great Presumptuous sinne Concernes them much who have New-formed bin As many were soone after Christs Ascent Possest with Gifts to Schooles Astonishment By the Immediate wondrous Inspiration Of Gods bright Flame though by the Instigation Of Satan they chance afterwards to fall To Lunacies yet let them hope with Paul And Peter falne by Christ his Blood Remission For who dares judge Grds Grace without misprision Or sentence our Grave Cranmer for his feares Since at his Death he purg'd his Fall with Teares And sacrific'd his Hand first to the fire Because it did against his Heart conspire Let them take up these words with Job and say Ile put my trust in him though he me slay T is true I fell which Fall I will not Cover I was Soule-sicke but God may me recover Barre Aire and Bloud of motion Circulare Meteours the one Heart-griefes the other scare The Body feeles sins Symptomes and diseases So feeles the Soule till Grace them both releases Which never failes a Saint though for a while Foule Lustfull fogges Faithes working may defile Let none despaire that hath Repentant beene Or can but once a day sigh for his sinne Many grave Rules and Documents profound Christ left and did unto the Jewes expound Amongst which others here I will relate The Lowly Pure the Poore and desolate The Peace-maker and for the Faith opprest These with the Zealous he pronounced Blest Christ termes those Blest of Spirit Poore and Mild Then what is Mans Great Spirit Satans Child His bristling up with Braggadochian vaunts With fuming Spleene with Gall and Girding Taunts His standing on fond Natures brittle Pinion Or his owne Merits puffe or Wits opinion His sleighting of a Saint that favour craves As if himselfe were Pope Christs Members slaves His thundring peales of Penalties high rackt As if his owne swell'd Head no Surgeon lackt His false designes to bring home Massy Crimes From Forraigne Climes in Antichristian Times His Challenges for Honours wrong'd repaire Or by Law-suites Saints Fortunes to impaire What Spirit swayes shewes the Red Dragons Mace Not of the Lambes but wicked Belials Race So farre was Christ from wrath or vengeance taking So farre from spoyling foes or greedy raking That he bad Peter to put up his Sword When he had Malchus smote and at his word Confessing he was Jesus though they were Scar'd at his voyce he will'd them not to feare And when his owne Disciples did presume To urge him like Elias to consume Those men with fire which wilfully deny'd To harbour him the fiend then undescry'd By them he checkt and said that they did rave For he came not to kill but Soules to save Who then beleeves Saint Patrickes Oracles That Irish Kernes he kild by Miracles Or credit our New Sects who doe conspire To plant our Saviours Church by Sword and Fire So farre liv'd Christ from Pride at once he had But one plaine Robe wherewith his backe was clad One Coate he wore to shrow'd his naked skinne A Seamelesse Coate to cover Adams sinne A Coate indeed wrought uniforme and plaine To shew that he recover'd backe againe Our former suite of Innocence entire Without those seames of Schoolemens nice attiâ—e Which likewise we like Turtle Doves must weare At our New Birth with Love and filiall feare Not slashing it like Schismatiques unbid Nor casting Lots as Romes fell Souldiers did Who not content to gore his Guiltlesse side And Body slay his Rayment did divide The Fóxes had their Holes the Aiery Foule Their proper Nests But he poore harmelesse Soule Like Noahs Dove on earth could scarce have footing No certaine Lodg nor comforts worth the booting Glad in his Travels to receive releife Of them who for his sake received Life Instead of Ease he Persecution felt Chose Desarts oft and into Brine did melt His Eyes with griefe to see such Combination Such Pride among his owne selected Nation He spent the day in Preaching and good deedes The night in Prayer for their foule Misdeedes Yet liv'd he more contented with his Fate Than Solomon with all his Royall state Before whose pompe traines Illustrious muster He priz'd the Lillies for their native Lustre Such Artlesse flowers he saw of goodlier hew And Glaring more then any Maske or shew This Christ exprest with Gospels Majesty With Practicke patience Love and Poverty Teares often shed true zeale and thereupon His Fathers Doome for Sinners undergone To stint our daily Cares for worldly pelfe The Morrowes Carke he bids leave to it selfe For why should we distrust our Fathers Ayd When we see Fieldes with various Robes array'd And Sparrowes bred without Mans industry Then how much more will he our Need supply Before we thinke on things meere Transitory Seeke first said Christ the Joyes of Heavenly glory And then be sure of this you shall have more Than serves your turn out of his bounteous store Or at the least what Nature may suffice Food Rayment Lodging or the like supplies Have you forgot the many Thousands fed With a few Fish and Barley Loaves of Bread To teach us thrift the scraps when they were filâ—d Most frugally to be laid up he will'd Looke carefully the Fragments be not lost Or cast away quoth he the Gentle Oast A faire advice to them that spend on Hounds What serves for Humane use though wealth abounds This Rule likewise a warning Type I place For them that waste their Inward Food of Grace Distributing in Playes some Pearles to Hogges Christs holy scrappes as Huntsmen cheere their Dogges When we must keepe the Reliques of our boord Ought we not more the Sacred Word to hoor'd The smallest crummes and passagâ—â— of Grace May stead the weake in their New holy Race O let us then without Sophisticke Brabble Reserve all Remnants of the Mysticke Table Least that the Seed which Christ the better Part Most needfull calls misse rooting in the Heart Least Martha-like with Household toyle â—pprest We want the Food which Mary liked best The Word which she so well disgested then That her best Choyce crownes her Saint Magdalen To weane us from aspiring to Promotion The Old mans plot the Serpents shining Motion When some of his Apostles strove for place Jesus did thus their lofty mindes abase He tooke and rank't a Child in midst of them Protesting that though he of scorned stem Were held by them yet Meeke and Innocent His Spirit might an Elders worth prevent And that unlesse a Child we imitate In harmelesse Love we seeke Gods Lambe too late Doubtlesse there is a great Antipathy Betwixt the World and Heaven for Quality And Motion when the Church here Militant Failes to Consort her Tunes extravagant With the Elects Allelujahs Vnion The Greatest here may misse of Saints Communion But if our thoughts shine circled in the Ring Of mutuall Love with constant Faith a thing That may not be except the Holy Ghost Infuse those flaming Twinnes then will the Hoasâ— Of Angels Quire by the like Sympathy As Load
