Crosse-fixed place Romes Empire lay so large I dare not trace BUt sure I am Saint Paul in bloudy Rome When Nero raign'd endured Martyrdome There having twice before that Tyrant stood His Faiths Defence he sealed with his Bloud About the time when that mad Bouteseu Had fir'd the City with his wanton Crew Because he â—ong'd to sing the sacke of Troy And by such Types would execute his Toy To cloake the Fact and stop the Mutiny Yet not repenting of his villainy He authour'd Christians of those dismall cryes And butcher'd them to bleare the Peoples eyes Among that guiltlesse Troupe then suffered Paul Who had fore-wrote what should him there befall This chosen Saint hath left brave Monuments Unto the Church which Satans Ambushments Can never trap nor Canker-fretting Age Consume but they stand firme in spight of Rage IN Albions Orbe an arched stately Roome The chiefest Pile I thinke in Christendome Of Pauls sole Name revives his memory Till Doomes-dayes blast the River Thames shall dry In the meane time grave Saint-like Ministers Accompanied with Asaphs Quiristers Sing praise to God for gracing of Saint Paul Who once had beene a bloody-minded Saul Of late repair'd it shines with zealous Fire â—s erst with flames rag'd the stupendious spite Blest be their Zeale their Cares and good Intent Which have re-built this famous Monument Resembling that of Salems Second one Renew'd by Iewes first built by Salomon LIke these so did all Christs Apostles Fish And on some Coast or other never miste To catch for Christ some choise and dainty Prey Bartholomew and Thomas knew the way â—nto the East and there engrav'd their Names â—aint Mathewes Paines sev'n flouded Nilus fames And pretious Iohn the Belâ—ll Abissine From him and Philip claimes Christ a Faith Divine Achaia vaunts of good Saint Andrewes Cares With whom he pawn'd his Bones till those rich wares Some Scottish Saints by a Greeke Monke redeem'd Them and their worth like precious Gems esteem'd While Mark from Peters mouth Gods Word compilâ— To leave it her Niles Alexandria smiles Sea-spousing Venice too did sacrifice Unto Saint Mark a goodly Edifice The latter James Christs kinsmâ—n by the flesh In Salem liv'd disorders to redresse Where hee though stiled just as spectacle Of shame was throwne downe from the Pâ—â—â—aâ—le Which Satan mov'd to Christ. There he expir'd And Roman Force the place soone after fir'd Yet hath his Fame to after-Ages spred His Bishops Seat with Christians flourished By Princes grac'd and for Antiquity Puts Antioch downe and Romes Priority At the First Councell Iameâ— â—aâ— President There Sâ—inâ—t cloz'd up the Circumcised Renâ— In Salem â—ate the High Commission Court Where they decided doubts of most import Galicians since built up a sacred 〈◊〉 At Compostell which later Wits profane Adoring â—â—mes as if Humanity Should offer Vowes due to the Trinity ABout the Time of Iames his death to 〈◊〉 The Fatall Web for sinfull Salem spunnâ— Upon the Siege the Christian Iewes fore-warn'd By Oracle from Christ fled thence unaâ—â—'d With Humane helpes but guarded by Divine Supplica themselves to â—ella they confine Where they on Iâ—rdans Bâ—â—ks securely lay While Rebell-Iewes were slaine and fold away SO stood the Church with them who flourish'd first Next Christs Ascent most pure untill accurst The Iewish Nation for their Crying sinne And hardned Hearts deep woes were pluâ—ged in And then God pleas'd for Iewries unbeliefe The Gentiles to adopt to Iewries griefe And our Church seemes to them a stumbling sinne Till all th' Elected Gentiles be come in As unto them of Antichristian Race She seemes till Babel feeles her last disgrace But why were Saints like Christ so foulely slaint Because the more they suffâ—red here more Gaine They reape the Nobler Crowne in Heav'n they gaiâ—â— And shall judge those who put them hereto paine IF you would know by Times Gradation mâ—c Domitius and Domitian yeelds you store Read Tacitus when Rome lay wast with fire How Christians felt the Formers Franticke Ire Some crucifi'd some burnt and some were â—as'd In wild beasts skins by Mastives torne and chasd So cruelly that who did them contemne In hate to Nâ—â—â—â—s spleene then pittied them Though Christians were to manifolded paine Throughout the twelfe yeere put of Neroes Raigne â—et like to Palme supprest the more they grew The Church the more by Martyrs did renew Athmos with Romes whole Empire tells what paine The Church endurd in the last Flavians Raigne â—ith greater Numbers Martyrs Calendar â—anonizing then in mad Neroes yeare â—uring which Rage some Brethren false did rove The Deacons Sect lewd Family of Love â—nd hee that durst afore Christs Darling bath â—ut felt the Doome of his incensed wrath The Bath-walls fell crushd Cerinthe underneath As soone as Iohn had menac'd him with death THE OCCVRRANCES OF THE SECOND AGE From the yeere of our Lord 100. untill the yeere 200. At which time Severus raigned Emperour of Rome The Argument Saint John deceas'd Fiends Seedes of Error sow Yet doth the Church though persecuted grow And from her Wombe spring up a Learned Crew Of Saints who with their bloud do Truth renew HE that desires a Saint-like Life to lead Let him the steps of ancient fathers tread Who neerest liv'd unto th'Apostles times Thence I collect the Course in Raptur'd Rimes Which Christ his Church then for her members held What Pathes they trac'd and wherein she excelld If wee mislike her Plainenesse or their Marts Love bids us chastely gaze and winke at Warts For like the Moon at full sometimes the Church Raignes knowne from her who lives upon the lurch Dispersed through the World Apostolicke Yet like our God in Three one Catholicke In sundry shapes repleat with sacred Fire With many Tongues in Spirit yet entire And Essence one who though diversifi'd For Rites or Forme 〈◊〉 yet â—ustifi'd By Faith with Him who tryes mens Consciences Beares with their â—â—ips and heares her Grievances Returne quoth hee Yeâ— people full of strife Who Me have wrong'd like a rebellious Wife Alluding to which challenge in his Word Before the Lord and Angeâ—â—s I record That I beleeve no Church on Earth this day Then Britaines Church goes a more knowing 〈◊〉 In substance pure and in her good intents Seal'd rightly with the Newmans Sacraments And with the Best her Elders I conferre Yet dare not say her Troupes doe never erre Nor brag that shee hath neither Mole nor Wen While shee cohabits heere with mortall men But pray that she in Fruit more pregnant thrive As shee in shape is like the Primitive And that with flames of mutuall Love wee glow As forward as in height we seeme to grow One thing I adde against her Foes in briefe And therewithall to ease our Weaklings griefe Although I honour with my heart and Pen The Couneclls Fathers and the Ancient men Who wrote before the seventh Century Became bewitcht with Babels Mystery Yet we no more give credit to their Lore Their Matter Tropes and Topick
THE CHVRCH MILITANT HISTORICALLY Continued from the Yeare of Our SAVIOVRS Incarnation 33. untill this present 1640. BY WILLIAM VAUGHAN Knight LONDON Printed by Tho. Paine for Humfrey Blunden at the Castle in Corn-hill 1640. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE RICHARD EARLE OF CARBERY The Argument The Authour here my Noble Lord acquaints What Paths they tread who lead the lives of Saints What Comforts he shall finde what good successe While he walks in the New-mans Diocesse I Sound not forth Old Souldours turn'd to Swine By Harlots Charmes by fulsome Cheere or Wine But the New-borne a Theame to Worldlings strange â— sing the Minds more then the Bodies Change I sing the Churches Change Eclipse Decrease Her East and West with her Full Moones Encrease Such Newes I blaze which no good Protestant Shall justly taxe for Sparkes exorbitant Like to those Brats expos'd to Brambles Flame By Midwives Doome to hide the Parents shame Or those for which of late our Pauls Church-yard And Smith-field in the Spoiles with Vulcan shar'd Truth smites the Chast while Wantons long to heare False Tales at which they Nod or fondly Ieere Fooling away the Time their pretious Time Lent them for better use in Prose or Rime To win some Strayes by meanes of Vertuous Books Not Soules to tempt with Fornications Hookes There with much Gall Gulls one another flout Hoere for Mistakes the Lie or Toyes they pout Forgetting Satans Ambush for Good Wits Tongues trip Pens blur None free from Passions Fits And yet for Words and Names Externall things They persecute their Christian Mates with stings â—ill tir'd at last with Conscience-griping Cares Both Parties howle within the Divels Snares Others by Lines and Cubes aspire to know The Higher Orbes or in the Globe below They levell Spires the Climates or the Lawes â—nto whose Depth they pry no more then Dawes And yet to gaine applause or Golden Fees They hope for Swans to chop their gaggling Geese Some Court Faire Dames with Fancies Madrigalls Chaulking the way to Paphian Lupercalls Which they frequent with uncontrouled Lust Till Honour Wealth and Health lye in the Dust. Sometimes Pelagian-wise they ruminate On Mans Free-will and the Predestinate Till they from Grace quite excommunicate Doe pitch on Hell and on the Reprobate Now of long-handed Kings the mounted state Anon their slips or Fall they personate With Satyres sting untill themselves are stung Or else they sooth Great men with glozing Tongue Untill they feele worse Racks with Conscience sear'd Then Poets faign'd for stroaking of Joves Beard Some