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
Scribes Pertaking Grace without disparity Made onely Iust by Faiths dependency Not by their Owne but by Anothers Deedes T is strange how they are clear'd of their misdeedes What sparkling Eyes more beautifull then Wine â—â—ose Teeth like Milke whose Body lookes Divine â— mild Aspect yet of S. Michaels strength â—â—epard to Plague and foile our Foes at length â—hose Haires more white theÌ„ Wooll or the full moone â—â—d whose bright Face outshines the Sun at Noone â—hose voyces Tunes like silver Brookes resounds â—â—d whose faire Feet like finest Brasse doe sound â—hat is He a Prophet Prince or Peere â—ho in mans shape climb'd up our Highest Sphere â—â—d there instal'd with the Divinest Light â—â—eares now a Crowne more bright then Chrysolite WHat can he be then said Others the Lord â—ho to save men became th' Incarnate word â—nd having led on Earth an Humble life â—e hath trod on the Dragons Crowne of strife Who Preacht to Soules with hideous Mists perplext â—et for his Love by his owne Nation vext Who slaine at last by Romes Authority Yet spite of Hell Rose up with Majesty This New man God the Third day rais'd from Dead To be our King and Comforts more to breath Who made Light things or Spirits to descend Now upwards holp Christs Body to ascend Whose Body now we see Incorruptible Most Glorious New of strength Invincible Divine aswell as Humane not with hands Of Mortalls wrest as Errour understands Yet his long Hands I meane his Spirits Armes Extend to shield his Church from deadly Harmes His clearest Eyes all Penitents behold And his white Teeth doe Temperance infold His Silver Haires his knowledge Ripe declare And his bright Face foretells his Favours rare Out of his Mouth flowes Truths melodious Word But his just Wrath darts forth a Lightning Sword From Heaven He survayes each Holy Place And raps with mystick Trance Men chang'd by Grace At their great Feast He is the Soules Colleague Spirit matcht with Hypostaticke League 〈◊〉 really as in One Horoscope â—wo Soules that plight with hands their mutual Hope â—hilst up to Him with Thankes she lifts and heaves 〈◊〉 Ravisht Thoughts like Wheates ripe eared sheaves 〈◊〉 Captive He hath led Captivity 〈◊〉 Gifts to Men and doth their Chaines unty â—â—solving quite lewd Passions Linkes a sunder 〈◊〉 knots of Eeles or Swarmes of Waspes by thunder â—preme there He all Creatures overswayes â—â—d there in his high Manhoods Person stayes â—ill All th' Elect the Gentile as the Iew â—al'd up for Grace come in and till they rue â—th shamefull Guilt their Rancour Guile Priâ—â—â— â—ho his pure Word and Deity still deride â—is Garments red shew that He trod alone â—he Winepresse how in Need him succour'd None â—is Robes likewise resembling Bozraes Graine 〈◊〉 Crimsondipt imply that Men againe Will in his Members him oppresse and gore As they their Head and Master did before With Aspicke Tongues hir'd to empoyson Fame With strife and Losse or Plots surmizing Blame Whereby weake Natures Brood torne by Dissention Might lose the hopefull use of Christs Ascention Or with Crosse Flames more fiercely violent Them in their lives last Period to torment Because false Christ's they would not every where Kisse and adore Christs Body heere and there BVt leaving them for Antichristians Limbs Let us applaud and greet with Ioyfull Hymnes The Reall Forme and Body of the Lord From mangling now to Lasting Life restor'd This Crowned Lambe the first Fruits of the Dead Whom God ordain'd to be our Prince and Head Great Iesus Christ borne on Sinnes necke to tread And to divide the Right from the Misse-led The Sonne of our Iehovah Elohim â—â—om Saints their Saviour call and None but Him 〈◊〉 unto Him our Maker hath resign'd 〈◊〉 Creatures sway with Power unconfin'd 〈◊〉 whose dread Name all Angels Saints and Men â—ust bow and at his Praise vent forth Amen â—ot onely with loude sounding Tunes expression â—t likewise with Loves Inward Flames impression The New mans Cloze of Thankesgiving for our Saviours Ascending up into Heaven â—ll Glory be to God for evermore â—ho with New Layes hath multiplied our store â—nd taught us by the