Rancour led For the long Knives Complot which like a Torch From time to time did their gall'd Entrailes scorch Their Clergy at no hand would joyne to Preach The Gospel not the Saxon Rout to teach Unlesse they would to them againe restore Their Country back which they had snatch'd before Untill at length Romes blessed Gregery Dispatcht a Monke of Famous Memory To Englands Kent where soone he did convert Prepar'd by his Faire Queene King Etâ—elâ—ert Whence thousands moe with all their Kings became By Austines paines Baptiz'd to Brittaines shame For which neglect of theirs and Neighbours scorne Their State all rent and through Dissention torne Northumbers since did to West-Chester rush Slay Bangors Monkes and Bâ—oâ—maels Forces crush So deadly that thenceforth they seldome dar'd To try the Fields Event with Foes prepar'd And this sore Blow in Judgement them befell As Gildas first and Austine did foretell THus stood the case with Brittains Commonwealth Because they gave themselves to Rapines Stealth To Fraud Revenge and chiefly to contemne Those whoÌ„ they might have made good Christian men Without the helpe of more Competitours Brought from proud Rome to build up Babels Towâ—es For Austine when he came began to strive With them for Rule and Romes Prerogative Which compli'd not with Saints of Christian sort As an old Hermite guess'd by Austines Port Who Pope-like set disdain'd to rise and greet Sev'n Christian Bishops with Love-congies meet Such harsh Salutes or Inhumanity So farre remote from sage Urbanity What could they but distracted Rents produce Ending in Schisme and Holy things abuse Our Saviour Christ was meek all made of Love The Devill proud and so his servants prove O what adoe they kept what Coile what sturres With Synods Pleas with Quillets and Demurres Like Turkes for Turbants Monkes for â—rizes Hew So Christians then did one another sue The Easters Time procur'd this Factious Brawle The Romish Claim'd from Peter and from Paul The Brittish by Prescription from Saint Iohn And their Feasts Date the Greek Church grounded on But nothing could appease the Adverse side Till Force at last the Quarrell did decide Untill Saint Colman and the Scottish Clerkes For Unions sake were faine to yeeld to Quirkes POpe Foelix now sign'd the Last Unctions use Which did in time a Sacraâ—ent produce That by more Fees Priests might enrich themselves For sacring Oiled Feet from aiery Elves One thing of Note must not forgotten be How in the Yeare Five Hundred Fifty Three Then at a Councell in Bizantium held The Romaine Pope Vigilius was refell'd For Heresie Judg'd Excommunicate And doom'd to be deprived of his State For which and murthers prov'd the Emperour With slender diet starv'd him in a Tower A just reward for claiming all that Scope Of Liberties due to the Westerne Pope Which Nicens Councell under Constantine Did long before betwixt Five Popes assigne Betwixt them of both Romes of Salems Flocke Of Antioch and of Alexandriaes stocke So that our Popes in the West Franchise watcht The Soules which Peters Net for Christ then catcht Not with Hells Husks Traditions Dreames and Lieâ— But them to feed with Scriptures Homilies So wily was the Serpent to begin With our Prime men and Starres to plunge them in The Gulfe of Worldly Pride and Avarice That by their meanes they Others might entice For when the Head feeles Pestilentiall Flame How soone puts it the Members out of frame If like Saint Peter He that claimes his Place Had liv'd Romes Church had stood in better Case But how should then the Prophesies of Paul And of Saint Iohn beene verifi'd at all â—n vaine the Man of sinne Perditions Sonne Long time by Caesars Pompe barr'd in that Throne To sit as God and in Gods Temple too The use of Meates and Marriage to undoe To wrong the Church by Carnall Sacrifice Of Soules and Bodies making Marchandise In vaine Great Babels Whore the Scripture hath Describ'd if Rome had kept her Former Faith By thrall'd Vigilius mark that Popes were then Ev'n for Six Hundred Yeares to Mighty Men Eaths Lords enthrall'd aswell for Life as State Yea Christ our Head to Caesar paid a Rate Both for himselfe and Peter from a Fish Without excuse Grudge or repining Pish As they did since which challenge Peters Chaire Under pretext Romes ruines to repaire And herewithall let all true Christians know As long as men are kept in aw and Low At some High Powers beck whom they doe feare So long they vertuous are or so appeare This of the Popes may well be verified While they were by the Caesars terrified And subject to the Lawes so long they thriv'd In Goodnesse Preacht the Crosse in order liv'd But when they once obtain'd the Primacie Above their Peeres and the Supremacie Above the Caesars then they wantoniz'd Grew Avaricious Proud and ill adviz'd But this great Flame will not breake throughly out Untill th' Eleventh Age shall wheele about When with False Christs like Capernaites Chymeres The Dragon more will charme Great Babels eares Thinke on these Sparks yee States and People all From the Kings Bench to the poort Coblers Awle THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE SEVENTH AGE From the Yeare of our Lord 600. untill the Yeare 700. in which Tract of Time the Romaine Pope got the Style of the Universall Bishop and Mahomets Sect began The Argument What Heresies sprang up ere Antichrist Broke from his Swathes into the Church of Christ. He growes but not to full maturity Till he hath got the Two-fold Soveraignty NExt to Gods Word or Oracles Divine Contemplating on Matyriz'd Iustine Tertullian Irene Tatian Clementine Lactantius Euphreme Ierome Origen Eusebius Leo Cyrill Nazianzen On Epiphanius Basil Hillary Theodoret Ruffinus Gregory And their more Ancients Cyprian Chrysostome With those of Afâ—rick Asia Greece or Rome Whither they in th' Abissines Libraries Or Vaticans immur'd for Antiquaries Whether in Priâ—â— or Manuscripts they be Musing I say on them with insight free Who wroâ—e within the First Six Hundred Yeare Besides the Synods of the Sacred Peeres Chiefly at Nice to sort New things with Old I wish this Post serit set in stamps of Gold Those Wits who can Grave Epiphanius scan May helpe to fan Romes Church from the Old Man Like Wheat from Chaffe or Gold from dust and drosse I wish this done but dare not it ingrosse Or undertake my wishing to fulfill Or want of time of Strength of Levites skill THough while proud Caesars rav'd some Christians pain'd Yet Pliny shewes their state when Trajan raign'd Nor could their Rage nor Victors thundring schisme For Easters Rites impeach Faiths Catechisme Curst were those Weeds sprung of Idolatries Which by Truths Flame Good Epiphanius tries And Blest the Flowres or Herballs of the Fields For Quintessence which Epiphanius yeelds There Millenaires and grosse Monothelites With other Clouds dim the First Churches Lights There see wise men then â—ire Drakes more unsure Yet others there more sure then Cynosure Though Origen and Cyprian in some things Have
