest in the Forme of sacred Food We fed on Bread surmounting Wealth We drank Christs Wine of Saving Health O Mystick signes O Grace Divine Transferred from the Heavenly Vine And Living Bread that came from God To warme and change our Earthly Clod We took those Signes like Baskets rare But opening them most dainty Fare We found to please our Spirits Tast We found enough to break our Fast. We felt our Soules cast in New Mould And changed from the Creature Old Love made us all of one consent Faith wrought in us the Lords Intent To mind his Passion Death and Love Till He to Judge comes from Above By these two Gifts we grow to be Christs Body from disunion free By them like Floure bak't in one Loafe The Lord feedes us under our Roofe By them like Lines we meet in one Firme Center in Gods Truth alone Gods Truth that blest our Christian spouse With happy Lot like Obeds House Blest for the Ark while there it stayd When Others were by it dismayd The second part WE yeeld thee Thanks most Gratious Lord Who doest Faiths Light to us record
broome Of Discipline sweeping foule Lusts away And the Worlds love which bring into decay The Heavenly Seed choakt up with Pompe cares Like Earthly Graine with Cockle Thornes Tares What makes a Surgeon use Corroding Waters For Festred Soares but that they are Abaters Of the proud Flesh why doe Physitians give Their Bitter Pilles unto the Sicke that grieve Of causes hid but that the bodyes sink Cannot be Purg'd of Filth and Humours stink By sweet Receipts no more should Gods Eâ—ect The Joyes of New Jerusalem expect Without first passing through the Bloud red Seas Of Sorrowes deepe to gaine perpetuall ease I meane not Griefe for losse of worldly wealth Or Carnall Friends but losse of Saving health Griefe for the wordes ecclipse Griefe for our sinne Griefe for the Snares which Saints are toyled in Who to this dying Doctrine will encline His Heart and to Austerity confine His Life he shall be crowned for his durance With Heavens Blisse whereof Christ gives assurance With these true Golden Rules seal'd in the Heart None gaines the Godheads love without some Smart Who Christ his markes more here of Torture beares In Heaven be the brighter Garland weares A Hymne explaining the cause of our Saviours Sufferings on the Crosse together with the effects of his Buriall WE were the Cause and none but we Why Christ was naild unto the Tree We were the Cause worse then the Scribes Nay worse then Judas with his Bribes Of Christ his death and Guiltlesse Bloud We tore his Flesh like Vipers Brood We drunk his Bloud like Cannibals Who men Redeem'd when they were Thralles The Jewes misus'd Him but one day Whereas we dayly him betray And Crucify the Lord againe Saints in his Limmes for spite or Gaine We rave farre worse then did the Jewes Our Carnall Lusts and Ghostly stewes Our Pride Deceites and Avarice Our Riots Feasts and Fopperies Our Healthes Debates and losse of Time Shew why Christ up the Crosse did climbe Let us then waigh with Penitence Sinnes fiery sting the Crosses sence Let us bewayle our wretchednesse Which brought our Saviour to distresse And think upon these Rules with Feare That Trees which are both dry and seare Shall sure be fell'd since blooming Wood Hath beene destroyed as with a Floud And that all Soules shall suffer losse Unlesse they muse upon the Crosse And thereby hope for inward Peace The Spirits gifts and sinnes release By vertue of that Costly Price Which hung thereon for Sacrifice For which high Deed while we have breath We never will forget his Death But in our Mindes wee will infixe His Merites Love and Crucifixe His Living Rock can hide our Soares As Josephs Vault entomb'd his Coarse We may to Blisse rise up from Bale As Jonas did from out the Whale If on his Wounds wee fixe our Soules Like Doves that pitch on Rocky Holes The Seventh Dayes EXERCISE The Argument Old thinges made New now is Jewes Sabbath Day Chang'd to the Lords to mind our Saviours sway Who Rose stay'd here sixe Weekes then went his way To Heav'n Men Inspir'd on Whit-sunday OUr two Dayes storme is cleer'd come let us sing And Tribute pay to our Triumphant King Who trampling on our Foes hath led the way To Resurrections Port on the third Day After his Death which first of their Weekes Date â—ld Hebrewes Calendar did Calculate O Blessed Day most blest in the Exchange Whilst we do not from zeale like worldlings range But all with joy for this our Worlds Creation And Christ his Rising minding our vocation As likewise for the Holy Ghosts descent On Whit-sunday ten dayes from Christs Ascent We Holy keepe our Lords this Seaventh day And in his Prayse our thankfull Hymnes display Who did because our sinnes the Old withstood Transferre a newer Feast cleer'd by his Bloud Though Christ was Lord Sabbaths prime perfection The manheads Crowne yet he to make defection