Cana where by miracle diuine He made of perfect water purest wine Went to the Lord and earnest sute begon That he would please to come and heale his sonne At Capernaum where he then did lye In all mens iudgement at the point to dye Iesus replyed except that Signes you see And wonders wrought you haue not faith in me The Ruler answered siâ— affoord thine ayde Ere deathes hard hand vpon my child be layde My dearest sonne is breathing out his last Oh come and helpe before his life be past Then Iesus to his heart did comfort giue Doe thou depart thy dying sonne doth liue Because thou hast a faithfull constant mind At thy returne in health thou shalt him find As with great ioy he from our Sauiour went Some of his seruants came incontinent And met their master cheerefull on the way With voyces full of comfort thus did say Thy son whose sicknesse caus'd vs all complaine Is wonderfull restor'd to health againe He liues and all his former griefe is past Which lay most wofull breathing out his last Then he demaunded at what time and howre He was deliuer'd from Deaths fatall power And they replyed yesterday at seuen The feauer left him prais'd be God of heau'n Then knew the father t' was the time direct That Iesus of his mercies free respect Said vnto him thy dying son doth siue That instant he restoring life did giue And hereupon he and his houshould all Beleeu'd and faithfull did on Iesus call At Poole Bethesda where attending lay Of blind and lame and withr'ed that each day Expected cure when heau'nly Cherubin Did touch the waters then to get them in And wash away all griefes they did sustaine A man that eight and thirty yeare in paine Endeuour'd helpe amongst the Lazars there Yet wofull wretch not any whit the neare For still when he entended to haue good By entring that same sanctified floud Alwayes by others he was thrust aside Where euery man did for himselfe prouide And got before him so that he put by In most perplexed state distrest did lye Christ comming there and knowing well how long He had sustained this preuenting wrong Sayd to the sicke wilt thou haue helpe at all Oh sir quoth he I know not how I shall I haue no friend that will so much befriend me As an assisting hand at need to lend me When waters moue by holy Angels touch To get me in there 's none will do so much But when I seeke with all my best endeuour Some one or other doth preuent me euer Stepping before me thus am I kept backe To doe me good all helpe of friends I lacke Then Christ whose word to heale him did suffice Said but vnto him take thy bed arise Depart away who cheerefully arose Tooke vp his burden and from thence he goes This gracious worke vpon the Sabboth done The Iewes would quarrell for it with Gods sonne His sinnefull creatures which he made of clay Would question him who made both night and day Not thinking how his word fram'd all that 's wrought And how that word can bring that all to nought A man borne blind vpon the way did lye Asking for almes as Iesus passed by And the Disciples to their Master said Lord tell vs why this punishment is layde On that blind creature what hath he misdone Is it for Fathers trespasse or for sonne Iesus reply'd the cause he wanteth sight Depriued of the day adorning light Is not for any wicked works of sinne That Parents or himselfe haue liued in But that the mighty power of God might be Made manifestly knowne in such as he I am to worke the works of him that sent me While it is day before darke night preuent me As long as I within the world abide I am the light that vnto glory guide When thus the Lord had spoke spittle and clay He mixt together and the same did lay Vpon the eyes of him that was borne blind Whose hope resolued with a faithfull mind That Christ had power to giue those eyes true sight Which neuer yet had seene what thing was light Then Iesus sayd vnto the blind-man goe And wash thy selfe within the Poole Siloe Which by interpretation is call'd sent He with more ioy then can be vttered went And did according hauing sight as cleare As euer did to glorious light appeare Whereat great wonder present was in all Which saw what to the begger did befall Borne blind they knew of none to be denide And most miraculous now perfect ey'd Yet question'd him and fell to great debate And wickedly from Christ did derogate Denying him his owne eternall might More blind in soule then was the man of sight Lazarus raysed from death The Souldiers at Christes betraying cast to the ground Malcus eare cut off by Peter healed The temples veile rent stones diuide graues open the dead arise Iohn 11. Iohn 18. Luk. 22. Mathew 27. Two holy sisters had theyr brother lying In Bethany euen at the point of dying One blessed Magdalen that with her teares Did wash Christs feet dri'd them with her haires The other gratious Martha these sent thus To Iesus for their brother Lazarus Oh Lord behold he whom thou louest deere Is grieuous sicke affoorde thy presence here His danger will admit of no delayes Yet Iesus tarried where he was two dayes Then said