the Birth of the Arabian Bird With Golden wings from Ashes Pile they gird They see huge Pompions of small seedes renew Yet they make doubt that men shall Rise anew They see the Salamander in the Flame Unscorched lives yet they are void of shame Some in our Time quite dead againe have liv'd By Miracle and some by drinks reviv'd Yea when the Bird out of the Cage did roame The Soule reverted back into her home In heavy sleepe they feele the Soule to range And yet they doubt of the Immortall change But thou hast sent O bright Celestiall Light Into our thoughts a Guest to teach us right O sacred Faith our Charter Aarons Rod Great wonder-worker betwixt Soules and God The chiefest Barre betwixt our Sinnes and Hell The Quintessence of Flowrs of sweetest smell Faith conquers all Mountaines of Sinnes removes Makes Lions Lambes and Kites more mild then Doves And may be styl'd the Gospells Golden Glosse To know aright the meaning of the Crosse. This is that Rock unseen with Carnall Eyes Whereon our Church stands firme in spite of Spies Late sent from Hell Christs Building to deface And with false Newes disperst to darken Grace This is our New mans sure and constant Rock Whose sense from Lambs old Reynard seekes to lock This pretious Gift we gaine from Grace above â—ut flyes away if we prophane Gods Love â—lipsing it on the Lords glorious day â—ith worldly mist false Fire or Heathnish play â—he old Mans Tricks his stale and stinking Leaven For if that Day we Rest not we lose Heaven I meane from Gaine Lust and unlawfull Playes Or Worke which might be done on other dayes We must refrayne and our owne Carnall wayes Set farre behinde the course of Sabbath dayes Except our Mother Church which holds the Keyes To binde or loose dispence with Exercise Or with some harmles Joyes at vacant howres To sweeten Cares and raise the vitall Powres Which might grow drowzie sad or drooping dry For want of Motion and due Symmetry Provided that the Soules chiefe faculties Be not betwitcht too much with vanities And that our sportes or Recreations bee From Spleen or Gâ—ll Bibbing or swearing free That we rejoyce in presence of the Lord Like Man and Wife of one minde and Accord Provided that what Money we shall Play Or hap to winne we count it lent away And so Conferre it to avoyd Abuse For mending wayes the Church or Lazars use But in this Point let Saints be circumspect Lest at their Play the Serpent them infect Provided still we may Advantage winne On that set day to put downe Raigning Sinne And glorify with mutuall one Accord And holy Hearts our Sabbaths gracious Lord Who knowes that Man is full of Imperfections And by degrees must climbe to more Perfections So have I seene some Children from the Dugges By leasure wean'd then terrify'd with Bugges From screaming lowd and afterwards with Bells Appeas'd like Angry Bees untill their Yelles They quite left off ashamed of their Folly And grew in time more stayd devout and Holy So I have know'n where men were most Precise In Forraigne Partes that some did exercise At Buttes with Arrowes or with Bullets Play Between the Sermon While on this High day The like Effects our Elders Tolerations May bring to passe amidst our Profanations That when our sweaty Hobs have daunc'd their fill They and their Marians mount to Sions Hill Or else deferre their Games and Alchouse Bowles â—ill sacred Liquour hath bedew'd their Soules â—or then I hope our New man will extend â—is quickning Heat that their Old man will bend â—nd stoope like Josephs Brethren overcome â—ith th'Awfull splendour of succeeding Doome â—hat shall inflicted be on Libertines â—or slighting Prophets and their sacred lines 〈◊〉 their abuse of Christian Liberty 〈◊〉 causing scandall with Impiety â—or keeping back Gods Tythes and starving those Who might Soul-fed our Sabbaths Foes oppose O would my words might pierce into the Flint And strike remorse with Numbers feeling dint In them who to support their Pride ingrosse The Meanes whereby ensues the Churches Losse In them that put no cautious difference Betwixt the Lords and other Dayes in sence Good ends and use like those who sometimes fed On the Lords Body as on Common Bread But leaving these like Achans to themselves Or to be rankt among the Fairy Elves I hope the Gospells Light which now shines bright In Brittaines Ile will so confound the Night Of misty sinnes that we shall shunne the Rock Of Scandall and be grafted in one stock As Members of our All-puissant Head Whose Ten-fold Lawes the greatest States must dread And by their Light twixt Motion Love and 〈◊〉 Cause Lesser Starres like Charles his Waine to draw That Head and Parts may joine in unity While Charles his Name renewes whole Charity Membra Caputque ligant Charites quas Carolus ambiâ— Dum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 renovat Rex nomen omen Blest be that Light which late in Oxford shone And there Inspir'd faire Englands Royall Throne Our Carriers Carts and Wayne-men to restraine Who sullied Sabbath dayes for greedy Gaine Blest be that Act which served for a Charme Amidst our vowes to stay Gods Thundring Arme That scar'd from Westminster our Parliament With Fiery dartes and Arrowes Pestilent No strict Edict could cease the Dismall knells No Judges Writ could stay sad Londons Bells No Golden Fee the Soule of Eloquence Could further Suits against the Pestilence Our Gallants then so for their Out-side styl'd Thence hurryed fast away like Creatures wilde The Courtiers fled so did Rich Londoners The Coachmen fled so did the Waggoners Both Sexes fled yea Men of all degrees Grave-diggers Gaine downe waigh'd the Lawyers Fees Though sithence some complain'd of Fees abate For many weekely Graves but few of late Our Fashions Beauties and daub'd Jezabels Tooke then for Fiends the Noise of Tolling Bells Few stay'd behind save some in hope of Gaine Or those for Christ who shrunkt not to be slaine Nay they who bragg'd of Aromatick Pots Cures for the Poxe and soveraigne Antidotes Against the Plague then brookt not London streets Lest they might daunce the winding of the Sheets But now attend a Wonder great I tell Which thousands can as yet remember well Assoone as that New Act came published The Plague abated and few perished This an Eye-witnesse of their Desolations Their Trades Decrease their Woes and Lamentations In that great Citty where the Sicknesse raign'd I then their Guest undaunted not constrain'd Do testify for our Preservers prayse And to reclaime them who shall read these Layes With Dalilaes from dallying over-long Their sweetest sinnes I meane Gods day to wrong Gods day of Rest his Wonders to display Gods day for mans best part Soules Holy-day On which High day the Spirits Gate stands ope And we may then for store of Graces hope Iâ—t not absurd New sweet Wine to put in Old Butts not first well purified within And
