giving up the bodies and souls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a reasonable service acceptable to God Rom. 12.1 But of what kinde soever certainly they build on sand that lean on any such duties as a satisfaction to man that may be must be made to God it cannot but alone by God and Man there being nothing of proportion in the very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and height of them Arithmetrical or Geometrical either to our numberless offences Mica 6.7 or the object infinite Mica 6.7 Will the Lord pleased with thousands of rams c. Yet however these duties of mortification must be performed ex necessitate praecepti not as the means that 's Christs merits onely but as commanded Isai 22.12 Isai 22. and out of conformity to Christ 1 Pet. 2.21 who though he humbled yet you know he tormented not himself nor did any of his Apostles do so We must ferre Crucem non creare i. e. bear his Cross when imposed by him but not make our own We may and now must with S. Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 subdue the body by mortification 1 Cor. 9.12 and devout Abstinence thereby disarming the strong man of the weapons that our Flesh lends against us who is indeed most strong ex infirmitate nostra by taking advantage of our weakness Substract we but the combustible matter and his fiery darts will out of themselves and prove but as Granado's against a wall of Adamant Pride and Lust are the devils not to be cast out but by such Mortification Matth. 17.21 Prayer and Fasting of which all other good works I may say as S. Paul doth Heb. 13. not as the Rhemists Promeretur Deus Heb. 13.16 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With such sacrifices God is pleased as is exemplified in Nineveh and even in Ahab himself 1 King 21.19 POEM 12. WElcome sad glad day which old time inrouls Among the exceeding gaudy daies of souls For though thou be'st ordain'd the Body's Fast Yet art thou the choice spiritual repast The soul is gayest when the sable weeds Of true remorse o're-spread her blacker deeds Ashes and tears are the best food of Saints And most revive who spiritually faints Then bate of wonted measures now go less The Spirit is nimbler when freed from excess Pour out thy Soul in pray'rs thy sin in tears Thy tongue in such confession as God hears Thy hands extended too in pious deeds That thy Fast may feast others in their needs From Bow'd Knees shoot thy sighs up and all this With Heart sincere 't is the high way to Bliss Who such Mortifications but home urge Upon themselves shall need no lit'ral scourge Such inward zeal renders a Soul more fair Then all their outward weeds and shifts of hair I these suppressions more extinguish sin Then all vain whips can lash out of their skin Poor Childish satisfaction oh how short Of wrong'd Omnipotence and Heavens Court Your inward med'cine 't is expels the pain Whereas all outward ostentation's vain Reduce then your Devotions no more stray But with heart-sorrow vindicate the day Whose Sackcloth too resembleth the black hue Both of our sin and sorrow to it due Whose Ashes equal Monitors may be Of our Corruption and Humility Whose blacks should serve to Chastise our vain dress And ashes to scour off our wantonness The Calf of sin that 's fram'd by all the year This day should Sacrifice to ashes here The COLLECT-PRAYER besides three other pertinent Collects in the Commination The Epistle Joel 2.12 to 18. The Gospel Matth. 6.16 to 22. Almighty and everlasting God which hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of them that be penitent create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wickedness may obtain of thee the God of all mercy perfect remission forgiveness through Jesus Christ Christ riding to Ierusalem mat 21. mar 11. * Luc 18. Ioan 12. * 7 And they brought the Colt to Iesus and cast there garments on him and he sat upon him 8 And many spred their garments in the way and others cut downe branches of the trees and strawed them in the way 9 And they that went before and they that followed cried saying Hosanna blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Here the Plate Vpon the Solemn Fast of Lent DISQUISITION 10. LEnt which is the Saxon Apellative of the Spring is so ancient and solemn a Fast that like the River Nilus we can scarce finde the head of it of very eminent credit and continuance in the Christian Church we read of it both in the Greek and Latine Fathers though not without some difference of the several times 't is mentioned by * Epist ad Philip. Ignatius Irenaeus two of Saint Iohns Scholars by †Hom. in Levit Origen who lived not long after them by Cant. 5. de quadragessima the famous Councel of Nice little above 300 yeers after Christ where they mention the fourty daies of Lent as a thing known and long observed before their time by Tertullian the first of the Latine Fathers and perhaps too highly so by Saint Cyprian his Scholar and by that renowned Triumvirate and contemporary Pieties Saint Ambrose Saint Augustine Hooker l. 5. Field l. 3. Church and Saint Hierome in their writings frequently besides a whole Cloud of witnesses since even down to our own times Some observe Jejunium triplex distinguishing a threefold Fast Expectationis the first was a Fast of expectation and such were those of the Iewes for the Messiah before the Bridegroom came Contemplationis The second was a Fast of Contemplation Such as of Moses and Elias and others sublimating the Spirit by unclogging of the flesh Refrenationis The third was a Fast of restraint Matth. 24.44 and bridling in corruptions The two former directly concern not us only in the figure as to grace in present and Christs future coming But the third the Fast of Refrenation we all much stand in need of I the best of men the very Apostles themselves Matth. 9.15 as our blessed Lord himself told them after the Bridegroom once was taken from them then should they Fast which having him they needed not who on all occasions was a bridle to their extravagancy whose Eye onely or Word being present could do more in them then all Austerity and strictest discipline in others yet after such example and Instruction they are injoyned Fasting after Christs departure Then shall they Fast in those daies shall they how much more then need We all whose helps are too little to restrain corruptions The first Command we read of laid on man after his Creation was this of abstinence Gen. 2. and you know Gen. 2.17 the Law of Iustice was given by Fasting Moses Exod. 24. and so again restored by Elijah Exod. 24.18 1 Kings 9.8 1 King 9. The Iewes had all their weekly
Day 49 Ashwednesday 56 The solemn Fast of Lent 62 Palm Sunday 75 Good Friday 80 Easter Day 106 Ascension Day 135 Whitsunday 155 Trinity Sunday 177 The Lords Day in Generall 186 Rogation Week 201 S. Andrews Day 208 S. Thomas Day 221 Conversion of S. Paul 231 The Purification 239 S. Matthias Day 247 The Annunciation 256 S. Marks Day 265 S. Philip and Jacob 270 S. Barnaby's Day 277 S. John Baptist 299 S. Peter's Day 319 S. James his Day 330 S. Bartholomew's Day 337 S. Matthew's Day 321 S. Michael the Arch-Angel 329 S. Luke's Day 339 S. Simon and Jude 346 All Saints Day 353 The four Ember Weeks 364 The Vigils or Eves of Festivals 368 The Doxologie 371 ERRATA In Votum Authoris line 5. r. accendat Ad Malignantes Poemata l. 3. r. if l. 6. r. texts To Rigid Humorists l. 22. r. ivgenuous P. 19. l. 26. for rupis r. rapis p. 136. l. 6. r. Christian p. 138. marg r. Enar. p. 354. l. 3. r. Assentation p. 155. l. 26. r. Candid p. 358. l. 8. r. Groat p. 362. marg r. Euthymius To his valued FRIEND the AUTHOR How much I love that Gallant civill man Who fears Gods Laws and does not mans offend Yet dares be active nay does all he can To vindicate the fame of his dead Friend How much more Dear Sparke must I Honor thee Who vindicat'st the Churches Piety I must acknowledg I with Reverence look Upon thy Parts and highly prize thy Merit For who impartially peruse thy Book Shall find thou hast an high seraphick Spirit Imagine Gold could be from Gold refin'd So is thy soul from others souls sublim'd Ad Malignantes Poemata I hear some Quarrell Authors that have writ In verse such strong and sublimated things As â—f such subjects for verse were not fit Let them know this God chose the Pens of Kings To wâ—…e in verse and Christ alledg'd them more Then all the Text he found in Moses store Let them know learned Moses and wise Job Writ both in verse before those glorious Kings And all the Prophets call'd the sons of God In verse have written high mysterous things Let them know who dares on such verse fall foul Hath but a squint-ey'd ill composed Soul Fran. Wortley To the Author in contemplation of his Primitive Devotion THe Churches Liturgy Her Discipline Her sweet indulgencies Her love divine Her Fasts Her Feasts Her Sacraments and all That Tongues of men and Angels Order cal By wholsome Precepts and choice presidents This Author with high Charity presents Instructing us the ready Way to know What to our God what to the Church we owe. All morall vertues stand in great esteem With grave Philosophers