to his Disciples our kind friend Lazarus sleepes but wake him I entend Lord they reply'd if he but sleepe we know He shall doe well there will no danger grow But then he plainely spake his breath is fled And soule departed Lazarus is dead And I am glad for your sakes in this case That I was absent with you from the place Because you may belieue now you and I Will goe and visite him at Bethany When they came thither there they notice haue That he had lyen foure dayes within his graue And many of the Iewes whom loue did lead Were comforting the sisters of the dead Martha saw Iesus and alow'd she cride Had'st thou been here my brother had not dyed Yet this I know assured truth to be What thou dost aske of God hee le giue it thee Then Iesus sayd arise againe he shall I know it Lord quoth she and so must all At that great day of Resurrection when All shall arise both good and wicked men I resurrection am and Life doe giue He that beleeues in me though dead shall liue And he that liueth and belieues in me Shall neuer dye Beleeu'st thou this quoth he Yea Lord she said thou art Gods sonne I know Should come into this world and grace bestow Then Mary came fell downe and grieuous wept Saying deare Lord our brother we had kept Hadst thou been heere his life preseru'd had bin And these woe teares we had not bathed in Then Iesus groned in the Spirit and said Show me the place where is the body layd They said come Lord behold and therewithall From his most holy blessed eyes
healed Math. 9. FRom Brutish Gergesenes our Sauiour goes That were so farre their owne soules mortall foes They from their coast did banish the most high'st Esteeming more their cattell then their Christ Who leauing those ingratefull wicked men By ship did passe to his owne City then VVhere being come the people to him brought One sicke in 's bed of palsie and besought That he would heale him when he saw their faith To the distressed creature thus he sayth Sonne be of comfort and reioyce herein For I remit and pardon all thy sinne Whereat the Scribes within their hearts did say This man blasphemeth and is farre astray When Iesus saw in thought they did him blame For with hearts hid from him that made the same He thus reply'd Why doth this ill arise Which you in cogitation doe deuise Tell me which speech is easiest for to say Arise and walke or sinnes are done away But that you all may know the truth of this My power on earth can pardon sinnes amisse Then sayd he to the sicke thy selfe prepare Take vp thy bed and to thy house repayre Then came a man of woe with sorrow pain'd A Ruler of the Iewes and he complain'd Iesus my daughter euen now is dead But thou that lifes true path doest onelie tread Come and vpon her doe but lay thy hand And she shall liue giue death a countermaund The Lord was moued with his sad lament And as he sorth with his Disciples went A woman with a bloudy issue greeued That could not be in twelue yeeres space releeued Behind him came and toucht his vestures hem Being assured faith could helpe all them Which did beleeue resoluing thus in thought If I but touch his garment health is wrought This faith with Iesus such a comfort found He turn'd and sayd Daughter thou art made sound And as he spake that very instant houre She was made perfect by his perfect power Then came he to the Rulers dwelling place And as the custome was in mourning case He found the Minstrels and much people there With noyse of dolefull musicke to the eare Those he did will forbeare such quoyle to keepe The mayde quoth he is onely but a sleepe She is not dead I le life to her restore But scornfully they laugh'd at Christ therefore Being all thrust out from thence and put away He came whereas the breathlesse body lay And tooke her by the hand wherewith she rose And this great wonder to the people showes Who to behold her in amazement stand And spred the fame thereof throwout the land As Iesus passed from the wondring crow'd Two blind men met him and they cryde alowde Oh sonne of Dauid some compassion take Haue mercy on vs for thy mercies sake To whom he sayde doe you belieue aright That I haue power to giue you both your sight Yea Lord they sayd besides thee no man can Giue sauing health which art true God and man Iesus reply'd vnto your faithfull mind As you beleeue so cease from being blind Then brought they one possessed that was dumbe But when the people vnderstood the same Forth of all Cities vnto him they came Which when the Lord beheld as he is euer A gracious God to all that do endeuour He tooke compassion and did heale their sicke Their blind their lame their deafe dumbe lunaticke Vntill dayes glory did begin decline And gaue the world no longer cheerefull shine Euening approaching neere with darksome shade Then the Disciples to their Master sayde This place is solitary vnfrequent We are belated and the time farre spent The multitude of people being great Let them depart and so prouide them meat Then Iesus sayd ther 's no such cause of need Doe you prouide them whereupon to feed