stop the Old mans wily race Deatb Crownes a Saint and none can dy in Christ Except he living here become his Priest For Gods Elect must lead a Righteous Life Subject to Christ as to her head the Wife She knowes no male but one she stands in Aw Yet loves him deare and his Advice is Law Sweet heart quoth he lose not the mornings Prime But as Christ thee doe thou redeeme the Time With Prayers Zeale true Love and Fruitfull Deeds For of ten thousand Soules scarce one well speeds Now he that hath discretion in his pate Must marke these Maximes ere it be too late When strife for Love dreames we take for watching When Praise for Preyes and Grace we looke for Catching And when from Fasts we fal to Feasts and bibbing Then Abbaes streame stayes in the lowest Ebbing Our Advocate craves it to flow againe The Father yeelds and so to every veine Their streame flowes faire untill our changling fooles Have sought to other Streames from Muddy Pooles The Trinity then loathing Braines so sicke Their Motions stop and men dye Lunaticke From which Relapse Distrust and Lunacy Blesse we our selves as from Apostacy If I speake well or rave with puft up Learning Judge they who have the Spirit of Discerning In the meane time keepe we Gods Trumpets Feast And watch till it shall summon us to Rest. All Feastes expir'd in Christs his Oracles Or were exchang'd for our Soules Spectacles In memory to keepe our Saviours Name The Blessed Virgins and th' Apostles Fame With watch against the brats of Antichrist Which beare Christs Name but not the markes of Christ. To blaze these Newes I finde none more Divine Then Epiphanius and Saint Augustine Since the decease of those good Fishermen Which toyl'd to free soules from the Devils den For he that markes them blazing Heretickes May soone convince our moderne Catholickes Who were baptiz'd and styl'd Regenerate Went out from us but since degenerate Christs Oracles next to th' Apostles Time Shone as bright starres six hundred yeares in prime But afterwards by Pompe and Sodomy They were left Breathlesse for Anatomy Yet to the Spirits Feast of Shavelings slighted Our West hath beene by Prophets late invited To cleanse Christs Church from Superstitious Feasts Proclaiming Truth against the Mounted Beasts Mysterious charmes Soule-gulling Merchandize Which Gospel seem'd till Wickliff prov'd them lies Truthes Oracles which Antichrist supprest Are freely now in our owne Tongue exprest Each Parable made plaine to Babes reveal'd And every Mysticke Leafe lyes now unseal'd In spight of the Red Dragons Floud and Fraud And maugre all the Trickes of Babels Baud So that we may unlesse our Riots let Escape and breake out of the Hunters Net Strange Fires croaking noise from Balaams lips Cannot dash out our Light nor yet eclipse Those Rayes whereby the murthered Lamb of late Cheares up his Faithfull Bride and Sions state Relying on his Ayd and powerfull Arme His Spirit warmes and keeps from Leaguers harm But clandestine and by sly cheating trickes Some winne more Games to Babels Meretrix He that deceived Eve by subtill Traine Would our returne into her stewes againe Perswade By Sions Rents they shortly hope To blurre our Church and re-invest the Pope With his Old Keyes and with his Golden Crosse In Gods owne Temple Graces to ingrosse And for small cause to excommunicate Nay for neglect of Fees to shut Heavens Gate They hope to put by Satans Tares late sowne Our Laymens ward of Premunire downe But why cast I such Goblin doubts abroad When the Last Knell determines our aboad Our short aboad on Earth O let us then Repent and waile our sinnes deare Country-men Let us renew whilst that it is to Day Our Sacrifice and vowes of Love repay Oft musing on Saint Paules advice that now We Christ no more after the flesh must know But as it were in traunce the New-mans way To waigh his Crosse and Passion every day The Service which belongs to Him alone Withdraw not from that All-sufficient One By kneeling to our fellow-servants downe For Ghostly helpe who saved but their owne Deare Soules by vertue of that Costly Blood Which on the Crosse was shed for our joynt good If we beleeve as Saints have done before us In Christ alone Hels sting can never gore us Thinke on my words O ye backe-sliding Soules Who pay to Saints your vows like Market Tolles Thinke on your owne and Christ his painefull death The Judgement day and gaping hell beneath Our dayes are few Times period is at hand And Christ his Arke will shortly saile from Land The waves of sinne swell high Love growne too cold In most mens Hearts Mens ruines doth unfold True Faith for want of more Devotions heat Exiled pleads before Gods Judgement seate Against Mankind as at the Flood of Noah To plague the world with flames worse annoy Mens hearts are hardned like the Fiends of Hell For if a Prophet doe sinnes doome foretell Disswading them from Broiles O how they swell At the Good man with rage and passions fell Imposing for his paines Rackes shackles shame Or silencing or blacking his good Name Before Doomes-day this darke Prodigious fault Must follow next upon the Whores assault For