Ravishment Lay like the Doctors in Astonishment As men rejoyce in a darke Cloudy day To see the Sunne his suddaine Beames display So did they startle at Christs Lightning words Whilst her soft greetings Mary thus affords My loving Sonne why hast thou stayd behind And not as doth thee Natures duty bind Return'd with us Behold I and thy Father Have sought thee sad for three dayes space together Soone as we found thee missing by the way We hither came and sought thee night and Day We searcht with carefull thoughts most diligent The City where we used to frequent With heavy hearts God knows we lookt for thee Whom Christ undaunted answer'd grave and free I st possible that you forget so soone The favours late which God for you hath done Deare mother wot you not that I must goe About my Fathers Businesse t' undergoe More travels yet you know the Prophesies Of Ancient Seers you know the Mysteries Disclosed by the Angell Gabriel That I am sent to ransome Soules from Hell That I must preach to Spirits thrall'd in Jaile My Fathers will which shall o're sinne prevaile You know what meanes Heavens word mens Light Gods Breath From Simeon Anna and Elizabeth And in your selfe the Spirits ravishment Reveales the cause of my Birth and Discent My Fathers zeale so burnt within my breast Against these strayes I could not but contest Whose Oracles of me and many more Your true Beleeving heart layes up in store Although the same as yet you seeme to smother You cannot but remember them good Mother These words of his the blessed Virgin waigh'd And safe them up within her mind she layd Out of the Temple then wtth her he goeth And presently they set for Nazareth Where Mary found his Will with hers agreeing Though Him she held the Authour of her being And her sole Head yet then the Head subjected Unto the Limbes and nothing he rejected To Undergoe in his Minority For their behoofe and best commodity Or murmur'd at which his deare Mother Maide Or Josephs voyce of charge upon him laid But as a Sonne or rather Servant true He yeelds them Honour and Obedience due What they at home or else abroad assign'd Labour or care in Body or in minde As an Apprentice Carpentary Drudge To toyle for them he never once did grudge But wrought his Taske and servile Trade uprighâ— Not needing checkes nor frowning oversight Base idlenesse by Nature he abhorr'd Which made him worke when some as Outlaweâ— roar'd For he accounted meat not duely got If daily for the same he labour'd not He for our sakes sustained poverty To purchase wealth for us and Dignity In this poore plight the curse Christ underwent To earne his bread with sweate and small content Yet what he gain'd would scarce weak Nature feed And it griev'd him to see his friends in need What therefore he of meat earn'd by his sweat The Overplus he gave the Poore to eate Thus Christ shot up in shape and thriv'd in Grace And all Good men lov'd him that saw his face For he preferr'd Gods praise before his owne More prizing Truth then they Judae as Crowne But to describe his worth his modest lookes And qualities would fill up many Bookes The matter farre exceeds my strength and wit My Forme turnes proud except thou temper it O Holy Ghost and curb'st my swelling sense Above fraile Natures botched excellence With humble thoughts Christs Innocence to quote To note his plaine Attire and seamelesle Coat Worne in his Youth but parted since which now To burne as tainting Rage false Christians vow To seeke gay clâ—aâ—hes never did curious Pride Tempt him he onely car'd his skin to hide He knew that Man attir'd in ruffling Robes Begs seldome Grace and vents but faigned sobbes Nor can he shed salt teares our Guardians food Nor well submit for his perpetuall good As for this cause they used heretofore In vilesi weeds Gods Favour to implore He knew that our First Parents bare and poore Went till Figge leaves Coates of Skins they wore Which like these Lâ—nes our Gallants now would scorne For Satan prompts they were more Nobly borne Wherefore to rob their Factours must persever Silke wormes and Beasts for Shamois Plush Bever No Pleasures shape so farre his minde endeares To Idolize the same though young of yeares No Envious Stings nor motions Arrogant Once prickt his heart nor thoughts extravagant For he was so sincere sweete Natur'd mild That none with Passions knew him once defil'd Though from without he often Temptings had As Man while he conversed with the Bad Yet with contempt and a most brave disdaine He past them by not soyled with one staine For as the Sunne the worlds faire radiant Eye Doth Dunghils touch and stinking Jakes survey And yet his Beames escape from tainting free So this blest Youth though he did daily see Notorious sinnes and Beast-like filthinesse Himselfe he kept untoucht from wickednesse He labour'd oft in Childing woman-wise Of our fraile Passions and infirmities He had as Man our Naturall Affects But yet without Excesses or defects And not as we orecome with their delight Or seeming Good or spurr'd on with despight In midst of Darkenesse shone Divinest Light Errour he turn'd to knowledge wrong to Right The words contempt he changed into Grace Fables to Truth our slips to surer pace He did exchange our Lustfull sports to sorrow And on to worke our Humane Natures borrow For Lazarus he shed forth Teares of Griefe And he much Griev'd for Salems unbeleefe Ambition did his Man-heads Fancies raise But that Flight was to raise his Fathers praise His High desires stretcht plyant Soules to win To blissefull Joyes from Sathan death and sinne His mounting sparkes to Magnanimity Extended mixt with zeale and Charity His lofty thoughts aspir'd but to the Crosse That Theater which ransom'd Adams losse He Chastly long'd yea and he lusted too With flames of Love for he the Church did wooe He sought her Love with zealous Oracles Sometimes with teares sometimes with Miracles He Coveted for wealth not worldly wealth But for Eternall Goods mens saving Health He felt within his Soules essentiall Parts Great Joy to heare of True Beleevers hearts For barbed Steed he chose a bare-backt Asse Fishers for Mates for Pallace the Low Grasse He burn'd with wrath when he drove from Gods House Those Huckesters out whom he with whips did touze But his short wrath converted into zeale Not for Revenge but for the sinners weale He seem'd to grudge or Envy at the Priests Because he saw them live like Antichrists He much repin'd that Purenesse went to wracke That Satans sway did keepe Gods Kingdome backe He languished with Feares and Agonies The night before his deaths Extremities But those deepe Feares sprung of weake natures sense Not of Despaire or want of Innocence So from our Passions Christ as Mithridate Of Vipers wrought good Motions New begat For Jewish Thalmuds he the Gospel taught For their Old
faign'd To sundry Courts for many miles constrain'd Through thicke and thin to travell for small cause Vnder pretext to answer breach of Lawes To lose their precious time and spend the same In strife which Christ injoyn'd to Holy flame To satisfy Officialls greedy willes More than need is for moulture to their Mills As our King James of famous memory With lightning glaunce checkt this foule injury Our coyne by bribing Tongues grows scant of late And men for want of meanes waxe desperate How many Motions do some make in vaine And endlesse Pleas with in ward joy retaine Such Sophisters in Paper-length to draw And spin rich Suites will white the blackest Dâ—w And blurre the Candor of the holyest man But seldome helpe to save the weake and wan But O! are not those Christians whom they gull Christians they are O worldlings whom ye Lull A sleepe to feed upon like Canniballs They looke not like those Popes or Cardinalls Or those great mighty men whose flesh and Soules Are to be prey'd on by the Mysticke Foules At Gods triumphant Supper No these are Your Brethren whom to pill and poll ye dare Like to the Aierie fiends typ'd by those foules Who feed upon the jarres of carnall Soules On whose weake passions wits and fits ye work Whilst under Sugred Pills doth danger Iurke Who knowes not that the fiends of Hell rejoyce At these your broiles to heare your screaming noise Therefore repent before thâ—s waning light â—huts up the world with terrours of the Night Be sparing of your Crotchets for his sake Who spar'd not on himselfe our sinnes to take Let to your brawles sixe months a period fixe Submit to friends award without Law-trickes Or costly