more appetite then digestion Be not like the Corimandi a kind of people whose Ear covereth their whole body as now-a-dayes all for hearing little for meditation nothing for practice having as 't were the Rickets of Religion their heads sweld with knowledge or pretensions but their feet not walking accordingly And therefore hear but with Christs caution Matth. 4. What and How Take heed what you hear Try the spirits Matth. 4. Luke 8. 1 Joh 4.2 as those noble Beraeans did even by Paul himself Act. 17.11 And all this practise wil make it Otium sanctum as St. Austin calls the Sabboth an holy rest and so effect that Sabbatum pectoris that double Sabboth of the soul whereas that of Time is but a figure viz. the internall rest of conscience here in grace and that eternall rest of soul and body hereafter in full glory So be it Amen POEM 20. SHall we sing of the Streams and not the Fount This Holy of holy Dayes which doth surmount The rest according to their Objects nature As the Creator doth excell the Creature This Day unyoaks the world and ease bestows Suspending of the Curse on sweating Brows A Day of unbought Indulgence and Rest Of Gods in-acting both for Man and Beast Nor yet must This Brute-acquiescence be But the Souls Travell while the Body free Though Jews o' th' Sabboth might not yet We may Best gather Manna Now two showers a day Oh let not Plenty and such Choyce of Fare Make us like Wanton Israel appear Loath not this Heavenly Dew but come and tast Let not such Holy water run at wast With your old Raining Banquet rest content Lust for New Quails tempts but new Punishment Long not for Bethlem Waters there 's no good Nutrition in the juyce that 's price of Blood Sweet Festivall of Heaven's Beneficence Which now keeps Open House and do'st dispence The bounteous Doles of Mercy unto All That Piously approach and for them call Great Market-day of Souls Divinity On thee as 't were holds a Monopoly Come Buyers God himselfe turns Merchant now Leave Trades of Sin your selves his Chapmen vow For though his Wares are yet his Price not high Pardon for asking Heaven for Piety For Patience Conquest for Confession A gracious Act of Heaven's Oblivion This is the Souls good Clymacterick Day Boding her weal as to'ther her Decay If Number have its Vertue sure This seaven Wil most inchant a good Soul toward Heaven The Lords Dayes me thinks make up Jacobs Scale The weeks the Empty spaces whereon all Gods Right and Left-hand Blessings do descend And by which Pious Souls to him ascend Make then the Sabboth here so the Lords Day That endlesse Rest with him we once enjoy THE COLLECT PRAYER The Epistle Rom. 15. v. 4. to the 14. The Gospel Luke 21. v. 35. to 34. BLessed Lord which hast caused all holy Scriptures to bee written for our learning Grant us that me may in such wise hear them read mark learn and inwardly digest them that by Patience and comfort of thy holy word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen ALmighty God which hast promised to hear the Petitions of them that ask in thy Sons Name we beseech thee mercifully incline thine ears to us that have made now our Prayers and Supplications unto thee and grant that those things which we have faithfully asked according to thy will may effectually be obtained to the relief of our necessity and to the setting forth of thy glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Rogation Week DISQUISITION 18. THis was the Week immediatly preceding Holy Thursday or indeed but the foure dayes next before it denominated à Rogationibus from the extraordinary Prayers and Supplications then used by good Christians the better to prepare their souls at that time to attend our Saviour by a spirituall Ascension as God made the Day of Ascension a day of Giving Psal 68.18 so the Church made the time a week of Asking as in the Gospel appointed And therefore this is no spurious issue of Novell Superstition but a venerable Institution of pious Antiquity and sincere Religion it being more then probable that this holy custome was practised in the Church in if not before St. Augustines dayes Serm. 173. de Temp. tom 80. Witnesse his Sermon preached on Ascension Eve and his Titles on some other Sermons Magdeburg cent 5. fol 693. and 741. De Dominicâ in Orationibus c. concerning Rogation Sunday and of the second and third day thereof it is unanimously acknowledged by Authors of both perswasions that this ancient Order was either invented or restored rather by Mamercus Bishop of Vienna Baron Animal fol. 309. long before the time of Gregory the Great Anno 450. the Reasons of which Holy Custome I find to be of two sorts viz. from Occasions Naturall and Accidentall Those of accident were the great Afflictions and Calamities that befell those times which made them happly convert their superstitious Processions to the Tombs of Martyrs into a better use of Prayer and strong Supplications for removing Judgements as things invented for one purpose by use are easily converted into more Socrates lib. 6. c. 8. And so it was by the People of Vienna when such Earthquakes of terrors befell them as amazed