Crosse-fixed place Romes Empire lay so large I dare not trace BUt sure I am Saint Paul in bloudy Rome When Nero raign'd endured Martyrdome There having twice before that Tyrant stood His Faiths Defence he sealed with his Bloud About the time when that mad Bouteseu Had fir'd the City with his wanton Crew Because he â—ong'd to sing the sacke of Troy And by such Types would execute his Toy To cloake the Fact and stop the Mutiny Yet not repenting of his villainy He authour'd Christians of those dismall cryes And butcher'd them to bleare the Peoples eyes Among that guiltlesse Troupe then suffered Paul Who had fore-wrote what should him there befall This chosen Saint hath left brave Monuments Unto the Church which Satans Ambushments Can never trap nor Canker-fretting Age Consume but they stand firme in spight of Rage IN Albions Orbe an arched stately Roome The chiefest Pile I thinke in Christendome Of Pauls sole Name revives his memory Till Doomes-dayes blast the River Thames shall dry In the meane time grave Saint-like Ministers Accompanied with Asaphs Quiristers Sing praise to God for gracing of Saint Paul Who once had beene a bloody-minded Saul Of late repair'd it shines with zealous Fire â—s erst with flames rag'd the stupendious spite Blest be their Zeale their Cares and good Intent Which have re-built this famous Monument Resembling that of Salems Second one Renew'd by Iewes first built by Salomon LIke these so did all Christs Apostles Fish And on some Coast or other never miste To catch for Christ some choise and dainty Prey Bartholomew and Thomas knew the way â—nto the East and there engrav'd their Names â—aint Mathewes Paines sev'n flouded Nilus fames And pretious Iohn the Belâ—ll Abissine From him and Philip claimes Christ a Faith Divine Achaia vaunts of good Saint Andrewes Cares With whom he pawn'd his Bones till those rich wares Some Scottish Saints by a Greeke Monke redeem'd Them and their worth like precious Gems esteem'd While Mark from Peters mouth Gods Word compilâ— To leave it her Niles Alexandria smiles Sea-spousing Venice too did sacrifice Unto Saint Mark a goodly Edifice The latter James Christs kinsmâ—n by the flesh In Salem liv'd disorders to redresse Where hee though stiled just as spectacle Of shame was throwne downe from the Pâ—â—â—aâ—le Which Satan mov'd to Christ. There he expir'd And Roman Force the place soone after fir'd Yet hath his Fame to after-Ages spred His Bishops Seat with Christians flourished By Princes grac'd and for Antiquity Puts Antioch downe and Romes Priority At the First Councell Iameâ— â—aâ— President There Sâ—inâ—t cloz'd up the Circumcised Renâ— In Salem â—ate the High Commission Court Where they decided doubts of most import Galicians since built up a sacred 〈◊〉 At Compostell which later Wits profane Adoring â—â—mes as if Humanity Should offer Vowes due to the Trinity ABout the Time of Iames his death to 〈◊〉 The Fatall Web for sinfull Salem spunnâ— Upon the Siege the Christian Iewes fore-warn'd By Oracle from Christ fled thence unaâ—â—'d With Humane helpes but guarded by Divine Supplica themselves to â—ella they confine Where they on Iâ—rdans Bâ—â—ks securely lay While Rebell-Iewes were slaine and fold away SO stood the Church with them who flourish'd first Next Christs Ascent most pure untill accurst The Iewish Nation for their Crying sinne And hardned Hearts deep woes were pluâ—ged in And then God pleas'd for Iewries unbeliefe The Gentiles to adopt to Iewries griefe And our Church seemes to them a stumbling sinne Till all th' Elected Gentiles be come in As unto them of Antichristian Race She seemes till Babel feeles her last disgrace But why were Saints like Christ so foulely slaint Because the more they suffâ—red here more Gaine They reape the Nobler Crowne in Heav'n they gaiâ—â— And shall judge those who put them hereto paine IF you would know by Times Gradation mâ—c Domitius and Domitian yeelds you store Read Tacitus when Rome lay wast with fire How Christians felt the Formers Franticke Ire Some crucifi'd some burnt and some were â—as'd In wild beasts skins by Mastives torne and chasd So cruelly that who did them contemne In hate to Nâ—â—â—â—s spleene then pittied them Though Christians were to manifolded paine Throughout the twelfe yeere put of Neroes Raigne â—et like to Palme supprest the more they grew The Church the more by Martyrs did renew Athmos with Romes whole Empire tells what paine The Church endurd in the last Flavians Raigne â—ith greater Numbers Martyrs Calendar â—anonizing then in mad Neroes yeare â—uring which Rage some Brethren false did rove The Deacons Sect lewd Family of Love â—nd hee that durst afore Christs Darling bath â—ut felt the Doome of his incensed wrath The Bath-walls fell crushd Cerinthe underneath As soone as Iohn had menac'd him with death THE OCCVRRANCES OF THE SECOND AGE From the yeere of our Lord 100. untill the yeere 200. At which time Severus raigned Emperour of Rome The Argument Saint John deceas'd Fiends Seedes of Error sow Yet doth the Church though persecuted grow And from her Wombe spring up a Learned Crew Of Saints who with their bloud do Truth renew HE that desires a Saint-like Life to lead Let him the steps of ancient fathers tread Who neerest liv'd unto th'Apostles times Thence I collect the Course in Raptur'd Rimes Which Christ his Church then for her members held What Pathes they trac'd and wherein she excelld If wee mislike her Plainenesse or their Marts Love bids us chastely gaze and winke at Warts For like the Moon at full sometimes the Church Raignes knowne from her who lives upon the lurch Dispersed through the World Apostolicke Yet like our God in Three one Catholicke In sundry shapes repleat with sacred Fire With many Tongues in Spirit yet entire And Essence one who though diversifi'd For Rites or Forme 〈◊〉 yet â—ustifi'd By Faith with Him who tryes mens Consciences Beares with their â—â—ips and heares her Grievances Returne quoth hee Yeâ— people full of strife Who Me have wrong'd like a rebellious Wife Alluding to which challenge in his Word Before the Lord and Angeâ—â—s I record That I beleeve no Church on Earth this day Then Britaines Church goes a more knowing 〈◊〉 In substance pure and in her good intents Seal'd rightly with the Newmans Sacraments And with the Best her Elders I conferre Yet dare not say her Troupes doe never erre Nor brag that shee hath neither Mole nor Wen While shee cohabits heere with mortall men But pray that she in Fruit more pregnant thrive As shee in shape is like the Primitive And that with flames of mutuall Love wee glow As forward as in height we seeme to grow One thing I adde against her Foes in briefe And therewithall to ease our Weaklings griefe Although I honour with my heart and Pen The Couneclls Fathers and the Ancient men Who wrote before the seventh Century Became bewitcht with Babels Mystery Yet we no more give credit to their Lore Their Matter Tropes and Topick
Church recalled home Those whom late Tyrants had proscrib'd from Rome SUch Grace she found But soone her Sonnes forgot To thanks our God the Author of their Lot Who had inspir'd th' Imperiall Majesty With Zeale to serve One God in Trinity And at the Nicâ—ne Councell to restore By Publick Acts what prostrate lay before To build up Temples with large Liberties There to serve God with Vowes and Sacrifice To chuse Grave Mitred Sires to over-see Least Christ his Flocke by Wolves should scared â—e And by Decree to quashall Idolls downe At Synod held in Eliberiâ— Towne This Course he tooke by his Good Mothers Lore Whose Birth much Fame to Brittains did restore And Helens Name deserves to be engilt For finding Christ his Crosse for Temples built Five Bishopricks he rais'd to mighty Height Whereof each One possest a Severall Right And None of these in one anothers Charge To meddle but their owne Taske to discharge O're-seeing their Proper Flockes The Chiefest Roome He gave the Popes of New and Ancient Rome The Third he granted to Jerusalem Then Antiochs fell and Alexandriaes stem This stinted Course they long observ'd and None Swarv'd from the Stem at Nice agreed upon But Brethren-like liv'd in true Amity Not striving for more Seates Priority Then Constantine out of his bounteous Grace Allotted them in their distinguish'd Place The First that sithence kickt was He of Rome Who at Bizantiums Councell would become The Chiefest Priest as of Old Rome the Pope Sometime the Empires Head of spatious scope The which the Pope of New-built Rome gaine-sayd And there to hold the Prime Place he assayd At which Vigilius did so