fees what ye suggest for wrong Not vaunting of a Mercenary tongue I need not warne our Gravest Counsellours Who for the New-man spend more pretious houres In grieving at debates then taking Fees For they decline Gods wrathfull cup of Lees But I exclaime and raise with Hue and Cry My Wits against our Petty-fogging fry Those Mountebankes that Hollow-hearted crue Which cogge with Truth and stir up Guls to sue Who make no Conscience in an honest cause To vexe Good men and scandalize the Lawes Such men I onely blurre Let Honey Bees Live by their painefull Hire and well-gain'd Fees I envy not their Station nor their store But pray that they in Grace grow more and more I wish to them all Happinesse and Joy That they with Love their Labours fruite enjoy For unto such our Patriots Common-weale Can not more portions then they merit deale Yea those ripe silver haires I honour most Who with good Lawes helpe to entrench Gods host From raving Ravening Wolves which but for them Had long since spoyl'd our Tents stil contemne Our Clergies Rites reform'd and their intents Supported by our Christian Parliaments These were indeed the Champions of our State Against Romes Bulles and the degenerate From their Allegeance to our Native Prince They Abbots sloth and Legates did convince By casting out Romes painted Wares and Trash For which brave Act and memorable Lash Besides the Gospels Light God yet is pleas'd To leave their Ranke a prop for the diseas'd So some are blest with an Immortall Lot Whilst uselesse Drones like shooting Meteors rot They merit too in Britaines Orbe to shine Like Starres that move in the Eclipticke Line Who waigh the Lawes with Reason Right and Ruth And at the first acquaint men with the Truth What the Event will be what danger lies For daring Justice with surmized Lies And specially those Lawyers I commend Who Clients suites with expedition end Scan well my Lawes ye Masters of the Law And ye that be their Clients stand in awe Of Judgement justly due for your dis-union For your contempt of Love and Christian Vnion Be slow to wrath speake faire doe good to all Forgive your foes and raise up them that fall Look that false Mammons wiles tempt not your zeale Lest for your bribes Astraeas Common-weale Grow to contempt like that Monasticke state Of Ghostly forme which ye supprest of late Through many tongues the devill moves despight And yet may seeme an Angell of the Light That Spirit which through Ahabs Prophets spake Now tempts most men in falshood to partake And likewise workes in nimble factious pates That they for cursed hire spread more debates Which but for their suggestions would expire Or dormant lye as under ashes Fire God loves a mild a free and open heart Which melts like wax to see his neighbors smart As I went on our discords to attone My Zeale broke forth into a Prophets Tone Unkennell ye that old and crafty Fox Whom having catcht cease not to thumpe box Him other whiles If for the Palsies griefe To nose his scent ye yeeld him some releife Be sure in Chaines to keepe him alwayes bound For if let loose and he abroad be found Your tender Lambes the hope of all your flocke Can never scape nor well endure the shocke Of his slye trickes O therefore let him now Be wisely lookt unto that he may bow Make roome for Lambes from spoyle and theft secure Wash rince and scoure and keep your vessels pure Flay not Christs sheepe but feed them without strife As he for you hath sacrific'd his life Let none Gods place of judgement undertake For Coine but for true zeale Conscience sake Let none for wealth accept a Benefice For the Soules gaine was Christ his chiefest prize Let Dives bid his golden gods avant Cashiering quite all things extravagant Let Christian Dames leave off the Peacockes traine And now resume their modest Garbes againe Let Souldiers of the Fort Ship Tent or Toung Live with their hires content not offering wrong Let them of all degrees both Old and Young Both High and Low of Sexes weake and strong Let all Repent before th' Eternall Day Breakes forth which shortly without more delay Will fatally conclude their civill jarres Their greedy wiles their Pomp and bloody wars But put the case that Day comes not so soone As Fooles conceive yet Orbed like the Moone Mans braine receives the forme of glistering notions Except betimes he curbes the Old mans motions Whence if they break through those Ideaes roome Into the Heart there Idols they become The New man is sent backe by Carnall sinnes As was Gods Arke by Dagons Philistines And in his Place those Puppets he observes Whom more then Christ he loves oftner serves Thus Worldlings wise in darkenesse roame about As well as they whose Light strife hath put out The Way unto Gods Paradise is streight Narrow and steepe to which transcendent height Fraile flesh and blood must not ascend unlesse The Soule be in this world purg'd more or lesse By twofold Flames whereof the one Hels paine Resembles th' other heates with zeale the Braine Like as the Body growes in Quantity And in the Fourefold Humours Quality So the New man shootes up drawes us to grace If we doe
stop the Old mans wily race Deatb Crownes a Saint and none can dy in Christ Except he living here become his Priest For Gods Elect must lead a Righteous Life Subject to Christ as to her head the Wife She knowes no male but one she stands in Aw Yet loves him deare and his Advice is Law Sweet heart quoth he lose not the mornings Prime But as Christ thee doe thou redeeme the Time With Prayers Zeale true Love and Fruitfull Deeds For of ten thousand Soules scarce one well speeds Now he that hath discretion in his pate Must marke these Maximes ere it be too late When strife for Love dreames we take for watching When Praise for Preyes and Grace we looke for Catching And when from Fasts we fal to Feasts and bibbing Then Abbaes streame stayes in the lowest Ebbing Our Advocate craves it to flow againe The Father yeelds and so to every veine Their streame flowes faire untill our changling fooles Have sought to other Streames from Muddy Pooles The Trinity then loathing Braines so sicke Their Motions stop and men dye Lunaticke From which Relapse Distrust and Lunacy Blesse we our selves as from Apostacy If I speake well or rave with puft up Learning Judge they who have the Spirit of Discerning In the meane time keepe we Gods Trumpets Feast And watch till it shall summon us to Rest. All Feastes expir'd in Christs his Oracles Or were exchang'd for our Soules Spectacles In memory to keepe our Saviours Name The Blessed Virgins and th' Apostles Fame With watch against the brats of Antichrist Which beare Christs Name but not the markes of Christ. To blaze these Newes I finde none more Divine Then Epiphanius and Saint Augustine Since the decease of those good Fishermen Which toyl'd to free soules from the Devils den For he that markes them blazing Heretickes May soone convince our moderne Catholickes Who were baptiz'd and styl'd Regenerate Went out from us but since degenerate Christs Oracles next to th' Apostles Time Shone as bright starres six hundred yeares in prime But afterwards by Pompe and Sodomy They were left Breathlesse for Anatomy Yet to the Spirits Feast of Shavelings slighted Our West hath beene by Prophets late invited To cleanse Christs Church from Superstitious Feasts Proclaiming Truth against the Mounted Beasts Mysterious charmes Soule-gulling Merchandize Which Gospel seem'd till Wickliff prov'd them lies Truthes Oracles which Antichrist supprest Are freely now in our owne Tongue exprest Each Parable made plaine to Babes reveal'd And every Mysticke Leafe lyes now unseal'd In spight of the Red Dragons Floud and Fraud And maugre all the Trickes of Babels Baud So that we may unlesse our Riots let Escape and breake out of the Hunters Net Strange Fires croaking noise from Balaams lips Cannot dash out our Light nor yet eclipse Those Rayes whereby the murthered Lamb of late Cheares up his Faithfull Bride and Sions state Relying on his Ayd and powerfull Arme His Spirit warmes and keeps from Leaguers harm But clandestine and by sly cheating trickes Some winne more Games to Babels Meretrix He that deceived Eve by subtill Traine Would our returne into her stewes againe Perswade By Sions Rents they shortly hope To blurre our Church and re-invest the Pope With his Old Keyes and with his Golden Crosse In Gods owne Temple Graces to ingrosse And for small cause to excommunicate Nay for neglect of Fees to shut Heavens Gate They hope