Holy Gholy to finde Where Christ remaynes rais'd in his Humaine kind That the New man put downe our Carnall Sence 'T was well therefore that he departed hence â—is Body rapt till Doomesday from our fight â—et by his great Victory infusing Light With Wondrous Gifts on the Apostolick And ever since on the Church Catholik Or more or lesse as She with Zealous Hope Dayes Turret climb'd or in Nights vale did grope For these high Flames more bright then Sunny Rayes We sing to Three in One New Songs of Prayse THE MOST MEMORABLE OCCVRRENCES WHICH â—apned in Our Christian Church from The Thirtieth Three yeere of Our Saviours â—â—carnation and from the Eighteenth yeere â—f Tiberius Caesars Raigne the Roman Emperour untill the yeere of Our Lord 100. at which time Trajan the Emperour began his Raigne The Argument Behold what Thanks from Worldlings worse then Mad For Preaching Truth the chiefe Apostles had â—ot One escapes a sad Tormenting Fate Which holpe to build at first the Churches state VVHat better Fruit can a New Sparkling Muse Produce then Holy Odes for Christians use â—hen by th' Apostles Glasse of Peace to chime 〈◊〉 from late Iarres to scare the World with Rime O would I could like Roman Arato In English Tune such Labours undergoe As might display th' Apostles Acts and Lives Gladding our Age with their Pure Honey-Hives Which spite of Drones False Brethren stormy Blast And tortures stood through watchings vows Faâ—â— Forear'd against the Foemen of the Crosse As to prevent from Hell ensuing Losse Although our Latter be not built as well Nor may that Church in Glory paralell Yet our Good Will availes in stead of Spice And our New man helps us to Sacrifice For we have had our Martys like the First Yea and the Living Rocke to quench our Thirst We have beheld the Spirits Lightning Sword Onely I feare we want the Flames of Love Which Primer Saints with mutuall Heate did move This want Some may with their Ambrosian Food Supply sound forth and publish for our good If as they have begunne they warble out â—hat I to bring about do stand in doubt â—his Taske Pauls Faithfull Mate in Physicke skâ—ll'd Though more for Soules then Bodies Cure fulfill'd â—cring two Workes to Greeke Theophilus 〈◊〉 Monuments and by his Lamps to us 〈◊〉 left them us to shew what Legacies â—â—e Heavens lent for Christian Sacrifice â—ence as his Ape by Imitations straine â—ope some Light for Brittaines Church to gaine â— least to serve as Sparkes Babes to revive â—ho faile for want of Torches store to thrive â—Hen that our New-mans Sire the Holy Ghost â—â—h Cloven Tongues like Fire at Pentecost 〈◊〉 lighted on th' Apostles visible â—he some times inspir'd invisible â—â—s Prophets then Faith Love and Christian Ioyeâ— â—â—ighd Delphick Dreames and Babelsâ—arring Noise Then
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
Neighbours Amity How then could they thinke on Priority And stand on Points of Prelates Primacie Without distrust of some Conspiracie THe Truth is this who were styl'd Bishops then They fish'd not for fraile Wealth but Soules of Men Not to enrich themselves with Private store But like Saint Paul the Crosse they thought on mâ—â—â— From Christian Caesars they got Liberties But not so great to claime Regalities About the Yeare Sixe Hundred sixty sixe We finde that Rome began to play more Tricks Then she durst act within the Ages past As Paul and John fore-told her Breach at last And never left to lift her Lofty Crest Till she Gods Word had darkned in the West And dar'd upon the Caesars State to prey The maine great Let to her Prodigious Sway. She never ceas'd to stirre up raging Fires Till she at Trent concluded her Desires Repugnant to the Vow which she profest At her First Rise Sixe Hundred yeares at least At such wild Fits I onely glance not carpe This Taske I leave for an iambicks Warpe THE OCCVRRANCES OF THE THIRD AGE From the yeere of our Lord 200. untill the yeere 300. At which time Dioclesian and Maximinus raigned Emperours of Rome The Argument Next to the Greekes the Latine Scribes begin Idolaters unto Christs Church to win Romes Tyrants fret and Saints they martirize Saint Anthony into a Desart