powte and frowne He would not meet with them though then in Town Thus they who should a Lowly Minde possesse Began to climbe to Lordly Loftinesse Perverting to wrong Sence the Living Rocke Gods Word the Keyes and Feeding of Christs Flocke That they might raigne here in this World a while For a few yeares pufft with a Princely Stile When they know in their Consciences they Erre That after Death they fall like Lucifer But they for Faith lean'd unto Humane worth And scatt'red Doubts against Gods Spirit forth They mutined against the Holy Ghost Apostate Arrians raung'd through every Coast. They soone forgot the Mysticke Crosses sence The New-mans Vewes and the Words Excellence Their Plenty pufft them up and the Sunnes Light Bedazzeled them like Gazing Birds of Night For the True Substante Shadowes they ador'd For the Creator Creatures they implor'd The late Baptiz'd enur'd to Pagan Rites To Saturnalian Feasts and Idoll sights Could not away with that Religions Forme Which typing Christs their Lives ought to reforme Their Flamiues grudg'd that the New-â—lergy held The Conquest over Soules themselves expelld The Lay-men wav'd betwixt the Old and New Like Aethiops loath to change their pristine Hew To punish these when Constantine was urg'd Not so said he Mad men should rather purgd By Physicke be We must though Curres do bark With Gentle Gales to Port bring Christ his Ark. This Prince when he Paphnutius saw at Niâ—e His Hollowes kist whom Focs depriv'd of Eyes The Roman Empire was most fortunate Under his Sway. He rais'd Romes falling state To such a Height that never Kingdome since His Paralell enjoy'd nor any Prince Succeeded like to him in Pieties True Practice farre exempt from Avarice And Crying sinnes His Palace with the Poore Then with Praetorian Bands abounded more He was not serv'd in Gold or Silver Plate Though he might set on all the World a rate But Earthen Vessels or of Wood he chose He curbd himselfe because he would not lose His wavering Subjects hearts And what he spar'd Above the Pensions of his Souldiers Guard The Publike Troup and his owne Private Charge He yeerely did conferre the same at large To Pious use and Temples up to build But more Christs Living Temple to rebuild Blest was the Church while his good Monarch raignâ— Having Peace Freedome Wealth and Honour gain'd But after his decease by Arrians vext She like a Widow stood long time perplext But not with Open Force for Satan then Was for a Thousand Yeares from Murthering Men For the Faiths sake begun to be restrain'd Yet so that Saints for Tryall might be Pain'd SInce I my Taske for Constantine have spun I must not leave Constantiaes Web unspun This zealous Princesse whether Fancies Flame Or to become Cortivall of her Fame Who late had found the Crosse in Calvary Or Satans Plot into her Creed to pry Whether these Tempting Baites wrought on her Will To shake her Faith and her Best Part to spill She sought the Picture of our Saviour Christ As if her Creed did on the same consist To bring to passe her Project frivolous She wrote unto Euscbius Pamphilus Requiring him to send it her to Greece To make her happy in that Graven Peece The Holy Father with disdainefull Eye Perus'd her Lines he feard Idolatry Lest the Connivence at such Passages Might blurre the New-mans Ghostly Images He therefore answer'd her with Piety In Zealous Lines not without Majesty Your Grace desires Christs Portraiture to have But which of his Two Persons would you crave Which doe you meane quoth he His Shape Divine That beares the â—â—kenesse of the First in Trine Or else the Image of a Servants Forme To which for us he did himselfe transforme If you aspire his God-heads Shape to see Take heed you touch not on Old Adams Tree None knowes the Father but the Sonne alone And none but by the Father knowes the Sonne But if that Persons-Picture you demand Borne of our Flesh you must then understand That none by Art and Oily Colours di'd Can limne His Bodies Frame now Glorifi'd For since that his Disciples could not see His shining Face at Tabor how shall wee View his bright Face and Persons Lineaments Which till Doomes-day he hath removed hence On this Monition the Good Empresse staid And of such Carnall Types became afraid WHile Luke-warme Thoughts contended much with Zeale False Arrius crept into Christs Common-weale Where Six score yeares his Sect Good Men so griev'd That in those dayes the Most part mis-believ'd Two Councels then the Arrian side preferr'd The Millaine stray'd the Ariminian err'd Yea Bishops both of New and Ancient Rome Subscribed and to Hereticks gave roome Against them all did Athanafius warre And therefore may be stil'd That Ages Starre By his true Zeale and Pen the Arrians quail'd And Truth at last with Victory prevail'd During Soules Time of Blindnesse Satans Warre Began againe both neere at hand and farre Against false Hearts not by Blouds violence But by fly Arts to try Saints Innocence To dim the Churches Splendour he sent out His slyest Fiends to compasse them about Mad Iulian he stirr'd up till he perforce Did yeeld unto the Galileans Force Where Magick Spells nor his Deare â—orphiry Could stop Gods Doome due for his Trechery Which unto Christians interdicting Schooles Made Wits more hoâ—
his Counsellors but Fooles As bad prov'd Valens since to Arrians sold But Gothes by Fire purg'd his Presumption bold WHat Iulian spoild did Valentinian raise And Graâ—ian grace But Theodosius Praise Deserves much more He by Pope Damasus And Millains starre did Arrian Tumults crush Blest be his Name who barr'd for his Amisse From Church refrain'd till he gain'd Ambrose blisse And though a King of Kings yet not withstood Checks for rash Doome of Thessalonians Blood O Godly Prince who when he might command A Pardon yet most humbly demand Of him One sung Each thing with him prevailes So Winds Conjurd descended to his Sailes For him the Heavens fought the Waves went backe And Natures course for all his Foes ran slacke This Claudian blazd with Panegyrick straine And Ambrose of his Death did much complaine I lov'd this Prince quoth he because he car'd More for the Church then his owne Wea le regard MUch owes the Church unto his Memory For after he had chasd Idolatry And calm'd the Arrians Rage to Catholicks Content he setled Christian Bishopricks And least the Church for want of Meanes should â—ade Confirm'd the Act which Good Iovinian made For Tythes to Pastours which hath ever since Reviv'd the Fame of this Religious Prince What Good this Act hath done in Ages past Till Mungrell Monkes the Churches Hire defac't Encroaching on the Clergy Seculare For their Support of Sloth and Private Care Let Godly States observe and waigh what Losse Ensues of Soules by such as doe ingrosse Impropriate Tythes while many Thousands pine For want of Meanes to spread the Seed Divine THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE FIFTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 400. untill the yeere 500. At which Time Anastasius Raigned Emperour of Rome The Argument Priests Marriages Confirm'd Foule Heresies Burst out False Christians plagu'd by Enemies What wondrous Wits that Age brought forth Divine Now bloom'd the Irish Church and Abissine THat Parcell of false Babels Mystery Broacht at the End of the last Century Inhibiting Priests Marriage in the Rise Of this New Age returnes to Hell and dyes For while the Arrians Heat began to slake Siricius made Romes Clergies hearts to ake When he would them in the last Age constraine To live without their Wives in Tantales Paine Without their Plightd Mates whom Christ had joy'nd As Type of his Church-Mystery injoyn'd From Strangers sheets as well with Holy Seed To store his Church as to partake some Meed For Solace of their Lives anxiety While they soil'd not Chast Society Like Heathen Men with Wives Pluralities Or haunted Whores in surreptitious wise But quickly was this Cloud disperst and gone As not by Mortalls to be undergone When Wiser Men condemned his Decree And prov'd the Marriage State for all men free Aswell by Lessons out of Sacred Story As Nicens Warrant to Paphnutius Glory Who though himselfe had never married been Yet he to barre Priests Marriage deem'd it Sinne. And so the Councell held at Gangren past The like Decree for evermore to last That Married Priests might safely Minister And who enacted otherwise did erre With thundring Doome accursing every Wight That dares maintaine that Tenets Opposite Saint Nazianzen sung that he was borne The third Yeare since his Siâ—e a Priest was sworne THough this and other