other whiles they dare more Curious peepe Into the Concaves of th' Infernall Deepe Of Limboes Vault or Purgatories Paine Redeem'd for Gold the long-white Robe to staine With such Bald Stuffe most Writers doe oppresse In hope to purchase Fame the Printers Presse Which shewes that Soules like Seas tost with unrest Wave till they set into Gods Port of Rest Or else that they like Swine fall to worse Seas Then Gaderens for their prodigious Pleas Remonstrances and Problems which they pend Of Rampant Zeale the Churches Peace to rend SO busie is Mans Braine It alwayes workes And seekes to know what from the Sences lurkes Abstruse and hid like Planets moving still But in default of Objects good or ill Because it findes no businesse from without Turnes Monke within an Ideot or a Lout Or on it selfe with Atomes and Chymeres Playes Whirligig untill it ends in Feares Distractions Lies and Schismes just Penalties Due for the Search of Knotty Novelties For want of Grace and of Celestiall Armes Sighes Teares Vowes thus by the Serpents charmes Are Men seduc'd Old Adams Tree to tast And with vaine Fruit to break their needlesse Fast. Because Gods Word whereby they might be sav'd They slighted 't is no marvell though they rav'd But our New man wean'd from the Carnall Teat By Truths calme Breath the Flaming Paraclete With Drier Braine holds a Cleere Intellect So solid that he others can direct A safer Course of knowledge to affect Then what the Wind-mill grinds of Satans Sect. Though Natures sting in our Originall Hath made us prone into the Snare to fall Yet we New-borne fight with the Spirits Sword And triumph by the Second Adams Word Over the Dragons false enchanting Arts With constant Faith repelling all his Darts Those sober Cates contenting our repast Which lawfull are for tender Soules to tast We would seeme Inward more then Outward wise Yet Both addresse with Saints to sympathize For carnall Samians transubstantiate Change The Old Mans Quirk the New man we exchange Instead of Lethes Lake or Phlegeton â—e Tophets Paine sing due to Babylon For Limbus Patrum or th' Elizian Camp Gods Paradise for Saints renewes our Lamp A Dolphin bore Arion from the Seas â—mphions Harp they say did Thebes appease But Jesus Christ the Third day to have rose From Josephs Tombe we really disclose Or by a Whale we Jonas bring to Land Who Niniveh converted out of hand For Cerberus we blaze proud Satans Losse For Hercules his Club our Saviours Crosse. For Triviall Tales and sence-alluring Toyes We read on Bookes Soule-ravishing to joyes For Thalmuds we the Scriptures native sence And for Nice Schoole-mens Glosse in our Defence We can produce by Truths Prerogative The Chiefest Starres of the Church Primitive Or those who in the Last and Present Age With Volumes rare repair'd our New mans Stage To banish Humane Lies and Brain-sick Dreames What Tree more full what Field yeelds riper Theames Then Christ his Life and the New Testament Or in her Swathes the Churches fragrant scent This Lady here my New man warbles forth Though fully not according to her worth Yet so My Lord that you may cleerely see Though she was long obscur'd she now raignes free Cloath'd with the Sunne Crown'd with a dozen Starres And no Eclipse you from her Influence barres But out alasse how many boast of Faith Who never markt what Christian Scripture saith For what is Faith without Good works or Fruit But a dead Stock not worth a Moores pursuit Unlesse he dreames of Mechaes fond Delights Or Millenairs to snare Voluptuous Wights Or of vaine works of Supererogation Soules to bewitch with Babels Fornication Our Saint is not with such Conceits defil'd Nor turnes with such Extravagances wild For he well knowes that as good Trees will bud And beare good Fruit so Saints doe alwayes Good And never scorne to greet the Simplest Man To call home Strayes they labour what they câ—â— Such is our Saint the Naked he actires And helps to warme their Soules with zealous Fires According to his Power great or small He saves distressed Saints from Tyrants Thrâ—â— He sues for Peaoe and grieves to see debate And daily prayes Lawes Rigour to abate If he be forc't to Law in his defence He doth it without splâ—â—n or Saints offence And if his Clapper hap to clatter wild Before Sun-set he growes more Calme and mild Or if that Filmy Piece in others blabbs His shame he counts
by Nero Martyrdome SO to the Glory of the English Race Who with the First withstood the Papall Mace He whom the Godly for his Learned Workes Then styl'd The Hammer of the Romish Church On Grosted I reflect Grave Lincolnes Sire He stoutly wrot against his Forged Fire Which netled him so much that out of hand He would have cited him before his Band Of Pharisees at Tiber to appeare But that admonish'd by his Councell there Sage Cardinalls he was content to passe Him over lest the Bishop might surpasse Them by his rare incomparable Lore And winde them in more Mazes then before Two Ages past had Abbot Ioachim Against Romes Gaine a Prophet been to grim O Glorious Ile most happy is thy Fate Which hadst the Luck first to descry thy State Thy Churches dolefull state by Babel torne And with the First to be in Christ New-borne To shake her Yoak quite off and to flye out From her Dark Jaile mauger her Guardians stour FRom time to time we read in Antiquartes God rais'd up some to sound forth Romes Vagaries Before that Wickliffe stretcht his Lions Paw One Robert Gall Soule-rapt in Paris saw The Romish Church by Name with Head like Death And with a Body leane and scant of Breath An Angel then while this sight did appeare Bad him the Romish Church mark standing there SHe in our West was then of small extent Perhaps retir'd else-where like Abrams Tent Or She far'd in that Antichristian Age Like Babels Jewes or Saints through Neroes Rage Heav'ns Path is Narrow Stiep Hells Broad down hill Good men but Few the Greatest part are Ill Yet of those Few 't is hard to know their Scope Some sicke some weake or of Potentiall Hope Yet of those Few the True Church is compos'd And of those Few some were like Starres dispos'd By our Good God of Dangers to fore-tell Whereby the Rest might save themselves from Hell So Petrarch sung in two-fold Latian Style And others did in Learned Workes compile Glauncing nay Striking at Romes Antichrist And drawing Soules from darke Cimmerian Mist. So Boccace had although with Tales disguiz'd The Friers wanton Thefts Epitomiz'd As likewise those Three Nunnes Canoniz'd Saints Like Babels Iewes or Sybills made Complaints Good Katharine Bridget and Hildegard Fore-told our New-mans Armes of safest ward And that a New Reform'd Presbytery Their Liturgy should quash and Popery THus by Records the Churches Race I try And by Faiths Light her Orient Face descry Like the New Moone approaching from the Wane And shine more bright in Consciences Humane By which and by Romes owne Historian Platine I finde how liv'd the Head of the Church Latine By Simony and lewd Magicians Spells By Murthers Fraud and Coining of New Hells By setting all our Christ endome at ods Because they kneel'd not to his Maumet Gods With Factious Guelphes his hurliburles Assignes He warr'd against the Imperiall Gibellines Amidst these Broiles and Crimes exorbitant Christ whistled home his Flock extravagant Some knew his Sound and to his Fold return'd Some staid behinde and Refractaries turn'd The First he linkt with his Church Catholick But left the Latter of the Staggers Sick And for a Prey to Fiends because his Call They flighted and his Cures Angelicall Such to be gull'd he left by Aiery Elves But his True Ark he steered free from Shelves Now with faire Light from famous Oxford rose Our Wicklisse Romes Foundations to oppose By certaine Lords and Londoners Support Which though some crost yet gave a lowd Report So lowd that Husse and Icrome heard from Prague The Noise and learn'd to flye from Babels Plague And left to After-times such Fruitfull Seed That the True Church now glories in the Breed THen Chaucer by the Freedome of his Rimes Unsilenc'd scan'd the Darknesse of those Times Of such strange Force are Tunes of Raptur'd Wits That they have charm'd and still'd wild Tyrants Fits He plainely pointed at Romes Antichrist Admiring at the Clergies stormy Mist Which did so long our West exagitate Like them in Zeale though with unequall Fate Did the Lord Cobham since the Bohemes Husse And those Good Soules in Brittaines I le discusse Religions state those whom the Papists then Nick-named for their Faith Just and Fast Men. Whose Manner neere was such as Pliny writ To Trajan earst They as did Saints befit Assembled in the Night sung Psalmes Receiv'd The Holy Food and with sweet Trance conceiv'd Christs Mystick Gifts the New-mans Sacrifice The Spirits Flame which Carnallists despise They liv'd as Brethren leagu'd in Unity With mutuall Love and Goods Community Relieving One anothers Need alwayes Their owne Iust Fast Mens Need without delayes For Pauls Epistles or th' Apocalipse In English pen'd because there Babels slips Were prophesied they grudg'd not to defray Five Sterling Marks a Scriveners Royall Pay If we regard the scarcenesse then of Coine Before Castile did Perues Oare purloine And which is strange they seldome mixt their Seed But with their Mates lest they might taint their Breed Fooles styl'd them then as they now Lutherans The Knowne Men or Wicklevian Puritans The Iust and Fast or with a Brow more sowre Them Lollards markt froÌ„ whence came Lollaras Towre IN Wales About this Ages latter end Did