A THEOLOGICAL EPITOME OR DIVINE COMPEND, Apparently manifesting GOD'S great love and mercy towards man: notwithstanding of man's perverse disposition and continuallunthankefulnesse towards his GOD.  
BY JOHN kennedy.  
The mercy of God is above all his works.  
EDINBURGH Printed by john Wreittoun. 1629.   

SONNET.  
MY Muse Urania strain thy sacred voice  
And lovingly in Faith and Zeal go sing,  
Shrill hymns to jovah: let thy Soul rejoice  
In blessed Encomiums of that glorious King,  
With Helleluiahs' make the Heavens to ring,  
By Faith, through clouds thy prayer so convoy,  
That he who framed both thee and every thing,  
Be pleased to shield thy Soul from sin's annoy,  
Shall thou not have great matter then of joy,  
When thy Redeemer pardons all thy faults?  
And thus in peace says to thee ' come my boy,  
I will defend thee from the Devil's assaults,  
Satan in thee no portion sure shall have,  
For why, my blood from Hell thy Soul did save.   

A THEOLOGICAL EPITOME OR DIVINE COMPEND.  

WHen as jehova did create,  
His last work most perfect,  
Like his own image made he that,  
In it took such delight.   

So Male and Female made he man,  
this excl'nt work to grace,  
The breath of life the LORD began  
to breath into his face.   

Thus Man being made a living Soul,  
the LORD him power gave,  
O'er every fish, and beast, and fowl,  
and all things life did have.   

Then GOD bade Man subdue the Earth,  
increase and multiply,  
And for Man's food the ground by birth,  
the LORD did fructify.   

A garden Eastward GOD did make,  
in Eden's fertile land,  
Which neither tree nor plant did lack,  
such was his blessed command.   

In midst of this fair garden stood,  
the tree of knowledge much,  
To man the rest GOD gave as food,  
but this, man might not touch.   

The tree of life beside this was,  
and fruitful trees for meat,  
Whereof man might without trespass,  
by Gods leave safely eat.   

But, if the tree of knowledge fruit,  
he taste, God did bequeath,  
Man out of Eden he should root,  
and cause him die the death.   

Each soul & beast which God had wrought  
as Gods command they came  
Before the man: as man best thought,  
to each he gave a name.   

Then God to make he thought it best,  
for man a help or aid,  
Thus heavy sleep the man possessed,  
which time the Lord convoyed,   

A rib out of man's side, and made  
A female of that bone,  
Closed up the flesh again, and said  
man should not live alone:   

To man he brought his other part,  
or second self, (quoth he)  
Both bone and flesh of mine thou art,  
thy name shall woman be.   

Now man and woman naked were,  
in Paradise this time,  
And ne'er ashamed till they did err,  
committing sinful crime.   

For now the Serpent (subtle beast)  
persuaded Adam's wife,  
Forbidden fruit at his request,  
to eat: and said her life   

She should not lose: but God knows well  
(quoth he) when you do taste,  
This fruit; your knowledge shall excel,  
and you as Gods be graced.   

The woman thinking all was true,  
the serpent to her spoke,  
Disiring knowledge: she some few  
forbidden fruit did take.   

Thereof she ate and gave her mate,  
and he did eat also:  
Then did they see their own estate,  
how they did naked go.   

Therefore some figtree leaves they took,  
and sowed them altogether,  
Made breeches thereof, now they look,  
to run they know not whether.   

For why? into the cool of day,  
in garden they did hear,  
GOD'S voice, where art thou Adam? say  
most perfectly, come here?   

When Adam came the LORD before,  
he greatly was dismayed,  
Saying, he naked was, therefore,  
to come he was afraid.   

That thou wert naked who thee told,  
(quoth GOD) that thou wast hid,  
To eat the fruit hast thou been bold,  
which I did thee forbid?   

Then Adam said to GOD again,  
the woman thou gave me,  
Gave it to me, and we amain,  
did eat of knowledge tree.   

(Quoth she) the Serpent me deceav'de,  
in making me believe  
Great knowledge I should have received,  
when I did eat and give,   

This fruit unto my husband here,  
Moving him eat likewise,  
Thus man who then to GOD was dear,  
did first his law despise,   

Then to the Serpent GOD spoke thus,  
'cause thou this thing hast done,  
Above all beasts I thee accurse,  
and cattle every one,   

Thou on thy belly shall go still,  
(O sentence true and just)  
Since thou mad'st man gainstand my will,  
thou ever shall eat dust,   

Betwixt thy seed, and woman's seed,  
shall be enmity,  
Thou's bruise his heel, and he thy head  
shall break assuredly.   