Fire-drakes choake in snuffe Yet did not Other Clouds leave off to puffe And poison Soules Each One must have his Guard Of Angels two both Good and Bad to ward Or tempt his Soule that the Sect Manicbee Might conjure them but not without a Fee To ayde them with Free-will and Merits Charmes Pelagius offers now to lend them Armes For these two Sects together with the Mists Breath'd forth by Arrians and the Donatists The World then suff'red condigne Punishments In Lives and Fortunes with distracted Rents THat Ages Church was so with Heresies Beset and from the Truth seduc'd with Lies That though she fled into a Wildernesse To sojourne there safe from their Wickednesse And damned Plots yet did the Dragon spew A Floud of 〈◊〉 in hope to 〈◊〉 heâ—hew But missing her he persecutes her Seed And seekes by Open Force to slay her Breed Which though he fail'd because of his restraint Yet he prevai'ld her Luke-warme Race to taint For this great Warre he rais'd up Bloudy Foes Gothes Vandalls Hunnes all prest at his dispose By Rhadagase Alaricke Totilas By Him whom Aetius foil'd proud Aâ—tilas Who had proclaim'd himselfe the Scourge of God To chastise Mortalls with an Iron Rod Besides the Vandall Arrian Gensericke Who sackt at Austines Death his Bishopricke By these whom Rome had sometimes kept in Thrall God suff'red Fiends for Sinne to worke Romes Fall To let lewd Worldlings know that when they faile In Zeale and Love then Satan will prevaile Before these Stormes when as the Church was like To perish quite God grac'd her Catholike Againe by Meanes of Athanasius Creed By Ambrose Jerome and good Austines Deed. BEsides those Foure how many radiant Lamps Did the Good Spirit raise against the Damps Of Hellish Fiends in that fam'd Century From Gratians Time till Zenoes Empery No Age before nor since hath ever seene Such Lights to Crowne Theology a Queene No Age more wise more Learned Wits brought forth Since the Apostles Time of better Worth Then those fore-nam'd then famous Hiâ—â—ary Theodoret Eusebius Gregory And Basil his deare Mate then Chrysost omes Rare Hoâ—â—ties whose fluent Golden Tomes Ravish the dullest sence Or who can share With Epiphanius Or for skill compare With both the Cyrills or with Emissene And Others who renown'd that Ages Scene Extirping Arrians and the Mâ—â—ichees Daunting Donatus and his Complices And striving to keepe downe Pelagians Pride Orfor a time to stint their swelling Tide Which but for them had sooner made the way For sale of Soules and Antichristian Sway These shone as Starres within the Firâ—ament And did then Satan in that Age prevent From his deep Reach And we might doe as much If next Gods Word upon their Stone we touch Discreetly without Passion or selfe-love Since Men are proâ—e the worst things to approve Tempted by Fiends which wheele about the Braine To misconceive the Right for Worldly Gaine Such bred in Errour from their Infancie Will hardly see the Truths resplendencie BUt soone relaps'd that Ages Proselytes They whoor'd againe as did the Israelites On which Relapse He that for Abrams Seed Could raise up Stones a Stony-hearted breed Stirr'd from the North his Blessings to partake Which Christians soil'd These did in time forsake Their Pagan Gods and the True Faith embrac'd In milder Climes which Hypocrites disgrac'd At last they fell likewise through pamp'â—ing Ease And with grosse Sinnes their Saviour did displease SO stood where Caesars raign'd the Churches state But now I must looke backe where Belul sate The Southerne Queenes Successour Sabaes Heire Who was Baptiz'd in the Fourth Hundred Yeare LOng had the Church of th' Equinoctiall Line Candaces Clime since stil'd the Abissine Been tost
Neighbours Amity How then could they thinke on Priority And stand on Points of Prelates Primacie Without distrust of some Conspiracie THe Truth is this who were styl'd Bishops then They fish'd not for fraile Wealth but Soules of Men Not to enrich themselves with Private store But like Saint Paul the Crosse they thought on mâ—â—â— From Christian Caesars they got Liberties But not so great to claime Regalities About the Yeare Sixe Hundred sixty sixe We finde that Rome began to play more Tricks Then she durst act within the Ages past As Paul and John fore-told her Breach at last And never left to lift her Lofty Crest Till she Gods Word had darkned in the West And dar'd upon the Caesars State to prey The maine great Let to her Prodigious Sway. She never ceas'd to stirre up raging Fires Till she at Trent concluded her Desires Repugnant to the Vow which she profest At her First Rise Sixe Hundred yeares at least At such wild Fits I onely glance not carpe This Taske I leave for an iambicks Warpe THE OCCVRRANCES OF THE THIRD AGE From the yeere of our Lord 200. untill the yeere 300. At which time Dioclesian and Maximinus raigned Emperours of Rome The Argument Next to the Greekes the Latine Scribes begin Idolaters unto Christs Church to win Romes Tyrants fret and Saints they martirize Saint Anthony into a Desart flyes WIthin this Age the Church most Militant And Cautious strove to shun exorbitant Attempts of Foes one while to secret Caves Constrained to retire sometimes to tame the Braves Of her owne Tribe Domesticke Mutineers Shee us'd the Spirits Sword 〈◊〉 the Jeeres And Flouâ—ing Stuffes of Fâ—rrainers to daunt Which did at her Poore Robes and Altars taunt She fought against Caetilius and his Traine And prov'd their Vaunt for Outward Glories vaine Her State was then unsetled New and Poore But Time to come might make her flourish more A thousand of such Taunts and Fiery Darts A Thousand of great Dangers Envious Arts By Satans Plots she daily underwent While Caesars sought their Pagan-Gods Content The neerer that the Church drew to her Time Of Liberty least that too high she climbe Satan suborn'd his Agents in this Age Against her Race to shew their utmost Rage He knew her Thraldomes Date to Iohn foretold Would shortly end And that made him so bold AS otherwhiles a Woman Chast and Faire Dishevel'd seemes or with loose dangling Haire So without Art and in her Native Dresse The Church at first for want of Time to dresse And to compose her Outward Ornament Came forth to spread her Saviours Testament Not carking much for Superficiall Weaâ—e But in the Heart the New Mans Gifts to beare And yet both Chaste and Faire She comely shone With Constant Faith built on the Corner-stone And though she liv'd and raign'd of Men unseen With Carnall Eyes yet of Good Angels seen Heard in the Quire which to the Lambe belongs Answer'd by Saints with Sympathizing Songs Nay seene and knowne of Men Reborne anew Both then and now who never kneel'd to Baal But to One Christ the Saviour of us all Who by his Word and bright Diâ—rnall Light Hath late disperst the Tempests of the Night Sav'd us like Peter out of Herâ—ds Iayle From Babels Powder-traine for Saints availe For which sweet Grace redintegracious Love The Saints on Earth with Those of Heaven above United in One League shall ever sing Melodious Songs to our Triumphant King OUr Latine West unto the Church of Greece Acknowledge must her selfe in some degrees Inferiour and oblig'd From her she had the Forme Of Christian Rites false Altars to reforme As she the Substance from Ierusalem More neere to Greece then Rome the Church Supreme From her she borrow'd her prime Words of Art Those Second coin'd Intentions to impart From Man to Man by Termes Discourse and Tongue What otherwise would dormant lye unstrung Her Noblest Name of Christian Catholick The Eucharist the Faith Apostolick Types Symboles and Ecclesiasticke Lawes What be they but Greeke words for Christian Cause Disguis'd in Latine Robes Faith to expresse And to worke on Mild Hearers more or lesse The Sev'nty Soribes translated Iewries Ioyes To the Greeke Tongue by Philadephus Choise Saint Paul and Luke divulg'd in Graecian Tone Christs Mysteries yea and Saint Iohn wrought on His Auditours in Graecian Vestiment Fit in that Age to further his Intent Greece more to praise ere Rome saw Christ his Light Some Greekes of Philip cray'd his Masters sight NO marvell then that Greeks ere Latinists Did publish Workes fought in our Christian Lists With Infidells against their Rites obsceane Towards the Period of the Second Sceane To celebrate this Age Tertullian rose With Tullian Phrase to daunt the Churches Foes False Heretickes and Jewes whom he refells And but for Dreaming Fasts his Part excells Whilst he gainst Marcion makes Christs Body good Truths Figure not Imaginary Food Since Figures shew not false but things indeed And in another