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
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
in the Yeare Or oftner if Occasion so require To watch and cast Sinnes viper in the fire Now had the Priests the silent Night chose out To act their plot which they to bring about By Day-light fear'd lest that the vulgar sort Who late Hosanna cry'd might Christ support Or rescue from their foule injurious hands In spite of all their Scribes and bribed Bands Whilst He the path with his Disciples tooke Which led from Olives Mount to Cedrons Brooke That Brook which gliding through the Royall vale Did teares then from Gethsemane exhale Judas arriv'd who his Compact to gloze Thus with a kisse betray'd him to his foes Master All-haile at which watch-word a Band Of Armed men commanded him to stand And yeeld himselfe to the High Priests command Christ soone obey'd not willing to withstand The Serpents Hisse but like a Lambe gave way To their Arrest as to sterne Wolves a prey Knowing that now the Fatall time was come To satisfie Gods wrath for Adams Doome For at their first Approach to their demand Which Jesus was He them to understand Gave without false Equivocations wiles Wherewith Hels Dragon now the world beguiles I am the man said he But why come ye To apprehend with Clubs and Halberds me As if I were a Thiefe I dayly taught Among you in the Temple yet none sought Me to impeach Though at his Lightning word They backward fell and Peter drew his Sword In his Defence and lopt off Malchus Eare Yet he control'd the Fact bad them not feare Heal'd the Cropt Eare and voluntary went Along with them without astonishment To Annas house who to his Sonne in Law Transfer'd him bound whom when proud Caiphaâ— saw He on some points examined but still The witnesses produc'd agreed but ill For the chiefe Article they stood upon Or in blind zeale so seem'd to stand thereon Was for their high towr'd Temples casting downe And in three dayes to build it with Renowne Which words he spake by figure or a signe As he term'd Bread his flesh himselfe the Vine Unto the which when Jesus stood still mute Not answering with cavilling dispute Caiphas adjur'd him in the Name of God As him he lov'd or fear'd his smarting rod To tell if he were Christ Jehovahs Sonne Who Israel should restore then neere undone Our Saviour then engag'd to shew the Truth Undauntedly though Inward toucht with Ruth I am said he the very same and yee Shall me the Sonne of Man hereafter see A Judge from Heaven descending on you all I am that Christ Messias whom yee call When Caiphas heard this constant Protestation He rent his cloathes with yelling acclamation O Cursed speech Intollerable Tongue Worthy of stoning both by Old and Young So fum'd the Fiend so cry'd the Orgian Priest As at Gods Word did since the Foes of Christ As likewise to this day blood-sucking Rome His Members tempts with taunts and fiery doome No other proofe than this his Blasphemy Need we produce worse than Idolatry Who hearing this can from Revenge containe With outcryes loud they roar'd and did arraigne Christ guilty of a foule notorious crime Of Sinners the most capitall and prime They rail'd on him and could no longer brooke But buffeted and with their fists him strooke They strove who first his Person should deface And with a Reed they smote his Head and Face They bound his eyes and rapt with Lunacy With Girdes and Blowes they said Now Prophesie They spat on him who with his spittle cur'd The Blind mans Eyes and him his sight assur'd One while his tender Flesh the Serjeants nipt Another while with drunken Songs they quipt His Doctrine which they term'd New Oracles And by and by they mockt his Miracles Such spite they wrought on him with revel reakes Till word was brought to them The Morning breakes When Peter had observ'd who present was How all things did against his Master passe And that some charg'd him borne in Galilee Bewray'd by Speech of Christ his crew to be He utterly denyed and Christ renounc'd Which he with Oaths to save his life pronounc'd He never knew the man This thrice he swore But then the Cocke warn'd him that he forswore By which sure reall signe poore Peter knew That he had broke his Vow and prov'd untrue With trickling teares distilling downe his cheeks He then retires aside Gods Mercy seekes And with such words as these bewailes his fault Why did I wretch twixt God and Belial hault Why did I play the base Dissemblers part For feare of rage or momentary smart The Son of God my Saviour to deny Who for my sinnes fear'd not deaths agony Why did I not thinke better on my Fate Whereof my Lord forewarn'd me so of Late That Satan watcht to winnow me like Wheate Why did I not his Prophesie repeate That I would him thrice Craven like not know Before the Cocke should clap his wings to Crow Alasse that I a Member from my Head Disjoynted prove like Judas false and dead Alas that I Baptiz'd to Grace once feeling Good motions pine with Falling sicknesse reeling That I a Saint in Possibility Am turn'd Apostate by impiety That I late taught by Christs eternall word Am now become a Traytor to my Lord Alas that I whose feet my Saviour washt Should now so soone with