THE BETRAYING OF CHRIST. JUDAS in despair. The seven Words of our Saviour on the Crosse. WITH Other Poems on the Passion. LONDON. Printed by Adam Istip. 1598. TO THE RIGHT Worshipful, Sir Nicholas Walsh Knight, chief justice of her majesties court of common pleas in Ireland, and of her highness counsel there. ALbeit (right Worshipful) that the art of Poesy is in sort dealt withal, as Cacus once used Hercules oxen, when he drew them backwards up the hill: being customarily in these days wrested and turned to the fooleries of Love, and such like base subject of fancies abortive births, converting Poetries employment to follies use, and wit ill spent runs violent that way, with the current of error. Yet hath it a native divine offspring and issue, whereof partaking kindly, floats with a calm tempered gale from all miscarrying wrack, to the harbour of a quiet applause. The upright and best approved censure I presume gains your Worship's virtuous allowance, to whose wisdom and gravity associate with an heroical spirit, I dedicate affections testimony by these unpolished lines, craving your favourable fault-shadowing view, if in the manner any thing appear defective, trusting that as a fruitful tree the more it is fruitladen, the more it declineth, so your plenteous accomplished virtues will humble them in daining to accept the love I reverence you withal: wishing your Worship World's prosperity, and heavens happiness. Yours in the best endeavours of affection. S. R. The betraying of Jesus EVen when no beauties of the garnished sky Had left the view of Heaven-makers wonder, And Phoebus' steeds were galloped posting by Their hasty speed had got the world's half under, Yea every creature that had life or spirit, Mourned at the dark approach of ugly night: An host of swartest sable foggy clouds, Wrapped in fair Cynthia from her silver shine, Mantling her brightness with their obscure shrouds As though heavens lamp were come to latest fine, Her cannapie of stars was eke unseen, Where on she wont mount, imperious Queen. The airy winged people gone to rest, Had cleared with day, not left a note unpaid, All other creatures that might be expressed, In caves and holes for nights repose were laid, Of wild, or tame, none ranged or ran astray, But ravenous, by dark that hunt for pray. Thick misty vapours were dispersed foul, Prohibiting day-followers to be seen, Dispensing only with the shrieking Owl, And eyes that Nature put lights hate between, Such as were banished from the face of day, To lurk the covert shameless night away. Then child of utter darkness, lights offence, Entitled: The lost son of perdition, Hired against his Lord for thirty pence To be a traitor under hell's commission, In this night's time, did rebel troops increase To manage arms against the Prince of peace. Toward Cedron brook th'accursed leader goes, With horse and foot, weaponed with lance and spear, His blessed master used that walk he knows, Unworthy wretch had oft been with him there, Oft as a friend the place he did frequent, But now foe-harted, treacherous of intent. As in a garden Adam disobeyed, And there became a captive to the devil, So in a garden jesus was betrayed, To suffer death for Adam's former evil: Within a garden Adam's crime offended, For which Christ was in garden apprehended. And as in pleasure's garden at the fall, For Adam's clothing, dead beasts skins God gave, In evidence that death went over all, And that his garment might presage his grave: So Christ in garden tomb and dead man's shroud, Defrayed our debts, with payment best aloud. Over the brook, to garden they repair, (Swift were their feet about the shedding blood) Even to the place that jesus used for prayer, Where he entreated grace for sinners good, Where he consulted to redeem and save: Thither they came, resolved his life to have. With easy search the guiltless may be found, Whose quiet thoughts and peace unite in one, A voice, Whom seek you? threw them all to ground, A power divine, to make true godhead known. jesus came forth, encountered them with breath, And they at once fell backward all to th'earth. Had then his will consented to his power, If justice had appeared, and mercy hid, They had descended hell that sinful hour, Like Corah, Dathan, and Abiram did, Where th'one was seandale to the servant done, The other was rebellion 'gainst the son. While jeroboam stretched his threatening hand (Right insolent and full of daring pride) To stay the Prophet, giving strict