Place quoth he We feed By Hearing on the Word Inâ—arnate blest With Understanding chew through Faith digest SAint Cyprian him succeeds who famous made By Monuments which cannot faile nor fade The Churches Union and the Martyrs Crowne Which since himselfe receiv'd in Carthage Towne This Saint bids us the Holy Bread to part And breake by Faith not with sharpe Teeth nor Art While we confesse That which is broke to Parts Divine-Humane both God and Man imparts Out of his Bookes we cull at Carthage Towne How he did frâ—t and all the Councell frowne To heare that any should Romes Pope install The Bishop of all Bishops Generall NExt after him Minucius Foelix came In Roman Robes Caecilius overcame With Dialogues and foil'd his Heath'nish Dreames So did Arnobius by the Spirits Beames In the like Garbe the Gentiles Rage abate And shewes the Cause why Christians Idolls hate By Fabian Bath'd He grac'd this Centers Age Who first of Caesars wore the Christian Badge LOng had the Church been rackt with bitter woes In travell like a Woman tir'd with Throes To bring that faire Light forth and Blessed Birth Which in th' Elect shines with Harmonious Mirth The Inward Man I meane whose Praise we sing Grac'd to that end with Will by Heavens King Through all the Roman Empire tortured And by fierce Tyrants hands sore Martyred In every Age during her Pilgrimage Heere in this World untill Maxentius Rage Became supprest by zealous Constantine She felt what Dioclesian Maximine And what their Praetours could impose of Force Upon her Limmes without their least remorce She felt Christ in his Members felt againe What Hangmen could inflict of Hellish Paine And what their Predecessors could inflict Upon her Lambes by Proclamations strict Prefiguring our late New Christian Fry Whom men professing Christ in Flames did fry And yet they fail'd by their Decrees severe Or Wolvish Decius them to daunt with feare But that in midst of Paine by Satan stung They to the Lambe Allelujaes sung Slighting the Gridiron
be seene With her New man Gods hopefull Sonne Rayes darting like the Glorious Sunne But they who would descry her right Must her descry with Inward Sight Not like the Old Brasse-Serpent which Idolaters did earst bewich But like the Crosse which Saints took up Ere Some to that since found did stoup Thus stands the Church seen and unseen Unseen of Sots of Saints well seen These by Gods Word her Presence waigh Those by false Dreames and Worldly Sway. Now Brother mark which of these Crew Of Christ his Church are Children true The One kneele to the New mans Rock The Other to an Outward Stock Like Manichees which they doe paint For Angellick or Guardian Saint There they meet men who live by Lurch But never Saints of the True Church THE CONCLVSION TO THE READERS The Argument The Authour here from the New-man derives The Churches Web condemnes the Dronish Hives Blames Labans Saints and false Poetick Dreames Which he reformes and so concludes his Theames I Blunder forth no Quirkes nor Captious Theames No triviall Toyes nor fond Lascivious Dreames While Carnall Wits were pleas'd to weave such Tales Of late I found the New-mans Wormes in Wales Whose Entrailes spun in my retired Home For me some Silk which suits with Englands Loome Without engagement to a 〈◊〉 shore For 〈◊〉 Romes or the Hespâ—rian 〈◊〉 And now my Silk-wormes store Domestick spun I have divulg'd before the Fates have run Their Period out for my poore 〈◊〉 of Life Before strong Passions wave my Thoughts with strife My Sences with more Griefe or what might â—et The sâ—rious Task which Christ on me had set Though Hydrâ—es hiss'd and 〈…〉 bray'd Yet could not all their Coile 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Nor daunt my Free-borne Muse from setting forth To publick view some usefull wâ—res of worth Nor could Romes Canons Noise â—oaâ—'d out from Trent Deterre my Zeale nor seare my faire intent Where they have doom'd the Books of Protestants The New-mans Fruit for wild Extravâ—gâ—â—ts Such â—â—â—ick Goblin Feares I leave to them Who slighting Truth the Spirits Rayes contemne Not tempting Wine nor Feasts delition Bait Could make me sound a Cowards base retrait Nor could the Stormes of our late Adverse Times Disturbe or shake my Forme of Sacred Rimes Where I have limm'd in a two-folded Frame Our Saviours Life and his True Churches Flame Whereof the Latter here I first produce To usher that of the Divinest Use. No pamper'd Sloth nor Housholds netled Care Nor Natures Nets could my Resolves ensnare To hide from you her Tents and War-fares Wayes From Christs Ascent untill our present Dayes But that I would to yeeld you some Content Strow her good Tents with Leaves of Rosy scent And to recure the Saulish Moone-sick Braine I would enchant the Sence with Musuks Straine I lock not up my Use of Labour'd Houres Nor poast it o're unto Executours Like Miser-Churles who worldly Goods conceale And wrong thereby the Christian Common-weale Who at their death the same most madly leave To such as may their hoped Trust deceave The Authour dead who cares to mend his Bookes No Step-Dame well to Orphans Breeding lookes No Nurse respects a tender Suckling Wight Like Her who claimes the Native proper Right As Iudaes wisest King long since descri'd When he gave Doome on the True Mothers Side Unhappy are those Scribes who catch no Soules For Christ if so they may by Holy Scroules And much too blame are those of Carnall Brood Who loath to taste of Intellectuall Food Yet surfeit on Old Tales of Robin Hood Of Friers Cowles or of Saint Benets Hood Of Patricks Broiles or of Saint Georges Launce Of Errant Knights or of the Fairy Daunce But Yee who are borne of Immortall Seed Scorne your Best Part with Honey'd-Gall to feed Fly Readers fly and shunne such Baites as these Which though they for a time the Sences please At last they breed a Soule-sick ravery Which will from Truth distast your Memory Fly from such Cates which shining Sinnes suggest And from their Sauce though by a Prophet drest Like that which on the may the Man of God From Bethel tooke although by him for bod Read vertuous Bookes which Manners rectifie And may help up the Soule to edifie For even as the Spirits cleere and fresh Excell in worth the massy Pulpe of Flesh Much more essentiall Joy and true Delight We must conceive spring from the New-mans Light Where we by Grace may hap to be like Paul In Spirit rapt above this Earthly Ball To Paradise or the Third Fleaven where He learn'd more Nemes then he away could beare O doe not then the Spirits Gifts suppresse Since they beare up the Soule beat down the Flesh. THey mount the Soule thoâ—e the Chrisâ—dlliâ—â— And Starry Orbes to view with Sight Divâ—â—â— Those Mysteries for which the Greatest Gâ—â—â—k Unlesse 〈◊〉 imes he stoupts gropes in the 〈◊〉 And never shall attaine to that brare Piâ—ch Because his wings are soil'd with clammy Pitch Or borrow'd of the Peacocks â—ately Traine Which either lead him to Despaiâ—e and Pâ—â—â—e Or to Presumptuous sâ—â—â—e 〈◊〉 Lâ—â—â—â—ers And then as Lampes false Mereours he preferres Before the Light of Gods Etarnal Word And the Soules Bauquet at his Saâ—ed 〈◊〉 Then Humane shrines and Monks Mythology He more beâ—â—ints then true Theology For as the Greeks Plurality of Gods Devis'd whom they confest to live at ods Among themselves so Superstition since Crâ—pt in â—â—â—ng the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at a 〈◊〉 To further Hells 〈◊〉 like to fall When Romes Great Empire won'd if 〈◊〉 shall Had not been 〈◊〉 with Faitâ—â— Resteratiâ—â— By Satans-Craft to 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 With Calendars of Canonized Saints To whom they fram'd instead of Christ Complaints As in Old time those Poets did approve The Lesser Gods as Advocates to Iove And by the like Distinctions in the Schooles VVould them Create Subordinated Fooles Or Courtiers of th' Olympian Majesty To intercede or ayâ— Mortality To which they kneel'd in various Idol-shapes Like Babels Head of Gold Calves Cats or Apes SO Babels babling Dawes Saints Help exact Saint Margaret Lucinâ—â—â— Part must Act Saint Anthony relieves them of the Poâ— With Reliques Charmes fetcht from Old â—â—laâ—ms Box. For the Twin-Brother Gods they consecrate Saint Nicâ—â—â—â—s at Sea their Advocate Saint Euâ—â—ace must uphold the Forrest Game For which Old Pagans us'd Dianâ—es Name VVith a huge Club Saint Christopher they please As with the like those painted Hercules Yea every Soile possessed Teutelares Small Gods to ease them of their heavy Cares Iun o holp Carthage Mars Rome Pallas Greece Ceres blest Corne Pan sheep Pomona Trees So Denis France George England Iago Spaine And the like Saints to guard their Coast they faigne The Scottish Folkes were of Saint Andrewes ward Ireland of Patricks Wales of Davids Guard Unto Saint Mark the Rich Venetian bends And he that Venice wrongs with Mark contends But above all Saint Peter beares the Bell He Rome protects and Rome must all excell Nùmâ—es Aegeria Peter hath
