Discover'd shew great Doomes-dayes signs neer gone From which Extreames Lord save our Church as well As thou Elias didst from Iezabel That with the Spirits streame she quench her Thirst Untill that Day while Babel lies accurst As long as Sun and Moone or Raine-bowes signe Shall last preserve our King like Constantine Assigning us from Stewarts Regall Ligne Good Stwards still to over-see what 's Thine Remove not hence our Churches Candlestick While firmely we to Thy Sonnes Pledges stick But for his Sake who paid the Costly Price In Judgement due for our Enormities Whereas some led by Fiends as yet do stray If they Repent reduce them to thy way That Ismaels Brood henceforth no Christians flout For Lutherans or the Wicklevian Rout For Huguenots Novatians Schismaticks For Puritans or Mungrell Catholicks When these with Peter vouch Gods Living Sonne With Paul One God One Advocate alone Exploding School-mens Dreames Hypocrisies Soules-Marchandize and winding Fallacies We then shall soone for Other Points agree Without recourse to Edens curious Tree This Fruit the Church reapes by her Childrens Peace When they from jarres then Foes from jeering cease THE PICTVRE OF THE TRVE CATHOLICK AND APOSTOLICK CHURCH Represented in English and Latine Numbers The Argument The Authour last this Corollary knits To help Our Church against mad wrangling Wits Till the Sixth Age the Spouse of Christ 〈◊〉 Pure So doth our Church And here 's her Portraiture THe Spouse of Christ shone in her Prime 〈…〉 liv'd neere th' Apostles Time But afterwards Ecclips'd of Light She lay Obscure from most mens Sight For while her Watch hugg'd Carnall Ease And loath'd the Crosse she felt Disease Because they did Gods Rayes contemne And Maumets serv'd Grace fled from them Then Starres fell downe Fiends blackt the Aire And Mungrells held the Churches Chaire But now dispelling Errours Night By Christ his Might our New-mans Light She may compare for Faith alike With famous Romes first Catholick And Paragons for Vertue bright The Royall Scribes sweet Sulamite Who train'd to Zeale yet without Traps Her poore Young Sister wanting Paps Without Traditions she train'd her Or Quillets which make Soules to Erre SO feedes our Church her Tender Brood With Milk the Strong with stronger Food She doth contend in Grace to thrive Reformed like the Primitive She hates the Darke yet walkes the Round And joyes to heare the Gospels Sound She hates their Mind in Judgement blind Who swell with Merits out of kind In Christ alone lies all her Hope Not craving Help of Saint or Pope Poore Saints to shew her Faith by Deedes She fills their Soules their Bodies feedes She grants no Weapons for Offence Save Vowes and Fasting for Defence And yet she strikes But with what Sword The Spirits Sword Gods Lightning Word Indiff'rent Toyes and Childish Slips She slights but checks grosse Sinnes with stripes Yet soone the Strayes her Favour winne When they Repent them of the Sinne. So mild is she still loathing Ill And yet most loath the Soule to kill SUch is the Lady whom I serve Her Goodnesse such whom I observe And for whosee Love I beg'd these Layes Borne from the Spheares with Flaming Rayes But who can paint the Dowries forth Of this New Mary to the Worth O let us for her Gifts restor'd Then Sacrifice to Heavens Lord Our Hearts with Psalmes like Trumpets lowd For sending her to curbe the Proud And to beare downe Romes Antichrist As she types her that brought forth Christ The Object of our Second Birth And the Prime cause of all our Mirth Thus is Our Church in Essence like The Ancient True Apostolick GOD grant this Dame our Brittaines long to sway Whereby they may to Christ new Vowes repay And blesse thee Reader with like Happinesse To hold his pledges firme with Godlinesse CAndidore Fides lustrabat Lumine Mundâ—m 〈◊〉 propiâ—s tetigit Saecula Prima 〈◊〉 Lumen at Ecclipsin 〈◊〉 labentiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Reddidit obscuram quae fuit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nec mirum Turbans tantas senfisse 〈◊〉 Carnem plus Vigiles quam sapâ—ere 〈◊〉 Seria cum nugis miscentes Sacra profâ—â—â— Idolis Flameâ— post posuere Dei Stellarum Lapsâ—s 〈◊〉 Fraâ—â— Nubilâ—◠〈◊〉 Haec tâ—ia Corrupti Causa fuers Throâ—i Sedâ—â—dâ— dispersâ—â— Teneâ—â— is Noâ—â— Deâ—â—uit Aâ—â—â— Spoâ—saâ—â—dit Christi Crâ—scit Altar Home Crescit sponsaredux Hominis fulgore Novati Dum legitur Christi Pagina Sacra Choro Nec minùs est sponsa Salomonis Nostra pudica Vel Grege Primaevo quem pia Roma tulit Uberibus vacuam Parvam Prior illa Sororem Allexit zeli Lacte sed absque dolo Absque venenaâ—is Prudens allexit Elenchis Gentes quae tenebris delituere diu Quin Nostra Greges solet enutrire tenellos Lacte magis Fortes sed refovere Cibo Odit Nostra nigrà Mentis Caligine Captos Coetus qui Meritis intumuere suis Non Carnale sapit nec Papae Numen adorat Horret enim Christi commaculare Thorum Pectora Conâ—iâ—â—is Sanctorum Corpora victa Pascit ne fieret Fabula vana Fides Armâ— virago gerit sed Qualia Flaminis Arma Enthea nempe Dei Mystica Metra Preces Condonat facili leviuscula Crimina vâ—ltu Fâ—eda sed Orbilii vindicat Acta Minis Non animam jugulat tanta est Clementia Divae Sed resipiscentes Laeta reducit Oves Talis Imago Dei sponsae nostraeque Magistrae In cujus Laudes Aetheris igne feror Tanta Novae fulget virtus Divina Mariae Sed sua quis Calamo pingere Dona potest Sat â—ihi pro Donis tantum si Psalmata dentur Dum placet Aethereo Cor Holocauma Patri Qui nuper sponsam naevis maculisque solutam Transtulit ut Fidei Roma nitore ruat Utque Novi Dotes Hominis Caeloque renati Liberiore canam Pectore voce Tubâ Sic Nostra viget similis jam Sponsa Priori Quae visit quondam Tempora prisca Patrum Det Deus ut longum regat haec Sulamitha Britannos Que possint alacres nova vota rependere Christe Concedat que purem ribi Lector Candide Sortem Ut piâ— Christigene conserves Pignora Sponse Another Hymne to the same Effect as how to discerne the True Catholick Church THe Crosse on which our Saviour di'd For many Yeares lay undiscri'd With Rubbage soil'd in Calvary Till to renew Christs Memory The Mother of Great Constantine Searcht found and left it for a Signe That Converts then might understand Christ di'd for them in Jewries Land In the like sort the Church of Christ Lay long Eclips'd through Carnall Mist Resembling Gold obscur'd with drosse As was with Earth that Woodden Crosse. And though some wisht to find her out They could not bring their wish about So strong of Might so full of sleight Was Babels Whore to bleare their Sight Untill Gods Word perform'd the Deed With Martyrs Bloud the Churches Seed Till Wicklâ—â—â—e first and Luther next Stept up her Babes stood sore perplext NOw O looke up this Gracious Queene On Sions Hill is to
