glorious restitution which was wrought This day almost beyond all humane thought That was thy Birth but this may well be sed To be thy resurrection from the dead And ours indeed in thine for all the while That thou wert banish'd death possess'd this Isle And we lay buried in thy losse but when Thou once returnd'st we all reviv'd agen And breath'd new life for which great mercies we Must ever pay our thanks to it and thee June 1. YOung men this Month is yours your Country shows What honor she to springing virtue owes When as a pledge thereof she 's proud to wear Your name inscrib'd upon her Calendar Goodness at any time acceptance wins But 't is best priz'd when it in youth begins The Feasts of June 2. THe ' leventh of June bright Barnabas obtains The twenty fourth the new-born Baptist gains The nine and twentieth day apart is set To him that first for Christ forsook his net Barnabas Apostle upon Acts 11. 22. c. Epig. 1. SSee what an humble soul can yeeld to do Barnabas by the Apostles sent into An ample Province to command and guide The Church of Antioch freely doth divide His charge with Saul the convert and is glad To have him share in all the power he had Good men for Christs behoof their interests wave And are content to part with all they have Let thy Church thrive so they their prayers begin And 't is no matter who doth lose or win Vpon Acts 11. 26. Epig. 2. FRom Barnabas and Saul's advice the Name Of Christians first to Christs Disciples came They preach'd not for themselves and could not brook To see their hearers dote upon the look Or garbe of any earthly Minister How great soever or polite he were 'T was Christ that own'd the building and 't was fit They thought't should bear his Name that purchas'd it Christians rejoyce in your great stile to bear This title is more glorious then to wear Imperial Crowns But pay your thanks withall For this great grace to Barnabas and Saul 'T was Christ indeed from whom your honour sprung But through those golden Pipes it pass'd along Vpon Acts 15. 39. Epig. 3. WHo would have thought that there could ever fall Such bitter strifes 'twixt Barnabas Paul That they whose tongues so sweetly did accord In the confession of one God one Lord One Spirit of grace who one same hope enjoy'd One Faith one Baptism that were both emploi'd In one same Function and so long had stood Twin-like conjoyned in one Brotherhood That they should jarr and jarr fo sharply too That they must part oh this is sad to view Good Lord how loose are mens affections tide Whom every trivial difference can divide Our comfort is when once w' are knit to thee That bond no time shall ever cancel'd see John the Baptist Epig. 1. JOhn was that voice that in the Desart cryed All Judah heard it and was terrified And who will wonder if they shook with fear When they such shrill and dreadfull sounds did hear All I admire's how this to pass should come That he should get this Cryer that was dumbe Epigr. 2. ENoch that walk'd with God and Abraham His chosen friend to whom the promise came Moses the Steward of his house and he That up to heaven on fiery Steeds did flee These doubtless had great visions and descried More of their God then all those times beside Yet 't was not all those Saints nor any one Before or after equaliz'd our John Who had the honour at one time to hear The Father speak and see the Spirit appear And with his hands unworthy to baptize The Son that in the Fathers bosome lies Great John well did thy Saviours tongue proclaim That amongst all that out of women came Like thee there was no Prophet who alone Distinctly sav'st at once the three in one Epigr. 3. BEhold here how the great high Priest doth stand To be baptized by his servants hand And fear oh man how thou those seals refuse Which Christ thy Lord himself rejoyc'd to use And whatsoe're the frail dispenser be Remember John had sins as well as he Peter Apostle Epig. 1. PEter the rock that whilome stood so sure That he unmov'd was able to endure The blasts of Hell it self now down is thrown By a poor Damsels feeble breath alone Lord what is man if thou withdraw thy hand When such firm rocks as Peter cannot stand Vpon Luke 22. 61. Epig. 2. SAthan now thought that he had given so sore A wound to Peter that he never more Should raise again his bruised head but lie Weltering for ever in his blood and die And who indeed that heard our Peter swear And curse if ere he knew who Jesus were Would think there could be any hope of cure For such a desperate deadly Calenture But see poor sinners what a power there lies In your relenting Saviours gracious eyes When he no sooner casts a pittying look On wretched Peter whom all life forsook But he revives again and with his tears Gives proof that yet some hope of grace appears Lord if thine eyes have such a power indeed Where-ere they look repentant tears to breed Oh look on me that I who have sin'd as deep As Peter did may go with him and weep Vpon Mark 14. 