towne of Iewry called Giscalis which Towne being taken of the Romans he and his parents fled to Tharsis a Towne in Cilicia but he himselfe confessed that he was borne in Tarsus after he was sent to Ierusalem and brought up at the feet of Gamaliel of whom you may reade in Acts 5. 34. and Acts 22. 3. Some say that after he was the Disciple of Simeon the Just who took Christ in his armes and blessed him and being but a young man he was one of those that kept the garments of the martyr S. Stephen who was martyred in the yeare of Christs nativity 35. About the same time he was made an Inquisitor for private heresies and became a cruell persecutor of the Gospell the next yeare he went to Damascus where by the way he was converted and of a persecutor was made a glorious confessor and was baptized of Ananias in Damascus He confounded Elimas the Sorcerer and one Sergius Paulus Proconsul of Cyprus to the faith of Christ of whom as some say he took the name of Paul for after that he is called no more Saul In the 25 yeare after the Passion of Christ which was An. Dom. â—8 when Festus ruled in Iewry he was sent bound to Rome And in the 14 yeare of Nero thâ— same day that Peter was crucified though not the same yeare as some write he was beheaded at Rome and buried in the way that goeth to Ostia Anno Domini 60. He wrote nine Epistles to seven Churches and foure to three of his Disciples but it is doubtfull whether he wrote the Epistle to the Hebrewes or no. Now were I able to write of all this blessed Apostles labours and travels from Ierusalem to Illyricum Italy and Spaine I should then show you how he was persecuted from City to City how he was beaten with rods here how he was stoned with stones there how he laboured with his hands in one place how he fasted and prayed in another And as himselfe confesseth in the 2 Cor. 11. That he was in labours more abundant than any of the rest in stripes above measure in prison more plenteously in death oft of the Iewes five times received I forty stripes save one I was thrice beaten with rods I was once stoned I suffered thrice shipwrack night and day have I beene in the sea in journying often in perils of waters in perils of robbers in perils of my owne nation in periâ—s among the Genâ—iles in perils in the city in perils in the wildernesse in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren in wearinesse and painfulnesse in watching often in fastings often in cold and in nakednesse beside the things which were outward I am incombred daily and have the care of all the Churches but I knowing my own insufficiency for the performing of such a worke conclude with the Collect for the day saying God which hast taught all the world through the preaching of thy Apostle S. Paul grant I beseech thee that I who have his wonderfull conversion in remembrance may follow and fulfill thy holy doctrine that hee taught through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen S. Barnabe THis is that Ioses who was of the Apostles also called Barnabas which is by interpretation the Sonne of Consolation being a Levite of the countrey of Cyprus whereas he had land sold it and brought the money and laid it down at the Apostles feet whose praise is in the 11 Acts 24 verse that he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and faith and much people in Antioch where they were called the first Christians by his powerfull preaching joyned themselves unto the Lord. This was Pauls yoke-fellow who by the commandement of the Lord were joyned together Acts 13. 3. And their names are no lesse then twelve times coupled together in three Chapters viz. from the 12 to the latter end of the 15 Chapter of the Acts where the relation of the division that was betweene them is set downe I reade that he first preached the Word of God in Rome but was afterward made Bishop of Millaine and at the last had a rope tyed about his neck was therewith drawne to the stake where he was burned to ashes and so dyed a noble Martyr as many other starres in this firmament did as the Phenix by death gained life eternall Therefore I conclude with the Collect for this day saying Lord Almighty who hast indued thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost let me never be destitute of thy manifold gifts nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and glory through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen S. Michael the Arch-Angell IN this place according to my intention at the beginning I should show the glorious Cherubins that look towards the Mercy Seat in Salomons Temple under the Metaphor of the Chrystalline Heaven but as in all the rest so in this likewise I finde my selfe farre unable to performe such a hard task though my minde is willing yet my skill is weak But the reason why I compare this day to the Chrystallin heaven is conspicuous because as Chrystall is of a pure bright and cleare substance so the glorious Angels of whom S. Michael the Arch-Angell is one of the most eminent for whose memoriall the Church hath appointed this Festivall are pure sublime and heavenly creatures created as some affirme with the light which is nearest their nature being one of the three invisibles which never any mortall eye is able to behold in their simple existence to wit God Angels and the soules of men for they are void of all corporeall substance But