feele endlesse Paine â—â—u shall with Christ in Peace for ever Raigne â—â—ch blisse pursues a Pious-minded Peere And such I hope attends you there and heere Which to seale up and to set forth Your Traine â—eere take your Choise of Posies various Straine Without the New-mans Robes none are indeed True Noble-men but borne of Mongrell Seed To be borne Great great Honour some esteeme it But to doe Good I greater Honour deeme it Vertue so farre excells Sires Heraldry As doth Day-light the Darke the Sap the Dry. A Noble Minde surmounts a Noble Birth But who hath Both-shines like Sunne on Earth Magnus honor nasci praelustri stemmate Major Stemma Piis Factis nobilitare suum Quantò Lux Tenebras Siccum vel Succidus Humâ— Tanto depictos Mens Pia vincit Avos Virtus Naturam superat sed amictus utrisque Dotibus ut Lumen Solis in orbe nitet THE CHVRCH MILITANT HERE ON EARTH FOVNDED AND RENEWED BY OVR SAVIOVR CHRIST Who is this that comes from Edom with red Garments from Bozrah Esay 63. The Argument The Church is built on Christ who under-went The Curse Rose up and then to Heaven went This wonder-rapt some Angels of that Spheare That they with Ioyes speake of his comming there IN Paradise the Church of Christ began WheÌ„ after Breach God opened unto Man The hopefull meanes whereby he might deface The Sting of Sinne and bee restor'd to Grace If on the promise of the Womans Seed Man would rely he might redeme his Deed. But Bloody Cain with his accursed Race Went Whoring after Satan sleighting Grace And then the Church in Seth Methusalem In Noe and his Arke in Godly Sem And Iaphet fix't from whence no liking Cham She downeward past to Iob and Abraham And settled in the Circumcized Ligne Vntill the Promis'd Seed with Light Divine And Gospels Sound arriu'd graft things anew And by his Crosse our Charter did renew The Gentiles then by his Apostles blest From Heaven gain'd the Holy Ghost for Guest To cheere their Church within her to reside And evermore her Christian Broode to guide As long as they Him for their Rock protest Whome Peter thrice for all his Mates Confest So Thousands did with Angels Gifts encrease From Age to Age and found in Conscience Ease As testify the Pulpet and the Presse Which holp our Church to bloome with good successe Others since the Word late came in vse â—pir'd have wrot and Preacht of Faiths Abuse 〈◊〉 so likewise we see that in our Dayes 〈◊〉 feele the Heate of that bright Spirits Rayes 〈◊〉 them our New man reapes the Fruits of Truth â—â—â—nsformes Old wily Age to Saintlike Youth â—â—y for Eve for Adam Christ he sings â—â—ose Blood then Abels speakes forth better things â—â—rancing Soules with Gifts Propheticall â—â—d otherwhiles with Numbers Sphericall â—â—at by those Meanes and sweet enchanting Layes â—â—ey might confirme themselves as call home strayes â—irst like Babes with Bells smiles mixt with threats â—weanes the weake before their Sence he beaâ—es â—â—th Zealous Charmes from worldly vanities â—â—apting them for purer Qualities â—hich our Good Sire with Metaplastick Mould â—â—nds ready to infuse more fine then Gold THis Prudent course Some take in Verse as Prose For stilling Swarming Bees or Stubborne Foes To winne Applause to their more waighty work Which in their Braine like ember'd Fire did Lork They tickle first with smooth Conceptions Youth Laurell their Name and then gaine Roome for Truâ—â— To spread without Repulse or sowre Distast Before they dresse rare Manna for their Tast Clozing their Feast with Healths from Sions Fount Like Petrarch Beza and Mâ—randols Count Who with ripe Fruite by good mens Suffrages Ransom'd their Froth and greener passages Such Wits I wish with Lines of Sacred Truth From Carnall Dreames to scare our Straggling Youth And such I hope by Grace here to produce As Types of Vertue drawne for Holy use â—N the Lords Day though not with full content â—ate sung Christs from Olives Mount ascnt 〈◊〉 to that Orbe whose height no Earthly Scribe 〈◊〉 by the Booke or Astrolabe describe Though Galilees new Glasse a World espies Within the Moone yet Moone-sick are the Spies While clog'd with flesh not Spirit-rapt they pry â—o Gods Thrones Transcendent Mystery 〈◊〉 Heav'n I glaunc'd wherein his Man-hood rests â—â—eparing Roome for his Beleeving Guests Who su'd to Christ Mens Advocate alone â—ot parcelling his Worship into halves 〈◊〉 Iewes for Moloch Baal and Golden Calves â—hat so the Sabaoths change at Pentecost â—ucceede with Gifts sign'd by the Holy Ghost The Comforter which should the Church renew And grace thenceforth the Gentile and the Jew Till the Returnes as Man-Emanuell Within the Cloudes to Iudge the World and Hell HEre now againe with Fiery Flights I horer And his Ascent more spaciously runne over Then I did late because our Church hath drest And cookt upon another Day this Feast The way of Christs up to Gods Orbe Ascention Transcends above fraile Natures Apprehention I dare not wrest Christs Body nor confine His God-head There He Raignes a Man-Divine As Man He sâ—es for Men. As God he sends The Holy Ghost to gratifie his Friends And by Infusion heere his Church to grace If we Beleeve and Love and Pray for Grace Although as God his Presence never â—ayles us His Bodies Absence heere yet more availes us As he is Man or else his Bodiâ—s Sight Had made us Carelesse of the Spirits Light His Manhood by his owne Experience saw Our Natures weakenesse how Fiends would draw Vs from Gods will and from true Innocence Whereby none could avoid Hells Pestilence Unlesse himselfe did stand within the Gap â—etwixt our Sinnes and Wraths fierce Thunderclap â—nd that made him remove his Person hence â—o Heaven there to ease our Punishments â—y suing to Gods Grace as Advocate â—hat for his sake he would repayre our State GReat were the Angels Ioyes when Iesus came â—n humane shape with such Imperiall Fame Vp to th' Empyrean Sphere where none before Of that New Forme could like a Phaenix soare â—s by his Crosse lay husht Hells damned Crowd So wondring heere Some Angels sung alowd What 's He that mounts and sits on Gods right hand With Bozraes Robes come from red Edoms Land Clad like to One who hath the Winepresse trod Yet looking like unto the Sonne of God Who did ride on the Cherubins and fly Yea fly upon the wings of winds most High Perhaps He is a New Melchisedeck Gods Spouse to grace or her with Gemmes to deck Or else the Cause of this New Mans Ascent Might be her Vowes and Offrings to presert Or for her Strayes to sue as Advocate Those whom the Gospels Light reclaimes of late His comming here with such Triumphant Port Doubtlesse to Men Salvation doth import This Mystery and Ioyfull Spectacle Above all Wonders prove a Miracle Vnparalell'd that by Divinity Infus'd in Flesh men gaine Eternity And that the Gentiles as the Iewish Tribes In Truths rare Secrets grow most learned
Scribes Pertaking Grace without disparity Made onely Iust by Faiths dependency Not by their Owne but by Anothers Deedes T is strange how they are clear'd of their misdeedes What sparkling Eyes more beautifull then Wine â—â—ose Teeth like Milke whose Body lookes Divine â— mild Aspect yet of S. Michaels strength â—â—epard to Plague and foile our Foes at length â—hose Haires more white theÌ„ Wooll or the full moone â—â—d whose bright Face outshines the Sun at Noone â—hose voyces Tunes like silver Brookes resounds â—â—d whose faire Feet like finest Brasse doe sound â—hat is He a Prophet Prince or Peere â—ho in mans shape climb'd up our Highest Sphere â—â—d there instal'd with the Divinest Light â—â—eares now a Crowne more bright then Chrysolite WHat can he be then said Others the Lord â—ho to save men became th' Incarnate word â—nd having led on Earth an Humble life â—e hath trod on the Dragons Crowne of strife Who Preacht to Soules with hideous Mists perplext â—et for his Love by his owne Nation vext Who slaine at last by Romes Authority Yet spite of Hell Rose up with Majesty This New man God the Third day rais'd from Dead To be our King and Comforts more to breath Who made Light things or Spirits to descend Now upwards holp Christs Body to ascend Whose Body now we see Incorruptible Most Glorious New of strength Invincible Divine aswell as Humane not with hands Of Mortalls wrest as Errour understands Yet his long Hands I meane his Spirits Armes Extend to shield his Church from deadly Harmes His clearest Eyes all Penitents behold And his white Teeth doe Temperance infold His Silver Haires his knowledge Ripe declare And his bright Face foretells his Favours rare Out of his Mouth flowes Truths melodious Word But his just Wrath darts forth a Lightning Sword From Heaven He survayes each Holy Place And raps with mystick Trance Men chang'd by Grace At their great Feast