the hearts of all men who then began to forsake the Citie as a place which Heaven seemed to have destined to ruine for then their Bishop before mentioned as it became a Christian Prelate Hooker Ec. P. l. 5. neither void of councell as yet nor secure in himself alone under such common perplexity earnestly exhorted the remainder of the people to prevent portended Calamities by those vertuous and holy means whereby others in like case have prevailed with God To that purpose perfecting and adapting the Rogations Reasons of Rogation week or Letanies formerly in use to their present Necessities and sad occasions whose good successe therewith afterward moved Sidonius Bishop of Averna to use the same so corrected Rogations at such time as he and his people were afflicted with Famine and besieged with potent adversaries till at length it was thought convenient by Gregory the first and best of that name to contract the Flower of all the said Rogations into one And however this Iron have since got some rust yet hath it been scoured off too as I shall shew anon And this I may call as to us-ward at least the Accidentall cause of these Rogations The generall Troubles and Calamities of Nations But besides these there are some Naturall Occasions of them I mean from Gods blessings on increasing Nature and as the first tremble before God as an angry Judge so these kneel to him as a Father and a Benefactor As now you see Natures Carpet spread enameled with rare variety of flowers and hopefull blossoms Jam prata rident
Can'an and each Fast Is both the so uls direction and repast All so exprest that I am glad to know You have begun to pay the debt you owe. Iz. Wa. Sanctitas Rediviva or the Resurrection of Primitive Devotion practised and indeavoured by a true Friend to Reformation E. SPARKE Rude warrs and gilded ignorance with a rout Of self conceited humorists did put out And quench our holy Fires Robbing Devotion Of all her comely dress leaving her portion Shame and Contempt Vexation to attend her Now sick nor house nor friend for to defend her Scarce SPARKE of Piety or Charity could be Seen or afforded till it came from Thee Who rak'd up too in Embers though obscure Uncloud'st Devotion to its Lustre pure William Wimpew Ad Amicum suum Authorem EDVARDUM SPARKETIUM Adsint Romani colit quicunque Novatum Inspiciant tua scripta legant Collecta revolvant Libri Divini flammam dum murmure cingunt Corda sua Antiquo inspirentur Lumine vero Quaerendo nodos fiat laqueantur ut ipsi Rete tuo Antiquo passo captare Novellos Eodem ad Authorem Dum pia dum prosint tutò tua scripta peragrent Non rapidos curent ventos quae folia spargant Cumaeae Vatis nec curent Festa Nefastos Omnigeni venti conspirent flamina Vulgi Non Poesin sacram nec Sanctos urere possunt PETRUS VOVVEL Upon the AUTHOUR and his Worke. WHen the rude Vulgar in their headlong rages Pull'd down those sacred things which former ages Did hold inviolable they began To levell Times and Places and next Man Laid wast those Dayes which our Grand sober Sires Hallowed to warme their zeale by heavenly fires Dispark'd the Churches and to Barnes did give Pow'r to contest for the Prerogative When th' Churches dayes they with successe decri'd Next bark'd at those which Heaven had sanctifi'd 'T was time to write when dayes to Saints assigned Were all degraded and the Lords new-coyned Our Authour like the wiser few stood still Observes admires and lets them take their fiill And now in milder temper he begins T' assert those truths which their blind rage call'd sins 'T were madnesse in a whirl-wind to resist With any arguments but club and fist Thus God when all things were i th' Chaos hurl'd Did first make Light and then he form'd the world The Author so with imitating Art Informes the judgement first then moves the Heart Not like the Pseudo levites of this season That Preach all Vse without Ground Proof or Rreason His Prose so sinewy and yet so smooth His Verse so full of rhime and reason both His Prayers so heavenly and his All so good Makes him at once admir'd yet understood The Poets Character he hits aright And does at once both profit and delight The ancient Method he doth well repair In this Designe a Sermon Psalm and Prayer May this Work thrive that after Times and we May keep one Festivall to 's Memory And Bonfires make from whose undying flame Shall rise bright Sparkes t' immortalize his Name ALEX. BROOM To his worthily esteemed Friend E. S. the Author MAy David's Harp here be free from his fears Whilest with heaven's Musick thou charm'st humane ears Strung with Hosanna's touch'd b' Amphion's Quill But more harmonious for 't not onely will Erect Thebean Palaces but raise Our Hearts more sacred Temples with due praise Unto the Lamb which sits upon the Throne And his concomitant perfection Which made my yet unpinion'd Muse fly forth To snatch a Lawrell here to crown thy worth But though Icarian Fate my Wreath surprize This triviall Offring's still a Sacrifice NIC. CHAMBERLAIN To his Worthy Friend the Author BRight shining SPARKE of consecrated Fire That doth pure Incense at the Altar burn Thy