shall not we deem Diviner Graces much more to surmount Yes To this end SPARKE renders in Account The lives and deaths of most refined Saints Which he from Times records so lively Paints That we by their examples might become Such as they were in Life or Martyrdome Great Harmony did grace her Pristine State Till the red Dragon grew predominate In her Meridian thousand souls did bring At her Behests their free-will offering In her eclipse no Herbert not a Donne SPARKE only sings her Resurrection To shew my best Affection and my Zeal To this good Work I give Heart Hand and Seal Thomas Shirley In opus eruditum Authoris ingeniosissimi CRudeli lacerare manu pia viscera Matris Infoelix studuit Nequitiae soboles Omine foelici sanavit vulnera Sparkus Non passus tumulo saucia membra dari Hic petit Antiquos veris ornare Coronis Vates Angelicos celebrare Choros R. DUKESON D.D. To my worthy Kinsman M. Ed. SPARKE upon his Pious Reflection on Primitive Devotion I Were ingrate should I thy lines ore'-look And not repay some tribute to thy Book Amongst those virid wreaths of Poetry Then interweave one Lawrell branch from me Whil'st thou thy light dost through the world disperse Accept of this Reflection on thy Verse Methinks Th' hast here thy skil in Musick shewn Most fitly to a Land that 's out of tune A happy harmony of Sions Songs Variety yet no Divisions First a plain Note a Rellish then doth close Each Poem's grafted on a stock of Prose How sweetly both the Courteous Reader Greet When the Prose runs so on the Verses feet Cease Old Religion to lament thy fate Here 's yet a Prospect of thy Pristine state Though the old lights snuft out which clearly shone To other Lands But dazled this our own Our comfort is we are not quite bereft Here is a SPARKE of the old Lamp yet left Blown from above into a Holy fire Whose flames shal last when as this SPARKE flies higher RICH. BETENSON On the worthy work of my respected Friend M. Ed. SPARKE When Pious Asa with his Fathers Slept How solemnly his funerals were kept A curious bed's contriv'd by Arts devices Fild all with Indian gums Arabian Spices This bed the case wherein his corps the Jewel Are for the * 2 Chro. 16.14 BURNING made the precious fuel As if that Asa's body did aspire To meet his soul and mount up in that fire Dead Saints dead days now put into their Urne See here a sweeter brighter flame doth burn Kindled from holy SPARKES whence doth arise No smoak to hurt save only envious eyes Whilst my admiring Muse at distance stands Desiring at this flame to heat her hands Wherewith emboldned neerer she presumes To steal a Sent of these thy sweet Perfumes But I recant my words and pardon crave That I compar'd thy Book unto the Grave Or Vrne of Saints for by thy Pen's perfection Saints are not buried but have Resurrection The cozning witch in counterfeit disguise Made but a seeming Samuel to rise Whom cunningly she did with mantle hide To cloak her cheat which else might be espide But who will not thy worthy Work applaud No falshood here no forgery or fraud Thou really dost from the dust retrive And make not one but All-Saints to revive Yea by the pains which thou on them expends Easter doth rise Ascension day ascends Thy Poetry is pleasant Pictures fine Thy Prose profound but oh the prayers divine Thus hast thou pleased us in every part Our fancies judgments with our eyes and heart THO. FULLER To the Author upon the sight of the first sheet of his Book My worthy friend I am much pleas'd to know You have begun to pay the debt you owe By promise to so many pious friends In printing your choice Poems it commends Both them and you that they have been desir'd By persons of such Judgment and admir'd They must be most by those that best shal know What praise to holy Poetry we owe. So shall your Disquisitions too for there Choice learning and blest piety appear All usefull to poor Christians where they may Learne Primitive Devotion Each Saints day Stands as a Land-mark in an erring age to guide fraile mortals in their pilgrimage To the Coelestiall
boared head his smeared face and furrowed body and see whether he be not likelier for a Grave then a Throne Ecce homo Behold the man Yet all this is not enough for Jews or Jewish spirits And therefore Venerable Bede and others are for the later Beda in locum and that these words were a Belch of Envy whether from fear of Caesar or to please the Jews not much materiall and they prove it by the close Nam quem absolvit Judicio crucifigit ministerio For whom he cleareth in word he doth condemne in action I find no fauls in Him take ye Him and crucifie him Ecce homo Behold the man so that all the washing of his hands though he rubbed neyer so hard would hardly ever fetch out the steins of this Bloud from his Heart Behold the man But here not to build a Mindus sorrow loving no descant and being but an ill Methodist I shall briefly resolve this subject into these 3 circumstances reserving the Ecce toattend the Application if not rather carrying it along with us all the way viz. The Quis the Quid the Quare and consider the Person the Act and the Reason of it Who it was What it was and why it was Christ suffered All wrapped up in this Ecce homo Behold the man First for the Quis. Who as to his being the Son of God is answered with another Quis another Question Isai 53. Quis enarrabit Isa 53 8. Who shall declare his generation Not the Tongues or Quils of Men or Angels as he is Aquila in Nubibus St. Johns Eagle in the clouds Yet may we look upon him as Vermis in pulvere Davids worm in the dust and outcast of the people Though we cannot reach his Deity yet as this Text inviteth we may behold the man And so indeed was he too plainly seen by the eye of an oppressive world Vir dolorum no sooner man then center of calamities one acquainted with Griefs His only Intimates and Familiars his inseparable companions Thus as in relation to his sufferings our businesse here this word most particularly answereth the Quis with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold the man Man and Son of Man our Saviours usual compellation John 8. and frequently elsewhere the Son of Man and that for weighty Reasons John 8.28 As first to strengthen his Disciples Faith Whom say you that I the Son of Man am Secondly to demonstrate his Humanity as his Miracles did his Divinity And here most properly Man as being Passive only in his Human Nature Thirdly called Man to shew Christ was not ashamed of our Infirmities but as the Prophet speaks hath born them and our sorrows meaning all those infirmities that are painfull without sin but none of those that are sinfull without pain as Lombard well distinguisheth Lombard 4. Distinct And yet withall he is Man with an Article that imports an Emphasis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. among men as Demosthenes among Greek Orators or as Tully among the Latins or Homer among the Graecian Poets or Virgil amongst other The Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a Figure of Excellency Behold the Man a Dicier Hic est Christ here Emphatically stiled Man and by a transcendent singularity above all others Not like ordinary men propagated in sin originall and by a double Parentage This spotlesse Lamb having in Heaven no Mother and on Earth no Father No nor like Adam in his best state with a Posse labi with any possibility of falling into actuall But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2.17 the Man in all things like us but that which is nothing sin excepted Heb. 2. 'T is remarkable that none is called Sonne of man in Scripture except Daniel once But the Prophet Ezekiel and He so Dan. 8.17 neer an hundred times as being more conversant with Angels and Diviner Revelations How much more Christ in that regard here stiled emphatically Behold the man Nor yet is this all his Excellency He was Innocens Benefaciens Rex Dei Filius c. all easie to dilate on I can but name them He was innocent and declared so by his Judge Insons ante Reum the Dove of Innocence the Lamb without blemish the true Nathaniel He was the Vniversall Benefactor of the world to all parts doing good according to their severall Receptivities He was a King acknowledged not only by the Scriptures but also by his enemies at his Crucisixion by his Title on the Crosse c. He was the Son of God testified by miracles on earth and thrice at least by a voyce from heaven and the Devill himself was tormented to this Truth Matth 8.29 Behold the man that was the summe of the whole world both God and Man And all this Excellency of Person doth in finitly highten the indignity of his Sufferings which are the next Considerable the Quid What this person underwent But soft let me not promise more then I can perform alas more then can be performed This being Infandum scelus infandique dolores on the Jews part a wickednesse unutterable on Christs part sorrows inexpressible and therefore fitter here to be Effigiesed like sacrified Ipbigenia with Agamemnon's veil of silence How hard the holy Penmen labour here for Metaphors Psal 129.3 Isai 53.7 Rom. 4.25 Luke 22.47 Phil. 2.8 He was ploughed upon saith David Dumb before the shearers and Butchers saith Isaiah given up saith St. Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Given up of God betrayed of man Traditus mundo John 3.16 Delivered to the world that Scoen of miseries and vale of tears Traditus dolori Delivered up to sorrows Traditus Populo Luke 22. Delivered up to the people and no wild beast or Sea so raging Traditus morti traditus Cruci Delivered to Death even to the death of the Crosse as the Complement of all Tortures And this is the generall Prospect of Christs innumerable sufferings which come on so thick and fast upon us that they will not permit us here to glance upon his Prior passio as the Fathers call Christs life from his first Birth to the institution ot his last Supper his former passion Cujus tota vita continuata passio whose whole life indeed was but one Crimson Thred spun to make us a Garment But his later Passion now calleth us into the Gardâ—n Joh 18. John 13.1 Where think not of a place of Recreation but of Passion Dream not of Beds of Roses and delicious Flowers but think of bitter Herbs of Rue and Wormwood There Ecce homo Behold the man there weeping sweating bleeding for us Till he becometh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even a Circle of Calamity made an Island in his own inundation of Tears of Sweat of Bloud a treble Island as Bernard passionatly Non tantum oculis Serm. 3. de Ram. Palmar sed membris singulis Christ wept saith he not only with his eyes but with all the members of his blessed body to wash away our
knowledge of salvation to them that sit in darknesse and the shadow of death and too of good example to shine before men that they seeing our good works Why in fire may glorifie c. So that this holy Fire commendeth each of the Apostles to the world as Christ did Saint John Baptist both for a Burning and a shining Lamp and indeed He that hath knowledge or charity without zeale is but too like the Glow-worm hee hath some cold splendour without heat or efficacy whereas who so hath zeal without the rest as now a days too many such blind metled Horses They are so far like Hell fire that they burn and give no light but in whose brest soever they are united such are baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire Again Fire is a bright Hieroglyphick of Grace I those Septem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the seven chiefe Donatives of the Holy Spirit are not frigidly demonstrated by Fire grace 1 as first Purgat Fire you know purifieth the Gold from drosse so doth the Spirit by the gift of Love purge out the old Leaven of Malice and Hypocrisie turning all Injuries into a Golden Patience grace 2 2. Liquefacit Fire melteth most obdurate Mettals and mouldeth them into any Figurations The seven Graces of the Holy Spirit So doth the Spirit by the Gift of Poenitence dissolve our steely Hearts conforming them to Christ and the best Patterns making them flow through our eyes like a Coelestiall Spring grace 3 3. Consolidat Fire constipateth and hardneth the clay so that no Rain or storm can injure it and so doth the Spirit by the gift of Patience confirme and fortifie us against all Afflictions grace 4 4. Decorat Fire maketh new and burnisheth the Mines So doth the Spirit by the gift of Knowledge Adorn and Beautifie the Minds of men grace 5 5. Elevat Fire carrieth up vapours and things of lighter Nature with its ascending motion So doth the Spirit by the Gift of Faith raise our Desires and sublimate our Indeavours towards Heaven grace 6 6. Illuminat Fire imparteth light to all that are about it and so doth the Spirit by the Gift of Wisdome enlighten the Understanding and direct the Practice grace 7 Lastly Dulcorat Fire you know sweetneth and preserveth things from corruption So also doth the Spirit by the Gift of Prudent Innocence sweeten our whole life into a continuail Feast and keepeth Soules intire from spirituall Putrefaction In a word our great God himselfe is a Fire saith Scripture to the wicked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 4. which Saint Paul translateth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deut. 4.2.24 Heb. 12.29 Hebr. 12. i. e. an eating fire to Sodome and Gomorrha Nadab and Abihu to such Stubble a Consuming Fire but to the Faithfull to the Poenitent as here Ignis illuminans a Light unto their Feet and a Lanthorn to their Pathes to guide their steps into the way of Peace Peace temporall spirituall and Eternal And now the Question of this Fire is extinguished admit here a few words of Tongues that 's the second Why in Tongues the Holy Ghost was pleased formerly to Appear in the milde Emblem of a Dove viz. when he flew down on him who was as void of Guile as that same bird of gall but now pointing out the effect by the externall cause hee speaks his presence in the forme of Tongues But as before of Fire so neither must we here imagine reall Tongues but their Similitude non carneae linguae saith my Author these were no fleshy tongues Gorran in locum no those had been too grosse incongruous Representatives of the subtilest spirit these were of a rarer substance suppose of purest air condens'd into this shape and lightned from above so that as before the Spirit descended Sicus Columba Matth. 3. but in the likenesse of a Dove so here no more then tanquam linguae only in the similitude of tongues Why in Tongues and in them specially ut qui Intellectui Lucem Ardorem Affectui Ori verbum ministraret in Tongues above all Figures that he who had given light to their intellectuals and fervency to their affections might now also add a voice and expressive faculties to the tongue without which all abilities are but like the talent in the napkin the napkin hid in the earth Jewels lock'd up in a Cabinet whose key is lost Act. 24. Elocution being the Oratours primum secundum tertium expression the ornament of all here is therefore opened to them a dore of utterance Caeperunt loqui variis linguis Act. 2. They spake with divers tongues as c. these tongues then betokened the Gift of languages wherby they were inabled to perform that great taske Christ had set them Mat. 8.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 go forth and teach c. See God never giveth a burden but withall strength to bear it if he will have them teach He wil furnish them with Tongues else the Apostles themselves you see were not to go from Jerusalem and preach till they had received the Tongues yet how many in this daring Age praecipitate into the holy Function before any Receipt of the Holy Ghost in Tongues of as many languages as their Mother without ever waiting as the Apostles here or perhaps scarce once seeing the place where they are bestowed an Vniversity But on the other side no sooner have the Apostles here received the Gift but like good Stewards forthwith they imploy it Men ought to make a timely use of their endowments stil moving in the proper Sphere of their vocation And what have They to answer for that have received this Gift of Tongues and yet are dumb Psalm 39. I mean not that inforced silence which now many a David keepeth not without pain and griefe for it which Sin shall light on its Imposers but for voluntary Mutes I am sure Isai 56.10 the Prophet gives them but a biting Character Isai 56. and Saint Bernard as seriously as wittily on that 12th of Matth. ver 36. Of every idle word c. Etiam otiofi silentii reddenda Ratio Bernard in Mat. 12.36 as of idle words so of every idle silence saith he must an account be given here they immediately began to speak with tongues as c. Streight the whole multitude of strangers Parthians Medes and Elamites Romanes Jewes Mesopotamians Syrenians Cretes and Arabians all in a generall wonder acknowledge them speaking in their own tongues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Magnalia Dei the Wonderfull things of God And it may passe for one of those Magnalia the sudden Rise and strange Growth of the Church immediately there upon how from that Embrio In Jury is God known it commenced as it were per Saltum into a full stature by Proselytes of all Nations and daily numberlesse Additions This brighter Moon doth wax may she know no wayne These Tongues speak the converlion of the Nations but still increase til she