whoâ—ly Like those proud Angels darkned for their Folly There was no way to make Legitimate Mans Bastard slips nor to repaire our state With Faiths Free-will Divine and absolute Of whose essentiall Forme Some now dispute There was no way for Adam nor his Seed Nor Nature left to do this Glorious Deed Since that the vapour of the Dragons Gall Had fouly blackt their Gifts Organicall There was no way this worke to bring to passe But by Regeneration to deface The sting of sinne and by a New-made Creature Borne of the Spirit and of Humane Nature To do Gods will which Adam fail'd to doe One that could live here poore and patient too Voyd of sâ—nne spleene and thoughts deformitieâ— Voyd of all guile and lustfull vanities One that could fixe his Faith on God alone Of Power earth with Heaven to attone One that could breake the Devils combinations One that could brook the triall of Temptations One who mankind was able to renue And with New gifts their nature to endue Yea such a one that could endure the rod Of his for Sinnes of men displeased God And that partaking of Divinity Could with the Head unite Humanity And lastly One that able was to tread Downe sâ—nnes delight the wily Serpents Head This Raresâ— One the Trinity did see Could not among Mens Race nor Angels be For the brightest Angels unfaithfull prov'd And the best men were bad though well belov'd To satisfy Gods wrath there needed then A Higher power for the Sinnes of men To sacrifice before their full attonement No Blood of Beâ—sts could make this reconcilement No Prayers made to Angels Starres nor Saints No Purging Flames could stint sad Soules complaintes No Dove-like Sighes nor Cataract of Teares No Fasts nor Hermits Garbs could ease their fears Not Incense not the blood of all the World Nor all their merits yet together hurld But blood of Man that never had offended Of a New-man downe from Above descended Of a New Mould endowed with Free will Which Adam lost with power to barre all ill Who taking on himselfe all mens transgressions Would dy that death which by their owne confessions They had deserv'd and by that meanes t' asswage Gods Justice and supplant the devils rage The Fathers Word then and his bosome Sonne By whom for whose sake all things were done Consented to be borne of Humane flesh With dowries meet the fainting to refresh Whereby their eyes might see his reall light Though Infinite yet not to hurt their sight Gods owne true Heire the light and Spring of Life Did willingly assume to end all strife To bound himselfe although ubiquity To Calendar in Time Eternity Christ undertooke a new to represent The second Adams Part to which Intent And to redeeme us from his Fathers Doome He our fraile flesh tooke in a Virgins wombe For Nine Moneths space shut up in narrow place Whose strength no place can hold no Time nor space Almighty God his Promise to make good To his adopted Saints of Adams Brood That One of Evaes Seed in time to come Should at the last the Serpent overcome And triumph by his Death on Hellish Sinnes As Sampson did on Dagons Philistines Had moved Joseph one of Davids House To take the Virgin Mary for his Spouse Both knowne to be of Zorobabels Race Which branch'd from Davids Root hold up to grace Their Pedegree though they were clouded then Through poverty Whereby appeares to men How much to Lawfull meanes Gods Purenesse tends Whilst thus by Wedlocks veile He shrouds his Ends How Maries lowly minde by Grace Divine For her Babes worth did Evaes pride decline But leaves the Rich with Mammons Pitch defil'd For She was Poore and He a Carpenter Yet God did them before Great Folkes preferre A Slighted Paire his two-fold Instrument To bring Christs Birth to full accomplishment Now Sixe Moneths came since Grave Elizabeth Of John conceiv'd And then to Nazareth God sent againe the Angel Gabriel Glad Tidings of much wonder to foretell That there the Blessed Virgin should with Child Conceive not by the Male but by the Mild And Gentle Sparks breath'd from the Holy Ghost And that likewise in Judaes Hilly Coast Elizabeth her Cosen then was blest Though Old and barren with an Embrion Guest Who born should roome make for the highest King As his Tong-loos'd would shortly sing This Signe the Angell added to Confirme The Maidens Faith and make his Message firme For Malachy had prophesied that John Eâ—ias-like should preach ere Christ came on The Angell gone in hast the Virgin-Saint Went with these newes her Cousen to acquaint At whose Approach the Sixe months Embryon sprung And she a Psalme God Magnifying sung I need not since Old Wives of it can prate The Angels Ave Mary here relate His words to her were Newes Miraculous But wrest for vowes they prove Idolatrous When mumbling on fine Beades like Parrats Chaâ— They beg in a strange tongue they know not what Yet by the New-mans leave we paraphraze And paint her Dowries forth in modest phraze Not Suppâ—iant wise to court Imagery But to renew like Saints her memory All haile to thee O Mary full of Grace Happy be they who see thy Virgins face Among the Angels Legions rais'd on high And there advanc'd for thy Humility Which didst Christ by the Holy Ghost conceive As Clay Gods stamp did by his Word receive Blest be thy Name O Mayd Gods Spouse Mother Which broughtst a Sonne our Saviour and our Brother Such Greetings thou didst from the Angell merit Before thou knew'st Conception by the Spirit Whereby thou didst Manoahs Wife excell Though Sampsons birth an Angell did foretell But why seeke I to overcloud thy Praise With these poore lines lame hobling sorry Laies To pray to thee would derogation be To his high worth who saved thee and me For not the Woman but the Womans Seed Did Satan foile and ransome Adams Deed To praise thee more then thy deare Son in Bookes That were to racke thy praise on Tenter-hookes As if God thee a goddesse did install Conceiv'd without sinnes sting Originall In Heav'n thou shin'st no more to be molested With Sinners songs to superstition wrested Where leaving thee Gods Treasures to contemple I greet on Earth thy Infants former Temple Concluding thee of Female kind the best The mother of my Saviour ever Blest The Type of that true Church in which we thrive And therefore Blest in the Superlative But when that Joseph knew his Bride with Child By him untoucht he thought he was beguil'd In his late choyce and therefore privately Like a Just man most loath her publiquely To shame by letting all their Neighbours know Her fault suppos'd with Indignations Brow He purposed the matter to protract Or to give up the Note of the Contract He studyed how this new Affinity He might shake off and shun her company One while he thought to pocket up the Fraud Yet fear'd to be to his owne house a Baud. Love Griefe
Servants stript Murtherd his Sonne and were themselves extirpt These severall sorts of Temporizers toucht We find by Christ himselfe and sharpely coucht Under these pithy Parables like them Which praise the Tree and yet the Fruite contemne For some there are as Jesus did rehearse Who by the High way side good Corne disperse And this the Birds catch up and prey upon Some sow in Barren ground too neere the Stone Which wanting Earth moisture wants encrease So hardned Faith can never harvest Peace And though Gods word be Preacht on Sabbath dayes Yet lacking Rooâ—e it withers decayes Such Auditors and outward Formalists Stand both excluded out of Christian Lists Some seed springs faire but choakt with thornes and Tares Soone faile like braines too full of worldly cares When Satans weedes of vanity or Lust Grow up with Faith then Faith lies in the dust So in Gods Church spring Heresies accurst Unlesse Good Pastours weed them up at first But blest be they who sow in Fruitfull ground Their Graine shall sure a hundred fold abound Like Mustard seed though at the Prime but smal Yet at the Harvest it growes full and Tall. If Adams Sonnes could with a zealous mind Receive Gods Word his Spirit they should finde His holy Gifts would multiply with store From blisse to blisse they should rise more more Such Prophesies of Christs are come to passe Where we may see as in a steely glasse How some â—ay for Gods Messengers a traine Yea and to slay their Masters Sonne againe How neere some runne into damnations brinke Like Beares to eate his Flesh his Blood to drinke For doe not they with Blasphemy mistake To bragge that they did Flesh materiall take