living strove Arts to renew This moved Wainflet Wickam Chichesâ—ey And Others with more Fabrickes to supply That Nursery Some brought in Wood some Clay Some Stone aswell the Clergy as the Lay. Hence as from Sinons Horse Minervaes Knights Came forth well skill'd in Fences and in Fights Hence as from Saplings shot up Goodly Trees Hence as from Hives came up Industrious Bees Whereof some did the Conscience edifie The Common-wealth some Others beautifie Hence Wickliâ—se rose Bale and laborious Foxe Who holp to build Our Temple Orthodoxe Though not in Zeale to match the Primitive thrive Yet by such Good Mens Cares through Grace wee By Martyrs Acts fetcht from Old Registers To stop the Mouthes of false Interpreters As by those Wits nurst up with Food Divine On Oxfords Paps which now in London shine And likewise by a Thousand Other Starres Whose Radiant Rayes excell the Sunny Carres At whose rare Gifts and Voyce our Brittains wonder When they strike Sinne like to the Sonnes of Thunder THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE TENTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 900. untill the yeere 1000. At which Time raigned Emperour Otho the Third whom the Almaines call the Worlds Wonder About which Time King Et heldred Raigned in England The Argument The Dulnesse of this Age. The Pope Supreme In Rule unto the Latine Tongue binds them Who are his Thâ—alles Yet to the Truth some stand Most firme Th' Electours now grace Teutons Land O Who can count the Churches dolefull Teareâ— Her Woes Her Fits and Manifolded Feareâ— By Saraceâ—s the Popes and Heatâ—nish Bands Who forraged and rackt all Christian Lands No sooner had Victorious Charlemaine Parted with Popes the Scepter Soveraigne Adding unto the Keyes a Diademe But Rome grew proud of that brave State Supreme Although as then it was a single Crownc And not as since like Gerions Triple growne So seem'd to have her former wound heal'd up Which Caesars gave by their Remove her Cup O're-flow'd her Macâ— renewe'd which Gorhes had rent She frolicks now forgets her Banishment She hopes that the like Blow shall never light Upon her Limbs nor work her more despight She stands secure and builds up Babels Walls And by New Kings her Tributary Thralls Whom she hath train'd with Fetches into serve Her Turne and as their God her to observe She stores her Palace with the price of Bloud With Sinnefull Spoiles vail'd with an Angels Hood While thus she vaunts of Carnall Dignities And slights the Serpent which concealed lies Religion goes to wrack and few there be Which will or dare the Gospels Splendour see Dumbe are her Priests and muâ—fled are the Flock Both Honour Stocks more then the Living Rocke Instead of Scriptures now Traditions strange The Divels Huskes disperst Lord how those range Which thâ—ugh but light at first in Wise mens Eyes None fannes them lest they might disgrace the Keyes Usurping Lord who whilst he grac'd those Toyes Stopt Strangers murmure at the Latine Noise O Tyranny worse than Our Norman Kings Such was Great Henries Spleen and such his stings Towards the Welsh or Brittish Nation bent Because they had by their Troupes Ambushment Neere Snowdon Hills defeated in their Woods And Straights his Forces in his angry Moods He meant if hesped in a Victours way Old Cambers Tone quite to exile away And force the Vanquisht from their Native Tongue To learne the English Tone But of this wrong Consulting with an Hermite when he heard How hard that Plot would prove he seem'd afear'd That though their Persons he might subjugate Yet he could not that Tongue obliterate Which was so Ancient but it should endure Till Doomesday came the Pure from the Impure To separate and that this Sound among The Chiefe should vent Allelujaes Song MUch then hath Rome to answer for this wrong And they have Cause to waile who were so long Barr'd from Soules-Comfort in the Mother-Tongue By Rapsodies unknowne or Parrats Song Before this Ninth Centurian Age began Although the Head turn'd giddy the New-man Forsooke not to reclaime the Chiefest Parts Of the Church-Body from the Serpents Arts. In all the Course of the Church-Pilgrimage From the Apostles Time untill this Age I apprehend no Pleas in that long Tract Of Time nor reall Motives to substract Some Schismaticques excepted and some Few Who seiz'd on Rights to their Creator due From her Essentiall Worth and Purityâ— But that Romes Church leagu'd in Integrity With Cyprian Ambrose Ierome Augustine For the Resolve of Mysteries Divine And that with those whom I have named last We hold True Faith in spight of Babels Blast The Faith which they did Catholicke professe Yea and the very same untowardnesse Of Factious Spirits which they scorn'd we scorne Hating to see our Masters Rayment torne DId any Farnous Writers from Christs Age Or in Eight Hundred Yeares since Christ engage Their Auditors to credit those lewd Points Which with lewd threats Trents Councel late appoints Did either Popes or Councels then ordaine From Wedlock Bonds the Clergy to refraine Did they compell their Flockes Gods Word to heare In a strange Tongue as if they sencelesse were Did they without their Troupe Communicate Or let them without Wine participate The Holy