rested where the stately Citie stood Saue Heapes of Horrour rais'd of Dust and Blood 104 But murdring Saints in Wickednesse growne bold That Towne which long was drunke last drown'd with Blood That Towne by which who bought the World was sold Sold with Disgrace beheld her scorned Brood Them lou'd by GOD Men did in Honour hold And loth'd by GOD with them in Horrour stood Then Iewes whom GOD high rais'd and low doth bow What Name more glorious once more odious now 105 When of Saluation joyfull Newes were spred VVith spirituall Grace all Nations to bedew VVhilst famish'd Soules that sacred Nectar fed The LORD strange Iudgements Millions made to view And those who first fierce Persecutions bred A jealous GOD with Vengeance did persew His Wrath against Themselues against their Foes Is quensh'd is kindled by his Seruants Woes 106 By him who first gainst CHRIST did Ensignes pitch His Brother Mother Wife and Selfe was slaine The Great Apostat wounded in a Ditch Did grant with Griefe the Galileans raigne Of him whose Errours did whole Realmes bewitch The Death most vile did viler Doctrine staine A monstrous Death doth monstrous Liues attend And what All is is judged by the End 107 He who made Hymens Torch drop Blood and Teares The Nation most Humaine being Inhumaine Did blood when dead at Mouth Nose Eyes and Eares As vomiting his Surfet so againe In Crime and Crowne his second fraught with Feares The bloody Band by mutuall Blowes was slaine The King the Duke the Friers deuis'd that Ill The King the Dake the Friers the King did kill 108 Whos 's Sight is so eclips'd which now not sees In euery Kingdome Prouince Towne and Race On Princes Subjectes Men of all Degrees What weighty Iudgement Sinners Steppes do trace Which not the Crowne more then the Cottage frees The Wicked Man sayes GOD shall haue no peace A Countenance calme may maske a stormy Mind But Guiltinesse no perfect Ease can find 109 Those temporall Plagues are but small Smokes of Ire To breach a Brest which is not arm'd with Faith And are when GOD due Vengeance doth require Of Indignation Drops weake Sparks of Wraith As Lightning is to Hels eternall Fire Or to a Tempest huge a litle Breath So are all those of this which I proclame A Puft a Glance a Shaddow or a Dreame 110 As weigh'd by GOD still ballanc'd hings this Round Which Sinne growne heauie now quyte downe ward beares Exhausted Courage Horrour shall confound Till Hopes high Towers rest all ou'rflow'd with Feares All shall together fall as by one Wound Not hauing Time to flie no not for Teares On Day as Night as on the Wearied Sleepe Death steales on Lyfe and Iudgements way doth sweepe 111 All clearely see who Lyfes short Race do rinne The last Decree though being suspended yet That fatall Doome inflicted first for Sinne Though not attended doth not doubted hit And of all Soules the Processe doth beginne For straight when Death arrests the Iudge doth sit For this first Charge all fortifie the Mind As Death vs leaues so Iudgement shall vs find 112 Death each Man daylie sees but none fore-sees The Wage of Sinne the Jubilie of Cares First Iudgement threatned base Corruptions Lees Inheritance which serues all Adams Heires Iust onely Equaller of all Degrees The Charge enjoyn'd for no Respect which spaires What Agues Wounds Thoghts Paines al breathing Breath Are Heraulds Sergeants Vshers Posts of Death 113 Death Doores to enter at and Darts to wound Hath as the Heauen hath Starres or Sea hath Sands What though not sicke not stab'd not choak'd burnt drown'd Age matchlesse Enemie all at last commands O what Designes this Emperour Pale doth bound Built of bare Bones whose Arche Triumphall stands Ah for Ones Errour all the World hath wept The Golden Fruite a leaden Dragon kept 114 Then since Sinnes Hang-man Natures vtter Foe By whom true Lyfe is found Lyfes Shadow lost A thousand Fancies interrupting so When least exspected doth importune most Haste haste your recknings all must pay and go Guests of the World poore Passengers who post And let vs stryue a Change being wyselie made To die alyue that we may liue when dead 115 All thinke whilst sound what Sicknesse may succeed How in the Bed imprison'd yee may be When euery Object Loathsomnesse doth breed Within without that Soule or Eyes can see To trembling Nature which still death doth dread Griefe paints out Horrour in a high degree The Bodie in the Bed Thoughts in it roule The Conscience casting vp a bitter scroule 116 But when externall Powers beginne to faile That neither Tongue can giue nor Eares receaue Friends wretched Comforters retir'd to waile To agonize the soule alone do leaue Which Satan straight with Squadrons doth assaile Being bent to force whom first he did deceaue Who once entys'd then to accuse beginnes To wakened Soules vpbraiding buried Sinnes 117 That fatall