When Christ before his Passion as he sate At Supper did no such communicate In reall forme nor yeeld for them to gnaw His Limbes which then and there entire they saw His Flesh and Blood Christ consters to be Life And Quickning Spirit and to end all strife He saith that Man must have another Birth The Elder borne of flesh or Carnall earth The second of the Spirit New and quicke Whereto a Saint with constant faith must sticke For as the flesh subsists with earthly Bread So by his Deaths Record the Soule is fed His Sacrificed flesh with mouthes Confession And Hearts Beliefe receiv'd heales all Transgression And doth through Grace the Spirits food impart Unto Gods Image pure Mans noblest part This made Christ say The flesh cannot availe For Blisse but that his quickning words prevaile This quickning food Christs Spirit satisfide When Satan try'd his Body mortifide Mans person here not onely lives by Bread But with the word of God he must be fed This unseene meate Christ had as he did tell Whereof they knew not at Samariaes Well On which Eternall â—ates those Soules that feed Of Carnall food shall never stand in need Nor at Doomesday when Hagges howle out Alasse Shall Soule-fed Saints to condemnation passe This Living water free'y without sale Christ cry'd to all a â—hirst both great an small To drinke beleeve and feed on Christ implyes The selfe same thing in our great Sacrifice Our Bodies food by Nature rots at last Converts to dung and to the draught is cast Or is to Humours chang'd but Christ his food Transformes us to his quickning flesh and blood Of the like Substance form'd and Quality As the New mans by Christs Conformity The Rocke a figure was the Vine a signe Blest be the Branches grafted in this Vine So blest be they who make true Ghostly use Of this Rocke Vine and Blood without abuse As here our Soules feed on Christs flesh and blood By faith so musing on his Sacred food We shall raisd up to higher Dignity Feed on Christs Godâ—ead and Humanity Where now we feed on Christ the Lambe divine We then shall Feast through Christ with God in Trine Gods word begat the Churches Sacraments Of sundry formes yet One in their intents The Circumcision and the Easter Lambe Our Baptisme and the Eucharist became Mysterious signes Christs Image to renew By Grace in man the Gentile as the Jew In which as they their Faith infolded fixt So we on Christ Baptiz'd and Câ—ucifixt For in the Cloud the Nation circumciz'd Were in the Desart to Faiths Rocke baptiz'd An easie yoake for us two Objects free Both which they darkling saw through Crystall we â—They God admir'd in their old Sacrifice As we doe Christ in ours with Extasies Faith saved them and did their soules releeve And the same God saves us if we beleeve Since they were sav'd beleeving in the Shadowes Then why not we receiving him that made us Yea sure we may according to our Creed And zeale feed on his Flesh true Flesh indeed Not Chymicke-like with changing Accidents But as our New-man feeds with Soule-rapt sense Not with our Teeth nor yet Fantasticke flesh But as himselfe at Supper did expresse It for Soules Food to his Disciples then As now with his Deaths type to Christian men Who this beleeves and helpes the wounded man Without a Fee like the Samaritane If he be Lowly as the Publican Asham'd of sin and doth the best he can To please the Lord he shall be borne anew Of Gods bright Spirit and see all things New The Sacraments typ'd with New properties The one doth cleanse the Babes impurities The other cheeres us up by Sacrifice Of Bread and Wine Food of new Qualities Vnder whose veile they blest by sacred Word We minde in Trance the Body of the Lord And then we checke the World the Flesh the Devill For Saints wel know that nothing which is evil Nor yet that Flesh wherein our Spirits move Shall Heaven see till Grace our sins remove Which may not be unlesse we will Repent To Natures griefe and Fiends astonishment How we become New borne no more we know Than Nicodemus how the wind did blow But by our Faith that Gods Sonne crucified Doth now on his Right hand sit glorified Above all Thrones A Saviour Priest and King Triumphant over sin the Dragons sting And may heale us as the Brasse Serpent hung Did Israelites by fiery Serpents stung If we receive this Viands excellence With Inward taste more than with Outward sense But why did Christ Evangelize Salvation In mysticke sort and aime at Reprobation By sentences to carnall wits so darke Was it that we more seriously might marke The Sence when they should moralized be By Clerkes of our Leviticall Degree Perhaps such Tropes propt with Divinity May worke in some with greater Majesty So Saints sometimes to States Tyrannicall Have read by Riddles or in Generall Grave Lectures on the Gospels Lightning Text Least their seeds growth by spleene or by pretext Of winding Lawes were dasht with dis-respect Or silenced themselves with foule neglect If bluntly they or headlong out of Season Preach much of Peace to Tyrants voyd of Reason Christs flocke well knowes his voyce but on the rest That stray let Wolves
Ravishment Lay like the Doctors in Astonishment As men rejoyce in a darke Cloudy day To see the Sunne his suddaine Beames display So did they startle at Christs Lightning words Whilst her soft greetings Mary thus affords My loving Sonne why hast thou stayd behind And not as doth thee Natures duty bind Return'd with us Behold I and thy Father Have sought thee sad for three dayes space together Soone as we found thee missing by the way We hither came and sought thee night and Day We searcht with carefull thoughts most diligent The City where we used to frequent With heavy hearts God knows we lookt for thee Whom Christ undaunted answer'd grave and free I st possible that you forget so soone The favours late which God for you hath done Deare mother wot you not that I must goe About my Fathers Businesse t' undergoe More travels yet you know the Prophesies Of Ancient Seers you know the Mysteries Disclosed by the Angell Gabriel That I am sent to ransome Soules from Hell That I must preach to Spirits thrall'd in Jaile My Fathers will which shall o're sinne prevaile You know what meanes Heavens word mens Light Gods Breath From Simeon Anna and Elizabeth And in your selfe the Spirits ravishment Reveales the cause of my Birth and Discent My Fathers zeale so burnt within my breast Against these strayes I could not but contest Whose Oracles of me and many more Your true Beleeving heart layes up in store Although the same as yet you seeme to smother You cannot but remember them good Mother These words of his the blessed Virgin waigh'd And safe them up within her mind she layd Out of the Temple then wtth her he goeth And presently they set for Nazareth Where Mary found his Will with hers agreeing Though Him she held the Authour of her being And her sole Head yet then the Head subjected Unto the Limbes and nothing he rejected To Undergoe in his Minority For their behoofe and best commodity Or murmur'd at which his deare Mother Maide Or Josephs voyce of charge upon him laid But as a Sonne or rather Servant true He yeelds them Honour and Obedience due What they at home or else abroad assign'd Labour or care in Body or in minde As an Apprentice Carpentary Drudge To toyle for them he never once did grudge But wrought his Taske and servile Trade uprighâ— Not needing checkes nor frowning oversight Base idlenesse by Nature he abhorr'd Which made him worke when some as Outlaweâ— roar'd For he accounted meat not duely got If daily for the same he labour'd not He for our sakes sustained poverty To purchase wealth for