quickning Flame doth sacred Heat inspire And makes our Souls on the right Axis turn How is the World beholding to thy Light To draw it forth of a Cimmerian Night Nay Heaven it self thy Debtor is For blest Immortall Tenants highly memoriz'd By Ages held the purest and the best Would soon grow obsoleted and despis'd Did not thy hallow'd Muse with Rayes divine Make 'em like Sol in his Meridian shine Flora displayes not more Varieties Red-cheek'd Pomona brings not more Delight When most enamell'd each in Child-bed lies To charm the Senses of Taste Smell and Sight Then Here occurr in party-Vesture deck'd Profit and Pleasure to the Intellect Star-Gazers all you may be freely bold T' expunge our Saints This Calender will doe You write in Red Our Author writes in Gold You write but Names He Names and Natures too Your first of Jane must a fresh Modell see But This will last to bless'd Eternity H. DELAUNE UPON Christian ○ Solennitas ab eo quod solet in Anno esse dicitur S. August Serm. 186. de Temp. Solemnities in Generall Exod. 16. Ps 112.6 1 Cor. 14.40 DISQUISITION 1. SHall all things have their appointed Time Eccles 3. as the Wise man speaks and not Devotion which sure should rather have a share in all times whatsoever For albeit Religion be not tyed to Time * Confes Helvet c. 24. yet can it not be planted or exercised without a due Dividing and allotting out of Time for it and forasmuch as it is kindly to gather all fruits in their seasons so too is it for the Church of God to consider each of his great Benefits even in the day wherein it was wrought as neer as can be imagined and therefore it is well ordered by the true Churches Ancient and Modern to solemnize the memorial of Christs main Actions and Passion with the imitable vertues of his Saints and Martyrs upon set-times and annuall revolutions lest haply in a while those Persons and Things be forgotten that ought to be had in everlasting remembrance To which end saith Saint Augustine God hath designed weekly and his Church annuall * De Civit. Dei lib. 10. cap. 4. Commemorations of the Mysteries Means and Witnesses of our Redemption to preserve a Solemn memory of those high Benefits which either by Himself or any of his blessed Instrumens he hath betstowed upon Mankind Not that we should luxuriate in Festivities as some do dedicating Dayes even to fictitious Saints that never were men or had a name but in mistaken Calenders as it is doubted by the two grand Supporters of the Heterodox perswasion Bellarmine and Baronius Lib. de Beatitudine Sanctorum cap. ult whether there were ever any such man as S. George or such a woman as Saint Catherine The Cardinall doth acknowledg that they worship certain Saints whose stories are uncertain reputing the Legend of Saint George Apocryphal for all 't is used in the Missall Eccl. Annal. Tom. 2. ad Annum 290. and Baronius confesseth as much of Quiriacus and Julitta to say nothing of Saint Christopher and others declaring plainly that their Acts were written either by Fools or Hereticks So that they seem much in danger of two places
c. and great praise by St Stephen his Protomartyr and by St. John that same beloved Disciple as fore-shewed but you see his praise is made perfect by the mouthes of these Babes and Innocents who here came to the Haven without knowing tempests injoying the comforts of an other life Giron in Fest before they knew the miseries of this Qui prius in capitibus Coronaâ— Quam capillos accepistis as one wittily Blessed babes that have your heads Crowned with happinesse e're covered with Hairs Herods crueltie was turned by God into a felicitie translating you from your earthly Mothers armes in a valley of tears to your heavenly Fathers bosom in his Kingdome of Glory It hath been a custome and yet is else where to whip up the Children on this morning that the story might stick the closer but this is to act it over again in kind by a moderate proportion * Lewis 11. Of France was so seri us a remembrancer of this Martyrdome that he would not be interâ—upted in it by any affaires of state how important soever Phil. de Com. while all then seem to condemne the literall crueltie of Herod I wish they may not imitate him in the Figure snatching them from the armes of their mother Church and from her breasts of holy Baptisme and so as much as in them lyeth killing them spiritually not regarding Christs words Mat. 19.14 Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me Mat 19.14 for of such is the Kingdome of heaven or his Apostles 1 Cor. 14. instead then of injuring them 1 Cor. 14.20 become like unto them for humilitie for innocence for obedience for dependance who so humbleth himself as a little childe the same shall be great in the Kingdom of heaven POEM IX A Double Prophesie's this day fulfill'd In these young Innocents by Herod kill'd Here 's Ramah's cry and Davids song of praise Which from these Babes and Sucklings God did raise Whose early vertues Men for shame improve Their humble innocence and Docil love That how so'ere our Fathers us dispose We be submissive patient meeke as those And then though crop'd