doth adde that by those Three The Hornes in Daniel might accomplishe be With Hodgepodge-Dreames Cookt for a Fairy Feast And so himselfe of those Three Realmes possest Dar'd to spue out the most Presumptuous thing The Alcoran I meane against our Christ Whereby he grew One of Great Antichrist His Chiefest Limbs to Lord it in the East As Popes already crept into the West And save for Christian Name which they doe beare Shall over-match him in our Worldly spheare For as the One himselfe styles Lord of Lords So Ours shall goe beyond him by lowd Words And Thundring Bulls accursing men to Hell Dethroning Kings and seating Soules aswell In Heaven as in Purgatory-Cells In which Attempts the Pope the Turk excells BUt whether for Pelagian Heresie Or for her Fraud Romes great Apostasie Fell out For though Pelagius she may blame Yet his Conceptions with implicite Flame She hugges Or when she turned Courtezan Or when was Satan curb'd I leave to scan Loath to resolve such Questions Scrupulous Till Fresher Gales for their more cleere discusse Shall quicken up my gravell'd Intellect From Ancient Scribes the Truth to recollect I Had almost forgot here downe to quote Among these Broiles one memorable Note About the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Foure When Sarasens and Popes began to rore A Female-Saint of Yorke did Prophetize And speake against Romes New Enormities She stood against the Shaving of the Crowne Which then the Romish Church to know her owne False Prophets by as Publike Mark or Seale Had forc'd on Priests with a lowd thundring Peale Against the same and Easters Romaine Date Good Hilda spake but Popes said she did prate For since they durst the New-mans Course exchange Why might not they all Ancient Orders change Adde to the Church New Sacraments as Lights And alter Times aswell as Outward Rites He that presumes above all Councells Kings And States will do farre more prodigious things Thus Popes have done Therefore I strongly fixe Upon the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Sixe When Gog with Force advanc'd the Alcoran When Magogs wiles set up the Outward Man Then did those Foes though diffâ—ring in their wayes Begin with Filth to soile the Churches Rayes THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE EIGHTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 700. untill the yeere 800. At which Time Irene raigned Empresse of Constantinople being the Mother of Constantine and Nicephorus About which Time Ecbert began his Monarchy in England The Argument The Churches Brood seduc'd with Monkish Lies And Mechaes Dreames the Gospel they misprize Mungrells themselves then Mixt Religions flow Yet some reclaim'd their Mothers Voyce did know ABout the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Sixe Strife dimm'd the use of the true Crucifixe For Pictur'd Saints the Greek Imperiallists Began to taxe our Westerne Latinists Whose Right or Wrong Serenus Gregory And Epiphane did long afore descry Some priz'd those Types like Bookes to edifie Some them defi'd least Gulls them Deifie Some thought their sight did quicken much the sence Whilst others held they dull'd the Conscience But to summe this we must our Bodies yeeld As Mindes to serve the Lord or lose the Field We outwardly must to Gods Rites attend As inwardly on his Good Gifts intend For what the Heart adores the Tongue sounds out The Knee bowes to the Sight puts out of doubt Then Agars seed prevail'd to Tyrannize Popes to usurpe and both to Sympathize With Satans Genius by false masked zeale To over-sway Christs Church and Common-weale Fraud taught them first to crouch and to dissemble Then Fiends train'd theÌ„ to make their Foes to treÌ„ble Thus darkned stood our Westerne Hemisphere Till She that 's with the Sun cloth'd did appeare By Trumpets sound and Printings Mystery Recalling home her Strayes from Pâ—pery Among which Lutes harmoniously Divine Would I could thrust this Oaten Pipe of Mine BUt was Our Church on Earth invisible Till Luthers Time No sure Most visible She lay to Saints though to some Romish hid Like Diamonds in Mines yet clearly did She breath in Christ although not eminent To Carnall Eyes or on a Hill transparent Yet Catholick and through the World diffus'd She sojourned with Holy Rayes infus'd Like a Poore Pilgrim one while in the East She liv'd retir'd Another while the West She put in mind of Jeremiaes Threnes Anon the Northerne-Iles and Isters Fennes She visited and oftentimes the South Or all at once she wakened from their Sloth Which â—ruitfull Greece and rich Arsaces Land Could testifie with Ethiopiaes Strand Which Câ—â—ms Tartaria and the Moguls Ground Could blaze how she Nestorians did confound Which Snowâ— Mosâ—hoâ—s Clime could justifie Yea many in our West could verifie That she Good Soule with Teares and Doctrine sounâ— Sought to redâ—â—me them in Hells Fetters bound And on Christs Merits onely to rely Without Distrust or Ambiguity Tendring her Glosse Christs Gospel to expound But most were deafe or would not heare her Sound For either in a Tongue unknowne by roat Or â—arnally they would her Dâ—ctates note Nay when she would indifferent things to use Pâ—rmit her Bâ—bes her Love they would abuse And for her Care her Champions they would raze Out of their Files with Curst Anathemaes Yet some of better Mould attentively Gaâ—e â—are and these I praise deservedly SOme Godly Moâ—kes and the Old Saxon Bede Shew us what Life a Christian ought to lead He dâ—ing wisht aâ— Cutberâ— wrote that Men Would read Gods Word and humane dreams contemn To which Good End himselfe in English Toâ—e Christs Gospel left according to Saint Iohn Those Holy Monks liv'd not on others sweat Nor idly did by Strangers Tythes get Meat But earn'd repast in Gardens by the Spade Or in foule weather by some Houshold Trade To keep their thoughts froÌ„ sensual Plots they wrought And on High Dayes or Festâ—â—als they taught Their Auditours what sence Christs Mystery Beares to imprint his Passions Mâ—mory Or Catechis'd the weake and tender Braine With Scriptures Text and intelligible straine But when the Lumbards were by Chaâ—lemaine Represt then Popes rais'd up their Peâ—cocks Traine With Carnall Sence and Carnall meanes support Transforming Rites ingrosse stupendioâ—s sorâ— And by Degrees transferr'd to Catholickes Traditions hatcht by Former Heretickes What Wheele is this what strange Extravagance Religious Rome like Dina gads to Daunce Nay more she paints her Face like Jezabel Darkning those Gifts wherein she did excell She that most Honour'd was next Salems Church Spreads Lying Dreames and now lives by the lurch She that was once the Westernes sacred Dame Converting Heathen Soules unto the Lambe Usurps Saint Peters Place with Lofty Style Depraves Gods Gifts and reares up Babels Pile She that was Chast delights to play the Queane And more then Good to practize Deeds obsceane But these are Triâ—les in respect of those Great Sinnes to which she will henceforth dispose Her Whâ—â—rish will for wicked Sodoâ—y She will commit cheat men with Alchimy She will proud Nembrâ—d from Damnation free And will besamt false Magus for