Durty sinnes be dasht Sinnes paine I doe deserve and foule disgrace Because I strove ambitiously for place Because I stood too much upon my worth I well deserve from grace to be thrust forth O what is Man if destitute of Grace He shall presume with Saints to gaine a Place In stead of place with Saints he merits well With Lucifer to tumble into Hell But I disclaime Mens merits Grace intreat And fly from Justice to Gods mercy Seate Mercy I crave for Mercy still I cry And if that failes no other meanes I le try If for this fault I meete with Mercies streame I will take heed how ever I blaspheame I le clense my Heart with Folly lately stung And will henceforth reforme my erring Tongue I will redeeme my foule Apostacy That all the World shall see my Constancy I will protest the Truth that t is Damnation To cloake the Truth with mentall reservation Let him retaine Hels Scribe for Advocate That traines his Fellowes to Equivocate Though with his Tongue he hath untruely sworne Yet in his Heart he beares a Minde unsworne But I was taught within a better Schoole At Truthes Well-head than so to play the Foole. My Conscience upon whom my thoughts relied This Hearts true Judge tels me I foulely lyed There needs no tricke nor traverse in my Plea One may the Sands count sooner of the Sea Then reckon up the many sinnes I did Of Sinners chiâ—fe I vouch my selfe unbid Yet of all sinnes none troubles me so deepe As this my last for which I waile and weepe O would my eyes a Fountaine were of Teares If teares would please my God and ease my feareâ— I would
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
left for his New Church to trace God grant that they may sink with some remorce Into our Hearts and that they Nature force With her proud wanton brats to lay aside Our pranks and view what from our Saviours side Two-fold besides his Hands and Feete did slow That to Christs Yoke they by those signes may bow An easie yoke if on those double Rillets They humbly poare without vaine quirkes and quillets If inwardly his Crosse they muse upon As Mary did with dolefull teares and John While Natures Light the New mans Glory lay Thus on the Crosse in dolefull paines dismay The Sunnes Noone-light mourn'd for such cruelty From twelve to three with Sable Canopy At sight whereof Romes fierce Centurion quakt And like to Aspen leaves most Newtrals shakt Note here the Nature of the Clay and Waxe The one turnes hard the other soft doth waxe By the Sunnes Heate or Fire And so were then The lookers on some mild some hardned men Some mollifyed by Grace griev'd with remorce Some scorch'd by fiends yell'd out till they were hoarse Chiefly some Scribes were hardned more more For they Christ still derided as before Though Nature did her childrens deeds deplore Some 〈◊〉 necked Jewes held on with taunts to gore The fainting Lambe Now if thou he Gods Sonne Come downe from thence or else thy Fame is done Where are become thy famous Miracles Thy latest vaunts stupendious Oracles That Gods faire Temple ruinâ—d to the ground Thou in three daies couldst build it up more sound Physitiâ—n heale thy selfe Couldst others cure And raise to life and not thine owne assure Some mockt his comming forth from Galilee His Native home suppos'd Hurle downe the Tree Great Nazariâ—e and teare those boring Nailes Which trouble thee At him another railes Couldst thou a man from death to life restore Which in the Grave had laine foure dayes before And canst not now thy dearest selfe redeeme Thus did they like mad Bedlems scoffe skream While the poore Lamb almost brought to despaire Soules by his Crosse and patience to repaire Perplext as well for their obduracy Of heart as for their foule conspiracy Like a Childing Woman o'recome with Throes He cryed out in height of all his woes Borne downe with waight of mans mortallity His Fathers wrath his Nations Cruelty And prest with Satans threats of Tyranny Eli Eli Lamasabachthani In English why hast thou forsaken me My God my God When I forsake not thee Some hearing that and doth our Great Messias Vouchsafe said they to call upon Elias Well let him come and save this Royall man With Fatall Fire from Heaven if he can Neere to deaths point he made his Mone I thirst That is for Soules Salvation which accurst By Justice stand in a suspended plight Like to be chain'd with Spirits of the night Unlesse O Father this my Sacrifice Thou wilt accept to purge their damned vice But his leud Foes with unrelenting Gall In stead of drinke to quench his thirst withall Soone dipt a Spunge in gally vinegar Which on a Reed reacht him although eager And bitter too he tasted to fulfill The Prophesie as thereby Lust to kill In Adams Seed and likewise to distaste The Fatall Apples sweete delicious taste Since now all needfull things for Humane good Christ had fulfill'd by shedding of his Blood Which through his Nailed Hands and Feete did streame With paine in Soule and Body most extreame The New-mans Offring powr'd out to asswage Gods wrath conceiv'd against the Old mans rage And knowing that all Prophesies relation Were to the bottome brought by his Oblation He said Now all is at a finall End Into thy hands O Father I commend My