though the Church Triumphant doth rejoyce To see her Fall our Jarres supplant our Joyes And so instead of Psalmes to Heaven sent We temporize or with her Complement Awake therefore ye watch-men with your flocke Lest you and they be hurld against the rocke Of scandall to our Churches infamy Ending in Schismes Broyles or Phlebotomy Thinke on the Fowles which ere the Sunne did set Abram had watcht and then huge darkenesse met Awake I say out of your slumbring sleepe Look to your charge in time Christs wandring sheep Behold our Soules great Shepherd is at hand Though some are loath the Signes to understand The last dayes Bell or Clocke of Mortals time Be watchfull ye were best will shortly chime Christ shortly comes the Faithfull to requite And to confound our Mysticke Gyants might No Tyrants threats no double tongue will serve Fee nor Reward the guilty to preserve Gods Darts like Comets threate our Westerne Orbe And Justice will the Austrian faction curbe Gods Angell now beginnes to goe about To warne before Doomes-day the Christian Rout Already hath his Holy Trumpets sounded Christ shortly comes to save the sick and wounded Watch Fast and Pray and cheare up one another This is Gods will by Christ our Elder Brother His warning peale rung forth unto the Jewes But scorn'd by them he left to us these Newes Because they slighted what they might have held The Word of Life the Light which they beheld The Lord remov'd his precious Candlesticke Clear'd others sight and left them blind and sick The Obstinâ—te I meane not all of them For some beleev'd before Jerusalem Demolisht lay yea thousands were baptiz'd Both then and since of the Crew Circumciz'd Some Jewes baptiz'd were by th' Apostles some At Christ
THE SOVLES EXERCISE In the daily Contemplation of our Saviours Birth Life Passion and Resurrection BY WILLIAM VAVGHAN Knight LONDON Printed by Thomas and Rich. Cotes for Humphrey Blunden and are to be sold at his shoppe in Cornehill at the signe of the Castle 1641. TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY 1. WHile Mammon blurr'd the Word within oâ—r West Which rose like Lightning from the radiant East God lent me Zeale and clear'd my Inward sight To draw the Type of our Incarnate Light 2. Within this Map your Royall Grace shall find Some Sparkes to raise a true Nathaniels mind Above the Clouds in spite of tempting vice By the review of the Soules Exercise 3. Here Men may see in Christian Crystall glaesse That None from Earth shall up to Heaven passe Unlesse they be Refin'd and from Above Baptiz'd with Flaming zeale and streaming Love 4. Here wrangling Wits and Make-bates may behold What shall become of them who plot for Gold To crucifie the Sonne of God againe By wronging of his Members Saints for Gaine 5. Here Age may learne some harmelesse Rapsody To rap the Soules of Youth with Melody Like that which Saul found for his Malady Except they stop their Eares and raving dy 6. Here Peace is taught Old Simeons swan like song To wavering Minds to Sick Folkes the strong With Notice cleare to speake it without boast Why Some receive Some lose the Holy Ghost 7. What Milder means can be for Jarres Correction Then Christ his Cratch Life Crosse and Resurrection In Numbers sung with an attracting voyce Since Babes and Bees are charm'd with tinkling Noise 8. What more can please the Fancies curious Tast Than Types before the Vnderstanding plac't In tuned Forme the Senses to rouze up When surfeited with Copious prose they droup 9. Nay Soules perhaps which Sermons faile to win They may Convert asswage or scare from Sin If as Raines many Drops hard Marble pierce The Agents play on them with fluent Verse 10. So Moses Miriam Job and Debora When Hebers wife had hammer'd Sisera So David did and Jeremias call Men to praise God by vowes Numericall 11. The like rare Sound shapes the New Testament In Zacharies and Maries Ravishment In Simeons Ode and in Our Saviours Deed Who sung a Psalme ere He in Sweat did bleed 12. The Soule some write consists of Harmony And that good Angels sing none can deny Witnesse their Musick which Saint John describes Who then dares breake on Sions Muse his Jibes 13. Among the Actes which Canterburies Sire Grave Cutbert made within the Churches Quire He will'd his Clergie every day to sing In Saxon Tongue the Praise of Heavens King 14. Among the Gifts rankt of Scholasticke Scope Which grace Great Vrban now the Romaine Pope His Booke of Poems wins him most renowne The Laureat Wreath excells his Triple Crowne 15. But if my Layes seeme to some Worldlings light Excuse the Scribe O Britaines sweete Delight Say that he aim'd at Love not bubbling Fame Reward nor Strife nor Justice to defame 16. My Straine is plaine the Matter most sublime No Levite I. Then what doth grace my Rime With willing mind the New-mans praise I sing For moulding in shrewd times so milde a King Whom with his Royall Spouse and Hopefull Fruite Like Saints I pray the New-mans Lord to suite Amen So Prayes your Majesties most Humble Subject William Vaughan The Preface To the Queenes most Excellent Majesty ACcept great Queen from a poore Cambrian Knight This sparkling Pile wherewith the Soules delight You may discerne an Empresse most divine The Glory of the Gender Feminine The Lady Grace I meane Gods gracious Light Which saves Mankind from a despairing plight If they in Will their Outward Man resist And daily waigh the Birth and Death of Christ But since we are bath'd in her streaming Love I know you will my New-mans Flames approve Cull out the best which with Gods Word agree And leave the rest as Fire-drakes unto me If I sing well as Seraphins require Then take my Sparklings like Nehemies Fire Which in the Pit lay hid late found againe Not kindled by the New-mans Zeale in vaine But for a Pious end by Numbers dint Our Saviours Forme in weakelings to imprint This Forme through worldly fraud lay hidden long None durst translate it to the Mother tongue Untill the Lord of his unbounded Grace