be multiplied unto her Full of Glory the Spouse I say that until then like Jacob beyond Jordan was but obscure and of small Retinue able to plead but little visibility but here like Him again having once passed some bitter waters can challenge either Stars or Sands for Number singing now Laudate Dominum omnes Terrae Praise the Lord all ye Lands I. Quid Linguae Gentium nisi conversionem Gentium 1. What else do the Tongues of all Nations here import but the conversion of the Nations Again whereas at first all languages save one were as a curse for sin Gen. 11. Gen. 11. a punishment of pride none of them as yet by some thought holy unlesse the three inscribed on the Cross of Christ viz. Hebrew Greek and Latin why here were all the other sanctified by this appearance of the holy Ghost in Tongues for which Let all Tongues and Languages Kindreds and Nations especially that enjoy these Fountains open and not stopt up by envious Philistins ever sing prayses to the Lord and speak good of his Name for so affording them his word in their owne language as a Means and Message of their Salvation Lastly The Tongue too is an Instrument of Tast as well as Speech Distnguit sapores sapidum ab insipido dulce ab Amaro So doth the Holy Spirit rectifie the Palate of the soul hereby teaching her to relish Good and disgust Evil to prefer a bitter wholesom to a sugered venom 1 Cor. 2.22 to taste and see how gracious the Lord is Psal 34. whereby the natural man saith the Apostle as wanting this same holy Tongue Non sapit quae Dei sunt Discerneth not savoureth not the things that are of God But one may speak too much even of the Tongue it self and therefore now I will cleave off my discourse from the Linguae to the Dispertitae The third Querie Why the Holy Ghost was pleased to descend in cloven Tongues And this Dispertitae some take to be no more then Distributae Tongues divided not in themselves they mean but among their Receivers Ita ut Quisque suam habuit So as that a Peculiar Tongue sate upon each of them But there is more in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifieth such as were divided from the middest dimidiated as it were by-forked Tongues in specie Ignis saith Goran Gorran in locum These imitating Fire likewise in its pyramidall Figure may easily bee conceived to spread into a Bipartition And what did the two Branches hereof intimate but the equall mixing of the Law and Gospel for the conversion both of Jew and Gentile In the old Law you know the dividing of the hoof was an argument of cleanness Levit. 11.3 Lev. 11. and the Serpent also that embleme of wisdome to which Christ schooleth our Imitation Matth. 10. hath Linguam bifurcatā Matth. 10.16 a kind of a forked tongue Here therefore why may not the cleaving of the tongue be an apt Symboll of sincerity Sure that tongue which rends it selfe off from worldly and corrupt communication and setleth to Gods praises is one of the Holy Spirit 's cloven tongues For the Devill too playeth Gods Ape and hath his cloven tongues viz. those that love division flattery and dissimulation as well as his fiery tongues viz. such as love lying slanders oathes blasphemy and imprecations And these likewise I fear may all Nations hear I am sure our's may almost in every corner speaking in their own language Horribilia Diaboli the fearfull works of the Devilll But not to proportion my discourse of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Sin of Tongues lest I be infinite or rather uncessant but in stead thereof let us take a more necessary glance of the number here the Holy Ghost descended on For we read of 120. assembled Acts 1.15 But Beza and some others restrain this Advent of the Spirit Acts 1.15 to the Apostles onely because indeed the promise was made to them and He led them forth at his Ascension and the Grand Charge was laid on Them Go forth and preach c. yet for all this the stream runneth th' other way C. à Lapide with a cloud of witnesses affirmes the Holy Spirit shed on all that Company but not without Discrimination In locum Acts 1. cap. 10.47 and this argued first from that Question Acts 10. Who can forbid water that these should not bee baptized having received the Holy Ghost as well as wee besides we know more were to preach the Gospel then the Apostles Luke 10.1 He appointed other seventy Luke 10. and they then had need of tongues But then here may bee objected that there must be divers women in this Company besides the blessed Virgin Acts 1.14 Acts 1.14 and They not permitted to speak in the Church needed not this gift of tongues but we may thus salve the scruple The Holy Ghost here probably descended on them all Apostles and others men and women Joel 2.28 according to Saint Peters exposition of that place of Joel Effundam Spiritum I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh your sons and your daughters shall prophecy Acts 2.17 c. Acts 2.17 which he there appropriateth to that every businesse to take off the Enthusiasticall Pretenses of this Age yet all this not to the same end nor in the same degree as one that was present there Saint Paul will tell you 1 Cor. 12. 1 Cor. 12.8 To one was given by the Spirit the word of wisdome to another the word of knowledg by the same Spirit To others the gift of Faith to others Prophesie to others the Discerning of Spirits as was most necessary to their severall conditions but to the Apostles and to their Helpers the higest Degree of Illumination Diversitie of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues because they were to convert the Nations Serm. 69. de Temp. So that we may conclude it gratefully with St. Augustine Spiritum sanctum à Christo promissum duodecim Apostalis datum numero decuplato O the great Fidelity and Liberality of Christ that promised a Gift to 12 Apostles and performeth it to ten times twelve which is 120. teaching us to be spaing in protestations ample in performances not like Antigonus sirnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of whom it is said he never denied any thing was asked nor ever performed any thing he promised but like David to keep our word though it bee our losse it shall be our Gain a better way Psalm 15.4 it is a Qualification of a St an Imitation of Christ you see who here promised his Apostles only filleth all of them with the Holy Ghost And while they are thus filled with the Holy Ghost some mockers are so empty of him as to say the Apostles are filled with new wine Acts 2. Acts 2.15 If They did not sure enough their Successours shall never want Censures and Derisions
but Saint Peter confuteth them from their own experience it being but the third hour of the day ver 15. Wine was not their mocker but the Jews yet Saint Bernard confesseth it with a qualification Verè Ebrii vino novo Saint Bernard in Festo They are drink indeed with new wine saith He but such a new wine as those old bottles the unbelieving Jews were neither worthy to receive nor able to contain being a wine powred out by the true Vine Himself by Him that trod the Wine-pesse alone Vinum Cor Laetificans non statum mentis evertens such a wine as made glad the Heart without any disturbing of the braine The Apostles had had a sowr Drawght on it by their Masters Absence now therefore they receive the wine of comfort and this me thinks may cheer our patince to see it is Christ's Method to keep the best wine till the last here then what if wee must taste of sorrows cup while we are sure hereafter to have our water turned into wine our tears into eternall joy for what I say unto you saith Christ I say unto all and that is Non relinquam John 14.18 I will not leave you comfortlesse To which end let us fervently and frequently say unto him againe in the Prayer of the Church O God make clean our hearts within us and take not thine Holy Spirit from us POEM 18. THe Sun of Glory being now in 's hight Shines forth on His in a Meridian Light And lest Griefs for his Absence strike Them mute An inspir'd Tongue doth each of Them salute And the World's Charity grown Cold and Dead With fire from Heaven is here Re-quickened Christ's Promise meets th' Apostles Vnion Which Those share not that love Division A Spirit of Comfort various as our Griefs Proportioning them all with fit Reliefs A Spirit of strength for to support the weak And bind up wounded hearts when like to break A Spirit of Amity and sacred love Uniting Lower envies from above A spirit of Aliment to hungry Souls Cheering with Manna and true Nectar bowles And now all Persons of the Trinity Have at times to man appear'd visibly Two Heraulds here usher the Spirits way A mighty wind and Sound fit to display The Gospel one whereof the world must Ring Mens carnall chaff the t'other winnowing Then doth Himself in fiery tongues dispence Heaven takes Some as some That by violence Hither a Question pertinent belongs Why he descends in Fire and cloven Tongues A fiery Comforter must needs seem strange shall not that angry Element once change The world to cinders True and yet presume While God's i' th Flame it sha'nt a Bush consume The Light and heat of fire best emblem forth Knowledg and zeal all true Apostles worth Science without zeal Ape 's the Glow-worm wel But zeal without that Heat without light 's Hell The seven chief Graces of the Spirits desire Not frigidly demonstrated by fire The fire doth Gold from its drosse purifie The Spirit doth by love purge enmity Fire melts the most obdurate Mines you know The Spirit by Remorse makes heard hearts flow Fire hardneth clay against the injurious storme The spirit by patience doth sad hearts confirme The fire makes new and burnisheth the Mine The Spirit by knowledg makes the Face to shine By fire to things ascending motion 's given The spirit by Faith too makes Souls tend to Heaven The fire to all about it light imparts The spirit by wisdome doth irradiat Hearts Fire too preserves things sweet not still consumes The spirit by Innocence our life persumes But why now was this fire shap'd into Tongues To speak those grand abilities