He is the Soules Colleague Spirit matcht with Hypostaticke League 〈◊〉 really as in One Horoscope â—wo Soules that plight with hands their mutual Hope â—hilst up to Him with Thankes she lifts and heaves 〈◊〉 Ravisht Thoughts like Wheates ripe eared sheaves 〈◊〉 Captive He hath led Captivity 〈◊〉 Gifts to Men and doth their Chaines unty â—â—solving quite lewd Passions Linkes a sunder 〈◊〉 knots of Eeles or Swarmes of Waspes by thunder â—preme there He all Creatures overswayes â—â—d there in his high Manhoods Person stayes â—ill All th' Elect the Gentile as the Iew â—al'd up for Grace come in and till they rue â—th shamefull Guilt their Rancour Guile Priâ—â—â— â—ho his pure Word and Deity still deride â—is Garments red shew that He trod alone â—he Winepresse how in Need him succour'd None â—is Robes likewise resembling Bozraes Graine 〈◊〉 Crimsondipt imply that Men againe Will in his Members him oppresse and gore As they their Head and Master did before With Aspicke Tongues hir'd to empoyson Fame With strife and Losse or Plots surmizing Blame Whereby weake Natures Brood torne by Dissention Might lose the hopefull use of Christs Ascention Or with Crosse Flames more fiercely violent Them in their lives last Period to torment Because false Christ's they would not every where Kisse and adore Christs Body heere and there BVt leaving them for Antichristians Limbs Let us applaud and greet with Ioyfull Hymnes The Reall Forme and Body of the Lord From mangling now to Lasting Life restor'd This Crowned Lambe the first Fruits of the Dead Whom God ordain'd to be our Prince and Head Great Iesus Christ borne on Sinnes necke to tread And to divide the Right from the Misse-led The Sonne of our Iehovah Elohim â—â—om Saints their Saviour call and None but Him 〈◊〉 unto Him our Maker hath resign'd 〈◊〉 Creatures sway with Power unconfin'd 〈◊〉 whose dread Name all Angels Saints and Men â—ust bow and at his Praise vent forth Amen â—ot onely with loude sounding Tunes expression â—t likewise with Loves Inward Flames impression The New mans Cloze of Thankesgiving for our Saviours Ascending up into Heaven â—ll Glory be to God for evermore â—ho with New Layes hath multiplied our store â—nd taught us by the Holy Gholy to finde Where Christ remaynes rais'd in his Humaine kind That the New man put downe our Carnall Sence 'T was well therefore that he departed hence â—is Body rapt till Doomesday from our fight â—et by his great Victory infusing Light With Wondrous Gifts on the Apostolick And ever since on the Church Catholik Or more or lesse as She with Zealous Hope Dayes Turret climb'd or in Nights vale did grope For these high Flames more bright then Sunny Rayes We sing to Three in One New Songs of Prayse THE MOST MEMORABLE OCCVRRENCES WHICH â—apned in Our Christian Church from The Thirtieth Three yeere of Our Saviours â—â—carnation and from the Eighteenth yeere â—f Tiberius Caesars Raigne the Roman Emperour untill the yeere of Our Lord 100. at which time Trajan the Emperour began his Raigne The Argument Behold what Thanks from Worldlings worse then Mad For Preaching Truth the chiefe Apostles had â—ot One escapes a sad Tormenting Fate Which holpe to build at first the Churches state VVHat better Fruit can a New Sparkling Muse Produce then Holy Odes for Christians use â—hen by th' Apostles Glasse of Peace to chime 〈◊〉 from late Iarres to scare the World with Rime O would I could like Roman Arato In English Tune such Labours undergoe As might display th' Apostles Acts and Lives Gladding our Age with their Pure Honey-Hives Which spite of Drones False Brethren stormy Blast And tortures stood through watchings vows Faâ—â— Forear'd against the Foemen of the Crosse As to prevent from Hell ensuing Losse Although our Latter be not built as well Nor may that Church in Glory paralell Yet our Good Will availes in stead of Spice And our New man helps us to Sacrifice For we have had our Martys like the First Yea and the Living Rocke to quench our Thirst We have beheld the Spirits Lightning Sword Onely I feare we want the Flames of Love Which Primer Saints with mutuall Heate did move This want Some may with their Ambrosian Food Supply sound forth and publish for our good If as they have begunne they warble out â—hat I to bring about do stand in doubt â—his Taske Pauls Faithfull Mate in Physicke skâ—ll'd Though more for Soules then Bodies Cure fulfill'd â—cring two Workes to Greeke Theophilus 〈◊〉 Monuments and by his Lamps to us 〈◊〉 left them us to shew what Legacies â—â—e Heavens lent for Christian Sacrifice â—ence as his Ape by Imitations straine â—ope some Light for Brittaines Church to gaine â— least to serve as Sparkes Babes to revive â—ho faile for want of Torches store to thrive â—Hen that our New-mans Sire the Holy Ghost â—â—h Cloven Tongues like Fire at Pentecost 〈◊〉 lighted on th' Apostles visible â—he some times inspir'd invisible â—â—s Prophets then Faith Love and Christian Ioyeâ— â—â—ighd Delphick Dreames and Babelsâ—arring Noise Then
THE CHVRCH MILITANT HISTORICALLY Continued from the Yeare of Our SAVIOVRS Incarnation 33. untill this present 1640. BY WILLIAM VAUGHAN Knight LONDON Printed by Tho. Paine for Humfrey Blunden at the Castle in Corn-hill 1640. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE RICHARD EARLE OF CARBERY The Argument The Authour here my Noble Lord acquaints What Paths they tread who lead the lives of Saints What Comforts he shall finde what good successe While he walks in the New-mans Diocesse I Sound not forth Old Souldours turn'd to Swine By Harlots Charmes by fulsome Cheere or Wine But the New-borne a Theame to Worldlings strange â— sing the Minds more then the Bodies Change I sing the Churches Change Eclipse Decrease Her East and West with her Full Moones Encrease Such Newes I blaze which no good Protestant Shall justly taxe for Sparkes exorbitant Like to those Brats expos'd to Brambles Flame By Midwives Doome to hide the Parents shame Or those for which of late our Pauls Church-yard And Smith-field in the Spoiles with Vulcan shar'd Truth smites the Chast while Wantons long to heare False Tales at which they Nod or fondly Ieere Fooling away the Time their pretious Time Lent them for better use in Prose or Rime To win some Strayes by meanes of Vertuous Books Not Soules to tempt with Fornications Hookes There with much Gall Gulls one another flout Hoere for Mistakes the Lie or Toyes they pout Forgetting Satans Ambush for Good Wits Tongues trip Pens blur None free from Passions Fits And yet for Words and Names Externall things They persecute their Christian Mates with stings â—ill tir'd at last with Conscience-griping Cares Both Parties howle within the Divels Snares Others by Lines and Cubes aspire to know The Higher Orbes or in the Globe below They levell Spires the Climates or the Lawes â—nto whose Depth they pry no more then Dawes And yet to gaine applause or Golden Fees They hope for Swans to chop their gaggling Geese Some Court Faire Dames with Fancies Madrigalls Chaulking the way to Paphian Lupercalls Which they frequent with uncontrouled Lust Till Honour Wealth and Health lye in the Dust. Sometimes Pelagian-wise they ruminate On Mans Free-will and the Predestinate Till they from Grace quite excommunicate Doe pitch on Hell and on the Reprobate Now of long-handed Kings the mounted state Anon their slips or Fall they personate With Satyres sting untill themselves are stung Or else they sooth Great men with glozing Tongue Untill they feele worse Racks with Conscience sear'd Then Poets faign'd for stroaking of Joves Beard Some other whiles they dare more Curious peepe Into the Concaves of th' Infernall Deepe Of Limboes Vault or Purgatories Paine Redeem'd for Gold the long-white Robe to staine