feele endlesse Paine â—â—u shall with Christ in Peace for ever Raigne â—â—ch blisse pursues a Pious-minded Peere And such I hope attends you there and heere Which to seale up and to set forth Your Traine â—eere take your Choise of Posies various Straine Without the New-mans Robes none are indeed True Noble-men but borne of Mongrell Seed To be borne Great great Honour some esteeme it But to doe Good I greater Honour deeme it Vertue so farre excells Sires Heraldry As doth Day-light the Darke the Sap the Dry. A Noble Minde surmounts a Noble Birth But who hath Both-shines like Sunne on Earth Magnus honor nasci praelustri stemmate Major Stemma Piis Factis nobilitare suum Quantò Lux Tenebras Siccum vel Succidus Humâ— Tanto depictos Mens Pia vincit Avos Virtus Naturam superat sed amictus utrisque Dotibus ut Lumen Solis in orbe nitet THE CHVRCH MILITANT HERE ON EARTH FOVNDED AND RENEWED BY OVR SAVIOVR CHRIST Who is this that comes from Edom with red Garments from Bozrah Esay 63. The Argument The Church is built on Christ who under-went The Curse Rose up and then to Heaven went This wonder-rapt some Angels of that Spheare That they with Ioyes speake of his comming there IN Paradise the Church of Christ began WheÌ„ after Breach God opened unto Man The hopefull meanes whereby he might deface The Sting of Sinne and bee restor'd to Grace If on the promise of the Womans Seed Man would rely he might redeme his Deed. But Bloody Cain with his accursed Race Went Whoring after Satan sleighting Grace And then the Church in Seth Methusalem In Noe and his Arke in Godly Sem And Iaphet fix't from whence no liking Cham She downeward past to Iob and Abraham And settled in the Circumcized Ligne Vntill the Promis'd Seed with Light Divine And Gospels Sound arriu'd graft things anew And by his Crosse our Charter did renew The Gentiles then by his Apostles blest From Heaven gain'd the Holy Ghost for Guest To cheere their Church within her to reside And evermore her Christian Broode to guide As long as they Him for their Rock protest Whome Peter thrice for all his Mates Confest So Thousands did with Angels Gifts encrease From Age to Age and found in Conscience Ease As testify the Pulpet and the Presse Which holp our Church to bloome with good successe Others since the Word late came in vse â—pir'd have wrot and Preacht of Faiths Abuse 〈◊〉 so likewise we see that in our Dayes 〈◊〉 feele the Heate of that bright Spirits Rayes 〈◊〉 them our New man reapes the Fruits of Truth â—â—â—nsformes Old wily Age to Saintlike Youth â—â—y for Eve for Adam Christ he sings â—â—ose Blood then Abels speakes forth better things â—â—rancing Soules with Gifts Propheticall â—â—d otherwhiles with Numbers Sphericall â—â—at by those Meanes and sweet enchanting Layes â—â—ey might confirme themselves as call home strayes â—irst like Babes with Bells smiles mixt with threats â—weanes the weake before their Sence he beaâ—es â—â—th Zealous Charmes from worldly vanities â—â—apting them for purer Qualities â—hich our Good Sire with Metaplastick Mould â—â—nds ready to infuse more fine then Gold THis Prudent course Some take in Verse as Prose For stilling Swarming Bees or Stubborne Foes To winne Applause to their more waighty work Which in their Braine like ember'd Fire did Lork They tickle first with smooth Conceptions Youth Laurell their Name and then gaine Roome for Truâ—â— To spread without Repulse or sowre Distast Before they dresse rare Manna for their Tast Clozing their Feast with Healths from Sions Fount Like Petrarch Beza and Mâ—randols Count Who with ripe Fruite by good mens Suffrages Ransom'd their Froth and greener passages Such Wits I wish with Lines of Sacred Truth From Carnall Dreames to scare our Straggling Youth And such I hope by Grace here to produce As Types of Vertue drawne for Holy use â—N the Lords Day though not with full content â—ate sung Christs from Olives Mount ascnt 〈◊〉 to that Orbe whose height no Earthly Scribe 〈◊〉 by the Booke or Astrolabe describe Though Galilees new Glasse a World espies Within the Moone yet Moone-sick are the Spies While clog'd with flesh not Spirit-rapt they pry â—o Gods Thrones Transcendent Mystery 〈◊〉 Heav'n I glaunc'd wherein his Man-hood rests â—â—eparing Roome for his Beleeving Guests Who su'd to Christ Mens Advocate alone â—ot parcelling his Worship into halves 〈◊〉 Iewes for Moloch Baal and Golden Calves â—hat so the Sabaoths change at Pentecost â—ucceede with Gifts sign'd by the Holy Ghost The Comforter which should the Church renew And grace thenceforth the Gentile and the Jew Till the Returnes as Man-Emanuell Within the Cloudes to Iudge the World and Hell HEre now againe with Fiery Flights I horer And his Ascent more spaciously runne over Then I did late because our Church hath drest And cookt upon another Day this Feast The way of Christs up to Gods Orbe Ascention Transcends above fraile Natures Apprehention I dare not wrest Christs Body nor confine His God-head There He Raignes a Man-Divine As Man He sâ—es for Men. As God he sends The Holy Ghost to gratifie his Friends And by Infusion heere his Church to grace If we Beleeve and Love and Pray for Grace Although as God his Presence never â—ayles us His Bodies Absence heere yet more availes us As he is Man or else his Bodiâ—s Sight Had made us Carelesse of the Spirits Light His Manhood by his owne Experience saw Our Natures weakenesse how Fiends would draw Vs from Gods will and from true Innocence Whereby none could avoid Hells Pestilence Unlesse himselfe did stand within the Gap â—etwixt our Sinnes and Wraths fierce Thunderclap â—nd that made him remove his Person hence â—o Heaven there to ease our Punishments â—y suing to Gods Grace as Advocate â—hat for his sake he would repayre our State GReat were the Angels Ioyes when Iesus came â—n humane shape with such Imperiall Fame Vp to th' Empyrean Sphere where none before Of that New Forme could like a Phaenix soare â—s by his Crosse lay husht Hells damned Crowd So wondring heere Some Angels sung alowd What 's He that mounts and sits on Gods right hand With Bozraes Robes come from red Edoms Land Clad like to One who hath the Winepresse trod Yet looking like unto the Sonne of God Who did ride on the Cherubins and fly Yea fly upon the wings of winds most High Perhaps He is a New Melchisedeck Gods Spouse to grace or her with Gemmes to deck Or else the Cause of this New Mans Ascent Might be her Vowes and Offrings to presert Or for her Strayes to sue as Advocate Those whom the Gospels Light reclaimes of late His comming here with such Triumphant Port Doubtlesse to Men Salvation doth import This Mystery and Ioyfull Spectacle Above all Wonders prove a Miracle Vnparalell'd that by Divinity Infus'd in Flesh men gaine Eternity And that the Gentiles as the Iewish Tribes In Truths rare Secrets grow most learned
Men that learnd no language save their owne Amid ' strange Folkes rung foâ—th the Lords Renowne And blaz'd his deedes in every Forraigne Tongue Like Angels Quire with sweet harmonious song As perfectly as they their Natives were So that those Aliens stood entranc'd with Feare For how could they but be agast to heare Iewes speake with Tongs peculiar to their Eare. Some Others deem'd them Mad or Drunk with Winâ— Till Peter prov'd them rapt with Joyes Divine He prov'd them rapt by Gods immediate Rayes With Ectasies above all Humane wayes And not alone the gifts of Tongues but Zeale To Preach they had and without Drugs to heale Some Prophesiâ—d some Sung whil'st others told What wondrous Acts the Lord performd of Old Those Mystick sparkes which by Degrees we learne God then infus'd as of more Blessings Earne To paralell Iob Abraham Salomon For Patience Faith and Wisedome thereupon 〈◊〉 who can blaze the Wonders of that Day â—e more I muse on them the more Dismay 〈◊〉 spend my Sence Lord rayse up my desires â— sing th' Event of that Dayes Glorious Fires â—hich comforted the Gentile as the Iew â—rich'd the Barren Will made Old things New 〈◊〉 such rare Signes came first the Mystèry Three in One the sacred Trinity 〈◊〉 be more knowne unto the Church on Earth â—â—d since Old Rites were past at our New Birth â—at she might name at her solemnities â—e Holy Ghost Colleaged to Baptize â— working we agnize feele and admire 〈◊〉 who but He could stony Hearts inspire Done as with Gifts this Holy Flame appear'd â—uls Chaos melt and their dull wits had clear'd â—ds Word then from Melchisedechs choice Towne â— from the Earths