that Throngs Converted unto Christ throughout all lands Drawn by such Eloquent and pious bands Without which Dore of utterance all Gifts Crost And like Gems in a casket whose key lost But hence all Nations sweetly woo'd do come T' hear News from heaven in their own Idiom But Satan too his fiery Tongues hath spred Whose fire by Fire shall be extinguished But cloven tongues these of th'Apostles were Mixing that is Law Gospel every where And by that double Fork'd Reflection Pointing out Gentiles Jews conversion The parting of the hoof did cleannesse shew The Serpent's too a cloven tongue we know Christs school of wisdom then the tongue that 's clean From putrid talk 's the cloven tongue we mean Thus Christs and Davids word both made good then When Christ gone up showr'd down these gifts on men The COLLECT The Epistle Act. 2. v. 1. to v. 12. The Gospel Joh. 14. from v. 15. to the end God which as upon this day hast taught the heart of thy faithfull people by the sending to them the light of thy holy Spirit grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and evermore to rejoyce in his holy comfort through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Spirit one God world without end Amen Vpon Trinity Sunday DISQUISITION 16. IMmediatly after that admirable Descent of the Holy Ghost forementioned as it were consequently ensued notice of the incomprehensible Trinity even thereby given to the Church of God But as the Apostle saith Great is the mystery of Godlinesse 1 Tim 3.16 1 Tim. 3. and This indeed one of rhe greatest parts of all that mystery viz. the Distinction and yet Union of those three glorious persons of the Deity Byssus Abyssum invocat Here one deep calleth upon another A Theam fitter for admiration then examination not visible in the Book of the Creature where the Deity is seen Vt per speculum as in a glasse onely by reflexion No nor presently legible in the Book of the Scripture where God is seen Vt per lucem by a kind of light more directly you know Moses could see but his back-parts Exod. 33.20 and scarce them neither they were so glorious but this Distinction of Persons is as it were His Face and accuratly to be discerned is scarce an adaequate object of this life Exod. 33. And albeit the Bible begin and run on still with his NAME in the plurall number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Gen. 1.1 Gods created the Heaven and the Earth Yet this determineth not three Persons although it fairly contribute something toward it and more then intimateth Diversity of persons Gen. 1. Deut. 5. even when applied to God Himself Gen. 1. and Deut. 6. And some even out of the first Book of holy Writ do probably argue that triple personality from that first plurall word of Gods created that there are several persons hinted and you know the act of creation is generally externally attributed to the Father quod extra according to us for else to all the three indivisibly God created the c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in the second verse there is another person Particularized viz. the Spirit The Spirit
did wrong sustain Large Restitution O how strong the word When Speakers Voice and Hearers Hear 't accord Greatnesse and Goodnesse meet in One O strange Plenty and Piety here interchange For presently his new Lord to requite For Spirituals does Corporally invite And by receiving so divine a Guest Is entertain'd himselfe with better Feast Fed with the Bread of life so Took with Christ The Publican proves an Evangelist And ' stead of Counting more the Publick Coyne Sums up the stories of Christs Private Line His numerous Miracles and Grace bestow'd The numberlesse Griefs of his Passion show'd Thence Counting on his Rais'd Lords Victories Till his Soul with Christ's Body mount the Skies Lord whisper us i' th ' Heart with such a Call To Remors'd Publicans convert us all From Sin and Custome in it that no Gaine May from Thee any longer us Detaine But in Thy Service may our selves Expend That we how'ere began may Saint-like End The COLLECT The Epistle 2 Cor. 4. v. 1. to 7. The Gospel St Matth. 9. v. 9. to 14. Almighty God which by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custome to be an Apostle and Evangelist Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches and to follow thy said Son Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth c. Vpon the Feast of S. Michael And all Angels DISQUISITION 33. ALbeit this Festival in the Vulgar compellation bear but a particular Denomination of St Michaels day yet doth the Church herein celebrate the generall Memorial of all Angels praising the Almighty for the great and various Benefits Mankind enjoyeth both in Soul and Body by their appointed Aid and Ministration And indeed this is doubly considerable either as literall or allegoricall the first having more of curiosity and Information the second more of certainty and Aedification the literal sense here leading us to a contemplation of Angelical Natures which of all Creatures though we come neerest to Them God hath been pleased most to shut up the knowledg of in holy Scripture Whereof this may be one reason all humble reverence reserved that Gods designe was in those sacred Oracles to impart to Man but that which most concern'd him both as to his voluntary Lapse and gracious Restitution and no more of Angels concerned in another world then what only refers to their Ministry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and delegated Protection all other speculations of them whatsoever being but fine cobweb-lawn but rarified Metaphysical Abstractions and Tentered Probabilities of Ratiocination As that they were the work of the first day Gen 13. created in that Fiat Lux Gen. 1. Let there be Light Their manner of Vnderstanding by intuitive knowledg to say nothing of their * The Schoolmen generally de loquela Angelorum Speech while others perhaps speak too much of it their triple Hierarchies one above another with as many Orders in each of them and that in necessary opposition to as many of the infernall Combinations their mode of Operation and distinguished Offices viz. into Instructive Tutelar Vehicular Militant Matrimonial Terrestrial and Aquatick Angels But though these are Niceties and a very Coelum incognitum an imbracing of a Cloud for Juno yet something is express'd of them more certain wherein we may requite their prying into the mystery of our Redemption viz that they are Natives of Heaven and eternall Angeli dicuntur aeviterni potius quà m aeterni à parte post i. e. shall have no Cessation yet that not so much by their Nature as by Preservation That they are one of the three Invisibles scil God Angels and the Souls of Men that they are innumerable as to us Ps 141.4 but not so in respect of God who calleth all the Starrs by their names Ps 103.29 Psal 141. that they are full of Knowledg 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 full of Power and strength Psal 103.20 His Angels that excell in strength that there are Degrees and Order most exact amongst them evident from their severall Names n From. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to burn Psal 104.4 Seraphim Isa 6. o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sicut puer as a child Cherubim Ezek. 1. Thrones Colos 1. c. Principalities powers c. Eph. 1. Again That they can only be Described not defined punctually and that Description one of the neerest Angelus est Animal Rationale Hymnisonum immateriale That an Angel is a Rationall immateriall Creature whose main end is to chant and act that Hymn which their whole Quire sung at Christs Birth Glory to God on high on earth Peace Good will towards Men. Which goodwill of theirs is actuated in variety of Assistance for though Omnipotence could act all that He wills immediately in all yet God sees good to busie all his Creatures and make them instrumentall for each other ordering all things like a Golden chaine whose links while they depend one upon another are all in his own hand so is pleased to use and vouchsafe us the Ministry and protection of Angels nor is the Glory of the Agent ere the lesse while we love and commend the Goodnesse of the instruments This Guardianship of Angels some assert Particular suus cuique Genius that every one from his Birth hath his assigned Angell a Genius or spirit attending and defending him so Saint Hierom Mira Animarum Dignitas c. O the wonderfull Dignity of the souls of men that not one of them is sent from Heaven Quaevis ab ortu Angelium habet delegatum Hierom without an Angell thence allotted to accompany it and protect it here on Earth and Scripture seems to second him Ps 34.7 and our blessed Lord himself Forbids dispising of his little ones upon this Reason that their Angels alwayes behold the Face of God c. Matth. 18.10 and what credit this had of old Acts 12.15 you may see Acts 12. when Saint Peter knock'd at the entry door of Maries house his voice being known and himself supposed in Prison many within assembled affirmed that it was his Angel But what scruple we at particular Angels when the Scriptures are so evident touching their Generall Protection and that the Servants of God have many Guardians Psal 91. Hee hath given his Angels charge c. And in the New Testament Psal 91.10 Are they not all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sent forth to minister for them Heb. 1.14 who shall be Heirs of salvation Heb. 1. And this you may see experienced in Elisha 2 King 6. where being besieged by Syrians the Mount which He possessed was full of Horses and Chariots of fire Psal 104.4 i. e. Angels Psal 104.4 His Angels Spirits and his Ministers a Flaming fire I thousand thousands of Angels are daily winging it 'twixt Heaven and Earth Millia millium Angelorum jugiter meant inter Coelum Terram Anselmus like Bees betwixt their Hives and Flowres Vota offerentes Dona