command, judgement laid hold on him, his hand was dried: But these in arms, and violent enterprise, Though thrown to ground, do unrepentant rise. Death's harbinger unto Damascus town, Then bloody-mind Saint-persecuting Saul Was with like powerful voice from heaven thrown down, But to conversion grace employed his fall: With greater favour, bliss can none acquaint, Then crown a grievous sinner, glorious Saint. But these whose hearts were hardened, sight extinct, Haters of knowledge, children of the night, Atwar with God, in league with Satan linked Gross darkness followers, shunners of the light, Stiff necked, stubborn, and rebellious jews, Contemn salvation; offered grace refuse. Wisdoms beloved, Israel's wisest king, Doth say the wicked cannot sleeping rest, Till they are pleased with some ill done thing; The worse deed, the doer likes for best: A minute spent in good, seems long loathed day, A night of sin, but moment stolen away. How toilsome tedious had that watching been, If virtue had persuaded thereunto, But Owle-eied they became to compass sin, Fit was the time so foul a fact to do: That work of darkness, joined with darkness power Might meet together all in darkness hour. When they should rest, their malice not endured it, For malice never closeth sleeping eyes, And when they should not wake, revenge procured it, Revenge, doth hourly, some revenge devise, Who rides the devil hath no curb they say, For malice draws, and fury spurs away. Th'unseemly uproar, to the night unkind, Happening as frightful as in fires danger, Caused him make haste that left his clothes behind, Hardly entreated, like unwelcome stranger, For in retire, his case like joseph's stands, Who left his garment in his mistress hands. 'Twas no offence springing from his intent, That did demerit violent force resist him, Yet pawned he shirt for skin before he went, Gladdest when naked gone that rage had missed him, What furies guided this misguided swarm? To bend their force against unthoughted harm. When traitor meets, these acquaint deceits he had, In gesture, kind embracements with a kiss; In words, All hail, God save thee, or be glad; Yet murder, blood, and death, lies hid in this, This cup of gold did poison's draft begin, This green had serpents lurking hid within. The word All hail, served joab to salute, (Good words do often make for ill pretence,) But Abner found a mortal stab the fruit, While falsehood spoke, 'twas murder did incense: Like that, was this of judas false intent, By word, God save, the deed Destroy was meant. All hail, the Angel reverently did use, With heavenly tongue, to holy virgin's ear, All hail, in Pilat's hall they did abuse, That scorning Christ, presented ave there, Highest in favour of all women gained it, And chiefest sinner of all men, profaned it. First word it was, God's gracious love tu'nfold Beginning at our saviours incarnation, First word wherewith false judas bought and sold, Whose traffic turned Christ's death, his own damnation. What profit his that all the world should win? With soul in deaths eternal debt by sin. Why comest thou friend? what meanest thou, jesus said, At th'instant hour my prayers and tears commend thee, To give a kiss whereby I am betrayed, And with, All hail, brings troops to apprehend me? I term thee friend, ungrateful as thou art, That showest nor friend nor yet disciples part. To call thee friend, it doth thus much betoken, No cause in me hath canceled loves desire, But they revolting hath our friendship broken, Unaltered I remain the same entire: If thou with David, I have sinned, couldst say, His answer thine, Thy sin is done away. Return thee with repentant hearts embrace, And mercy shall with justice doom suspend, I left not thee, why dost thou run from grace, Though thou hast sold me, still I call thee friend, But if thou wilt not be reclaimed back, Be thou thyself thine own souls wilful wrack. When murder had saluted, treason kissed, And bribery embraced with sign of gladness, In which the traitor's service did consist, Then pressed the jews on Christ with furious madness, Like hunger-panched wolves prone to devour The lamb subjecteth to their ravening power. Right manly valiant Peter did him bear, When no disciple durst attempt the like, T'unsheath his sword, and cut off Malcus' ear, Against an armed multitude to strike, Danger and fear are cowards turned aside When manhood is by resolution tried. But jesus did no human forces need, That legions had of Angels at