fixt Meditullium blowne Pierst Egypt Greece Damascus Babilon The Temperate yea and the Torrid Zone Where Negroes though of Circumcised Race Converted by an Eunuch looke for Grace The Gospell pierc'd each Countrey and each Towne Truths Sound went forth to all the world then know Whereby no Nation might excuses pleade But that they might be linkt with Christ their Head WIth like successe the Christian Faith did bloome And flourish there where brave Triumphant Rome Prepard the way by Morall Arts and Aw That Grace Mens Hearts might so the sooner draw While tatling Newes fond Athens itch'd to tell The Romans dri'd her Aristotles Well These Second Meanes for Planting Christian Rites In those dayes much avayld Romes Proselites Arts usher Faith Faith quick by Hearing growes But most of all when the Good Spirit blowes There wanted none of these in Ancient Rome Where vowes teares for Grace had purchaâ—'d roome Rome was the Empires Head Great Caesars Seat The Westernes Mother Church where then complete From Salem sâ—one the Crosses radiant Starre Which in Pauls time enlightning neere and farre Transferr'd on Linus Clemens Anaclete The Martyrs Crowne with Flaming stones beset And thence bespred Truthes universall Course â—or then all Men to Tiber had recourse â—ut though I much commend Old Christian Rome 〈◊〉 should forget my selfe and Christendome 〈◊〉 that faire Towne of memorized Fame Which first profest to beare the Christian Name 〈◊〉 chance to passe by vnsaluted now Not doing Homage which all Christians ow. Had I rich Tassoes veine to set her forth Or Godfreyes strength to vindicate heâ—worth 〈◊〉 would possesse all Christians Catholicke That Antioch was S Peters Bishopricke And that it well becomes a Christian Knight Who first bore Christian Badge to doe her Right I would redeeme her from proud Ottoman From Mufftie 's sway and Mechaes Alcoran In Iowry Land arose the Gentiles Light From Antioch came the Name which Fiends doth frigâ—â— And shall out last all Names untill our Head As God and Man shall judge both Quick and Dead Till Christ resignes to the Supremest Mace To All in All his Intercessors Place THis Light and Name the Sire of Antichrist In Envie unto Man and spite to Christ With his Blacke-Guard that were depriv'd of Light And for their Pride enwrapt in Errours Night They all conspir'd and strove to prejudice With all their Might the New-mans Sacrifice For this designe their Malice to effect They seiz'd the wits of Annas and his sect They first plaid on the soules of Saducees â—nd gull'd such Braines as idolld Golden Fees â—hrist in his Limmes to Crucifie againe And all for Pomps support and worldly Gaine THe Creeple rais'd in Iesus Christ his Name â—y Fishermen that wonder put to shame The Iewish Scribes so that they burn'd for Ire And fear'd least Christ might diâ—â— their Levites Fire Or quite abate their Old Traditions Gaine Which holpe their present Glory to maintaine At first they silenc'd them and then with Gall They thundred out big words sesâ—uipedall That if thenceforth they acted Miracles In Iesus Name they would as Spectacles Of Infamy their Bodies publickely Afflict or make them in Iaile-Shackles ly But since th' Apostles them regarded not Nor car'd for Threats nor scourging then they shot Their Church-Darts out of Excommunications Till a Law Doctour calm'd their Combinations By this Advice that no Devise of Man Might stop the Will of God do what they can ON this the Levites rested for a while And ceas'd their hande with Murther to defile The which Advise if Romes late Catholikes Had â—aigh'd for them whom they call'd Here tickes Rome might have held a Reverend Mothers Sway She had ere this turn'd Easterne Nights to Day Where ministring now scandall to the Turkes Both they and we detest their Bloudy workes For Ten Yeares space till Claudius Casar raignd The Scribes lay still their spleene a while restrain'd And seem'd to winke at the Apostles Fame Whilst in that breathing Truce the Christian Name The Church encreas'd had all her wants reliev'd Antioch receiv'd Sâ—maritans Believ'd Ioppa â—rejoyc'd Caesare a gained Grace â—â—d many Iewes joyd of the Christian Race â—well the Gentiles as the Circumtiz'd â—n'd in One League for Christ to be Baptiz'd â—hat Good Time Saints gaped not for Gold â—liv'd in Common their Possessions sold â—â—d without Guile the Price did distribute â—hereby they barr'd the Cause of wrangling suite â— Mine and Thine Their Care was Bread and Wine 〈◊〉 sacred use and for the Heavenly Vine 〈◊〉 build Christs Church upon the New-Mans Rock 〈◊〉 on the Sand False Keyes or stumbling Block â—â—at Wonders wrought they of stupendious sort â—â—ove fraile Sence Or Carnall wits Report 〈◊〉 Words they made the Cripled wight to walke â—he Dead to Rise Blinde see the Dumbe to talke 〈◊〉 Words they strooke a Lying Couple Dead â—nd Blinded One who men by Charmes misseled Through Iesus Name they wrought such Miracles And freed themselves from Tyrants Manacles The Fame of such faire deedes in Salem rung As Nettle prickes the Envious Clergy stung That Gentiles should partake with Israels Tribes Of Gods good Grace they brookt not without â—iâ—es They flouted that the New-mans Troupes aswell As their Old Scribes should â—ame the Fiends of Hell And the most part like unto snarling Curres In Manger
Crosse-fixed place Romes Empire lay so large I dare not trace BUt sure I am Saint Paul in bloudy Rome When Nero raign'd endured Martyrdome There having twice before that Tyrant stood His Faiths Defence he sealed with his Bloud About the time when that mad Bouteseu Had fir'd the City with his wanton Crew Because he â—ong'd to sing the sacke of Troy And by such Types would execute his Toy To cloake the Fact and stop the Mutiny Yet not repenting of his villainy He authour'd Christians of those dismall cryes And butcher'd them to bleare the Peoples eyes Among that guiltlesse Troupe then suffered Paul Who had fore-wrote what should him there befall This chosen Saint hath left brave Monuments Unto the Church which Satans Ambushments Can never trap nor Canker-fretting Age Consume but they stand firme in spight of Rage IN Albions Orbe an arched stately Roome The chiefest Pile I thinke in Christendome Of Pauls sole Name revives his memory Till Doomes-dayes blast the River Thames shall dry In the meane time grave Saint-like Ministers Accompanied with Asaphs Quiristers Sing praise to God for gracing of Saint Paul Who once had beene a bloody-minded Saul Of late repair'd it shines with zealous Fire â—s erst with flames rag'd the stupendious spite Blest be their Zeale their Cares and good Intent Which have re-built this famous Monument Resembling that of Salems Second one Renew'd by Iewes first built by Salomon LIke these so did all Christs Apostles Fish And on some Coast or other never miste To catch for Christ some choise and dainty Prey Bartholomew and Thomas knew the way â—nto the East and there engrav'd their Names â—aint Mathewes Paines sev'n flouded Nilus fames And pretious Iohn the Belâ—ll Abissine From him and Philip claimes Christ a Faith Divine Achaia vaunts of good Saint Andrewes Cares With whom he pawn'd his Bones till those rich wares Some Scottish Saints by a Greeke Monke redeem'd Them and their worth like precious Gems esteem'd While Mark from Peters mouth Gods Word compilâ— To leave it her Niles Alexandria smiles Sea-spousing Venice too did sacrifice Unto Saint Mark a goodly Edifice The latter James Christs kinsmâ—n by the flesh In Salem liv'd disorders to redresse Where hee though stiled just as spectacle Of shame was throwne downe from the Pâ—â—â—aâ—le Which Satan mov'd to Christ. There he expir'd And Roman Force the place soone after fir'd Yet hath his Fame to after-Ages spred His Bishops Seat with Christians flourished By Princes grac'd