Conflict which all Flesh doth feare By helpes from Heauen being foughten past and wonne Whilst it to Heauen triumphing Angels beare This mortall Race magnanimouslie runne As being ordain'd to decke the highest Spheare The Soule shall shine more glorious then the Sunne Whilst cloath'd with Righteousnesse a Priest a King Hell where thy Victorie Death where thy Sting 118 O when to part GOD doth the Soule permit Rais'd from her Shell a Pearle for Sion chus'd She recollects accomplish'd ere she flit Her Faculties amidst fraile Flesh diffus'd As Iudgement Reason Memorie and Wit Being all refyn'd no more to be abus'd Then parts in Triumph free from Earthlie Toyles Yet longs perchance to gather vp her Spoyles 119 Let all those Plagues smoakes of our Makers Ire Make all in time their inward State reforme Those Plagues of which loe euen to sing I tyre Ah what do those who beare their vglie Forme Yet they but kindlings are of endlesse Fyre And litle drops which do fore-goe a Storme Looke looke with Clouds Heauens Bosome else doth swell To blow the Wicked to the lowest Hell The second Houre THE ARGVMENT THat threatned Time which must the World appall Is that all may amend by Signes fore-shown Warres rumor'd are the Gospell preach'd ou'r All Some Jewes conuert the Antichrist is known Deuils rage Vyce raignes Zeale cooles Faith failes Starres fall All sorts of Plagues haue the last Trumpet blown And by prodigious Signes may plaine appeare That of the Sonne of Man the Signe drawes neare 1 THough thundring down those who transgresse his Lawer And with Disdain his Bountie do abuse As Adamants do Irne Repentance drawes The LORD to loue Those whom he first did chuse A Space retir'd from the tempestuous Waues The Port of Mercie must refresh my Muse Whose ventrous Flight all Loftinesse must leaue And plainly sing what all Men should conceaue 2 The LORD delights not in a Sinners death But Sheep which stray toyles to recouer still To please a Sonne who had deseru'd his Wrath His Calfe long fed the Father straight did kill Not
GODS Sight That he in Darkenesse fall the Light who flies And O this is the vttermost of ill When GOD doth giue one ou'r to his owne Will 40 This Aduersarie of CHRISTS heauenly Word He should himselfe extoll by Sathans Wit Ouer All that is call'd GOD or is ador'd And of Iniquitie no Meanes omit Though worthy of the World to be abhorr'd He in the CHVRCH of GOD as GOD shall sit This Hypocrite huge Mischiefe borne to breede Should looke like GOD yet proue a Deuill indeede 41 This Mysterie of Sinne which GOD doth hate Euen in Pauls Time beganne and since endur'd Yet could not then be known till from the Gate That which then stopt was raz'd and it assur'd The Romane Empire then it was so Greate That of lesse States the Luster it obscur'd The Let which then remain'd being once remou'd This ANTICHRIST the next Aspirer prou'd 42 That spirituall Plague which poysons many Lands Is not the Turke nor Mahomet his Saint Nor none who to crosse CHRIST directly stands He whom the Spirit takes such great Paine to paint It must be one who in the Church commands No Foe confess'd but a Professour faint For if All did him know None would him know Fain'd Friends false Foes may whom they will ou'rthrow 43 Ere that Day come which should the Iust adorne And shall discouer euery secret Thought The ANTICHRIST whose Badge whole Lands haue borne The Prophet false which lying Wonders wrought The Beast with the blasphemous Mouth and Horne Shall be reueal'd and to Confusion brought For Causes hid though GOD a Space spare some Their Iudgements are the heauier when they come 44 The shamelesse Whore which sits vpon seuen Hills Whose Sight lasciuious riotously roules Whose Wine doth make Kings drunke snares thousands will The Deuils chiefe Baud adulterating Soules The Cup of Wrath that filthy Strumpet filles Whose boundlesse Lust no Law no Time controules That stumbling Blocke by whom so many fell Shall once burne here and euer in the Hell 45 The Part where now that Whore her Court doth hold Vile Habylon abominable Towne Where euery thing euen Soules of Men are sold Low in the Dust to lie shall be brought down Her Nakednesse all Nations shall behold And burne that Body which their Soules did drown Whore as she sow'd so shall she reape huge Euills Of the Worlds Mistresse made a Den of Deuils 46 Flie faithfull Christians from that Sea of Sinne Who hate the Whore and the two horned Beast Flie flie in time before their Griefe beginne Lest as their Pleasures so their Plagues you taste When as the Lambe the Victorie doth winne He of fat things will make his Flocke a Feaste This Cloud dispers'd the Sunne shall shine more bright Whilst Darkenesse past endeeres the present Light 47 Now in the dangerous Dayes of this last Age When as he knowes that CHRIST to come