Blasts from Hell to Friers Braine ascend False Miracles these Merit-â—onging Crew Pretended done by Winifride did brew Neere to a Well deriv'd from Rocky Lime Which Holy they enstyld in that Dark Time Because the Bloud of that good Virgin there As they surmizd was shed and not else-where Lord how they roamd like wild Geese on the Fame And unto Baal with fat Oblations came All to enrich the Forgers of the Bruit With what they never toyld for Strangers Fruit Before which Feat for their Monastick Weale Their Beggars Wants they knew not how to heale 'T is strange to see how soon the World turn'd Whore When Girald past Two Hundred Yeares before That very Place with an exact Survay Yet could not learne what men did since display THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE FIFTEENTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 1400. untill the yeere 1500 At which Time Henry the Seventh raigned King in England The Argument Our Churches slighted state Bizantium lost The Papacie in strife The Hussites crost For Husse raise War with Ziscaes Conquests crown'd Strange Lands by Gama and Columbus found AS I of late Old Rubbage diggd I felt With Flaming Force my Perturbations melt My Passions curbd my Outward Man of Might Deprivd And then I had a Ghostly Sight Of Robert Galls Parisian Iack-a-Lent Whereof the Pope by Carnall Mindes Consent Is Supreme Head on Earth But soone I saw Both Head and Body burne away like straw For Both indeed wore brittle Ornaments And so dissolvd to the First Elements His Soule descending into Lower Spheares Then those of Purging which he farm'd for Yeares Anon I saw with Intellectuall Eyes From a Dark Iaile a comely Dame arise When seeing me She stopt her Modest Pace And like my Saviours
it like the Noise of Drabbs He sets not out his Lipps to Farme nor slander Nor lets his Tongue before his Wits to wander He holds his Word as pretious as his Seale And scornes False Cards unto the Least to deale He dares not plot Revenge nor scoffe nor raile But beares with Knaves and Fooles for Saints availe He covets no mans Goods but if at Play He winnes He gives it to the Poore away He spends his vacant Howres in thrifty Course Lest Idlenesse corrupt him worse and worse He prizeth Coine but excrementall Drosse And toiles for Others Good though with his Losse He doth his Best to curbe Promooting Scribes Lest God require of him their winkt-at Bribes At Night he scores the Deedes he did that Day And the next Morning scowres their rust away The Sabbath like the Puritan he waighes And like the Papist keepes the Fasting dayes The Former mindes him of the Spirits Mart The Latter helpes to stint the Sensuall Part. He daily strives so to compose his Minde That seldome him doe Idoll-passions blinde Nor cause him long to doat on Pleasures shape Be it a Horse or Hawke a Dog or Ape He kindly speakes meanes well doth good to all But most to Saints and helpes up them that fall God root these Works in me lest whilst his Way I others teach my selfe a Cast-a-way Become like him anothers Floore that sweepes And yet his owne New house most nasty keepes THe Heart still moves It Loves and spreads with Joy Or wrung with Gall and Griefe it feeles Annoy The Former flow because Gods Flames inspire it The Latter chance in absence of his Spirit Of these Affects our Inward Man partakes Amidst his Joyes sometimes his Spirit akes Yet his Griefes smart spring not for worldly Cause But for mens Breach of the Creators Lawes For the Encrease of Idols Avarice Of Drunken Healths or the like Heath'nish vice For Concords Breach for Christian Blouds effusion For losse of Time our Talents vaine profusion Or else because he sees the Church of Christ Opprest by Fiends and Saints by Antichrist Sometimes he feeles strange Qualmes neer destitute Of zeale-bred heat till entring to dispute With his Proud Foe he like One cheer'd with Wine Threats him with Thumps to make his Pride decline He calls him Monster Belly god and Slave And vowes his Fare to shorten if be raâ—e With Davids Sling he knocks Gollahs downâ— For standing out against his Masters Crowne Though he enjoyes an outward faire Estate And seemes to some to be most fortunate â—et in his Mind he waighes the Cause th' Event Mens Frailty and his owne coincident Whereat he Lion-like for braver Prey His Courage lifts at full not giving way To poore Conceits but to the Noblest End His Cares his Thoughts and his designements bonds Which he Effects by a New Sacrifice To God who gave those undeserv'd Supplies With knowledge of his Mysteries Divine And Prudent Rules Old Passions to confine When Thousands of his Brethren want that store Who would perhaps have glorifi'd him more And never ceas'd like Angels here on Earth To praise those helpes since Others dye of Dearth His Spirit scornes that which the Body joyes And checks that Lump because it did rejoyce In Aiery Toyes in things meere transitory Which draw the Sence from the bright Sun of Glory And like to Golden Clouds may passe away By Humane Plots or by Death in a day HE reapes Content to see his Neighbours thrive And their Amendment doth his Soule revive For he the Poorest Saint in Christ preferreâ— Before the Greatest Potentate that erres He Ioyes that he breathes of the Common Aire Which is allotted for the Saints repaire With whom he sings grieves and Communicates Swell for Sacred Rites as Needfull Rates 〈◊〉 Joyes that he had learned from his Youth â—â—ke Timothy the Word of Sacred Truth â—â—at taught to serve One God One Advocate 〈◊〉 could not brooke of Balaams Snares to prate Joyes that he no raking Money owes â—â—en what to pay he on short warning knowes Without grim Sergeants Threats or Suerties Thrall 〈◊〉 without Robbing Peter to pay Paul 〈◊〉 glories more of Soules and Bodies Health â—â—en in the Blaze of Honour Fame or Wealth 〈◊〉 cheere his Noblest Part he soares aloft And viewes the Starres of Holy Stories oft He Courts the Of-Spring of faire Memory Aswell Divine as Humane History By which true Glasse he findes how short and vaine Those Pleasures are which Worldlings hold for Gaine Though Cause of Paine eternall after Deuth If not before of Dolour-racking Breath Another while Wraths Cornet to prevent Which he observes with burning Arrowes â—â—â—t To aime at change by Learned Art he strives To blunt their Shafts and into Physick dives Aswell by Prayer as by Galens Quill With Zealous Heart as by Arabian Skill Like Good Saint Luke for the Foure Humours foule He studies Cure as Solace for the Soule For which Iâ—â—â—â—t and the Complexions Good He for 〈◊〉 Fâ—â—d which might instaâ—â— the Bloud For what exceedes the Temper Oily warme Or Mayes mild Heat he knowes breeds after-harme Lest Nature droâ—pâ— he breathes his Park-horse oft Not on the Rheumy Vale or Marish soft But on dry Hills to suck most wholesome Aire There with Pure Gales the Spirits to repaire While Gulls fly out with Golden Wings excesse 〈◊〉 lives at home content with Fortunes lesse â—â—t daring by Anothers Idoll-store 〈◊〉 mete his wants where Saints do languish more â—â—d if he should lash out in Pompe like those 〈◊〉 Pompe and Store would cause him after-woes â—â—en the Great Judge requires his Talents use â—â—th strict Account of Stocks and Times abuse Drinks no more then doth a Saint befit â—â—d ever riseth with an Appetite â—â—r as a Type of Blessed Abstimence Joyes to sing of Diets Excellence â—â—d to relate when Girald liv'd that they â—f Cambriaes Soile did feed but once a day â—s how the Greekes thought Platoes Tale a Lye That twice a day they meal'd in Sicily No Beauty Wine nor Musicks Harmony â—ontents our Saint more then Good Company Knowing their Vowes and mutuall Hearts Consent Availe him more then Worldlings Blandishment To end his Joyes on this he sets his Rest That a Good Conscience is his daily Feast THese harmelesse steps a Christian ought to tread And the same Life I strive and hope to lead And if these Rules My hopefull Nephew scan He then shall passe for a Right Noble Man Excelling vulgar Wits as Porcellan Course vessels as the New the Outward Man By Vertue rankt within True Honours File Among the brave Heroes of this I le Crown'd with a faire and brighter Coronet Then One with Gold and Pretious Stones beset And be so skill'd in Both the Fortunes Cures That Poore mens Cries tend not to You nor Yours While Vengeance strikes a Nembrodizing Lord. And his Proud Race with Fates two-edged Sword â—ke Mordecai unwearied in your wayes â—â—u shall we are out on Earth most happy Dayes And after Death when they
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