and for Antiquity Puts Antioch downe and Romes Priority At the First Councell Iameâ— â—aâ— President There Sâ—inâ—t cloz'd up the Circumcised Renâ— In Salem â—ate the High Commission Court Where they decided doubts of most import Galicians since built up a sacred 〈◊〉 At Compostell which later Wits profane Adoring â—â—mes as if Humanity Should offer Vowes due to the Trinity ABout the Time of Iames his death to 〈◊〉 The Fatall Web for sinfull Salem spunnâ— Upon the Siege the Christian Iewes fore-warn'd By Oracle from Christ fled thence unaâ—â—'d With Humane helpes but guarded by Divine Supplica themselves to â—ella they confine Where they on Iâ—rdans Bâ—â—ks securely lay While Rebell-Iewes were slaine and fold away SO stood the Church with them who flourish'd first Next Christs Ascent most pure untill accurst The Iewish Nation for their Crying sinne And hardned Hearts deep woes were pluâ—ged in And then God pleas'd for Iewries unbeliefe The Gentiles to adopt to Iewries griefe And our Church seemes to them a stumbling sinne Till all th' Elected Gentiles be come in As unto them of Antichristian Race She seemes till Babel feeles her last disgrace But why were Saints like Christ so foulely slaint Because the more they suffâ—red here more Gaine They reape the Nobler Crowne in Heav'n they gaiâ—â— And shall judge those who put them hereto paine IF you would know by Times Gradation mâ—c Domitius and Domitian yeelds you store Read Tacitus when Rome lay wast with fire How Christians felt the Formers Franticke Ire Some crucifi'd some burnt and some were â—as'd In wild beasts skins by Mastives torne and chasd So cruelly that who did them contemne In hate to Nâ—â—â—â—s spleene then pittied them Though Christians were to manifolded paine Throughout the twelfe yeere put of Neroes Raigne â—et like to Palme supprest the more they grew The Church the more by Martyrs did renew Athmos with Romes whole Empire tells what paine The Church endurd in the last Flavians Raigne â—ith greater Numbers Martyrs Calendar â—anonizing then in mad Neroes yeare â—uring which Rage some Brethren false did rove The Deacons Sect lewd Family of Love â—nd hee that durst afore Christs Darling bath â—ut felt the Doome of his incensed wrath The Bath-walls fell crushd Cerinthe underneath As soone as Iohn had menac'd him with death THE OCCVRRANCES OF THE SECOND AGE From the yeere of our Lord 100. untill the yeere 200. At which time Severus raigned Emperour of Rome The Argument Saint John deceas'd Fiends Seedes of Error sow Yet doth the Church though persecuted grow And from her Wombe spring up a Learned Crew Of Saints who with their bloud do Truth renew HE that desires a Saint-like Life to lead Let him the steps of ancient fathers tread Who neerest liv'd unto th'Apostles times Thence I collect the Course in Raptur'd Rimes Which Christ his Church then for her members held What Pathes they trac'd and wherein she excelld If wee mislike her Plainenesse or their Marts Love bids us chastely gaze and winke at Warts For like the Moon at full sometimes the Church Raignes knowne from her who lives upon the lurch Dispersed through the World Apostolicke Yet like our God in Three one Catholicke In sundry shapes repleat with sacred Fire With many Tongues in Spirit yet entire And Essence one who though diversifi'd For Rites or Forme 〈◊〉 yet â—ustifi'd By Faith with Him who tryes mens Consciences Beares with their â—â—ips and heares her Grievances Returne quoth hee Yeâ— people full of strife Who Me have wrong'd like a rebellious Wife Alluding to which challenge in his Word Before the Lord and Angeâ—â—s I record That I beleeve no Church on Earth this day Then Britaines Church goes a more knowing 〈◊〉 In substance pure and in her good intents Seal'd rightly with the Newmans Sacraments And with the Best her Elders I conferre Yet dare not say her Troupes doe never erre Nor brag that shee hath neither Mole nor Wen While shee cohabits heere with mortall men But pray that she in Fruit more pregnant thrive As shee in shape is like the Primitive And that with flames of mutuall Love wee glow As forward as in height we seeme to grow One thing I adde against her Foes in briefe And therewithall to ease our Weaklings griefe Although I honour with my heart and Pen The Couneclls Fathers and the Ancient men Who wrote before the seventh Century Became bewitcht with Babels Mystery Yet we no more give credit to their Lore Their Matter Tropes and Topick
Golden Crosse they place That some might kisse the same whom he would grace A Girdle red then they about him clap With Buckles all of Gold and a Red Cap Present to him with Band of Gold and Pearle Wrought and engirt fit for a King or Earle Thus trimm'd they put him on a Scarlet Cloak And to puffe up him more with Glories Smoak Upon his Head the Triple Crowne they set With Carbuncles and Diamonds beset At last they mount him though a mortall Clod And on an Altar Throne him like a God The Holy Place where their Masse-God remaines There none of them to kisse his Foot disdaines His Chaplaines now turne Politick Divines More prone to spoile then prop up Sions Vines THus every Age hath added Royalties Since first the Pope affected Soveraignties In Ghostly things above his Ghostly Mates To scandalize the Church This animates The Turks and Moores to counterpoize his Crowne With the like Tares by their Arabian sowne For when they saw Religion mixt with Theames Of Humane stampe they forged idler Dreames That by such Carnall Baites their Sect like those Of Christian Name might with such Wordlings gloâ—e As loved Pompe and by their Muffry hope The like Soule-blisse as Christians from the Pope Whereby both Sects make up the Antichrist Turkes openly Popes slâ—ly crossing Christ. The Former rav'd and quickly were reveal'd The Latter grew by stealth so lay conceal'd In Mystick sort from Carnall Drowzie Braines Because Gods Word was hid none took the Paines Or durst indeed proclaime with open Lippes The Pope Christs Foe or by th' Apocalipse Depaint him out in Coulours least that Hire Which Saints reapt since they should have felt by Fire BUt who would once suspect within the Church A Grave Divine to live so by the lurch As to deprave the Holy Spirits Gifts And in a Saint-like shape with Satans shifts Wherewith he tempted in the Desart Christ To take the place of a Monarchique Priest And by the Keyes pretence for Gold to sell Mens Soules and to dispose of Realmes aswell As to encroach upon the Churches Ark That None should preach of Christ without his Mark Not onely in the Westerne Enpery But o're the World he claimed Soveraignety And not alone he claim'd this Massy Round But Other Worlds and the Abisse profound To order there like Heathens Rhadamant Soules Torment due for Deedes extravagant How on the Psalmists Clause have School-men glossâ—d Thou hast all things under his Feet dispos'd As Cattell Living men as Fish pain'd Soules As Aiery Foule High Saints the Pope controules AMong the rest of Antichristian Blots I may not overpasse Romes damned Plots About th'inhibiting of Nuptiall Rites Unto the Clergies Ranke by Romish Kites That Divellish Doctrine of the Latter Dayes By Paul fore-warn'd now Babels Strumpet waighes In a false Ballance by Hells Oracle Slighting the Type of Canaâ—s Miracle And as from Christ by Revelations New Authentick firm'd she doth the same renew Although that Plea Three Hundred Yeares before Had ordred been against the Remaine Whore By the Sixth Councell in Bizantium held And by th' Apostles Canons there upheld That Deacons Priests or Clergy-men might marry And if they should from this Position vary The Priest not with his Wife cohabiting They censur'd him with Deprivations sting And if he should his Wife repudiate They then judg'd him for Excommunicate But notwithstanding all