command, And Peter had no charge to fight, but feed The flock of sheep committed to his hand, It was God's will to suffer, not resist, His power gave power, and sin did what it list. He was content, their violent force should bind him And lead him thence unto the torturing place, To tear his flesh with whips to mock and blind him, To buffet and to spit upon his face. T'accuse him false by slanders lying breath, To doom him sentence shames most odious death. Judas in despair. TErrors torment my tortured soul perplexed, Fell furies fright, and hale me on away, To caiphass and the rest with horror vexed Goes Simons son, God's son did false bettay, Such is my sin against that guiltless blood, No balm in Israel left to do me good. They answered, careless of my wretched state, What's that to us? Look thou thyself unto it, Then vengeance I expect, grace comes too late, Resolve no less, for that you bribed me do it, Satan seduced, I acted the offence, Despair is come, there lies your thirty pence▪ I am perditions child, outcast forlorn, All hail in word, but in the heart all hateful, It had been good, so bad had near been borne, That of all creatures am the most ingrateful: Oh had I never lived, surviving shame Had unreported hid my odious name. Base covetousness no more Gehazi's sin, My interest in that crime doth thine control, Thou waste but leper of polluted skin, My leprosy is a defiled soul: Thou took'st a bribe against thy masters will, But I was bribed to kiss, and kissed to kill. Mary's good work Christ promised to commend Perpetually in everliving praise, But my vile act beyond all stinted end, Shall evidence I trod the left hand ways, My title thus the Scriptures shall record: Judas Iscarioth, that betrayed the Lord. Three evils in one I did commit, in this That 'gainst the King of glory I have done: Deceit betrayed with show of kind-ment kiss, Covetousness incensed, that sin begun, Impudent boldness did intrude the deed, Ere any moved or wished me to proceed. I knew the choice, and gainful happy way, That heavens gate, was straightest door to enter, I taught the world, take heed broad paths do stray, And yet myself the wide-gate wilful venture, Like Noah's workmen, such my state is found They built an ark for him, themselves were drowned. I have excluded faiths resolved trust In him by whom the true repentant live, Cain-like affirming nought but vengeance must Reward my sins, mercy no such forgive: My heart's indurate, hardened, unrelenting, Past is the deed, the doer past repenting. Though ' David found remorse to wail his sin, ' And nathan's comfort, eased his mournful task, Distrust and horror have so hemmed me in, That might I have, I hopeless will not ask: Fear, shame, and guilt do haunt me at the heels, Of judgement, men, and what my conscience feels. My dying soul, refusing living mean, Denies with heavenly Manna to be fed A sea of tears can never rinse it clean, Yet could one drop, that drop should ne'er be shed. What tears, what prayers can his atonement make, Whose portion is in vengeance fearful lake? Mine inward conscience doth soul's ruin tell, Authentic witness, and severe accuser, Where I abide, I feeling find a hell Tormenting me, that am self torment chooser: Sound conscience well is said like brickwall of brass; Corrupted, fit compared to broken glass. More blind than those whose sight sight giver gave, More deaf and dumb than any that he cured, More dead than Lazarus in his stinking grave, When he death's vault till fift days bail endured. Not eyes, ears, limbs, tongue, body, have defect, It is my soul, that salving heavens reject. If first borne man, the first of desperate mind, By whom the first of guiltless blood was shed, Did say, There was no grace for him to find, But vengeance must be heaped on his head: Let me (sins monster, mass of cursed evil) Bid Satan welcome, and embrace the devil. When Christ shall come in clouds, and sins be scanned, All Adam's sons expecting rightful doom, Iwretch amongst the goats shall trembling stand, The right-hand sheep, afford no traitor room, To cry Lord, Lord, this answer shall be got, Depart you cursed, hence I know you not. The casting out of devils then objected, Will cease no wrath, extenuate no dangers: Not words with God, well doing is respected, His Citizen's deeds difference from the strangers, Me thinks I hear the judge, stern, full of ire: Pronounce my sentence to eternal fire. Was I not called to heavens royal feast? I was: but came as one that