THE CHVRCH MILITANT HISTORICALLY Continued from the Yeare of Our SAVIOVRS Incarnation 33. untill this present 1640. BY WILLIAM VAUGHAN Knight LONDON Printed by Tho. Paine for Humfrey Blunden at the Castle in Corn-hill 1640. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE RICHARD EARLE OF CARBERY The Argument The Authour here my Noble Lord acquaints What Paths they tread who lead the lives of Saints What Comforts he shall finde what good successe While he walks in the New-mans Diocesse I Sound not forth Old Souldours turn'd to Swine By Harlots Charmes by fulsome Cheere or Wine But the New-borne a Theame to Worldlings strange â— sing the Minds more then the Bodies Change I sing the Churches Change Eclipse Decrease Her East and West with her Full Moones Encrease Such Newes I blaze which no good Protestant Shall justly taxe for Sparkes exorbitant Like to those Brats expos'd to Brambles Flame By Midwives Doome to hide the Parents shame Or those for which of late our Pauls Church-yard And Smith-field in the Spoiles with Vulcan shar'd Truth smites the Chast while Wantons long to heare False Tales at which they Nod or fondly Ieere Fooling away the Time their pretious Time Lent them for better use in Prose or Rime To win some Strayes by meanes of Vertuous Books Not Soules to tempt with Fornications Hookes There with much Gall Gulls one another flout Hoere for Mistakes the Lie or Toyes they pout Forgetting Satans Ambush for Good Wits Tongues trip Pens blur None free from Passions Fits And yet for Words and Names Externall things They persecute their Christian Mates with stings â—ill tir'd at last with Conscience-griping Cares Both Parties howle within the Divels Snares Others by Lines and Cubes aspire to know The Higher Orbes or in the Globe below They levell Spires the Climates or the Lawes â—nto whose Depth they pry no more then Dawes And yet to gaine applause or Golden Fees They hope for Swans to chop their gaggling Geese Some Court Faire Dames with Fancies Madrigalls Chaulking the way to Paphian Lupercalls Which they frequent with uncontrouled Lust Till Honour Wealth and Health lye in the Dust. Sometimes Pelagian-wise they ruminate On Mans Free-will and the Predestinate Till they from Grace quite excommunicate Doe pitch on Hell and on the Reprobate Now of long-handed Kings the mounted state Anon their slips or Fall they personate With Satyres sting untill themselves are stung Or else they sooth Great men with glozing Tongue Untill they feele worse Racks with Conscience sear'd Then Poets faign'd for stroaking of Joves Beard Some other whiles they dare more Curious peepe Into the Concaves of th' Infernall Deepe Of Limboes Vault or Purgatories Paine Redeem'd for Gold the long-white Robe to staine With such Bald Stuffe most Writers doe oppresse In hope to purchase Fame the Printers Presse Which shewes that Soules like Seas tost with unrest Wave till they set into Gods Port of Rest Or else that they like Swine fall to worse Seas Then Gaderens for their prodigious Pleas Remonstrances and Problems which they pend Of Rampant Zeale the Churches Peace to rend SO busie is Mans Braine It alwayes workes And seekes to know what from the Sences lurkes Abstruse and hid like Planets moving still But in default of Objects good or ill Because it findes no businesse from without Turnes Monke within an Ideot or a Lout Or on it selfe with Atomes and Chymeres Playes Whirligig untill it ends in Feares Distractions Lies and Schismes just Penalties Due for the Search of Knotty Novelties For want of Grace and of Celestiall Armes Sighes Teares Vowes thus by the Serpents charmes Are Men seduc'd Old Adams Tree to tast And with vaine Fruit to break their needlesse Fast. Because Gods Word whereby they might be sav'd They slighted 't is no marvell though they rav'd But our New man wean'd from the Carnall Teat By Truths calme Breath the Flaming Paraclete With Drier Braine holds a Cleere Intellect So solid that he others can direct A safer Course of knowledge to affect Then what the Wind-mill grinds of Satans Sect. Though Natures sting in our Originall Hath made us prone into the Snare to fall Yet we New-borne fight with the Spirits Sword And triumph by the Second Adams Word Over the Dragons false enchanting Arts With constant Faith repelling all his Darts Those sober Cates contenting our repast Which lawfull are for tender Soules to tast We would seeme Inward more then Outward wise Yet Both addresse with Saints to sympathize For carnall Samians transubstantiate Change The Old Mans Quirk the New man we exchange Instead of Lethes Lake or Phlegeton â—e Tophets Paine sing due to Babylon For Limbus Patrum or th' Elizian Camp Gods Paradise for Saints renewes our Lamp A Dolphin bore Arion from the Seas â—mphions Harp they say did Thebes appease But Jesus Christ the Third day to have rose From Josephs Tombe we really disclose Or by a Whale we Jonas bring to Land Who Niniveh converted out of hand For Cerberus we blaze proud Satans Losse For Hercules his Club our Saviours Crosse. For Triviall Tales and sence-alluring Toyes We read on Bookes Soule-ravishing to joyes For Thalmuds we the Scriptures native sence And for Nice Schoole-mens Glosse in our Defence We can produce by Truths Prerogative The Chiefest Starres of the Church Primitive Or those who in the Last and Present Age With Volumes rare repair'd our New mans Stage To banish Humane Lies and Brain-sick Dreames What Tree more full what Field yeelds riper Theames Then Christ his Life and the New Testament Or in her Swathes the Churches fragrant scent This Lady here my New man warbles forth Though fully not according to her worth Yet so My Lord that you may cleerely see Though she was long obscur'd she now raignes free Cloath'd with the Sunne Crown'd with a dozen Starres And no Eclipse you from her Influence barres But out alasse how many boast of Faith Who never markt what Christian Scripture saith For what is Faith without Good works or Fruit But a dead Stock not worth a Moores pursuit Unlesse he dreames of Mechaes fond Delights Or Millenairs to snare Voluptuous Wights Or of vaine works of Supererogation Soules to bewitch with Babels Fornication Our Saint is not with such Conceits defil'd Nor turnes with such Extravagances wild For he well knowes that as good Trees will bud And beare good Fruit so Saints doe alwayes Good And never scorne to greet the Simplest Man To call home Strayes they labour what they câ—â— Such is our Saint the Naked he actires And helps to warme their Soules with zealous Fires According to his Power great or small He saves distressed Saints from Tyrants Thrâ—â— He sues for Peaoe and grieves to see debate And daily prayes Lawes Rigour to abate If he be forc't to Law in his defence He doth it without splâ—â—n or Saints offence And if his Clapper hap to clatter wild Before Sun-set he growes more Calme and mild Or if that Filmy Piece in others blabbs His shame he counts