Bread alone with curst intent So maiming halfe our Christian Sacrament Did they kneele downe to Images or Shrines Or offer Bribing Gifts Or pay them Fines Did they believe the Pope dispenc'd with Oathes Or could dispose of Realmes to Franks or Gothes Did Popes within sev'n Hundred Yeares exempt States from their Kings or Kings hold in contempt Did they beleeve that Popes could Pardons sell And ransome Soules from Purgings Flames of Hell Or do the Greeks the East or Abissine Hold to this day like Rome their Rites Divine But rather joyne with us in most of these Holding her Sick of Schismaticques Disease Did they before the Councell Popes preferre As though like Other Men they could not erre No Romainist although he loves the Pope Unlesse he rackes too much will prove I hope That any Doctours broacht that Dostrine out Untill the Sunne the Ninth Age brought about Or till indeed long after by degrees Popes thundring Spells forc'd Monarques on their knees Against Christs Rule who never grudâ—'d to pay Caesarean Toll nor Pilate did gaine-say And if they should by Romes Type patronize Those Errours which the True Church doth despise Let them looke backe upon the Word Divine And see if there they can such Points define Or if before or after Constantine Till this Tenth Age from Purenesse did decline They apprehend that Saints did Sympathize With those grosse dreams which now they dearly prize ONely some Shrines in Austins Time began To be in some request by their Old Man Devis'd to soile the New but not as since That they might from Gods Adoration flinch With an All Haile to the Triumphall Wood To Martyrs Ashes or Saint Benets Hood Though in our West Some us'd thus to comply The East remembred yet Saint Anthony Who at his
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
Maximes store Derived from Old Adams double Tree Nor further then wee finde them to agree With Gods owne Word or Oracles Divine Dare wee consent with them in every Line For men may erre yea Learned Countells erre By Factionâ— sway'd as other whiles they were And as Eusebius markt the Church began To be unchast soone as th' Apostles ranne The Hower-glasse out of their lives Pilgrim age By Cerinths Toyles and Nicholaites Rage Or by those Fogges which Epiphanius brands For Heresies of Antichristian Bands Or Sects whose Augustine expells the mists Be they Pelagians or the Donatists AT the New Rising of the Second Age In the First yeere came Trajan on the Stage Adopted Caesar by good Nervâ—es choise Broiles to prevent and Cares to counterpoise In his precedent Raigne Domitians Act Against the Church in Rome was somewhat slackt But otherwhere the Praetours for their Gaine By Christians goods escbeat renew'd againe The Old Decree and in their Liberties Practiz'd on Saints their former Cruelties But leaving them a while to racke and rage I now glance on the Wonder of that Age. OF Him I sing who would have kneeled downe But was forbod unto an Angel knowne Of all the Apostles longest to have seene The Churches course eclips'd by Tyranis spleene One while assail'd anon strong Militant Iohn saw her curbe Conetits exorbitant Thou haft O glorious Saint beheld her Pure Like to the â—unne dispelling Clouds obscure When Shepheard Pan deceas'd then Oracles From that time ceas'd through Christian Miracles For when Tiberiâ—t swayd Fiends waild their losse While they shipt Tamâ—â— forc'd to bruite â—he Crosse And to proclaime in Midland Seas with dread That Pan the great God Pan was newly dead Thou hast survivd thy Brethren and thy Mates Thou hast beheld strange Turnes of worldly States The Temple sackt Ierusalem destroyd Thy Native soile all harried and annoyd Thou liv'st to see weedes of blacke Heresies Amidst the Church spring up Apostafies Grownerife the Saints with Persecutions flame Scorcht every where and put to open shame Thou hast out-dar'd a dozen Emperours Since thy good Lord triumphed over powrs When thou beganst to shine Tiberius raignd They saw thy Lifes sun-set whom Trajan paind What dangers wrackes and buffetings of Fiends Hast thou oft felt What snares of glozing Friends Portents to make the Patientâ—â— Iob dismaid Thou hast out-liv'd thy Charge the Widow-Maid Thy Mother deare adopted on the Crosse To thee his Minion left to ease thy losse When therehence out thou tookst her to thy house As a true Nunne to helpe thy Christian vowes HOw long shee liv'd with thee to calculate An Angel must the certaine Time relate Or name the Place where her Blest Body lyes Whether she was in Body Enoch-wise Immediately to Heaven assumed up Or dwelt with Iohn till Age made her to stoup And payd her debt as other Mortalls doe To Nature much it skills not us to know Since now with Christ her Soule Triumphant rests And as her Life deserv'd with him she feasts Admitting no such Mediatrix style Or Goddesses as some themselves beguile That she doth oftentimes command her Sonne To heare a Sinners suite or Orison SAve that I might be into Whirle-pooles brought Or for my Guesse be too Sagacious thought I would Conjecture at the Time when Iohn Before the Siege of Salem undergone Departed into Corinth Ephesus Or other Coasts where Titus and Timotheus Were by Saint Paul ordain'd to Over-see There to confirme each Saint in his Degree As they by Him who all those Churches bare Upon his shoulders first were bred with Care There he consum'd the Remnant of his Age Untill to Pathmos by Domitians Rage Confin'd he saw in spirit Christ againe Who then and there by Revelations plaine To his Rapt Sence though hid from Carnall Braine Did prophesie the future Churches staine For Comfort of th' Elect the Lord appear'd Unto this Saint and his Wits Sences clear'd To understand what plagues he will effect In the last dayes for his true Words Neglect THese Mysteries Christ opened unto Iohn Whom he reserv'd so long And thereupon I humbly glance by leave of Holy Wits To whom my Muse her Raptures here submits That when One asked Christ what Iohn should do Whether he should remaine behinde or go His Answer was unto this bold Assay If my will be to have him here to stay