In pitty of his Churches wretched Case Lookt downe of late on his two Prophets slaine And breath'd New life into their Corpse againe With Heavenly Oyle He sent the Holy Ghost To scoure Faiths rust when we were almost lost Lost through our sloth and Pride neere in Despaire To be snatcht up by Fiends into the Aire There till Doomes-day to Goblin it at least Or which is worse with Tophets Dampe to feast But if my Tune like gaggling Noise of Geese Displease I then reserve it as a Peece Or Fragment fit for some Sidanens Eare Of sleighted Wales with hooboobs Bray to feare Night-walkers from purloyning of her Flocke Rather then I become a flouting-stocke To English wits I will at night retire Couurez le feu put out my Light and Fire And live immur'd as in a Cynicks Cell Untill I can in sweeter Layes excell Howere this proves I lay it at your Feete Not daring starres with glozing phraze to greete Nor stare too long upon the Sun-shine Light Least I be chang'd into a Bird of Night Or as Old Poets faign'd of Niobe Contesting with a Goddesse least I be Transmuted to a stone or stupid wight For thrusting forth to Your Majesticke sight This Ghostly taske my New-mans Exercise With Oaten Pipe and in a poore disguise Before I know your Pleasure and your Will Whether you can affect a Mountaine Quill And brooke that a rude Bardh or Corydon Should screw his Songs with your Court-Helicon Sometime Great Dames the Blossomes of the Field Have paralell'd with those which Gardens yeeld So though by Fits or Chance I may expose Old Edens Good and Ill the Thorne as Rose Shall a few Slips of thorny Doubts downewaigh My New-mans Hopes more faire then Flowers in May But least some say that Sybill-like I rave Or that I doe the Higher Thrones outbrave I here submit and humbly sue to sing These Layes A Cat may looke upon a King Both Towne and Countrey strive for Courtly Grace And shall not I then wish to see your Face To see of Kings the Daughter Sister Wife And Mother borne to calme great Nations strife Not fawning wise but hoping that you stand For Our New man I long to kisse your Hand Like Philips Greekes who Christ desir'd to see Like One who to that end climb'd up a Tree And thus I bid Great Britaines Queene Adieu With Sacrifice my vowes and Service due To the Princes Highnesse MOst Noble Prince Great Britaines Royall Heire The Hope of Wales where first I breathed Aire And where I live from Troubles Home-retir'd But never for your Good with Prayers tir'd
Flesh to thratle Tales Dreames Here they shall find despis'd by worldly Men Saints basely layd as in a Dungeon Den. Here they shall finde Gods Babe in poorest Bed Though borne to tread upon the Serpents Head Yet though Dull Men were silent in his Praise The holy Angels with Harmonious Layes And shouts of Joy divulg'd his Horoscope They sung of his sweet Grace and future hope They chanted out Gods Glorious Name with Mirth Good Will and Peace to men through Christ his Birth For at this Time when All One Colour wore Whilst Epicures out-slept their Dainties store Some Shepheards watch't their Flockes neere Bethlems Towne To whom the Angels made these Tidings known For Drowzy Drones here is Authenticke warning Some Mysteries disclosed for their Learning The first Man in the Spring was form'd of Earth Of God and man in Autumne Christ his Birth Began and with more Light rose from the East But now it sets in Stormy Winter West Some thinke Christs-Tide false beares Decembers Date Because the Taxe was by the Romane State Exacted in September as they prate And S. Johns Birth beares March for antedate Abiaes Course cast up for Zachary Yet this supposed true to shunne their Cry I say what if the Fiery Comforter Christs Deputy the Churches wise Supporter Indifferently Dispenc'd with this Exchange That with S. Mathewes Memory we change The same and with S. Michaels Jubilee Whereof the first records Christs Pedegree And Birth as th' other serves to represent His Churches State through Civill Discord rent Or else because the World shrunke to old Age This changed Feast calmes Melancholies rage To comfort us amidst our Stormes and Snowes When to the Root the Sap fall from the Boughes Perhaps rude Goates Coucht under Capricorne Now Good Men tame or Tares divide from Corne New Hearts presenting with the New yeares Sunne For Incense Gold and Myrrh unto Gods Sonne Who at this Feast tooke Flesh and Circumcision Whereto his Starre led Wisemen in Procession Proclaiming him in Salem King of Jewes For all fierce Herods craft vext with the Newes That Israels Prince Whose Spring of Pedegree Eternall was in Bethlem borne should be His Craft availd him not for they by God Were the same way home to Returne forbod And though in stead of Christ poore Babes he slew He did by death his Deed soone after rue But why came they to Christ with Gold Store Of precioue Gummes who might from Heav'n have more Was it to shew that Christ our Royall Head High Priest and Judge Commands the Quick and Dead By vertue of his God-heads Triple Mace Of Justice Mercy and Inspiring Grace Vniting Man to Gods Conformity â—y these three Gifts Types of the Trinity A Priest to Mediate Preach and Sacrifice A King to Raigne a Judge to Punish vice And that more oft than Incense Myrrh or Gold God might with Faith perfumed Hearts behold Or did these Sages of their owne accord Present such Gifts as welcome to the Lord Or which is likely did Gods Spirit move Those holy Pilgrims to expresse his Love And Care for his Beloved in Distresse Who at that sudden pinch were Money-lesse That with such needfull Meanes they might supply Their wants when he forewarned them to fly To Egypt from the Tyrants bloody sword Till their Returne from Exile by his Word When they that sought the Infants Life were dead And Herods Sonne Installed in his stead This Passage sure beleeve it as your Creed God never failes the New Man in his Need But gives his Angels charge as for his Sonne That he dash not his Foot against a Stone But