little cared, How came I? brutish like unreverent beast, Wanting a wedding garment, unprepared: Bold daring wretch in such a sacred place, To press in sins cast suit, rent, torn, and base. But fearful guerdon for so foul attempt, Allseeing eyes beheld my rags bewrayed, And most severely thence he did exempt, Bind him both hand and foot (his justice said) And cast him out, no such may here partake, The Lamb with Zion, Satan and the Lake. Would I had never known Apostles place, Would I had ne'er been messenger of truth, Would I had never preached the way to grace, Would I had ne'er been borne, or died in youth: Who knows his masters will and doth neglect it, Sore stripes and many shall severe correct it. I must salute Ashur and elam's trains, To drink with Tubal of the wrathful cup, Edom invites me to th'infernal pains No time of grace, with Christ again to sup, Now feast where teeeth are gnashed & hands are wrong, Where Dives begs for drops to cool his tongue. Down by the way that Corah went to hell, Like Dathan and Abiram to descend Where furies, fiends and damned ghosts do dwell, And ever torments, never know an end, Let earth divide and opening swallow then, The most accursed of all the sons of men. The man that from jerusalem descended, And happened in the hands of bloody thieves, A pitiful Samaritane befriended With mercy, and his hard distress relieves: Such holy love, true charity supplied him, Pity was present and no grace deni'd-him. But I from new jerusalem retired The restful Canaan, happiness unbounded, For thirty pence hells journey being hired, In Satan's snares I fell, that thief hath wounded: And priest is past, Samaritane gone by, Seeing me cureless, careless let me lie. Ah Magdalen sour sorrows turned thy sweet, Well didst thou weep to wash, and washing gain, With hairy towel wiping jesus feet, Thy true repentant tears did grace obtain: While I thy virtues sought to have disgraced, Terming that holy work, A needless waste, But happy woman, guiltless waste ' controlled, How falsely did I wish thy ointment spared? How covetous said I, Better this been sold And given the poor, waste for the poor I cared? Ah no, my guilty conscience doth deny it. I bore the purse, and would have gained by it. Samson, till Satan fierce Philistine caught me, And in his rage put out my spiritual eyes, Then blind in sin, to Cayphas house he brought me, Against the pillar where all mercy lies, I bent my force to move the corner stone, Destruction fell, myself destroyed alone. Like jezabels, so my corrupted thought, When she complotted for good Naboths' ground, Clear purchase 'twas, her wile his vineyard bought; Such seemed my bribe, I held it money found: But see how soon sweet sins convert to sour, I loathe for ever, that I loved an hour. These three divide my soul, Fear, Thought, & Anguish▪ Their interest is the forfeits of my fall, But while in claim they striving let me languish, The roaring Lion comes and seizeth all: Insatiable serpent pleased with nought but this, Both soul and body must be granted his. If graceless outcasts in this world begin To taste of second death's tormenting power, If souls surprised by self-wrought murdering sin, Turn vengeance glass to run a stayless hour, Then here in earnest of perpetual care, I wear damnation's livery, black despair. Divorced from mercy, alienate from grace, Reft of repentance, wedded unto evil, From highest calling, down to lowest place, From chosen Twelve, a singled outcast devil; From th'holy city loved of God so well, Within whose streets may no uncleanness dwell. When Christ foretold intended treason nigh, By one of us his guests to be betrayed Each strait enquired, Lord is it I, or I? But my demand had answer, Thou hast said. I that was fed that night with loves regard, Returned the giver treason for reward. Dark night, black deed, blind soul, and Satan's slaves Did fit, defile, destroy itself, did further, With shade, with sin, with death, with clubs & staves, Tintrap, betray, condemn, assist to murder, The Lamb of God, the rock, the door, the vine, The Angel's brightness, heavens eternal shine. Much worse, though joab-like I gave a kiss, I prized my birthright base, at Esawes gain, I putchased hell with loss of heavens bliss, And in effect, exchanged joy for pain. Oh foolish sot, vile earthly dross esteemer, To sell true life, dead Adam's sons redeemer. Thou partial hand swayed sword of Peter's drawn, I should been mangled, and not Malcus' ear, Like currish