With such Bald Stuffe most Writers doe oppresse In hope to purchase Fame the Printers Presse Which shewes that Soules like Seas tost with unrest Wave till they set into Gods Port of Rest Or else that they like Swine fall to worse Seas Then Gaderens for their prodigious Pleas Remonstrances and Problems which they pend Of Rampant Zeale the Churches Peace to rend SO busie is Mans Braine It alwayes workes And seekes to know what from the Sences lurkes Abstruse and hid like Planets moving still But in default of Objects good or ill Because it findes no businesse from without Turnes Monke within an Ideot or a Lout Or on it selfe with Atomes and Chymeres Playes Whirligig untill it ends in Feares Distractions Lies and Schismes just Penalties Due for the Search of Knotty Novelties For want of Grace and of Celestiall Armes Sighes Teares Vowes thus by the Serpents charmes Are Men seduc'd Old Adams Tree to tast And with vaine Fruit to break their needlesse Fast. Because Gods Word whereby they might be sav'd They slighted 't is no marvell though they rav'd But our New man wean'd from the Carnall Teat By Truths calme Breath the Flaming Paraclete With Drier Braine holds a Cleere Intellect So solid that he others can direct A safer Course of knowledge to affect Then what the Wind-mill grinds of Satans Sect. Though Natures sting in our Originall Hath made us prone into the Snare to fall Yet we New-borne fight with the Spirits Sword And triumph by the Second Adams Word Over the Dragons false enchanting Arts With constant Faith repelling all his Darts Those sober Cates contenting our repast Which lawfull are for tender Soules to tast We would seeme Inward more then Outward wise Yet Both addresse with Saints to sympathize For carnall Samians transubstantiate Change The Old Mans Quirk the New man we exchange Instead of Lethes Lake or Phlegeton â—e Tophets Paine sing due to Babylon For Limbus Patrum or th' Elizian Camp Gods Paradise for Saints renewes our Lamp A Dolphin bore Arion from the Seas â—mphions Harp they say did Thebes appease But Jesus Christ the Third day to have rose From Josephs Tombe we really disclose Or by a Whale we Jonas bring to Land Who Niniveh converted out of hand For Cerberus we blaze proud Satans Losse For Hercules his Club our Saviours Crosse. For Triviall Tales and sence-alluring Toyes We read on Bookes Soule-ravishing to joyes For Thalmuds we the Scriptures native sence And for Nice Schoole-mens Glosse in our Defence We can produce by Truths Prerogative The Chiefest Starres of the Church Primitive Or those who in the Last and Present Age With Volumes rare repair'd our New mans Stage To banish Humane Lies and Brain-sick Dreames What Tree more full what Field yeelds riper Theames Then Christ his Life and the New Testament Or in her Swathes the Churches fragrant scent This Lady here my New man warbles forth Though fully not according to her worth Yet so My Lord that you may cleerely see Though she was long obscur'd she now raignes free Cloath'd with the Sunne Crown'd with a dozen Starres And no Eclipse you from her Influence barres But out alasse how many boast of Faith Who never markt what Christian Scripture saith For what is Faith without Good works or Fruit But a dead Stock not worth a Moores pursuit Unlesse he dreames of Mechaes fond Delights Or Millenairs to snare Voluptuous Wights Or of vaine works of Supererogation Soules to bewitch with Babels Fornication Our Saint is not with such Conceits defil'd Nor turnes with such Extravagances wild For he well knowes that as good Trees will bud And beare good Fruit so Saints doe alwayes Good And never scorne to greet the Simplest Man To call home Strayes they labour what they câ—â— Such is our Saint the Naked he actires And helps to warme their Soules with zealous Fires According to his Power great or small He saves distressed Saints from Tyrants Thrâ—â— He sues for Peaoe and grieves to see debate And daily prayes Lawes Rigour to abate If he be forc't to Law in his defence He doth it without splâ—â—n or Saints offence And if his Clapper hap to clatter wild Before Sun-set he growes more Calme and mild Or if that Filmy Piece in others blabbs His shame he counts
lay'd found fault with Others Cures Repining thus at Progresse of the Word Since that no Trickes could stop it by the Sword â—ebedees sonne they caus'd to lose his breath As they by stoning wrought the Deacons death By Caesars Minion King they weav'd their Plot Who would have cast on Peter the like Lot But that an Angel came to free his Chaines To Plague with wormes the Tyrant for his Paines â—His puts my Muse in mind of Phillips Queene â—ho wreakd on Saints her Gall with swelling spleene â—ill with her Gods her States and Calleis Losse â—e felt the weight of a more heavie Crosse â—nd of the Royall Brothers styl'd Valois â—ho di'd in Blood for Blood and Bloody Ioyes â—riaes Rings can testifie likewise â—hat they have got by Belgiaes bloudy Cries MOre mild yet dealt Agrippa with Saint Paul â—ot barring him from Romes Appeale at all â—t would have join'd with Feftus to enlarge â—nd save for his Appeale him to discharge Much lesse would once that sage Praetorian Peere â—or Words Names the Iewes mad Clamours heare HOw many Snares with Tumultes spite and Rage Did they spread forth for Christians in that Age By all the meanes which Satan could devise Men sought to stop the New Mans Sacrifice But all in vaine like trod on Cammomell It grew the more and with a fragrant smell Not Elimas nor Magus with Hell Charmes Nor could Dianaes Smith knock down their Armes Or quench in them the Holy Spirits Flame Which they conferr'd in Jesus Christ his Name That like themselves at first Enthusians rapt For Holy Trances they made others apt VNwearied they in their Vocation went And acted Deedes to Arts astonishment No by-respects to Glory Wealth or Ease No Emulations Sting could make them cease From the Pursuit of the Immortall Prize No servile Feares Detraction nor surmize Could let their maine intent and Ghostly Race From setting forth Gods Charter of free Grace No Choller 's Heate Debate nor Casuall Brawle As fell betwixt Saint Peter and Saint Paule For Iewish Rites as likewise came to passe For Chusing Mark twixt Paule and Barnabas Or as it chanc'd to Abraham and Lot Their Passions sway'd not so that they forgot The Progresse of the Word the worke in hand But that they ranne and toil'd by Sea and Land In Accidentalles though as Men they err'd Yet as Divines the substance they preferr'd Their Elder Man they stoupt in spite of vice And their New-Man went on to Sacrifice Here Paule and Silas Preach Apollos there While Barnabas and Marke doe teach else where Mathias Iude and Simon burn'd alike To execute their Charge Apostolicke With the like zeale all the Apostles rapt Transformed soules for Mysticke Trances apt THey Catechiz'd and sought their Saviours Praise Their Soveraigne Ioyes were to reclaime some Strayt With Constant Faith the Gospel they did blaze And daily wrought great wonders of amaze Till by Romes Mace the Type of Antichrist Which slue their Master Christ they di'd for Christ. In all their Deeds they were so farre from Pride That when some Gentiles would have Deified Good Barnabas and Paul with glorious shout In stead of yeelding thankes they ranne about With cloathes all rent among the wondring throng And beg'd of them the Deity not to wrong Nor by detracting from their Makers Grace With Sacrifice his servants to disgrace They vilified themselves tooke up the Crosse Contemning Pompe and Gold like seumme or drosse They varnish'd not Gods Word with Glosse of schooles But sought the wholsome spring not Muddy Pooles And spar'd their New built Church to interrupt With knotty doubts of Phantasies