like these flowers e're their Prime Blisse shall but sooner Crown us beyond Time These infants by that Tyrants raging mood Were baptiz'd unto Christ in their own bloud And though unable yet to speake his Name Dy'd the first fruits of Martyrs for the same Multipli'd Persecution that destroyes Thousands of Parents lives wrap'd in the Boyes Yet the impartiall wretch spares not his own Better his Swine then Son a proverb grown The Fox worrys the Lambs and t is the sinne With which the world will end as t'did begin The COLLECT PRAYER The Epistle Rev. 14. v. 1. to the end The Gospel Mat. 2. ver 13. to 19. Almighty God whose praise this day the young innocents thy witnesses have confessed and shewed forth not in speaking but in dying mortifie and kill all vices in us that in our conversation our life may express thy faith which with our tongues we doe confesse through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Circumcision Luc 2. 21. And when eyght dayes were accomplished for the circumcising of the childe his name was called Iesus which was soe named of the Angell before hee was conceiued in the wombe The Plate here Vpon the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ DISQUISITION 7. A Lmighty God both before and after the fall of man before under and after the Law still manifested his wil by two things especially viz. an understanding Mind and a perceiving Sense as in Paradise at first Adam had his word and that witnessed by a double sign the Tree of life and that of knowledge Gen. 2. Gen. 2. After his lapse he had a promise c. 3.15 Gen. 3. and thereunto sacrifices added as outward signes so after the Flood a promise of no more Deluge and the Rain-bow a signe c. 9.13 Gen. 9. Arcus sine sagittâ a Bow without an Arrow or if with any shot against himself in his Sonne for it stands bent alwaies towards heaven the promise of deliverance from Egypt is sealed with the Pasohal Lamb Exod. 12. and that to Abraham Exod. 12. of multiplying and magnifying his seed signalized by instituting this Circumcision Gen. 17. Lastly Gen. 17. Joh. 13.16 God giving his Sonne and by him everlasting life to believers confirms all with two Sacraments as seals of his grace viz. Baptisme and the Lords Supper Thus the Father of mercies hath in all ages provided for mans weakness Psal 3.149 that He might tast and see how gracious the Lord is Psal 34. and therefore those that pretend to be so spiritual as not to endure significant Ceremonies and outward Rites in the Church runne a violent course quite contrarie to the goodnesse of God Apud Martyr in Rom. 4. and the meeknesse of his holy Spirit who doth instruct the conceiving Mind by the perceiving Sense and by visible words as Augustine calls the Sacraments one of which was this of Circumcision to the Jewes and that may well appeare in a red Letter as being their bloudy Sacrament who therefore when they Circumcised a childe called him Sponsum sanguinis applying those words of Zippora unto him Exo. 4. Thou art a bloody Husband Exod. 4.25 because that day they hold the child is married to the Covenant There was in this of the old as in the Sacraments of the New Testament two constitutive parts signum signaculum both the signe The two parts of a Sacrament and the seal of a sacred Covenant not onely bare badges as the defective Anabaptists nor immediate justifiers ex opere operato Hook l. 5. s 60. as some others in the excess sta non tribuunt quod per ista tribuitur They doe not confer what is conferred by them This Circumcision here was a triple signe 1. Memorative of the promise to Abraham touching his seed his inheritance and the Messiah to come of him 2. Distinctive of the Jews from all other people and of the Sex Males only undergoing it Females yet being within the Covenant Reductive as sprung from Circumcised Fathers and married to such husbands 3. Prefigurative of Baptisme and the spiritual Circumcision of the heart Againe as Circumcision was thus a various signe so was it a Seale also a double one on Gods part as the Paten of Kings for confirmation on Abrahams part Ardens in locum as his obedience and faiths Attestation Some note a threefold Circumcision viz. Carnall under the Law Spirituall under Grace Celestiall in the Kingdom of Glory The first is Nascentium good in its due time of children the eight day Gen. 17. Gen. 17. The second Renascentium at all times better of such as are born again and that of the heart in the spirit Rom. 2.29 Rom. 2.29 effected by the sword of the spirit sharper then all the flinty knives of circumcision 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