Untill I come what matters that to thee And long he staid as all may cleerely see Before his Death he did so settle things That Greece his Praise aswell as Asia rings In Norvaes Raigne he came with his Release To Ephesus where he deceas'd in Peace While Trajan sway'd as Graecian Clearks relate Having escap'd an Oily scalding Fate Impos'd on him by fierce Domitians Rage Who then exiled him to Pathmos Cage Where though cub'd up a while from Christians sight He saw what cheer'd his Soule His Masters Light BOth in his time and after soone began The Divels Plots to scare the Christian man Which Valentinian and Menander spred And many moe which Weaklings then misled For whose Mistakes Saint Irenaeus griev'd Two hundred yeeres ere Epiphanius liv'd To blazon them and other Heresies Which then obscur'd the New Mans Sacrifice After Saint Iohns decease till Adrian raign'd The Roman Praetours still the Christians Pain'd Who so confirm'd were for the Fiery Crosse They fear'd not Death nor Paine nor Fortunes Losse The Truth when rackt by Inquisition strict That Christians much were wrong'd by Romes Edict Great Trajan then did unto Pliny write To mitigate the Fiery Trialls Spight Yet not to spare them if they were brought in Damn'd policie so cloaking Bloody Sinne In which implicite Snare Ignatius bound Like Christs fine Corne by Lions Teeth was ground NExt after this the Second Century Points at some Saints of Glorious Memory As Pillars of that Age with whom as Chiefe Succeeding those fore-nam'd I ranke in Briefe A Martyr'd Sire of Naples Palestine One that foretold his death to Antonine When shortly after did a Cynickes Hate Conclude with Flames the Swans Prognosticate Having first wrote to calme the Emperours Spleene his Defence and to Romes Senatours In Iustines time which by the yeeres account Since Christs Ascention up from Olives Mount One Hundred shone good Christians liv'd content With simple Meanes and scorn'd the Blandishment Of Gaine or Pompe with all false worldly Wares But fixt on Christ and Cure of Soules their Cares Platoes and Moores Eutopiaes Common-Wealth Compar'd to them seemes but Promethean stealth Phant asticke Dreames or Speculations Flame Which being unpractiz'd breed the Authours shame They taught and wrought with Reall Charity As if that day they were arraign'd to dye Not like to Stoicks dissembling Lookes austere But against Sinne with Discipline severe With Vowes and Fasts the Outward man to tame Not for Repute or Superficiall Fame But with intent to keepe their Vessels pure And to seale up their Christian Calling sure They promis'd not but what they did performe And squar'd their
Deedes to the Apostles Forme Such Pious Deedes with Zealous Sparkes beset As I for Saints have in my Preface set From Justines Workes likewise I apprehend The Eucharists Religious Use and End We take no Common Bread nor Common Wine Saith he but like as Christ by the Divine Bright Word became true Flesh and for our Good Tooke on him our Attire of Flesh and Blood So we by Vertue of his Word Record That Food to be the Body of the Lord Yet Sacramentall Wine and Sacred Bread Which have our Soules by the Remembrance fed With this short Course the Presect of the Feast Insinuates Vowes into each Sacred Breast They fed with zeale the Throng Thanksgiving sing And Deacons did unto the Absent bring The Consecrated Food that they likewise Might have a Taste of the Soule-sacrifice Such was the Ancients Forme to distribute The Holy Food without Quirkes or Dispute IN those Dayes Crosse to Food blest by the Word Was Sacrifice of Flesh at Heathens Boord To Idoll-Gods which Christians did refuse By reason of the Cursed End and Vse As we likewise that Carnall Food despise Which some Create a God at Sacrifice And yet the Food ere it was so disgrac'd Could not pollute the honest Takers taste So when Gods Word hath blest Ours to record Our Saviours Crosse it quickens by that Word Which full of Life breathes Spirit Life Reliefe If it be tane by Soules firme of Beliefe For otherwise the present Ectasy Doth uanish and away those Blessings fly They at their Feast Emanuels Presence lose His Presence whose rare Forme some Clearks appose Though they beleeve that Christ is God and Man And stiled God with us his Forme they scan And question how could Paul and Stephen see Emanuel while on Earth Men living be As to the Pure this Mystiâ—ke Trance turnes Pure So t is Damnations Bait to the Impure And when Faiths Feast becomes a Sacrifice To Idoll Gods it tends to prejudice For this grave Cause good Christians doe refuse False Altars Meate where Satan Poison scrues WHat shall I write of Mark Aurelius Raigne When all his Campe distrest for want of Raine Were at the point to perish Christians then By Miracle gain'd showres to save his Men While hopelesse Pagans dig'd by Prayers they Gain'd in One Night what they had toyl'd by Day Such wondrous Deedes of the Church Primitive Like those Blest Showrs will cause our Mâ—se to thrive If therewithall we moisten Thirsty Soules Which long to taste of our Nectarean Bowles In hope from Bruites to be trasnform'd anew To better shapes then Ovid could renew Or Samian Forge Our New-Man sings more strange Of Manners not of Bodies the Exchange WIthin this Age liv'd Irenaeus knowne A Bishop where France built her Lions Towne He stoutly did the Marriage-state defend Whose Foes he writes blame God and Natures End He taxed Romish Victors Lightnings Flash And qualifi'd his Squibs denounced rash Which he presum'd against the East to throw For Easters Date with Supercilious Brow Or did perhaps not excommunicate But barre with them Rome to communicate So likewise did Grave Policrates blame His Censure-causing Schisme and Christians shame This Reverend Man to win the more Applause For his Defence of that propounded Cause Demonstrated that his seven Ancestours And he the Eighth from those Progenitours Were Bishops all of Ephesus and held Their yearely Course of Easter unrepeal'd Implying that his Lineall Holy Race Confirm'd the Truth to cleare that wrangling Case NExt unto those shone Athenagor as Tatian