the Councells Three At Gangren Nice and This they would decree Suborn'd by peevish Monks to lay that Yoak Which they in Younger Yeares could hardly brook For quenching of this Sodomiticque Flame We finde two Workes under Volusians Name To prove the Weaknesse of that Canons worth By Ausburgs Bishop Huld erick set forth Pope Nicholas the Second of that Name By this and other Acts quite out of frame Set Romes weake Church Ev'n he by Hildebrands Lewd Counsel scorcht the Church with burning BraÌ„ds And coram nobis brought good Berengare That Babels Masse might prove as Market Ware ABout that Time Rome fram'd a God of Bread Turn'd into Flesh like Him whom she had read In Genesis Created of Red Earth Unto which Wight she Motion gave and Birth To this New God with supercilious Brow She strictly charg'd her Subjects all to bow Her Courtiers and the Multitude confus'd Obey'd the Charge but Gods Elect refus'd Good Men refus'd and Berengarius sought With Monkes support and Prelates underwrought To contradict the Transubstantiate Masse Or not to leave it unreformed passe But Factious Wits with Worldly Policie Tooke that to clinch and pinch Romes Primacie Yet this Good Soule though since for feare of death Enforced to recant consum'd his Breath With Reasons sound and Arguments profound Till Tyranny his Patience did confound In opposition to their Sacrament Which derogates from the Man Christs Ascent And left behind what Hell can never blot The Sence of that which seemes to Some a knot Nor wanted he Applauses in that Age Of Abbots Monkes and Prelates wise and sage And Hildebert a Norman Bishop wrot His praise at large which Time shall never rot T Is strange to me how Faction then prevail'd That they had not in Disputations quail'd Ashamed of their Ghostly Mans relapse Having been nurst upon the Churches Paps As they suppos'd and of the Spirit borne Yet they the Sence did Intellectuall scorne Of that Blest Food which Christ himselfe fed on Before his Death and gave thereof Construction Spirituall plaine as all the Fathers did That Saints might finde with ease the Treasure hid But what they spake by Oratories Trope Rome wrested since her Masse to underprop Sometimes the Fathers by Syneâ—doche By Metonymy or Hyperbole Spake to advance the Sacred Mystery Thereby to print in ravisht Memory Soules healthfull Cure 'gainst Passions Insurrection Typ'd by Our Saviours Crosse and Resurrection TOwards this Ages End Pope Hildebrand Attempted by maine Force and armed Hand To wrest from Caesars Gift the Papacies Elections Grant and Paramounting Sway Which Popes receiv'd from them untill that Day At least they tooke their Confirmations Wea le Not sure without the High Imperiall Seale And so did other Bishops in his Land Assume their Worldly States from Caesars Hand But now the Pope by Romes New Cardinalls More pow'refull growne into his Party calls Aswell the Lay as Clergy-men to ayde Him in his Warres which Caesar sore dismay'd For by his Bulls he gave his Realmes away And blockt from him and his the Heavens way Thus he that tooke himselfe to be the Head Of Christ his Flocke claim'd Rule unlimited Aboue all Kings and Earthly Potentates And by the Keyes would alter worldly States The Emperour accurst he sends a Crowne To Rodolfe with this Posie written downe The Rock to Peter gave the Rule Supreme And he to Rodolfe gives the Diademe Upon this Warrant of his Ghostly Sire Against his Lord proud Rodolfe did conspire The Members rav'd and turn'd irregulare As if they felt the Cramp or Riding Mare Then Thousands rag'd with Frenzies Calentures Till
space of the Next Ages Rowle All bent the Praise of Babel to enrowle The Dominiâ—ks Cartbusians Augustines The Carmelites Capouchins Iacobines Besides the Order of the Ierome Crowd To whom of late Castiles great Monarch vow'd His Marbled Palace of th' Escuriall Mount Whose Structure cost him many Millions Count. These Orders though of despicable Forme In Beggers Rags yet holp they to reforme Some things amisse at their first shooting up Or else the Whâ—res Abominations Cup Had quickly been by Kings descri'd and spilt Her Flock had flinch'd and soone espi'd her Guilt But the Conceit of these Mens Sanctity And manner of their Lives Austerity Gain'd them Repute of Wiss Propheticall Whose Vowes would shrowd Sinnes ne'r so Capitall Yea though a man had both his Parents slaine Romes Pardons and their Vowes salv'd all againe THis blindnesse lasted long till Christ his Spouse Returned from the Desart Soules to rowze From Superstitious sleep and Ignorance To brighter Light and a more Lively Trance Like Ravens Frogs Scritchowles and Dismall Fowle Whose Auguries type Weather Faire or Foule So did those Flying Spirits of that Age Seale up Dark Minds a Prey for Satans rage And on th' Elect betoken Calmer Gales To blow when tir'd with Old fanatique Tales They should in Time to come Gods Spirit see The Martyrs slaine reviv'd from Sodome free WHile Canonists the School-men and those Swarmes Of Lawyers rose the Romaine Popes with Armes And Curses still leaving the Lawes dispute To spurre their League did Caesars persecute No Treaties Wars nor Spoiles the Popes could tame ' Till One of them of Alexanders Name On Caesars humbled backe got on his Mule As Foot-stoole to a a Lord of mad Mis-rule Detracting from Christs Power Thou shalt tread On Basiliskes and bruize the Serpents Head I doe to Peter this and not to thee Said Caesar Both to Peter and to me Repli'd the Mounted Priest for Peters Throne On Earth I hold and he and I are One O where was then Romes Boast of Innocence Of Catholick Consent and Penitence Their Actions shew what Spirit raignes in them Who durst assume the Triple Diademe And manage both the Swords with more disdaine Then Bajazeth complain'd of Tamberlaine But had not Caesars Sonne in Navall Fight By the Venetians been Captiv'd such spite He could not have endur'd so patiently Nor let such wrongs long unrevenged lye NOw for this Age to winde up Babels height One Thousand and one Hundred Eighty Eight About that Yeare the Machiavellian Pope To settle surer his Imperious Hope And to confirme his proud Investiture Found out a Plot his Rapines to assure And to employ his Neighbours farre from Rome Lest they more pry into his Arts at home By his Croisadoes Charmes Cri'd Sanctifi'd In Christ his Name but by his Word untri'd He packt from hence many a Valiant Band Under pretence to Conquer Iewries Land And there to build Jerusalem againe Like Iericho sometime not Curst in vaine And to regaine it back from Saladine Who late had won the Land of Palestine But as no Good flowes from a Tainted Spring So hence then Losse ensu'd no other thing CAESAR Romes Curses thinking to compound Took up the Crosse and by the way was drown'd Yet could not so the Fathers Death appease The Popes his Sonnes by Curses barre from Peace And to redeeme their Bloudy Spoiles with Deedes Of Merit they spread Meritorious Seedes As that Fond Age then dream'd they prostitute To Meloch first and then they institute The Orders of the Begging Friers so To calme Gods Wrath which kept such lowd adoe At Rich mens Doores that Superstition more And more confirm'd Baals Power then before About this Time my Learned Country-man Archdeacon Girald wrot by whom I can Disprove out of his Bookes of Pilgrimage Which he set forth of Cambria in that Age The Wonders of the Well of Winifride Which Friers Braines in After-times discri'd When the Fourth Henry raign'd that then ev'n then They coin'd those Tales to gull poore Simple men To haunt their Cells and impious Sacrifice Grac'd from the Pope with Novell Liberties And Leave to build a Chappell or a Fane As Men were wont for the like use profane And as they did in this Fond Age erect Most Stately Shrines to Becket and his Sect. BEcause some Monkes