They said our poore prouision is but small Fiue loaues two fishes onely this is all Bring them to me said Iesus then he wil'd The people all sit downe with eyes vpheld To heauen he did blesse then bread he brake And that to his Disciples did betake Which did deliuer it the people there Who fed and all full satisfied were Fiue thousand stomackes had their hungry wishes Contented onely with fiue loaues two fishes Besides the quantity that did remaine Of broken meat twelue baskets to containe Then Iesus his Disciples sent away By ship while he went priuately to pray Into a mountaine when at sea betost The poore Apostles euen well nie lost Were all amazed most distressed sayling And grieuously their masters want bewailing About the fourth watch while the winds did roare They saw one walke on sea as if on shore Which put them all in an amazed fright For they supposed it had been a Sprite Crying with terror fearefully confounded Perplext in thought and deepely inward wounded Till Iesus with a word their dread allay'd Be of good cheare feare not t is I he sayd Quoth Peter Lord if it be thou we see Commaund and giue me power to come to thee Iesus said come Into the Sea he goes And as the mighty wind and tempest rose Peter began to sinke Helpe Lord he cryes Oh saue thy seruant or thy seruant dyes Then Iesus stretched forth his hand and caught him And with rebuke more constancie he taught him O thou of little faith blame thee I must Why didst thou doubt that I would faile thy trust So when they came into the ship together Their storme was chang'd into a fayre calme weather Then those that were aboard came reuerent all To worship Iesus and did on him call Saying with one consent of soule and heart We doe beeleue that Gods true Sonne thou art Passing then ouer to the other side Which hight Genezaret being there discri'd Those that about the Coast were resident Notice of him thorow out the Country sent How Christ was come when this was once reuealed Sicke people came from all parts to be healed They brought of all diseases various kinds And each sicke Patient speedy cure there finds And therefore paine they desired no more But for to touch the garments hem he wore Which all that did were most assur'd to gaine A true release from euery kind of paine The woman of Canaans daughter healed foure thousand fed with seauen loaues and a few fishes the sicke are healed two blind men receyue their sight the withered Figge-tree Math. the 15.19.20.21 Chapters FRom conference with Pharisies and Scribes And others of their wilfull blinded Tribes Which of Gods offre'd grace had no desire Our Sauiour goes to Sidon coast and Tyre And as he went a woman Cananite That had her daughter vexed with a Sprite Cry'd after him saying Haue mercy Lord Thou sonne of Dauid doe thy helpe affoord My child is by the Diuels power tormented By thy farre greater power be he preuented Heare me and helpe vs doe not turne thy face Oh take compassion on our grieuous caes But notwithstanding all that she could crie Our Sauiour silent made her no replie Then the Disciples did intreat him thus
powerfull holy name Would cast him out who could not doe the same Then answered he O faithlesse generation How long shall I endure your Prouocation Bring him to me which done outragiously The Spirit did torment him instantly Euen in vnwonted manner fearefull strange With cruell fits and torments interchange For inwardly he did him rent and teare And falling on the ground lay foming there And wallowing vp and downe said Iesus than Vnto the father of this wofull man How long hath he bin thus from peace exilde Who answer'd euer since he was a child And like as now he casts him on the ground He throwes him oft in water to be droun'd And otherwhiles into the flaming fire But if thou canst O Lord I thee desire Helpe helpe haue mercy dispossesse this fiend That nothing but destruction doth intend Then Iesus said if thou hast faith in this Of my expected helpe thou shalt not misse Whereat Christs poore petitioner did cry With sorrowes voyce and teares excessiuely O Lord that art the great the good the chiefe I doe beleeue helpe thou mine vnbeleefe Then Iesus sayd thou Deuill deafe and dumbe I doe commaund and charge that forth thou come And neuer to reenter any more Who crying low'd and hauing rent him sore Departing left the man as seeming dead And all beholders sayd his soule is fled But Iesus rais'd him by the hand from ground And no infirmity in him was found Then on the way that leades from Ierico As he along with multitudes did goe That admiration to his wonders gaue There sate a begger that for almes did craue Call'd Bartimeus who when he did heare That all the people followed Iesus there Making amongst them an vnwonted noyse He with a loud and eleuated voyce Cry'd Iesus sonne of Dauid mercy show Iesu of Nazareth thy grace bestow His cryes were such so vehement and shrill The Lord of life was moued to stand still And wil'd the people for to call him then Who like most kind and charitable men Said be of