to put by Satans Tares late sowne Our Laymens ward of Premunire downe But why cast I such Goblin doubts abroad When the Last Knell determines our aboad Our short aboad on Earth O let us then Repent and waile our sinnes deare Country-men Let us renew whilst that it is to Day Our Sacrifice and vowes of Love repay Oft musing on Saint Paules advice that now We Christ no more after the flesh must know But as it were in traunce the New-mans way To waigh his Crosse and Passion every day The Service which belongs to Him alone Withdraw not from that All-sufficient One By kneeling to our fellow-servants downe For Ghostly helpe who saved but their owne Deare Soules by vertue of that Costly Blood Which on the Crosse was shed for our joynt good If we beleeve as Saints have done before us In Christ alone Hels sting can never gore us Thinke on my words O ye backe-sliding Soules Who pay to Saints your vows like Market Tolles Thinke on your owne and Christ his painefull death The Judgement day and gaping hell beneath Our dayes are few Times period is at hand And Christ his Arke will shortly saile from Land The waves of sinne swell high Love growne too cold In most mens Hearts Mens ruines doth unfold True Faith for want of more Devotions heat Exiled pleads before Gods Judgement seate Against Mankind as at the Flood of Noah To plague the world with flames worse annoy Mens hearts are hardned like the Fiends of Hell For if a Prophet doe sinnes doome foretell Disswading them from Broiles O how they swell At the Good man with rage and passions fell Imposing for his paines Rackes shackles shame Or silencing or blacking his good Name Before Doomes-day this darke Prodigious fault Must follow next upon the Whores assault For though the Church Triumphant doth rejoyce To see her Fall our Jarres supplant our Joyes And so instead of Psalmes to Heaven sent We temporize or with her Complement Awake therefore ye watch-men with your flocke Lest you and they be hurld against the rocke Of scandall to our Churches infamy Ending in Schismes Broyles or Phlebotomy Thinke on the Fowles which ere the Sunne did set Abram had watcht and then huge darkenesse met Awake I say out of your slumbring sleepe Look to your charge in time Christs wandring sheep Behold our Soules great Shepherd is at hand Though some are loath the Signes to understand The last dayes Bell or Clocke of Mortals time Be watchfull ye were best will shortly chime Christ shortly comes the Faithfull to requite And to confound our Mysticke Gyants might No Tyrants threats no double tongue will serve Fee nor Reward the guilty to preserve Gods Darts like Comets threate our Westerne Orbe And Justice will the Austrian faction curbe Gods Angell now beginnes to goe about To warne before Doomes-day the Christian Rout Already hath his Holy Trumpets sounded Christ shortly comes to save the sick and wounded Watch Fast and Pray and cheare up one another This is Gods will by Christ our Elder Brother His warning peale rung forth unto the Jewes But scorn'd by them he left to us these Newes Because they slighted what they might have held The Word of Life the Light which they beheld The Lord remov'd his precious Candlesticke Clear'd others sight and left them blind and sick The Obstinâ—te I meane not all of them For some beleev'd before Jerusalem Demolisht lay yea thousands were baptiz'd Both then and since of the Crew Circumciz'd Some Jewes baptiz'd were by th' Apostles some At Christ
O God most Just and for his sake we trust Thou of meere Grace wilt us repute as Just Before we be by Satan crusht Before our Bones lye in the dust Now is the Time or never to us ayd For after death when we in earth are layd What Sacrifice what Offering wilt thou have Thy Christ hath ransom'd us and thou dost crave No more then his deserts to save Sinners from Hels devouring grave Christ is our Head him onely we adore Christ is the Saint whose helpe we still implore Christ is the Light which harts more cold then Ice Hath warm'd and chear'd by the Soules Exercise Christ is the Lambe that paid the price To Justice due for humane vice This Sacrifice regardfull of the strife Twixt Heaven Earth for our sicke soules releife Most gracious Lord we to thy Grace present Not to fulfill Romes Amulets intent Or unction charm'd for Sacrament But with pure Faith Loves Balme to vent Both which thou hast from Heaven sent Both which on Earth yeeld thee content Amen The Second Dayes EXERCISE The Argument The Mystery explain'd of Christ his Birth Why he came poore and strange to Carnall Mirth Here they are toucht who soile his Feastivalls With Riot Pomp or drunken Bacchanalls THe Scribe of late who blaz'd the Churches state From Christs Ascent till this yeares present date Now represents a more Soule-quickning part And to win strayes drops on the stony heart Alluring them by sacred charmes to watch And waite on Him who made poore Bethlems cratch Borne there without Male-Sire in Judaes Land Like Daniels Mountaine-Stone cut without hand More glorious than the Romane Capitoll Or Rhodes Colosse in the Sev'n Wonders Roll. For this sweet Trance to rebaptize the Will To rowze the Braine the Soule with zeale to fill Draw Christians neere and view the Stable-Cratch Where lay the Virgins Son Draw neere dispatch And humbly greet this Heav'ns Earths umpeere Whose Joyfull Feast good Christians every yeere Do solemnely renew for twelve Dayes space Till that bright Starre ends at his Native place Wisemen they were who did this Light partake Led by that Flame which through the Prophets spake Had we their Star or Iacobs Staffe for Guide Diviner Dreames our Fancies would betide We might then hope with safety and with Ease To passe the Spanish Straights and Mid-land Seas In spite of Moorish Pirates or Algiere And without feare of Turkes to domineere Till we arriv'd at last on Joppaes Strand And so from thence survey that Holy Land Where dwelt sometime a Shepheard Royaliz'd Out of whose Ligne Our Saviour Humaniz'd The second Adam our soules Shepheard came As well from God as from Just Abraham But how cam'st thou quoth Zeale to found out Truth In tuned forme a worke for Joviall Youth No humane skill can ancient yeares exchange From whence then spring these Tunes these motions strange In thee whose Beard bewrayes that Melancholy Strives to supplant the sanguine humour wholy He that inspir'd poore Fishermen to rowle Deep Mysticks with New Tongues and to enrowle For after-times his Gifts on them conferr'd Hath now fresh Heat into my veines transferr'd To scare the Proud to cure the crazed Foole Like that which sometimes stirr'd Bethesdaes poole He guided me to Bethlem Nazareth To Jordan Salem and Gennesâ—reth Whence by Christs Birth Deeds Crosse and rising up From death to Life we cheere up Soules that droop For there is no distemper nor disease But if we fixe on Christ we shall find ease Christ paid the Price for our infirmities Christ onely is the New mans Sacrifice To honour Him with Soule-rapt Extasie God breath'd in me sweet-working Poesâ—e Slight not then Readers my conceites but heare With spungy eares what I deliver here God grant that these work more sung of his Sonne Then all my former workes and I have done Old things are done we must be borne anew Rise Libertine and Christ his Birth renew Rise up thou lazy Soule thou pampred Sot T is neere Sun-set leave we this sensuall Cot For Castawayes who spend their time in pleasure And cannot in a yeare find one dayes leasure To meditate upon Christ crucifyed With humble thoughts and vessels sanctifyed Nor on Christs Birth how that his Incarnation Availes us more than Adams first Creation O why came he into the world a stranger And would be borne in a poore homely Manger Why did the Lord of Lords himselfe abase To take on him our faults but to give place To Justice which equality requir'd Which to shame Pride harmoniously desir'd Gods Righteous Zeale did satisfaction aske But Man could not performe so great a taske The infinite high Wisdome was offended And for a price as infinite intended The whole world shooke the Elements did warre The Planets starres and humours fell to jarre All chang'd their former course The Sun lookt pale Fiends into Hell were like Mankind to hale There were but two and they from goodnesse fell How could their Race then be but slaves to Hell Soft hasty wit I saw the New man comming Just at their Fall to curbe the Devils cunning I saw their Griefe their Penitence and Crosse I saw Gods Grace