and He who with his Sire would passe To Martyrdome and but for Mothers Teares Partake like Adamant not shrunke with Feares He gloss'd Gods Word would have bin more priz'd If he had not too much allegoriz'd Severus sent for him such was his Fame To Antioch where he stuck to Christ his Name And blaz'd his Word with such rare Eloquence That he return'd by Caesar grac'd from thence Dismiss'd with Gifts and Courtiers good report He came againe to the sev'n Flouded Port Where he much Oyle in Alexanders Towne Consum'd untill his Errour put him downe Where well he wrote no better Writer knowne Where ill none worse then Origen is showne Famous for this he termes Christs Flesh and Blâ—â—â—â— The Spirits Type his Word Soule-quickning Food Most infamous for this that first he Gelt Himselfe and then for feare he should have felt A Buggering Rape by a Black-hired Moore He Sacrific'd to Idolls a farre more Scurfe-spreading sinne for which with Bolts accurst By Alexandriaes Church to Teares he burst Whenlighting on a Text in Salmes Towne And there desir'd to Preach he found his owne Unhappy Act by Lot nay by Divine Appointment How the Precepts which are mine Dar'st thou presume within thy Mouth profane To teach or read O thou ungodly Man Upon which Text poore Origen abasht With Teares his Crime and his Presumption washt THE STATE OF THE BISHOPS OF ROME DURING THE TIME OF PERSECVTION and while they were subject to the Emperours IT may be heere some Curious Wits expect That I their Lives and Deedes should recollect Whom Priestly Votes hâ—ve voyc'd for Roman Popes In Peters Chaire on whom they sixt their Hopeâ— To binde and loose their manifolded Criâ—eâ— Both then and now and in ensuing Times But such a Taske I dare not undergoe Nor will I have with Fraudfull Styles to doe The Servant when of Servants One proclaimes Himselfe and yet a Monarques Power claimes Let them who build on Flesh and Blouds Desires Entangling their Beliefe with needlesse Fires Of High Ambitious Thrones not warranted By Gods deare Lambe who for our sakes here led An Humble Life Let them I say bow downe Before the Gold-cross'd Shooe and Triple Growne But I am sure they no Record shall finde Nor Chronicle that mentions in that kinde The least Reflexe of Royall Majesty Due to Romes Popes with Both Swords Soveraignty Untill the French the Lumbards overcame Till Charlemaine did Desiderius tame Since Phocas Time they Nine score yeeres before Above all Priests the Chiefest Miâ—er wore Since Constantines who Phocas did precede Three Hundred yeeres a Patriarchs sway I read They had heere in our West But till that Time They scarce found space to breath much lesse to climb Or claime a Mace and to be called Lord A Style which Christ forbad and Saints abhorr'd For till the Raigne of Constantine the Great Thirty they were which grac'd Romes Pastours Seat And of those Thirty Bishops there were None But they were slaine or did through Troubles grone As English Saints were in Queen Maries dayes By Tyrants spleene distressed sundry wayes Imprison'd rackt and put to Open shame Depriv'd of all their Goods and burnt in Flame So Christs New Church tho with rare Dowries blest Neere for Three Hundred yeares was sore opprest Caefars without and Herteickes within Did persecute and plunge her Members in So many Toiles that hardly they could meet In Private Place nor one another greet With Common shewes of
doth adde that by those Three The Hornes in Daniel might accomplishe be With Hodgepodge-Dreames Cookt for a Fairy Feast And so himselfe of those Three Realmes possest Dar'd to spue out the most Presumptuous thing The Alcoran I meane against our Christ Whereby he grew One of Great Antichrist His Chiefest Limbs to Lord it in the East As Popes already crept into the West And save for Christian Name which they doe beare Shall over-match him in our Worldly spheare For as the One himselfe styles Lord of Lords So Ours shall goe beyond him by lowd Words And Thundring Bulls accursing men to Hell Dethroning Kings and seating Soules aswell In Heaven as in Purgatory-Cells In which Attempts the Pope the Turk excells BUt whether for Pelagian Heresie Or for her Fraud Romes great Apostasie Fell out For though Pelagius she may blame Yet his Conceptions with implicite Flame She hugges Or when she turned Courtezan Or when was Satan curb'd I leave to scan Loath to resolve such Questions Scrupulous Till Fresher Gales for their more cleere discusse Shall quicken up my gravell'd Intellect From Ancient Scribes the Truth to recollect I Had almost forgot here downe to quote Among these Broiles one memorable Note About the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Foure When Sarasens and Popes began to rore A Female-Saint of Yorke did Prophetize And speake against Romes New Enormities She stood against the Shaving of the Crowne Which then the Romish Church to know her owne False Prophets by as Publike Mark or Seale Had forc'd on Priests with a lowd thundring Peale Against the same and Easters Romaine Date Good Hilda spake but Popes said she did prate For since they durst the New-mans Course exchange Why might not they all Ancient Orders change Adde to the Church New Sacraments as Lights And alter Times aswell as Outward Rites He that presumes above all Councells Kings And States will do farre more prodigious things Thus Popes have done Therefore I strongly fixe Upon the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Sixe When Gog with Force advanc'd the Alcoran When Magogs wiles set up the Outward Man Then did those Foes though diffâ—ring in their wayes Begin with Filth to soile the Churches Rayes THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE EIGHTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 700. untill the yeere 800. At which Time Irene raigned Empresse of Constantinople being the Mother of Constantine and Nicephorus About which Time Ecbert began his Monarchy in England The Argument The Churches Brood seduc'd with Monkish Lies And Mechaes Dreames the Gospel they misprize Mungrells themselves then Mixt Religions flow Yet some reclaim'd their