life-giving bread so that the Schools in Generall and many of the Fathers where opinioned from this John 6. that there is a kind of divine seed infused by the Eucharist not only into the souls but into the bodies also of faithfull Receivers whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or vivifying Quality inclineth and as 't were fitteth them to a Reviviction non Disputo sed Credo ut Credo Edo how far the words may bear it I dispute not but believe him that said it John 6.54 whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternall life and I will raise him up at the last day The Ascention of Christ. matt 28. mark 16. luk 24. * * 50. And he led them out as farre as Bethany and he lift up his hands and blessed them 51. And it came to passe while he blessed them he was parted from them and carryed upp into heauen Here the Plate POEM 16. Upon this day as the Sweet Prophet sings The Sun arose with healing in his wings The Sun of Righteousnesse which lately sate In a Cloud Red as Bloud yet now in state He reapproacheth with Refulgent Rayes Cheering our sadness Lengthning of our Days Our declinations of Mortality Into a Solstice of Eternity This day the Lord made and it sorrow marr'd Nay This day made the Lord that is declar'd His Mercy on others many wonders show'd But now his Power one on Himself bestow'd This stronger Samson breaks the cords and bands Of death and Hell with his Triumphant hands See honest Joseph here from Prison come In Christ Returning from deaths dungeon The Gates of Gaza Samson bare away But Christ the Gates of death unhing'd to Day Stout Daniel here from fierce companions free While Christ returns from vanquish'd Divels See Here is that Temple which Jews did destroy Yet as foretold repaired the third day Here Jonah too the whale doth cast on shore Now the devouring Grave doth Christ restore Which Morsell hath Death's stomack so sick made Hee 'l one day vomit all that 's therein laid Mean time the Grave 's well Metamorphosed Thus warm'd by Christ Fear not to go to bed For though what 's sown do dy yet see the Graine With gay advantages revives again In stead of mouldring Drought Green-Flourishing Each single vertue many Multiplying Christ thus our humane Nature did calcine Not Transubstantiate into divine But what was naturall Spiritualize By the exaltation of the Qualities More then Angelick Beuty Crowns that Face Where the Forme of a servant late took place That Body new Agility doth move Who 's Center 's not below now but above Enfranchis'd too from Earth's necessities And supports humane by Divine supplies Needs neither Rest Food Raiment as before As being to hunger thirst and tire no more And when Christ fed since 't was not Him to nourish But onely his Disciples Faith to cherish And in his Body rais'd those wounds and scars Became the brightest parts in their orb stars Such the Prerogative spiritual is Of bodies glorifi'd of Christ and His. First fruits imply the Later look what he Injoy'd we shall for act though not degree Each vessel full of true felicity According to its Receptivity If we mean while but rise from graves of sin And Transitories which most buried in If of such Bats we pitch an Eagles flight And to be where this Carcass is delight Then doubt not but who thus the first partake The second Resurrection bless'd shall make Thus by the resurrection of the dead The Living's Faith is chiefly comforted The COLLECT The Epistle Col. 3. ver 1. unto 8. The Gospel John 20. ver 1. to 11. Almighty God which thorow thy only begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life we humbly beseech thee that as by thy speciall grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect through Jesus Christ our Lord who liveth c. Vpon Ascension Day or Holy Thursday DISQUISITION 14. WEe may well say of this Feast as the Jews of that same Sabbath John 19. John 19.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That this is an High Day dies Solennis a day of Joy to all Generations both in respect of Christ our Lord and of all true Christian people as being the first day of Christs Ascension in the flesh for his Deity cannot be said either to ascend or descend this being the first day of his sitting in joy and glory rest and triumph The Proem at the right hand of God And as to our selves This the first day as it were of our right to Heaven the first day that our Nature entred there whence we have both a Priviledg and an Assurance to follow as this day the sentence of our corruption was changed and in stead of that curse in the beginning Earth thou art c. it was now said unto our Nature Ascend to Heaven and which never was to Angels Sit thou at my right hand c. Heb. 1. Sure Heb. 1.13 an inestimable happinesse was Christs personall Society his bodily Presence while he lived on earth could the hardened Jews have seen or seeing have perceived it but Light came into the world and darknesse comprehended it not They like the brutish Gadarens had rather have their swine then this pearle while the devout Saint Augustine made it you know the chiefest of his chiefe desires Romam in Flore Paulum in Cathredra Christam in Carne S. August 3 chief desires To have seen widowed Roome in her Virgin Foelicity to have heard that Divine Oracle Saint Paul out of the Pulpit but above all to have embraced his Redeemer in the flesh And could then have sung his Swann like Anthem the Nunc dimittis as cheerfully as old Simeon could willingly have closed his eyes with that blest object How full of joy needs must his presence be on earth in whose presence is fulnesse of joy in heaven I