And to the woman GOD said now,  
thy sorrows I'll increase,  
In sorrow forth thy children thou  
shalt bring with great distress.   

Unto thy husband, thy desire  
shall ever subject be,  
And he as potent Lord or Sire,  
shall still rule over thee.   

But to the man thus spoke the Lord,  
I'll curse earth for thy sake,  
'Cause my command thou hast abhorred,  
the earth I'll barren make.   

The earth thus cursed for man's offence,  
God said: thereon thou's feed,  
In sweat of face, and ever hence,  
in sorrow shalt eat bread,   

Till to the dust thou do return,  
of which thou first was framed,  
This sentence should make man still mourn  
and be of sin ashamed.   

So, of God's power let us cease,  
to dispute of the same,  
Who made man of earth's superfice,  
a rare and excellent frame.   

Of basest thing in all the field,  
God made flesh, blood, and 'bove,  
To other things their form did yield,  
by word and it was done.   

God's love in the creation old,  
to man, his Saints still sing,  
Who might have made man if he would  
a beast or creeping thing.   

And yet gave man a living spreit,  
with wit did him endue,  
Fish, Fowle, and Beast, gave man for meat  
and all on earth which grew.   

Next, in prerogatives Gods love,  
to man is eminent,  
Who gave him rule all things above,  
beneath the Firmament.   

And caused him name each other Creature  
according to man's will,  
What ere they be in shape or stature,  
that name they yet keep still.   

Again God's love may well be seen,  
to man: who did him place,  
In Eden's garden ever green,  
where he might him solace.   

With Beasts Fouls Fruits & pleasant flowers  
each one of several dye,  
Which were refreshed by heavenly showers  
and cherished by God's eye.   

Yet more than this God's love we find,  
conspicuously appear,  
To man-wards, who to man's own mind  
made him a helper dear.   

Lest he alone, might too much long,  
and lest his kind should fail,  
By this late help GOD made man strong,  
and on the earth prevail,   

Yet though from GOD these gifts man got,  
as tokens of his favour,  
The LORD perceaved man did not,  
of true obedience savour,   

Therefore in one thing he restrained,  
the man and that was this,  
Forbidden fruit he him ordained  
forbear, lest that amiss,   

Might out of Eden him eject,  
from presence of his GOD,  
Who then entirely did affect  
man; sparing justice rod,   

Till that in end through curious pride,  
and covetice of wit  
Wretcht man from God's command did slid  
and did his law omit.   

Then forth the Lord ejected him,  
to plow the barren ground,  
In seas of woe he made man swim,  
yet would not him confound.   

Thereafter Adam Eva knew,  
and she brought forth a son,  
And called him Cain; this man slew  
just ABEL being alone.   

Then GOD to Cain said anon,  
(who then in sin did sleep)  
Where is thy brother ABEL gone?  
Should I my brother keep?   

(Quoth Cain) I no way can tell:  
What hast thou done? truly  
Thy brother's blood thou didst expel,  
from ground cries unto me.   

Therefore from earth thou art accursed,  
who oped hath her mouth,  
And blood received, which did burst,  
from ABEL'S wounds for truth,   

So when thou ploughs the ground, her strength  
she shall not yield to thee:  
And thou a vagabond at length  
still on the earth shall be.   

far greater is my punishment,  
than able I'm to bear  
(Quoth Cain): for incontinent  
who finds me far or near   

Since I am from thy face cast out,  
a runagate made still:  
Who first confronts me, without doubt,  
most sure he will me kill.   

Then God again this to him told,  
who killeth Cain: Sure  
His punishment shall be seven fold,  
which doubtless he's endure.   

On Cain then God set a mark,  
lest any kill him might,  
Of God's great mercy, thus the spark  
was not quite out of sight.   

Then Cain from the presence went,  
of his most gracious God,  
To Eden's east side, where his tent,  
he pitched in land of Nod.   

So when that men were multiplied,  
on earth, and to them borne  
Were sons and daughters they espied,  
(Gods sons I mean forlorn.)   

That daughters of the men were fair,  
therefore they took them wives,  
Of all they liked every where,  
with whom they spent their lives.   

Therefore God said, my spirit shall  
with man not always strive,  
For he's but flesh subject to fall,  
I'll him of life deprive.   