us and Dignity In this poore plight the curse Christ underwent To earne his bread with sweate and small content Yet what he gain'd would scarce weak Nature feed And it griev'd him to see his friends in need What therefore he of meat earn'd by his sweat The Overplus he gave the Poore to eate Thus Christ shot up in shape and thriv'd in Grace And all Good men lov'd him that saw his face For he preferr'd Gods praise before his owne More prizing Truth then they Judae as Crowne But to describe his worth his modest lookes And qualities would fill up many Bookes The matter farre exceeds my strength and wit My Forme turnes proud except thou temper it O Holy Ghost and curb'st my swelling sense Above fraile Natures botched excellence With humble thoughts Christs Innocence to quote To note his plaine Attire and seamelesle Coat Worne in his Youth but parted since which now To burne as tainting Rage false Christians vow To seeke gay clâ—aâ—hes never did curious Pride Tempt him he onely car'd his skin to hide He knew that Man attir'd in ruffling Robes Begs seldome Grace and vents but faigned sobbes Nor can he shed salt teares our Guardians food Nor well submit for his perpetuall good As for this cause they used heretofore In vilesi weeds Gods Favour to implore He knew that our First Parents bare and poore Went till Figge leaves Coates of Skins they wore Which like these Lâ—nes our Gallants now would scorne For Satan prompts they were more Nobly borne Wherefore to rob their Factours must persever Silke wormes and Beasts for Shamois Plush Bever No Pleasures shape so farre his minde endeares To Idolize the same though young of yeares No Envious Stings nor motions Arrogant Once prickt his heart nor thoughts extravagant For he was so sincere sweete Natur'd mild That none with Passions knew him once defil'd Though from without he often Temptings had As Man while he conversed with the Bad Yet with contempt and a most brave disdaine He past them by not soyled with one staine For as the Sunne the worlds faire radiant Eye Doth Dunghils touch and stinking Jakes survey And yet his Beames escape from tainting free So this blest Youth though he did daily see Notorious sinnes and Beast-like filthinesse Himselfe he kept untoucht from wickednesse He labour'd oft in Childing woman-wise Of our fraile Passions and infirmities He had as Man our Naturall Affects But yet without Excesses or defects And not as we orecome with their delight Or seeming Good or spurr'd on with despight In midst of Darkenesse shone Divinest Light Errour he turn'd to knowledge wrong to Right The words contempt he changed into Grace Fables to Truth our slips to surer pace He did exchange our Lustfull sports to sorrow And on to worke our Humane Natures borrow For Lazarus he shed forth Teares of Griefe And he much Griev'd for Salems unbeleefe Ambition did his Man-heads Fancies raise But that Flight was to raise his Fathers praise His High desires stretcht plyant Soules to win To blissefull Joyes from Sathan death and sinne His mounting sparkes to Magnanimity Extended mixt with zeale and Charity His lofty thoughts aspir'd but to the Crosse That Theater which ransom'd Adams losse He Chastly long'd yea and he lusted too With flames of Love for he the Church did wooe He sought her Love with zealous Oracles Sometimes with teares sometimes with Miracles He Coveted for wealth not worldly wealth But for Eternall Goods mens saving Health He felt within his Soules essentiall Parts Great Joy to heare of True Beleevers hearts For barbed Steed he chose a bare-backt Asse Fishers for Mates for Pallace the Low Grasse He burn'd with wrath when he drove from Gods House Those Huckesters out whom he with whips did touze But his short wrath converted into zeale Not for Revenge but for the sinners weale He seem'd to grudge or Envy at the Priests Because he saw them live like Antichrists He much repin'd that Purenesse went to wracke That Satans sway did keepe Gods Kingdome backe He languished with Feares and Agonies The night before his deaths Extremities But those deepe Feares sprung of weake natures sense Not of Despaire or want of Innocence So from our Passions Christ as Mithridate Of Vipers wrought good Motions New begat For Jewish Thalmuds he the Gospel taught For their Old
Praise No Oratours nor Poets wit can Limme At full the gifts wherewith God furnisht him For as the Sunnes bright shining Lampe at Noone Excells the lesser Starres and pale fac't Moone So Christ more Just more Meeke and Patient was Then Enoch Moses Job and did surpasse As well in Mysticke as in Actuall Flames Whereof indeed we mortals know no Names Unlesse we terme them Graces most Transcendent To him alone from Our Great God descendent All Adams Sonnes with Josephs Mayden wife For Zeale for Faith for Holynesse of life Nay more were all their Vertues joyn'd in One They would look foule compar'd with his alone Comparing him with other men the Light Of Heaven you must confound with darkest night For without his Habilliments of Grace No Mortall man can see Gods Heavenly Face Without his Helpe the Godhead full of Ire Consumes Mankind as Stubble in the fire Without his Merits veile as Wedding suite No Humane wight can win a Saints Repute Cloath'd with his Robes none ever went amisse The Alpha and Omega of all blisse At last Christ grew to thirty yeares of Age Which was the time that in his Pilgrimage He from thenceforth till death should exercise His Priesthoods place to open Israels Eyes Melchisedechs predestinated place Whose Order Time should never more deface But they more blind then Bats were in those times When Zeale and Love were Snares and Nets for crimes He therefore now to grace his Legate John To Jordan went and by him thereupon Would be baptiz'd although the Prophet strove To put him by as worthyer from Above Christs will was such he Baptisme would receive That to his Church he might that Patterne leave And that as he perfected Moses Lawes So he for us would plead the New mans Cause Which at â—he Font from sinne Originall Doth cleanse and to New life invites us all If we goe on as we were Catechiz'd And crave with Flames of zeale to be baptiz'd For Baptisme is Heavens gate the which to ope Grace gives to us the Keyes of Faith and Hope No sooner did that heavenly Dove descend And Satan markt to what those words did tend This is my Sonne in whom I am well pleasd But all amaz'd he stood and sore displeas'd And hearing John before himselfe Him prize The Lambe of God that should with Fire baptize He doubted much lest this was He should tread As on a footestoole his Old Serpents Head To crosse therefore the doome of Gods Edict And Justice force her selfe to contradict This Prince of Fiends the Python of the East Our Antichristian Dragon of the West Bent al his thoughts his plots and machinations Gods Heire to win and raze our Hopes foundations Which when the Searcher of all Hearts had read With deepe insight he by the Spirit led His Sonne from Jordan to a desart where He might be try'd with Fasting and with feare Aswell to satisfie for Adams Deed As us to warne the Dragons wiles to heed Satan as shadow dogs him at the heeles And cunningly ere he his Pulses feeles Physitianâ—like â—like who first the Signes and Dyet Notes and what brought the Patient out of quiet He waites aloofe and finds our Saviour still Watch Fast and Pray to save Mankind from ill But at the last with fasting forty dayes To Christ supposed weake the Fiend bewrayes His fraudulent and perillous designe Which was at Hels instinct to worke a signe Or Miracle and by that act repaire His Pride-falne state or drive