comfort man vnto the blind He calleth thee and thou shalt fauour find Incouraged with that the people spoke Hasting to Christ he cast away his cloake Who sayd what wilt thou that I doe for thee Good Master quoth the blind that I might see And Iesus said in peace depart away Thy constant faith is thy assured stay So he immediately receyued sight And followed Iesus with a ioyfull Sprite As he was teaching neere vnto the Lake That from Genezareth its name doth take The multitude of people was so great Of those that came to Christ for heau'nly meate Which pressed on him with their throng so sore He entred Simons ship and left the shore When finishing his speech an end did make To Simon Peter thus our Sauiour spake Launch out into the deepe and cast thy net That forth the Sea of fishes thou mayst get Then Peter said Master last night in vaine For nothing we haue spent our toyle and paine But yet at thy commaund obey we will So cast and drew the net which fish did fill Vntill it brake and they for ayde did call Vnto their fellowes wherewith ioyning all They laded both their ships with such a fraight Both ready were to sinke with fishes waight Then Peter fell at Iesus feet with feare Iohn Iames and all the rest amazed were But vnto them our blessed Sauiour sayd Let not your hearts with terror be dismay'd Take constant courage I will make you then From henceforth fishers of the soules of men As Christ proceeded to extend his grace In seeking out lost sheepe from place to place He came to Naim where euen at the gate He met an obiect of our mortall state A liuelesse body carried to the graue A son whose death sad teares of sorrow gaue Vnto a wofull widdow that did beare him Who went with weeping chiefest mourner near him Much people followed her deare onely sonne To show their loue in this last office done To a dead friend their latest tooken paine In giuing mother earth her owne againe Which when the Lord beheld the sight did moue And make him willing to expresse his loue Weepe not he said but stint thy vse of teares Then toucht the Coffin wherewith those that beares The burden of the dead stood still to see What the euent of this strange stay would be Whilst all on Iesus fixt their gazing eyes He sayd Young man I say to thee arise And presently the dead-man sate vpright And spake to all that did behold the sight Then to his mother Christ her sonne did giue Who seeing now her sorrowes cause to liue Had such a fulnesse of a ioyfull heart That neuer woman sharde a greater part The wondring multitude of people there Strangely possest with mixed ioy and feare Gaue all the glory that they could expresse To Gods dread name saying with thankfulnesse A Prophet great is risen vnto vs And God hath visited his people thus Sayd is it lawfull on the Sabboth day To heale this man or send him sicke away But they replyed not a word againe Then did he take the man and cur'd his paine A cure that was no longer time in hand Then fingers touch or breath of tongues commaund His body perfect absolute was well And he no more of ache or griefe did tell Releast of all the misery he had And made to his great comfort healthfull glad As the most iust meeke holy innocent Towards the sanctified City went Which did containe his Fathers house of prayer Vnto a village as he made repayre There met him certaine sad afflicted men Diseas'd with leprosie in number ten Who when they saw the soueraigne cure of griefe They stood far off imploring his reliefe Lifting vp voyces with such wofull cries As from constraining sorrow did arise Iesus they sayd master behold and see The great extreames wherein poore wretches be Of thy accustom'd clemency and grace Haue mercy on ten lothsome Leapers case Iesus beheld them with compassions eye And for their comfort thus he did reply Vnto the Priest doe you forthwith repaire As law appoints for such as Leapers are And shew your selues to him so as they went The grace of Iesus did their griefes preuent And all were cured of which number one Returned backe poore wretch himselfe alone Falling most meekely with his face on ground Deliuering with a thankefull voyces sound Gods glorious worthy and renowned praise To whom our blessed Lord and Sauiour sayes Are there not ten infectious creatures cleane Of whom this poore Samaria stranger meane Onely returnes and thankfull doth encline What is become of these vngratefull nine Is there amongst so many cur'd no more But onely one that giues God prayse therefore Arise depart thy selfe in soule perswade By true and liuely faith thou whole art made A certaine ruler that of Iewes bare sway Hauing a sonne which very grieuous lay In extreame sicknesse and by common fame Hearing that Iesus out of Iewry came To