prepares The Deuill shall like a roaring Lyon rage And to catch Soules shall set a thousand Snares He gainst GODS Saintes twise deadly Warres shall wage Whilst some Presumption tempts and some Despaires If that this Time not shortned were deceau'd GODS chosen Children hardly could be sau'd 48 Some for a glorious Vse who once did serue As Starres to Eyes cleare Lights of Soules esteem'd Loe stumbling Blockes from their first Course doe swerue Not what they were else were not what they seem'd Such justly damn'd Lights Foes as they deserue From Darkenesse more shall neuer be redeem'd Church Angells all all for Examples vse So that their Fall doth many thousands bruise 49 Men so the World shall loue Religion hate That all true Zeale shall in Contempt be brought The spirituall Lights Eclipse shall grow so greate That Lies the Truth Truth shall a Lie be thought Yet some shall weigh their Works at such a Rate As they Themselues not CHRIST their Soules had bought All just to seeme not be their Thoughts shall bend Not bent to edifie but to contend 50 Some Signes are gone which registred were found To rouze the World before that dreadfull Blast But Ah what All now see and I must founds I wish they were to come or else were past Those Signes those Sinnes I sing do warne shall wound This Age too ag'd and worthy to be last It Signes that shadow'd were doth so designe I must historifie and not diuine 51 The Deuils last charge to shunne CHRIST gaue aduyce Since all the World would be seduc'd by Lies He now whilst all adore their owne Deuyce Taints all mens Hearts or else vpbraides their Eyes The Froth of Vertue and the Dregs of Vice Which onely last the Worlds last Period tryes So high a point Impietie doth winne Not grieu'd no not asham'd men bragge of Sinne. 52 Men with Themselues so much in loue remaine That Rich without and poore within being worne They if not gorgeous Garments do disdaine Though the first badge of Bondage which was borne Yet pampred Bodies famish'd Soules retaine Which seeke the Shadow and the substance scorne Ere high aduanc'd all once must humble proue Those first themselues must loath whom GOD will loue 53 The Greatest number now prophanely sweares And dare to Brawle or Iest name GOD in vaine Yet that Heauen Thunder or Earth burst not feares Lest so they crush'd or swallowed should remaine Some vomit forth polluting purer Eares That what them first may others after staine A filthie Tongue and a blasphemous Mouth Of Sathans Seed doe showe a mighty Growth 54 That Auarice which the Apostle told When as the World declynes Mens Mindes should sway Doth rage so now that euen their GOD for Gold Not onely Men Men in our time betray To Sathan some for gaine their Soules haue sold Whilst what their Hearts hold Trueth their Words gain-say By Ethnickes once those must condemn'd remaine Who change Religion Earthlie things to gaine 55 What Age ere this so many Children saw Who with their Parents O vnhappie Stryfe Plead still at Law though wronging Natures Law And helpe to haste their Death who gaue them Lyfe Now Vertuous Words to vitious Deeds do draw The Loue of GOD is rare of Pleasure ryfe This Darkenesse showes that it drawes nere the Night Sinne it must shortly fall since at the hight 56 Then euen the most of Miserie to make The Soules of some which still being euill grow worse All Sence quyte lost in Sinne such pleasure take That frozen Myndes can melt in no remorse No threatned Terrours can their Conscience wake Sinne hath so much the Spirit so litle force No Physick for the Sicke which liue as sound A Sore past sense doth shew a deadly wound 57 As such a Burden it did burst to beare Through Horrour of our Sinnes the Earth doth shake And shall it selfe oft-tymes asunder teare Ere CHRIST his Iudgement manifest doth make Or else I know not if it quake for feare Of that great Fyre which should it shortly sacke The liuing Earth to moue dead Earth doth moue Yet earthlie Men then
hight That the last part on this Worlds Stage was shown Else to vpbraid as a prodigious sight Them who did haste what bent to haue ouer-thrown And others all thus rais'd more glad do ryse Of Soules birth once then of their Bodies thryse 106 There come those two from whence no Flesh can know Yet not more soone then whom fraile Eyes saw dead Of which as Types one to each World did show That Mortalls might be straight Immortall made Grosse Bodies mount and some Death not ouerthrow A Laberinth whence Nature none can lead In most euill tymes most good to be mark'd so Those did from hence mans common Way not go 107 That godly man by GOD judg'd Iust to be Translated was that he might not see Death Being Death to him his LORD despis'd to see Whilst poysond with vile Mens blasphemous Breath Or else at last from Pangs and Horrours free He priuiledg'd from all the