and who still carryed Heaven along with him And so fill'd with this joy of his presence were his Apostles he having oft miraculously sed them by Land saved them by Sea instructed them both by Sea and Land that they could not with patience endure once to think of his abscence or hear of his Departure and therefore one of them to enjoy him longer disswadeth him from his sufferings Mat. 16. though he be called Satan for his labour the rest in a sad copartnership of sorrow lament the death and losse of him Mat. 16.22 All his other actions were desiderabilia but this parting as another death here their affections cry out with the Pilgrims of Emmaus Mane nobiscum Domine we have now most need of thee Advesperascit For now the dark evening draweth on c. All of them at his Final valediction his telling them of his Ascending to Glory seem impatiently unwilling to stay behind him John 13.37 John 13.
's the best Company of all Even Visions Beatificall Where the true Musick of the Sphaeres Doth Charme and Ravish Sacred Eares Where Angels and all Saints do sing Incessant Hymns to Glories King Where only is the Hand can dry These Teares of mine and wipe each Eye There thou and I againe shall meet Through Christ In Joyes that ne'r shall fleet Till when Deare Sarah pray will I Like Thee to live like Thee to Dye The Epitaph engraven on her Marble So grey in Vertue and so greene in Youth As this Fair Patterne was a wondrous truth Read but of Hester Ruth Susanna's Graces Adde Mary Dorcas Hannah All those Places History forth to thine Her Soule Imbraces Sprung from a worthy Stock which she Adorn'd Pursuing still a better this world scorn'd And as in life a Phoenix so in Death R eviv'd into Another but chang'd Breath K indling her Faith with Prayer she soon became Even of an Earthly Sparke an Heavenly flame 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elegiacum in Doctris Checi Theologi pientissimi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à se jussam combustionem MAesta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vatis vox illa dolenda est Cui magis Artis in est plusque doloris Ei In te vera nimis Fuit haec sententia Chece Artibus Excellens atque Dolore pari Aequum esset Te non tantum Liquisse Dolores Ast Artes etiam Docte dedisse Tuis Illae etenim mulcens nostro Medicina Fuissent Maerori miseris nunc dolor unus adest Litera scripta manet vetus inter Adagia verbum De Scriptis utinam Chece dicenda tuis Heu sed Doctrinâ seros beaturae nepotes Scriptoris jussa Litera scripta perit Quae tot Laminibus Mundum irradiare volebant Prudenti nimium Comperiêre Rogo An non Foelices magis ist haec Martyres essent Chece tuo si non igne probata Deo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 poenas temulens luat undique Charta Dignaque constructis esto Cremanda pyris At tua cujus erant omni sine Felle liquores 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in cineres cur redigenda Breves Invidiam Calamus nescivit Sanguine tincta Checi haud Lineola est quaevis amica pia Hinc causa in promptu est Haec non fert Turpior aetas Ferrea pacificam nollet amare manum Instar Phaenicis verùm Quem vivere novi O utinam poterim noscere sic que mori Faucibus è mortis veluti Te scimus ademptum Virtus è flammis sic rediviva siet Flemus at id psaltis vir factus quando Cadaver Cuncta Sui Cunctis excogitata Cadunt Apostrophe ad Viduam QUalis pugna fuit Tibimet dulcissima Conjux Pollicita an Pietas vicerit anne Fides Scripta premi pietas Promissio postulat uri Vincit Amor Sponso mox Holocausta datur Jacturam duplicem Scribens Scripta dedêre Solamen Socios si sit habere Cape An Elegy Lamenting the Burning of the Learned and Pious Manuscripts of Dr Cheeke by his own command and will 'T Is a sad truth from the wise man proceeds Who augments knowledge aequall sorrow breeds Both which in Thee deare Cheeke too much fulfill'd Brimfull of Learning whom like Dolour kill'd Then 't had been fit Thou should'st not only left The Griefe but Knowledge too to friends bereft For that had now an healing Balsome been To sorrows wound which still remaineth Greene. What 's written once Abides the Proverb 's old Yet would God of thy Manuscripts 't would hold But thy sweet Lines alas that would have blest Our later Nephews by their Scribe Supprest What to the World might have such Lights became Here perish in an over-modest Flame But had not these been Martyrs higher priz'd If not in fire thus to God Sacrific'd Let stubble Pamphlets dry as rotten sticks Make fitting Fires and burne as Hereticks But thy pure Lines being so devoyd of Gall Why should they be condemn'd to Cinders all Thy Quil no Envy knew no Line of Cheek Blush'd in bloud-Letters but each pious meek Why that 's the Cause they not with Times Ingage A peacefull hand suits not an Iron Age Yet as I knew Thee Phoenix-like Alive So would I might have known thy worth revive That as thy Soule hath scap'd the Iaws of Death Thy Learning too might spight of Flames have Breath Here we feele That when man to Dust doth fall Be what they will his thoughts then perish all An Apostrophe to his Widdow O