flyes WIthin this Age the Church most Militant And Cautious strove to shun exorbitant Attempts of Foes one while to secret Caves Constrained to retire sometimes to tame the Braves Of her owne Tribe Domesticke Mutineers Shee us'd the Spirits Sword 〈◊〉 the Jeeres And Flouâ—ing Stuffes of Fâ—rrainers to daunt Which did at her Poore Robes and Altars taunt She fought against Caetilius and his Traine And prov'd their Vaunt for Outward Glories vaine Her State was then unsetled New and Poore But Time to come might make her flourish more A thousand of such Taunts and Fiery Darts A Thousand of great Dangers Envious Arts By Satans Plots she daily underwent While Caesars sought their Pagan-Gods Content The neerer that the Church drew to her Time Of Liberty least that too high she climbe Satan suborn'd his Agents in this Age Against her Race to shew their utmost Rage He knew her Thraldomes Date to Iohn foretold Would shortly end And that made him so bold AS otherwhiles a Woman Chast and Faire Dishevel'd seemes or with loose dangling Haire So without Art and in her Native Dresse The Church at first for want of Time to dresse And to compose her Outward Ornament Came forth to spread her Saviours Testament Not carking much for Superficiall Weaâ—e But in the Heart the New Mans Gifts to beare And yet both Chaste and Faire She comely shone With Constant Faith built on the Corner-stone And though she liv'd and raign'd of Men unseen With Carnall Eyes yet of Good Angels seen Heard in the Quire which to the Lambe belongs Answer'd by Saints with Sympathizing Songs Nay seene and knowne of Men Reborne anew Both then and now who never kneel'd to Baal But to One Christ the Saviour of us all Who by his Word and bright Diâ—rnall Light Hath late disperst the Tempests of the Night Sav'd us like Peter out of Herâ—ds Iayle From Babels Powder-traine for Saints availe For which sweet Grace redintegracious Love The Saints on Earth with Those of Heaven above United in One League shall ever sing Melodious Songs to our Triumphant King OUr Latine West unto the Church of Greece Acknowledge must her selfe in some degrees Inferiour and oblig'd From her she had the Forme Of Christian Rites false Altars to reforme As she the Substance from Ierusalem More neere to Greece then Rome the Church Supreme From her she borrow'd her prime Words of Art Those Second coin'd Intentions to impart From Man to Man by Termes Discourse and Tongue What otherwise would dormant lye unstrung Her Noblest Name of Christian Catholick The Eucharist the Faith Apostolick Types Symboles and Ecclesiasticke Lawes What be they but Greeke words for Christian Cause Disguis'd in Latine Robes Faith to expresse And to worke on Mild Hearers more or lesse The Sev'nty Soribes translated Iewries Ioyes To the Greeke Tongue by Philadephus Choise Saint Paul and Luke divulg'd in Graecian Tone Christs Mysteries yea and Saint Iohn wrought on His Auditours in Graecian Vestiment Fit in that Age to further his Intent Greece more to praise ere Rome saw Christ his Light Some Greekes of Philip cray'd his Masters sight NO marvell then that Greeks ere Latinists Did publish Workes fought in our Christian Lists With Infidells against their Rites obsceane Towards the Period of the Second Sceane To celebrate this Age Tertullian rose With Tullian Phrase to daunt the Churches Foes False Heretickes and Jewes whom he refells And but for Dreaming Fasts his Part excells Whilst he gainst Marcion makes Christs Body good Truths Figure not Imaginary Food Since Figures shew not false but things indeed And in another Place quoth he We feed By Hearing on the Word Inâ—arnate blest With Understanding chew through Faith digest SAint Cyprian him succeeds who famous made By Monuments which cannot faile nor fade The Churches Union and the Martyrs Crowne Which since himselfe receiv'd in Carthage Towne This Saint bids us the Holy Bread to part And breake by Faith not with sharpe Teeth nor Art While we confesse That which is broke to Parts Divine-Humane both God and Man imparts Out of his Bookes we cull at Carthage Towne How he did frâ—t and all the Councell frowne To heare that any should Romes Pope install