Corrupt Now for a Type of their essentiall Gare â— will produce this One Example rare When Proselites of Pharisaicall sort Would Gentiles to strict Moses Lawes exhort â—â— Salems Councell the Apostles sate And in few lines resolv'd their Questions state Whereas by some ye were perplext with Feare â—bout Old Rites we warne you to forbeare From Meates Prophane at Idolles Sacrifice From beastly Lust or Wives Pluralities From strangled Flesh and shedding Humane Blood â—f as your owne yee Carke anothers Good And do abstaine from the said sinnes withall Yee shall doe well By Barnabas and Paul And two of the Chiefe Brethren moe they sent These Pithy Actes the Gentiles to Content Whereby I note on Weaklings they impose No heavier Yoake then what the New-man chose They combred not the Church with Needlesse Lawes Nor with Traditions Superstitious Flawes They could not brooke Food drest with Satans 〈◊〉 Nor at Christs Feasts to glut their hungry Mawes Thus we observe how easie is Christs Yoak That to cleare doubts Faith beares the Soveraign 〈◊〉 Faith linkt with Love requires us to forbeare And not for Toyes Christs seamelesse Coate to teare HOw wondrously did the Good Spirit breathe The New-Mans Gifts from darkenesse from death To raise up soules and Heathen Clouds to cleare Dispersing Christs Disciples heere and there By visions He Immediate lighted on Cornelius and Saint Peter both for One â—â—fect to let the wavering Gentiles know â—â—at God tooke care within their Hearts to sow â—s seed of Grace which stubborne Iewes abus'd â—â—d Christ their Head Gods husbandman refus'd â—â—d that without respect of high or low 〈◊〉 loves all them who to his Service bow â—Hat Travels did good Peter undergoe Sea and Land he did undaunted goe â—â—ough wanting meanes unfurnished of Money â—t for himselfe to gaine a Patrimony 〈◊〉 corruptible mould or brittle Masse â—â—ich like fond dreames in time away doe passe 〈◊〉 for his Master Christ soules wrapt with mists 〈◊〉 Ignorance he made good Catechists â—od Catholicks Apostolickes he made â—â—â—tructing them in his Soule-fishing Trade â—â—d as some write when Simon with his Whore â—â—ene brag'd hee like a God would soare Above the Clouds by Peters vowes he fell And brake his Necke left by his Guard of Hell TO Iewes and Gentiles He the Gospel taught But chiefly he the Iewes conversion sought Deputed for the Circumcisions Charge Unto the Elect dispenst hee shew'd at large The Patent of his â—eald Apostleship Yea and if Fame belies him not his Ship And Fishing-nets hee left at Tibers streame Where some then so journ'd of Ierusalem As in the Acts wee read there he baptiz'd If there he was till Nero tyranniz'd Now whether Rome hath cause of him to boast As for his seate more then the Holy Ghost Which living Peter gave to men of Faith Some since have strove not following Peters pathâ— 'T is certaint that he wâ—re no Triple Crowne None kist his Foot nor â—rod he Princes downe 'T is knowne that Gold and silver he hast none A Tanners house was of his Lodgâ—ngs One 'T is credited that to the Crosse he bow'd A kind of Death which onely Rome allow'd Till Constantine in love to Christ for bad This cruell paine and spectacle most sad That being Old against fraile Natures will Others did Peter lead his Bloud to spill As Christ foretold but his
Deedes to the Apostles Forme Such Pious Deedes with Zealous Sparkes beset As I for Saints have in my Preface set From Justines Workes likewise I apprehend The Eucharists Religious Use and End We take no Common Bread nor Common Wine Saith he but like as Christ by the Divine Bright Word became true Flesh and for our Good Tooke on him our Attire of Flesh and Blood So we by Vertue of his Word Record That Food to be the Body of the Lord Yet Sacramentall Wine and Sacred Bread Which have our Soules by the Remembrance fed With this short Course the Presect of the Feast Insinuates Vowes into each Sacred Breast They fed with zeale the Throng Thanksgiving sing And Deacons did unto the Absent bring The Consecrated Food that they likewise Might have a Taste of the Soule-sacrifice Such was the Ancients Forme to distribute The Holy Food without Quirkes or Dispute IN those Dayes Crosse to Food blest by the Word Was Sacrifice of Flesh at Heathens Boord To Idoll-Gods which Christians did refuse By reason of the Cursed End and Vse As we likewise that Carnall Food despise Which some Create a God at Sacrifice And yet the Food ere it was so disgrac'd Could not pollute the honest Takers taste So when Gods Word hath blest Ours to record Our Saviours Crosse it quickens by that Word Which full of Life breathes Spirit Life Reliefe If it be tane by Soules firme of Beliefe For otherwise the present Ectasy Doth uanish and away those Blessings fly They at their Feast Emanuels Presence lose His Presence whose rare Forme some Clearks appose Though they beleeve that Christ is God and Man And stiled God with us his Forme they scan And question how could Paul and Stephen see Emanuel while on Earth Men living be As to the Pure this Mystiâ—ke Trance turnes Pure So t is Damnations Bait to the Impure And when Faiths Feast becomes a Sacrifice To Idoll Gods it tends to prejudice For this grave Cause good Christians doe refuse False Altars Meate where Satan Poison scrues WHat shall I write of Mark Aurelius Raigne When all his Campe distrest for want of Raine Were at the point to perish Christians then By Miracle gain'd showres to save his Men While hopelesse Pagans dig'd by Prayers they Gain'd in One Night what they had toyl'd by Day Such wondrous Deedes of the Church Primitive Like those Blest Showrs will cause our Mâ—se to thrive If therewithall we moisten Thirsty Soules Which long to taste of our Nectarean Bowles In hope from Bruites to be trasnform'd anew To better shapes then Ovid could renew Or Samian Forge Our New-Man sings more strange Of Manners not of Bodies the Exchange WIthin this Age liv'd Irenaeus knowne A Bishop where France built her Lions Towne He stoutly did the Marriage-state defend Whose Foes he writes blame God and Natures End He taxed Romish Victors Lightnings Flash And qualifi'd his Squibs denounced rash Which he presum'd against the East to throw For Easters Date with Supercilious Brow Or did perhaps not excommunicate But barre with them Rome to communicate So likewise did Grave Policrates blame His Censure-causing Schisme and Christians shame This Reverend Man to win the more Applause For his Defence of that propounded Cause Demonstrated that his seven Ancestours And he the Eighth from those Progenitours Were Bishops all of Ephesus and held Their yearely Course of Easter unrepeal'd Implying that his Lineall Holy Race Confirm'd the Truth to cleare that wrangling Case NExt unto those shone Athenagor as Tatian and He who with his Sire would passe To Martyrdome and but for Mothers Teares Partake like Adamant not shrunke with Feares He gloss'd Gods Word would have bin more priz'd If he had not too much allegoriz'd Severus sent for him such was his Fame To Antioch where he stuck to Christ his Name And blaz'd his Word with such rare Eloquence That he return'd by Caesar grac'd from thence Dismiss'd with Gifts and Courtiers good report He came againe to the sev'n Flouded Port Where he much Oyle in Alexanders Towne Consum'd untill his Errour put him downe Where well he wrote no better Writer knowne Where ill none worse then Origen is showne Famous for this he termes Christs Flesh and Blâ—â—â—â— The Spirits Type his Word Soule-quickning Food Most infamous for this that first he Gelt Himselfe and then for feare he should have felt A Buggering Rape by a Black-hired Moore He Sacrific'd to Idolls a farre more Scurfe-spreading sinne for which with Bolts accurst By Alexandriaes