What a strife Sweet woman was in Thee Which should prevaile Promise or Piety The Last Pleads for the Presse the first for Fire Love paies the Holocaust to th' Deads desire Here 's double Loss for hand and writings sake If Company ease sorrow solace take Vpon the Sonne of Thomas Sparke Esquire by Afra Sister of Sir Edward Monins Baronet Cordiall to all Relations First to God Highly affecting's Tribe and his Abode In all Sincerity Of Parents deare Claiming deservedly the Palme to beare His Friend being more then half himself indeed Ever found Readinesse and Ayd at need Such his Heroick Generosity Proportion'd well a Worthy Family As for the World none did it more Contemn Requiting it not overkinde to him Keeping a stricter Guard on Latter dayes Ere He Left Earth Ensured Heavenly Joyes On the Daughter of Thomas Fineux Esquire A Phaenix was thy Crest suiting thy Name Neerest a kinne both to thy Vertues Flame Never more humble Generosity Adorned Bewty Sweetnesse Piety Sparing yet Bountifull discreetly free Parent of Prudenter Indulgency Above her self tendring Relations neere Regardlesse of her Self to hold them dear Kinde Meek and Patient Joying at her end Even to have born One doth Gods Hests attend The Hearse of Mrs M. S. dying July 10. 1650. Bestrew'd and Dew'd THe Fire of Grief that hidden lies Into consuming Flames doth rise Sorrows are Flouds which without Bounds Are Fatall to inclosed Grounds And Sighs are Winds that without Vent Breed Earth-quakes in their Continent Eyes then turn Sewers to my Heart Both Tongue and Penne some Griefes impart Lest those combined Fatall Three At once Rend Scorch and Deluge me Yet Reader Look for no Curld Muse But such plaine Dresse as Sorrowes use Here is no Theame for Poëtry But Vertues Reall History One that as Christian Wife and Mother Scarce the World had such another The Reall Phoenix From whose Spice Reviv'd a Bird of Paradice God was the Centre of her Aimes Obsequious to all His Claimes While others single Grace affect To all his Lawes She had respect Each Day did ope with Early Hymns And close with Quire of Cherubins No Brayer for Waters of strife But Thirster She for Wells of Life Wherewith like Davids panting Hart She oft refresh'd her better Part Those Clusters of the Holy Land She Gather'd with a Dayly Hand No Angle of that Sacred Book Escaped Her Judicious Looke Whose sweet Contents She did digest Both into Tablets and Her Breast Which like a Vigorous Stomack
sent To every Part it 's Nourishment Not like Those whom Fond Appetite More then Concoction doth invite Having through ill Digestion The Rickets of Religion Her Head with Pious Notions Fraught Which Her mild Tongue discours'd and taught To all about her with an Eye Full of sweet humble Modesty To Good She ' had still an open Eare But most where the wise Charmers were Not like Some we now live Among Being Christians but in Ear and Tongue 'T was Her Great Care Reall to be And Uniforme in Piety Spotlesse from the Time-Vices Taint Whom God not Her self made a Saint Her Palate of such Temperance As was the Schoole of Abstinence Of Lovely Aspect sweet to all Candid Serene and Liberall Her Hands Compos'd of Charity And all Exacter Houswifery Her Book and Needle shar'd the Day And sweetly stole the Time away Yet for Her better Speed to Heaven She gave God two whole Dayes of seaven Besides his part of Each this She Which Crowned all did Constantly Her Foot no Novell Paths did Trace But in the good Old way kept Pace Untir'd Therein still finding rest Till of Eternity Possest This Gold-Finch of Her Family Scorning Earths Chaffe thus Soard on high Vertue and Beauty were at strife Which should most set Her out to Life Not Galba-Like where a faire Soule A Deform'd Body did enroule Nor yet like Specious Absolon Whose inside was Corruption But Her faire Structure and pure Mind Like those bright Golden Apples shin'd In Silver Pictures hung upon The Tents of Royall Solomon All Changes Stoutly She 'd partake And Welcome for the Senders sake So fixt that Full or Ebbing state Could nor depresse Her nor Elate Nor through all Turn's of Mortalls Wheele Did any more Contentment feele Thus did our Sublimated Friend In Christianity transcend And by faire consequence as Wife Was of a Correspondent life A Sarah Srongly Affectionate And as Respectfull to her Mate Right Hannah that did vow her Sonne To Heaven er'e Him thence Prayers wonne Wise Abigail which could controule All Passions with Her Prudent Soule And yet stout Hester like She proud To defend Truths or Persons Lov'd Like Happy Jacobs Lovely Mate Too-like her in her Teeming Fate One of th' Apostle's-Matron-Dresse Above Phantastick Garishnesse A very Dorcas for both Parts Of Pious Alms and Prudent Arts Therefore bewail'd like-her and Prais'd O could She too like Her be rais'd All these Examples to the Life Make up her Character as Wife But as a Step-Dame who can tell Me where to find a Paralell Prophaner Story yeildeth none And Sacred afford's only one One Naomi whose Worth and Fame Is Treasur'd in Her Comely Name Who indeed well deserv'd of Ruth For so advertising Her Youth Yet