missing Christ why were poore Infants slaine That for the Head the Members suffer paine And that their Types as Blazing Stars display Who Christians slay they Christ himselfe wouâ—d slay And why blest He a Virgin with his Birth And made her first Christs Temple here on Earth That was no Lady Crown'd with worldly Honor Nor with Rich glaring Robes tooke State upon her And why grac'd he poore Shepheards with these Newes Not full-fed Peeres Princes nor wealthy Jewes Not Rabbies Popes nor Lordings of the Church Who lookt for Christ yeâ— liv'd upon the Lurch Let Dogmatists resolve these Doubts that know Why Thunder smites high Trees spares the Low Gods Grace Pride can never brooke each other Nor dwells Humility and Pomp together The Former doth our Breach with Heaven repaire The Latter whilst it swells bursts into Aire For there some play with Aiery Fancies Elves Till Hell devowrs the Tempters and themselves Gods Church seemes poore to Carnall Libertines In Heavens she sups though hard on Earth she dines God chose the weakest to confound the Wise That Man with Christ by simple means mighâ— rise Embracing more his Crib for Soules behoofe Than Satanâ— Crowne in this our world of proofe Yet God allowes to shun an Anarchy For Orders sake a kinde of Hierarchy With Pastours Pow'r in every Christian State To Bind or Loose or Excommunicate To heale the sickly and to bath his Flocke With Waters streaming from the Living Rocke More fishing for Mens Soules then Carnall Preyes More glorying in the Crosse than worldly swayes Whom Christ bids Feed and not like Wolves to bite us Whom Christ bids Watch as Paul exhorted Titus Yet Little Flocke that bleat'st through Tyrants Rage Grudge not there shortly comes a Newer Age. He that reveng'd on Herod and his House The Blood of Bethlems Babes will right his Spouse The Blood late spilt in our West Christian Lands God will require at Gogs and Magogs hands God will his Servants wrongs ease or conclude Whom Tyrants snar'd in Aegypts Servitude God will revenge their Cause Complaints and Teares Whom our Make-bates by Tricks set by the Eares No Motion Plea Decree nor false Demurre Of Jarring Braines can Heavens Sentence blurre For with the Beast and Lords that tooke his part They shall in Tâ—phets Flames for ever smart The Members for their Plots Bribes Misdeeds Their Perking Heads for iustifying their Deeds For suffering Elies Sonnes on Saints to prey For sparing Agags whom the Lord bids slay Be patient then Yee Servants of the Lord Poore Nabaoths who feare the slaughtring Sword The Sunne will shine after some Thunderclaps New Heavens Joyes will smoother all Missehaps And God will plague those Lords who make a Prey Of Christians Goods nay worse who Christians flay Let none that holds of Faith the smallest Graine Despaire but that with cheerefull minde againe Though girt with Flames as the three Children were He may without Annoy or Servile Feare Of the Soules Guilt escape from his Distresse If he beleeves that Gods bright Word tooke Flesh And di'd for him he cannot doe amisse Gods Grace appeares in dangers most extreme Betwixt the Bridge and the devouring streame Nay plunged in the Deepe ore Head and Eares God may reprieve or rid him of his Feares Transplanting him to that Eternall Rest Where griping Griefe shall never him molest As the good
Frogs or Locusts wast our meanes of Light When the Baptiz'd our New mans Gifts do slight And sell mens Soules when one betrayes another And of Christs flocke the Brother hurts the Brother When Children to their Sires rebellious prove And Wives to Husbands faile in mutuall Love These tearing Vnions Bond by loves divorce Those razing Natures Fort without remorce When both these States the Churches mysticke type Each other cloy with Tares or fruite unripe When men create New Christs both here there Or then in Heaven Christs body seeke elsewhere When his bright Light shines in the utmost West Which like to Lightning rose first from the East When most mens zeale shall frozen be and cold Then every houre looke for the End foretold Which End steales on like Daniels desolations Or Noahs Flood which overtooke all Nations Whilst they were feasting like our Libertines Who slight these Flames as they those Crystall signes Heed Readers then your Monitors advise And scorne not this his Servants Sacrifice Other good Rules to us Christ left behind To cleare the sight of the most sinfull blind And those in solid words more comprehending In one short Parable more by descending From Generals to formes Particular Conducting Saints to the Archangels war With easie steps and edifying phraze More than by thorny doubts Meanders maze Which course if Preachers now adayes would trace With Catechizing Lectures to make place For Seed to spring not halfe so many Tares Would choke pure-seeded hearts with worldly cares If in their Sermons to the simpler sort They leave to canvase and to make report Of matters past their reach and Apprehensions Or such deepe points which might provoke contentions As Gods Essentiall Forme Pelagian doubts The Soules Free-will hels place or whereabouts Departed Saints are seated till Doomes-day And not the Pulpit beate with an Affray On Bellarmine and other Clerkes unknowne WhoÌ„ they with Latine there would tumble down If they shoot not Wits Squibs against the Truth Nor Legend-dreames to sindge the eares of Youth If they Preach nothing but Christ Crucified And saving Faith sinne would lye mortifyed Their zeale would spring if they with zealous mood Expound Christs Gospell to be understood Men would repent sinnes Baites if they disgrace Dividing the Lawes Thunder from mild Grace Some kind of sinnes which daily he beheld Committed by poore humble Soules he held More veniall of compassionate regard He pittyed them and their petitions heard If with Contritions Grones they did lament And of their sinnes unfainedly repent To shew his Love unto the Convertite To lift up Soules from discontented plight And that none