what substance they are of we are ignorant And as we do not know their nature so we cannot tell their number yet some have observed that there are nine orders of them in three Hierarchies opposed against nine orders of evill Angels In the first order are Seraphin Cherubin and throns opposed by Pseudothei spiritusmendacii and Vasa iniquitatis In the second Hierarchy are Dominations Potestates and Virtates opposed against ultores soelerum Prestigiatores and Aëreae Potestates In the third Hierarchy are Principatus Archangeli Angeli opposed against Furiae Criminatores and Tentatores From Angels we receive power to receive and declare the will of God from Archangels to rule all creatures put under us from Principalities to subdue all we ought to rule from Vertues to obtaine the reward we strive for from powers helpe against our enemies from dominations to subdue our owne bodies from Thrones to collect and settle our memories on eternall objects from Cherubin light to apprehend heavenly things And lastly from Seraphin ardent Affection whereby we cleave to God but to leave these curious speculations of the schooles These heavenly creatures whether they be of these names orders and operations or not as is hard to prove were most certainely in the beginning made to this end viz. for the glory of God and good of man And although
John Droâ—shout scuplsst A DESCRIPTION OF AN Annuall VVorld OR BRIEFE MEDITATIONS UPON ALL THE HOLY-DAIES IN THE YEERE With certaine Briefe Poeticall Meditations of the day in generall and all the daies in the weeke By E. B. O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in all the World Psal 8. 1. Teach us O Lord so to number our dayes that we may apply our hearts unto Wisedome Psal 9. 22. Sol illuminat mundum LONDON Printed by E. G. for William Ley and are to be sold at his shop at Paules Chaine going downe to Doctors Commons 1641. TO THE Right Honourable Edmund Wright Lord Major of the City of London AND To the Right Worshipfull the Aldermen and Sheriffes His Brethren Health and prosperity in this life and eternall felicity in the life to come WOrthy Senators I though far unworthy having patched and peeced the Fine-spuncloath of the Prince of Poets Divine Du-Bartas smooth eloquence with my home-spunne ragges and course materials and framed thereof a peece of rough Poetry for my retired thoughts to repose in presented the same in private to my judicious loving Master the right Worshipfull Sr. James Cambell the senior Alderman of this famous City which I had no sooner brought forth but this Annuall World so closely followed those Poeticall Meditations that I could not rest satisfied in my mind till I had likewise produced it and so after some pleasing labour and travell in divers Authours I brought it to this maturity and because they are as Twins joyned them both together and placed the yonger before the elder even as Jacob was by his father preferred before his brother Esau But being conscious of mine owne inabilities I was unwilling and very fearefull to come into publique view especially now in these curious times wherâ—in many strive to vent the froth of their owne Inventions into the presse Therefore I did intend to stifle and smother these abortive Notions in the wombe that bore them and keepe them for mine owne private use But it so happened that some friends of mine having had the perusall of them perswaded and so overswayed me with their importunate solicitations that to satisfie their desires I am even compelled to put them into print Yet fearing to meet with some envious Momus who thouâ—h he doe no good himselfe delights to mocke and deride others or some carping Zoylus who to get himselfe fame and credit will disparage other mens labours I am bold for the safegard of this little Cottage which I erected for my owne retired thoughts recreation as by the frame thereof may appâ—are to seeke for shelter against the blustrous stormes of such Calumniators tongues and pennes under the roofe of your Honour and Worships protection because I am not unknowne to most of you by reason of my aâ—tendance upon my said Master who as God hath prolonged his life to be called Pater Civitatis so I doe humbly acknowledge he hath beene Nutritius meus for the space of 17. yeeres and upward Therefore in confidence of your favourable acceptance of these worthlesse expressions of my affections I shall â—ver remaine Humbly devoted to your Honour and Worships service EDW. BROWNE 3. Junii 1641. Dies Ascentionis Dom. nostri salvatoris in Coelis An Epigramme On the modest Authour of these Poems STol'n Water's sweet How hast thou then Sweetned our sweet Du-Bartas with thy Peu An Epigramme To his Criticke DIdst not thou buy this Book The Merchant gave it Into thy hand Did not thy hand receive it Thou callst the Authour Thiefe T is true However The Thiefe is not so bad as the Receiver To the Reader WIlt thou condemne the Heav'ns bright lampe because The mist that falls is but the mist it drawes Or wilt thou taxe the Empresse of the Night Because shee shines but with her brothers light Or count him worthy to be stil'd a cheate That shall verbatim for thy sake repeate A well preacht Sermon Or present thy view With a faire Copy Come there 's nothing new There 's nothing spoke that was not spoke before We are but desp'rate debters and restore To present times what we