Church to Teares he burst Whenlighting on a Text in Salmes Towne And there desir'd to Preach he found his owne Unhappy Act by Lot nay by Divine Appointment How the Precepts which are mine Dar'st thou presume within thy Mouth profane To teach or read O thou ungodly Man Upon which Text poore Origen abasht With Teares his Crime and his Presumption washt THE STATE OF THE BISHOPS OF ROME DURING THE TIME OF PERSECVTION and while they were subject to the Emperours IT may be heere some Curious Wits expect That I their Lives and Deedes should recollect Whom Priestly Votes hâ—ve voyc'd for Roman Popes In Peters Chaire on whom they sixt their Hopeâ— To binde and loose their manifolded Criâ—eâ— Both then and now and in ensuing Times But such a Taske I dare not undergoe Nor will I have with Fraudfull Styles to doe The Servant when of Servants One proclaimes Himselfe and yet a Monarques Power claimes Let them who build on Flesh and Blouds Desires Entangling their Beliefe with needlesse Fires Of High Ambitious Thrones not warranted By Gods deare Lambe who for our sakes here led An Humble Life Let them I say bow downe Before the Gold-cross'd Shooe and Triple Growne But I am sure they no Record shall finde Nor Chronicle that mentions in that kinde The least Reflexe of Royall Majesty Due to Romes Popes with Both Swords Soveraignty Untill the French the Lumbards overcame Till Charlemaine did Desiderius tame Since Phocas Time they Nine score yeeres before Above all Priests the Chiefest Miâ—er wore Since Constantines who Phocas did precede Three Hundred yeeres a Patriarchs sway I read They had heere in our West But till that Time They scarce found space to breath much lesse to climb Or claime a Mace and to be called Lord A Style which Christ forbad and Saints abhorr'd For till the Raigne of Constantine the Great Thirty they were which grac'd Romes Pastours Seat And of those Thirty Bishops there were None But they were slaine or did through Troubles grone As English Saints were in Queen Maries dayes By Tyrants spleene distressed sundry wayes Imprison'd rackt and put to Open shame Depriv'd of all their Goods and burnt in Flame So Christs New Church tho with rare Dowries blest Neere for Three Hundred yeares was sore opprest Caefars without and Herteickes within Did persecute and plunge her Members in So many Toiles that hardly they could meet In Private Place nor one another greet With Common shewes of
Golden Crosse they place That some might kisse the same whom he would grace A Girdle red then they about him clap With Buckles all of Gold and a Red Cap Present to him with Band of Gold and Pearle Wrought and engirt fit for a King or Earle Thus trimm'd they put him on a Scarlet Cloak And to puffe up him more with Glories Smoak Upon his Head the Triple Crowne they set With Carbuncles and Diamonds beset At last they mount him though a mortall Clod And on an Altar Throne him like a God The Holy Place where their Masse-God remaines There none of them to kisse his Foot disdaines His Chaplaines now turne Politick Divines More prone to spoile then prop up Sions Vines THus every Age hath added Royalties Since first the Pope affected Soveraignties In Ghostly things above his Ghostly Mates To scandalize the Church This animates The Turks and Moores to counterpoize his Crowne With the like Tares by their Arabian sowne For when they saw Religion mixt with Theames Of Humane stampe they forged idler Dreames That by such Carnall Baites their Sect like those Of Christian Name might with such Wordlings gloâ—e As loved Pompe and by their Muffry hope The like Soule-blisse as Christians from the Pope Whereby both Sects make up the Antichrist Turkes openly Popes slâ—ly crossing Christ. The Former rav'd and quickly were reveal'd The Latter grew by stealth so lay conceal'd In Mystick sort from Carnall Drowzie Braines Because Gods Word was hid none took the Paines Or durst indeed proclaime with open Lippes The Pope Christs Foe or by th' Apocalipse Depaint him out in Coulours least that Hire Which Saints reapt since they should have felt by Fire BUt who would once suspect within the Church A Grave Divine to live so by the lurch As to deprave the Holy Spirits Gifts And in a Saint-like shape with Satans shifts Wherewith he tempted in the Desart Christ To take the place of a Monarchique Priest And by the Keyes pretence for Gold to sell Mens Soules and to dispose of Realmes aswell As to encroach upon the Churches Ark That None should preach of Christ without his Mark Not onely in the Westerne Enpery But o're the World he claimed Soveraignety And not alone he claim'd this Massy Round But Other Worlds and the Abisse profound To order there like Heathens Rhadamant Soules Torment due for Deedes extravagant How on the Psalmists Clause have School-men glossâ—d Thou hast all things under his Feet dispos'd As Cattell Living men as Fish pain'd Soules As Aiery Foule High Saints the Pope controules AMong the rest of Antichristian Blots I may not overpasse Romes damned Plots About th'inhibiting of Nuptiall Rites Unto the Clergies Ranke by Romish Kites That Divellish Doctrine of the Latter Dayes By Paul fore-warn'd now Babels Strumpet waighes In a false Ballance by Hells Oracle Slighting the Type of Canaâ—s Miracle And as from Christ by Revelations New Authentick firm'd she doth the same renew Although that Plea Three Hundred Yeares before Had ordred been against the Remaine Whore By the Sixth Councell in Bizantium held And by th' Apostles Canons there upheld That Deacons Priests or Clergy-men might marry And if they should from this Position vary The Priest not with his Wife cohabiting They censur'd him with Deprivations sting And if he should his Wife repudiate They then judg'd him for Excommunicate But notwithstanding all the Councells Three At Gangren Nice and This they would decree Suborn'd by peevish Monks to lay that Yoak Which they in Younger Yeares could hardly brook For quenching of this Sodomiticque Flame We finde two Workes under Volusians Name To prove the Weaknesse of that Canons worth By Ausburgs Bishop Huld erick set forth Pope Nicholas the Second of that Name By this and other Acts quite out of frame Set Romes weake Church Ev'n he by Hildebrands Lewd Counsel scorcht the Church with burning BraÌ„ds And coram nobis brought good Berengare That Babels Masse might prove as Market Ware ABout that Time Rome fram'd a God of Bread Turn'd into Flesh like Him whom she had read In Genesis Created of Red Earth Unto which Wight she Motion gave and Birth To this New God with supercilious Brow She strictly charg'd her Subjects all to bow Her Courtiers and the Multitude confus'd Obey'd the Charge but Gods Elect refus'd Good Men refus'd and Berengarius sought With Monkes support and Prelates underwrought To contradict the Transubstantiate Masse Or not to leave it unreformed passe But Factious Wits with Worldly Policie Tooke that to clinch and pinch Romes Primacie Yet this Good Soule though since for feare of death Enforced to recant consum'd his Breath With Reasons sound and Arguments profound Till Tyranny his Patience did confound In opposition to their Sacrament Which derogates from the Man Christs Ascent And left behind what Hell can never blot The Sence of that which seemes to Some a knot Nor wanted he Applauses in that Age Of Abbots Monkes and Prelates wise and sage And Hildebert a Norman Bishop wrot His praise at large which Time shall never rot T Is strange to me how Faction then prevail'd That they had not in Disputations quail'd Ashamed of their Ghostly Mans relapse Having been nurst upon the Churches Paps As they suppos'd and of the Spirit borne Yet they the Sence did Intellectuall scorne Of that Blest Food which Christ himselfe fed on Before