should despaire of Clemency He did these short similitudes apply A man had lost one sheepe of many score But finding it with toyle rejoyced more Than for the rest which never stray'd at all From their owne Ranke his whistle or his call A Woman next he cited who did boast More of one silver peece which she had lost And after search recovered then of nine Left in her purse that never made her whine For further proofe he brought the Prodigall Who spent his meanes both use and Principall Most lavishly yet afterwards Repenting With teares he found his Fathers hearts relenting That his Returne a New-man from a Beast He welcom'd with a Calfe and made a Feast Such Joy Christ said transports the Angels Quire When men Repent and seeke their Heavenly Sire They triumph more for One poore Convertite Then for lesse Strayes or more in life upright So pittifull was Christ that to unfold His Love Remorce and mercies manifold Were endlesse paines above Capacity Of Humane wit clog'd with Infirmity As may appeare by that Adulteresse Led by the Scribes when seeing her heavinesse He bad her to goe home and sinne no more And when himself stood tortur'd at deaths doore He comforted the Theefe with Paradise Because he askt for Grace with dolefull eyes But for the Higher sort who proudly dar'd Maskt under Lawes pretence with burdens hard To Tyrannize upon mens Consciences And by Schoole Quirkes or wrested sentencâ—s Of Scripture to molest the Churches union Those with a woe he doomed for disunion With such who force the gift of Chastity Unlesse God gave it on Humanity Who barring Saints Gods Im age to beget Would weave for foule Asmodâ—eus Priests a Net Christ utterly mislikt such Scandalists Like them who dare beyond Religions Lists As petty Kings to Lord it by their gripes Wounding the Poore worthy of many stripes Those he Judg'd to be for above all sins Then raigning strong and whereby Satan wins Most in our Age smooth-fac'd Hypocrisy He loathed as foule thoughts Soules Leprosie Eight severall woes therefore against the Scribes He thundred for their hollow deeds and Bribes Who knew his Masters will and did it not But wilfully would loyter play or plot Some lewd designe against his Masters profit Or saw his losse and not informes him of it Such witting slaves he sentenced to be Worthy of smart in a most high degree It griev'd him much to see Wisemen contend Like Ideots and fond children to no end For shaddowes on the wall for Dignity Short lasting Pompe for so true Liberty Quite losing through their Pride and vaine desires They quench the flame of Intellectuall fires Christ saw these Flashes Dreames and Fooleries And oft lamented them with weeping eyes To shun therefore Gods wrath and to fulfill While we on earth survive his Fathers will Of force we must he said forsake our owne Though dearest Lusts and tread Temptations downe We must take up his Crosse and that prefer As Heavens doore and our Remembrancer Before our Parents Children or Alliance And on his Blood to fixe our whole Affiance To Penitents through Faith hee preach't Remission Of sinnes but Plagues for temporiz'd omission The which with Teares hee Prophesied would light For wilfull sinne on every faithlesse wight This Judgement on Jerusalem foretold By Romes proud Conquests afterwards tooke hold When Abrahams seed the Circumcized Ligne Were quite expulst the Land of Palestine And sithence we the Christians of the West Yea and the East whom Infidels molest Have felt for sinne Gods Plagues of Vengeance due And shall feele worse unlesse we change our hue With better Leaven then the Pharisees Our Faith like ill bak't bread soone putrifies O hardned hearts O most unhappy men How oft sought Christ like to a carefull Hen Her wandring Chickens or a loving Brother To reunite your strayes and wrongs to smother How oft likewise hath he recalled home Into his Flocke our Westerne Christendome God grant our Bâ—itaines may regard this pittance These crummes of mine not slighting their admittance Into his Fold least Antichristian foule Devoure their seed and their New man controule Lest for their want of Faiths Lampe-oyle in Heaven They be like to the Foolish Virgins driven From the Kings Feast or that they hide their Talents Or they shut out for want of wedding rayments Or like those Clownes who their Lords
wise answers still outstript their reach Sometime they did with questions him assay To know if they should unto Caesar pay Tribute or no whereby they might for Treason Attach him but they failed for that season So wary in his talke they found him still They could no way entrap his Tongue for ill Nor taxe his life with the least hainous Fact At last the bruite of his late famous Act How Lazarus revived from his Grave Where he had laine for foure dayes space that gave More cause of envy and astonishment New Jealousies fewell of discontent But most of all when loud Hosannaeâ— shout To welcome him the City rang throughout How many griefes on his Humanity How many wrongs on his Divinity Did they from time to Time when they should render Him gratefull thankes inflict though thankes were slender Instead of thankes his Favours they requited With Adders stings his wonders they backebited And tooke him for a Witch or Conjurer With Belzebub in League that he did erre Dislodging Fâ—iends but by the Prince of hell But how Christ raisd the dead they could not tell Which way that chanc'd before the latter date Of crooked Time doom'd to a flaming fate That some reviv'd they had some instances But they were few or but few houres in trances Never did Enoch pay his debt to death Death never stopt the zealous Thesbites breath For these they had their Schoole-distinctions cleare But Christs late Act amazed them with feare They fear'd the losse of their high Temporall sway Lest this New man might turne mens hearts away From Moses Lawes and make their Offerings lesse They had of late by Rome felt some distresse Their yearely gaines which did support their