signes of Wrath Did part not die from Sinne not Life estrang'd Soules must remoue else haue their lodging chang'd 108 Whilst him saue GOD who ought disdain'd to feare Vile Baals Scourge of Kings who scorn'd the Ire With flamming Steeds a burning Coach did beare The Wind being Wagoner an Angell Squire Twix this grosse Globe and the celestiall Spheare Zeale did triumph euen as it fought with Fyre That Heauen and Earth both might his Glory know As earst his Toyles when but contemn'd below 109 As where he liue or lyes to turne or stay To dispute easie is hard to conclude The LORD perchance committed him to Clay As one with whom He on Mount Tabor stood Else not dissolu'd but changd when borne away And some thinke kept apart yet to do good For without all no Saints perfected be The Maide-borne-bodie so Heauens onely see 110 A loude Alarme still doubling from aboue The Word Eternall may make Breath abound All this vaste Circuit doth a Trumpet proue Whose Concaue wastes not but maintaines the sound At the first blast nought else saue it did moue As drearie Silence had prepard the ground But till all Eares be fill'd it higher swells A horrid Echo roaring from the Hells 111 Those guiltie Soules what further comfort shields From sleepe whose Conscience with the Bodie stares Then when they see as Grasse ouer all the fields Men grow about them O what frozen Hearts Earth labour'd long a Monstrous Haruest yeelds Which straight Heauens Husband loe grindes sifts and parts Who can but thinke how such endure this sight And yet what they attend makes it seeme light 112 He who them hates that he should others grace Both Grief and Enuie tortures them at once Of two who rest companions in one place One pleas'd doth joy the other desp'rat moues One parts as pointed for Eternall Peace The other sign'd for paine stayes howles and grones Thus of the Godlies good the first degree Is from the wicked that they parted be 113 Those Creatures who still sound did neuer fall That fatall Summons do no sooner heare Then those whom it forth from the Dust doth call Where they had slept euen manie a hundreth yeare Soules lodgings thus which had bene ruin'd all Straight builded then first perfect do appeare The Iust they first the Reprobat last moue Which bide below whilst others flie aboue 114 Those Temples then which not dissolu'd still stay A Mysterie difficult to conceaue All debt of death not dying shall defray The other life being com'de ere this them leaue The Bodies then all frailtie burn'd away Being quintessenc'd new qualities receaue Which though still quicke yet in their Sinnes being dead Ere mortall prou'd shall be Immortall made 115 If oft to gaze a multitude remaines To hold his Court whilst it some Prince attends Who still being mette with many stately Traines Doth make a Musters of imagin'd friends As by small Brookes a Flood swolne when it raines Till that on him it seemes the World depends That Pomp to all a reuerent aw imparts And strykes with Terrour Malefactours Hearts 116 Thinke with what glory CHRIST must wondring wonne Whilst thundring Terrour and yet lightning Grace He might come clad with Starres crown'd with the Sunne But to his brightnesse such as base giue place His court at first of heauenly Hostes begunne From hence enlarg'd is in a litle space O what strange noyce doth all the World rebound Whilst Angells sing Saints shout and Trumpets sound 117 My rauish'd Soule transcending Reasons reache So earnest is to surfet on this sight That it disdaines what may high thoughts empeach Whilst mounting vp to Contemplations hight Which flight so farre doth passe the power of speech That only Silence can pursue it right And that my Spirit may be refresh'd that way It must a space amidst dombe Pleasures stray FINIS
A ♡ DOOMES-DAY OR THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORDS IVDGEMENT BY Sr. WILLIAM ALEXANDER KNIGHT AH Printed by ANDRO HART and are to be solde at his shop on the North-side of the high Street a litle beneath the Crosse ANNO DOM 1614 TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE ROBERT Viscount Rochester Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of his Majesties most honourable priuy Councell THAT the World may haue some publicke testimonie of that priuat loue which your Vertues long since had begotten with my thoughts my Lord this is a small sparke flowne from a great Flame towardes you whose glory is that you onely of all the subjects of this Isle haue the Altar of your honour adorned with offrings from both the Nations in this kind as if your Worth were the Center where both our affections should meete making an vnion in minds a course both worthy of the credite of your place and of your estimation with the world Who more great with Augustus then Mecoenas none so great with the Muses This