Conditionall after Losse I saw Gods Seale of Pardon for their Sinnes When their bare Limbs he cloth'd with Coates of Skinnes For when our Parents sinn'd they were asham'd Shâ—me wrought remorse Then Christ Gods Mercy claim'd The second of the Glorious Trinity Tooke pitty on Mans losse of unity The Word that spake when Light and Life began Claim'd share of Grace for his Reformed Man As a Just Sire and his Mild wife do treat How their lewd Child they might reclaim or beat So Justice did and Graâ—e expostulate What should become of Adam and his Mate Justice alleadg'd their voluntary Fall But Grace oppos'd the Serpents Charmes and Gall The One protested Death but the kinde Other Sought with Gods Love the sting of Sinne to smother The One did Man a Turne-coat Traâ—tour name The Other on his Frailty layd the blame The One Mans wicked Thoughts insisted on The Other Mans Repentance stood upon Justice strict Law but Grace against Laws Scourgâ— Gods Court of Conscience did most strongly urge And sweetly pray'd her Sister not to ranke Mankind with Fiends for One though mortall Prank This Matter then of mighty consequence Betwixt them Both yet standing in suspence With various Pleas concerning our Salvation Or in Hells Flames our finall Reprobation The Virgins two did mutually agree To compromit the same to Gods Deâ—ree On which Suspence these Glorious Attributes With Zeale and Love concluded their Disputes Th' Almighty then consulted not with any Of Angels Ranke though there he had full many Not for their Zeale with Seraphins approv'd Nor Cherubins though them he dearely lov'd They Spirits were but of a Creatures mould Then mystickly the Father did unfold The Matter to his Sonne and Holy Ghost Gods Honour sav'd how Man might not be lost Nor left depriv'd of Light and Favour
whoâ—ly Like those proud Angels darkned for their Folly There was no way to make Legitimate Mans Bastard slips nor to repaire our state With Faiths Free-will Divine and absolute Of whose essentiall Forme Some now dispute There was no way for Adam nor his Seed Nor Nature left to do this Glorious Deed Since that the vapour of the Dragons Gall Had fouly blackt their Gifts Organicall There was no way this worke to bring to passe But by Regeneration to deface The sting of sinne and by a New-made Creature Borne of the Spirit and of Humane Nature To do Gods will which Adam fail'd to doe One that could live here poore and patient too Voyd of sâ—nne spleene and thoughts deformitieâ— Voyd of all guile and lustfull vanities One that could fixe his Faith on God alone Of Power earth with Heaven to attone One that could breake the Devils combinations One that could brook the triall of Temptations One who mankind was able to renue And with New gifts their nature to endue Yea such a one that could endure the rod Of his for Sinnes of men displeased God And that partaking of Divinity Could with the Head unite Humanity And lastly One that able was to tread Downe sâ—nnes delight the wily Serpents Head This Raresâ— One the Trinity did see Could not among Mens Race nor Angels be For the brightest Angels unfaithfull prov'd And the best men were bad though well belov'd To satisfy Gods wrath there needed then A Higher power for the Sinnes of men To sacrifice before their full attonement No Blood of Beâ—sts could make this reconcilement No Prayers made to Angels Starres nor Saints No Purging Flames could stint sad Soules complaintes No Dove-like Sighes nor Cataract of Teares No Fasts nor Hermits Garbs could ease their fears Not Incense not the blood of all the World Nor all their merits yet together hurld But blood of Man that never had offended Of a New-man downe from Above descended Of a New Mould endowed with Free will Which Adam lost with power to barre all ill Who taking on himselfe all mens transgressions Would dy that death which by their owne confessions They had deserv'd and by that meanes t' asswage Gods Justice and supplant the devils rage The Fathers Word then and his bosome Sonne By whom for whose sake all things were done Consented to be borne of Humane flesh With dowries meet the fainting to refresh Whereby their eyes might see his reall light Though Infinite yet not to hurt their sight Gods owne true Heire the light and Spring of Life Did willingly assume to end all strife To bound himselfe although ubiquity To Calendar in Time Eternity Christ undertooke a new to represent The second Adams Part to which Intent And to redeeme us from his Fathers Doome He our fraile flesh tooke in a Virgins wombe For Nine Moneths space shut up in narrow place Whose strength no place can hold no Time nor space Almighty God his Promise to make good To his adopted Saints of Adams Brood That One of Evaes Seed in time to come Should at the last the Serpent overcome And triumph by his Death on Hellish Sinnes As Sampson did on Dagons Philistines Had moved Joseph one of Davids House To take the Virgin Mary for his Spouse Both knowne to be of Zorobabels Race Which branch'd from Davids Root hold up to grace Their Pedegree though they were clouded then Through poverty Whereby appeares to men How much to Lawfull meanes Gods Purenesse tends Whilst thus by Wedlocks veile He shrouds his Ends How Maries lowly minde by Grace Divine For her Babes worth did Evaes pride decline But leaves the Rich with Mammons Pitch defil'd For She was Poore and He a Carpenter Yet God did them before Great Folkes preferre A Slighted Paire his two-fold Instrument To bring Christs Birth to full accomplishment Now Sixe Moneths came since Grave Elizabeth Of John conceiv'd And then to Nazareth God sent againe the Angel Gabriel Glad Tidings of much wonder to foretell That there the Blessed Virgin should with Child Conceive not by the Male but by the Mild And Gentle Sparks breath'd from the Holy Ghost And that likewise in Judaes Hilly Coast Elizabeth her Cosen then was blest Though Old and barren with an Embrion Guest Who born should roome make for the highest King As his Tong-loos'd would shortly sing This Signe the Angell added to Confirme The Maidens Faith and make his Message firme For Malachy had prophesied that John Eâ—ias-like should preach ere Christ came on The Angell gone in hast the Virgin-Saint Went with these newes her Cousen to acquaint At whose Approach the Sixe months Embryon sprung And she a Psalme God Magnifying sung I need not since Old Wives of it can prate The Angels Ave Mary here relate His words to her were Newes Miraculous But wrest for vowes they prove Idolatrous When mumbling on fine Beades like Parrats Chaâ— They beg in a strange tongue they know not what Yet by the New-mans leave we paraphraze And paint her Dowries forth in modest phraze Not Suppâ—iant wise to court Imagery But to renew like Saints her memory All haile to thee O Mary full of Grace Happy be they who see thy Virgins face Among the Angels Legions rais'd on high And there advanc'd for thy Humility Which didst Christ by the Holy Ghost conceive As Clay Gods stamp did by his Word receive Blest be thy Name O Mayd Gods Spouse Mother Which broughtst a Sonne our Saviour and our Brother Such Greetings thou didst from the Angell merit Before thou knew'st Conception by the Spirit Whereby thou didst Manoahs Wife excell Though Sampsons birth an Angell did foretell But why seeke I to overcloud thy Praise With these poore lines lame hobling sorry Laies To pray to thee would derogation be To his high worth who saved thee and me For not the Woman but the Womans Seed Did Satan foile and ransome Adams Deed To praise thee more then thy deare Son in Bookes That were to racke thy praise on Tenter-hookes As if God thee a goddesse did install Conceiv'd without sinnes sting Originall In Heav'n thou shin'st no more to be molested With Sinners songs to superstition wrested Where leaving thee Gods Treasures to contemple I greet on Earth thy Infants former Temple Concluding thee of Female kind the best The mother of my Saviour ever Blest The Type of that true Church in which we thrive And therefore Blest in the Superlative But when that Joseph knew his Bride with Child By him untoucht he thought he was beguil'd In his late choyce and therefore privately Like a Just man most loath her publiquely To shame by letting all their Neighbours know Her fault suppos'd with Indignations Brow He purposed the matter to protract Or to give up the Note of the Contract He studyed how this new Affinity He might shake off and shun her company One while he thought to pocket up the Fraud Yet fear'd to be to his owne house a Baud. Love Griefe