his Death and gave thereof Construction Spirituall plaine as all the Fathers did That Saints might finde with ease the Treasure hid But what they spake by Oratories Trope Rome wrested since her Masse to underprop Sometimes the Fathers by Syneâ—doche By Metonymy or Hyperbole Spake to advance the Sacred Mystery Thereby to print in ravisht Memory Soules healthfull Cure 'gainst Passions Insurrection Typ'd by Our Saviours Crosse and Resurrection TOwards this Ages End Pope Hildebrand Attempted by maine Force and armed Hand To wrest from Caesars Gift the Papacies Elections Grant and Paramounting Sway Which Popes receiv'd from them untill that Day At least they tooke their Confirmations Wea le Not sure without the High Imperiall Seale And so did other Bishops in his Land Assume their Worldly States from Caesars Hand But now the Pope by Romes New Cardinalls More pow'refull growne into his Party calls Aswell the Lay as Clergy-men to ayde Him in his Warres which Caesar sore dismay'd For by his Bulls he gave his Realmes away And blockt from him and his the Heavens way Thus he that tooke himselfe to be the Head Of Christ his Flocke claim'd Rule unlimited Aboue all Kings and Earthly Potentates And by the Keyes would alter worldly States The Emperour accurst he sends a Crowne To Rodolfe with this Posie written downe The Rock to Peter gave the Rule Supreme And he to Rodolfe gives the Diademe Upon this Warrant of his Ghostly Sire Against his Lord proud Rodolfe did conspire The Members rav'd and turn'd irregulare As if they felt the Cramp or Riding Mare Then Thousands rag'd with Frenzies Calentures Till
Petrae sub imagine cessat Sic hodie Semen solet insanire Draconis Ut Papae Decreta magis quam Dogmata nostra Iura Hominum non Iussa Dei bibit aure Sacerdes Nec mirum Nubes ortae de stercore Monstri Inficiunt animas Ecclesia pestc laborat O vetule infoelix qui Christi Calle nec Aris Nec sacris Monitis nec moveare Minis Sin nomen NEMO supplex inverteris OMEN Destinat Christo sic Anagramma placet Aëreos Hostes citâ— profligabis in Orcum Si modo rimaris Caelica Claustra Fide Proditor ille Senex tunc evanescet in Auras Succumbit Christi cum tuâ— Massa Cruci Hoc Opus hic labor est Perlege pende Vale. THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE TWELFTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 1100. untill the yeere 1200. At which Time King John raigned here in England who to be absolved of the Popes Excommunications made himselfe Tributary to His Holinesse The Argument The Councell Lateran confirmes the Masse The Canon Lawes for Romes maine Profit passe The Pope mounts up on Caesars humbled Back Schoole-men new use And Salem goes to wrack THose whom Rome styl'd the Berengarian Sect Because her Masse they ventur'd to correct Were censur'd at the Councell Lateran As at l'ercelli the like Act prophane Against them past that Politician Whâ—re For her Trades sake in the last Age before And here likewise such Labours went to Pot As Joachim a Latian Abbot wrot To prove the Man of Sinne the Antichrist And Babels Whore jumpt with the Romaine Priest O Valiant man who for this Mystick Point On Truths behalfe adventur'd his best Joint NO better sorts the Churches Pilgrimage In this obscure Eclipse and Carnall Age Popes struggling still for Worldly Dignity With Emperours and for Priority Amidst these Broyles although Eugenius storme Yet Bernard dar'd his Popedome to enforme How he in striving Both the Swords to hold Might lose them Both for his encroachment bold ANd sure if Popes had not on Princes play'd Nor warr'd with Worldly States but onely Pray'd And sought the Health of Soules by Lenity They might have raign'd in long Prosperity And by their Doctrine linkt with Holy Life Drawn wrangling States from Faction Bloud strife Whereas for Peace they rather Quarrels spun Not caring by what sleights they Places won So that some call him Pope a Yeare or two And that great Kings or Dukes doe kisse his shooe Old Adrian wreakes not how he came to mount Nor by what Meanes so he his Peeres surmount And yet this Fate with a repenting Breath This Pope perplext lamented at his Death And said that he who got the Papacy By Murther trac'd the Steps and Policie Of Romulus who slue his Brother Rheme Alone to weare Romes New-found Diademe When that Eleven Hundred Yeares and Ten Had wheel'd from Christ his Birth a Bishop then Of Florence preacht that the Proud Man of Sinne The Antichrist who long conceal'd had been Was surely come and in Gods Temple sate Pretending Right to sway the Christian State The Mystick Let of Caesars Glorious Traine Which made him hide his head and did restraine His haughty Thoughts and Plots unlimited Was thrust away and neere extinguished By the Popes Tumults Threats and Stratagemes Subjecting Bodies Soules and Diademes Priests Ghostly Charge into an Earthly chang'd The Spirits Gifts Simoniously exchang'd The Words Eclipse Idolatries encrease And Sodomies with want of Christian Peace These Hellish Crimes or Deedes irregulare Demonstrate who the Churches Foe-men are When Pope Paschalis Second of that Name Had heard diuulg'd his Hierarchies shame Most Politick to stop the Bruit at first Of such New Sparkes by his Old wayes accurst He sent his Briefes at Florence to appoint A Councell there to right things out of joint As he surmiz'd where Coram nobis brought The Bishop there was fore'd to be new taught With Babels Glosse to palliate what he knew The Cole-black for Snow white the False for True And so to leave the Pope in Peters Chaire Chaffring for Soules till Saints disturbe the Faire BUt in the midst of all these brandling Cares Which rackt the Church succeeded other Snares Soules to subject unto the Vultures Clawes Renewd with Glosse Voluminous of Lawes By Azoes Gratians and Accursius Paines That so Mens Wits by such divertive Traines In hope of Worldly Fees toâ—ld might not pry Into Sinnes deep concealed Mystery But nimbly helpe to execute the Bulls And Briefes wherewith his Thralls the Tyrant gulls Emptying their store sacking their Substance dry That he might joy at Clients Misery And though the One the Elder Sister were The Younger yet and Canon Law did beare The primest Sway and Kings durst not gainesay But must appeare at Rome on a set day For when the Pope enthrall'd the Emperour Romes Keyes then Caesars Lawes did over-towre TO fortifie the Canons glozing Glosse About that Time Our Schoole-men then arose Quaint Wits who spun Divinity anew And by Distinctions would the Gospel mew Such Knots and Wiles did Curious Wits compose That they to Rome might all the World transpose And so heale up and cloze the grievous Scarres Which she sustain'd deservedly for Jarres And for her Breach of Faith at Christ his Spring Vow'd that to him she 'gainst the World would cling But in the next Ensuing Age shall rise Bald Friers Sects to help Baals Sacrifice To temper or to stint these Busie Braines There shall start up Men of unwearied Paines Who seeme to raise Devotion at a pinch 'Mong which I ranke Poore Francis Sainted since Who innocent in Life by Poverty Would faine restore the Old Integrity To imitate as much as in him lay The Ancient Monks or the Essences way Or rather Benets Rules but afterward The Dragon brib'd his Mates to be his Guard His Sect soone stray'd and his Fraternity With Merits boast corrupted Purity Pestring the Church and Christian Common-weale With Dreames adverse unto the Founders Zeale OUt of their Dung did other Orders grow Austere in Life of Sanctimonious show Pretending Holinesse in Outward Sight But inwardly in Melancholick plight Now spending Dayes and Nights neere in dispaire Anon blowne up like Bladders in the Aire With Meritorious Wind Pelagian Worth And Humane Workes they set their Doctrine forth They lash'd their Flesh to keep the Old man downe And like that Sect from craz'd Montanus flowne They stupifi'd through Fasts their Brawny Sides In hope of Grace and Worldly Fame besides Meane while the Bloud of Christ they frustrate made And by such blasted Buds Faiths Tree did fade Yet by their Deedes and seeming Sacrifice The Scarlet Whore thought to redeeme her vice And that their Workes of Supererogation Suffis'd at least to win a Prorogation Of Vengeance due for her high Pamperd Pride If not to purge what Christ had left untri'd Like those who bought to ransome Iudas Sinne Blouds Hire a Field to bury Strangers in O What a Rabble doth my Muse descry Of Croakers from the Dragons mouth to slye Within the