Spirit O forgive this Crying sinne Which they of Blindnesse are now plunged in At which Last words groan'd out with Sacred breath The Lambe of God mens Saviour seal'd his death Assoone as He had yeelded up the Ghost Whilst at his death the rout insulted most Blacke hideous clouds which had begunne before Quite dimm'd the Sunne The Earth then labour'd sore As if her wombe some uncouth Birth would vent Her Center shooke with Throes so violent That Salems Temple veile asunder cleft A signe that Levies brood should be bereft Of the Holy of Holies by Entaile The High Priests roome and parted by that vaile Then rent so that the vulgar gazed on The Mysticks hid and Tetragrammaton With great Jehovahs Name which Satan feares They saw disclosed in Hebrew Characters This Rupture chanc'd soone as by Pilates Tâ—â—ine Our Prince Messias on the Crosse was slaine When Nature was or Natures God perplext As one then glossd at Athens on the Text Of this Eclipse if Credit be to Greekes But Holy Writ informes us that with shriekes Some Jewes that saw those signes disclaim'd their crimes And beating of their brests bewail'd the Times Others stood still and lookt on him with feare When they beheld his side pierc'd with a speare God grant their race which roam as yet like Cain May turne to Christ and so redeeme their staine Preferring more the Crosse than Aarons Riâ—es Christs living Temple more than Carnall sights Now yee that read or heare this Tragedy Tell me did any man more causelesse dye If ye retaine a sympathyzing sense With ours on Earth and know what past from hence Yee Passengers who saw that bloody day Was any griefe like his declare I pray That harmelesse Soules should for leud soules attaint Be pain'd deserves a pitteous sad complaint When faithfull Pythias should for Damon dye A Tyranâ— could not brooke that Tragedy But that Gods Sonne to free men from hell-â—â—ares Should suffer death might Tygers more to â—â—ares His Cares transcend all mens Capacity His Love surmounts Seraphicke Charity O thinke on Christ his Passion sinnefull Man What here I pen'd with understanding scan And never let his Bloody Crosse depart By worldly charmes or wiles out of thy Heart But every day in spite of tempting vice Thinke on the Crosse the New mans Sacrifice How he spent yeares Man to regenerate Who did the World but in few Daies Create Thinke how He dy'd to ransome us from Death By whose sweet Word man first receiv'd his breath At Evening tide on this their Sabbaths Eve Among the Jewes who then for Christ did grieve One Joseph was of Arimatheas Towne An upright Man a Counsellour well knowne In Salem for his zeale good deeds and wealth One that Believ'd but as it were by stealth In visits close for feare of Factious Scribes Which in those dayes possest the Jewish Tribes With doubtfull Schismes He griev'd the Priests to see So fierce and so unnaturall to be Like to those Cains Spaines Inquisitions bounds Who trounce poore Soules beyond Religions bounds As to complot the murther of their Brother But now his griefe he could no longer smother Undauntedly not caring to be shent He for Christs Body unto Pilate went Entreating him that from the Crosse he might Remove the same and bury it in
if that they feare To favour those Choyce workes which every yeare Some New borne Spirits in these dayes of evill Present from Christ to conjure downe the Devill I feare no such false Squibs nor cloudy Brow That some with Benets Badge might overcrow Or clog my Conscience like an Ape in Hell I feare no such Bug-beares nor Magicke spell Wherwith Masse-mongers Flamines most prophane Bragge to fetch Fiends from out a Puritane For in my Will the markes of Christ I beare His Image on the Crosse which thus I weare Like as the Fiery Serpent made of Brasse Within the Desart rais'd an Object was To cure all such as were by Serpents stung Onely by seeing that which Outward hung So the Resemblance of Christ Crucifixt With constant Faith in our Remembrance fixt Heales up the wounds and scars which Python old Procur'd to sinne when our first Parents sold Themselves for slaves There is no Antidote More strong than Christ his Crosse or Seamelesse Coate Against our Foes The which with more impression We shall believe if following our Profession We marke what dismall change the whole world crost When Natures God on Earth gave up the Ghost Even then O strange Apparent to the Eye Foure Miracles amaz'd Mortallity Which foure likewise soure Creatures made agast For Nature they Sinne Death and Hell defac't The first that rapt the standers by with wonder Was Salems Temples vaile then rent asunder A Signe that shadowes of Reallities Ceas'd with the Jewish Rites and Sacrifice The third did Tombes and Monuments uncase With Trembling Motion of the solid Base A Signe that Satans Kingdome was undone And by the Crosse the Gentiles should be wonne The Fourth the Resurrection did make cleare For certaine Saints did visibly appeare Unto their Friends out of their Monuments When Christ fulfill'd the Prophesies Contents A certaine signe that God will like to those Others through Christ into New life transpose In the meane time the Souldiers stood not Idle Nor would their