tell Sounding to each of us a serious caution A Timely pray'r and a due preparation First when or wheresoever it Thee find It proves or should A monitor o' th' mind If in thy Bed it waken thee There best It doth insinuate thy latest rest If as a dressing it salute thine eare It Hints Deaths Livery Thou once must weare And when thou hear'st it in thy cheerfull walke It seasons with Mortality thy Talke And if you heare it as at meat you sit Then thinke it sounds earth to earth I commit In pride of passions if the â—are it beat How streight it Damps the wild-fires cooles the Heat And when in Frollicks thou shalt heare This Toll May it forthwith all sinfull mirth controule To men buried alive This cheering Bell Doth Liberty infallible foretell And unto such as languish in exile This sounds a Returne home againe e're-while When most transported in the busie hall This in thine eare Thee to thy selfe doth call When Earths Affaires Thee from thy self estrange This tolls Thee Home unto thine own exchange What ever our conditions Good or ill This rings us in the eare with that news still Of Philips Monitor Remember man Or Davids Rather Thy life 's but a span Thus having rung all in next let it move Thine Heart and Tongue to Piety and Love Now shew thy Christian Sympathy and Groane With them whom even Bell mettall doth bemoane Do as thou wouldst be done for that is Kneel And pray as heartily as thou didst feel The burdens of the sick the worst they Ayle Knowing that fervent Prayers still prevaile And shall for soules or bodies better state For both therefore thy Prayers ejaculate From thy sick servant Lord let this Cup pass Yet with submission as Christs Patterne was Be pleas'd to act their Body's Physitian Howe'r be their Soules good Samaritan And though these winged Doves should not succeed Yet shall they once fly home with happy speed And more good company ' gainst thy Turne come And pay thy Parcels with a totall Sum. And yet relie not on that hoped Aide But let thy daily Debt be duely paid To God and Man Take care Accounts to Even With jarring Earth but Chiefly with just Heaven This Bell minds Thee o' th' Church That of Devotion Thy Neighbours Case Spurs on thy preparation For thou wouldst take the Hint did his house burne Shall not his Feavour make Thee mind thine urne Ensafe thy Goods then at this warning Given Remove from the worlds Dangers store in heaven There if thy Deeds laid up thou canst not miss Though this world turne to coale the land of bliss Meane time when thou dost such a Soule-Bell heare Thinke that St Jerome's Trump sounds in thine eare This triple use then of each passing Bell E're it pass from him He that makes doth well Vpon a Skeleton or Resemblance of Death Eccl. 12.1 Ioh. 17.13 LOe here the Frame of a rare Structure stands Which was a building too not made with hands Although on Earth where the Creator great Did an immortall heavenly Tenant feat The house then Fitted for such Guest of state Was built in opposition to all Fate Of strong Materials by Divine art For endlesse Fellowship and ne'r to part But This admitting Inmates the first day By their ill usage soon 'gan to decay And then through Rent and Homages neglect The Landlord forc'd the Tenant did eject And now like Buildings disinhabited That by all stormes and showres are injured Where Elves and Satyrs dance where Bats and Owles And Beasts of prey keep their Nocturnall howles All Shatter'd and Forlorne I such is this House Become through Sin and Death so Ruinous A Rendevouz of wormes and Creeping things VVhere they disport their dusty Traffickings Yet Look well on 't againe and you 'l descry I' th' Ruines of this Pyle its Dignity How wonderfully made Exact and even Strong Uniforme and erect toward heaven Let thy Thoughts then dwell henceforth in this place For thy Soule doth in such another Case Here fix thy Meditations startle not To thinke the best Skin Flesh and Bloud must Rot For St Markes Carpenter Can all Repaire And make this house more firme than e re more faire Strength'ning the timber-work with his Crasse wood The Morter temper'd with his precious Bloud VVhile on thy Part all Trouble and Expence Amounts but to true Faith and Penitence Acted in Pious Deeds and not delay'd But made good timely e'r too far decay'd Before the Keepers of the House do Grew Be-Palsi'd Trembles and the strong men bow E're the Nutrition Grinders become few Or what remaine unserviceable Chew Mind this this needfull object Early marke Before the Lookers forth the windows darke This debt pay as wise payment ought by Light E're Natures stars do set in Ages Night Or are Eclips'd by Sickness Chance or Griefe That none of Them Anticipate Reliefe Before the Portals of the Lips do Close And every whisper interrupt Repose Or ever Musicks daughters become mute Nor voice nor Eare Consorting sweetest Lute Before the Almond flourish and wax gray In that Trees spring boding the heads decay E're all ascents grow tedious and with Fear The way still block'd A load each Grassehopper Then This desire before Desire doth fail Which with endeavour too sure shall prevaise Before the Loosing of the Silver Coard While Spinall Marrow doth Thee strength Afford Or e're that Ewer broke resembling Gold Which the Braine 's vitall Moysture doth infold Before the Pitcher's broken at the well Or veines distemper'd such a Liver tell Before the Head or Phancy's turning wheele The Fractures of that Cisterne the Heart feele Before Man thus Goes to the House of Age Leaving his Friends to Mournefull Equipage Let him here commune often with his Urne His Spirit then doth and shall to God returne By whose kind Power both after some dismiss Ne'r more to part shall reunite in bliss Let outward Prudence then herein controule All slack ill-husbandry for our own soule Let 's streight Renew our Lease or rather buy This repair'd house whose Rate low whose Seat high Each Faithfull Pray'r and Charitable Act Passeth for Currant Coyne to this Effect In obitum Effigiem Librum venerandi Josiae Shute praeconis mellitissimi ab Authore nuper Editum SUrgito Lector adest Tibimet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anglus Scilicet egregius Shutus orator adest Flexanimus vates Animas Qui traxit in Aures Voce docens Sacrum quod pede pandit iter Malleus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 constans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui nequit à Recto Spe-ve Metu-ve Trahi Hunc tulit in Partum Dominus Minitante Procellâ Nec fuerant Tanto Sacula digna viro Umbra dat Essigiem resonat tihi Pagina Mentem Assolet ut Reliquis gratus adesto Tibi HEre 's that wise Charmer whose Sweet Ayres to Hear Each Soule delighted so to dwell i' th' Eare Whose Life and Doctrine's Combin'd Harmony Familiarized St Paul's Extasy
But now from growing Evils mounted high Change but the Soule her Seat from Ear to th' Eye This bright Starre still doth Lead wise men to Christ Through this dark Bochim and Aegyptian Myst Nay here what himself doth in Heav'n behold Ev'n Blessed Visions doth his Book unfold In Eximium Pijssimumque Richardum Holdsworth S. T. P. Theologum Flexanimum HIc Celebri Fato Pollenti Claruit ortu Holdsworth Flos vatum Cujus Doctrina stupori Non minus Emicuit Totus fuit ere voluptas Et populo plaudente Favus Cant'brigia Gemmam Perdit Eximiam Londini Ecclesia stellam Fulgentem amisit vigilans Quemcunque Priorum Inspice Praelatum meritò Canit Hippo sagacem Urbs Constantini Commendat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Auri Pagina Scriptores Loquitur Romana Solennes Sed nec Pinetum Corili nec sidera solem Aequant Annales Latios Graiósque revolve Prisca Parem ignorans aequalem postera nullum Ex hibitura Dies vates super Eminet omnes Solus Praeteritis melior majorque futuris Vpon the Pious and Learned Doctor Holdsworth THis Church as Isle's a Ring Holdsworth the Gemme Too bright for Earth now decks Heaven's Diadem We mourn our Losse He joyes in his Remove From Envious Men unto the God of Love Whose Learned Pious high and steady Soule No Gainfull Transmutations could controule Nor Hopes nor Feares Prisons nor Liberty Could move from Orthodoxall verity Nor Storms nor Calms could warp him the same Lives And like well season'd Timber never Gives Right owner of his Name which Sweet shall last And Holds ' worth still in Spight of Envy's Blast His Latter Prophesies then Left behind O may we Reall and