dog, it was my flattering fawn, Did bite my master worse than any there, Mistaken champion in thy valour swerving, To give his ear my treacherous hearts deserving. I was chief actor in the jewish spite, I was a captain to that rascal rout, I wrought the tumult of that guilty night, I was blind guide, to that they went about, They all expected notice come from me, Till craft had kissed, they knew not which was he. False tongue, pronounced All hail to hurtful end, When hollow heart sequestered loves true zeal, heavens mildness asked, Why art thou come friend? Strait violent hands, not words, our thoughts reveal. Call him not friend, that savours most offoe, Term me thy hangman, for I merit so. In death's pursuit, insatiate thirsting blood, We posted thence to Priests, with rudest throng, Where purest lamb before his shearer stood, Pleading not guilty, by truths silent tongue, there's craft accusing, hate helps to devise, And falsehood forgeth, in a mint of lies. My impious eyes beheld without remorse, The graceless usage of heavens gracious king, Scorned, spit at, mocked, yet repentance force, Sought not for shelter under mercy's wing, In all these evils I pitied not his pain, Till being condemned, then grieved my grieves in vain, No true contrition had my faults defence, Though I confessed I sinned in his betraying, 'Twas desperate satisfaction came from thence, For faith was lifeless, should been vengeance staying, Wrath is gone forth, was Moses admonition, But lights on me, that am for wrath's perdition. What wondrous objects have mine eyes beheld, Deaf, dumb and lame, the blind and cureless, cured; The stubborn winds with checking calmly stilled, The dead reviv'd, death's sleep four days endured, Five loaves, two fish, five thousands satisfied, Yet more then much, spare crumbs were multiplied. My taste did witness water turned to wine, One cured that touched my masters vesture hem, Commanded devils forth men, to enter swine, And in the sea destruction plunging them, Mine ears have heard, and eyes have seen the sight That Kings have wished, and Prophets never might. Yet he that's called manslayer from beginning, Deceiver, dragon, serpent, father of lies, God of this world, author of human sinning, Hardner of hearts, blinder of spiritual eyes, Prince of the air, malicious evil spirit, Made me hell's guest, whom heavens did kind invite. Like as the braving green, but barren tree (That flourished fair when not a fig was found) Christ cursed with, Never fruit grow more on thee, Because it did no good, but cumber ground: So fares the false deluding show of mine, Green leaved beginning, withered fruitless fine. Can sins-besotted, hell-path wrandrers, see The horrors on an outcast wretch imposed, Or sense the inward worm that gnaweth me, (Bondslave to bondage never to be loosed) They would retire the flesh most fearful race, To avoid hell's jail, obtained with loss of grace. Me thinks my conscience turns a black leaved book, Titled Distrust, dedicate to Despair, Where covetous eye and traitorous heart do look On vengeance lines, pointed this period, Care; The argument is shame, the subject sin, The index thus explains the evils therein: Apostle once, increasing Christ's eleven, B agbearer, to the charge of purse assigned, C alled to preach salvations path to heaven, D estructions heir, the worst of wicked mind: E nvying at good work by others done, Faithless to God, false hearted to his son. G reedy to gain on earth. with heavens loss, H opelesse of mercy, in sin's most distress, I udas whose kiss presaged Christ's dying cross, K nowledge contemner, errors foul success. L oitrer in holy harvest, place abuser, M urdrer of life, mine own damnation chooser. N ached of grace, the foulest ere defiled, O ffences actor in the highest degree, P rovoking wrath, from mercy's throne exiled, Q venching the spirit, that erst gave light in me, R enouncing glories race to gain the crown, S eruant to sin, whose hire pale death lays down▪ T raitor to God, that breathing earth deluded, U nholy-thoughted, full of bitter gall, W oes querister, from Angel's quires excluded, X pian the outward, inward, not at all, Y oaked by sin perpetual, Satan's slave, Zeal in his service lost, that none can save. This register records the race I run, By characters spelling my future woe, A tragedy by me must be begun, On hell's black stage, for there to act I go, Since eyes of God, and all in heaven abhor me, I will descend, the pit hath consorts for