did fall The teares of pitty quoth the Iewes Oh see How deere he lou'd affection this must be Being come vnto the deads mans house the graue He bad remoue the stone from off the caue Quoth Martha Lord he loathsome will be found For lying all this time within the ground Did I not say sayd Christ this instant hower If thou hast faith thou shalt behold Gods power Then they remoue the stone which on him lyes While vnto heauen Iesus lifts his eyes And God the Father thankfull glorified Then with a loud voyce Lazarus he cri'd Come forth at which life-giuing breath and sound The dead arose being in graue clothes bound His hands and feet a napkin on his face Amazing all with wonder were in place To see a man restor'd to life againe That did with death foure dayes in graue remayne Committed to corruptions rotten roome There to haue rested till the day of doome This sight put all beholders in great feare And many Iewes that came with Mary there Beleeu'd on Iesus giuing God the prayse Whose onely power the dead to life did rayse When all those glorious Lampes adorne the skie Were hid with sable cloudes from mortall eye And euery creature hauing vitall sprite Mourn'd at the darkenesse of blacke vgly night Perditions child whom Sathan did insence Bribed against his Lord with thirty pence The way by night with armed troupes he tooke To meete his Master towards Cedron brooke Where comming to him giues all hayle and kisse To make him knowne vnto the Iewes by this When Peter saw the villany intended His Lord most traytrous to be apprehended He champion-like did thinke to fight it out And drew his sword and valiant lay'd about With such a manly resolution than He made a crop-eare of the High-Priests man And wounded Malcus which when Iesus saw He thus reprou'd rashnesse in him to draw Put vp thy sword into the sheath againe Who therewith woundeth shall therewith be slaine By Prayer downe from my Father I could call More then twelue Legions Spirites Angelicall But how shall then the Scriptures be fulfilde As God hath in eternall counsell wilde Then Iesus healed Malcus eare so sound That there appear'd no signe of any wound With Miracle with them preuay'ld no more Then striking all vnto the ground before VVhich onely but demaunding whom they sought All falling backwards to the earth were brought No flames of lightning to amaze withall No bolts of thunder to procure them fall But that most powerfull word that spake and made Vnto this band of armed souldiers sayde Whom looke you for at which as men strooke dead They fell at once yet hardned had no dread When the most iust vniust was doom'd to dye Expos'd by Pylate to Iewes cruelty With whips tormented and by sinners scornes Reuiled spit vpon and crownd with thornes Buffeted blinded and compel'd to beare The Crosse which Christians for their badge do weare When all his sences suffre'd for the sinne Which Adams sences had offended in Whose sight did like the fruit which was forbidden For which Christs sight was blinded and eyes hidden And for his touch that to take hold consented Christs feeling was with whips and nayles tormented His smell that to the rest did liking lincke At Golgotha was choak'd with lothsome stincke His hearing that did Eues bad counsell chuse Brought Christ to heare the raylings of the Iewes His taste which eating he did sinne withall Made Iesus taste of vineger and gall When all these great and grieuous paines were ended And Spirit to his Father recommended When that great darknesse neuer seene before From sixe to nine obscur'd the earth all ore Extinguishing the sunne dayes golden eye Because that day the sonne of God did dye Wonders were wrought that did meÌ„s harts confound The temples vayle from top vnto the ground Was rent quite thorow to beholders feare Which saw that Curtaine admirable teare The sollid hardest flint and marble stones Vnder whose massie burden ground-worke grones Diuiding cleaue and into pieces fall Which were supporters to the strongest wall And monuments that in them did containe Flesh made of clay turning to dust againe The Sepulchres of Saints that resting lay From all their labours on this nere like day Did open and deliuer liue with breath The bodies were receyued dead from death In such a true perfection found and showne As if mortality they nere had known Within the holy City they appeare To manifest Gods mighty power more cleere Vnto Beholders eyes many did see Their resurrection from the dead to be Like that which when the Angels trumpe doth call Shall cause a rising vnto life of all That euer in this world since world began Haue been the ofspring of the first made man When the Centurion with his armed guard Which were the men for bloud death prepar'd Beheld the fearefull wonders that were wrought And how gainst nature things to passe were brought Day turn'd to â—ight darkned before theyr eyes The graues to open and the dead arise The vayle diuide the 〈…〉 mbling earth to quake The cleauing stones how they in sunder brake Both Captaine and his cursed crue confesse VVith inward terror of soules guiltinesse That Iesus which by Iudas trechery VVas false betray'd vniust condemn'd to dye By wicked Pylate and by their misdeed His precious wounds were opened wide to bleed VVas Gods most true and deere and onely son And hell was due for what their sins had done FINIS