Night Apparitious saw Which Kâ—aves or Fiends invented there to draw Concourse of Pilgrims and Oblations store They built such Shrines and nois'd their Dreames the more But Our New-man slights all such Miracles As derogate from Scriptures Oracles Not ignorant of the Old Serpents sleight That he may seeme an Angel of the Light Because Men loved Lies more then Gods Word And tri'd them not by the Spirituall Sword He suffered Satan to pervert their Will That they believ'd what did the Spirit kill To let our Blinded Strayes to know their Crimes Derived from the Course of faultring Times I warne them to looke back into this Age And there to waigh what Cunning mixt with Rage Popes practiz'd then by more of Councels store To raise their Crest then in the Times before How many Councels did the Romish Clerks Assemble in our West for their vaine Quirkes Support what Age before hath ever seene Of Councels held One Hundred and Fifteene For just so many did this Century Produce Some to confirme Sinnes Mystery With Attributes of the Divinest Style That as the Head conspired to enstyle A Wafer Cake a God so they likewise As Members would a God him solemnize With Power rais'd above the Caesars farre Since he could Soules from Purgatory barre Some Councells leagu'd to send Croisadoes out To Palestine against the Persian Rout. Others were call'd the Married Priests to curbe And some were held the Caesars to disturbe Exempting from their Lawes the Clergies Crew Though nere so faulty whence great scandalls grew Some Councells did against all Kings contest Of Bishops their Investiture to wrest Unto the Popes And some Pluralities Of Popes restrain'd and their Enormities And which seemes most uncharitable foule And Schismatick some Councells did controule Nay put to silence the Reformed Flock Who built their Faith upon the New-mans Rock I meane that Flock which Lions Waldus won From Darknesse to look on the Gospels Sun Such Acts above One Hundred Councells Tomes Contain'd to please the Popes like Hecatombs Within the space of the Twelfe Century And all to prop Great Babels Empery THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE THIRTEENTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 1200. untill the yeere 1300 At which Time King Edward the First raigned here in England The Argument The Waldois and Albigians Rome oppose Caesars with Popes for Râ—le contesting lose The Gransire Sire and Nephewes feele the Smart Pope Celestine is gull'd by Waly Art IN wofull Case remain'd the Church of Christ Through Bloudy Broiles that how she could subsist On Earth while this Age lasted it might dull A Sparkling Muse but that I learn'd at full The Cause of her Retire the Difference Betwixt her Wane
by Grace Divine Past through the Seventeenth Age till Thirty Nine And Sixteen Hundred Yeares from Christ his Birth Are fifâ—ly told by Mortalls here on Earth In spight of Tyrants Schismes Idolatry The Dragons Floud and Babels Butchery O would my Muse knew wayes to â—â—oncilâ— The stubborne Strayeâ— and Hot-spurs of this 〈◊〉 That as We all exâ—oll One Christian Creed And what werâ— in Six Hundred Yeares decreed By the First Synods of the East and West So we might meet at our Communion Feast In mutuall Love without distrust or stâ—ngs To pay our Vowes untoÌ„ the King of Kings Like Brethren with Harmonious Ravishment In Spirit with One Will and One Consent Accounting Copes Bells Organs Surplices Or shaven Grownes aâ— Rites not â—â—â—â—ances To barre the Faith or Conscience of a Saint As Some with such Conceits the Church would â—aint A Christian should be mild in Temporall Things Which breeds not Sin nor Soul-â—ick Scandall brings So that Gods Word be preacht and Faith encrease I will accept what Outward Gâ—rbes they please Ilâ—â—kneele sit stand or else in Sack-cloth Fast So that I may win Soules no Flesh I le taste Ile weare the Saâ—tâ— Robe Saint Beâ—â—â—s Hood Or Friers Cowâ—e to doe our Weaklings good Such shapes I take for harmelesse Policie As Adiâ—pâ—ors with 〈◊〉 Expedient for some Persons more then Other So to shake hands and wrangling Quillets smother Not like Old 〈◊〉 of corrupted Zeale Who rackt sometime the Romish Common-weale And wanting Wit to chuse Frige Black or Grey Or White at last they made a Bloudy Fray ABout such Outward Formes the Fiend of late With Bloudy Broiles thought to enwrap our State But He that left at his Departure hence Against Mâ—ll â—lâ—t â— God 's Spirit for Defence Inspir'd our King with Mercy to forgivâ— Them for whose Faulâ—s he more thâ—n they did grievâ— When Some for Famâ— and Others for their Hirâ— When some for Spoiles glad of Cambustions Firâ—â— And some for Doubts with swelling Spleen did hope In Savage Fight with Martiall 〈◊〉 to copâ—â— Our Charles though strongly 〈◊〉 extended theâ—â— In Christian Love Grace unto â—â—â—ing Men. Like Him who 〈◊〉 chose Oâ—e Citizen Tusâ—â—e then Sâ—â—y â— Thousand Hâ—stise Men. By this rare Act of sacred Clemencie He paralells nay gets Precedencie Above all Kings that sway this Worldly Spheare Whose Subjects more their Frownes and Rigour feâ—â— Then honour them for Ballanc'd Equity Or Reall Deedes surmounting Quality Had Theodosim so his Passions squar'd He surely had the The ssalonians spar'd And not been warn'd by Ambrose to refraine EroÌ„ â—illains Church til conscience wrought some Pain O Happy Prince that knew'st thy Sâ—viours Will O Happy Land where sover 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Kill Now yee that vaunt of Alâ—ious Alâ—â—nact Or of Fergusim Sway applaâ—d ' this Act With thankfull Layes set forth in Charles his prâ—ise VVho when he might destroy forgave your Sâ—â—â—yes But O what dolefull Newes 〈◊〉 in my Bâ—â—es That Discords Flame late quencht againe appeares VVe shall they say Have Warâ—s and blâ—â—dy 〈◊〉 New Mâ—sters Taxes Toile Ouâ— Wizzards starres And Malt-Worme Braines inculcate like Bâ—g-beares In Luke-warme Breasts effeminated Feares My Censure now of our late Vulgars Bruit Who blinded in their Owne would seeme acute In Heavens Affaires is this that if Our God Smite them or us who can resist his Rod Some Ranke of Ease-require Pblebotomy Some Craz'd Some Leane like an Anoatmy Their Sinnes are great and we excuse not Our Our Feasts Rich Robâ—s Law-suites and Humors flore Bloud-letting need and purge of Hellebore But if as oft as Meâ— offend God powre The Vialls of his Wrath and Vengeance downe Who now had liv'd to have his Mercies knowne Whether we dye at Sea or on the Land By 〈◊〉 Plâ—gues or Blowes from Butchers hand That 〈◊〉 string'd Whip which doth us here attend For Temporall Revenge or Trialls End Gods Will be done Yet whilst his Church on Earth Stands â—â—me I feare â—o Wars no Plâ—gâ—e nor Dâ—â—rtâ— For Worldly things so Fates have weav'd the Plot Rowle reele and squierme like Eeles within a Pot. HOw shall we then weare out these Worldly Broiles So voluble of Course so full of Toiles Just as some dealâ— with a cumultuous Crew Of Leaguer'd Godâ—s When first the Quatreâ—â— grew And Shepheards met with mind to trounce them all A Swains did thus their so daine Doome recall What shall we doâ— with these bold Animalls Which pill our Pleâ—ts and spile our Vegetalls Which gathering into Wâ—â—ords caâ—e not for words Nor with their â—aliant Tappeâ— doe feare our Swords As if they would out-bear'd they threaten us That Cats enrag'd may turne as perilous As greater Beasts Some thiâ—de them to immure Lest other Beasts to Follies they iâ—ure They Custoâ—â— claime and Native Liâ—erties To pill our Bâ—â—k and brouze on Grafts of price But what bald Custome can their Bucks inferre Not in their Râ—tring time for then to erre VVas Frenzies Fit the Peace to violate With Skreames to seare our Meltâ—â—â—â— State VVhen Prudent Pâ—â— with Councehance severe Assay'd by Law the