be seene With her New man Gods hopefull Sonne Rayes darting like the Glorious Sunne But they who would descry her right Must her descry with Inward Sight Not like the Old Brasse-Serpent which Idolaters did earst bewich But like the Crosse which Saints took up Ere Some to that since found did stoup Thus stands the Church seen and unseen Unseen of Sots of Saints well seen These by Gods Word her Presence waigh Those by false Dreames and Worldly Sway. Now Brother mark which of these Crew Of Christ his Church are Children true The One kneele to the New mans Rock The Other to an Outward Stock Like Manichees which they doe paint For Angellick or Guardian Saint There they meet men who live by Lurch But never Saints of the True Church THE CONCLVSION TO THE READERS The Argument The Authour here from the New-man derives The Churches Web condemnes the Dronish Hives Blames Labans Saints and false Poetick Dreames Which he reformes and so concludes his Theames I Blunder forth no Quirkes nor Captious Theames No triviall Toyes nor fond Lascivious Dreames While Carnall Wits were pleas'd to weave such Tales Of late I found the New-mans Wormes in Wales Whose Entrailes spun in my retired Home For me some Silk which suits with Englands Loome Without engagement to a 〈◊〉 shore For 〈◊〉 Romes or the Hespâ—rian 〈◊〉 And now my Silk-wormes store Domestick spun I have divulg'd before the Fates have run Their Period out for my poore 〈◊〉 of Life Before strong Passions wave my Thoughts with strife My Sences with more Griefe or what might â—et The sâ—rious Task which Christ on me had set Though Hydrâ—es hiss'd and 〈…〉 bray'd Yet could not all their Coile 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Nor daunt my Free-borne Muse from setting forth To publick view some usefull wâ—res of worth Nor could Romes Canons Noise â—oaâ—'d out from Trent Deterre my Zeale nor seare my faire intent Where they have doom'd the Books of Protestants The New-mans Fruit for wild Extravâ—gâ—â—ts Such â—â—â—ick Goblin Feares I leave to them Who slighting Truth the Spirits Rayes contemne Not tempting Wine nor Feasts delition Bait Could make me sound a Cowards base retrait Nor could the Stormes of our late Adverse Times Disturbe or shake my Forme of Sacred Rimes Where I have limm'd in a two-folded Frame Our Saviours Life and his True Churches Flame Whereof the Latter here I first produce To usher that of the Divinest Use. No pamper'd Sloth nor Housholds netled Care Nor Natures Nets could my Resolves ensnare To hide from you her Tents and War-fares Wayes From Christs Ascent untill our present Dayes But that I would to yeeld you some Content Strow her good Tents with Leaves of Rosy scent And to recure the Saulish Moone-sick Braine I would enchant the Sence with Musuks Straine I lock not up my Use of Labour'd Houres Nor poast it o're unto Executours Like Miser-Churles who worldly Goods conceale And wrong thereby the Christian Common-weale Who at their death the same most madly leave To such as may their hoped Trust deceave The Authour dead who cares to mend his Bookes No Step-Dame well to Orphans Breeding lookes No Nurse respects a tender Suckling Wight Like Her who claimes the Native proper Right As Iudaes wisest King long since descri'd When he gave Doome on the True Mothers Side Unhappy are those Scribes who catch no Soules For Christ if so they may by Holy Scroules And much too blame are those of Carnall Brood Who loath to taste of Intellectuall Food Yet surfeit on Old Tales of Robin Hood Of Friers Cowles or of Saint Benets Hood Of Patricks Broiles or of Saint Georges Launce Of Errant Knights or of the Fairy Daunce But Yee who are borne of Immortall Seed Scorne your Best Part with Honey'd-Gall to feed Fly Readers fly and shunne such Baites as these Which though they for a time the Sences please At last they breed a Soule-sick ravery Which will from Truth distast your Memory Fly from such Cates which shining Sinnes suggest And from their Sauce though by a Prophet drest Like that which on the may the Man of God From Bethel tooke although by him for bod Read vertuous Bookes which Manners rectifie And may help up the Soule to edifie For even as the Spirits cleere and fresh Excell in worth the massy Pulpe of Flesh Much more essentiall Joy and true Delight We must conceive spring from the New-mans Light Where we by Grace may hap to be like Paul In Spirit rapt above this Earthly Ball To Paradise or the Third Fleaven where He learn'd more Nemes then he away could beare O doe not then the Spirits Gifts suppresse Since they beare up the Soule beat down the Flesh. THey mount the Soule thoâ—e the Chrisâ—dlliâ—â— And Starry Orbes to view with Sight Divâ—â—â— Those Mysteries for which the Greatest Gâ—â—â—k Unlesse 〈◊〉 imes he stoupts gropes in the 〈◊〉 And never shall attaine to that brare Piâ—ch Because his wings are soil'd with clammy Pitch Or borrow'd of the Peacocks â—ately Traine Which either lead him to Despaiâ—e and Pâ—â—â—e Or to Presumptuous sâ—â—â—e 〈◊〉 Lâ—â—â—â—ers And then as Lampes false Mereours he preferres Before the Light of Gods Etarnal Word And the Soules Bauquet at his Saâ—ed 〈◊〉 Then Humane shrines and Monks Mythology He more beâ—â—ints then true Theology For as the Greeks Plurality of Gods Devis'd whom they confest to live at ods Among themselves so Superstition since Crâ—pt in â—â—â—ng the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at a 〈◊〉 To further Hells 〈◊〉 like to fall When Romes Great Empire won'd if 〈◊〉 shall Had not been 〈◊〉 with Faitâ—â— Resteratiâ—â— By Satans-Craft to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 With Calendars of Canonized Saints To whom they fram'd instead of Christ Complaints As in Old time those Poets did approve The Lesser Gods as Advocates to Iove And by the like Distinctions in the Schooles VVould them Create Subordinated Fooles Or Courtiers of th' Olympian Majesty To intercede or ayâ— Mortality To which they kneel'd in various Idol-shapes Like Babels Head of Gold Calves Cats or Apes SO Babels babling Dawes Saints Help exact Saint Margaret Lucinâ—â—â— Part must Act Saint Anthony relieves them of the Poâ— With Reliques Charmes fetcht from Old â—â—laâ—ms Box. For the Twin-Brother Gods they consecrate Saint Nicâ—â—â—â—s at Sea their Advocate Saint Euâ—â—ace must uphold the Forrest Game For which Old Pagans us'd Dianâ—es Name VVith a huge Club Saint Christopher they please As with the like those painted Hercules Yea every Soile possessed Teutelares Small Gods to ease them of their heavy Cares Iun o holp Carthage Mars Rome Pallas Greece Ceres blest Corne Pan sheep Pomona Trees So Denis France George England Iago Spaine And the like Saints to guard their Coast they faigne The Scottish Folkes were of Saint Andrewes ward Ireland of Patricks Wales of Davids Guard Unto Saint Mark the Rich Venetian bends And he that Venice wrongs with Mark contends But above all Saint Peter beares the Bell He Rome protects and Rome must all excell Nùmâ—es Aegeria Peter hath