Thousands let them Bloud or tooke their Cures This Quarrell made all Germany to quake With Rodolfe Some with Henry more partake The Crosse and Eagle rear'd for Bloudy Signes Yet Caesar foil'd Saint Peters false Assignes And Rodolfe in the last great Battell fought Lost his Right Hand which to him dying brought He shew'd it to the Bishops standing by Lo here the Guerdon of disloyalty That Hand quoth he which did to Caesar vow I lost by your Advise Behold it now But notwithstanding all these cruell Broiles Proud Hildebrand late Gregoriz'd embroiles Himselfe againe will hazard Soule and Body But he will prove the Emperour a Noddy His Soveraigne Selfe comparing to the Sun And Caesars Person to his Vassall Moone So long he play'd till Caesar sacked Rome Doom'd him and set another in his roome As Others his Successours Herods Sword Drew out so oft crosse to their Masters Word That now of late Popes odious in their place Twice Burbon did and Alva Rome deface ABout this time our Rufus to enlarge New Forrest there to have a Chase more large Pull'd many Churches downe But while he plies The Game into his Heart an Arrow slies ERâ— I proceed to the Next Ages Stemme I must reflect upon Ierusalem Our Westernes now by Romes Croisadoes spurr'd Made a brave League and like good Brethren stirrd With Christian Zeale they having Antioch won To Salem went and took that Famous Towne Mauger the Forces of the Saracens Erected there the Crosse for Christian Mens Encouragement then living in those dayes Wherewith the sight they might as Star-like Rayes Behold a glimpse of some Pathetick Love Home-frozen there renew'd of force to move Compunction in their hearts on Calvaries And Olivets survey a Sacrifice Well pleasing unto Christ while they with Teares Mus'd on his Griefes his Bloudy sweat and Feares His Passion undergone for their Amisse His Fathers Wrath for Sinne appeas'd and Blisse Restor'd to them and to the Penitent By his Deserts alone and Punishment Who without help the Bloudy Wine-presse trod And seal'd for us a New Contract with God THis Citty by victorious Godfrey gain'd When all his Host would have him there constrain'd As King to weare a Golden Crowne Shall I Most Sinnefull Man quoth he unworthily Yeeld to be Crown'd with Gold in that same Towne Where Christ was forc'd to weare a Thorny Crowne Farre be that Thought from me weak Mortall Clod To slight his Crosse my Duty unto God Such Carnall Pomp I utterly contemne Pitch we our Thoughts on New Ierusalem Where every Saint the Vassall as the King Shall Crown'd with Blisse Alleluiaes fing The New-mans Complaint in the Name of Our Saviour Christ for the Romaine Churches Apostasie and Adulterate Religion WHilst in thy Name I vent this just Complaint Beare with my Song O Christ my Soveraigne Saint But thou Romes Cause of Sinne thou Dotards Clod Pack hence or humbly waigh the Word of God I am Truths Light yet None from râ—aming cease I am the Prince of Peace yet None loves Peace I am the Hill yet None climbes Sions Mount I am the Spring yet None drinks of my Font I am the Shepheard yet None heares my Call I am Gods Priest yet None heedes me at all I am Sinnes Death yet None from Sin will rise I am Soules Health yet None me gratifies I am the Way yet none will tract my Pace I am Lifes Vine yet none affâ—ords me Place I am Faiths Quintessence yet none partakes me I am Soules Manna yet aright none takes me I am Most true to Man None true to me I am Rais'd up yet None my Forme will see I am Mans Baile yet None doth con me Thankes I am Hells scourge yet None hates Satans Prankes I am the Golden Meane None waighes my Center I am Heavn's Doore yet None the doore dares enter I am Gods Word yet None will heare his Word I am their Iudge yet None regards the sword I am Heavens strength yet None sticks to my Fame I am Zeales-Mover yet None heedes the Flame I am the Starre of the New-Eastern Morne I am the New-mans Head yet None 's new-borne I am the Thundrer yet None feares my stroake I am Free-hearted yet None beares my yoake I am the Lambe None will my Nature take I am the Sunne yet None Sinnes Cloudes forsake I am Truths Rock yet None will now believe me I am Mens Hope yet None will cease to grieve me But in these Times with coulour of my Rock The Dragons seed doth persecute my Flock And all Romes Clergy now doe listen more Unto the Popes Decrees then to my Lore No wonder with Hells Plague that Soules are stung When such foule Mists rise from the Monsters Dung O wretched Man whom neither Christ his Path Nor Gospel moves nor yet his Threatning Wrath Nemo Yet if the Romaine None thou backward spell Omen I may to thee a Converts LUCK fore-tell Thou soone shalt chase our Aiery Foes to Hell If thou by Faith seekst in the Heavens to dwell And by the Crosse the Old Man to expell Here lyes our Task think on it and Farewell The same Complaint reiterated in Latine Measures DUm novus erumpo vates sub nomine Christi Da veniam justae Rex Sacrosancte Querelae Sed Romae Terrene Senex tu causa malorum I procul aut humili pende haec Oracula mente Sum Lux sed Nemo Tenebras Latebrasque relinquit Sum Rex Pacificus sed nemo est Pacis amicus Sum Mons sed Montem conscendit Nemo Sionis Sum Fons sed potat Nemo de Fonte Pereâ—â—i Sum Pastor sed Ovilis adest mihi Nemo vocanti Sum Mystes sed Nemo tenet mea Mystica mente Sum Mors Peccati Nemo expergiscitur insons Sum Rediviva Salus sed Nemo rependit amorem Sum Via sed Nemo sequitur vestigia nostra Sum Vitis vitae sed Nemo hanc Corde reponit Sum Liquor at Nemo me spiritualiter haurit Sum Panis Coelestis edit sed Pectore Nemo Sum Fidus sed Nemo fidem mihi praestat ad-â—â—â—â— Sum Sursum positus sed me vult Nemo videre Sum Datus Obses agit mihi Grates Nemo libeâ—ter Sum Satanae Domitor sed vitat Nemo Gehennam Sum Modus CentruÌ„ tamen hac duo Nemo revolvit Sum Pia Porta Poli sed Nemo precatur ut intâ—et Sum Praeco sed Nemo sacris accommodat aures Sum Judex sed Nemo fugit modò vindicis Ensem Sum Coeli virtus sed adhaeret Nemo vigori Sum Zeli Motor sed flammis Nemo movetur Sum Matutinum Sidus vates que Diei Sum Restaurator Populi sed Nemo renatâ—â— Sum Deus Altitonans melior sed Nemo fitâ—ictu Sum Mitis sed molle jugum fert Nemo modernus Sum Patiens Agnus sed me vult Nemo Patronum Sum Sol exoriens sed nubila Nemo retractat Sum Rupes Fidei sed Nemo sideliter orat Sum Spes sola hominum sed Nemo lacessere probris Meque meumque Gregem
Petrae sub imagine cessat Sic hodie Semen solet insanire Draconis Ut Papae Decreta magis quam Dogmata nostra Iura Hominum non Iussa Dei bibit aure Sacerdes Nec mirum Nubes ortae de stercore Monstri Inficiunt animas Ecclesia pestc laborat O vetule infoelix qui Christi Calle nec Aris Nec sacris Monitis nec moveare Minis Sin nomen NEMO supplex inverteris OMEN Destinat Christo sic Anagramma placet Aëreos Hostes citâ— profligabis in Orcum Si modo rimaris Caelica Claustra Fide Proditor ille Senex tunc evanescet in Auras Succumbit Christi cum tuâ— Massa Cruci Hoc Opus hic labor est Perlege pende Vale. THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE TWELFTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 1100. untill the yeere 1200. At which Time King John raigned here in England who to be absolved of the Popes Excommunications made himselfe Tributary to His Holinesse The Argument The Councell Lateran confirmes the Masse The Canon Lawes for Romes maine Profit passe The Pope mounts up on Caesars humbled Back Schoole-men new use And Salem goes to wrack THose whom Rome styl'd the Berengarian Sect Because her Masse they ventur'd to correct Were censur'd at the Councell Lateran As at l'ercelli the like Act prophane Against them past that Politician Whâ—re For her Trades sake in the last Age before And here likewise such Labours went to Pot As Joachim a Latian Abbot wrot To prove the Man of Sinne the Antichrist And Babels Whore jumpt with the Romaine Priest O Valiant man who for this Mystick Point On Truths behalfe adventur'd his best Joint NO better sorts the Churches Pilgrimage In this obscure Eclipse and Carnall Age Popes struggling still for Worldly Dignity With Emperours and for Priority Amidst these Broyles although Eugenius storme Yet Bernard dar'd his Popedome to enforme How he in striving Both the Swords to hold Might lose them Both for his encroachment bold ANd sure if Popes had not on Princes play'd Nor warr'd with Worldly States but onely Pray'd And sought the Health of Soules by Lenity They might have raign'd in long Prosperity And by their Doctrine linkt with Holy Life Drawn wrangling States from Faction Bloud strife Whereas for Peace they rather Quarrels spun Not caring by what sleights they Places won So that some call him Pope a Yeare or two And that great Kings or Dukes doe kisse his shooe Old Adrian wreakes not how he came to mount Nor by what Meanes so he his Peeres surmount And yet this Fate with a repenting Breath This Pope perplext lamented at his Death And said that he who got the Papacy By Murther trac'd the Steps and Policie Of Romulus who slue his Brother Rheme Alone to weare Romes New-found Diademe When that Eleven Hundred Yeares and Ten Had wheel'd from Christ his Birth a Bishop then Of Florence preacht that the Proud Man of Sinne The Antichrist who long conceal'd had been Was surely come and in Gods Temple sate Pretending Right to sway the Christian State The Mystick Let of Caesars Glorious Traine Which made him hide his head and did restraine His haughty Thoughts and Plots unlimited Was thrust away and neere extinguished By the Popes Tumults Threats and Stratagemes Subjecting Bodies Soules and Diademes Priests Ghostly Charge into an Earthly chang'd The Spirits Gifts Simoniously exchang'd The Words Eclipse Idolatries encrease And Sodomies with want of Christian Peace These Hellish Crimes or Deedes irregulare