pride They doubted much would fall with his Spring-tide This mov'd the Scribes with their High Priest and Judge Proud Caiphas so at Christ his Fame to grudge Which to deface a Councell they did call Of their chiefe Priests and Scribes in Caiphas Hall Where Annas styl'd the High Priests Suffragan Or SAGAN to Jewes Metropolitan Whose Daughter was that time to Caiphas Wife Conspired thus against our Saviours life Right Reverend Rabbies and renowned Scribes The Countenance of our most holy Tribes Have we not suffer'd griefes enough of late But that more cares must now infest our state A Counterfeit Messias a New Man Jesus of Galile a Puritan Thinkes now because he is a Nazarite Profest to change the Priesthoods Ancient Rite And Ceremonies of Mount Sinaies Law Behold how he doth labour to withdraw The fraile and giddy-headed multitude From our Traditions which he tearmeth rude Humane and not Divine If this World hold Farewell Peace offrings which our State uphold We must bid Moses with Gods Lawes adieu And Aarons Tinkling Bells shall lose their due We shall no more meete here before the Lord If this upstart with his unlettred word Shall by New dreames raise up a Newer sect Than Holy Johns whom none of us suspect Of Fraud To Schismes this matter sure will tend Which in short time our Synagogue will rend Romes greedy Kites will of these Newes be glad Nor Herod will be thereof very sad But both will joyne to share our finest wooll And downe they will our goodly Temple pull How shall our Levites then themselves sustaine Nay how shall our Grand Mitred Prelate raigne To represent great Aarons Majesty If this Impostour maskt with poverty Doe stop the gap through which to Paradise We leade Mens Soules the simple and the wise I doe protest it grieves me to the Heart And I foresee we shall hereafter smart If he goes on in this his New-found motions Though Begger-wise yet may it breed Commotions For did you note when through the Streetes hee past Upon a bare-backt Asse how some did cast Their Garments on the way with Branches greene Held in their hands like Fooles to have him seene And for a Demy-god observ'd the Crowd Hosanna with great Shouts proclaiming loud And all because he had by Satans Ayd To Lazarus late dead new Life convayd Indeed some signes he workes and men possest With Fiends he cures having some league profest With Belzebub for which he hath no warrants From God or us to execute such arrants Annas had scarce exprest himselfe at full When Caiphas like to Basans bellowing Bull Began to roare Shall we put up this wrong And not suppresse him ere he be too strong Have we not yet both Swords at our Command Pilate will not deny if we demand His Armed helpe to take a Mutineere Who calles himselfe Gods Sonne to domineere The sooner by that high and lofty style But let us now attache him by some wile Lest to some Desart he depart againe When he shall heare that we would take him fain And thither will a world of people flocke Itching to heare what of the Living Rocke Or the New Birth he blunders out to bleare Their silly sight and so away to beare The Palme from us or draw them to despise Our Ancient Rites and Stately Sacrifice T is meeter for one man though Innocent To dye then that we live in discontent Yea and that Lazarus his late raisd minion Shall suffer too to stay the worlds opinion And then with shame the Rabble rout shall see That Prophets never rose from Galilee For our new King in Bethlem must be borne With state and pompe not like this wretch forloâ—n Who for a Throne shall mount the Crosse most royall And for a Mace shall beare a Reed as loyall This is his doome though he the dead revive That dares affront our high Prerogative Deriv'd from God with Ephodâ— golden Gard With Vrim which and Thummim we regard Which evermore Jehovah did assigne Over his Church to us of Levies Ligne At least untill our Great Messias come Of Judaes stocke in Kingly Davids roome Before which day Elias must descend From Heaven downe things crooked to amend In the meane time let us our State defend Against New wits which labour it to rend By broaching forth a New Religions Forme Under pretence the Ancient to reforme From all Traditions and Formalities By their New fâ—ames the Spirits Novelties Before his fame soare up a higher pitch Clip we his wings lest his New Sect bewitch The better sort with Hells attractive charmes His sudden fall will stop all future harmes So Caiphas yalpt and all the Sadduces Approv'd his plot with some proud Pharises From that time out they sought to apprehend The Lambe of God And Satan to that end Because he thrice fail'd in the Wildernesse To Tempt him with his Baltes to wickednesse With all his Art began to play his part And to his Mates his poyson to impart Ayming at Peter whom he thought to sift As wheaâ—e He had already to his drift Snar'd Judas in by Nets of Avarice To gape for gaine and some of those supplies Which by Free-hearted men for their Reliefe Had beene conferr'd to turne like a false Thiefe To his owne use With him
and coyn'd Transubstantiacion Then Vulcans built Soules Purgatories Forge And by those Flames phantasticke lies did forge For neere about that time did Alchymy Begin to raigne with Schoole-Theology When Satan was let loose from his Restraint To play upon the Conscience of a Saint Woe to the Time that our Wâ—st Church forsooke The New-Mans way which Berengarius tooke And dar'd Christ Body so to understand Which till Doomes day doth sit on Gods Right hand Since his Ascent and there in Heaven stayes Till Saints at rest his Foes supprest he layes Thence Purgatory sprung Romes forged Bull Of Satans plot to fill their Bellies full Like Bels false Priests by making men believe They could Redeeme or Purge poore Soules that grieve In that Third place for their Offences past Which Pardons bought with money might lay wast And frustrate if Romes Indulgence assure When she her selfe of Sicknesse cannot cure By Miracle or Charme nor stop