subject may be thought by some of too melancholicke a Nature for your youth and state but yet is vnnecessarie for neither it may serue for that Macedonians Page who vsed euery Morning to call to him PHILIP thou must die though not so importunatly vrging yet when looked on it is a dumbe remembrer both of death judgement of all what was in the World of what is likely to be when it ends But long may you liue your Fortune still striuing to equall your Worth your Worth to exceed your Fortune and the World to admire both both being ripe before your yeares This for the present is but like vnripe fruits an imperfect piece wrested from a mind many wayes distracted involued in doubtfull designes the successe of some whereof I hope hereafter hauing purchased me fame from the World who for that effect will leaue no way of worth within the compasse of my power vnattempted may make me the more able to communicat it with another for none can giue what he hath not himselfe alwayes I purpose when my mind is more calme to end this Worke but neuer that desire which I haue To serue your Honour S. WILLIAM ALEXANDER To. Sr. W. A. LIKE Sophocles the hearers in a trance With Crimson Cothurne on a stately Stage If thou march forth where all with pompe doth glance To moue the Monarches of the Worlds first Age Or if like Phoebus thou thy Selfe aduance All bright with sacred Flames known by Heauēs Badge To make a Day of Dayes which scornes the Rage Whilst when they end it what should come doth Scance Thy Phoenix-Muse still wing'd with VVonders flies Praise of our Brookes Staine to old Pindus Springs And who thee follow would scarce with their Eyes Can reach the Spheare where thou most sweetlie sings Though string'd with Starres Heauēs Orpheus Harpe enrolle More worthy Thine to blaze about the Pole WILLIAM DRVMMOND A DOOMES-DAY OR THE GREAT DAY OF the Lordes Iudgement The first Houre THE ARGVMENT GOD by his workes demonstratiuely prou'd His Prouidence impugning Atheisme vrg'd The Deuills from Heauen from EDEN Man remou'd Of guiltie Guestes the World by water purg'd Who never sinn'd to die for Sinne behou'd Those who him scourg'd in Gods great wrath are scourg'd Some temporall Plagues and feareful Iudgements past Are cited bere as Figures of the last 1 THou of whose Power not reach'd by Reasōs hight The Sea a Drop we Earth a Mote may call And for whose Trophees stately to the sight The Azure Arke was rear'd although too small And from the Lamp of whose most glorious light The Sunne a sparke weake for weake eyes did fall Breath thou a heauenly Furie in my brest I sing the SABBOTH of eternall rest 2 Though All in all defin'd by nought confin'd O thou whose Feet the Cloudes for Dust afford Whose Voyce the Thunder and whose Breath the Wind Whose Foot-stoole Earth Seate Heauen Workes of thy Word Guards Hostes of Angels mouing by thy Mind Whose Weapons Famin Tempest Pest and Sword My cloudy Knowledge by thy Wisdome cleare And by my Weaknesse make thy Power appeare 3 Loe rauish'd LORD with pleasure of thy Loue I feele my Soule enflam'd with sacred Fires Thy Iudgements and thy Mercies whilst I moue To publish to the World my Spirit aspires LORD by thy Helpe this Enterprise approue That the Successe may second my Desires Make Sathans race to tremble at my liues And Thine rejoyce while as thy Glory shines 4 Yee blinded Soules who euen in Frailtie trust By moments Pleasures earning endlesse Paine Whilst charg'd with liuing Chaines vile Slaues to Lust Of Earth and earthly till en-earthd againe Heare hold and weigh my Words for once yee must The strange Effects of what I tell sustaine I go to Sing or Thunder in your Eares A Heauen of comfort or a Hell of feares 5 All my transported Thoughts at randone flie As stray'd to search that which they can not find Whilst silent Wondring makes a settled Eye A huge Amazement clouded hath my Mind How some dare scorne as if a fabulous Lie That Those should rise whom Death hath once declin'd And like to Beastes a beastly Life they leade Who nought attend saue Death when they are dead 6 But yet what I admir'd not strange doth seeme When as I heare O Heauens that such should breath That there be Men if Men we may esteeme Tronkes which are voyde of Soules Soules voyde of Faith Who all this World the Worke of Fortune deeme Not hoping Mercy nor not fearing Wraith There is no GOD Fooles in their Harts do say Yet make their Harts their Gods and them obey 7 The glassie Heauens which Glory doth array Are Mirrours of GODS admirable Might There whence forth spreads the Night forth springs the Day He fixt the Fountaines of this temporall light Where stately Starres enstall'd some stand some stray All sparkes of his great Power though small yet bright By what none vtter can no not conceaue All of GODS Glory Shaddowes may perceaue 8 What