Men that learnd no language save their owne Amid ' strange Folkes rung foâ—th the Lords Renowne And blaz'd his deedes in every Forraigne Tongue Like Angels Quire with sweet harmonious song As perfectly as they their Natives were So that those Aliens stood entranc'd with Feare For how could they but be agast to heare Iewes speake with Tongs peculiar to their Eare. Some Others deem'd them Mad or Drunk with Winâ— Till Peter prov'd them rapt with Joyes Divine He prov'd them rapt by Gods immediate Rayes With Ectasies above all Humane wayes And not alone the gifts of Tongues but Zeale To Preach they had and without Drugs to heale Some Prophesiâ—d some Sung whil'st others told What wondrous Acts the Lord performd of Old Those Mystick sparkes which by Degrees we learne God then infus'd as of more Blessings Earne To paralell Iob Abraham Salomon For Patience Faith and Wisedome thereupon 〈◊〉 who can blaze the Wonders of that Day â—e more I muse on them the more Dismay 〈◊〉 spend my Sence Lord rayse up my desires â— sing th' Event of that Dayes Glorious Fires â—hich comforted the Gentile as the Iew â—rich'd the Barren Will made Old things New 〈◊〉 such rare Signes came first the Mystèry Three in One the sacred Trinity 〈◊〉 be more knowne unto the Church on Earth â—â—d since Old Rites were past at our New Birth â—at she might name at her solemnities â—e Holy Ghost Colleaged to Baptize â— working we agnize feele and admire 〈◊〉 who but He could stony Hearts inspire Done as with Gifts this Holy Flame appear'd â—uls Chaos melt and their dull wits had clear'd â—ds Word then from Melchisedechs choice Towne â— from the Earths fixt Meditullium blowne Pierst Egypt Greece Damascus Babilon The Temperate yea and the Torrid Zone Where Negroes though of Circumcised Race Converted by an Eunuch looke for Grace The Gospell pierc'd each Countrey and each Towne Truths Sound went forth to all the world then know Whereby no Nation might excuses pleade But that they might be linkt with Christ their Head WIth like successe the Christian Faith did bloome And flourish there where brave Triumphant Rome Prepard the way by Morall Arts and Aw That Grace Mens Hearts might so the sooner draw While tatling Newes fond Athens itch'd to tell The Romans dri'd her Aristotles Well These Second Meanes for Planting Christian Rites In those dayes much avayld Romes Proselites Arts usher Faith Faith quick by Hearing growes But most of all when the Good Spirit blowes There wanted none of these in Ancient Rome Where vowes teares for Grace had purchaâ—'d roome Rome was the Empires Head Great Caesars Seat The Westernes Mother Church where then complete From Salem sâ—one the Crosses radiant Starre Which in Pauls time enlightning neere and farre Transferr'd on Linus Clemens Anaclete The Martyrs Crowne with Flaming stones beset And thence bespred Truthes universall Course â—or then all Men to Tiber had recourse â—ut though I much commend Old Christian Rome 〈◊〉 should forget my selfe and Christendome 〈◊〉 that faire Towne of memorized Fame Which first profest to beare the Christian Name 〈◊〉 chance to passe by vnsaluted now Not doing Homage which all Christians ow. Had I rich Tassoes veine to set her forth Or Godfreyes strength to vindicate heâ—worth 〈◊〉 would possesse all Christians Catholicke That Antioch was S Peters Bishopricke And that it well becomes a Christian Knight Who first bore Christian Badge to doe her Right I would redeeme her from proud Ottoman From Mufftie 's sway and Mechaes Alcoran In Iowry Land arose the Gentiles Light From Antioch came the Name which Fiends doth frigâ—â— And shall out last all Names untill our Head As God and Man shall judge both Quick and Dead Till Christ resignes to the Supremest Mace To All in All his Intercessors Place THis Light and Name the Sire of Antichrist In Envie unto Man and spite to Christ With his Blacke-Guard that were depriv'd of Light And for their Pride enwrapt in Errours Night They all conspir'd and strove to prejudice With all their Might the New-mans Sacrifice For this designe their Malice to effect They seiz'd the wits of Annas and his sect They first plaid on the soules of Saducees â—nd gull'd such Braines as idolld Golden Fees â—hrist in his Limmes to Crucifie againe And all for Pomps support and worldly Gaine THe Creeple rais'd in Iesus Christ his Name â—y Fishermen that wonder put to shame The Iewish Scribes so that they burn'd for Ire And fear'd least Christ might diâ—â— their Levites Fire Or quite abate their Old Traditions Gaine Which holpe their present Glory to maintaine At first they silenc'd them and then with Gall They thundred out big words sesâ—uipedall That if thenceforth they acted Miracles In Iesus Name they would as Spectacles Of Infamy their Bodies publickely Afflict or make them in Iaile-Shackles ly But since th' Apostles them regarded not Nor car'd for Threats nor scourging then they shot Their Church-Darts out of Excommunications Till a Law Doctour calm'd their Combinations By this Advice that no Devise of Man Might stop the Will of God do what they can ON this the Levites rested for a while And ceas'd their hande with Murther to defile The which Advise if Romes late Catholikes Had â—aigh'd for them whom they call'd Here tickes Rome might have held a Reverend Mothers Sway She had ere this turn'd Easterne Nights to Day Where ministring now scandall to the Turkes Both they and we detest their Bloudy workes For Ten Yeares space till Claudius Casar raignd The Scribes lay still their spleene a while restrain'd And seem'd to winke at the Apostles Fame Whilst in that breathing Truce the Christian Name The Church encreas'd had all her wants reliev'd Antioch receiv'd Sâ—maritans Believ'd Ioppa â—rejoyc'd Caesare a gained Grace â—â—d many Iewes joyd of the Christian Race â—well the Gentiles as the Circumtiz'd â—n'd in One League for Christ to be Baptiz'd â—hat Good Time Saints gaped not for Gold â—liv'd in Common their Possessions sold â—â—d without Guile the Price did distribute â—hereby they barr'd the Cause of wrangling suite â— Mine and Thine Their Care was Bread and Wine 〈◊〉 sacred use and for the Heavenly Vine 〈◊〉 build Christs Church upon the New-Mans Rock 〈◊〉 on the Sand False Keyes or stumbling Block â—â—at Wonders wrought they of stupendious sort â—â—ove fraile Sence Or Carnall wits Report 〈◊〉 Words they made the Cripled wight to walke â—he Dead to Rise Blinde see the Dumbe to talke 〈◊〉 Words they strooke a Lying Couple Dead â—nd Blinded One who men by Charmes misseled Through Iesus Name they wrought such Miracles And freed themselves from Tyrants Manacles The Fame of such faire deedes in Salem rung As Nettle prickes the Envious Clergy stung That Gentiles should partake with Israels Tribes Of Gods good Grace they brookt not without â—iâ—es They flouted that the New-mans Troupes aswell As their Old Scribes should â—ame the Fiends of Hell And the most part like unto snarling Curres In Manger
lay'd found fault with Others Cures Repining thus at Progresse of the Word Since that no Trickes could stop it by the Sword â—ebedees sonne they caus'd to lose his breath As they by stoning wrought the Deacons death By Caesars Minion King they weav'd their Plot Who would have cast on Peter the like Lot But that an Angel came to free his Chaines To Plague with wormes the Tyrant for his Paines â—His puts my Muse in mind of Phillips Queene â—ho wreakd on Saints her Gall with swelling spleene â—ill with her Gods her States and Calleis Losse â—e felt the weight of a more heavie Crosse â—nd of the Royall Brothers styl'd Valois â—ho di'd in Blood for Blood and Bloody Ioyes â—riaes Rings can testifie likewise â—hat they have got by Belgiaes bloudy Cries MOre mild yet dealt Agrippa with Saint Paul â—ot barring him from Romes Appeale at all â—t would have join'd with Feftus to enlarge â—nd save for his Appeale him to discharge Much lesse would once that sage Praetorian Peere â—or Words Names the Iewes mad Clamours heare HOw many Snares with Tumultes spite and Rage Did they spread forth for Christians in that Age By all the meanes which Satan could devise Men sought to stop the New Mans Sacrifice But all in vaine like trod on Cammomell It grew the more and with a fragrant smell Not Elimas nor Magus with Hell Charmes Nor could Dianaes Smith knock down their Armes Or quench in them the Holy Spirits Flame Which they conferr'd in Jesus Christ his Name That like themselves at first Enthusians rapt For Holy Trances they made others apt VNwearied they in their Vocation went And acted Deedes to Arts astonishment No by-respects to Glory Wealth or Ease No Emulations Sting could make them cease From the Pursuit of the Immortall Prize No servile Feares Detraction nor surmize Could let their maine intent and Ghostly Race From setting forth Gods Charter of free Grace No Choller 's Heate Debate nor Casuall Brawle As fell betwixt Saint Peter and Saint Paule For Iewish Rites as likewise came to passe For Chusing Mark twixt Paule and Barnabas Or as it chanc'd to Abraham and Lot Their Passions sway'd not so that they forgot The Progresse of the Word the worke in hand But that they ranne and toil'd by Sea and Land In Accidentalles though as Men they err'd Yet as Divines the substance they preferr'd Their Elder Man they stoupt in spite of vice And their New-Man went on to Sacrifice Here Paule and Silas Preach Apollos there While Barnabas and Marke doe teach else where Mathias Iude and Simon burn'd alike To execute their Charge Apostolicke With the like zeale all the Apostles rapt Transformed soules for Mysticke Trances apt THey Catechiz'd and sought their Saviours Praise Their Soveraigne Ioyes were to reclaime some Strayt With Constant Faith the Gospel they did blaze And daily wrought great wonders of amaze Till by Romes Mace the Type of Antichrist Which slue their Master Christ they di'd for Christ. In all their Deeds they were so farre from Pride That when some Gentiles would have Deified Good Barnabas and Paul with glorious shout In stead of yeelding thankes they ranne about With cloathes all rent among the wondring throng And beg'd of them the Deity not to wrong Nor by detracting from their Makers Grace With Sacrifice his servants to disgrace They vilified themselves tooke up the Crosse Contemning Pompe and Gold like seumme or drosse They varnish'd not Gods Word with Glosse of schooles But sought the wholsome spring not Muddy Pooles And spar'd their New built Church to