Mothers Voyce did know ABout the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Sixe Strife dimm'd the use of the true Crucifixe For Pictur'd Saints the Greek Imperiallists Began to taxe our Westerne Latinists Whose Right or Wrong Serenus Gregory And Epiphane did long afore descry Some priz'd those Types like Bookes to edifie Some them defi'd least Gulls them Deifie Some thought their sight did quicken much the sence Whilst others held they dull'd the Conscience But to summe this we must our Bodies yeeld As Mindes to serve the Lord or lose the Field We outwardly must to Gods Rites attend As inwardly on his Good Gifts intend For what the Heart adores the Tongue sounds out The Knee bowes to the Sight puts out of doubt Then Agars seed prevail'd to Tyrannize Popes to usurpe and both to Sympathize With Satans Genius by false masked zeale To over-sway Christs Church and Common-weale Fraud taught them first to crouch and to dissemble Then Fiends train'd theÌ„ to make their Foes to treÌ„ble Thus darkned stood our Westerne Hemisphere Till She that 's with the Sun cloth'd did appeare By Trumpets sound and Printings Mystery Recalling home her Strayes from Pâ—pery Among which Lutes harmoniously Divine Would I could thrust this Oaten Pipe of Mine BUt was Our Church on Earth invisible Till Luthers Time No sure Most visible She lay to Saints though to some Romish hid Like Diamonds in Mines yet clearly did She breath in Christ although not eminent To Carnall Eyes or on a Hill transparent Yet Catholick and through the World diffus'd She sojourned with Holy Rayes infus'd Like a Poore Pilgrim one while in the East She liv'd retir'd Another while the West She put in mind of Jeremiaes Threnes Anon the Northerne-Iles and Isters Fennes She visited and oftentimes the South Or all at once she wakened from their Sloth Which â—ruitfull Greece and rich Arsaces Land Could testifie with Ethiopiaes Strand Which Câ—â—ms Tartaria and the Moguls Ground Could blaze how she Nestorians did confound Which Snowâ— Mosâ—hoâ—s Clime could justifie Yea many in our West could verifie That she Good Soule with Teares and Doctrine sounâ— Sought to redâ—â—me them in Hells Fetters bound And on Christs Merits onely to rely Without Distrust or Ambiguity Tendring her Glosse Christs Gospel to expound But most were deafe or would not heare her Sound For either in a Tongue unknowne by roat Or â—arnally they would her Dâ—ctates note Nay when she would indifferent things to use Pâ—rmit her Bâ—bes her Love they would abuse And for her Care her Champions they would raze Out of their Files with Curst Anathemaes Yet some of better Mould attentively Gaâ—e â—are and these I praise deservedly SOme Godly Moâ—kes and the Old Saxon Bede Shew us what Life a Christian ought to lead He dâ—ing wisht aâ— Cutberâ— wrote that Men Would read Gods Word and humane dreams contemn To which Good End himselfe in English Toâ—e Christs Gospel left according to Saint Iohn Those Holy Monks liv'd not on others sweat Nor idly did by Strangers Tythes get Meat But earn'd repast in Gardens by the Spade Or in foule weather by some Houshold Trade To keep their thoughts froÌ„ sensual Plots they wrought And on High Dayes or Festâ—â—als they taught Their Auditours what sence Christs Mystery Beares to imprint his Passions Mâ—mory Or Catechis'd the weake and tender Braine With Scriptures Text and intelligible straine But when the Lumbards were by Chaâ—lemaine Represt then Popes rais'd up their Peâ—cocks Traine With Carnall Sence and Carnall meanes support Transforming Rites ingrosse stupendioâ—s sorâ— And by Degrees transferr'd to Catholickes Traditions hatcht by Former Heretickes What Wheele is this what strange Extravagance Religious Rome like Dina gads to Daunce Nay more she paints her Face like Jezabel Darkning those Gifts wherein she did excell She that most Honour'd was next Salems Church Spreads Lying Dreames and now lives by the lurch She that was once the Westernes sacred Dame Converting Heathen Soules unto the Lambe Usurps Saint Peters Place with Lofty Style Depraves Gods Gifts and reares up Babels Pile She that was Chast delights to play the Queane And more then Good to practize Deeds obsceane But these are Triâ—les in respect of those Great Sinnes to which she will henceforth dispose Her Whâ—â—rish will for wicked Sodoâ—y She will commit cheat men with Alchimy She will proud Nembrâ—d from Damnation free And will besamt false Magus for
a Fee She will Create New Christs burn Saints force Hell Mew up Gods Word and Vertue quite expell She Christendome will topsie-turvie turne Dethrone her Kings and make their Subjects mourne But here the Comfort lyes though Rome playes false And Nero-like debauch'd yet all her Brawles Plots Menaces and Tortures cannot stop The Pens of Some the Truth to underprop With Learned Workes to blaze in every Age Her Breach of Faith and tyrannizing Rage THe strong Conceit of the States Holinesse Saint Peters Keyes and Shrines did so possesse Remoter Braines that Rome they did prefer Before all Climes Thither Cadwallader Our Brittish King for Refuge in Distresse And sundry Others went for Happinesse As they then dream'd Some for Monastick Rest Some to become there by such Merits Blest And if Ravennaes Feare and Lumbards Sway Had not then blockt them in their Pilgrims way With dangers by Banditi in some Straight About the Alpes where Theeves for Preyes awaite Such was the Blindnesse of that Ages Zeale Romes Mart had greater been more lowd her Peale As sithence for her Marchandize encreafe Fell out though to their Losse of Inward Peace WHile Rome thus vaunted of Imagery Greece seconded her Sinfull Mystery And though New Rome long struggled with the Old Yet now her Keyes then Ice become Cold And so prevail'd damn'd Errour at the last That Nicens second Councell made agast Our Christian Church when that Romes glorious Head She saw Accurst and yet themselves mis-led Would set forth Acts for Images Adore Which their Greek Church condemned had before Honorius was most justly Censured But Idolls use they ill determined For Heresie the Romaine Pope they