harme the Soule Then let not worldly wits our New Man Scorne Though vile he seeme or of the Hope forlorne For he that outwardly lookes vilified May passe yet for a Creature Justified Whil'st that he beares the Cribbe where Christ was borne In mind with his Red Crosse and Crowne of Thorne Be meeke therefore ye States and people all All from the Kings Bench to the Coblers Awle Thanke God for them whom for your Good he sends And ponder that which to your safety tends Repent ye of your Sinnes depend on Grace That so Christs merits may your sinnes deface Thinke Daily on the New Mans Crucifixe And Christ his Cratch in your Remembrance fixe Pray oft against lewd Francies Provocation And let your Deeds to Love have more relation Compare our yeares from Christ his Incarnation With the Floods Time from Adams first Creation And one Thousand sixe Hundred fifty sixe May to the World a Fatall Period fixe In Desolation to all hardned Hearts In Dissolution of our Earthly Parts If all the Signes foretold by Daniel Christ Paul and S. John fall out with Antichrist True Signes indeede which Faith and Love withdraw By Warres Pride Schismes and Wiles in winding Law Besides this Signe that Gods two Prophets lay Martyr'd ere Babel could her charmes display And who can tell but when th' Electors fayle Romes Empire sets and Doomes Day shall prevaile That Empire which began when Christ was borne Ere he returnes shall set and be forlorne Since that which barr'd in Paules time his Revealing Lies waste what bootes the Antichrists Concealing Now whilst we looke for Times extreamest Date And Christ his Comming either soone or late Let us salute his Cratch his Birth admire And pay our vowes to him wiih zealous fire Great Abraham rejoyc'd to see his Dayes When rapt to Paradise he felt his Rayes So did that Baptist Babe in Mothers Wombe Spring by Instinct with Joy to heare him come Conceiv'd in Flesh of that Immortall Flame Which promis'd was Sinne Death and Hell to shame So Angells sung of him Propheticke Layes So Simeon sung with Anna songs in praise Of Bethlems Babe both ravisht at his sight When Mary cloz'd her due Mosaicall Rite Acknowledging the true Messias Borne Of Evahes seed to save the Soule forlorne And so shall we in minde feele Musick rare If we muse on our New Mans Birth with care I meane that Sparke which at our Baptisme rose Within our Hearts three Monsters to oppose Then freely we his Gospell may imbrace And sing this Lullaby with measur'd pace The Holy Ghost to save fraile Adams Race Breath'd a sweet Flame in Mary full of Grace This Flame infus'd in Flesh both Man and God We greet and cloze his Birth with Simeons Ode Thy Birth and Name doe saving Health betide O Maide-borne Man God by the Fathers side Thou art the Gentiles Light Emanuel The Glory Head and Crowne of Israel Whose Glimpse we having seene in sacred Trance Lord now in Peace us to that Light advance That Light which thou conceived'st in our Flesh To save Mankind and Satan to suppresse The Light of Soules thy true essentiall Forme Of Mary borne Eves Off-spring to reforme Whom with Thee and thy Spirit three in one We honour praise and serve Great God alone Without depending upon Angels Saints Or such whom Baal for Advocates be Saints A Hymne in Memory of our Saviours Birth and Incarnation ALL yee that are of Spirit mild And long to greete the Virgins Child Lay by a while your worldly Cares The Outward mans bewitching snares And let us now submissive sing The Cradle-cratch of Heavens King Blest be the wombe which Jesus bare Blest be his Name that saves from care Fraile Adams seed if they repent Their time mispent to Satan lent Christs onely Name doth Satan shame Then let us all sound Christ his Fame Let every Heart submit to Christ For without Christ none can subsist Blest be the Brests which gave him sucke Blest be thy Cratch which hadst the lucke O Bethlem with a Starre to boote To spread abroad King Davids roote In thee was the Messias borne Jewes Shiloh Prince yet held in scorne Because he did not personate A Royall Babe with open state But that he lay in Manger base They waigh'd not well the Mysticke Case That Mary did Eves want supply Our New-man Adams qualify How Christ was come to humble Pride And by Low Ebbes Flouds to divide That Christ at first grew like a Graft From Heaven sent to put downe Craft Whence like a shrub but Cedar now The hugest Tree he makes to bow And so must we stoope often Low Ere we shall like this Cedar grow We must embrace his Cribbe and Crosse Ere parted be our Gold from Drosse We must Cashiere wilde Fancies wags Our high Conceits and Merits brags Then Yee that hope Gods Babe to meet Waigh more then Plumes your Peacocks feete Sith Christ before a bed of Downe Preferr'd a Cratch beate Pleasures downe I meane those snares which ye shall fâ—nd To cheat good Time and mad the mind And beare about you more his Markes Then Carnall Toyes or Nine dayes sparkes Observe what things ye vow'd of late At your New Birth to shun and hate Ere ye presume to kisse this Child O yee that are by Nature wild The Third Dayes EXERCISE The Argument The Life which Christ led in our vale of Teares Vntill of Age he grew to Thirty yeares How then he was Baptiz'd by Holy John And tempted thrice by Satan thereupon THough Christ a Child inherent Righteousnesse Originall and Actuall did possesse And in his Youth sufficient gifts inherit To cope with Hell yet by the Sacred Spirit He was not led into the Wildernesse Till to more yeares he grew of Manlinesse That in all points like us excepting sinne He might on Earth his Humane course begin Cloath'd with our fâ—esh expos'd to scorners gall Temptations Death and yet o'recomming all For never God his children leaves for trials Till he them armes gainst Satans false espials Now I review the shadow of his Diall Backe to his Swathes with a short true Memoriall Of his rare gifts and Heavenly Qualities Which more more shot forth with properties Convenient for his greene and tender Age Whil'st here he went his earthly Pilgrimage From his Conception Birth and Cradle Blest I doe proclaime of Babes this Babe the Best Nature and Grace contended in his Feature Till they it form'd a peerelesse lovely Creature And what they did if ought at all let slip His God-head made compleat their workmanship O would my Lord now doe the like for This This weakeling which with awfull sense I kisse This Embryon or Conception of my braine Christs Portraiture which I shall draw in vaine Except the Spirit of th' Evangelists The Holy Flame which guided to the lists Of the Triple Combat this Man of men Doe purify my style from Blots uncleane And my swift Trance from Superstitious fury Whilst I from Wales to
Types substantiall Truth he brought And our New-man in him Regenerate Shall doe the like if we cooperate We shall Gods word love more than Superstitions And follow Truth more than Humane Traditions The which Christ grant who felt excepting sinne All Natures griefes which we are plunged in From those Ten Lawes in stony Tabâ—es wrot By God himselfe he never swarv'd one Jot But them observ'd inviolated all Yea and the Morall as the Ceremoniall On Sabbath daies no man could him prevent But that he would the Synagogue frequent Which Nâ—â—e I may not silent overslip How sacredly Christ did all men outstrip In honouring the Seaventh feastfull Day At which time he most joyfully did pray With Davids Tunes both Hymnes and Psalmes he sung His heart whole Peales to his deare Father rung Of Jubilees and Thankes for Humane Good For sending him to save his Flesh and Blood Yet nerethelesse he seem'd not to gainsay But that Good deeds might well be done that day Or Casuall workes forc'd of Necessity Those would not barre the workers Piety No more then Davids deed when as he fed Constrain'd by Hunger on the Holy Bread For as he said God made the Sabbath day For Man not Man for it On it to pray On it to satisfy weake Natures Need And yet with mounting thoughts to save his Creed He must Praise God the Authour of his Calling And others by his steps confirme from Falling More often on that dayes Solemniz'd Feast Then other dayes not limited for rest Sixe dayes God left for Natures wordly Carke But that day to refresh th' Immortall Sparke Gods Lawes he kept unabrogated Holy Which none besides himselfe did ever wholly Above all sinnes which he saw raigning here Idolatry he loathed most for deare His Fathers Honour was