glorious Lights through crystall Lanternes glance As alwayes burning with their Makers loue Spheares keep one Musicke they one Measure dance Like Influence below like Course aboue And all by Order led not drawne by Chance With Majestie as still in Triumph moue And prodigall of light seeme showting thus Looke vp all Soules and gaze on GOD through vs. 9 This pondrous Masse though oft deform'd still faire Great in our sight yet then a Starre more small Is ballanc'd as a Mote amidst the Aire None knowes how hung yet to no side doth fall And yearely springs growes ripe fades falls rich bare Mens Mother first still Mistresse yet their Thrall It centers Heauens Heauens compasse it both breed Bookes where of GOD the gnorant may reed 10 What ebbes flowes swells and sinkes who constant keepes Which from the Earth burstes in aboundance out As she her Brood would wash or for them weepes
Earth more earthlie proue 58 Whyles in some parts whose Ruines Fame renownes In indignation of her sinfull Seede As Men should do their Eyes the Earth GOD drownes Which those to plague who the first cause did breede Doth vomit Mountaines and doth swallow Townes The Worlds Foundation brangling lyke a Reede Whilst with pale Hearts the panting People thinke That Hell will rise or that the Heauen will sinke 59 One Earth-quake toss'd the Turkes imperiall Heade Dayes sensible but violent some Houres Till in that Towne a monstrous Breach was made As charg'd at once by all the damned Powers I know not whether buried first or deade Troupes seem'd to striue in falling with their Towers Whilst those who stood all trembling did attend That all the World at least themselues should end 60 Twix Rome and Naples once in Enuies Eye What stately Townes did the Worlds Conquerours found Which now we not no not their Ruines spye Being laide more low then leuell with the Ground They with all theirs en-earth'd by Earth-quakes lye Whose Stones drawn downe where Darknesse doth abound Lyke Sisiphus perchance a number roulles Else Dis builds Doungeons for the damned Soulles 61 Late neere those Parts whose Ruines men admire Where Wealth superfluous idle Wonders wrought An Earth-quake strange amazement did acquire A Plaine conceau'd and forth a Mountaine brought Which diuerse dayes disgorged Flammes of Fire And Stones whose Substance was consum'd to nought Hells Fire it seem'd which as GODS Wrath still lights Grown great flamm'd forth vp-braiding Sinners sights 62 Last in this Land our Eyes saw one of late Whose Terrour from some Mindes rests not remou'd Then any else as strange though not so great Not violent but vniuersall prou'd As if of Natures Course the threatned Date All at one Houre this Kingdome trembling mou'd The olde State loathing longing for a new Earth leapes for joy as ready to renew 63 But ah who wakes when rock'd is all this Round Or stryues to stand though euen the Earth thus starts Though GOD doth tosse this Ball till it rebound Who least it part from his Corruption parts Ah that the World so senselesse should be found Both Heauen and Earth do shake but not Mens Hearts Since for his Word the World disdaines to bow Dumbe Creatures do denounce GODS Iudgements now 64 I thinke the Earth by such strange Throwes would tell How much she doth her present State despise Or else all those who in her Bowells dwell Do rouze themselues as readie now to rise Her Bellie thus growne Big doth seeme to swell As one whose Trauell soone should her sur-prise And yet her Brood she Viper-like must free Whose Course must end when Theirs beginnes to be 65 As GOD that Day of Doome striues to make known By Monstrous Signes which may amaze the Mind That Iudgement Great by Iudgements is fore-shown Whilst all the Weapons of his Wrath haue shin'd That others may whilst some rest thus ouer-thrown Stand in the fornace of Affliction fin'd For still the Wretched most Religious proue And oft Examples more then Doctrine moue 66 The Sword of GOD shall once be drunke with Blood And Surfette on the Flesh of thousands slaine Of those who following Euill do flee from Good And scorning CHRIST professe to be prophane From GODS Wine-presse of Wrath shall flow a Flood Which shall with Blood their Horses Bridles staine None may abide nor yet can flie his sight When arm'd with Vengeance GOD doth thundring fight 67 When Father-like GOD chastising his Child Plagu'd alt the Subjectes for their Soueraignes Crime What Thousands then were from the World exild Euen in three Dayes so soone turnes Flesh to Slyme The Earth made waste Men had no more defild Had but one Angell warr'd a litle Time Since by GODS Word the World did made remaine Lesse then his Looke may ruine it againe 68 The Pestilence of Wrath chiefe Weapon thought Which of all Plagues the PLAGVE is onely cald As if All else respecting it were nought It