successefull find Vpon the Early and neere Contemporary Death of Divers learned and Pious Divines viz. Doctor Featly Doctor Somes Master Browning Master Symons Master Haynes Master Chestlin Eminent all for Pen and Pulpit VVHat now most need Leave your poor Mother so To that Complaint of Jacob in his woe Joseph is not and Simeon is gone And must Death too our Benjamin Seise on These Prudent Watchmen equall Dangers saw With that Grave Guide o' th Church of Affrica Who when the Gothes and Vandalls enter'd There Took him to Christian Weapons Teares and Prayer Importuning Th' Almighty to Remove Or Them in Judgement or Himself in Love A Suite which his Great Master not deny'd For Austin soone in Besieg'd Hippo dy'd As much for These fure did their Prayers effect When all mens Church-Indeavours found neglect Early Transplanted from this Scaene of Wees Where spight of Virtue Crimson sinne so Growes Heaven was their Center while the Earth whirld Round While Classick Synods reel'd These stood their Ground These when the Church Like a Bestormed Barque Where Winds and Seas wage Warre and Skies grow Dark Like stoutest Marriners Expos'd Themselves To save the Vessell from the Wracking Shelves And Thereby soonest wash'd off with fierce Waves Were snatch'd away from us with hasty Graves Yet herein happy Fates did them betide That They for Presse or Pulpit harness'd Dy'd And though we mourn their worth when heard or Read Bless'd Spirits that have Them smile to see Them dead Or rather living in their better Parts Above in Soules below in Divine Arts. These were a Bunch of Canaans Grapes as 't were Which to make Wine for Angels God press'd here Who puls away such Pillars when he meanes The Fabrick should to Ruinous Extreams Yet that it might not alwayes so remaine There Ink's a Cement t'aedifie't againe God plucks such Stakes out of the Churches Hedge When He 'l set Sacrilegious Teeth on Edge Yet drunk with that Vine Lest to Hell they reele These both Disease and Med'cine did reveale God calls Home such skil'd Pilots from the Helme When He will Sin-fraught Vessels overwhelme Yet lest a totall wrack should us befall These fram'd and left a Card to Steere with all And who sayles by their Compasse cannot misse Mangre all Stormes and Rocks the Port of Blisse Vpon the prudent Dove and Vindicatresse of Stepmothers Mothers in Law justly half-hang'd by Fame Are now repriev'd by this Indulgent Dame Richer in Love to an Adopted Graft Then others to their Native usuall Craft Here turn'd to Sweetnesse Bits in stead of Blowes And for Neglect Good Breeding she bestowes Some talke of Memphis some of Jasons Fleece Perfumes some think none to their Amber Greece Awedge of Gold some boast a fine new Fashion Raiseth in others a strange Admiration Kindnesse Nam'd Thee more then the Law a Mother Earth ' mongst her Wonders shewes not such another A Consolatory to the Deprived of their Dearest Mate who thus bespeaketh the Relict THough a Right Turtle to thy Living Mate Yet now being Sour'd thou mayst not imitate In her incessant moanes that mournfull Dove Which thou exceedest in a Spotlesse Love If Nature claime her Tribute yet let Grace Christen thy Teares and Re-possesse her Place That Grief not Love but Envy doth expresse Which floweth from a Dear Friends Happinesse Who now is sfe from Griefe and Warres Above the Reach of Earthly Jarres By Christ sequestred happily From Sorrow Sinne and Misery Admitted through his precious Bloud To those Joyes here not understood Speed on thy Pious Race and then We nere to part shall meet againe Mean-time beare Christianly thy Cross And let not my Gaine seem thy Losse Fie-Lavish Eyes Dear drown not thine ' Cause God hath wip'd all Tears from mine That God ô high Advance for thee Himself might now thy Consort be Then all th' Affections born the Dead Be on the Living Off-spring shed In Oculos Catarrho labo rantes PLurima Lascivos intrant dum Crimina Ocellos Guttula nec madidis Exeat ulla Genis Efficit id morbus virtus quod debuit una Lumina defluxu bina madere gravi Culpae digna Lues Qui non peccata dolerent Lumina Diffluerent absque Liquore Sacro O tristes oculi vitreos Sic perdere humores Fletus Aeterni Flendo Notare Locum Foelices Oculi maculas si spoute dolendo Praevenerant Animae Corporis atque Cladi Morbus adhuc Foelix magis hic Medicina vocandus St Magdalenae fit liquor iste pius Tunc ad Supremi ac Animae Sponsalia Regis In soles oculi in vina revertet Aquae The Epigram upon sore Eyes thus rendred VVHile wanton Eyes Sinnes daily entertaine And no repentant Teares flow Thence againe A Disease doth what Vertue should effect Melts them into a dolefull Cataract And a just Scourge those Eyes that mourne not Guilt Their Teares should thus in Vaine and Pain be spilt Unhappy Eyes to lose such pearly Dews Which forc'd the Place of weeping but foreshews But happy those which freely Sinnes lament And so both Soules and Bodyes Ill prevent Yet Happier this Disease this Remedy If Maudlins cleansing Bath it prove to be Then at the Nuptials of the Soule 's Bride-groome Those Eyes shall Sunnes that Water Wine become Melvinus Poeta Scoticus De Altaris Cultu
c. and great praise by St Stephen his Protomartyr and by St. John that same beloved Disciple as fore-shewed but you see his praise is made perfect by the mouthes of these Babes and Innocents who here came to the Haven without knowing tempests injoying the comforts of an other life Giron in Fest before they knew the miseries of this Qui prius in capitibus Coronaâ— Quam capillos accepistis as one wittily Blessed babes that have your heads Crowned with happinesse e're covered with Hairs Herods crueltie was turned by God into a felicitie translating you from your earthly Mothers armes in a valley of tears to your heavenly Fathers bosom in his Kingdome of Glory It hath been a custome and yet is else where to whip up the Children on this morning that the story might stick the closer but this is to act it over again in kind by a moderate proportion * Lewis 11. Of France was so seri us a remembrancer of this Martyrdome that he would not be interâ—upted in it by any affaires of state how important soever Phil. de Com. while all then seem to condemne the literall crueltie of Herod I wish they may not imitate him in the Figure snatching them from the armes of their mother Church and from her breasts of holy Baptisme and so as much as in them lyeth killing them spiritually not regarding Christs words Mat. 19.14 Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me Mat 19.14 for of such is the Kingdome of heaven or his Apostles 1 Cor. 14. instead then of injuring them 1 Cor. 14.20 become like unto them for humilitie for innocence for obedience for dependance who so humbleth himself as a little childe the same shall be great in the Kingdom of heaven POEM IX A Double Prophesie's this day fulfill'd In these young Innocents by Herod kill'd Here 's Ramah's cry and Davids song of praise Which from these Babes and Sucklings God did raise Whose early vertues Men for shame improve Their humble innocence and Docil love That how so'ere our Fathers us dispose We be submissive patient meeke as those And then though crop'd like these flowers e're their Prime Blisse shall but sooner Crown us beyond Time These infants by that Tyrants raging mood Were baptiz'd unto Christ in their own bloud And though unable yet to speake his Name Dy'd the first fruits of Martyrs for the same Multipli'd Persecution that destroyes Thousands of Parents lives wrap'd in the Boyes Yet the impartiall wretch spares not his own Better his Swine then Son a proverb grown The Fox worrys the Lambs and t is the sinne With which the world will end as t'did begin The COLLECT PRAYER The Epistle Rev. 14. v. 1. to the end The Gospel Mat. 2. ver 13. to 19. Almighty God whose praise this day the young innocents thy witnesses have confessed and shewed forth not in speaking but in dying mortifie and kill all vices in us that in our conversation our life may express thy faith which with our tongues we doe confesse through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Circumcision Luc 2. 