Mutineers to feare What shall we doe with this long bearded Kind Of Castell which presume to read the Riâ—â— And Beauty of our Woods without toâ—â—roule Slighting our Wâ—â—s like a vain Blank or Serowle These Out-â—ages are great Yet 〈◊〉 With Pitty mixt warnes our Piâ—â—gerency Over Gods Creaâ—nes to providâ—some Course That Beasts of Gaine may thrive noâ— fare the worse Fire and Blood-latting are the last of Cures So to be Mild hurts not but uâ—secures And though it seemes â— while like to a Block Contemn'd of Frogs yet lasts it like the Rock The Oxe must not he muzzled noâ— these Goates Depriv'd of Food â—or Horses tob'd of Oâ—tes What Forrests are reserv'd for straggling Deere Which retribute small Profit in the Yeare We foster greedy Hounds and swilling Swine And shall we now lesse hurtfull Beasts confine What Cares take we for Drones more then for Bees And yet to Kiddes grutch a few Sapling Trees If we hemme in their Dammes Both dye of Dearth And so we lose some of the Best on Earth For Profits Breed They rough and hardy are In Aires Extremes content with simple Fare A Gift which many Beasts nay men do want A Gift which lessens Crimes exorbâ—tant A little them sustaines And yet their Does Yeeld store of Milk to countervaile some Cowes They doe bring forth two or three Kiddes a piece Within the Yeare their Milk doth cordialize Natur'd like what they eate Feed them with Spurge Or Lettice then their Milk doth Humours purge The Male-Goats Bloud refines the Diamond It breakes the Stone and makes the Gravell'd sound When it is bakt or into Powder done And strew'd on Liquid Food it Cures the Stone Sooner then Leeks or Alisanders Broth Which seemes with it compar'd but skummy Froth A Hivers Pasty tasts like Venison The Buffe defends from Frost as from the Sunne I skip the Stuffe wrought of Goats stately Beard Lest not a Goats-haires
Discover'd shew great Doomes-dayes signs neer gone From which Extreames Lord save our Church as well As thou Elias didst from Iezabel That with the Spirits streame she quench her Thirst Untill that Day while Babel lies accurst As long as Sun and Moone or Raine-bowes signe Shall last preserve our King like Constantine Assigning us from Stewarts Regall Ligne Good Stwards still to over-see what 's Thine Remove not hence our Churches Candlestick While firmely we to Thy Sonnes Pledges stick But for his Sake who paid the Costly Price In Judgement due for our Enormities Whereas some led by Fiends as yet do stray If they Repent reduce them to thy way That Ismaels Brood henceforth no Christians flout For Lutherans or the Wicklevian Rout For Huguenots Novatians Schismaticks For Puritans or Mungrell Catholicks When these with Peter vouch Gods Living Sonne With Paul One God One Advocate alone Exploding School-mens Dreames Hypocrisies Soules-Marchandize and winding Fallacies We then shall soone for Other Points agree Without recourse to Edens curious Tree This Fruit the Church reapes by her Childrens Peace When they from jarres then Foes from jeering cease THE PICTVRE OF THE TRVE CATHOLICK AND APOSTOLICK CHURCH Represented in English and Latine Numbers The Argument The Authour last this Corollary knits To help Our Church against mad wrangling Wits Till the Sixth Age the Spouse of Christ 〈◊〉 Pure So doth our Church And here 's her Portraiture THe Spouse of Christ shone in her Prime 〈…〉 liv'd neere th' Apostles Time But afterwards Ecclips'd of Light She lay Obscure from most mens Sight For while her Watch hugg'd Carnall Ease And loath'd the Crosse she felt Disease Because they did Gods Rayes contemne And Maumets serv'd Grace fled from them Then Starres fell downe Fiends blackt the Aire And Mungrells held the Churches Chaire But now dispelling Errours Night By Christ his Might our New-mans Light She may compare for Faith alike With famous Romes first Catholick And Paragons for Vertue bright The Royall Scribes sweet Sulamite Who train'd to Zeale yet without Traps Her poore Young Sister wanting Paps Without Traditions she train'd her Or Quillets which make Soules to Erre SO feedes our Church her Tender Brood With Milk the Strong with stronger Food She doth contend in Grace to thrive Reformed like the Primitive She hates the Darke yet walkes the Round And joyes to heare the Gospels Sound She hates their Mind in Judgement blind Who swell with Merits out of kind In Christ alone lies all her Hope Not craving Help of Saint or Pope Poore Saints to shew her Faith by Deedes She fills their Soules their Bodies feedes She grants no Weapons for Offence Save Vowes and Fasting for Defence And yet she strikes But with what Sword The Spirits Sword Gods Lightning Word Indiff'rent Toyes and Childish Slips She slights but checks grosse Sinnes with stripes Yet soone the Strayes her Favour winne When they Repent them of the Sinne. So mild is she still loathing Ill And yet most loath the Soule to kill SUch is the Lady whom I serve Her Goodnesse such whom I observe And for whosee Love I beg'd these Layes Borne from the Spheares with Flaming Rayes But who can paint the Dowries forth Of this New Mary to the Worth O let us for her Gifts restor'd Then Sacrifice to Heavens Lord Our Hearts with Psalmes like Trumpets lowd For sending her to curbe the Proud And to beare downe Romes Antichrist As she types her that brought forth Christ The Object of our Second Birth And the Prime cause of all our Mirth Thus is Our Church in Essence like The Ancient True Apostolick GOD grant this Dame our Brittaines long to sway Whereby they may to Christ new Vowes repay And blesse thee Reader with like Happinesse To hold his pledges firme with Godlinesse CAndidore Fides lustrabat Lumine Mundâ—m 〈◊〉 propiâ—s tetigit Saecula Prima 〈◊〉 Lumen at Ecclipsin 〈◊〉 labentiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Reddidit obscuram quae fuit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nec mirum Turbans tantas senfisse 〈◊〉 Carnem plus Vigiles quam sapâ—ere 〈◊〉 Seria cum nugis miscentes Sacra profâ—â—â— Idolis Flameâ— post posuere Dei Stellarum Lapsâ—s 〈◊〉 Fraâ—â— Nubilâ—◠〈◊〉 Haec tâ—ia Corrupti Causa fuers Throâ—i Sedâ—â—dâ— dispersâ—â— Teneâ—â— is Noâ—â— Deâ—â—uit Aâ—â—â— Spoâ—saâ—â—dit Christi Crâ—scit Altar Home Crescit sponsaredux Hominis fulgore Novati Dum legitur Christi Pagina Sacra Choro Nec minùs est sponsa Salomonis Nostra pudica Vel Grege Primaevo quem pia Roma tulit Uberibus vacuam Parvam Prior illa Sororem Allexit zeli Lacte sed absque dolo Absque venenaâ—is Prudens allexit Elenchis Gentes quae tenebris delituere diu Quin Nostra Greges solet enutrire tenellos Lacte magis Fortes sed refovere Cibo Odit Nostra nigrà Mentis Caligine Captos Coetus qui Meritis intumuere suis Non Carnale sapit nec Papae Numen adorat Horret enim Christi commaculare Thorum Pectora Conâ—iâ—â—is Sanctorum Corpora victa Pascit ne fieret Fabula vana Fides Armâ— virago gerit sed Qualia Flaminis Arma Enthea nempe Dei Mystica Metra Preces Condonat facili leviuscula Crimina vâ—ltu Fâ—eda sed Orbilii vindicat Acta Minis Non animam jugulat tanta est Clementia Divae Sed resipiscentes Laeta reducit Oves Talis Imago Dei sponsae nostraeque Magistrae In cujus Laudes Aetheris igne feror Tanta Novae fulget virtus Divina Mariae Sed sua quis Calamo pingere Dona potest Sat â—ihi pro Donis tantum si Psalmata dentur Dum placet Aethereo Cor Holocauma Patri Qui nuper sponsam naevis maculisque solutam Transtulit ut Fidei Roma nitore ruat Utque Novi Dotes Hominis Caeloque renati Liberiore canam Pectore voce Tubâ Sic Nostra viget similis jam Sponsa Priori Quae visit quondam Tempora prisca Patrum Det Deus ut longum regat haec Sulamitha Britannos Que possint alacres nova vota rependere Christe Concedat que purem ribi Lector Candide Sortem Ut piâ— Christigene conserves Pignora Sponse Another Hymne to the same Effect as how to discerne the True Catholick Church THe Crosse on which our Saviour di'd For many Yeares lay undiscri'd With Rubbage soil'd in Calvary Till to renew Christs Memory The Mother of Great Constantine Searcht found and left it for a Signe That Converts then might understand Christ di'd for them in Jewries Land In the like sort the Church of Christ Lay long Eclips'd through Carnall Mist Resembling Gold obscur'd with drosse As was with Earth that Woodden Crosse. And though some wisht to find her out They could not bring their wish about So strong of Might so full of sleight Was Babels Whore to bleare their Sight Untill Gods Word perform'd the Deed With Martyrs Bloud the Churches Seed Till Wicklâ—â—â—e first and Luther next Stept up her Babes stood sore perplext NOw O looke up this Gracious Queene On Sions Hill is to