quail'd Yet Heresie within themselves prevail'd And what the Former Age brookt as a Booke An Image now like to a God they tooke And held an Idoll in no lâ—sse esteeme Then Pagans did to honour Dagon seeme This Ages Griefe I point at that the East We may conclude as faulty as the West None can excuse themselves Aswell New Rome As did the Old for Antichrist made roome Because like Rome a Mungrell Faith they those The Greeks their Fame of Iconomaches lose Yet this stole in but like an Ague Fit They soone recover'd and confounded it THey did not since so Superstitious grow To vow that Service which to Christ they owe They kneel'd not downe nor orav'd dâ—aâ—â— Idollâ— aydâ— As if their Church to Baal they had betray'd They minister the Cup unto the Lay Their Clergy-men doe Marry to this day And in the Mother-Tongue the Gospel read Not like the Westernes Rome so much misled ANd yet no doubt their Church went much astray In many points though not so grosse away As Rome They held and made apparant Boast Of idle Quirkes about the Holy Ghost That they might share and be in tangled in The Mystery of the Lewd Man of Sinne. For which Foule Crime and Dâ—pravation Christ Did then with-draw his Grace and in that Mist The Dragon did worke on their Enemies As on their Wiâ—â— their Empire to surprize And to prey on their Chiefe Metropolis As Turkes still doe And all for their amisse ERe I conclude this Ages Century I must not over-slip how Zachary The Romaine Pope against Gods Word gave way From Childerick the Crowne to put away And to Depose the French Mens Lawfull King On Pipins Plea and for no other thing Then for a slothfull Life and that a Bee Was fitter then a Drone to Over-see And Rule a Realme that he tooke all the Care While Childerick lay still in Pleasures Snare Or lull'd a sleep not caring but for Ease Whereby he did the Common-wealth displease On this surmize the Pope gave his Assent That the Poore King be to a Cloister sent And shorne a Monke that Pipine weare the Crowne The lawfull Heires from Native Right quite thrown For this good Turne the Pope to gratifie The Franks New King combin'd to fortifie Saint Peters Seat against the Lumbards strength That he Ravenna forc'd to yeeld at length The Yeare of Christ Seven Hundred Fifty Sixe When men did much on Outward Objects fixe Then Constantine to Pipine in the West Sent first the use use of Organs from the East In imitation of King Davids Harpe A Godly Use though Some thereat doe carpe Which though Pope Paul the First did not abhorre Yet afterwards he dar'd that Emperour With Curses for opposing Images On these Popes doated so with Passages Of Glorious Shewes that Adrian Peter all In Silver cloath'd and Paul with Golden Pall. THus by Degrees Rome that was fam'd for Chaste Began to paint her Face and prove unchaste But though Popes daub'd were more proud become Others went Plaine like Old Religious Rome And in Our West will so continue still Till to adore False Christs Fiends bane their Will All were not Bad although the Head was craz'd The Lord yet some of Romes poore Members grac'd No doubt He blest some of the Romain Brood Caiphas was Bad but Nichodemus Good When that Elias thought the Church downe reel'd Sev'n Thousand were to Baal that never kneel'd As in the East so in the West there were Thousands which then from Idolls did forbeare Fixing their onely Faith on Maries Seed The Churches Head which ransom'd Evaes Deed. Now the first use to Christen Bells began Whereby I thinke they Baptisme did profane When they deprav'd the Rites of Sacred Font Wherewith to type the New-man we are wont THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE NINTH AGE From the Yeare of our Lord 800. About which Time Charles the Great of France after his Conquest of the Lumbards was Crowned by Pope Leo the Third Emperour of the West untill the Yeare 900. About which time the Danes sore afflicted England The Argument Charles builds New Schooles subjects the Westerne Broiles And with the Pope shares Faire Ravennaes Spoiles Though some rare Wits renowned then that Age Two Monstrous Deeds yet shame the Romaine Stage BRave Charlemaine like Romes bifronted Sire Whom Pagans at the Former Yeares expire And at the Newes Approach renew'd with Bayes So merited this Prince redoubted Praise For clozing up in the Last falling Age Our Westerne wounds made by Barbarian Rage No Fate of Worldly Wheeles nor length of Yeares Shall cancell Martells Deedes nor the Twelve Peeres Dimme nor expunge from Honours Calendar For their Exploits and Memorable Warre Against the Moores with whom they did so cope That they quite lost their proud Ambitious Hope Of Conqu'ring France as they subjected Spaine But left behinde Two hundred Thousand slaine Of Moorish Coarses for a Pawne or Signe That none shall France but Christians make to whine CHarles after Broiles in this Ninth Age began Three Academes to found for the New-man To propagate in France and Italy By whose faire Patterne Moe did fructifie In other Christian Lands from whence Some rose Some Rome to ayd and some her to oppose For though the Head of the Vertigo wheel'd Some Members yet there were which never reel'd ANd surely
Yoake by Alva laid And sithence train'd their Milk-sops by her Aide To turne brave Souldiers both on Sea and Land To weary Spaine and on their Guard to stand AFter that Bloudy Feast in Seventy Two When Sions Church French Herods would undo Besieged Rochell with Munitions store By Sea she furnishâ— and Reliev'd her Poore Againe France tasted of her Lenity As Burbon tri'd and his Posterity Which but for her good Cares and Troupes Supply Had stoupt unto Iberiaes Tyranny And Lorraâ—nes League then mammoâ—kt into Parts Had thrall'd all France to Spaines Superiour Darts SHe planted Ireland civilliz'd the Rude Rebellious Wild and Kernish Multitude And neere her Set by Valiant Mountjoyes Cares With Triumph there o're Spaine she cloz'd her Warres So stood out State of Church and Common-wealâ— In spight of Romish Bulls Spaine and Oneale Secur'd froÌ„ Schismes Home-broyles and Hostile Traine As long as Great Elizabeth