Christ to despaire Thou dost beleeve saith he that thou art Holy The Child of God not dimm'd with Carnall folly A Saint foretold by Prophets Oracles And canst like them worke some rare Miracles Now in this Place make Triall of the Spirit Whether such precious gifts thou dost inherit To equall Moses and the Thesbites Fame Both which thou may'st by working wonders shame I see from Food thou fastest over-long Whereby thy Body faints and feeles much wrong Loose not the Substance for the Accident Nor thy deare life for what 's impertinent Thou art but Young and in thy flow'r of Age And may'st doe wonders on this worldly Stage If thou cheare up thy selfe this present day Else beauty strength and Body will decay Some I have knowne so long to mortifie Their Flesh in hope their Soules to purifie That by such fasts they were much stupifide Light heads and all to seeme Soule-glorifide Be thou more wise to shun the fatall rod Of Famine If thou be the Sonne of God Command these present Stones to be converted Into pure bread or else thou art perverted When Satan thus had ended his discourse Christ to Gods word did hasten his Recourse No other Shield then Scripture did he use Which by heav'ns leave I paraphras'd produce I doe renounce the Flesh and Worldâ—y guile Thy tempting Baites shall not my heart beguile To long for Earthly Food more then Gods Word To breake the vow I made at Jordans Foord The Covenant of Baptisme which I seal'd I meane to keepe whereby Mankind is heal'd And purg'd I will not once distrust the Lord Nor in least thought traduce his written Word He can by many meanes releeve my wants That cloathes the Lillies and renews the Plants Mans Body here not onely lives by Bread But with Gods word his Spirit must be fed The Holy Ghost for Light to after Saints And to divulge our Ghostly Foes attaints To force them to confesse their wiles and pride Doe try not daunt those whom the heavens guide Permitted Satan yet to tempt him more With all his slights but not to hurt or gore His Body which reserv'd for Sacrifice Himselfe would shortly yeeld for sinnefull vice The Fiend would not so let him passe away He had more Trickes upon Mankind to play Because our Saviour Satan did contemne He rapt him up into Jerusalem And set him on the Temples Pinacâ—e Now shew thy selfe quoth he by Miracle The Sonne of God by casting thy selfe downe From hence headlong for God will guard his owne Be confident and take it as thy Creed Saints may performe all things t is so decreed I see thou shin'st replenished with Faith And knowâ—st full well what sacred Scripture saith By this great Act thou mayst thy Fame advance Above the Starres and now on earth enhaunce Thy Praise among the vulgar Multitude Who will be wean'd from their old grosse rude Traditions and thee for their Great Messias More will beleeve then John their new Elias Who with new Rites of Baptisme now of late At Jordan toyles men to regenerate Proceed then boldly to this famous Act And never doubt the Issue of the fact For God hath given his Angels charge of thee To save thy Body and defend thee free From all Annoyes Perils or hurts of Stones That might against thee dash or bruise thy bones With such or like surmizes Satan sought Our Saviour to entrap and turne his Thought From lowlinesse and worldly Pompes contempt The chiefest meane Mans Freedome to
and Roamers Feast Let carnall Sots poare on Carnalities Whilst we Christs Body see with Angels eyes Or at the least while with our New mans sight We doe discerne from Carnall Sense his Light After this way hid from the Old mans brood Our Noblest part receives Christs mysticke Food Some other times He prov'd his Oracles Concerning fruitlesse faith by Miracles As when he to a Figge-tree did repaire For fruite which a farre off seem'd greene faire In show but finding there not ought but Leaves Incens'd he it with indignation leaves Because he found it backward in the yeelding And not well Graft he left it for a Hielding And from thenceforth a Reprobated Tree For when he said Let never fruite on thee Ripe or unripe â—e from â—ence forward found The Boughes fell dead withered to the Ground What shall I write of Tabors Mount the Story Where three Disciples saw his shining glory In all his workes of greatest Eminence He ever had his end and Reference To Constant Faith and to his Fathers Will Which for Mans good he thirsted to fulfill The number of the signes which Jesus wrought Were infinite beyond mans Wit or Thought Whereof the first was water turn'd to Wine To grace a Marriage-feast by Deedes divine At Cana wrought a Towne of Galilee Which him confirm'd the Mysticke Vine to be That as raw water tooke the taste and shape Beyond mens reach of Natures rarest Grape So might dull Thoughts though cold receive impression Of the Fire-cloven tongu'd zeales expression He by his word made simple Fishermen More wise then Doctours without Booke or Pen. He made the Blinde to see the Lame to goe The dumbe to speake the sicke past cure forgoe Their Palsies Dropsies and Issues of blood Yea from his Vesture toucht proceeded good He forc't his Foes the Luciferian rout To quake and at his word he chas'd them out He many freed with Reall fiends possest Cleansed Lepers and all as were distrest With Feavers Fire or Humours foaming Rage Or were diseas'd of Young or Elder Age In Body or in Minde He raisd the Dead To Life and Lazar in his Earthy Bed For foure dayes space entombed he reviv'd And thousands with small victuals he reliev'd Which deeds his Power prov'd Omnipotent That could raise Food and make his guests content He walked dry-foote on the liquid Seas He calm'd rough stormes with words Be still Peace Words cyphring him Gods mighty Sonne and Word Which could so soone both windes and waves accord Not one who had of Faith the smallest graine Departed from his sight uncur'd of paine He cur'd their Bodies griefes their sinnes remitted He calmâ—d Gods wrath and nothing he omitted Expedient for the Soules salvation here Whereby we might before Gods Throne appeare Made pure by Faith free from Concupiscence Originall and sinnes deriv'd from thence By meanes of his great Merits excellence His words his workes and Virgin-Innocence He knew the thoughts and Plots of Salems Clerkâ— And did strike home at their slye muttring quirks And all these wonders of amazement full Christ acted to provoke a Nation dull Yea to confirme his Gospels Oracles Transfer'd from God he wrought such Miracles To make our Soules to see the Heavenly Light With Eyes of Faith and here to live upright According to his Patterne more to raise Our Makers Glory then our causelesse praise To muse on more the New mans lasting Food Then Transubstantiate Toyes of Flesh and blood That we by fiends and worldly wiles perplext Might find sound Cure in his true Gospels text Christs Testament which in the Church more bold Then wise some in their hands not Hearts do hold But t is in vaine to turne the Scriptures over To quote some Text and presently to hover About our worldly businesse as if borne Like Butter flies or Natures shamefull scorne To flutter time away with painted wings But we must plod on these Eternall things With serious care that when our Tempters come As come they will they may not find us dumbe Or Planet strucke but finding us prepar'd With Jesus in our mouthes and hearts out dar'd They out of hand will from our Lodge depart To other Rankes their venome to impart Such wonders were atchieved for three yeares space To witnesse Christ Gods Sonne and in Gods place The first at Canaes Marriage did appeare The last concludes by healing Malchus