At end of hundreth twenty years,  
his days shall be no more,  
Then from his eyes wypt shall be tears,  
and rest his labour fro.   

Giants there were on earth those days,  
when God's sons came (even then)  
Unto men's daughters these always,  
were strong and mighty men.   

Thus when God saw the wickedness,  
of man on earth was great  
And that man's heart did still express.  
bad thoughts: God grieved thereat.   

And that he made man he reputes,  
and's sorry in his heart,  
Because that man his whole intents,  
from sin could ne'er depart.   

Therefore God said, I will destroy  
from earth, and bring to nought,  
The man, the woman, girl and boy,  
and all that e'er I wrought.   

Yet Noah in God's eyes found grace,  
and walked with the Lord.  
An upright man in every case,  
was he: Scriptures record.   

To him God said; Come is an end,  
of all flesh me before:  
And since that man will not amend,  
but heaps up sins in store,   

Thou therefore go, and make an Ark,  
of Pinetree I direct:  
Pitch it both in, and out: remark  
that it have no defect.   

For on the Earth I'll bring a flood  
of waters from above.  
Which shall of breath all things denude,  
that on the earth do move.   

Yet of each sort of living thing,  
two I'll cause come to thee,  
These thou into the Ark shall bring,  
that they may saved be.   

God's mercy here is manifest,  
to mankind who convoyde,  
Him save through floods: of fowl & beast  
some seed kept undestroyde,   

He would not root all mankind out,  
though man the same deserved,  
For when the deluge raged about  
the earth: he No preserved.   

But when the flood was overpast,  
and God did man restore,  
In Noah: men increased fast,  
yet did not God adore.   

Then all the earth one language spoke,  
each other understood,  
And from the east they journey took,  
in Shenars plain abode,   

Each one to other said this time,  
let us burn brick anon,  
In stead of mortar they had slime,  
and brick in stead of stone.   

Then said they let us build a tower,  
whose top to Heaven may reach,  
Lest we be scattered in one hour,  
now all were of one speech.   

But from above the Lord did then,  
the highest clouds come down,  
When building were the sons of men,  
to see their tower and town.   

Then said the Lord, the people vow  
and they all condescend,  
To do this thing: nor can they now,  
be stopped what they intent,   

Let us their language then confound,  
that never one perceive  
Another's speech: let shame redound,  
to such as pride now have.   

The Lord then scattered them from hence▪  
on all the earth abroad,  
And they left off their building hence,  
thus were they stopped by God.   

The name of it they Babel call,  
because the Lord did there  
Of men confound the language all,  
them scattering everywhere.   

But yet God's mercy did extend,  
here towards man likewise,  
For though he did his God offend,  
by this proud exercise.   

Yet God his ruin never sought,  
and yet he lets him see,  
That man's best wit and strength is nought  
without the Lords suppsee.   

For even the Lord his own elect,  
are subject unto sin,  
As oft it proveth by effect,  
of weakness them within.   

Though God just Abraham did bless,  
with graces manifold,  
And did by signs and words express,  
to him and Sarah old.   

That he would make a nation great,  
of them and of their seed,  
Yet Sarah thought her old estate,  
could no ways children breed,   

Therefore within herself she laughed,  
(for she did God mistrust)  
Saying, since I am old, and fraught  
with years: shall I have lust,   

Therefore God asked Abram why  
that Sarah his wife smiled,  
Saying, since I am old, can I  
in age, bring forth a child,   

Shall any thing to God be hard,  
at the appointed time,  
Return to thee I'll afterward,  
as one in youthful prime.   

Sarah thy wise shall have a son,  
but Sarah now denied,  
That she had laughed, or such thing do●●▪  
for she was much afraid.   

Thus may you see through lack of faith▪  
Gods own may him commove,  
Yet taste they not his cup of wrath,  
though he doth them reprove.   

Examples many more we see,  
in Scripture how God's flock,  
Through their great infidelity,  
him oft to wrath provoke.   

When Israelites by Moses hand,  
from Egypt were conduct,  
According to the Lords command,  
as God did him instruct.   

Hard by Pihahiroth, to grudge,  
against Moses they began:  
Ask why there he made them ludge,  
to perish every man.   

Was there in Egypt ne'er a grave,  
that thou brought'st us to die,  
In Wilderness: for now we have  
(Quoth they) no way to fly.   

Huge mountains are on 〈…〉  
the Sea is us before:  
Proud pharoh's host behind us ride,  
approaching evermore.   