did Raigne HEreby Our Strayes who taxe the Gospels Sound May feare how they Gods Church do meore and bound Within Romes Fold by Popes Prerogative As if our Faith were pinn'd unto his Sleeve Here they may see what ignominious Spoiles Romes Champions reapt for all their Bloudy Broiles Whilst that Our Princes in set Peace have stretcht Their Limmes in Bloud their latest Gasp they fetcht Not Austria France nor Rome with steely dint Nor Marian Fire could Christ his Gospel stint Nor could they raze the Name of Huguenoâ—s Or Protestants for all their Bloudy Plots Much lesse could their School-Doctors plead her Cause Against the Brightnesse of the Spirits Clause Which by Saint Iohn had prophesied her Fall And likewise her forewarned by Saint Paul That she whom for her Faith Renowned Fame Then blaz'd should be at last cut off with shame If she continued not as she begun Chast to her Spouse the Great Iehovahs Sonne Gods Charter still goes with a whilest or If Thou honour me I will remove thy Griefe Not her Decline could all her Clergy stop Nor Canonists her Doctrine underprop Not Gratian nor her Best Panormitan Nor all her Routes of Thalmudists prophane Not Wolsey Poole nor learned Cajetan Kings-mating Cardinalls in Pomp Humane The Mystick Remnant of the Dragons Band Could vengeance stay nor Iudgements Lees withstand Their Martyrs Urnes can no way paralell Our Holy Ones nor can their Legends tell Five Bishops burnt for their Religions sake Where we can name consumed at the Stake Great Cranmer Ridley Hooper Latimer And Ferrar Sainted in our Register With many moe whom the Force Secular Hells Magogs hois'd to Martyrs Calendar Though them they knew to be the Churches Seed By hearing at their Death their Christian Creed Which Creed lest it might move a Conscience soft Their Torturers have interrupted oft In midst of Flames by hurling Staves or Stones To wound the more their Heads and broiling Bones O Valiant Men true Members of our Head Who like to Him for Him to Death have bled O Glorious Saints who left such Monuments Surpassing farre the Seven-fold Wonderments Who to prevent Soules Dearth built Granaries Like Josephs store inough for Sacrifice Whose Martyrdomes refulgent Memory Puts downe Romes Palles and Shrines Imagery Who have like Starres deriv'd from Heavens Light Left Spectacles and Torches for our Sight God grant they may increase Devotions Flame And dul those Schismes which the next Age wil shame In Briefe no Age since Christ saw greater Change Of Manners Knowledge States and which is strange Great Rome twice sackt The CoÌ„mon Foe more bold Whilst our Chiefe West wav'd with the Spanish Gold THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE SEVENTEENTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 1600. untill this present yeere 1640. Being the 16. of King Charles his Raigne over Great Brittaine The Argument Our Church escapes the Dragons Powder-traine And is confirm'd in James and Charles his Raigne Abroad the Bloudy Crosse her Members sâ—ites In Brittaine some blame Types and Outward Rites THe third Yeare past of this our present Age Our Sun-set Queen expir'd her Pilgrimagâ— A Virgin on our Virgin Ladiâ—s Eve To see her Starre Death did her hence bâ—â—â—avâ— Elizabeth then folding up her Raigne Of Forty Foure Triumphant over Spaine The Popish Side Tirone and Irish Kernes Faire Englands Crowne to Him whom it concernes By Right of Bloud descends to Salomon Our Phoenix Iames who like the radiant Sunne Shot forth his Rayes of Kings the Paragon A Writer most acute for Natives Tone Unparalell'd by any Regall Scribe Next to that Starre the Honour of his Tribe Whether in Prose or Measur'd Lines he steeres The Loadstone of his Labours still appeares Directly aim'd unto the New mans White His Davids Psalmes our Belials so appall None dare them now Geneva-jigges mis-call This Posthume Fruit hath Learned Sterline late Set forth the Fainting Soule to recreate His Workes endure the Light his Lamp the Night Of Ignorance repells and None our Iames His Bockes his Life or Raigne save Envie blames He Vorstius foil'd restrain'd Superfluous Doubts And by his Pen convinc'd Scholastick Routs While here he liv'd O how did Knowledge shine The Church renew her Hopes the Grave Divine Affoord us daily Manna for Soule-Food And by his Royall Rayes all things did Bud Yea his Rayes made the Wildest Red-shanks tame Dri'd Irish Bogges and spred Virginiaes Fame NOr lackt this King the Gift of Prophesie To pry into the Jesuites Secrecie Whereby they thought to blow up Albions State With Powder-Traine Hells next obnoxious Fate For though that Tressams Lines seem'd intricate Flowing from Sphynx or Coedipus his Pate A Riddle darke and scorn'd by Other Men Yet this Wise Prince the same did not contemne But pointed at the Mine and their Intent Which they kept close sworne on the Sacrament THis Peacefull King upon the least disgust Among his Neighbour States or Warres mistrust Spar'd for no Paines nor Charge to mediate A Christian End their Passions to abate How many Treaties hath Vienna seene What Embassies to calme fierce Austriaes Spleen That without Bloud the Palatine might gaine His Owne he sent his onely Sonne to Spaine In hope to shunne th' Events which hapned since To Dangers he expos'd our Darling Prince That by that gentle Course or Sacrifice He might prevent ensuing Prejudice No Age paints out nor points at the like Type Of Princely Love Offence away to wipe LIke Iames in Zeale came Young Iehosaphat Our Royall Charles whose sweet and moderate Condition yeeld us Hopes that like his Sire He will retaine unquencht the Sacred Fire Which in his Soule burnes calmely by the Heat Of Heavens Flame the Holy Paraclete Now in his Raigne we plant Virginiâ—es North With Colontes and hope by setting forth The Gospel there the Savages to winne In Christ his Name from Lust and Bloudy Sinne Our Drâ—nes turne Bees in his Auspicious Raigne Remov'd to Forraigne Iles in hope of Gaine And by his Famous Glasse who built of Old For Tharsus Ships to fetch thence Ophirs Gold This Prudent Prince preparts a Warre-like Flees To