one houre Of Deaths Arrest by her Transcendent power Much lesse can she fraile Mortall wight abate Anothers paine when Physicke comes too late Some Fathers dream't at doomesday not before Soules should be purg'd with flames or lesse or more But in this Life where time is limitted Soules must be purg'd or they are forfeited Soules may be purg'd with Sighs Fasts Contrition By Faith with workes which some hold in derision Soules may be purg'd and that with Sacred fire If them Gods Grace with Faith and Love inspire T is not enough to have a Christians Name Except we be Baptiz'd with Christ his Flame The Jewes did vaunt of Abraham for their Father Where they should joy of Abrahams Faith the rather T is not enough to be Baptiz'd alone For so were Jewes in Jordans Floud by John Nor yet sufficient to Communicate So Judas did yet Excommunicate The gentle Sparke that stirres the Heart and Braine Must pray Gods Spirit in those Seates to raigne For whose Content as he was Catechiz'd So with Loves Flame he would be Re-baptiz'd Which done he harmelesse growes an Infant twice In worldly Craft and in Christ onely wise Though tempting fiends with carnall baites he feares Yet Serpent-wise a newer Coate he weares A Coate quite voyd of Seames or Factious Schismes Which with Gods Word he weares for Exorcismes Soules Comforter then to Gods Sonne doth marry The Vnderstanding Conscience Memory Those Three-fold parts of this adopted Soule Whose Name with Saints New Man hee doth enroule And signes with Abbaes Seale The Man vowes Love And this rare vow the Trinity approve Thence-forward giving him the Two fold Flame Of Christ his Crosse and Zeale with Christian Name To purge his Outward Man of Earthly drosse Which may be styl'd our Purgatories Glosse Long since God earn'd the New man for his Sonne And gave through Christ him Free-will thereupon Which for his Faiths support can never faile him But in the proofe and combat shall availe him The Sonne by whose deare Blood he 's Justified Loves him because his Will is purified He loves and makes his first Election firme By sending One his Conscience to confirme Because he chose his Patterne and his Crosse When as he mought false joyes and wealth ingrosse According to the Freedome of his Will Which Grace restor'd and Faith had School'd from ill He carkes for him and sues for his Persev'rance He heares his griefes warrants his delivrance The Holy Ghost as Mans Love ebbes and flowes His sweet gifts more or lesse into him blowes And chiefely him he graceth who is mild Free-hearted Just and not with wiles defild One that adores not creatures nor yet swells With Merits puffe In such a one he dwels In such a mind He breathes Truthes gentle gales Which scornes old charmes vaine legends dreams and tales Thus Sanctified with Christ incorporate A Bastard slip becomes Legitimate 〈◊〉 with Christ partaking of that Feast Of Vnity which brings eternall Rest. Thus is a Man borne of Immortall seed A Saint new-made a Priest a Prince indeed Nay a true King commanding Lordly passions Which Monarches have enthrall'd in fearefull fashions Thus Saints are Crown'd and thus is tendred grace If men doe not their Charters Seales deface But not before the Old man be supprest Shall any mortall wight be this way blest O Grace more rich then Chinaes glittring Treasure O Love more sweet then Mahomets faign'd pleasure Elected tby he Father without merit At the Sonnes suite and sealed by their Spirit This Grace suite and Seale of Gods Majesty The persons working in the unity For dust and ashes sinfull Mans Salvation And with New flames his Spirits inspiration Doe wonder-rap my Soule with Extasies In gazing on their Lights supremacies With glaunâ—es more beseeming Prophets visions Then those which Arrians blurr'd with blind misprisions That to speake much of their Transcendencie Would me confound halfe put in Jealousie Lest I offend my God or goe awry With narrow bounds to stint this Mystery Like Lucifer who for opposing Christ Was throwne to Hell to father Antichrist Thence with his Mates to tempt and poyson such As dare to scan Gods Secrets over much â—ith our weake Braines can hardly apprehend Those Axiomes which to Quadrate circles tend How dare we Clouded with infirmity Rake for more Light of Heavens Trinity Whose knowledge long lay hid from sinfull Men For our first Parents fall till Christs time when It pleased God three persons to reveale By Him which he did formerly conceale From Carnall wits as from Crownd Popes he did The Gospels use and which as yet lyes hid From their crownd-shaven Crew and Babels Rable Who darkling grope for Christs Communion Table As they doe likewise for that Orbe of Rest Which for good Soules departed God hath blest Yet our New man sees by his rayes reflection As through a glasse enough of Gods perfection And roome enough without such purging flames For Saints to sing Allelujahs Psalmes To satisfie our Faith whilst by high mounting Some meet with Aiery foes their strength surmounting Nor must we scale the Sun-beams with those Eagles Whom glory pride or curious Art inveagles To know Gods will conceal'd from humane breast Or to eate more than gluttons can digest This sure I know by Holy Inspirations God breathes in humblest mindes most Revelations For when our Hearts with lofty thoughts arise Fiends scrue themselves into our phantasies Yea they will tempt the most Regenerate And Holiest Men as the most reprobate Some under Forme of Art they slily Charme With hired plots to work their Neighbors harme That by their sowing daily Tares of strife The Father Sonne the Husband and the wife Friends kindred Towne and Country Folkes may vary So as with Christ their Soules can hardly marry Such sleights use Hellish Fiends though few suspect Their shining Baytes yet surely Gods Elect Know that all make-bates have just cause to tremble As well as they who being at Masse dissemble These Members helpe to make up Antichrist For without Parts how can the head