21. And when eyght dayes were accomplished for the circumcising of the childe his name was called Iesus which was soe named of the Angell before hee was conceiued in the wombe The Plate here Vpon the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ DISQUISITION 7. A Lmighty God both before and after the fall of man before under and after the Law still manifested his wil by two things especially viz. an understanding Mind and a perceiving Sense as in Paradise at first Adam had his word and that witnessed by a double sign the Tree of life and that of knowledge Gen. 2. Gen. 2. After his lapse he had a promise c. 3.15 Gen. 3. and thereunto sacrifices added as outward signes so after the Flood a promise of no more Deluge and the Rain-bow a signe c. 9.13 Gen. 9. Arcus sine sagittâ a Bow without an Arrow or if with any shot against himself in his Sonne for it stands bent alwaies towards heaven the promise of deliverance from Egypt is sealed with the Pasohal Lamb Exod. 12. and that to Abraham Exod. 12. of multiplying and magnifying his seed signalized by instituting this Circumcision Gen. 17. Lastly Gen. 17. Joh. 13.16 God giving his Sonne and by him everlasting life to believers confirms all with two Sacraments as seals of his grace viz. Baptisme and the Lords Supper Thus the Father of mercies hath in all ages provided for mans weakness Psal 3.149 that He might tast and see how gracious the Lord is Psal 34. and therefore those that pretend to be so spiritual as not to endure significant Ceremonies and outward Rites in the Church runne a violent course quite contrarie to the goodnesse of God Apud Martyr in Rom. 4. and the meeknesse of his holy Spirit who doth instruct the conceiving Mind by the perceiving Sense and by visible words as Augustine calls the Sacraments one of which was this of Circumcision to the Jewes and that may well appeare in a red Letter as being their bloudy Sacrament who therefore when they Circumcised a childe called him Sponsum sanguinis applying those words of Zippora unto him Exo. 4. Thou art a bloody Husband Exod. 4.25 because that day they hold the child is married to the Covenant There was in this of the old as in the Sacraments of the New Testament two constitutive parts signum signaculum both the signe The two parts of a Sacrament and the seal of a sacred Covenant not onely bare badges as the defective Anabaptists nor immediate justifiers ex opere operato Hook l. 5. s 60. as some others in the excess sta non tribuunt quod per ista tribuitur They doe not confer what is conferred by them This Circumcision here was a triple signe 1. Memorative of the promise to Abraham touching his seed his inheritance and the Messiah to come of him 2. Distinctive of the Jews from all other people and of the Sex Males only undergoing it Females yet being within the Covenant Reductive as sprung from Circumcised Fathers and married to such husbands 3. Prefigurative of Baptisme and the spiritual Circumcision of the heart Againe as Circumcision was thus a various signe so was it a Seale also a double one on Gods part as the Paten of Kings for confirmation on Abrahams part Ardens in locum as his obedience and faiths Attestation Some note a threefold Circumcision viz. Carnall under the Law Spirituall under Grace Celestiall in the Kingdom of Glory The first is Nascentium good in its due time of children the eight day Gen. 17. Gen. 17. The second Renascentium at all times better of such as are born again and that of the heart in the spirit Rom. 2.29 Rom. 2.29 effected by the sword of the spirit sharper then all the flinty knives of circumcision 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Josh 5.2 Heb. 4.12 The word of God sharper then any two-edged sword that circumciseth not onely the fore-skin but all the Faculties of the soule the parts and senses of the body the eyes Job 31.1 Psal 119.37 Job 31. turneth away those least they behold vanity Psal 119. The eares and lippes that they heare or speak no guile Ephe. 4. Circumcising the hands against all Theft and idlenesse Ephe. 4.25 28 c. 5.4 Ephe. 4.28 the Head from imagining mischiefe and the feet from blood-shed Psal 14.6 19.13 Psal 14. Circumcising the intellect from curiositie and errour Act. 26.25 the Will from all presumptuous wickednesse Coloss 3.2 3. Psal 19. the affections from inordination Coloss 3. even the very thoughts and imaginations Isai 1.16 in a word Circumcising the whole man cutting off all superfluous cares of the world and lusts of the flesh even to that happy Metamorphosis of the old into the new man Ephe. 4.22 Eph. 4. whence flowes the third kind of Circumcision by consequence Resurgentium in the world to come when all superfluity of sinne deformity and corruption shall bee cut off utterly so that we may appear before the Throne of God without any spot in our soule Apoc. 14.5 1 Cor. 15.53 or corruption in our body Apoc. 14. 1 Cor. 15. But in this Circumcision of Christ which was carnall onely as needing none of the other Three circumstances are remarkeable the Quando Vbi Quare the Time the Part the Reason the time was the eighth day Gen. 17. Gen. 17. and Christ then undergoes it Luke 2.21 Luke 2.21 comming not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it you see in every circumstance Some say then as because that tender age could more easily bear the griefs but this is both too dubious and too generall others say the eighth day Chrys Mar. in Rom. 4. because that was the time of our Lords Resurrection so Lombard in Rom. 4. seven dayes figuratively signifying the time of this present world and the eighth day the resurrection wherein mortality shall be cut off with immortality 1 Cor. 15.53 For the Vbi Circumcision was placed in the generative part Aug. in Johan tract 30. 1. Because the Propagation of originall sinne is thence traduced Per actum generationis 2. As a signe of the promise Martyr in Rom. 4. Aquin. part 3. Quest 7. Art 3. both to Parent and Posterity Gen. 17.7 3d. ad diminutionem carnalis concupiscentiae Lastly why Christ undergoes this Circumcision Luke 2.21 ut supra more particular reasons to shew he was the seed of Abraham Heb Heb. 2.16 2.16 to demonstrate he had true flesh against Manicheus not his body Coessential with the Deity as Apollinaris or fetched from heaven Epiph. Haeres 30. as Valentinus but as Rom. 1.2 Circumcised he was ut figuram ipsa veritas finiret that he who was the truth and substance might at once fulfill and take away the typg of Circumcision and all this out of obedience for us Isai 9.6 Isai 9. nobis puernatus vobis saith the Angel expounding the prophesie Luke 2.11 unto you men I for us born for us circumcised Gal. 4.4 Gal. 4.4 made of a woman and under the Law hereby giving publike testimony that he would fulfill the whole Law as the circumcised is bound Gal. 5.2 and that he would do all the rest for us to make up our unwilling Faylures so we give but all diligence 1 Pet. 1.5.10 1 Pet. 1. This circumcision was the prologue of his Passion and first rise of Ezechiels waters c. 47. flowing above the knees till after it came to Davids Deluge Psal 99. all the way sponsus sanguinum Psal 99.1 to keep us from or at least to sanctifis our bloody sufferings as is intimated hence Mat. 1.21 by his consolatory and saving Name of Jesus now imposed Mat. 1.21 for which all hearts and knees are obliged unto signall gratitude Phil. 2.8 9. Phil. 2. whose mercifull indulgence extends here to our bodies as well as souls tenderly changing this sharp into an easie Sacrament and instead of those knives of flint and stone prefiguring this Corner stone commanded Iosh 5. saying now but as Elisha Josh 5.2 2 King 5. to each leaprous soule wash and be cleane and therefore if the neglect of That so punished Gen. 17.14 Gen. 17.14 how much more the contempt of this more easie Seale of the new Covenant whereof such Children are altogether as capable as of that old being indeed still but one John 3.3 and the same renewed Sacrament POEM X. SPotless Obedience this day underwent The sharpe paines of that bloudy Sacrament And what could They pare off from His pure skin Who but Theirs that so cut him knew no Sin Onely to Teach us Gods Law to fulfil Spar'd not thus first and last his blood to spill Yet know t is not the Pruning any part Makes a new Creature but that of the Heart Since t is a day of Presents then le ts give Our Heart to God that it with him may live Or if he please to send it back againe It may come mollify'd and cleans'd from staine Lord exchange New-years-gifts for broken heart Vouchsafe a sound for old new spirits impart The COLLECT PRAYER The Epistle Rom. 4. from v. 8. to 15. The Gospel Luke 2. from 15. to 22. Almighty God which madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised and obedient to the Law for man grant us the true circumcision of the spirit that our hearts and all our members being mortified from all worldly and carnall lusts may in all things obey thy blessed will through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The Offering of the three Kings Mat 2. 10. When they saw the starre they reioyced etc. 11. And when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell downe and worshiped him and when they had opened there treasures they presented unto him gifts Gold and Frankincense and Mirrhe 12. And being warned of God in a dreame that they should not returne to Herode they departed into there owne countrey another way The Plate here Vpon the Feast of Epiphany or appearing of the star DISQUISITION 8. SEasonably doth the Church celebrate the honour of Christ's Epiphany next unto his Circumcision that his glory might be manifested in the Flesh as well as his humility Aug. S. 30. de Temp. And the very Name speaks the Antiquity of this Festival and its early rise in the Greek Church and 't is fairly Englished by the day of apparition or manifestation of Christ from above that igrance might no more call it the Tiffany as in the Legend or as one that bidding it holy day said he knew not whether 't were a He or a She Saint It reflecteth on three manifestations of our Saviour and therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The