Eare. More Miracles were by our Saviour wrought To satisfie the true Believers Thought Then living in that Age. But these suffice To manifest his God head to the Wise To Penitents and hopefull Catechists Which were left by the foure Evangelists For if the Precepts all which Jesus taught With Wonders wrought were to our knowledge brought They would confound the Hearers memories And fables seeme in Baals blind Oratories Gods word is pithy short and ponderous Where Humane Glosse is long and frivolous We have enough Christs Gospel to confirme We crave no more to keepe our Inside firme Than what we by the Spirits Pen-men finde Recorded there to edify the Minde If any cover more let them take heed That they smart not for their Presumptuous deed As sometime sought a Princesse fond with zeale Of Christ his deeds to adde an ampler deale Those which Saint John omitted she desir'd To bring to Light but while she thus aspir'd A wandring Fryer of like Holynesse From Italy arriv'd and did possesse Her mind so much that he by Revelation False dreames deceites and Satans provocation And faigning that he got into his hand Saint Peters Relique shoâ—e in Jewrieâ— Land Had soone perswaded her that from her wombe A Prophet borne should afterwards become The man that should those Miracles omitted Divulge to Light whereby he was admitted Because more Holy in her vaine opinion Then other men to be her Carnall Minion Untill at last A Dukes Inheritrix With a great Belly turn'd a Meretrix BUt all Christs workes could not from Martyrdome Protect his Life such was the Godheads Doome That him to sting the Serpent should aspire And him to slay now men and fiends conspire That Yeare when Caiphas sate in Aarons roome By Deputation from Imperious Rome In th' Eighteenth yeare of Old Tiberius Raigne When Pontius Pilate for ambitious gaine And bloody spoyles had rackt Judaeaes Land About seven yeeres with his Praetorian Band Then Christ his Fame for raising Lazarus From death and for such deeds Miraculous Began to spread abroad with glorious wings And then it pleas'd the Soveraigne King of Kings To free his Sonne from Earthly cares and feares And to recall him from this vale of teares Where he had liv'd among the Jewish Route For three and thirty yeares or thereabout The period now approacht of that Decree Foredoomed by the Sacred Trinity That Gods deare Sonne New Creatures to create Should for Old Adam dye a shamefull Fate The Jewish Scribes of Salems Hierarchy Had long before with plots begun to try How him they might intangle in his speech But his
is decreed that I in Hell must lye And that Another must my charge supply Nothing but horror sounds without within My Soule like Zims and Oyms full of sinne Scritcheth out aloud Judas Iscariot Come away to Hell for thou hast forgot And renounc't thy Baptisme betraying God The Sonne of God make here no more abode On Earth I come I come a Damned Ghost By you O Furies to be ever tost God frownes because my Master I did sell And now because God frownes I le downe to hell The fearefull end which Judas made so knowne So common ranne disperst through all the Towne That Salems Clergie stood as men agast And doubting lest for their rash sentence past And treachery the hand of God might strike With vengeance them for their false deedes dislike They all agreed their Church not to defile With Bloods Reward but so to reconcile The fact with workes of Merits bastard kind That God might seeme to them like Mortals blind This made them play for cloaking of abuses Bo-peepe with Faith and turne to Pious uses The Thirty pence the hire of treachery As Zachary foretold their Salary Buying therewith the Potters field to Bury Poore strangers in thereby to slacke Gods fury O fond conceit to doe an Injury And afterwards like Hallifaxes Jury To fit and see the wronged man redrest When doome forepast could never be reverst Nor ransomed with guerdon Competent Chiefely for Blood to which they gave consent Against Gods Lambe not of Religious care But factiously the Churches Fleece to share Without reproofe or Shepherds Brow severe For this made them to Christ such mallice beare Fearing lest that in time the Cautious wise Might counterchecke their maskt hypocrisies If this New man in that luxurious Age Should draw their Flocke to his New Pasturage With Parables infolding Charity Repentance Faith and Hearts Humility No doubt but they acknowledged the Word To be Divine and worthy of Record Which Jesus taught confirm'd with Miracles But Satan had cast forth such Obstacles Of Merits Clouds before their Carnall sence That they might slight the Spirits Quintessence The Bread of Life the New mans nourishment As crosse to that which they for Lucre vent Gods holy Writ corrupting with Traditions With Thalmuds Quirkes and thorny Expositions For Juries Church with Carnall Pharisees Was branded then and with dull Saduces Which with their Monkes Essences would deface By Merits bragges Gods Covenant of Grace Making the weaker sort of Soules beleeve That they could stint Gods wrath or it reprieve But why blame I the Jewes Apostacy When now the time of Daniels Prophesie Was come that their Messias should be slaine Not for himselfe but for Anothers staine The more vile wretches we that gave the cause By the flat breach of our Creatours Lawes He Legions might of Angels to his Ayd Have cal'd but then Mans ransome was not paid He might to Hell all Adams race have cast But then he had left none his Grace to tast And this sweet Grace of his made him to beare Such wrongs in Jewry Land and to forbeare With us our debts which none could satisfie But he alone whose Merits Justifie This is my Faith the upshot of my Creed Thy Blood O Christ can save fraile Adams seed If they Repent believe and turne to God Thou wilt absolve them from thy Fathers rod Yea from Hell-flames for thy worths excellence Restor'd what Adam lost Soules Innocence Thy humble Life and Death upon the Crosse Have crost Gods Sentence and repair'd our Losse Let therefore to his Crosse our zeale returne And never cease with Holy Flames to burne Untill we end sad Fridayes Sacrifice And see what Christ paid more for Humane vice I meane not onely that which Helene found With rubbage soil'd but the Crosse solid sound Which scorching Soules for new Jerusalem Aâ—ords to Saints a more expedient Theame We never saw the Crosse where Christ was fixt Yet we beleeve that he was Crucifixt Now to his Death his sore tormenting Death They led Gods Lambe to end his wearyed breath With floutes and shoutes they led him to the Crosse The waight whereof by force they did impose Because his Lambe-like strength began to faint And could no longer beare it by constraint On Simon of Cirean a labouring man A good poore Soule an honest Publican Whom there by chance the Ruffian Souldiers met Upon the Raised Crosse they Jesus set With loud Out-cryes as at a May-pole Game And to the same with Contumelious shame His hands and feete with piercing Nailes they fixt And like a Judge plac'd him two Theeves betwixt The more to spite him But the Morall is Some he shall doome to Hell and some to Blisse For these two Theeves were of a diffrent Faith Th' one railes at him the other meekely saith We faulty are but this man guiltlesse dyes Remember me Good Lord when thou doest riseâ— To whom sweet Jesus instantly replyes This day thou shalt with me to Paradise Which words well markt who will not thence inferre But Grace workes more than Merit and averre That Christ Gods power had when Crucified He could so soone a Theefe make Justified To reape that Harvest where he never sow'd Even Blisse which