The Bishop of all Bishops Generall NExt after him Minucius Foelix came In Roman Robes Caecilius overcame With Dialogues and foil'd his Heath'nish Dreames So did Arnobius by the Spirits Beames In the like Garbe the Gentiles Rage abate And shewes the Cause why Christians Idolls hate By Fabian Bath'd He grac'd this Centers Age Who first of Caesars wore the Christian Badge LOng had the Church been rackt with bitter woes In travell like a Woman tir'd with Throes To bring that faire Light forth and Blessed Birth Which in th' Elect shines with Harmonious Mirth The Inward Man I meane whose Praise we sing Grac'd to that end with Will by Heavens King Through all the Roman Empire tortured And by fierce Tyrants hands sore Martyred In every Age during her Pilgrimage Heere in this World untill Maxentius Rage Became supprest by zealous Constantine She felt what Dioclesian Maximine And what their Praetours could impose of Force Upon her Limmes without their least remorce She felt Christ in his Members felt againe What Hangmen could inflict of Hellish Paine And what their Predecessors could inflict Upon her Lambes by Proclamations strict Prefiguring our late New Christian Fry Whom men professing Christ in Flames did fry And yet they fail'd by their Decrees severe Or Wolvish Decius them to daunt with feare But that in midst of Paine by Satan stung They to the Lambe Allelujaes sung Slighting the Gridiron
by Nero Martyrdome SO to the Glory of the English Race Who with the First withstood the Papall Mace He whom the Godly for his Learned Workes Then styl'd The Hammer of the Romish Church On Grosted I reflect Grave Lincolnes Sire He stoutly wrot against his Forged Fire Which netled him so much that out of hand He would have cited him before his Band Of Pharisees at Tiber to appeare But that admonish'd by his Councell there Sage Cardinalls he was content to passe Him over lest the Bishop might surpasse Them by his rare incomparable Lore And winde them in more Mazes then before Two Ages past had Abbot Ioachim Against Romes Gaine a Prophet been to grim O Glorious Ile most happy is thy Fate Which hadst the Luck first to descry thy State Thy Churches dolefull state by Babel torne And with the First to be in Christ New-borne To shake her Yoak quite off and to flye out From her Dark Jaile mauger her Guardians stour FRom time to time we read in Antiquartes God rais'd up some to sound forth Romes Vagaries Before that Wickliffe stretcht his Lions Paw One Robert Gall Soule-rapt in Paris saw The Romish Church by Name with Head like Death And with a Body leane and scant of Breath An Angel then while this sight did appeare Bad him the Romish Church mark standing there SHe in our West was then of small extent Perhaps retir'd else-where like Abrams Tent Or She far'd in that Antichristian Age Like Babels Jewes or Saints through Neroes Rage Heav'ns Path is Narrow Stiep Hells Broad down hill Good men but Few the Greatest part are Ill Yet of those Few 't is hard to know their Scope Some sicke some weake or of Potentiall Hope Yet of those Few the True Church is compos'd And of those Few some were like Starres dispos'd By our Good God of Dangers to fore-tell Whereby the Rest might save themselves from Hell So Petrarch sung in two-fold Latian Style And others did in Learned Workes compile Glauncing nay Striking at Romes Antichrist And drawing Soules from darke Cimmerian Mist. So Boccace had although with Tales disguiz'd The Friers wanton Thefts Epitomiz'd As likewise those Three Nunnes Canoniz'd Saints Like Babels Iewes or Sybills made Complaints Good Katharine Bridget and Hildegard Fore-told our New-mans Armes of safest ward And that a New Reform'd Presbytery Their Liturgy should quash and Popery THus by Records the Churches Race I try And by Faiths Light her Orient Face descry Like the New Moone approaching from the Wane And shine more bright in Consciences Humane By which and by Romes owne Historian Platine I finde how liv'd the Head of the Church Latine By Simony and lewd Magicians Spells By Murthers Fraud and Coining of New Hells By setting all our Christ endome at ods Because they kneel'd not to his Maumet Gods With