But God to Moses said (quoth he)  
stretch forth thy rod, and so  
The Seas shall soon divided be,  
and on dry ground you's go.   

But upon Pharaoh and his host,  
I will me honour get,  
Who in their strength and chariots boast,  
thinking they have no let.   

For midst the raging floods profound,  
without stop or delay,  
His men and chariots I'll confound,  
before your eyes this day.   

As God had said, it came to pass,  
when Israelits were gone,  
The Sea returned where it was,  
Egyptians died eachone,   

In wilderness of Shur again,  
they water found no where,  
And then 'gainst Moses did complain,  
when as they camped there.   

TO Marah when they came at last,  
they knew not what to think,  
The waters had so bitter taste,  
thereof they could not drink.   

This place was Marah called to name,  
or bitterness: for why?  
The bitter taste from water came,  
no Israelite could try.   

And now 'gainst Moses, murmur fast  
those people undescreet,  
Till GOD show him a tree, which cast  
in waters made them sweet,   

An ordinance GOD made them hear,  
and here the people proved  
Of all the world to him most dear,  
and best of him beloved,   

Yet when to wilderness of Sin  
they came, (betwixt Sinai  
And Elim) they again begin,  
to murmur and to cry   

Against Moses and Aaron the Priest,  
wishing that by GOD'S hand,  
In Egypt they had died at least,  
when ere they left that land;   

For when (quoth they) by Egypt's pots  
we sat: well stuffde with flesh,  
The bellies full of bread, (GOD wots)  
we eat, did us refresh.   

Now GOD at evening store of quail  
sent them; the morning tied  
Great store of Manna, without fail,  
lay on the mountain side,   

Six days they did the same collect,  
for each an Omer full,  
here men may mark a strange effect,  
though that their brains be dull.   

GOD'S providence to them was such,  
when they collect this meat,  
None had too little nor too much,  
to spare or yet to eat,   

The sixth day they collected still,  
as much as served the morn,  
The seventh, or Sabbath day, GOD'S will  
was it should be forborn.   

Yet divers went that day to prove,  
to find it on the ground,  
But GOD the occasion did remove  
of sin, for none was found.   

Some others heaped it up therefore,  
though GOD did them forbid,  
Vild crawling worms they got in store,  
in that which they had hid.   

And yet into their Sabbaths' food,  
though it was a long kept,  
GOD'S providence to them was good,  
no vermin therein crept:   

At last they came to Rephidim,  
where they did much annoy  
Their GOD: for now they rail on him,  
that did them there convoy.   

Because they could no water find,  
they murmurde at the first,  
Against Moses, saying is't thy mind,  
to kill us here with thirst,   

Then Moses cried unto the LORD,  
saying what shall I do,  
This people all with one accord  
to stone me almost go,   

Then GOD again to Moses spoke,  
and there did him direct  
Elders of Israel to take,  
and rod of great respect   

Into his hand, wherewith He smote  
the river: for behold  
Thy name I will still save from blot,  
as I have oft thee told.   

In Horeb on the rock I'll stand  
before thee; thou shall smite  
The Rock with rod, then I'll command  
the water out come quite,   

That all the people than may drink,  
than Moses did so right.  
Then through the Rock the waters sink,  
in Israel's Elders sight.   

Then Massah called he the place.  
and Maribah, because  
Of Israel's contentious case,  
whose tempt had no pause.   

Now by those proofs we may perceive▪  
that GOD'S great mercy yet  
Is towards man, though he as slave  
to sin, doth sin commit.   

Though Sarah old did misbelieve,  
GOD'S promise to her made,  
And through weak faith her God did grieve  
God kept what he had said▪   

Though Heaven and earth shall pass away  
and stars, and Sun and Moon,  
GOD'S blessed Word shall near decay,  
what He speaks shall be done.   

For at appointed time he came,  
which Sarah thought o'ergone,  
And did return to Abraham,  
and Sarah had a son:   

In whose seed are the Nations blest,  
of all the spacious earth,  
In whom we live, we move and rest,  
blessed be that Virgin birth.   

The covenant which GOD did make,  
with Abraham He kept,  
For Abraham's seed did never lack,  
things needful, though they slept.   

And though they did their GOD offend,  
for Abraham's sake, therefore  
Though GOD in Egypt did them send,  
He guards them evermore.   