interrupt With knotty doubts of Phantasies Corrupt Now for a Type of their essentiall Gare â— will produce this One Example rare When Proselites of Pharisaicall sort Would Gentiles to strict Moses Lawes exhort â—â— Salems Councell the Apostles sate And in few lines resolv'd their Questions state Whereas by some ye were perplext with Feare â—bout Old Rites we warne you to forbeare From Meates Prophane at Idolles Sacrifice From beastly Lust or Wives Pluralities From strangled Flesh and shedding Humane Blood â—f as your owne yee Carke anothers Good And do abstaine from the said sinnes withall Yee shall doe well By Barnabas and Paul And two of the Chiefe Brethren moe they sent These Pithy Actes the Gentiles to Content Whereby I note on Weaklings they impose No heavier Yoake then what the New-man chose They combred not the Church with Needlesse Lawes Nor with Traditions Superstitious Flawes They could not brooke Food drest with Satans 〈◊〉 Nor at Christs Feasts to glut their hungry Mawes Thus we observe how easie is Christs Yoak That to cleare doubts Faith beares the Soveraign 〈◊〉 Faith linkt with Love requires us to forbeare And not for Toyes Christs seamelesse Coate to teare HOw wondrously did the Good Spirit breathe The New-Mans Gifts from darkenesse from death To raise up soules and Heathen Clouds to cleare Dispersing Christs Disciples heere and there By visions He Immediate lighted on Cornelius and Saint Peter both for One â—â—fect to let the wavering Gentiles know â—â—at God tooke care within their Hearts to sow â—s seed of Grace which stubborne Iewes abus'd â—â—d Christ their Head Gods husbandman refus'd â—â—d that without respect of high or low 〈◊〉 loves all them who to his Service bow â—Hat Travels did good Peter undergoe Sea and Land he did undaunted goe â—â—ough wanting meanes unfurnished of Money â—t for himselfe to gaine a Patrimony 〈◊〉 corruptible mould or brittle Masse â—â—ich like fond dreames in time away doe passe 〈◊〉 for his Master Christ soules wrapt with mists 〈◊〉 Ignorance he made good Catechists â—od Catholicks Apostolickes he made â—â—â—tructing them in his Soule-fishing Trade â—â—d as some write when Simon with his Whore â—â—ene brag'd hee like a God would soare Above the Clouds by Peters vowes he fell And brake his Necke left by his Guard of Hell TO Iewes and Gentiles He the Gospel taught But chiefly he the Iewes conversion sought Deputed for the Circumcisions Charge Unto the Elect dispenst hee shew'd at large The Patent of his â—eald Apostleship Yea and if Fame belies him not his Ship And Fishing-nets hee left at Tibers streame Where some then so journ'd of Ierusalem As in the Acts wee read there he baptiz'd If there he was till Nero tyranniz'd Now whether Rome hath cause of him to boast As for his seate more then the Holy Ghost Which living Peter gave to men of Faith Some since have strove not following Peters pathâ— 'T is certaint that he wâ—re no Triple Crowne None kist his Foot nor â—rod he Princes downe 'T is knowne that Gold and silver he hast none A Tanners house was of his Lodgâ—ngs One 'T is credited that to the Crosse he bow'd A kind of Death which onely Rome allow'd Till Constantine in love to Christ for bad This cruell paine and spectacle most sad That being Old against fraile Natures will Others did Peter lead his Bloud to spill As Christ foretold but his
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
Neighbours Amity How then could they thinke on Priority And stand on Points of Prelates Primacie Without distrust of some Conspiracie THe Truth is this who were styl'd Bishops then They fish'd not for fraile Wealth but Soules of Men Not to enrich themselves with Private store But like Saint Paul the Crosse they thought on mâ—â—â— From Christian Caesars they got Liberties But not so great to claime Regalities About the Yeare Sixe Hundred sixty sixe We finde that Rome began to play more Tricks Then she durst act within the Ages past As Paul and John fore-told her Breach at last And never left to lift her Lofty Crest Till she Gods Word had darkned in the West And dar'd upon the Caesars State to prey The maine great Let to her Prodigious Sway. She never ceas'd to stirre up raging Fires Till she at Trent concluded her Desires Repugnant to the Vow which she profest At her First Rise Sixe Hundred yeares at least At such wild Fits I onely glance not carpe This Taske I leave for an iambicks Warpe THE OCCVRRANCES OF THE THIRD AGE From the yeere of our Lord 200. untill the yeere 300. At which time Dioclesian and Maximinus raigned Emperours of Rome The Argument Next to the Greekes the Latine Scribes begin Idolaters unto Christs Church to win Romes Tyrants fret and Saints they martirize Saint Anthony into a Desart flyes WIthin this Age the Church most Militant And Cautious strove to shun exorbitant Attempts of Foes one while to secret Caves Constrained to retire sometimes to tame the Braves Of her owne Tribe Domesticke Mutineers Shee us'd the Spirits Sword 〈◊〉 the Jeeres And Flouâ—ing Stuffes of Fâ—rrainers to daunt Which did at her Poore Robes and Altars taunt She fought against Caetilius and his Traine And prov'd their Vaunt for Outward Glories vaine Her State was then unsetled New and Poore But Time to come might make her flourish more A thousand of such Taunts and Fiery Darts A Thousand of great Dangers Envious Arts By Satans Plots she daily underwent While Caesars sought their Pagan-Gods Content The neerer that the Church drew to her Time Of Liberty least that too high she climbe Satan suborn'd his Agents in this Age Against her Race to shew their utmost Rage He knew her Thraldomes Date to Iohn foretold Would shortly end And that made him so bold AS otherwhiles a Woman Chast and Faire Dishevel'd seemes or with loose dangling Haire So without Art and in her Native Dresse The Church at first for want of Time to dresse And to compose her Outward Ornament Came forth to spread her Saviours Testament Not carking much for Superficiall Weaâ—e But in the Heart the New Mans Gifts to beare And yet both Chaste and Faire She comely shone With Constant Faith built on the Corner-stone And though she liv'd and raign'd of Men unseen With Carnall Eyes yet of Good Angels seen Heard in the Quire which to the Lambe belongs Answer'd by Saints with Sympathizing Songs Nay seene and knowne of Men Reborne anew Both then and now who never kneel'd to Baal But to One Christ the Saviour of us all Who by his Word and bright Diâ—rnall Light Hath late disperst the Tempests of the Night Sav'd us like Peter out of Herâ—ds Iayle From Babels Powder-traine for Saints availe For which sweet Grace redintegracious Love The Saints on Earth with Those of Heaven above United in One League shall ever sing Melodious Songs to our Triumphant King OUr Latine West unto the Church of Greece Acknowledge must her selfe in some degrees Inferiour and oblig'd From her she had the Forme Of Christian Rites false Altars to reforme As she the Substance from Ierusalem More neere to Greece then Rome the Church Supreme From her she borrow'd her prime Words of Art Those Second coin'd Intentions to impart From Man to Man by Termes Discourse and Tongue What otherwise would dormant lye unstrung Her Noblest Name of Christian Catholick The Eucharist the Faith Apostolick Types Symboles and Ecclesiasticke Lawes What be they but Greeke words for Christian Cause Disguis'd in Latine Robes Faith to expresse And to worke on Mild Hearers more or lesse The Sev'nty Soribes translated Iewries Ioyes To the Greeke Tongue by Philadephus Choise Saint Paul and Luke divulg'd in Graecian Tone Christs Mysteries yea and Saint Iohn wrought on His Auditours in Graecian Vestiment Fit in that Age to further his Intent Greece more to praise ere Rome saw Christ his Light Some Greekes of Philip cray'd his Masters sight NO marvell then that Greeks ere Latinists Did publish Workes fought in our Christian Lists With Infidells against their Rites obsceane Towards the Period of the Second Sceane To celebrate this Age Tertullian rose With Tullian Phrase to daunt the Churches Foes False Heretickes and Jewes whom he refells And but for Dreaming Fasts his Part excells Whilst he gainst Marcion makes Christs Body good Truths Figure not Imaginary Food Since Figures shew not false but things indeed And in another Place quoth he We feed By Hearing on the Word Inâ—arnate blest With Understanding chew through Faith digest SAint Cyprian him succeeds who famous made By Monuments which cannot faile nor fade The Churches Union and the Martyrs Crowne Which since himselfe receiv'd in Carthage Towne This Saint bids us the Holy Bread to part And breake by Faith not with sharpe Teeth nor Art While we confesse That which is broke to Parts Divine-Humane both God and Man imparts Out of his Bookes we cull at Carthage Towne How he did frâ—t and all the Councell frowne To heare that any should Romes Pope install The Bishop of all Bishops Generall NExt after him Minucius Foelix came In Roman Robes Caecilius overcame With Dialogues and foil'd his Heath'nish Dreames So did Arnobius by the Spirits Beames In the like Garbe the Gentiles Rage abate And shewes the Cause why Christians Idolls hate By Fabian Bath'd He grac'd this Centers Age Who first of Caesars wore the Christian Badge LOng had the Church been rackt with bitter woes In travell like a Woman tir'd with Throes To bring that faire Light forth and Blessed Birth Which in th' Elect shines with Harmonious Mirth The Inward Man I meane whose Praise we sing Grac'd to that end with Will by Heavens King Through all the Roman Empire tortured And by fierce Tyrants hands sore Martyred In every Age during her Pilgrimage Heere in this World untill Maxentius Rage Became supprest by zealous Constantine She felt what Dioclesian Maximine And what their Praetours could impose of Force Upon her Limmes without their least remorce She felt Christ in his Members felt againe What Hangmen could inflict of Hellish Paine And what their Predecessors could inflict Upon her Lambes by Proclamations strict Prefiguring our late New Christian Fry Whom men professing Christ in Flames did fry And yet they fail'd by their Decrees severe Or Wolvish Decius them to daunt with feare But that in midst of Paine by Satan stung They to the Lambe Allelujaes sung Slighting the Gridiron