tooke up on trust From those of former ages and now dust What if our Florist to supply the wants Of his yong Garden borrow some few Plants From rare Trâ—deskin or procur'd from France Some new-bred Tulip shall it disadvance The credit of his labours or disprize The glory of his Garden shall thine eyes Picke quarrels with his Flowers because t is known They came from forrein parts and not his owne Reader be gentle whether his flowers be Borrow'd or stoll'n they yield themselves to thee F. Q. To his much esteemed good friend and Brother Edward Browne in due commendation of his Annual-World and Poâ—ticall-daies WHen with much pleasure I bad view'd and sâ—ene Thine Annuall-world and sweet Poetick-daies I surely thought I had transported beene Into Elysium Paradise of praise Into Another-World of rare Delight Full fraught with various sweets to sense and sight Methought I saw a stately Structures frame With Roomes and Posts and Porches beautifi'd Whence passing I into a Garden came Where walking with delight I each-where ey'd Such choice of pleasant Plants fragrant Flowers As deâ—k and trick Parnassâ—â—s beauteous Bowers Wherein I say I saw with full content Thou like a prudent Gardâ—â— didst provide Out of best Neighbour-Gardens â—pulent Choice Spâ—igs and Plants set thicke on every side Thus justly made â—hine owne by transplantation For thine and for thy Readers recreation Goe on therefore deare friend with full â—ffect To plant more such rare Gardens with faire Flowers Moe such substantiast Structures to erect For holy Meditations wel-spent howres That Christians all their daâ—es may learne of thee To make each day Soules Holy-daies to be Your assured loving friend and brother JOHN VICARS To his judicious friend the Authour E. B. OUr famous Drake and Candish Magellan And Vander-Noort have sail'd the earth about And by adventures great much honour wan And in their travels have new worlds found out Yet they did compasse onely Sea and Earth Thine Annual-World shews those heav'ns great worth Archymedes did make a Spheare of Glasse And Ferdinand a silver heav'n had fram'd But such a world as thine the like ne're was For I could never yet once heare it nam'd That the whole World should be transpos'd in daies And that so various in unusuall waies It makes me muse how thou shouldst come to know The hidden secrets of Astronomy Thou saist that learned Flowers doe not grow In thine owne garden yet wise Ptholomy By thy transplanting skill is hither brought His planets are to speake divinely taught For thou hast metamorphos'd natures sence And Saints for starres thou highly dost commend And in a holy spirituall excellence Dost write of planets well industrious friend Glean on pluck here there bind up thy flowers In sev'rall posies that they may be ours Jo. Booker Liber ad Lectorem SPiders sucke
the world fore-telling also by the spirit of prophesie divers particular things that were to ensue both to Christ and Christians and especially by his Mother the blessed Virgin which things being published at that time and confirmed afterwards by the event doe well declare that this narration of Saint Luke could not be forged as also the number of particular circumstances set downe about the time place and persons most notoriously knowne to all Jerusalem as for Anna shee had lived from her youth untill fourscore years of age in the Temple and thereby was knowne to the most part of Jury And Beda doth from her draw a mystery and makes of Anna a figure of the Church which is by Gods grace in that shee was the daughter of Phanuel which signifies the face of God and of the Tribe of Asser signifying Blessednesse her age being fourscore and foure years and her married estate seven which being applyed unto the dayes of Davids week the age of mans life doth signifie That the doctrine of the twelve Apostles should bee the rule of the Church in all ages for twelve multiplied by seven makes fourscore and foure the age of Anna which signifies Grace And as for Simeon he was the Scholler of the most famous Hillel and condisciple to Jonathan maker of the Chaldee Paraphrase and the Jewes Thalmud confesseth that by the death of these two men especially of Simeon failed the great Synagogue called Sanhedrin which after the captivity of Babylon untill Herods time supplyed in a sort the spirit of prophesie that was expressely in Israel before the said Captivity From both which persons this among other things is observeable that Christ came first unto Simeon which signifies obedience an embleme of the Law who taking hold on Christ desired then to die or depart in peace But when Christ came unto Anna a figure of the Gospell shee confessed unto the Lord and gave thankes seeing the Salvation of the World in Israel and was comforted in Jesus her redeemer and Saviour who desired to live for ever with Grace From all which see the honour that was done to Christ from both sexes Simeon an old man Anna an old widow Zachary a Priest Elizabeth a married woman and Mary a Virgin were all insoired with the spirit of prophesie to give testimony unto Christs Incarnatiâ—n Now I will conclude the Meditation of this day in contemplation of the rare graces of Gods Spirit in this Virgin Flower and pray to God that it would please him to infuse into my soule by the breath of his Spirit the sweet savour thereof that so I expressing by