Factious Guelphes his hurliburles Assignes He warr'd against the Imperiall Gibellines Amidst these Broiles and Crimes exorbitant Christ whistled home his Flock extravagant Some knew his Sound and to his Fold return'd Some staid behinde and Refractaries turn'd The First he linkt with his Church Catholick But left the Latter of the Staggers Sick And for a Prey to Fiends because his Call They flighted and his Cures Angelicall Such to be gull'd he left by Aiery Elves But his True Ark he steered free from Shelves Now with faire Light from famous Oxford rose Our Wicklisse Romes Foundations to oppose By certaine Lords and Londoners Support Which though some crost yet gave a lowd Report So lowd that Husse and Icrome heard from Prague The Noise and learn'd to flye from Babels Plague And left to After-times such Fruitfull Seed That the True Church now glories in the Breed THen Chaucer by the Freedome of his Rimes Unsilenc'd scan'd the Darknesse of those Times Of such strange Force are Tunes of Raptur'd Wits That they have charm'd and still'd wild Tyrants Fits He plainely pointed at Romes Antichrist Admiring at the Clergies stormy Mist Which did so long our West exagitate Like them in Zeale though with unequall Fate Did the Lord Cobham since the Bohemes Husse And those Good Soules in Brittaines I le discusse Religions state those whom the Papists then Nick-named for their Faith Just and Fast Men. Whose Manner neere was such as Pliny writ To Trajan earst They as did Saints befit Assembled in the Night sung Psalmes Receiv'd The Holy Food and with sweet Trance conceiv'd Christs Mystick Gifts the New-mans Sacrifice The Spirits Flame which Carnallists despise They liv'd as Brethren leagu'd in Unity With mutuall Love and Goods Community Relieving One anothers Need alwayes Their owne Iust Fast Mens Need without delayes For Pauls Epistles or th' Apocalipse In English pen'd because there Babels slips Were prophesied they grudg'd not to defray Five Sterling Marks a Scriveners Royall Pay If we regard the scarcenesse then of Coine Before Castile did Perues Oare purloine And which is strange they seldome mixt their Seed But with their Mates lest they might taint their Breed Fooles styl'd them then as they now Lutherans The Knowne Men or Wicklevian Puritans The Iust and Fast or with a Brow more sowre Them Lollards markt froÌ„ whence came Lollaras Towre IN Wales About this Ages latter end Did Blasts from Hell to Friers Braine ascend False Miracles these Merit-â—onging Crew Pretended done by Winifride did brew Neere to a Well deriv'd from Rocky Lime Which Holy they enstyld in that Dark Time Because the Bloud of that good Virgin there As they surmizd was shed and not else-where Lord how they roamd like wild Geese on the Fame And unto Baal with fat Oblations came All to enrich the Forgers of the Bruit With what they never toyld for Strangers Fruit Before which Feat for their Monastick Weale Their Beggars Wants they knew not how to heale 'T is strange to see how soon the World turn'd Whore When Girald past Two Hundred Yeares before That very Place with an exact Survay Yet could not learne what men did since display THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE FIFTEENTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 1400. untill the yeere 1500 At which Time Henry the Seventh raigned King in England The Argument Our Churches slighted state Bizantium lost The Papacie in strife The Hussites crost For Husse raise War with Ziscaes Conquests crown'd Strange Lands by Gama and Columbus found AS I of late Old Rubbage diggd I felt With Flaming Force my Perturbations melt My Passions curbd my Outward Man of Might Deprivd And then I had a Ghostly Sight Of Robert Galls Parisian Iack-a-Lent Whereof the Pope by Carnall Mindes Consent Is Supreme Head on Earth But soone I saw Both Head and Body burne away like straw For Both indeed wore brittle Ornaments And so dissolvd to the First Elements His Soule descending into Lower Spheares Then those of Purging which he farm'd for Yeares Anon I saw with Intellectuall Eyes From a Dark Iaile a comely Dame arise When seeing me She stopt her Modest Pace And like my Saviours