through the Holy Ghost Now chuse thy Flesh quoth Lawrence Raw or Rost. Faire Theodora to the Stewes confin'd â—er Friend holp her to scape in Masked kind â—ay'd in her place He thrall'd she came againe â—et did the Iudge for Martyrs both arraigne MAuger all Rackes and Flames Saint Albaâ— here â—n Brittaine first and Noble George appeare Who arm'd on Horse-backe with a Sangaine Crosse Leagu'd Salems Knights and oft fear'd Englands Foes As Ancient Wits conceiv'd their Aiery Signe Like that which meteour'd once to Constantine Which Signe they might more fitly to their Head Impute then with his Members quartered Their Crimson Gore transform'd to Robes of White By vertue of their Faith Beames-darting-bright With Amphibale they live yet in our West And with those Twaine whom of her Martyrs Best With sacred Bayes at Vsk Carleons Towne Saint Aaron and Saint Iulius still doth Crowne WIthin this Age like to th' Essences Sect Good Men of Life austene did Cells erect Of Christian Hermites or Anachorites In Aegypts Desarts there that Convertites Might solitaty dwell from Passions free And from those Baites wherewith we daily see The greatest Part ev'n of the Churches Brood Ensnar'd a Mystick Point not understood By Libertines in these our Carnall Dayes There cloystred up from soule Temptations stayes Alone and farre from Mortalls Company The Holy Saint the long-liv'd Anthony His life sustaining onely by the Fruit Of one Palmitoe Tree whose Rind did suit And cloath his Limmes as did the Fruit him feed His Patterne then good Saint Macarius trac'd Whose Presence since the Nicen Councell grac'd O happy Types If Superstition since For Hypocrites Some came not to convince As Savoyes Hermite through Confessions shrow'd Since Cuckolded the Best of all the Crowd ABout the end of this Third Century When Dioclesians Rage and Butchery Did persecute the Saints God raised up Lactantius to confirme them not to droup For now their Time of Liberty drew neere Which by Gods Grace did after soone appeare For saving Philip whom Pope Fabian blest All Caesars hitherto Christs Flocke opprest The Church as yet fixt on no Constant Formes Of Government So grievous were the Stormes Of Persecution rais'd by Tytants Rage The First three Ages of her Pilgrimage That she could not Correct but now and then Judge nor with Tythes reward Industrious men As Lollards were by our Lancastrians curb'd And Huguenots in France by Kings disturb'd So her aw'd Stâ—rres durst scarce a Synod call By stealth much lesse a Councell Generall Where her Chiefe Watchmen of the Christian Race Might Congregate in one convenient Place Popes stood not then on high Prerogatives Glad oft to flye to lurke and save their lives But Christians now began to be more bold The Time in the Apocalipse foretold The two and Forty Monthes being full expir'd Monthes counted for Yeares Sabbaths they aspir'd By the Imperiall Leave to settle things In Order without Gall or Envious stings As shall appeare after Licinius Death Meane while I le rest so to resume more breath THE OCCVRRANCES OF THE FOURTH AGE From the Yeare of our Lord 300. untill the Yeare 400. being the Second Yeare of the Raigne of Arcadius and Honorius the Sonnes of Theodosius the Roman Emperour The Argument The Glorious Church which Constantine â—uilâ— vp At his Decease by Arrians vext doth droupe For Schooles Restraint of Julian she complaines Which Rise againe through Theodosius Paines THough I be slow the Strumpet to 〈◊〉 Yet I contend to blaze the New-manâ— Taske And to performe enough to satisfie My Noble Friends where the True Church did lye Since Christ his Time untill our present Age Mauger Hells spight during her Pilgrimage Because she did on no Foundation stand But Christ none shall her Name with Errour brand Because she built upon the Living Rocke Which Peter voucht she shunn'd the Fatall shocke Of the fierce Dragons Floud in Darknesse shin'd Though to a Desart rude she seem'd confin'd Because she squar'd her Doctrine and her Rites According to Gods Word her Opposites Can never blacke her Fame and Memory Nor need she feare Proud Babels Mystery That Errours spirit can obliterate The Gospels Text which she enjoyes of late I Will make good that though some Curse 〈◊〉 Yet by Gods Rayes or his Saint Michaels Banner She spreads Christs Name in Saints and Martyrs blest In Dangers oft and seldome times at Rest One while in Tents in Warres against her Foes Another time beleaguer'd feeling woes When seeking Christ in time of superstition The Watchmen smote her in the Inquisition As Salomon sung in his Canticles As Christ himselfe by Scribes Convenâ—icâ—â—s And Roman Doome in person felt what Grace His Limmes with Men finde in their Holy Race By Martyrs Bloud and spoiles of the Old Man Our New man first his Sacrifice began Continues still his Feast though some conspire To marre the same and Our Good Church to fire ANd yet for all Mens Hate our Mother lives Yea from her Flames the New Man buds and thrives Not much unlike the Phoenix whom they say That being burnt her Like revives alway Though alway not so Vigourous or Faire By reason of the Climate Food or Aire Too high Conceit of her splendidious Worth Or of the Keyes to shut the stubborne forth Or other Accidentall Le ts she seeme But vile or lacking Tythes in poore esteeme Nipt with hard Winters Frost or scorcht with Hear Course Dyet or with changing Soile or Seate Yet at the last the Bridegroome in extreames Shewes her the way to his spirituall Streames To pray with Zeale more cautiously to watch Least Fiend-like Pride her or her Brood attache To feed his Flocke though they ungratefull be Combining to keepe backe his Tythes her Fee For whether Poore or Sicke by dankish Aire She sleepes not till she doth to Christ repaire With contrite thoughts and Lusts Mortification With the New-mans and Soules Resussitation Of whom she begs and humbly sues for Grace Which on her Teares she gaines then sees his Face The splendour of his Spirit working wonders With mildest Gales restraining Sinaies Thunders And thereupon is throned on a Hill With large Command according to his Will To Bind or Loose her Childrens Sinnes to keepe To watch and Feed but not to Flay his Sheepe Like her with Triple Crowne on seven Hills Who with false Fires now sits as God and fills Mens Consciences with Smoaky Pardons Wares Of the Beasts Marke with Lies and Bugâ—e are Cares A Bout three hundred Yeares the Gospels Light Had through our Saviours Bloud acquired Might And rooting when restrain'd it faster spred Enlightning Soules whom Forged Tales missed When die had foil'd Maxentius Maximine And to a Nooke Licinius did confine The Christian Church was rear'd by Constantine Most Glorious on a Hill with Rires Divine And decent States as well from Foes Contempt As from home-scandalls to become exempt Soone as that Signe had meteour'd in the Aire Which Conquerour him styl'd he did repaire The Ruines of the
Church recalled home Those whom late Tyrants had proscrib'd from Rome SUch Grace she found But soone her Sonnes forgot To thanks our God the Author of their Lot Who had inspir'd th' Imperiall Majesty With Zeale to serve One God in Trinity And at the Nicâ—ne Councell to restore By Publick Acts what prostrate lay before To build up Temples with large Liberties There to serve God with Vowes and Sacrifice To chuse Grave Mitred Sires to over-see Least Christ his Flocke by Wolves should scared â—e And by Decree to quashall Idolls downe At Synod held in Eliberiâ— Towne This Course he tooke by his Good Mothers Lore Whose Birth much Fame to Brittains did restore And Helens Name deserves to be engilt For finding Christ his Crosse for Temples built Five Bishopricks he rais'd to mighty Height Whereof each One possest a Severall Right And None of these in one anothers Charge To meddle but their owne Taske to discharge O're-seeing their Proper Flockes The Chiefest Roome He gave the Popes of New and Ancient Rome The Third he granted to Jerusalem Then Antiochs fell and Alexandriaes stem This stinted Course they long observ'd and None Swarv'd from the Stem at Nice agreed upon But Brethren-like liv'd in true Amity Not striving for more Seates Priority Then Constantine out of his bounteous Grace Allotted them in their distinguish'd Place The First that sithence kickt was He of Rome Who at Bizantiums Councell would become The Chiefest Priest as of Old Rome the Pope Sometime the Empires Head of spatious scope The which the Pope of New-built Rome gaine-sayd And there to hold the Prime Place he assayd At which Vigilius did so powte and frowne He would not meet with them though then in Town Thus they who should a Lowly Minde possesse Began to climbe to Lordly Loftinesse Perverting to wrong Sence the Living