Of that Dayes Rest did never Condescend But left it us untill Times finall End He left it us to mind th' Eternall Day When Time with baldnes never shall decay That Feast of Feasts with none can paralell For it above all Triumphs beares the Bell The Harmony whereof no Tongue can tell And more doth Our then Our the Sixe excell The which whilst we looke for let us foregoe Our Deeds prophane and Pious dutyes doe On this High day Let us congratulate With Jubilees our Resurrections state And our through Christ redinte-gratious Peace With God the Father in his Flockes increase Let us cheere up our Soules with Joyfull Psalmes ' And shew our Love by Prayers Vowes and Almes Let all the Earth let Christians all rejoyce And heare Gods word the Lord of Sabaoths voice Not in a Language strange or Noise unknowne But in that Tongue which men doe terme their owne Let them with understanding sound his Fame And Glorify Jehovahs awfull Name With Voices Musick sound and Symphony With Davids zeale and Asaphs Harmony Unanimous let us proclaime his Glory Not dreaming wise but in a reall story To be admir'd of all the Sonnes of Men And Registred with adamantine Pen All Glory be to thee as heretofore In Persons three one God for evermore Who least that Cares might dull our Inward sight Hast Weekely left us one of brighter Light Aswell to match the Hebrewes as to rayse New zeale on it for our Redeemers Praise Because Christs Faith stood firme not shakt at all His Manhead calling God God heard his Call Because his Manhead spurn'd Hells Crown of strife Preferring here on Earth an Humble Life And constantly endur'd the dreadfull shock Of Perills like a Shepheard for his Flocke And to his Father deare did pray alone For helpe he at the last did heare his Mone When he his Bloud had on the Altar shed Soone as he sayd All is now finished His sacred Soule straight way to Paradise Leaving the Crosse and his Bodyâ—â—yes â—â—yes Whence in Earths wombe after two Nights repose Brave Gyant-like refresht with wine he Rose His Body Rose from Grave from the Whales Belly Rays'd Jonâ—s-like to live Triumphantly For how could he whom God ordain'd to save Old Adams Seed be captiv'd in the Grave Thou art my Sonne Mens Light whom I begot Sayd his just Father and here take thy lot In choisest Soile The Hâ—athâ—n I give to thee For Heritage and all the world in Fee To bruize or breake for thy owne pretious merits Thou by thy bloud hast tam'd the wily Spirits O murther'd Lambe Hence-forth on my Right hand Sit in thy Humane shape none shall withstand Thy Powerfull will in Heaven Earth or Hell For thou shalt judge all Men and Furyes fell My sentence just thou hast appeas'd alone For which mysterious deed wee both are One. Because the Wine-presse thou alone hast trod Thy Flock shall ever dwell with mee their God Because for Sinne thou hast endured wrong Thou shalt divide the lest spoyle with the strong And for thy love to Man bought with
thy Bloud I Cancell quite against Old Adams Brood Their Bodyes Death excepted my Decree Of vengeance due if they beleeve in thee Without adhering to Idolatry To their owne works and humane Foppery Be thou their Patron and sole Advocate Who trust to other Courtiers I doe hate Sue thou for them in thy Humanity Before our Throne of endlesse Majesty And for thy sake I will Elect them sure For unto thee all Glory I assure Till th'Elect come in and thy Foes in Thrall That then our God head may be all in all To this effect our Heavenly Father spake When his deare Sonne his Body Rais'd did take From Josephs Tombe when by the dawning day Those Women came there where his Body lay Entomb'd with mind to sacrifice their woes For Him whom they saw Martyr'd by his Foes To solemnize his sacred Funerall Out of true Zeale and hearty love withall Thither they came not Superstitiously Nor yet for Fashion sake but really With an intent on his Dead Corpse to powre Most pretious Oyles but by the Heavenly Pow're They were debarr'd For as they did adventer To shew their Love and in the Vault would enter An Angell all in white of lightning hew Them interrupted with these Tidings true What would yee now poore Soules embalme his Coarse Whom late your Nation wrong'd without remorse Why seeke yee here the Quick among the Dead God 's living Sonne within an Earthly bed God would not let his Sonne Corruption see Nor could his Body long enclosed be Within this Rock The third day now is come Christ Risen is from Tombe as from earths wombe Then goe your wayes and his Disciples tell What Newes yee heare what Lot to him befell The women shudder'd and distract almost With the strange sight as if some wondrous Ghost Had them encountred ran away from thence Such is the nature of weake mortall sense When they meet Objects of Immortall Frame Reason lyes hid as under Ashes Flame But Pilates watch with horrour sore