hath so much the Minds of Men appald That Wound by GODS owne Hande seemes only wrought Whose mediat Meanes scarse rest to Reason thrald That which we not conceaue admire we must And in GODS Power aboue our Knowledge trust 69 That poyson'd Dart whose Power none can gaine-stand GOD rarely vs'd in time of greatest Wrath And had it once but brangled in his Hand All trembling stood as twixt the Iawes of Death Then now it selfe the Fame more fear'd this Land Of this great Frensie which infects the Breath A thing thought strange by Habit homely proues What first all Griefe at last all Sense remoues 70 Once in one Age few Dayes and in few Parts The Pest some People to Repentance vrg'd And did with Terrour strike the strongest Harts Whilst his Vine-yard the Heauens great Husband purg'd The Quier of whose Wrath did raine down Darts By which of late what Kingdome was not scourg'd So that Men now not feare that VVhip of GOD Like Boyes oft beaten which contemne the Rod. 71 Lo in this stately Ile admir'd so much What Prouince no what Towne hath not bene pind By that abhorr'd Disease which strikes who touch Whilst Byles the Body Madnesse swells the Mind Ah of some Townes the Anguish hath bene such That All all Hope of safetie had resign'd Whilst Friendes no Comfort gaue no no Reliefe The Sicknesse only not the Death bred Griefe 72 This raging Ague bursts so vgly out Till Men of those whom they loue best are dread Then Danger all in euery thing do doubt Men by the Plague made Plagues as Plagues are fled And are with Horrour compass'd round about When that Contagion through the Aire is spred The Air which first our Breath abus'd doth staine It poyson'd so but Poysons vs againe 73 What thing more wretched can imagin'd be Then is the Towne where once the Botch abounds There not one Sense rests from some Burden free Three doe infect and Two though pure beare Wounds Oft in one Hole Heapes thrown at once we see As where to burie Men fear'd Want of Bounds Yea whilst in Plaintes they spend their plaguie Breath Of all things which are fear'd the least is Death 74 Death whilst no Drogue this Feuers Force ou'rthrowes Oft ere the Patient the Physition claimes The Aire they draw their Heate still higher blowes Till euen what should refresh thus most enflames Of damned Soules the State their Torment showes Who gnash their Teeth as cold whilst Fire enflames And twix their Paines this Difference only winnes Death endes the One the Other but beginnes 75 To plague those Parts where CHRISTS own Troupes do dwell The Angell which destroyes hath most bene bent That whom Words could not moue Wounds may compell Ere Ruine come in Time now to repent By Paine on Earth made thinke of Paine in Hell As this they flie that That they may preuent What can discourage those whome CHRIST doth loue To whom Euill Good Griefe Ioy Death Life doth proue 76 Where
we should alwayes fight the Heauen to gaine By Prayers Plaintes and charitable Deedes To raise vp Earth on Earth our Strength we straine So base a Courage worldly Honour breedes This doth prouoke the Darts of GODS Disdaine By which of some the wounded Conscience bleedes All headlongs runne to Hell whose Way is euen But by a narrow Path are drawn to Heauen 77 Of Vengeance now the Store-house opned stands O what a Weight of Wrath the World now beares Through Terrour straight why tremble not all Lands When GOD in Rage aThrone of Iustice reares And pours down Plagues whilst brandishing his Brands The Pest being past the World next Famine feares Still thinke that Mischiefe neuer comes alone Those who feare more what is the lesse doe moue 78 Since that the World doth loath celestiall Food That spirituall MANNA which Soules Nectar proues By Grace drawn forth from the Redeemers Blood A Gift no Guerdoun giuen to whom he loues Those who terrestriall things thinke only good Them Want shall trie whom no Aboundance moues For Ah of some so fat the Bodies be That of their Soules they not the Leannesse see 79 GODS Creatures oft condemn'd shall once accuse Those who in VVantonnesse them vainly spent And justly what vnjustly they abuse Shall vnto them more sparingly be lent That which they now superfluously vse Shall made a Curse not Natures Neede content A barren Soule should haue a barren Earth Oft temporall Plentie breedes a spirituall Dearth 80 Those in the Dust who still prophanely roule Whose thornie Thoughts do chock that heauenly Seede Which by the Word was sown in euery Soule Shall likewise want what should their Bodies feede What Most they trust shall once their Hopes controule By earthly Hunger heauenly Thirst to breede Thus those like Babes whose Iudgement is not deepe VVho scorn'd a Treasure shall for Triffles weepe 81 What Sauces strange a Fault which Custome clokes To vrge the Bodies Appetit are made Which Natures selfe