Rocke Gods Word the Keyes and Feeding of Christs Flocke That they might raigne here in this World a while For a few yeares pufft with a Princely Stile When they know in their Consciences they Erre That after Death they fall like Lucifer But they for Faith lean'd unto Humane worth And scatt'red Doubts against Gods Spirit forth They mutined against the Holy Ghost Apostate Arrians raung'd through every Coast. They soone forgot the Mysticke Crosses sence The New-mans Vewes and the Words Excellence Their Plenty pufft them up and the Sunnes Light Bedazzeled them like Gazing Birds of Night For the True Substante Shadowes they ador'd For the Creator Creatures they implor'd The late Baptiz'd enur'd to Pagan Rites To Saturnalian Feasts and Idoll sights Could not away with that Religions Forme Which typing Christs their Lives ought to reforme Their Flamiues grudg'd that the New-â—lergy held The Conquest over Soules themselves expelld The Lay-men wav'd betwixt the Old and New Like Aethiops loath to change their pristine Hew To punish these when Constantine was urg'd Not so said he Mad men should rather purgd By Physicke be We must though Curres do bark With Gentle Gales to Port bring Christ his Ark. This Prince when he Paphnutius saw at Niâ—e His Hollowes kist whom Focs depriv'd of Eyes The Roman Empire was most fortunate Under his Sway. He rais'd Romes falling state To such a Height that never Kingdome since His Paralell enjoy'd nor any Prince Succeeded like to him in Pieties True Practice farre exempt from Avarice And Crying sinnes His Palace with the Poore Then with Praetorian Bands abounded more He was not serv'd in Gold or Silver Plate Though he might set on all the World a rate But Earthen Vessels or of Wood he chose He curbd himselfe because he would not lose His wavering Subjects hearts And what he spar'd Above the Pensions of his Souldiers Guard The Publike Troup and his owne Private Charge He yeerely did conferre the same at large To Pious use and Temples up to build But more Christs Living Temple to rebuild Blest was the Church while his good Monarch raignâ— Having Peace Freedome Wealth and Honour gain'd But after his decease by Arrians vext She like a Widow stood long time perplext But not with Open Force for Satan then Was for a Thousand Yeares from Murthering Men For the Faiths sake begun to be restrain'd Yet so that Saints for Tryall might be Pain'd SInce I my Taske for Constantine have spun I must not leave Constantiaes Web unspun This zealous Princesse whether Fancies Flame Or to become Cortivall of her Fame Who late had found the Crosse in Calvary Or Satans Plot into her Creed to pry Whether these Tempting Baites wrought on her Will To shake her Faith and her Best Part to spill She sought the Picture of our Saviour Christ As if her Creed did on the same consist To bring to passe her Project frivolous She wrote unto Euscbius Pamphilus Requiring him to send it her to Greece To make her happy in that Graven Peece The Holy Father with disdainefull Eye Perus'd her Lines he feard Idolatry Lest the Connivence at such Passages Might blurre the New-mans Ghostly Images He therefore answer'd her with Piety In Zealous Lines not without Majesty Your Grace desires Christs Portraiture to have But which of his Two Persons would you crave Which doe you meane quoth he His Shape Divine That beares the â—â—kenesse of the First in Trine Or else the Image of a Servants Forme To which for us he did himselfe transforme If you aspire his God-heads Shape to see Take heed you touch not on Old Adams Tree None knowes the Father but the Sonne alone And none but by the Father knowes the Sonne But if that Persons-Picture you demand Borne of our Flesh you must then understand That none by Art and Oily Colours di'd Can limne His Bodies Frame now Glorifi'd For since that his Disciples could not see His shining Face at Tabor how shall wee View his bright Face and Persons Lineaments Which till Doomes-day he hath removed hence On this Monition the Good Empresse staid And of such Carnall Types became afraid WHile Luke-warme Thoughts contended much with Zeale False Arrius crept into Christs Common-weale Where Six score yeares his Sect Good Men so griev'd That in those dayes the Most part mis-believ'd Two Councels then the Arrian side preferr'd The Millaine stray'd the Ariminian err'd Yea Bishops both of New and Ancient Rome Subscribed and to Hereticks gave roome Against them all did Athanafius warre And therefore may be stil'd That Ages Starre By his true Zeale and Pen the Arrians quail'd And Truth at last with Victory prevail'd During Soules Time of Blindnesse Satans Warre Began againe both neere at hand and farre Against false Hearts not by Blouds violence But by fly Arts to try Saints Innocence To dim the Churches Splendour he sent out His slyest Fiends to compasse them about Mad Iulian he stirr'd up till he perforce Did yeeld unto the Galileans Force Where Magick Spells nor his Deare â—orphiry Could stop Gods Doome due for his Trechery Which unto Christians interdicting Schooles Made Wits more hoâ—
on Nilus Lakes by Mungrell Windes Compos'd of Iewish Rites and Heath'nish Mindes But now those Stormes allay'd attâ—nements made That Christians might through Circumcision wade And each partake of Others Lawes and Love Both leagu'd both vow'd Baptized to approve The Christian Eunuches Faith by Philip taught And long before to Ethiopia brought Above Three Hundred Yeares the Gospels Spring Had cheer'd their parched Zone and every thing Began to grow with various faire Encrease Of Ghostly Gifts and Homilies of Peace By their Abunaes Care and Clergies Toyle Onely the Great Ones still did them embroyle With Carnall Snares to crosse their good Attempts Like as the Romaine Caesars Saints intents By Tyranny had interrupted long Till Constantine redrest the Churches wrong So likewise Saints among the Abissines Were trod upon or by sore Mulcts and Fines Opprest that some kept close some fled away Some as it were in hugger mugger lay Others for feare recanted from the Light Dissembling what they knew to be the Right As many here gloz'd in Queene Maries dayes And some in France with our Reformed wayes Untill their Foes were calm'd and Liberty Of Conscience sign'd to the New Christian Fry About which time Hells Rage became allay'd Which for Three Hundred Yeares the Saints oreswayd BUt now on the Approach of this Fifth Age By his Grave Counsaile and Abunaes sage The Emperour of Ethiopiaes Land The Gospel more began to understand And rais'd the Christian Faith with Publike vowes Yet mixt with Iewish Rites and Levites showes And though their Formes appeare extravagant In Substance yet their Faith is Protestant And little diff'ring from the Primitive Which we professe Like Ours their Clergy Wive They Minister the Cup unto the Lay They honour Saints with a Memoriall way But worship not Shrines nor Imagery Lest they might fall to flat Idolatry Sound Christians were it not that theÌ„y too much On Moses Lawes the Observation touch Or else that they for their Dispense do plead That to eate Bacon Hares-flesh or the like Might make them Leprons and their Bodies sicke Their Climates Sunne diseasing Bloud and Braine That what agrees with us procures them Paine Perhaps they ranke their Circumcisions use And shrowd it with Indifferent things excuse DEvout they are when in the Church they meet They spit not there nor come with durty feet Their Lent is long which by their Foes observ'd They oft surprize theÌ„ through their Feasts halfe starv'd Some Ancient Bookes among us lost they hold Which they esteeme as Gemmes more deare then Gold The Oracles of Enoch and the Booke Of the Apostles Canons they o're-looke And the lost Acts of one of Calcedons Old Councells they retaine like Precious Stones The Patriarch still of Alexandriaes Bay Claymes from Saint Marke their Sacerdotall Sway. These Negroes here for Christians I assigne To shew that Christ his Church doth elsewhere shine And that she might grow strong within the South When in our West she seem'd a Dwarfe in growth Out of the Christian Church exil'd by Romes Fierce Caesars for the Faith some left their Homes And fled for shelter to Remoter Climes In hope to shun the malice of the Times To shun the ten great Persecutions Rage Many were forc't their Fortunes to â—ngage Some past the Bosphors Straights som Gibraltars Others retiâ—'d themselves where Sunne-burnt Carres Twice yearely touch on both the Hemispereâ— That they might live secur'd from worldly Feares The like whilst that mad Dioclesian rav'd Our Brittaines did and Neighbours succour crav'd Who giving them Corporeall Nourishments Were by their Guests with Soule-Food recompenc'd A Saint-like Bounty where both Parties Blest Partake of Love the Greatest with the Least Among these Nations now my Muse invites The Reader to review some Neighbour Lights THat Humid Westerne I le whose Soile resists twists Snakes Toads and Moules whose Wood no Cob-web Stor'd with true Saints a Saint-like Stile now gaines Trampling Pelagians downe by Patricks Paines For while they skream'd in Brittain France Rome He Preacht free Grace to reeling Christendome He Preacht sweet Peace dehorting men from Jarres From Crying Sinnes from Murther Spoiles Warres Though some of late in Printed Legends tell That by his Word he Thousands packt to Hell A strange Narration that a Saint should act So opposite to Christ a Bloudy Fact But after his Decease Hybernia lost Within few Yeares the Style which grac'd her most And then mad