to him and next To this great sinne his soule was oft perplext To see debate amongst his Neighbours Those Of Abrahams seed whom of meere Grace God chose And singled out from Superstitious Nations Peculiar to avoid their profanations For He the Sonne of Love borne from Above Could not endure the Opposites to Love He could not brooke without anxiety And troubled thoughts to see Cold Charity To see them with fat gifts the Lawyers feed To nourish Pride whilst others starv'd for need Therefore against all Malice he contested Nay them who hated Good men he detested He spent the best part of his Youthfull houres In hearty suite unto the Heavenly Powers For their conversion from such carnall pleasure And for their Wils restraint with Graces measure Because his life he might securely lead Till thirty yeares were full accomplished Himselfe he mated with the simplest Jew But seldome with the Proud or Heathenish Crew To shunne Vaineglory and the Serpents rage With Servants forme he cloakt his Parentage To Old and Young though but of meane Repute With whom he met he gave the first salute With Peace God speed Good morrow or Adieu And chiefely to the vertuous whom he knew So stampt in Soule after the New-mans Forme Who did their best the Old man to reforme With gracious words he ever heartned those According to his Naturall dispose To such as griev'd in body or in minde He shew'd himselfe most pittifull and kind With word and deed he sought their Amity And to accord their strife and enmity Though he no thankes for Peace-endeavours had More then in Aegipt Moses of the Bad. He never Place nor puft up Glory sought Nor what he not perform'd did promise ought His Word and Meaning still agreed in one Grounded upon their substance Truth alone He for ill use his Tongue did never traine Nor ever tooke the Name of God in vaine All wrangling Sects he shun'd the Pharisees For Pride and for Faith wrackt the Sadduces He hated them who scandaliz'd the Law And nourisht strife for Profit without aw Of God or Man as likewise their lewd Members Which kindled needlesse fires rak't up in Embers He scorn'd for Gold our Mercenaries hire To cloake the Right or Clients draw like wire He loathed wyles and lyes and loved Truth More than his life In hottest time of Youth When choller gall and passions domineere In him no signe of wrath did once appeare He used more to hold his Peace then speake Comparing those to Sives which secrets leake Against the Bodies loathsome Maladies To live as if he were in Paradise A diet spare both to the whole and sicke He still advis'd and Fasting the best Physicke This moved him to fast in Youth farre more Than in his Greene more springing yeares before He knew the worth of Dyets Excellence That a small thing workes Chyles nutriments Because the Blood and Humours Ebâ—â—litions Deriv'd from Food evapourate pollutions Toward the braine and soules chiefe faculties Distemp'red by the Bodies Qualities He affected Dyet even at a Feast Whereat Good man he came a seldome Guest By this stay'd course of Constitution sound His Body grew no Humours did abound Pernicious but with Daniels might compare Or the like choycest Saints for sober fare And by this stint to Nature his Complexion Most rare arriv'd to Beauties chiefe perfection As Carbuncles doe in the darkest Night Afford to all the Roome about them Light So was Christs Life of all the Neighbors seene To shine that none could taxe him of one sinne Or justly say that he at wealth did ayme Or Honour for he did them both disclaime As opposite to what the Trinity Affects in Man divine Humility With daily Prayers Fasts and watchfullnesse He still repulst the Darts of wickednesse He had so much and yet he made no boast Thereof Divine gifts of the Holy Ghost That Satan fail'd to peepe in or contemple The smallest chinke of his faire Spirits Temple Perhaps not thinking that the Godhead would Descend so low but leave Hell uncontroul'd Yet our defects that were most miserable He had as Man but not one damnable Which might have beene to Purity a Barre Or for our Ransome which might work a Jarre He honour'd God the Authour of his Good He loved Man as his owne Flesh and Blood His whole pure Heart not mixt by halves or hire He vow'd to God and kept his vow entire He never halted betwixt God and Baal Nor ever made of Soules Mechanique sale Which was the cause he went by day unshot And with those shafts that fly by night unsmote Gods holy Angels guarded him without Gods holy Spirit guided him throughout From those close Baites of the Infernall Angle Which more or lesse all Adams Brood entangle For proofe or Losse according to their Creed But Saints at last God succours in their need With Patience strength and Faith Apostolicke Whereby they may unto their Saviour sticke As God inspiring Gifts and their true sence As God and Man Christ drew their Quintessence And left the same within the Gospell coucht Which Saints have since with Martyrs seales avoucht Thus Jesus liv'd and spent his youthfull dayes And yet my Pen sets out not halfe his
then he would restore To Israel the Kingdome as before Forgetfull so of Jesus Crucifixt Were they and to a Carnall Monarch fixt Whereto Christ answer'd It concernes not you To know the times and seasons which ensue Such secrecies the Father doth reserve Unto himselfe Do you my words observe Who am your King the Head of humane-kind As I to you so to my Flock be kinde My Gospell Preach the weak ones Catechize See that my Sheepe yee feed my Lambes Baptize Invoking on as you have learn'd of me The Father Sonne and Holy Ghost all three Which Last shall shortly you Baptize with Fire As John with Water and your Soules inspire As Gods Viceroy or Angell of the Lord By Heat of what I taught the saving word Untill I come in Person from Above See that yee Watch and one another Love Such or like words when Christ had fully ended He in a Cloud up to the Heavens ascended Where he as God and Man all thoughts beholds Preferred by the Father and there holds As Man for Men a Mediatours place On Gods right hand Saints joyfull to imbrace As God and Man Paules Fury he did fright As God and Man Saint Steven saw his Light So did Saint John from Pathmos see his glory When he reveal'd his future Churches story By Visions have some others ravisht beene That they from Earth his Power there have seen For had we seen him here with Carnall sight Our Darknesse could not comprehend his light Whilst his Disciples there with carefull Eyes Watcht as he went two Angells humane-wise Apparell'd white appearing to them said Yee Galileans why are yee dismai'd Why gaze yee up This Jesus who is hence To Heaven gone shall so returne from thence Seeke not therefore his reall presence heere On Earth untill as Judge he do appeare Meane time on Gods right hand a Prince and Priest He raignes and doeth you in your vowes assist On Whitsunday next after Christs ascent He ravisht his Disciples with content Who then attended at Jerusalem For the last promise which he made to them That he would send Gods Spirit in his steed To rectify and ayde them in their need And while the world should last his Church informe In some or other place with wondrous Forme When that high feast of Pentecost was come And for that end they meeting in one Roome With one consent there fell a bustling noise Or suddaine sound replete with stirring joyes As of a mighty Breath and rushing Wind Which fill'd the House and wonder-rapt the mind For Cloven Tongues appear'd to them like Fire And sate on each of them and did inspire Their Soules with giftes of the great Holy Ghost So that the Standers by of Aliens Coast Astonisht were th'Apostles joyes to heare Men of a diff'rent Tongue and Climate there Poore Hebrew Fishermen that never went Far out of Jewry Land extatick bent With them in their owne Language to agree And in their zeale to God to be so free And fluent of their Phrase that Babels Breach Seem'd reconcil'd by their harmonious speech Some thought they were like Bardhs Enthusian rapt Or that strong Wine in them such Blabs had clapt That men before the third houre of the day Should rave with Wine they wondred with dismay They were amaz'd till Peter made it knowne That for Christs sake God sent this wonder downe Not for Mad fits but for Soules joyfull feast God sent the Holy Ghost this wondrous Guest O Wondrous Guest that vents forth Abbaes Cry Within the Heart the will and memorie O wondrous Guest the Heavens Harbinger That scornes not to