72. Epig. 3. T' Was thought of old the Cocks shril voice did make The Princely Lions warlike heart to shake But this I 'me sure not all the Fiends in Hell Conspiring could have rung so sad a knell In Peters ears as this Cocks voice did do When now the second time he loudly crew But fear not Peter 't was sweet Chanticleer No Screetch-Owl this thy troubled ears did hear Or rather indeed 't was thy griev'd Lord that spake By this Birds tongue and cry'd awake awake It is enough thou 'st thrice deny'd my name Peter awake and sin no more for shame Return to him that loves thee so that he For all this yet is gone to die for thee Thus crow'd the Cock thou heardst and strait didst rise And back return'dst poor soul with weeping eyes O God that when we hear him crow we knew But how to take such hints and do so too July I. FRom five this Month sometimes deriv'd its name Which now great Julius doth more justly claim 'T was he indeed new form'd the year and gave The Months those measur'd portions which they have And 't was but fit the Father of them all One child in twelve by his own name should call Heathens all yeeld great Prince it should be so Who to thy pains their perfect Aera's owe We Christians grant it too who by thy aid More punctual in our years of Christ are made The Feasts of July SAd Maudlin July 's two and twenti'th claims The twenty fift's assign'd to greater James Mary Magdalene Epig. I. MAry when I thy former state recall What sins what Devils thou here wert fill'd withall Yet see thee now all brightly
such good words as may remove despair From their sad thoughts which kills as much or more Then all their sickness cast in still such store Of seasonable advice as may dispose Them for a better life then that they lose Yet ever be at hand to recommend Such congruous medicines as through Grace may tend To their recovery that when all is done We may get love though little else be wonne Epigr. 3. ANd why great Luke did Ancient times assigne An Oxes form to such a soul as thine A soul that breathes such heavenly streynes as well Might fit an Angell's glorious tongue to tell Was it because thy holy book begins With a relation of those offerings Which in Abrah's course were now to be Perform'd by old religious Zachary Or was 't because thou more then all the rest Thy Saviours doleful Passion hast exprest Who like an Oxe was to the slaughter led And di'd to ransome sinners that were dead Or was 't thy self and not thy books that were Decipher'd by this Oxes character The Oxe we know doth fitly represent The lab'ring Pastor in his government And this apt embleme truly could not be Referr'd to any better then to thee Thy feet trod out much corn for us indeed On which God grant our souls may gladly feed Simon and Jude Apostles Epigr. 1. THe name imports not much the good and bad Have oftentimes the self same title had The Sorcerer and Cephas both did bear The name of Simon yet was Peter nere The worser thought of for vile Magus sake Nor do accurst Iscariots treasons make Thaddeus James his Brother lov'd the less Because they both were called Judasses Good names do well indeed and yet we see That names and things do often disagree Eve call'd her first born Cain as hoping well He might have prov'd that man that was to quell The Serpent's rage but he alas became His Brother's Butcher and his Parents shame Lord give me that new name the which alone 'T is sure was never given in vain to none Vpon Simon the Canaanite Matt. 10. 4. Mar. 3. 18. Epigr. 2. FRom Canaan's cursed stock some good doth flow Even Christ himself to Rahab's loyns doth ow The flesh he took and she who begg'd a crum Fallen from his board from that vile race did come You need not therefore wonder at the sight If ' mongst the twelve you find a Canaanite The gifts of Grace are free bestow'd alike Upon the Jew and also on the Greek The Spirit breathes where 't list that none may vaunt Of too much plenty nor despair for want Vpon Simon Zelotes Epig. 3. THe Canaanite receiv'd into the train Of Christ Zelotes name doth quickly gain From that great zeal no doubt which he express'd Unto his new chose Masters interest And to say truth it is not seldome seen That those strange branches which are grafted in Bring forth more plenteous and more lovely fruit Then those which nature thrusteth from the root 'T is sad indeed it should be thus that they Who came into Christs School but yesterday Should outstrip those who many years before Did put their sluggish feet within his dore Yet thus my God with my poor Soul it stands Those that but now did put their labo'ring hands Unto thy Plough have rid more work away Then I that here have pingled many a day I grudge not Lord at what these Zealots do May they still thrive in Grace and adde unto The fire they have for thee all that I pray Is that thou make me burne as well as they November 1. THe Muses here put in their claime and cry That this of right is their Festivity That I am bound this Month in every line To Eccho forth the honor of the Nine But they must pardon me these sacred Layes Do own no influence but Vrania's They know no Nines save such as couched be In the Thrice-great Thrice-holy Trinity Th' are all my Muses from their bounteous Throne My Artless quill derives her ayd alone November his Feasts ALL Saints unto Novembers first repair The fift the Powder-Plots discovered are The thirtieth is to that blest Saint applyed Whom John first to the Lamb of God did guide All Saints Epigr. 