Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A26175
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A poetical essay towards an epitome of the gospel of the blessed Jesus
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Atwood, William, d. 1705?
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1678
(1678)
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Wing A4177; ESTC R27744
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15,909
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27
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A POETICAL ESSAY TOWARDS AN EPITOME OF THE GOSPEL OF THE BLESSED JESUS Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus Interpres nec defilies imitator in arctum Unde pedem proferre pudor vetet aut operis lex Hor. de Arte Poet. C R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE LONDON Printed in the Year 1678. To the READER TO say nothing of this Essay might perhaps argue me of pride and putting a slight upon the Reader to say much of vain-glory and setting too great a value upon my Verse or the Prose wherewith I would recommend it The concealing the Author's name may bring his little Work into suspicion as if it were a Birth of which the Parent is ashamed for otherwise it may be imagined that my vanity would be uniform to its self and would cause me to own what it made me think worth the Printing But in things of this nature every Man is guided by his particular fancy and it is mine that whoever gives his name to the Criticks does as good as send them a challenge and defie them to find fault with what he has done for my part I have not leisure to contend for the propriety of every expression or the justness of the sence which I have put upon holy writ yet I may say 't is what I thought I found there in other words and this being pen'd only for my private satisfaction I took no pains to see if others were of the same mind with me nor can I charge my misprisions to the account of any Commentator But as I should be sorry to bring upon my self the guilt of misleading any one that trusted to my sentiments so it would be a great rejoycing to me and I should obtain my end in making this publick if like a weak ray it might but lead to that Fountain of Light and saving Truths from whence it issued and which cannot but guild the very Clouds that are drawn over it by my unskilful Hand an attempt to illustrate these sacred many of them Eternal verities would be to hold a Candle to the Sun or to enamel a Diamond I pretend to no more than as an Index to invite to the perusal of what is contained under such excellent Heads as cannot but occur in this abstract I have endeavoured a continued Poem and possibly the Reader may find a connexion of the whole by transitions not very obscure If the Twenty third Chapter proves to be a Satyr against some sort of Men I hope they that observe the Parallel will not be severe upon my version if any that look into it have made themselves parties I cannot help their falling into the way I aim'd at no body I have received no provocation neither would I give any I at first only used the Christian liberty of free thought which I had still kept to my self if I had believed it could do any mischief in the World either in giving just scandal or breaking the peace of that community for the maintaining which every one ought to contribute his Talent and his Prayers I wrote in charity with all Men and at that time of the year when in all Ages succeeding the Nativity of our Blessed Saviour the acts of Charity have been most attended to and cultivated with the greatest ceremony I shall add no more than what it may be is obvious that I have taken St. Matthew Chapter by Chapter and gathered the most remarkable passages out of the other Evangelists as they seemed for time coincident with or prior to any part of St. Matthew's Divine Record An ESSAY towards an EPITOME of the GOSPEL of the BLESSED JESUS FAther of Lights assist me from above James 1.17 Whil'st I recount the wonders of thy love That love which lay in Night and Mystery 'Till the Day-star brought comfort from on high John The tydings of Salvation drawing nigh That Phospher shew'd the yielding of the shade The Sun of Righteousness our clear day made Mal. 4.2 At sundry times in divers ways thy Grace Heb. 1.1 Before had visited fal'n Mortal Race Thy Prophets like thick Stars adorn'd the night They now are drown'd in the large source of light When the just fulness of the time was come Eph. 1.10 Our Sun rose not from Seas but from the Virgins womb For us this Child was born to us God 's Son is giv'n Jsa 9.6 The greatest Boon to Earth and Gift of Heav'n Angels to see it clapt their Wings and Sung Luke 2.13 And the enlight'ned Air with Anthems rung Glory to God peace and good will on Earth V. 14. Were the choice themes peculiar to this Birth The Shepherds and the Wise-men saw his ray Mat. 2.11 Luke 2.8 Which led them where the Infant-glory lay To th' Consecrated Stable of an Inn Luke 2.16 This Pilgrim came who travel'd for our Sin All Prophets until John did Christ declare Mat. 11.13 He and devout old Simeon saw him here Luke 2.25 This Consolation Simeon had in view The reveal'd Promise he with joy found true He saw th' Anointed e're Death clos'd his Eyes V. 26. Sings his Dimittis and goes home and Dyes V. 29. To a great Age he happily arriv'd Who thus the misery 's of Age surviv'd Anne this reward had for pure Widowhood V. 37. She her Redeemer early understood V. 38. The Spirit Printed in her spotless Breast Those notiâ—…s whereby she made the test Now he begins to shew himself Divine His opening Glory 's in the Schools do shine V. 46. But by degrees he to the World is shown Nor is his function yet t' his Mother known V. 48 49 50. To grace the Ministry of John he stays Mat. 3. And till his being Baptiz'd keeps in his rays V. 13. But then the Heav'ns the shouts of Angels rend The Holy Ghost does visibly descend The Son of God doth Eccho through the Air Myriads of Spirits his great Name declare Satan makes the last effort of despair Mat. 4. His Kingdom threatned the first day of 's Reign Gen. 3.15 He now saw falling to decay amain He knew 't was fruitless yet must bite his Chain Therefore he does all his Temptations lay The Captain of Salvation to betray Heb. 2 1â— Mat. 4.2 He watcht his time found him with Fasting faint Yet surely then ev'n Man hath most of Saint First he attempts him with great policy And his reliance on his God doth try V. 6. But he is silenc'd by a quick reply V. 7. The God of this World doth for his last blow 2 Cor. 4.4 Offer him all the Empires here below Mat 4.9 The God of Heav'n who their Foundations laid By these poor trifles could not be betray'd The Prince of fallen-lights retir'd with shame And 'bout their Master Minist'ring Spirits came Heb. 1.14 Mat. 4.12 To Galilee he goes in holy Flame Dev'ls and Diseases fly before his