godly imitation the pleasant fruit thereof in my life and conversation may as shee on this day did present the first fruits of her wombe and offered the legall sacrifice that God by Moses prescribed from hence-forth consecrate and present the first fruits of the ensuing pilgrimage I have to run in this miserable world wholly to the glory and praise of God the good of others and salvation of my owne soule And so daily offering the Lambes Patience the Doves Innocence and the Turtles Chastity may grow as a young Plant flourish as a pleasant Flower and in a ripe age be gathered into the Garner of a heavenly habitation All which I pray God grant not for any merits of mine owne for I am in my selfe unworthy of the least graine of saving Grace but for the merits of my All-sufficient Saviour Christ Jesus To whom with the Almighty Father and sanctifying Spirit three Persons and one onely wise God be ascribed all Honour Glory and praise from henceforth and for ever Amen A TREE Or A Meditation on Palme Sunday IN the former Meditation you have viewed a fragrant Flower Now as opposite to that you may be pleased to behold a flourishing Tree upon which the Sunne of Righteousnesse did set And as a Tree I consider it first in its root or station secondly in its fruit or operation First for its root or foundation to know the reasons why this day is called Palme-sunday my small learning cannot fully decide nor determine for the Gospell appointed or set apart for the publique service of God on this day makes no mention of Palme nor any thing that hath Reference thereunto for whereas Palme is a note of Victory and Triumph this dayes Gospell contrary thereto makes a sad relation of our Saviours Death and Passion And the Gospel that seemes more to correspond with the name of this day and as some affirme was usually read in Churches in former times on this day is not unfitly stated upon the first of the foure Sundayes before the day of our Saviours Nativity called Advent Sunday because those Sundayes are appointed for us as preparatories to entertaine the benefits of Christs incarnation into our souls as the Jewes did his corporall presence into Jerusalem with great joy and triumph So the chiefe reason as I conceive why this victorious Palmes Gospell is thus transplanted from this day to Advent Sunday and yet that this day should still retaine the name is as before is specified to be as John Baptist was a fore-runner or harbinger to prepare the way for the comming of the great King Christ Iesus into this Annuall World or thus the root of this dayes denomination springs from these two grounds or causes First because that as this day falls alwayes in the Spring season and Palme as some note is one of the first Trees that buds so men that are rationall Trees in the Spring of their age assoone as they come to knowledge should prepare themselves for the entertainment of Christ into their hearts by striving to grow in piety and spirituall understanding 2. Because as some say Palm delighteth flourisheth most by the rivers side so Christ and all Christians flourish and become most victorious by the troublesome waters of persecution and affliction To prove the veritie hereof All writers almost affirme this same very day Christ went to Jerusalem in that triumphant manner as in the Gospel is related five dayes before his Passion to shew that in suffering he became victorious over sin death and all the Temptation of the Devill and in dying hee overcame death which gave the Church anciently occasion to goe in procession with Palmes in their hands on this day from whence it was called Palme-sunday Thus having briefly demonstrated the radical foundation of this dayes denomination I should now shew you the fructification thereof For though the Palme which grows in our Iland beares no fruit at all but onely a spongie or soft blossome growes upon it thereby as I conceive to shew the vanity of all worldly honour and triumphs of which Palme is an Embleme yet this Annuall Palme as the Date-tree will afford as many fruitfull meditations as there are words in the Gospell as is learnedly accomplished by that pious Gentleman Mr. Austin in his divine Meditations out of whose pleasant Garden I will only gather this sweet
and delightfull fruit of Humility which growes upon the top of this Tree and yet it is to be seene in every branch thereof for Humility the higher it is the lower it will stoope therefore as it is the conclusion of his so it shall be the period of my meditation for this day on which our blessed Saviour by his Humility triumphed over the Pride of the world and ascended to true glory by suffering death upon the ignominious crosse For better explanation hereof view the story and you shall find that among all his Pompe and applause of the people when all the Citie of Jerusalem was moved at his Magnificent entrance hee himselfe gave a great example of Humility in riding so simply on a poore Asse with no better a saâ—dle than a cloake or some such slight thing cast on him however the people triumph round about him he was humble enough himselfe he tooke small Pride in it for while they applauded he wept there was Humility running downe his cheekes Indeed it honoured the Citie that hee would thus ride into it but it humbled him He was never in any great Honour in all his life but twice at this time and in the