Demonstrate who the Churches Foe-men are When Pope Paschalis Second of that Name Had heard diuulg'd his Hierarchies shame Most Politick to stop the Bruit at first Of such New Sparkes by his Old wayes accurst He sent his Briefes at Florence to appoint A Councell there to right things out of joint As he surmiz'd where Coram nobis brought The Bishop there was fore'd to be new taught With Babels Glosse to palliate what he knew The Cole-black for Snow white the False for True And so to leave the Pope in Peters Chaire Chaffring for Soules till Saints disturbe the Faire BUt in the midst of all these brandling Cares Which rackt the Church succeeded other Snares Soules to subject unto the Vultures Clawes Renewd with Glosse Voluminous of Lawes By Azoes Gratians and Accursius Paines That so Mens Wits by such divertive Traines In hope of Worldly Fees toâ—ld might not pry Into Sinnes deep concealed Mystery But nimbly helpe to execute the Bulls And Briefes wherewith his Thralls the Tyrant gulls Emptying their store sacking their Substance dry That he might joy at Clients Misery And though the One the Elder Sister were The Younger yet and Canon Law did beare The primest Sway and Kings durst not gainesay But must appeare at Rome on a set day For when the Pope enthrall'd the Emperour Romes Keyes then Caesars Lawes did over-towre TO fortifie the Canons glozing Glosse About that Time Our Schoole-men then arose Quaint Wits who spun Divinity anew And by Distinctions would the Gospel mew Such Knots and Wiles did Curious Wits compose That they to Rome might all the World transpose And so heale up and cloze the grievous Scarres Which she sustain'd deservedly for Jarres And for her Breach of Faith at Christ his Spring Vow'd that to him she 'gainst the World would cling But in the next Ensuing Age shall rise Bald Friers Sects to help Baals Sacrifice To temper or to stint these Busie Braines There shall start up Men of unwearied Paines Who seeme to raise Devotion at a pinch 'Mong which I ranke Poore Francis Sainted since Who innocent in Life by Poverty Would faine restore the Old Integrity To imitate as much as in him lay The Ancient Monks or the Essences way Or rather Benets Rules but afterward The Dragon brib'd his Mates to be his Guard His Sect soone stray'd and his Fraternity With Merits boast corrupted Purity Pestring the Church and Christian Common-weale With Dreames adverse unto the Founders Zeale OUt of their Dung did other Orders grow Austere in Life of Sanctimonious show Pretending Holinesse in Outward Sight But inwardly in Melancholick plight Now spending Dayes and Nights neere in dispaire Anon blowne up like Bladders in the Aire With Meritorious Wind Pelagian Worth And Humane Workes they set their Doctrine forth They lash'd their Flesh to keep the Old man downe And like that Sect from craz'd Montanus flowne They stupifi'd through Fasts their Brawny Sides In hope of Grace and Worldly Fame besides Meane while the Bloud of Christ they frustrate made And by such blasted Buds Faiths Tree did fade Yet by their Deedes and seeming Sacrifice The Scarlet Whore thought to redeeme her vice And that their Workes of Supererogation Suffis'd at least to win a Prorogation Of Vengeance due for her high Pamperd Pride If not to purge what Christ had left untri'd Like those who bought to ransome Iudas Sinne Blouds Hire a Field to bury Strangers in O What a Rabble doth my Muse descry Of Croakers from the Dragons mouth to slye Within the
from the Empire But his Owne Of Naples Realme with the Sicilian Crowne He gives away for Prey to Charles of France Whose Banners there Pope Clement did advance And never left such was his Choller 's Flame To Conradine for his dead Grandsires Fame Till he and Austriaes Prince by a sly way Were taken and beheaded in One day Judge Readers now if Popes liv'd like to Christ Or whether they resembled Antichrist SO Sly and Cautious were this Ages States That None for feare to have with Popes Debates For Seventeene Yeares durst hazard on the Mace Imperiall but the same lay for that Space Still vacant For Alphonsus King of Spaine Had flat refus'd the Cumbers to sustaine Least of an ancient Friend his Ghostly Sire Become his Foe and so his Love expire He would not leave he said Astronomy Which he then studied for all Germany Th' Electours then chose Richard Cornewalls Duke The Romaines King but he with some rebuke Was since put off because his Holidome Expected more of Others for that Roome And thereupon he Hasburgs Earle enthrones Since Austriaes Head with him the Pope attones In Old Lausannaes Towne but could not get Him once to Rome lest that his footing set In that unlucky Place some Jealous Fit Might nip the Popes rash Braine and crazed Wit That he from thence should never more returne But perish there except he serv'd his turne As Caesars were before his time to doe Constrain'd or else his Wrath to undergoe And to that end the prudent Emperour Rehears'd the Tale how to the Lions Bowre Who fain'd him sicke the Fox saw many Beasts To enter in as Complementall Guests But not the steps of any comming back And that made him to Rome his Visit slacke NOw at this Ages Period Celestine The Romish Pope was cheated by a fine And Cunning Sleight the Popedome to resigne To Boniface himselfe and to confine Into an Hermites Cell to end his Dayes With Prayers Fasts and such Religious wayes This by a whispring Cane or hollow Reed He acted and his wish did so succeed Thus Boniface began But as such Plots Thrive seldome so entangled in those knots Which he for others warp'd he waged Warres In Italy In France he moved Jarres Against the King with Fulminating Darts Against his Realme till spite of all his Arts His Holinesse Captiv'd in Prison fast For very Griefe then he deceas'd at last With this Memoriall fixed on his Clog He came a Fox Raign'd a Wolfe di'd a Dog But to encrease Romes Superstitious store Before his Death he coin'd one Custome more The Jubilees great Teare wherein all such Who came to Rome were â—as'd of Sinne and Pouch Eas'd of Sinnes Paine from Purgatories Flame Eas'd of their Gold as Ransome for the same This Pope decreed it first with Balaams Fire When that One Hundred Yeares did full expire But since to Fifty Yeares Popes chang'd the Course That they might reap more Gaine by Gulls recourse And Pilgrim-Visits of the Lateran And other Sainted-Fanes late made profane Since Freedome was proclaim'd by Romish Sires For many Thousand Yeares from Purging Fires So doth the Mystick Whore entangle Soules To credit Dreames which raise her Market Tolles And now likewise for her Gods Adoration Popes first Decreed the Messes Elevation Thus I winde up this Popish Age the while I warne thy Wits to greet O Patricks Ile Thy Prelate Fitz-Raphe Primate Armachan Who 'gainst the Upstart Friers playd the Man And provd their Begging Orders Vaine and False Before the Pope and all his Cardinalls So shone that time this Learned Mans Renowne That when his Death was through Avinion knowne A Cardinall was heard of Him to say The Church hath lost a Pillar strong this day ANd yet for all such Good mens Prophesâ—es Rome would not quit her Pedlers Marchandise Which to her use those Croaking Frieâ—s truckt But by their Liâ—s she all our Horey suckt Their Legends wrought such Superstitious Feare They saw Our Lady here Our Lady there At Mountserrat Lorrette Walsingham Whereby they got as to th' Ephesian Dame To Isis Baal and Moloch Temples built And Images with Gold and Azure gilt By which false specious Showes old Satans Mists Rich Offrings they procur'd to Romish Priests Then Miracles were rife of Wise men knowne For Ghostly Wiles now to a Proverbe growne That to conclude Some for Notorious Liers It is enough to say that they are Friers THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE FOURTEENTH AGE From the Yeare of our Lord 1300. untill the Yeare 1400. At which time Henry the Fourth Raâ—gned King of England The Argument The Fratricells soone up and quasht At Masse By Papall Plot then Caesar poisâ—ed was Pope John maintaines he can all Kings depose Our Wickliffe now Romes Doctrine doth oppose ABout the Dawne of this New Century The Fratricells of Anabaptists Fry In Germany disperst their Arguments That Christians should not perk to Governments But that all things lay Common to the Poore As to the Rich. No Creature lesse or more Then Others must possesse Equallity They taught of States and Lives Conformity Much like to that which Plato Chymeriz'd Or the Utopian Weale which Moore devis'd But their Opinions vanish'd into Smoak And they themselves