sufficiently prouokes But of the Soule when carnall Cates it leade The Appetite which Ah euen Nature chokes What Art is vs'd to quicken it when deade VVhen Bodies do too much Soules nought disgest But when the Others fast are fit to feast 82 Base Belly-gods whose Boord is Sathans Bate Whose Iudgements to your Taste rest only thrall The LORD in wrath shall cut away your Meate And for your Honny furnish you with Gall Like lothsome Beasts since you the Acornes eate Yet looke not vp to see from whence they fall Sonnes prodigall who from your Father swerue You keeping worse then Swine shall justly sterue 83 To waken some which sleepe in Sinne as dead The LORD ere CHRIST do come all States to try Since being abus'd shall breake the Staffe of Bread And as we him make Earth vs fruits deny The Corne shall wither and the Grasse shall fade Then to nurce Men being rather bent to die As dutifull to him by whom they breed GODS Creatures pure his Rebels scorne to feed 84 Now in this Tyme which is the last esteem'd The Spirits impure do all in one conspyre And worke that GOD by Men may be blasphem'd To purchase partners of eternall Fire That who should them condemne hath vs redeem'd Makes Enuie blow the Bellowes of their Ire The wicked Angells irritated thus Not seeke their safetie but to ruine vs. 85 More neere doth draw Saluation to the Iust The more the Dragons Mind doth Fnuie wound That Men the Slaues of Death the Sonnes of Dust As Heires of Heauen with Glory should be crown'd And that perpetuall paines they suffer must Though all Immortall to no Bodies bound Nought true repose to the enuious brings Whom their owne harme or others good still stings 86 Mans Foe who first Confusion did deuise By long Experience grown profound in skill Through strength oft try'd our Weaknesse doth despise And knowes what best may serue each Soule to kill He to his part our Passions doth entise And to betray our Wit corrupts out Will Whom GOD not guardes those Satan soone may winne Whilst Force doth charge without and Fraud within 87 That Heire of Hell whom justlie GOD rejects Who sought by subtiltie all Soules to blind Not onely Shafts in secret now directs By Inspirations poysoning the Mind But euen a Banner boldly he erects As this Worlds Prince by publick power design'd From shape to shape this Proteus thus remoues Who first a Foxe and last a Lyon proues 88 He since his Kingdome now should end so soone Doth many Circes and Medeas make That can obscure the Sunne and charme the Moone Raise vp the Dead and make the Liuing quake Whilst they by Pictures persons haue vndone Do giue to some from others substance take Three Elements their tyrannie doth thrall But oft the fourth takes Vengeance of them all 89 Whilst in his Hand the Bolts of Death he beares Still watching Soules the craftie Hunter lyes With inward Fancies and with outward feares Whom he may tempt continuallie he tryes Whyles rumbling Horrour sounds assault the eares Whyles Monstrous Formes paint Terrour in the Eyes He who with GOD euen in the Heauen durst striue Thinkes soone on Earth Mens Ruine to contriue 90 As many did possess'd by Spirits remaine When first CHRIST came Saluation to beginne So lykewise now before he come againe Some Bodies daylie which they enter in By desp'rat meanes would be dispatch'd of paine Else bound in Body loose their Soules to Sinne And if that GOD not interpos'd his Power Straight euery Soule Hells Tyrant would deuoure 91 In some whom GOD permits him to abuse The Lord of Darkenesse doth at diuerse Houres His subtill Substance fraudfullie infuse Till they his Spirit his Spirit their Soules deuoures He as his owne doth all their Members vse And they as Babes with Kniues worke with his Powers O monstrous Vnion Miracle of Euils Which thus with Men incorporates the Deuills 92 When earst in Delphos after vglie cryes The Priestresse Pithia seeming to be sage Big by the Deuill delyuered was of Lies She to the Terrour of that senselesse Age Still panting swolne Hell flamming through her Eyes Roar'd forth Responses by Prophetick Rage She to her LORD whilst prostituted thus An Image was of whom he filles with vs. 93 Of those who are possess'd in such a sort Some to themselues whom Sathan doth accuse They Mad or He in them whyles brag whyles sport And whilst they would the Lookers on abuse Do secrets to themselues not known report And of all Tongues the Eloquence can vse All what each Age deuis'd obseruing still The Deuill knowes much but bends it all to ill 94 O Heauens be hid and lose thy Light O Sunne Since in the World O what a fearefull thing The Deuill of some so great a power hath wonne That what was theirs he doth in bondage bring Then from their Bodie speakes as from a Tunne As sounds from Bells or Floods through Rockes do ring Deare Sauiour ryse and in a Iust disdaine