me. Cursed be the parents that engendered me, Cursed be the womb that bore, and paps that fed, Cursed be the day when I world's light did see, Cursed be the hour my soul from grace was led, Cursed be the time when I did entertain Cursed affection, to accursed gain. Retire for ever from the sweet society Of Peter, james, and john, true heirs of grace; Converse remain of Time, with all impiety, No eye henceforth shall view Christ's traitors face, End loathed days, my fact abhors your light, Wrap me from eyes cole-faced eternal night. saul's frightful guest, that sense depriving spirit, Outrageous raving fury whispers, Hang thee, What Zion tunes, or David's harp delight, Can cease or ease the horrors that do pang me? Then be my instrument one jarring string, And triple woe, the howling note I sing. Bush-creeping Cain, beholding for thy end More to an arrow, than the mark-mans' aim▪ I do disdain blind Lamech should befriend, None in my tragedy shall action claim: But I and Satan we have both agreed, To leave the world a desperate damned deed. Not to dismount a check-cloud earthy heap, Or make soul passage by a poinard point, Nor to bequeath the sea a drowning leap; But fatal cord shall crack my breathing joint, Absalon's tree, proud Hamans' halter-knell, And I the hangman, like Achitophel. Led on despair, confounder of my spirit, Direct unto some nook of hellish shade, For shames sake, be it gloomier then that night In which by me heavens brightness was betrayed: Blacker than death, more sable hewed then hell, Where sulphur flames, with utter darkness dwell. Harder than Pharoahs' ten times hardened heart, Bloodier than Abel's butcher, far inclined: End traitors life, begin a hangman's part, Let hangman's part perform thy desperate mind, Thy desperate mind be witness thou'rt accursed, Rend heart, drop blood, gush bowels, belly burst. ❧ Peter's tears at the cocks crowing. COme sharpest griefs employ repentant eyes, Task them as bitter drops as ere were shed, Send tears to earth, and sighs up to the skies, This instant hour a Soul and Sorrows wed, Sweet tears and sighs, at dolours dear requests, Come you & yours my hearts right welcome gests. Let eyes become the fountains of my tears, And let my tears be floods to moist my heart, And let my heartful of repentant fears, By tears and sorrows, turn a true convert; At base objections of as base a maid, With oaths and curses I have Christ denayed. The watchful bird that sentinels the morn, Shrill herald to Aurora's early rising, That oft proclaims the day ere day be borne, Distinguisher from pitch-faced nights disguising, Surceased to heed, why nature taught him crow, And did exclaim on me for sinning so. O haughty vaunts resembling skie-bred thunder, How far remote your actions stand aloof, A coward heart keptwords and deeds asunder, Stout champion brags are quailed in the proof. Weak woman's breath hath overthrown a rock, And human pride is daunted by a Cock. hearken this birds rebuke; and hearkening, fear: False perjured tongue, now are thy boastings tried, Christ hardest fortunes part thou vowdest to bear, But lo a cock doth crow it, thou hast lied: Thy deedless words, words unconfirmd by truth, Have turned mine eyes to tears, my heart to ruth. The days approach that whilom nature tasks, He chanted not, nor meant black nights descending, But foul faced sin, from scarffing words unmaskes; Ply bitter tears your suit, for wraths suspending, Eyes that when Christ sweat blood, secure did slumber, Now shed more tears then truthless tongue can number. Lament my soul thy state, a state distressed, Thou art revolt from true felicity, Sigh sorrows forth, let griefs weep out the rest, Weep wretched man replete with misery, Let never eyes give cheeks a space to dry, Till tears regain lost grace in mercy's eye. Weep saltest brinish tears, the more the sweeter, Weep satisfaction, sins repentant soul, Weep frail disciple, woman-daunted Peter, Weep weakling, subject to a cocks control, Weep Christ's denial, worst of all thy crimes, And overweepe each tear ten thousand times. O God from whom all graces do abound, For thy assisting aid I humbly call, Lend mercy's hand to raise from sinful ground, And being on foot, protect against like fall, Thy favours Lord I truly do implore, Rising to stand, standing to fall no more. Th'egyptians grieving of the jews, And the Philistians vexing Saul, The mocks the children once did use T'offend God's Prophet therewithal, And Michols scoffing Israel's king, Were