with their Caterwalling loud Some hunted for yet could not with it meet Like Cats for Fish that would not wet their feete But th' unbaptiz'd that liv'd not to restore What he had rob'd doth wonder-rap me more To see him Crown'd a Saint in Heaven Above Then that I dare discusse Gods hidden Love Who of meere Grace payes some at Sun-set hires Equall with them whom earlier he inspires Or aske the King why he to Honour screwes Some men of lesse desert than mine in shewes Faith wins us Grace So while proud Rabbies laught Poore Women wept and at the Crosse were taught With Swan-like Song though in deaths Agony Christ warned them by way of Destiny Shed not yee Daughters of Jerusalem Your Teares for me but for your selves shed them My Father to whose care I recommend My Soule will to his children comfort send The dayes will come when they that Barren are More safely shall then Women Fruitfull share When many shall in perills dolorous Cry out yee Caves and Mountaines cover us For if a Blooming Tree of verdant sap Be thus cut off how shall the dry escape To shew what Love is unto Parents due His Mother Mary at his last adieu Whose Soule with his as Simeon did relate Was as with sword pierst in that Bloody fate Having with constant mind whilst others fled Staid by the Crosse till she should see him dead He comforted with John Behold thy Sonne With charge to him Behold thy Mother John Two sacred Saints joyn'd in one Legacy Two Soules fast knit in Saint-like Amity John therefore home the blessed Virgin tooke And never she her Sonne bequeath'd forsooke But in his house remain'd a Widow-Mayd Untill her debts to Nature she had paid These pithy Types of Charity and Grace Christ dying
then he would restore To Israel the Kingdome as before Forgetfull so of Jesus Crucifixt Were they and to a Carnall Monarch fixt Whereto Christ answer'd It concernes not you To know the times and seasons which ensue Such secrecies the Father doth reserve Unto himselfe Do you my words observe Who am your King the Head of humane-kind As I to you so to my Flock be kinde My Gospell Preach the weak ones Catechize See that my Sheepe yee feed my Lambes Baptize Invoking on as you have learn'd of me The Father Sonne and Holy Ghost all three Which Last shall shortly you Baptize with Fire As John with Water and your Soules inspire As Gods Viceroy or Angell of the Lord By Heat of what I taught the saving word Untill I come in Person from Above See that yee Watch and one another Love Such or like words when Christ had fully ended He in a Cloud up to the Heavens ascended Where he as God and Man all thoughts beholds Preferred by the Father and there holds As Man for Men a Mediatours place On Gods right hand Saints joyfull to imbrace As God and Man Paules Fury he did fright As God and Man Saint Steven saw his Light So did Saint John from Pathmos see his glory When he reveal'd his future Churches story By Visions have some others ravisht beene That they from Earth his Power there have seen For had we seen him here with Carnall sight Our Darknesse could not comprehend his light Whilst his Disciples there with carefull Eyes Watcht as he went two Angells humane-wise Apparell'd white appearing to them said Yee Galileans why are yee dismai'd Why gaze yee up This Jesus who is hence To Heaven gone shall so returne from thence Seeke not therefore his reall presence heere On Earth untill as Judge he do appeare Meane time on Gods right hand a Prince and Priest He raignes and doeth you in your vowes assist On Whitsunday next after Christs ascent He ravisht his Disciples with content Who then attended at Jerusalem For the last promise which he made to them That he would send Gods Spirit in his steed To rectify and ayde them in their need And while the world should last his Church informe In some or other place with wondrous Forme When that high feast of Pentecost was come And for that end they meeting in one Roome With one consent there fell a bustling noise Or suddaine sound replete with stirring joyes As of a mighty Breath and rushing Wind Which fill'd the House and wonder-rapt the mind For Cloven Tongues appear'd to them like Fire And sate on each of them and did inspire Their Soules with giftes of the great Holy Ghost So that the Standers by of Aliens Coast Astonisht were th'Apostles joyes to heare Men of a diff'rent Tongue and Climate there Poore Hebrew Fishermen that never went Far out of Jewry Land extatick bent With them in their owne Language to agree And in their zeale to God to be so free And fluent of their Phrase that Babels Breach Seem'd reconcil'd by their harmonious speech Some thought they were like Bardhs Enthusian rapt Or that strong Wine in them such Blabs had clapt That men before the third houre of the day Should rave with Wine they wondred with dismay They were amaz'd till Peter made it knowne That for Christs sake God sent this wonder downe Not for Mad fits but for Soules joyfull feast God sent the Holy Ghost this wondrous Guest O Wondrous Guest that vents forth Abbaes Cry Within the Heart the will and memorie O wondrous Guest the Heavens Harbinger That scornes not to become the Messenger Betwixt our Soules and God to beare our Love And our weak Faith to strengthen and improve That sever'd Earth from Chaos medley Puddle And rays'd our Orbe out of the lumpish Huddle And though the Earth were heavy hung it faire With store of stuffe in the loose fleeting Aire This is that Prime and ever quickning Mover Of all the world Angells and Mens approver That spirit which through all Gods Prophets spoke Which taught the sense of Mysticks to unlock Which clear'd the Wits of simple Fishermen To preach those Newes which Doctours fayl'd to pen Which rulâ—d in every Age since Christs Ascent The Church and dayly yeelds Soule-nourishment Which at our feast Christs Body doeth convay Into our Hearts by his Spirituall way Which sent the gift of Printing now of late Old Babels spelles and mists to dissipate And by the Word to rescue Thralles from death As he at first the gift of Tongues did breath Which animates the Saints with courage rare In midst of Tortures Tyrants to out dare Which glads the Lowly and the Penitent And thousands doth unite in one Consent Of Christian Faith though sundred much in place Tongues rites or forme yet one in sacred race O Holy-ghost how strange is thy proceeding Angells and mens capacities exceeding No pen can limne thy Raptures most profound No humane voice can thy hid Graces sound One thing I blunder out what thou conceal'st From carnall Clarkes to Children thou reveal'st Then let my Soule O Lord be like these last Whilst others feast on Peacocks let me fast Or tast no other Food but what conduces To praise thy Name without prophane abuses And let all them who view these humble Lines Prove better'd in their thoughts with contrite signes If the old man they labour to deface And do their best the new man to imbrace Not like our moderne Gulles who grow Profane Lest they be markt with brand of Puritane Let us Gods Spirit by these Wonders seeke These Wonders wrought the first day of the Weeke Our sevenths Light now styled The Lords day Thrice hallowed and sanctifi'd for Ay For this rare Blisse to Christian Soules accrewes That Christ his rising up their hopes renewes To Rise like him ingrafted in his stock To quench their thirst with him the living Rock To bud a new as Branches of his Vine To feed on Angells food his word divine He led the way to Resurrections blisse And us invites to follow him in this High flight without diverting towards Earth But with due care of the new Spirits Birth Our former resurrection in this Life To gaine th' immortall prize through strong beliefe With those true joyes which did but Monarchs know They would foregoe their Crownes the same to ow A glimpse whereof for undestanding Soules Wee read by John reveal'd in mystick scroules With those delights wreathes and immunities Which God allots to Saints in Paradise But for the Temper Place Degrees or Site No Astrolabe nor Braine of worldly wight Can apprehend the height Dimension Rayes Unlesse they fall on false Poetick wayes Yet Paradise some to the Moone confine And there to be another World define Of moving Groves by Galilees late Glasse Where Apuleius found his Golden Asse Whence likewise came Dame Errours Charmed Lamp Which kindled Legends of th' Elisian Camp And Limboes field which Royall James to hit False Dreamers home