1. THe Saints deceas'd which now securely rest In Abraham's bosome of rich joys possess'd Cry strongly yet no doubt to re-obtain An union with their buried Corps again And being alike convinc'd that they and we Who still below in these dark Mansions be Make but one Body they as strongly pray That we may gain those joys as well as they We also here on Earth having learn'd that those Blest Spirits which now in blissful joys repose Are part of us and have assum'd their Throne In our behalf as well as in their own Do praise thee Lord for them whom thy good grace Hath rapp'd from hence into so sweet a place Thus whilst our praises and their prayers do meet Knit up together at thy glorious feet Whilst they our wants and we their joys partake And each the others state their own do make This is that true Communion indeed Of Saints that we are taught out of the Creed Epig. 2. WE are not able Lord to comprehend What numerous troopes of glorious Saints attend About thy blessed Throne and yet we know That there 's not one of them to whom we owe Not a Religious reverence for those shares Which we are sure we have in all their prayers Which due regards lest we should haply miss In paying to their several Memori's Athenian-like but in a juster way To th' unknown Saints we Dedicate this day Epigr. 3. THe meanest of thy Saints O God we find Have left such patterns of their lives behind And now such advantageous prayers do make At least in general for their Brethren's sake That we can never pay thee what we owe For what from one of these rich springs doth flow How much more then when all their streams unite Into one flood must that be infinite Th' are thus indeed being view'd by our weak eyes Which make alas but poor discoveries Although compar'd to what thy Christ hath done Th' are all but like a spark unto the Sun Gunpowder Treason Epig. 1. ROmes Mitred Shepherds rage like Wolves and rend With their fell teeth the flocks they ought to tend But I admire not at it for 't is sed Her founders with Wolves milk at first were fed And this approv'd experience daily showes That from the breasts men suck their nature flows Epig. 2. VVHose Vicar Romes High Priest's most like to be This dayes curst fire-works teach sufficientlie The devil no doubt first taught this murthering skill And th' are his Impes alone that use it still Epig. 3. 'T Was thought that such grosse hereticks as we Could scarce be sav'd or Gods bright Presence see When lo the tender Romanist being sorry To have us damn'd prepar'd a Purgatory A new-found blast of Sulph'rous flames wherein Cleans'd from the gross impurities of
Valentine a Valendo Epig. 1. THy name imports a Power and justly too For no Power else can work what thine can do Kings rule the earth fire sword and torturing racks The body with a thousand death's distracts But can proceed no further only thine Thy power commands the soul great Valentine Epigr. 2. THere 's no resisting I must serve thee too Great Saint as well as all the Creatures do Feirce untam'd Beasts and winged Foules betray A sense of Love and feel thy power to day And so do I but in a lawful fire Whose heat oh may it never more expire Epigr. 3. NO more vayne men to Cupids Altars sue We have a better Saint to go unto A Saint that breaths chast flames whose hand doth hold Arrowes compacted all of purest gold No leaden mixtures no blew wounds that show The venom'd point from whence their rancors flow If then to blesse your amorous hopes you need Some favoring Powers let Valentine succeed The Cyprian fondling Pious souls may seek The sweets of Love without a blushing cheek Matthias de seipso Epigr. 1. ACcurst Iscariots vacant roome I fill See's make their Bishops neither good nor ill All are not rocks that sit in Peters chaire Nor Divels that Judas his successors are Judas ad Romanos Epigr. 