become the Messenger Betwixt our Soules and God to beare our Love And our weak Faith to strengthen and improve That sever'd Earth from Chaos medley Puddle And rays'd our Orbe out of the lumpish Huddle And though the Earth were heavy hung it faire With store of stuffe in the loose fleeting Aire This is that Prime and ever quickning Mover Of all the world Angells and Mens approver That spirit which through all Gods Prophets spoke Which taught the sense of Mysticks to unlock Which clear'd the Wits of simple Fishermen To preach those Newes which Doctours fayl'd to pen Which rulâ—d in every Age since Christs Ascent The Church and dayly yeelds Soule-nourishment Which at our feast Christs Body doeth convay Into our Hearts by his Spirituall way Which sent the gift of Printing now of late Old Babels spelles and mists to dissipate And by the Word to rescue Thralles from death As he at first the gift of Tongues did breath Which animates the Saints with courage rare In midst of Tortures Tyrants to out dare Which glads the Lowly and the Penitent And thousands doth unite in one Consent Of Christian Faith though sundred much in place Tongues rites or forme yet one in sacred race O Holy-ghost how strange is thy proceeding Angells and mens capacities exceeding No pen can limne thy Raptures most profound No humane voice can thy hid Graces sound One thing I blunder out what thou conceal'st From carnall Clarkes to Children thou reveal'st Then let my Soule O Lord be like these last Whilst others feast on Peacocks let me fast Or tast no other Food but what conduces To praise thy Name without prophane abuses And let all them who view these humble Lines Prove better'd in their thoughts with contrite signes If the old man they labour to deface And do their best the new man to imbrace Not like our moderne Gulles who grow Profane Lest they be markt with brand of Puritane Let us Gods Spirit by these Wonders seeke These Wonders wrought the first day of the Weeke Our sevenths Light now styled The Lords day Thrice hallowed and sanctifi'd for Ay For this rare Blisse to Christian Soules accrewes That Christ his rising up their hopes renewes To Rise like him ingrafted in his stock To quench their thirst with him the living Rock To bud a new as Branches of his Vine To feed on Angells food his word divine He led the way to Resurrections blisse And us invites to follow him in this High flight without diverting towards Earth But with due care of the new Spirits Birth Our former resurrection in this Life To gaine th' immortall prize through strong beliefe With those true joyes which did but Monarchs know They would foregoe their Crownes the same to ow A glimpse whereof for undestanding Soules Wee read by John reveal'd in mystick scroules With those delights wreathes and immunities Which God allots to Saints in Paradise But for the Temper Place Degrees or Site No Astrolabe nor Braine of worldly wight Can apprehend the height Dimension Rayes Unlesse they fall on false Poetick wayes Yet Paradise some to the Moone confine And there to be another World define Of moving Groves by Galilees late Glasse Where Apuleius found his Golden Asse Whence likewise came Dame Errours Charmed Lamp Which kindled Legends of th' Elisian Camp And Limboes field which Royall James to hit False Dreamers home
great Presumptuous sinne Concernes them much who have New-formed bin As many were soone after Christs Ascent Possest with Gifts to Schooles Astonishment By the Immediate wondrous Inspiration Of Gods bright Flame though by the Instigation Of Satan they chance afterwards to fall To Lunacies yet let them hope with Paul And Peter falne by Christ his Blood Remission For who dares judge Grds Grace without misprision Or sentence our Grave Cranmer for his feares Since at his Death he purg'd his Fall with Teares And sacrific'd his Hand first to the fire Because it did against his Heart conspire Let them take up these words with Job and say Ile put my trust in him though he me slay T is true I fell which Fall I will not Cover I was Soule-sicke but God may me recover Barre Aire and Bloud of motion Circulare Meteours the one Heart-griefes the other scare The Body feeles sins Symptomes and diseases So feeles the Soule till Grace them both releases Which never failes a Saint though for a while Foule Lustfull fogges Faithes working may defile Let none despaire that hath Repentant beene Or can but once a day sigh for his sinne Many grave Rules and Documents profound Christ left and did unto the Jewes expound Amongst which others here I will relate The Lowly Pure the Poore and desolate The Peace-maker and for the Faith opprest These with the Zealous he pronounced Blest Christ termes those Blest of Spirit Poore and Mild Then what is Mans Great Spirit Satans Child His bristling up with Braggadochian vaunts With fuming Spleene with Gall and Girding Taunts His standing on fond Natures brittle Pinion Or his owne Merits puffe or Wits opinion His sleighting of a Saint that favour craves As if himselfe were Pope Christs Members slaves His thundring peales of Penalties high rackt As if his owne swell'd Head no Surgeon lackt His false designes to bring home Massy Crimes From Forraigne Climes in Antichristian Times His Challenges for Honours wrong'd repaire Or by Law-suites Saints Fortunes to impaire What Spirit swayes shewes the Red Dragons Mace Not of the Lambes but wicked Belials Race So farre was Christ from wrath or vengeance taking So farre from spoyling foes or greedy raking That he bad Peter to put up his Sword When he had Malchus smote and at his word Confessing he was Jesus though they were Scar'd at his voyce he will'd them not to feare And when his owne Disciples did presume To urge him like Elias to consume Those men with fire which wilfully deny'd To harbour him the fiend then undescry'd By them he checkt and said that they did rave For he came not to kill but Soules to save Who then beleeves Saint Patrickes Oracles That Irish Kernes he kild by Miracles Or credit our New Sects who doe conspire To plant our Saviours Church by Sword and Fire So farre liv'd Christ from Pride at once he had But one plaine Robe wherewith his backe was clad One Coate he wore to shrow'd his naked skinne A Seamelesse Coate to cover Adams sinne A Coate indeed wrought uniforme and plaine To shew that he recover'd backe againe Our former suite of Innocence entire Without those seames of Schoolemens nice attiâ—e Which likewise we like Turtle Doves must weare At our New Birth with Love and filiall feare Not slashing it like Schismatiques unbid Nor casting Lots as Romes fell Souldiers did Who not content to gore his Guiltlesse side And Body slay his Rayment did divide The Fóxes had their Holes the Aiery Foule Their proper Nests But he poore harmelesse Soule Like Noahs Dove on earth could scarce have footing No certaine Lodg nor comforts worth the booting Glad in his Travels to receive releife Of them who for his sake received Life Instead of Ease he Persecution felt Chose Desarts oft and into Brine did melt His Eyes with griefe to see such Combination Such Pride among his owne selected Nation He spent the day in Preaching and good deedes The night in Prayer for their foule Misdeedes Yet liv'd he more contented with his Fate Than Solomon with all his Royall state Before whose pompe traines Illustrious muster He priz'd the Lillies for their native Lustre Such Artlesse flowers he saw of goodlier hew And Glaring more then any Maske or shew This Christ exprest with Gospels Majesty With Practicke patience Love and Poverty Teares often shed true zeale and thereupon His Fathers Doome for Sinners undergone To stint our daily Cares for worldly pelfe The Morrowes Carke he bids leave to it selfe For why should we distrust our Fathers Ayd When we see Fieldes with various Robes array'd And Sparrowes bred without Mans industry Then how much more will he our Need supply Before we thinke on things meere Transitory Seeke first said Christ the Joyes of Heavenly glory And then be sure of this you shall have more Than serves your turn out of his bounteous store Or at the least what Nature may suffice Food Rayment Lodging or the like supplies Have you forgot the many Thousands fed With a few Fish and Barley Loaves of Bread To teach us thrift the scraps when they were filâ—d Most frugally to be laid up he will'd Looke carefully the Fragments be not lost Or cast away quoth he the Gentle Oast A faire advice to them that spend on Hounds What