endur'd the Churches stroak Censur'd for Bedlems of Corrupted Zeale Offensive to the Church and Common-weale Which without hope of Gaine would slothfull grow Yet by the Fruit a Christians Faith we know I wish in Wealth a Meane from Mizers store A Miracle extended to the Poore O how my Heart doth grieve to see their Cures Neglected whilst our Drâ—nish Epicures Most idly waste what Godly Families Would save from Dearth and serve as Sacrifice To cover Sinnes We carâ—y hence no Gold Nor Land Eight Foot alone a Coarse will hold A Friers Act yet hapned to his Liege Great Luxembâ—roughs Caesar at the Siege Of Florence more prodigious by the Popes Procurement which quasht sodainely the Hopes And Life of the Imperiall Majesty Deciphring Babels black Iniquity By a Black Frier with a Masses Cake Envenomed and taen his Heart-strings brake And so whom Force nor Flashes could out-brave One hallowed Bit dispatcht him to his Grave NOr did the Next succeeding Emperour Much better speed for he likewise the sowre And crabb'd aspect felt of proud Anti brâ—st He Lewis dar'd out of the Church of Christ By Thundâ—ing Bulls to shut and made his Boast That he had Power through the Holy Ghost Both Emperours and Princes to dispose And at his Will their Kingdomes to transpose Thus John the Two and Twentieth of that Name On Caesar play'd and Scriptures did defame Untill some Grave and Learned Men arose In that Tempestuous Age him to oppose AMong which Occam started up with Quill Of Cherubs Wing and prov'd that Doctrine ill He prov'd the Rule of all this Earthly Ball To appertaine unto States Temporall And by the Light transferr'd from Holy Scrowles How Truth exempts no priviledged Soules No not the Pope himselfe from Caesars Doome Since Peter felt
there they burned Husse That Husse who sung that tho they broil'd the Goose Within One Hundred Yeares should be let loose A Swan out of those Flames as white as Snow Whose pow'rful Tune wuld make more Earâ—â— to glow Which Prophesie fell true for the Events Gamaliels-like since answered the Contents Yet did that Councell doe one piece of Worth For they depos'd Three Popes and chose a Fourth BUt afterwards the Caesar Sigismond For Breach of Faith by deare Experience conn'd That though as Toyes wrongs Mortalls over-passe Yet God will them not unrevenged passe For of the Breach soone as Bohemia heard The Safe-conduct infring'd the Cause unheard And that the Councell had condemned Husse And Ierome to be burnt without discusse Of the maine Points of Faith for which they 〈◊〉 By Safe-conduct sign'd in th' Imperiall Name And now affronted with this fond Reply Or rather jeer'd with a Priseillian Lye That Promise Faith and Vowes to Hereticks Were voyd in Law if made by Catholicks The Taborites repin'd faire Prague laments And all Bohemia moves with sodaine Rentâ— For their late Prophets Death and Guilâ—l◠〈◊〉 Bloâ—d Shed for no cause but that they Rome withstood Then Valiant Zisca like the Sonne of Nun Heads against Caeser many Battels won And with small Numbers to all the Papists Wonder Great Armies daunts as stâ—ook with claps of Thunder The Bohemes so against their Foes prevail'd That they their Losse and Breach of Faith bewail'd And to this day those Rites in Boheme last Which first to Husse from English Wickliâ—â—e past NOr was that Doctrine in Bohemia close And England kept alone but to oppose The Romish Sidâ— by Vertue of the Light Deriv'd from thence there daily came more Might The Bishop of Crâ—atia then did rise By Wickliffes Lamp and did Romes Fall comprise In Measur'd Lines which with Prophetick Glosse 〈◊〉 did for that Dark Age disclose Cameracums Good Cardinall then wrot And laid on Rome an everlasting Blot As others in those Dayes the like reveal'd What from Old muddy Pates stood long conceal'd So Mâ—ntuan did and Savonarola Clemangis and the Count Mirandola Boldly declaime against Great Babels Pride Ere Luther rose to write against her Side For now had God in his appointed Time Refin'd more Wits the Gospel out to chime THough for their Sinnes he Pius tooke away The Best of Popes who whilst he liv'd gave way Some Errours to reforme and meant that Wives Should licenc'd be to Priests yet still he lives For his Good Will enrowl'd in Lines of Fame That Silvius thought to cover Babels shame FOr like Effect God sent the Printers Presse That with Good Bookes we might his Truth confesse For till this Age faire Printing lay unknowne And so for want of Workes Truth was prest downe Gunnes likewise came within this Ages List Invented by by a Frier Alchymist Now Beades came up where Sixtus was not wary For Penance sake to linke the Ave-Mary And after him by the next raving Pope Who for his Fact was worthy of a Rope Romes Stewes came up for whom he builded Roomes And got the Whores to pay him Yearely Summes Under pretence to keep some Women Chaste But more for Gaine and for his Priests unchaste As though the Brothels could Knaves temptings let By suffring Ill Sinne Hidraes to beget WHat now hath Rome to plead what Colour Shift Or false Demurre to cloak her wanton drift That she be not indited hereupon A Baud and styl'd the Whore of Babylon Not onely Ghostly but a Carnall Whore She stands arraign'd for as yee heard before A Whore indeed a Woman Moguntine Sate Pope in Rome and acted Rites Divine If this be not sufficient Evidence Examine well their Lives and Frâ—â—dulence What Paramours Popes keptd what Bloudy Daâ—ce They led what Plutâ— their Bastards to advance That very Pope which shall cloze up this Age Can restifie with what tumulâ—uous Rage He rais'd his Sonne and Daughter to great States Caesar made Duke a Duke Lucretiâ— mates About the Yeare Six Hundred Sixty Six The Antichristian Fiend began his Tricks And Lullabies to act through Carnall Ease That men might fall to Scorbuts Foulâ— disease Or to some Prantick Fits Nor was it long But at the Time foretold who did belong To the Great Cities Dâ—â—â— by Sea and Land Playd the fond Bedâ—ems at their Heads command Her huge Impostume broke out at the last That is Five Hundred Yeares she made â—uch wast Of Ragges for Tenes to keep her Issuer running To serve her still it past our Westernes cunning The Prince of Fiends such Humours Spleen and Gall Envenom'd had this Mystery withall That for Guâ—iatâ—m she must India riste For Europes Drugges seem'd to her Lims a Trifle Who durst oppose her what she went about She had the Keyes of Heaven and Hell to boot Of all the World she was Chiefe Governesse And of what Christ scorn'd in the Wildernesse Only there wanted to supply her State The Genâ—â—es Map and Isabellaes Fate BEfore her Wane Gods Glory to extend It chanc'd about this Ages Latter End That Gama first from Lisbon tri'd the Course To passe by Sea to the East-Indian Shores Where having found the Load-stone since in use He Pilots did from the Pole-starre reduce By which and Printing was the Gospels sound Dispers'd and Both within this Age New-found West-India then was was by Columbus seene At the Expence of that Castilian Queene Who pawn'd her Jewels for the finding out Of those New Lands whose Gold made Spain so stout That aiming at the Westerne Monarchy She Musters Fights holds Kings in Jealousies And Babels Whore hopes in that New-found Soilo By Mart of Soules to keep more revell Coile And what She here hath by the Gospel lost That to repaire in Indiaes Sun-burnt Coast. Our Seventh Henry might have made his Boast Had he but been as prone as Ferdinand To take the tendred Map of that New Land But though the Tract was large yet Portingall And Castiles King contended till the Brawle By the High Priests Imaginary Lines Umpir'd they claim'd more then their Right confinâ—â— And so Romes Rites erected in that Coast. Satan repaires what he in Europe lost Unlesse our Ile to countepoise his Craft Had lately aim'd into that North a Shaft Which may perhaps some Consciences so wound That Savages may heare the Gospels Sound Which others Damps with Superstitious Fire Have there conceal'd and hindred to inspire THE OCCVRRENCES OF THE SIXTEENTH AGE From the yeere of our Lord 1500. untill the yeere 1600. The Argument Where lay Our Church â—re Wickliffe first arose By Prodigies Rome warn'd ere Luther rose No Tyrants Plots could let Our Churches Sound But Englands Queens did all her Foes confound FRom Age to Age I shew'd the Churches race Her Wane her Wens her rèfulgent Faâ—e And some I nam'd for Prophetizing Wits Times against our Beliâ—ls Fitâ— Who labour'd to suppresse what Christ prescribes Besides thâ— Abissines under Pretâ—ous Iohn Th' Armenians Greekes and Some in