2. FOnd Romans Peters dubious chaire resigne 'T is for your honor more to sit in mine None of the twelve themselves will not deny Left an Apostle in his seat but I. Their meaner followers meaner titles bare Mine with th' eleven assum'd an equal chaire If you would needs aspire my name had bin Apter t' have mask'd your vast ambition in Then Peter's claime of whom 't is hard to know Whe'r ere indeed he were at Rome or no. But my opprobrious death is that alone Which your else shameless cheeks do blush to own As for the rest the conscious world doth see That you recede from Cephas more then me In outward show I seem'd for Jesus's sake To quit the world and his sharp cross to take But play'd the thief the while and made no spare So I might fill the cursed bagge I bare To rob the poor and as if that were small To set to sale even Christ himself and all Yet mask'd my treasons still with sacred guile And cry'd hail Lord and kiss'd him too the while And is not this your guise I pray you tell Can any actions be more parallel Did ever any to one chaire succeed Whose lives exactly view'd so well agreed But go to since you think it yet a shame Though you approve my works to own my name Know this your Seat's not so asham'd of me As my Successor of your seat would be Vpon Joseph sirnamed Justus that was passed by and Matthias that was chosen by lot into the roome of Judas Act. 1. 24 26. Epigr. 3. JOseph the Just refus'd Heavens righteous doom Lots out Matthias unto Judas's room God looks not with mans eyes the thing and name His wisdome oft finds not to be the same The Just one could not but the Just approve Conformity's the surest ground of love But his discerning eyes no doubt did see One not so stil'd to be more Just then he March 1. CHange but the names the Heathen Fables are Our Christian Gospels what 's their God of war But our dread Lord of Hoasts their vestal Nun And great Quirinus her immortal Son Romes God-like Founder by his Patriots slayn But from the eating grave reviv'd again And in his Fathers Chariot mounted high Above Heavens star-enamel'd canopy If you will note it what doth this proclaime But Jesus and his Virgin-Mothers name Give things this sense and you shall nothing erre Though you this Month to Mars his name referr Though Rhea Syluia have her Festal day And Romulus his Quirinalia All if you thus interpret things will be Who ere gain-saies it good Divinitie The Feasts of March 2. WAles for her David March his first doth claime The sixteenth bears the Irish Patricks name Bright Gabriel on the twenty fifth doth bear Glad tidings to the Virgin-Mothers eare Saint David Epigr. 1. BRutes Sons shall never say great Saint that I Have thrust thy name out of our Liturgy Let others doubt thy History to me It is enough that Cambrians honor thee Epigr. 2. BIshop or Champion whether name be due Or whether both great Saint and thou like to That other David in one person bear Prophet and Souldiers equal character I cannot tell but this I am assur'd Under thy auspice Wales hath long endur'd Epigr. 3. WHen my observing thoughts revolv how long Brutes warlike Sons have kept their name and tongue With what stout hands they their own fields have held Maugre the rage of those feirce stormes which swell'd From the rough Saxons Danes and Nonmans hate Which like the none-excepting doom of fate Fell upon all this Isle and rouled with An irresisted stream from Thames to Frith Yet Brutes stern children kept their own and stood Colossi like athwart those Seas of blood Unshaken with the tempest When I weigh These things great David I am forc'd to say That either thou their Champion dost excell Or they no Champion need they fight so well S. Patrick Epig. 1. VEnice sometimes chose Theodore to be Her guardian Saint but when she found that he Gave no success to her designs she laid Him by and call'd in Mark unto her aid Which course unless the ruin'd Ireland run And change her Saint too she is quite undone For either her Patrick cannot ease her needs Or which is worse he cares not how she speeds Epig. 2. PAtrick his prayers they say to pass did bring That in the Irish soil no venom'd thing May breed no Toads no Serpents Spiders there Nor other poisonous creatures do appear A blessed gift if what in them is lost The men have not within their brests ingrost Epig. 3. VVIse Romans when they first commenced wars Against a Town call'd out her Tutelars And gave them worship least perhaps they might In favour of the place against them fight Which course whether England took when long ago Sh' assail'd the Irish Kings I do not know But this I 'me sure their Patricks hand since then Was ne're lift up against the English-men Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Epig. 1. HAd Adam known his wife before the fall The blessing doubtless had been virtual To propagation and her first-born Son Had been conceiv'd without corruption But 't was not so the guilt which she convei'd To all her Issue proves she sinn'd a Maid Before coition the Impostor knew Too well accursed what he had to do When he the fountain did infect that all The lower streams might suck from thence their gall Which yet least it might bring a blot upon That glorious state the Angels portion The lot of Spirits the life of heaven and we For her crimes sake might loath virginity His Grace our all-wise Saviour did dispense In such an