agast Forsook their charge and fled away more fast Then did the women at the Angells Noise For they good Soules were soone repleat with Joyes And when their Witts they recollected had â—hrists true Disciples they acquainted made With these glad Tidings who them held too good To be so true untill in zealous mood Christ did himselfe expostulate the cause With two of them who travell'd to Emaus The selfe same day when he did Rise from Death O simple Soules voyd of Caelestiall breath Ought not quoth he Messias to be slaine By sinners hands and all these wrongs sustaine Do not the Prophets all agree in one Which men refus'd should be the Corner stone That evermore Melchisedech's high Priest By David sung should rule that Jesus Christ Messias should be first smote with the Rod Due for your sinnes by your Dread-loving God Though as Gods Sonne he might have chose to feele The Taunts and Nippes of men more hard then steele Yet he of meere good will not by constraint Enthrall'd himselfe to sinners false complaint He opened not his mouth nor them withstood But as a Lambe before the shearer stood Dumbe Patient Meeke whilst for your Treacheries He wounded was And these perplexities With Tortures Stripes and scornes he underwent To ransome Adams seed from Punishment But now yee are by his Afflictions healâ—d And through his Crosse shall shortly be enseal'd A Gospell New a Testament of Grace An easy yoake with covenants to raze The former Curse If yee beleeve that Christ Is Gods owne Sonne your Saviour Prince and Priest If like to him yee humbly live together As he rose up so shall each faithfull Brother These say'd and more then my weake thoughts record By giving thankes and breaking Bread the Lord They knew and then he vanisht from their sight He vanisht from them Twaine and in the Night He did appeare to his Apostles where For zeales devotion they assembled were And catechized them for Faith and Love With other points which might their Soules improve Nor can I overship my ready Pen From laying downe his love to Magdalen Whilst her confused thoughts twixt doubt and Feare Rov'd what became of his Dead Corpse elswhere He kindly call'd her by her proper name Shew'd her his person and confirm'd the same By Message which unto his friends he bid Her to declare Thus sundry times he did Appeare to them whom formerly he knew To be th'Elect and his Disciples true That they might be Eye-witnesses and blaze To all the world this wonder of amaze And that true Flesh his Body was become He eate with them Bread Fish and Honey-combe To shew himselfe a Perfect Man indeed And not a Ghost Christ hungred and did feed Immortall he with Mortalls as a Guest Tooke what was next at hand not curious drest To let men know what Nature might suffice And that with Men He man did sympathize Among the rest when Thomas Didymus Was absent first and all unanimous Excepting him believed what they saw Although the Newes might well his senses draw To credit them yet he stood off and sayd Unlesse I see I am not well appayd Unlesse these Eyes his Person shall behold How can these Newes for currant true be told Unlesse my selfe shall feele his nayled hands And side late pierst by the fell soldiers Bands At sight of which deepe Wound by Romane Speare The lookers on appalled were with feare I will not you beleeve Therefore the Lord His wavering Creed to settle and record To future times his love a sev'night after His first appearance he againe did enter Into the Roome where Thomas with his Mates Were then shut up and there Christ animates Commanding him to touâ—h him and to ponder With Faith and understanding rapt with wonder His misbeliefe and told him for our Rest Who so beleeves what he had seen is blest When Jesus had conversed forty dayes On Earth halfe way twixt Sions walls he stayes And Bethany where his Disciples met Upon the Summet of Mount Olivet The place where he the night before his Passion Had powr'd forth bloudy sweates his antepassion Which over-peeres Jerusalem and all The Countrey round about with stately fall Where likewise some do Critickly conceive That all men shall their Finall doome receive There He full Powr ' to his Disciples gives Their sinnes to loose that vow to lead new lives As also those to Excommunicate If they offend that were Regenerate This Charge to them and Peter Christ prescribes Joint as to judge hereafter Israells Tribes Thus speaking in the Plurall Go your wayes And Preach to bind or loose yee have the keyes Above all rules on Faith he most insisted And fruitfull Love both which who so resisted With wanton spleen or contumacious willes He prophesied Damnation for their Illes But saving-health to them who should confesse Such faithfull love as Peter did expresse Assoone as Christ his documents had ended Some did presume who on him there attended To aske him whether