serves for Humane use though wealth abounds This Rule likewise a warning Type I place For them that waste their Inward Food of Grace Distributing in Playes some Pearles to Hogges Christs holy scrappes as Huntsmen cheere their Dogges When we must keepe the Reliques of our boord Ought we not more the Sacred Word to hoor'd The smallest crummes and passagâ—â— of Grace May stead the weake in their New holy Race O let us then without Sophisticke Brabble Reserve all Remnants of the Mysticke Table Least that the Seed which Christ the better Part Most needfull calls misse rooting in the Heart Least Martha-like with Household toyle â—pprest We want the Food which Mary liked best The Word which she so well disgested then That her best Choyce crownes her Saint Magdalen To weane us from aspiring to Promotion The Old mans plot the Serpents shining Motion When some of his Apostles strove for place Jesus did thus their lofty mindes abase He tooke and rank't a Child in midst of them Protesting that though he of scorned stem Were held by them yet Meeke and Innocent His Spirit might an Elders worth prevent And that unlesse a Child we imitate In harmelesse Love we seeke Gods Lambe too late Doubtlesse there is a great Antipathy Betwixt the World and Heaven for Quality And Motion when the Church here Militant Failes to Consort her Tunes extravagant With the Elects Allelujahs Vnion The Greatest here may misse of Saints Communion But if our thoughts shine circled in the Ring Of mutuall Love with constant Faith a thing That may not be except the Holy Ghost Infuse those flaming Twinnes then will the Hoasâ— Of Angels Quire by the like Sympathy As Load
stones meete our Willes conformity Though Nature doth Impostumated swell Or burne with Feavers like the fits of Hell The Spirit yet more strong in the Vacation Will overcome and settle our Vocation Gods Mercy will with Natures moods dispence If fixing on his Sonne our Confidence And Rest we kneele twixt Love and reverend feares To Him alone with contrite sighes and teares Unfaignedly sweet Abbaes sound to greet Oft looking downe on our vile Peacockes feete O would these Layes might now rebound with Ecchoes And pierce the Eares of Earths Magnificoes With sad Portents reverberating Rue And Wormwood moods for slighting what is true Because they doate despising Saints Correction On Idoll-praise of Good my Lords reflection And derogate from Gods Prerogative Not giving thankes to him by whom they thrive With Titles more than Donâ— then Gundamore Like Herod or proud Babels scarlet Whore Gods wrath in spight of all their brave reputes Will squeeze their Pompe and Popelike Attributes Truth echoed Ruth and he that scornes her Eccho Pigmaâ—ion turnes Don Quishot or a Hicco Truth spake this doome with Trumpets sounding loud God helpes the meeke and tumbles downe the proud So spake her voyce in them that bad us shunne High Seats rich Robes to weare the homely spun Old Sackecloathes weed plaine stuffe or Camels haire Contritions Garbes puft Honours to impaire So spake bright shining Truth that Noble Dame In them that warn'd the Outward man to tame Who by Saint John at the Lambes Feast records That Fouâ—es shall eate the flesh of Mighty Lords When poorest Saints and meanest of Esteeme Shall feed with Christ though they unworthy seeme To Carnall Eyes and whilst those Potentates Or pamp'red Lords with all their Glistring states For want of Wedding Robes shall be excluded And to become a shamefull prey concluded Meane while to gaine a Name like Alexander Some live by Bloudy spoyles or else they squander Their surest Meanes on Earth for the support Of their high pompe and blazing starres report But after death O Fooles what Harvest shall Ye reape by Fame or Port Pontificall Or if perchance ye live to dappled Age Will not a lingring hell abate your Rage Would God these Lines might prove Angelicall That they were stampt in Letters Capitall For never Age durst be so bold to call Like Ours Damn'd Pride of Graces Principalâ— Christ wils us not to Judge men for that sinne Whereof we know our selves have guilty beene For looke with what rough measure we doe mete To others God will make the like complete Upon our score To cure a Brothers sight T is fit our owne be cleare to Judge aright We must not give Gods holy things to dogges Nor Minister his Mysteries to hogges For hoggeâ— in Mire the finest Pearles will tread And envious dogs with Bruitish Passions led Will snarling-wise their Masters Guests molest Whom he invited to his marriage Feast These dogs and â—ogs Christ warnes us to prevent Full cautiously lest us they circumvent And interrupt our entry into blisse The Gate whereof is straite and many misse To find it out Although they have been Call'd Yet very few are chosen and install'd True Saints so narrow is the heavenly Gate Some know the Way but comming there too late They are repuls'd some boast of Miracles And of great Merits yet find Obstacles And for their vaunts are dasht Not every one That cals Lord Lord or knowes Gods murthered Son Shall enter there with glozing snares and Nets The hollow Hearts prove then the greatest Lets As doe their Bragges of Meritorious workes Or naked Faith Here the slie Serpent lurkes Unseene of Carnall eyes and will betray Soules with faign'd Ecchoes till they lose their way But if they like our highest Fathers will They must shun ill and so climbe up his Hill How many thousands doate on worldly Pleasure So long untill they lose Soules sacred Treasure Sometimes Hels theeves breake in and all is gone Some other time wanting the Corner stone Their house fals downe which whilst they build againe Death summons them or tortures them with pain That they forget their Master and their charge And lose thereby his Grace and their discharge All yee therefore that mind the Heavenly Palace Take Christs advise Build not for carnall solace On Bog or Sand but build upon the Rocke Your Temple where you need not feare the shocke Of Tyrant-waves nor foggy Earths eruptions Nor undermining Fankes nor Theeves irruptions And then you shall be sure though Natures date Concludes your State to meet with happier Fate To Counterfeits much blame Christ did impute And such as gave their Almes for vaine repute He willes us not to strive for Wealth or Place Nor for Good workes to looke for Humane Grace To love his Friends and not on them to prey Nay to forgive and for our Foes to pray We must not on a Brother wrecke our teene Nor let the Sunne goe downe upon our spleene We must remit not onely seven Times But Seventy times seven and that betimes Lest that we run that wretched Stewards race To whom his Lord compassioning his Case Suspended all his Debts untill he heard How he had dealt with others sore and hard He God forbad with Babling to abuse But when we pray the briefest Termes to use More tending to his Praise then our supplies Which last wee season must sometimes with sighes Not Parrot-like by roate but from the Roote And Bottome of the Heart with Abbaes Note The Module whereof himselfe declar'd Thus having us from tedious Formes debarr'd Father most High thy Name be glorâ—fide Thy Kingdome come As doth in heaven betide Thy will on Earth be done Food daily give To us As we our Foes Lord us forgive And let us not be tempted by the Devill The World or Flesh but free us from all Evill This pithy Forme the Lord to us did leave For patterne pure if we it well conceive We must in chiefe looke on Gods Sacred Power And sanctifie his Name before we powre Devotions forth for our owne Private Ends. We must doe nothing worldly but what tends More to his Praise than to our owne respect He warnes that we false Christians must expect Who the true Faith to bring into neglect Will forge strange things well-nere to foole the Elect False Balaams who not holding Love for Roofe Would cover Faith with Golden Clouds aloofe False Teachers like the Scribes and Pharisees Who should seduce the world with Dreames and lies Who like Jewes Rabbies for Supremacies Should gape and Hunt for Lordly Primacies Over his Members whom he Brethren styles A Caveat true for Antichristian Wiles Yea and for Lords if they good Christians grieve Under pretext of Gods Prerogative To these he other addes signes that portend The Judgement day at hand and the worlds End When that we see strange Plagues Fraud Famine Jarres With Massacres of Saints and Bloody warres When Mauzzims Type raignes in Gods holy place Like Caesars set for Sions last disgrace When