And when their number greater was,  
that Pharaoh waxed afraid  
Of them, yet would not let them pass,  
but still their journey stayed,   

GOD then in Egypt wonders wrought,  
and by his mighty hand,  
Through the red sea his people brought,  
drowned all did them gainstand:   

Yet at Pihahiroth and Shur,  
at Marah and at Sin,  
And Meribah they made great stir,  
murmuring themselves within:   

Though so they did, and that God swore,  
that these should not enjoy,  
The fertile land was them before,  
GOD did their seed convoy;   

For Abraham's sake, to that same land,  
which He to him had sworn  
To give his seed, to whom as sand  
in number should be borne.   

Thus may we see GOD'S clemency,  
was, is, and doth remain  
Still towards ingrate man, though he  
can ne'er from sin refrain,   

We see GOD'S people whom He lovde,  
did tempt Him every way,  
The justest man that ever moved,  
seven times doth sin a day.   

Then happy are they who die young,  
they fewer sins commit,  
Yet babes who lack the speech of tongue,  
are not found free of it.   

For though they're free of actual sin,  
yet sin original,  
Which did in Paradise begin,  
to hell will bring us all,   

Unless GOD'S mercy us prevent,  
by Faith into CHRIST'S blood,  
We have our lives in sin so spent,  
nought else can do us good.   

For since Adam and Eve did sin,  
and towards GOD rebel,  
In them did then our sin begin,  
by which we merit Hell:   

And if a man though ne'er so strong▪  
do wrong but one his like,  
Must he not satisfy that wrong,  
or else let justice strike;   

Much more than man offends his GOD,  
who's party both and judge,  
And in His hand holds justice rod,  
where can man have refudge?   

Likewise our fault is found so great,  
we can it ne'er amend,  
Therefore God's justice doth us threat  
with shame and fearful end.   

But here God's mercy doth prevail,  
and pacifies his wrath.  
He satisfaction for our fail,  
desires and not our death.   

But what way can we satisfy,  
Our God for our offence,  
Our lives, yea souls, in no degree  
our miss can recompense.   

Yet since God sees that we no way,  
can expiate his ire,  
He pities us: if we assay  
to do his blessed desire.   

And then himself the way finds out,  
himself to pacify,  
God's mercy great is without doubt,  
here towards man we see.   

For why the Lord the balm doth find,  
to salve up Satan's wound,  
Which men could never call to mind,  
who most in wit abound.   

CHRIST'S precious blood it is the balm,  
that salves each Soul its sore,  
And makes sins surging seas be calm,  
which Satan's rage made roar.   

It is the ransom must us save,  
from Satan, hell, and death,  
The means to raise us from the grave,  
to gain eternal breath.   

So since we see the LORD doth please  
to save those who repent,  
And salve their sin-sicke Souls disease,  
through grace when they relent,   

Then let us strive Him to obey,  
and glorify His name,  
Who loves not see His children stray,  
nor yet to suffer shame.   

In sinner's death the LORD of bliss,  
doth not delight, believe,  
For He hath sworn, that He doth wish  
them to repent and live.   

He bids them knock, He open shall,  
ask, and they shall receive,  
Seek, and they'll find, and this is all  
that any heart can crave.   

Should then not we our GOD still love,  
who both our horn exalts?  
And for our well, who from above,  
begs pardon for our faults,   

If that a man condemned to die,  
were saved by a Knight,  
Or some great man, would then not he,  
serve that man day and night.   

Through sin we are condemned to hell,  
the great and second death,  
GOD who in mercy doth excel,  
us saves by sacred Faith;   

And more than this, His only Child,  
He gave unto the cross,  
For our offences great and vild,  
the guiltless life did loss.   

And whilst his life they took away,  
Our Blessed LORD said so,  
Forgive them FATHER ay Thee pray,  
they know not what they do.   

Should we not then still endevore,  
to serve the LORD of life,  
Who hath us saved evermore  
from death and Satan's strife,   

Who framed us likewise all of nought,  
and did our Souls redeem,  
From death and hell, whilst Satan sought  
of bless us to exeme,   

For first our GOD grants to receive  
amends for our misdeed,  
And since amends He cannot have,  
Himself finds the remeed.   

And last of all, He is content,  
Himself the mends to make,  
And for our sins He doth assent,  
His own Son's life to take,   

What obligation then have we,  
towards our gracious LORD?  
Who hath from hell thus set us free,  
O then in one accord!   

In Faith, and love with hearts contreit,  
let us our spirits raise,  
And yield to Father, Son, and Spreit,  
Thanks, Honour, Glory, Praise.   
FINIS.