common wrongs, a daily thing. Such wrongs, of wrongs usurp the name, To those extremes to jesus done, The world hath never known like shame, Of that sin laid upon God's son, It had been just, on man accursed, If sorrows had performed their worst▪ But when a pure and holy life, With spot or blemish never stained, Twixt God and man shall umpire strife, To be himself for guilty pained: What wrongs so great, what pains were such? Who but a God would do so much? The seven words of Christ upon the Crosse. Pater ignosce illis, quia nesciunt quid faciunt. FAther (our saviour's love to sinners, cries) Forgive them this their sin to me hath done, For they by whom my tortured body dies, Know not they murder thy life-giving son: What I endure, in flesh and spirit dividing, They do it through blind ignorance misguiding. Oh Charity of wondrous Admiration, And patience far extending human sense, Sunshine of grace, to deed of dark damnation, True pardoner, to pardonless offence, Not craving ease for self sustaining woes, But favour for his persecuting foes. Pleading for those whose tongues did most defame him, Soliciting for them that did accuse him, Excusing such as wickedly did blame him, Tendering of love where hatred did refuse him, Their ordured souls seeking so to refine, Grace might reduce them to celestial shine. His suit imports, his holy thoughts did say, Inflict not justice on these sinne-defiled, Upon my flesh thine anger's burden lay, Grant nothing be to thee unreconsiled, Lest my redemption should unperfect seem, Or any sin I did not full redeem. He would not have our sins ascend up so, That they should come unto his father's sight, Nor yet his father's vengeance fall so low, That on us sin committers it should light, But placed himself betwixt both wrath and sin, True reconcilement, by true love to win. For Murderers that 'gainst his life transgressed, With meekest love he humbly craved grace For such, as their vile sin left unconfessed, And still spit venom in their maker's face, That pierced his heart, from which his blood abounds, To them he gives acquittance for his wounds. They to the City would not back repair, Ere cruelty have left him life-deprived, He would not die, before his fervent prayer, Entreats to have their dying souls revived, His spirit from forth his body past no rather, But forth his mouth went with it, Pardon father. FINIS. Amen dico tibi, hody mecum eris in Paradiso. TRuly I say, that am heavens glory giver, To thee true penitent repentant thief, This day, from a defiled and sinful liver Shalt thou be Sainted in exiling grief, With me this day thou passest to the blessed, In Paradise, where glorious Angels rest. Even at the wane of life, the dying hour, This happy thief did offer God his heart, His days were dedicated to Satan's power, Only remained one moment to convert Wherein he gave his heart to him that ought it, Preventing him that long in hope had sought it. The hellish foe stood bold upon his claim, Because to thieves he is misguiding guider, But heavenly friend did countermand the same Being sinners father, Mercies firm provider No sooner did his true contrition say, Lord think on me, but Satan lost his prey. Cain's offering was a sacrifice of corn, Abel's the Lambs, (the meekest unto slaughter) Anna's the son that of her womb was borne, Jeptha's his sole and dear affected daughter, No weathers, Abraham doves, and David gold, Melchisidech of wine did offerings hold. All these did offer things of great esteem, Yet none so rich as this poor thief presented, An offered heart to God doth greater seem, Than what by heaven and earth can be invented, Nothing more grateful unto Mercies throne, Then gift of heart, due debt to heaven alone. That debt of all the thefts which he had done, His satisfaction rightly did restore, Repaying in one hour to the Son, What all his life robbed father of before, Obtaining grace, for all deserts of strife, To be recorded in the book of life. His wandering courses are retired from danger, Unto the harbour of a Christian rest, He lived to new jerusalem a stranger, But was at death free Citizen professed, With Christ on cross, gaining in three hours more Than judas did in years for hours before. FINIS. Mulier ecce Filius tuus. WOman true map of griefs, object of woes, Behold thy son, sins heavy burden bears, Thy weeping eyes, Sorrows right method shows, Son bathed in blood, and Mother washed in tears, A dying Son, replete with father's hate, A pensive