She propounded once to Part And 't was the Daughter would not start But this Indulgentest of Mothers Exceeded Her as She did Others Acting that speech where er'e Thou goe Or mak'st Abode I will doe so Thy God too shall be mine and I Desire with Thee to Live and Dye So that ' mongst most Affectionate Of Native Mothers seek Her Mate Such whose soft Nature Consort beares Both in their Childrens Smiles and Teares Whose Tenderlings are still well fed Yet better Taught and better Bred Who to their wholesome Nourishment Adde Educations Complement Who both in Health and Sicknesse can Act Tutresse and Physitian Not trusting Hyr'd or Borrow'd Care But their own Selves the Burthen Share And all this Constant to the Death Seald up with Prayers of latest Breath And such Diviner Counsell given As still guides Her dear Charge to Heaven When er'e Thou canst find such Another She She comes neerest to This Mother As Spanish Children they say Quake At mention of the Name of Drake English me thinks should Still'd and Tam'd Be when They hear this Mother nam'd who thus hath Purchased a mild Retaliation for her Child And sure They 'l under Curses dwell That with her Off-spring deale not well Whole Nature blushing as it were To see own Mother 's pass'd by Her Who Christneth that same Barbarous Name Of Step-Mother and mends their Fame And therefore justly so Admir'd Belov'd in Life in Death desir'd Lest all Relaps and Step-Dames prove As bad as er'e by Her Remove Remove alas a word of Paine To us of Loss to her of Gaine For from such Premises we know Can none but Good Conclusions Flow Her Sickness was but an Expresse Of Her Religious Healthinesse The Pious Groanes of Her Death Bed But Eccho's of a Life well Led The Grave an Embleme too may be Of Her Retyred Piety And Heaven it selfe the Church wherein She triumphs over Death and Sin She here Lying in a while did stay But in Heaven kept her Churching Day Now if Love Ground of Sorrow be Oh who to be so mourn'd as She If comfort yet Arise from Bliss Whose change to be so Joy'd in is Whose Life and Death did both Conspire Her speed to Saints and Angels Quire Where we shall once Re-meet and Sing Aeternall Hymns to Mercies King Meane time Deare Martha I shall pray And strive to follow the same way What in Caesar and Pompey were Great vices are great vertues here As Wife or Christian none Excel'd As step-mother none parallel'd And who Conceives not all This true Or Her or Vertue never Knew An Acrostick Epitaph M ary and Martha both were met in Thee As Act and Contemplation testifie Right Mary thy Soule Sought what did excell T hy Body still the Martha Busied well Having a while prov'd both with upright Heart A ll Mary now Th' hast chose the Better Part. Sprung from that Ancient Generous Finches Nest Pursu'dst with wings of vertue Heavenly rest And like a true Sparke of the Glorious Sphere Right upward tendedst untill fixed There Kind as in life to wonder so in Death Expiring but to Give an Other Breath The Recommendation of the Booke to himselfe multiplied Ed. and Sa. Sparke DEare pledges of my Love and hopes to you 'Bove all this Muse should be of welcome view As most ally'd and sprung from the same Head Surviving Monitors when Author dead Partners enough your losse of Mother mourne In their spirituall Teeming Rachels urne Who so many Benoni's hath left here That ever shall her Memory be deare Then though your Fate 's so cruell to deprive You doubly thus at once yet to revive Both in a sense againe here fixe your eyes And you may see their constant Pieties And though in this sense borne out of due time May here reflect on either in their Prime The Churches structure of Devotion To persons squar'd and Times proportion Her Feasts and Fasts freed from all just Complaints Commemorating not Adoring Saints And Piety I thinke 't is not a Crime As place and person To give dues to Time But sure Religion then must needs decay When as it's Christian Landmark's ta'ne away To you therefore that I might Propogate Something above fraile Natures brittle state A Christian Map o' th' world I somtime drew Where of both Globes you have an usefull view And for your further Guidance too you may Sarah and Hagar's History Survey But Chiefly This Peruse as Goshen Light To guide your steps in an Aegyptian Night Perhaps some others too as well as you May Deigne to take a profitable view And as some use by Jewels value more These Glories lost then while Injoy'd before Reflecting from your Duty naturall On their Matriculation spirituall And like the Method on 't or Matter told The one because 't is New the t'other Old And for all Sorts compos'd at least excuse My though no soaring yet high fixed Muse Then while the Age Reeles in false firing zeale This Book shall sober steady Truths Reveale At one side Scour'd from Rusty Heresies And Purg'd at other from wild Novelties Retaining Doctrine Primitve and cleane Reflecting on that Churches Golden meane Which like things Eminent had hardest Fate All Envying what they cannot Imitate Read then and Act this beaten Church way Tread And Sure to Heaven 't will you one day Lead FINIS