spite nor greedy Passions bridle Some swagger'd for their Robes with open throat Some did cast lots about Christs seamelesse coate Some broke the Prisoners Bones but finding sure Jesus deceas'd yet they to keepe in ure Their Bloody hands them would not then forbeare But one of them his side pierst with a speare A Souldier of proud Rome then pierst his side As now that City would his Limmes divide Out of whose wounds two Sacramentall signes Did Water flow and Blood like juyce of Vines Both White and Red The One for Circumcision Pre-figur'd Baptisme th' other Sinnes Remission By Blood unseene within the Vine presented Instead of Carnall Altars represented By Moses Lawes and abrogated since By our great Prophet Saviour Priest and Prince The Guardian Chiefe whom they Centurion stil'd Began to quaile and to become more milde When he had seene those strange and fearefull signes From Heaven sent for Pilates fierce Assignes To warne Mankind of Judgements Doome to come That God for wrong was neither deafe nor dumb He to conclude did make this Protestation That Jesus was most Just and Gods owne Sonne View here ye Mortals the effects of Blood Of Crying sin wherewith the Jewish Brood And the Old Romane state imbru'd their hands O let their Deeds amaze our Christian Lands With horrour dread and true relenting Feares Mixt with the Hearts Compunction sad teares To see the Sonne of God slaine for our sakes For our defaults Felonious as Mistakes Aâ—ive his hands and feete transfixed were With Iron Nayles And after death his side So gor'd through with a Souldiers speare beside That many there dismay'd in sight and Breast Most earnestly behold him whom they pierst Which dolefull sight likewise thrice happy we Could it in our deepe Breast reposed be But what ensu'd to them that were the cause Of this sad Feast you heard in Frydayes Clause As for the Judge false Pilate Romes Records Authenticke shew that by the Senate-Lords And the Imperiall doome a Banisht wretch Because his deedes beyond the Laws did stretch He went forth in despaire and slue himselfe And for Romes state then Proud for worldly pelfe Triumphant Great and Potent over Nations She never found one yeare without vexations Her Consuls Knights and Legionary Bands Her Tribunes and her Pretours had their hands So full of Treasons Treacheries and Blood That seldome since but she Confused stood Yea and her Caesars like to Cedars fell Whilst Christian shrubbes mauger the plots of hell Gayn'd Rooting firme through both the Hemispheres Spreading our Saviours Fame with filiall feares The Parthians and Arabians robb'd her East The Gothes and Vandals spoyl'd her in the West And her huge Scepter to the Thracian straite Transferr'd she staid behinde for Babels Baite Or tempting Bath unto the Man of sinne For Sale of Soules to plunge the Faithlesse in Such Plagues Rome felt and shall feele yet far more If she holds on Christ through his Limbs to gore So suffred Christ for our Infirmities Whilst his divinest part to Paradise Rapt up with Joy expatiated free From Satans spite where tasting of the Tree Of Life to his Elect perpetuall Life He gaind instead of those darke Passions rife Which Adams sinne with deaths Calamity Had heapt on him and his Posterity Such comforts there of Immortality Christ of his owne above capacity Of our weake knowledge did no doubt possesse As he deserv'd And yet our Schoole-men presse So farre to know of his departure hence In those two dayes before he did commence The Resurrection of his Bodies hew That some have broacht what Curious Wits did brew By Satans fraud And thence did schismes ensue To yoke and Christ to Crucifie anew What Croaking noise in our decrepit yeares Have lately beene stirr'd up by Mauzzims Peeres Like Hellish Frogges for Purgatories seate The Quintessence of Superstitions heate Extracted from the Dregges of Gods just wrath Because they did forsake the beaten Path And worshipped a God not knowne before Which Christ his Primer Church did ne're adore These Lees made Fryers bray like Balaams Asse Made Schoolemen prate and both like Chymists rash New Bodies Formes by crotchets to create By Sophistry strange termes to procreate Such Gibbrish stuffe and Mettals blinde Projection Bewitcht Grave Clerkes and caus'd true Faiths defection Whilst their Craz'd Braines commixt Divinity With dunghill heapes of mens Philosophy As Curious Chinois hatch their Ducklings rathe Like Chymists Temper of Saint Maries Bathe With Apish Art the Spirit to disguise And more then God was pleas'd with to seeme wise Bare Accidents by Whymsyes of the Braine To Substances turn'd of Promethean straine With Moone-sicke sense and Carnall Apetite Like Capernaites eating their God outright Out of such Egges many a Cockatrice Hatcht to uphold the Old mans Sacrifice Were fostred since the Time of Hildebrand The Westerne Churches scourge Plague and Firebrand Out of such Nests came words of Giants growth Huge Mungrels fit for Garagantuaes mouth Baals sophistry and Chymickes Transmutation Begot
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
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
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