scowre the Seas and Force with Force to mees As testifie of late his Admiralls Which forced Moores to yeeld home English Thralls But more then all the New man he doth grace And the Divine holds in his Counsaile Place While Mâ—â—s went on the Electours wings to pull Against the Charter of the Golden Bull Distressed Teutons Limmes found both reliefe And Succour of our Charles to ease their Griefe And while their Church with Tortures lay opprest Her Babes exil'd our Brittaine Mother blest Thrives by the Cares of our Religious Charles Secur'd from Schisme and Superstitious Snarles O Happy Brittaine couldst thou know thy Good Where Neighbor-states ore-flow with Spoiles Bloud To calculate who were by Warres extinct In Belgia France and Germanies Precinct Or the late Troubles of the Valroline The Grisons Griefes or Rochels to define A Buskin craves more then Poeticall Or Algebraes Points Mathematicall Nay he that counts the Scarres in Christian Lands On Christian Folkes late made by Tyrants hands Shall sooner tell the Names of Magogs Bands Which Iohn compares unto the Ocean Sands All which the Saints though in their Tents beset By Fiends yet them from Vowes no Crosses let All which Gods Church though oftentimes she feares And vents forth Angels Mones with Patience beares Our King bewailes their Case stands on Defence He Armes and yet not ministers Offence We feele their Griefes with them we sympathize And pray for Cure which Passion mollifies WHen Austriaes Caesar had with Eagles Wings Aspir'd and lift against the King of Kings His lofty Head and muster'd all his Force To trample on Christs Flocke without remorce Having begun the Electours Plumes to pull Against the Germane Lawes and Golden Bull Ev'n then O Wonder unexpected Aide Was by the Lord from Swethens Land convai'd From the farre North brave King Gustavâ—s came Who came like Thunder fought and overcame And though this Heros perish'd for our Sinnes In Battell late yet to the Philistines Like Sampson he full dearely sold his Breath Confounded them and Triumph'd by his Death Yea from his Cinders since sprung up a Flame Which Tyrants Threats and Turncoats puts to shame Long may thy Trophees last Great Macchabee All Terrour to our Foes untill they see That they who wittingly shead Christians Bloud Like Romaine Pilate and the Iewish Croud Stand guilty all of Christ his Death againe And cannot Purge or wash away the staine With Bribes or Ransome of Sophistick kind Besides the Scandall which they leave behind That Tearing Bonds of Christian Unity Confirmes the Turke by their Hostility To flout and them with faigned Leagues to wind As shortly his Confederates may find Meane while they wast a Christian Monarchy And Teutons Land becomes an Anarchy BUt leaving them with Fire and Sword to skuffle I saw Our Churches Fâ—es begin to shuâ—â—â—e Strange Cards in hope by Arts Legier-de-maine To win The Stake is Soule prodigiâ—â— Gainâ— Which God avert and grant that we take heed Of Sheep-skin'd Wolves who sacrifice their Seed To Moloch and expect for Ioviall Nunnes To be Confest by Romes unmarried Soâ—â—â—s This Women styld the Iesuitrices Did lately presse that they by their Accesse To Ladies might for their Conversion speed And work upon their Owne fraile Sexes Creed With greater sleight and with more fervency Then Priests oft blurrâ—d for Carnell Privacie This Femall Sect before it grew to height Was by the present Pope Urbenâ— the Eight Dasht in the Spring A prudent Actindeâ—d To stine the Growth of Antichristian Sâ—â—â— God grant him more such Sparkes that as his Book Of Poems bruites his skill so he the Hook And Fishers Ner convert to better use Then Other Popes have done to Faiths abuse The which he may like Peter or Saint Paul Soone bring to passe by Counsell Generall Yea and perhaps he may there Reconcile Thòse Worldly Jarres which blur Old Antiochs stile FOr what poor things wuld some disguiz'd with zeale Disturbe the Peace of Christ his Common-weale Some startle at the Altars Ancient Name Others our setled Forme of Vowes defame Because they want some businesse from without To make their Badies sweat or smart they pour And peevish grow not knowing what they aile Within their Sickly Braine till Eits prevaile Like idle Maias with the Greene-sicknesse vext They loath what 's good and in ward are perplext With braâ—kish Fleame with Moodes extravagant And Longings oft from Reason discrepant Because they cannot have their owne Chymeres And whimseyes of their Will they wast with Feares Repining at their Neighbours store of Grace And yet their Crazed selves will not embrace The tendred Forme nor joine in the Soule-Cure As Others do and with sweet Sauce procure Whereby they may with Understanding Pray And not by roat nor rashly Vowes repâ—â— Glutted with Quailes and Maâ—maes precious Fare Their stomacks long for Onions homely ware And Simple Trash which may the Bloud iuflame More then that wholesome Food which they defame Have we not seene more Pride in Course Attire Then in Rich Robes Yea some who did aspire Under the Mask of plaine Sincerity Yet afterwards strove for Priority LEt him that blames the Surplice comely weare Looke how the Saints in long-white Robes appeare Before the Highest Throne and then no doubt At such a Sight he will no longer pout And who is he so frowardly severe That rayles at Graduates Hood of Minnivere The Scarlet Robe or at the Corner'd Cap In Academes Matriculated Lap Like Laureate Wreathes borne and produc'd to grace Industrious Wits the Churches hopefull Race That with such Types and Tokens garnished The Bees from Drones might be distinguished And that by Vertues Hire faire Honours Crowne Some might as Starres from Lesser Lights be known Much more distinct the Sacred Ranke had need From Vulgar Garbes of Grave and Reverend Weed Aswell to move regard by Outward Hew Of Surplices and Miters as to shew To hardned Romaine Strayes that without stings We joyne with them in all Indifferent Things And that to shun Offence Faiths Essence say'd We can for beare and yeeld to them that rav'd In clozing Rents for some Traditions Rites And Outward Formes so to renew their Lights The Iewes lost not by Aaroâ—â— Bells their Hopes And what lose we by Miters Sight or Copes THus stands our Church beâ—et with Schismaticks And Romish Routes pretended Catholiks The Former raising Jarres for Triuiall things The Latter seemes to taint the New mans Springs And yet she shines most bright while like a Storme The Formers Faction quailes and may reforme Their slips with Ease at least when mellow Age Shall by Degrees compose their Passions Rage And there is Hope the Other will renounce Dependencies on Saints and so pronounce As did those Saints themselves Faith Justifies And Christ his Bloud alone doth us suffice Without our Owne or other Merits Boast To gaine Salvation through the Holy Ghost For want of Tythes the One a Sect contrives And Discontent tempts Babels Fugitives THus hath our Christâ—an Church