Broils her Members prickt like Goads Worse than the Stings or Bane of Snakes and Toads Yea God with Wolves plagu'd her Back-sliding Fry Because they like Samarians went awry In mingling with Gods Worship Idoll sights Traditions Flawes and Superstitious Rites THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE SIXTH AGE Chiefly what hapned in the I le of Brittaine after the Arrivall of the Saxons from the Yeare of our Lord 500. untill the Yeare 600. being the Sixteenth Yeare of the Raign of Maurice the Romaine Emperour The Argument The Christian Church which Greeks Latins rear'd In Brittaine lyes with Pagan Rites besmear'd Trod on by Saxons Troupes and Wodens Brood But worse by her Owne Natives sheading Blood FIve Hundred Yeares from Christ not fully told When Arrians stopt then stept Pelagians bold With more sly Tricks of Humans Worth to boast Then thaâ— Dull Sect which wrongd the Holy Ghost Wherefore New Broiles infested Christ endome To chastife men for Schisme as to make Roome For Antichrist the Head of Heretickes Which Mystick wise from Mungrell Catholickes Deriv'd his Birth and will a Tyrant grow Because Men loved Lies such Plagues did flow Great Plagues indeed which since defil'd the East With Carnall Baites by an Arabian drest And with Soule-tainting Charmes by Popes profest Cookt by Pelagians first within the West Confounding Faith by Whimseyes of the Braine With Flesh and Blouds Desires and Merits staine So that Our Ile her Former Glory lost There was no Roome left for the Holy Ghost Pelagiâ—s had her Motions so engrost And then her North to Huâ—ler all was lost By Scots and Ficts usurpt with dismall woes Because she Grace blasphem'd God sent her Foes Which like a Delâ—ge broke through Adrians Wall Till Strangers came with Armes to end the Brawle Yet ended not her stinke of Ghostly sinne Nor Carnall Snares where she involv'd had beene THe Sunne had run One Hundrid Yeares at full Ere Heathnish hands could all her Feathers pull Or part asunder her Old Seamelesse Weare Which Christ his Font had dipt with Reverend Feare In Dies sent her from Eleuthere in graine And by Great Helens Sonne Confirm'd againe Plaine without staine I meane and free from Pride Or that foule Schisme which did her since betide By her Abortive Brood Pelagian Crew The Sect that made Millions of Soules to rue Plaine Robes she wore without Embroidery Or Worldlings Garbe when Antient Hillary Greeted his Brethren here in Brittany Those whom Faith linkt to Saints sweet Company So well had Damian and Fugatius bore Christs Ensigne here two hundred yeares before That at
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
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
worth be what I heard Nor mention I Borrachoes Spanish Case Which Pilgrims vow with Healths to Baccâ—us Grace Nor yet their Flesh which Portingalls do dresse And lay with Salt for Indiaes Voyages So usefull are these Goats that none for want Of them in wild and New-found Lands can plant Which is the Cause that Brittaines Colonies Thrive not there like the Spaniards Progenies Now for my Vote or Cloze particulare Which I submit to your more Silver Haire It is not safe the moody to constraine Tread on a Worme and it will turne againe The Fits o're-past we may cull out the Bad Divide their Troupes and Cure in time the Mad. If we permit the Weanelings of their Flocks Their tender Kiddes which cannot shift on Rocks For stronger Food to champ on weaker Boughes And their Moone-sick on Plants sometimes to brouze Both these will when their Constitution growes To abler Nerves eat Hay in time of Snowes And be right glad to taste of stronger Food Aswell to our Content as for their Good And let the rest live in their Craggy Soile In hope they will no more keepe revell Coile Lest if we thence provoke their Wilder Whelpes They may turne mad with Tupping and with Yelpes Unlesse in the Mid-Summers Moone we chaine Those whom we finde most Crazed in the Braine 'T were well we could their Teeth with safety file And not our hands with Streames of Bloud defile If they disband and of their Crimes repent And will with Griefe redeeme their Punishment Let 's suffer them to spend their windy Breath Upon the Rocky Hills and Barren Heath That it may be ingross'd in After-Rowles We left them there where bustling Boreas cooles The hottest Spleen in hope that they would grow More usefull farre then we doe finde them now When Riper Time shall Humours purifie They will conforme themselves at least their Fry Since Forraigne Coasts to Beares Wolves submit I thinke we may lesse harmefull Goats admit To their Old Haunts our Daiâ—es to encrease So that henceforth their Buckes from Tupping cease Let us not then root out these Beasts with Beards Weakning our Stock an Honour to our Heards Lest we give Cause of Jeering to our Foes Who if our Stock decayes may worke us woes They pill our Barke that 's it you now will says So did our Iron-men and Tanners play So Others have by causelesse Brawles and Fees And Hâ—athnish Spoiles forc'd men to sell good Trees But here one whisperd him Touch not that Noat Lest you be term'd a rash-promoting Goat Incurring Scorne with hoobubsand out-cries For glancing at our Modernes Robberies The Swaine sbash'd his Face to Crimson di'd And the Goats Cause lies in suspense untriâ—â— Where though Great Pan an Higher skill relies Yet scornes he not a Rusticks poorâ— Supplies In all Extreames on this I set my Rest. Of Ills to â—â—use the Least of Good the Best And if I misse the Latter to attaine Yet I will hope the Golden Meâ—ne to gaine COncerning other Points of Faiths abuse As Purgatories Paine false Idolls use Courting of Saints to Christs apparant wrong Gods Sacred Word kept from the Vulgar Tongue Additions to the Masse the Papall Keyes And Priests debarr'd of Wives Let him that waightâ— The Dreames of Balaams Priests this Passage know Pride made the Pope a Simon Magus grow And then he chang'd the Spirits Gifts for Gaine For after the Decease of Charlemaine Who Sceptred Popes in the ensuing Yeares They to maintaine their Pomp the Christian Meereâ— Of Modesty transcended got elbow roome To spread the Divels Huskes in rampant Rome Which to reforme as we of late have done In Brittaines Orbe by Wickliffs Cares begun About three Ages past so let all them Who hope to see the New Ierusalem Looke backe upon the first Sixe Centuries Or if that seeme too tedious to revise Let them the next Sixe Ages well review And they shall finde Romes Faith then patcht anew That by Degrees the Popes by Phocas first And by Great Charles since rais'd became accurst And that Our Church the very same of Old Which was at Nice and Chalcedon enroll'd For Orthodoxe is Catholick and True Onely because new-scour'd enstiled New LOhere Deare Countrey-men in Pithy Phraze What some have whirl'd about with winding Maze And some I hope these short Analyses Will rellish more then long Remonstrances Since Substances yee like I simply shew Where lay our Church Pure Catholick and True Before we tooke the Name of Protestants At Auspurg late which Our Extravagants By Transmarine and false exotick Gloâ—â—e Would soile like Pitch with Appellations grosse Of Huguenoâ—s or Luthers Hereticks While they usurpe the Name of Catholicks Like Hagars Brood which Moores terme Saracen Like Hypocrites who passe for Godly Men. For why should they alone be in our West Call'd Catholicks when Thousands in the East The Abissines and Others doe contend For the like Name in Substance Use and End Why should the Parts above the Whole presume One Sister Church the Mothers Stile assume The Catholick which spreads in every Coast With Mutuall Gifts powr'd by the Holy Ghost Why should the Beames against the Sunne compact The Branches from the Oakes Good Name detract Our Churches are waigh the Comparison As Boughes or Beames Christs Spouse the Oak or Sun And for Our Church more yet I could relate To manifest her Wane Eclipse and Fate In Popish Times but that each Novice knowes What meanes the Desert where she powr'd her vowes During the Raigne of that great Mystick Whore Which preacht False Christs by the red Dragons Lore But mauger Constance Trent and Lateran The Night is past of Skreeching Ignorance And we embrace the Spirits Countenance Which at this day shines bright in Brittaines Ile And may doe long if we shun Hate and Guile Not Ecchius Moore Poole Fisher Posstvine Not Dowayes Fry nor Copious Bellarmine Can match our Calvin Zanchius Bullinger Frith Jewell Foxe Fulkes Raynolds Whitaker Andrewes Usher and those whose Melodies Mount up to Christ like a New Sacrifice With many moe in our Great Brittaines Orbe Surviving yet and able them to curbe Whose Praises Web more Curious if I spun I should then light a Candle in the Sunne Or undertake Saint Michaels Warre to pen A Taske more fit for Angels then for Men. Yet by that Mystick Type Saints may discry The Battels Issue and our Victory For such a Palme the Fiery Crosses Signe Hath gain'd as in the Dayes of Constantine But now in Embers clozing up my Fire I silently into my Thoughts retire Oft looking backe to Babels Mystery Oft musing on Faire Stons Victory Where first Six Hundred Sixty Six I fixe One Thousand then Six Hundred Fifty Sixe Times Pedegree from Mans Creation cast Till Fatall Showres for Sinne the Earth defac't I ruminate in Mind least sodainly While I deferre my Duty to supply The last great Trumpets Sound concludes the Day To Worldlings woe and Sinners sore Dismay Warres in Faiths House proclaim'd and Babylon