Transfiguration there he talked with Moses and Elias concerning his Death and charged his Disciples to tell no man of his Glory And here he is going to his Death indeed and Weepes in the midst of his Glory And this Honour continued with him but a small time neither for they that thus admir'd him in the morning would none of them give him a lodging at night he was to goe back againe to Bethany to bed and within lesse than a weeke after they were much worse altered toward him which hee full well knew that knew the thoughts of all men therefore looking on and fore-seeing them a sort of false Traytors to his life hee had little cause to bee proud or Ioyfull at their acclamations though he suffered them for will you see what followed Now they cry Hosanna to the Sonne of David then they cry Take him away take him away Crucifie him crucifiehim Now they cry King of Israel then they cry wee have no King but Caesar Now they cut down boughs to strew the way for him to ride on then they cut down a Tree to make a crosse to hang him on Now they cast their garments before him then they cast lots for his Garments Now they cry Blessed is he that commeth in the Name of the Lord but then cursed is hee that hangs on the crosse We see what became of this exaltation and how it ended If he were ever truly exalted indeed it was his Humility that exalted him nay he only tooke Humility for his Exaltation for when he meant one of his greatest Humiliations even that on the crosse hee sayes of it When the Sonne of Man shall be exalted c. No exaltation would he admit in this life unmingled with humility for which cause the Apostle saith That after death God hath exalted nay God hath highly exalted him It may well be his Song as it was his Mothers He hath exalted the humble and meeke But this is not the day of that Catastrophe and small exaltation that was an unmingled one and is an Argument fit for Easter-day wee are now meditating of the beginning of his Passion in Teares even this day of his seeming Glory and therefore our object is principally his humility his emptying himselfe even to the bottome and becomming of no accompt his humility in going to his death for us from which if I could learne this one short rule of Saint Bernard it will be use enough that since the lower he made himselfe in humility the greater hee shewed himselfe in Charity I might say from the bottome of my soule In as much as Christ made himselfe vile for me so and much more should I make him precious and deare to me Mark O man that art but earth see thy God humbled and be not Proud and since he is Ioyned to thee bee not ungrateful to him so shalt thou in the end be exalted to him that for his Humility was exalted to the right hand of God Thus if I could be as a Tree planted by the waters side rooted in Faith growne up in Humility spread abroad by Charity and fruitfull in all kinde of good workes I should in due time bee transplanted from this valley of Teares to a Garden of Pleasure the Paradise of God where I should for ever reigne in perfect glory with Christ who is gone before to prepare a place for those that are followers of him in Humility OF A RAINBOW Or A Meditation on the fifth day of November THe third side or wall of this outward Court is as on the South in which I have fixed a delightsome Rainbow But I am no Astronomer and therefore cannot artificially show you how the Rainbow becomes ingeÌ„dred in the Aire when the glorious Sun with his golden and bright beames is just opposite against a waterish cloud which presently causeth its moist Timpany to powre out and empty it selfe upon the place from whence it receives its borrowed liquor neither doe I intend to show you the variety of colours that are to be found therein But I will briefly write thereof as it is a signe or token of Gods love and mercy to mankind Gen. 9. 13. Behold saith God I set my Bow in the cloud and it shall be for a signe of the Covenant betweene me and the earth So this day is by Act of Parliament according to a like president in the Word of God Hester 9. 27. set in the yeare as a signe or pledge of Gods love and mercy to us of this Nation in commemoration of that great and miraculous deliverance from that unparallel'd entended Gunpowder Treason to assure us that if we continue in the true Religion depend and put our whole trust and confidence in God and walke in the way of his Precepts he will never leave nor forsake us so that neither of those two mercilesse enemies of mankind Water or Fire complotted by the accursed crafty inventions of bloody minded men shall ever have power to destroy us For though sometimes he may for our triall suffer the little Pinace of his Church to be almost covered with waves yet in his due time he will arise out of his slumber to still the raging of the tempestuous Sea for the safegard of his little Barke When the proud papistical and presumptuous Spanyard in 88. thought himselfe sure of this little Island and was upon the brinck of victory in his own imagination though his ships were many and strong his warlike provision and munition great and his people without number yet God by one small blast of his fury in a moment of time by weak means did dissipate overwhelme his ships in the narrow Seas where his strong and warlike provision was confounded and his numerous multitude drowned even as Pharaoh and his Hoast