is it not Profane to Sacrifice To God before the Soule be cleans'd of Vice How many wayes may we redeeme the Times If we apply our Willes thereto betimes The Mornings prime in Prayer to the Lord We ought to Sacrifice and to record His wondrous Acts unto our Families Or Neighbours whom with Charitable Ties The Chaine of Faith hath linked in together As Fellow Saints The Noone-tide we may either In sober Meales or in Almes-giving spend The Afternoone to gentle Walkes may tend There more to prayse the Flowers variety Then Salomon in all his Royalty To suck the Hilles or fragrant Gardens Aire Or it may tend to make the Soule more faire By reading Scriptures or the Martyrs wrongs Choise Catechismes Sermons or sacred Songs To shew us zeale against a Graven Elfe Moses broke the Tables of God himselfe The like pure Flame burnt in Phinehes Soule When he with Steele foule Whoredome did controule Do we contend in Lawfull Warres debate Or in defence of our Religions state Who in Old time more constantly did brook Proud Giants scornes Or with more Patience took Their Flouts which did at his good Sermons bark Then Noe whilst he built his famous Ark Who better did Gods Chosen Souldiers guide Then Abram Josuab and the valiant David Who more resolv'd to fight in a good Cause Then the brave Maccabees for Moses Lawes Would you observe a Kings or Judges Part Their lawfull Charge grave Moses doeth impart As Subjects Dammage by their winkt at Bribes And Tyrannies old Samuels Book describes Would yee Rule well your selves a House or State These Salomon and Sirach moderate Ere Sidrach Misach and Abednego Would Idolize the Fire they undergo Nor could the Lions Den nor Medes decree From serving God enforce good Daniels Knee Do we desire to see a harmelesse Mask With Daunces Songs and Shoutes Here is a Task For our New man with David to consult And Judaes Kings whilst Incest doeth insult On that great Baptists Life from Jordan led To pay unto a Frisking Mayd his Head Comforts for Griefe wee feele in Davids Psalmes By Jeremy by Job or Tobiths Almes What wonders do the Spirits Penmen teach Perform'd by Saints beyond Dame Natures reach Do we affect to drink most wholesome Wine Go we to Cana or to Christ the Vine Where without charge both White and Red abound To cheere sad Soules while Christ his Health goes round Would wee see acted a rare Convertite Damascus shewes us Paul Christs Favorite Would we discerne the Newman in his strength The Gospell paints his Portraiture at length Would we behold She-paragons of Beauty Or of that Sexe some others False and Haughty Sara Rebecca Rachel Debora Miriam and she that nailed Sisera So Hanna Ruth Priscilla Magdalen And Philips Nunnes deserve a Prophets Pen. So Judith Ester and Susanna Chast And she within all Glorious that 's embrac't By Heavens King with Sunny Robes adorn'd Maugre the plots of men by Fiendes suborn'd Whose prayse we find blaz'd in the Canticles Extended then and since by Oracles So for her Zeale with them I parallel Christs Prophetesse the Widow Phanuel These Female sparkes invite my Soule a Guest And so the Churches Type at the Lords Feast Sweet Mary blest in the Superlative Cheeres me with her whom Zachary did wive Who brought like Sara forth in Ancient Age A Prophet to proclayme Christs Pilgrimage The Elect Lady Hulda the Prophetesse Lydia and Dorcas make a Holy Messe Then Jezabel I read and Babels Whore Both rampant bent the Church of God to gore Last Athaliaes Fate from Bloudy snares Saphiraes me from Double dealing scares As likewise do from Gadding Dinaes Fall Lots wife and Evaes Doome good Dames recall These Histories or such in Holy writ Exemplified this sacred Day befit Good Bookes advance the Newmans Sacrifice But Bad to Heathnish vice soft Braines entice Therefore let us borne of the Spirits seed Immortall scorne our Christian Mindes to feed With Tales vaine Sports or fond Lascivious Bookes Which Fiendes suggest for Soules as shining Hookes Exploites belied on Patrick Arthur Guy The Peeres of Fraunce or Spaines bald knightly Fry To the intent that from Gods word the Will Might be seduc'd t' apprehend more Ill. Arming our Mindes let us our Bodyes too The Parcels of Christs Temple not undoe With Drunken Healthes the Divells Sacrifice In these last Times nor yet Apicius-wise With various kindes of Gurmandizing Cheere Which dimmes with noysome Fumes the Spirits Cleere And the Five senses so intoxicates That Pulpits blush to see such Nodding Pates How oft saw we some at this Holy Tide More Sensuall bent then any day beside Some haunting more the Taverne then the Church Some on the Spoile some living on the Lurch And some farre more to deck their Out-side bent Then by Gods word to feele Soule-ravishment Strutting more oft to Church with Painted Wings Then to beare thence Soule-wares sacred things Yet presse I not too peevishly Precise But Christians may in comely modest wise Weare what they list so that their glittring Port Cause no offence unto the weaker sort So that their Pomp do not Devotion let I care not how in Forraigne Robes they jet What Hurrying Noise what March and rumbling Coile As if they went unto a Play or Broile Do Gallants keep wirh Coaches in the Street When they at Church should Saints most humbly greet Since God allowes to the Domestick Beast Which labour'd the sixe Dayes our Sabbaths Rest How dare they then his Creatures put to Paine More to proclaime their Pomp then Peace to gaine Such Sabbath-breakers I do greatly feare Before the Lambe preferre proud Lucifer Yet for this Clause let not the Courtly Eare Mistake my sence for I do not averre But that in their Caroach or their Sedan Without Disgust to the most Puritan The Aged Weak or those of tender feet May use what Meanes they please in Church to meet When with lowd Threates tempestuous Winds do raigne Or When the Cloudes dissolve to dropping Raine So that their Hearts be voyd of swelling Pride And that their Journey be with Christ to side Who when he did in greatest Triumph passe On Earth as Man rode on a Simple Asse Nor do I waigh such points so strict a way But Fishers Cookes and Pothecaries may Labour or save what would be cast away If on the Eve they toyle not for that Day But I could wish good Christians not to play The Epicures on the Lords Sabbath Day Causing their Cookes to dresse more Choice of Meate Then Heliogabale could digest to eat Whilst that ten Quailes or Phesants in one Dish His Pandaâ—s sauc'd with Pearle and Ambergriese God graunt that we more suting our Vocation May ruminate with serious Meditation This wholesome Feast which I have plainely drest And those New Rules which I have now exprest For Boyling Braines swelld up with Arrogance That they may stoup and feele the Spirits Traunce To do Gods Will to muse on Heavenly Joyes And not to clinche