Mother most disconsolate. Of all affections that the soul admits, On which loves favours do most firmly build, That love in place of supreme soundness sits, Which is derived from parent to the child, Then loss of that must needs prove heartiest grief, That from the heart takes place and offspring chief. If David loved his Absalon so well, That he with weeping wished t'have died for him, Who false and disobedient did rebel, Yet did his love no whit the more abhor him, Or reverent jacob, tears abundant shed, To hear his sons but feign their brother dead▪ If holy job himself so patiented boar, To give meek ear to many a grievous cross, Destruction of his cattle, flocks, and store, Until he heard his dearest children's loss, And then his griefs extremest did abound, Renting his garments, falling on the ground. Needs must (in mournful sorrow's dire complaints) The blessed Virgin far excel all other, What soul (with dolours ever so acquaints) As this most careful comfort wanting Mother, To see her God, life, father, love and son, By bitterest torments unto death be done. No earthly love on such perfection grounded, But that the same may be defective proved, Love of the son to mother was unbounded, Son of the mother, was the like beloved. All power of Angels, powerless only proves, To weigh or measure those unmeasured loves. Of love, with woes by cross sheweping stood, There sending sighs to heaven, and tears to ground, Of love, with pains on cross he streamed blood, There death he conquered, hell he did confound. Such was his love that loved when we were hateful, To die for love, when sin was most ungrateful. FINIS. Deus meus, deus meus, ut quid me dereliquisti? MY God (said Christ) when God to God complained, My God, who am true God and perfect man, Why hast thou my distressed estate refrained, Thou dost severe sins imputation scan, Forsaken in this strait, thyself bereaving, Me to afflictions cruel'st torments leaving. Untaught (till now) was jesus to complain, Though infinite the wrongs he underwent, He welcomed every torment, grief, and pain, Afflictions could not move his discontent, All gave offence, which he imputes to none, Only his father now accused alone. When violence did with outrage apprehend him, His patiented yielding did most meekly bear it, When blasphemies with taunts of spite offend him, He silent seemed as though he did not hear it, In all the fury they did execute, He stood like lamb before the shearer mute. He not complained of Peter that denied him, Nor yet of judas that most false betrayed him, Nor those in Pilat's hall, that did deride him, Nor graceless jews (his own) that disobeyed him: But his complaint was of his father made, Not meant to those denied, condemned, betrayed. God's angry wrath severely set 'gainst sin, (The wares that Satan sold, man dearly bought) With loss of grace the traffic did begin, heavens loss, soul's death, hell's doom eternal wrought, That wrath on Christ's humanity abounded, Who only cured, what sin had mortal wounded. As man threw sin at God, as in despite, And God cast plagues, on man revenge to fall, The sin where with man 'gainst his God did fight, And punishments God chastened man withal, On Christ (that stood twixt wrath and sin) was laid, He could not sin, yet sinners sin was made. He laid our sorrows burden on his spirit, When he endured his bitter agony, He took our death on him, wounding deaths might, When he on cross, Death's conqueror did die. He underwent afflictions heaviest load, Reducing souls from hell, to heavens abode. FINIS. Sitio. I Thirst, fift word on Cross our Saviour spoke, Concluding last of griefs he suffered, His last complaint, thirst did for water make, His last request for that he uttered, His last torment was drink of bitter gall, That cruelty offends his taste withal. By travel once leaving judea land, With weary journey through Samaria, He craved in Sichar at a woman's hand, Her gift of water, his great thirst t'allayalay, While she on terms, delays and hindrance finds, Delays begotten by unwilling minds. Yet after public in jerusalem, He did proclaim to all with thirst at strife, That plenteously he had to secure them, With flowing waters to eternal life, Inviting come, true coming, free attain, That which who drinks, shall never thirst again. Such thirst-stanch rivers he to thirsty gave, That streams of grace, heavens dew in souls did shower: Yet for his own thirst, water he did crave At jacobs' well, and at his dying hour, To come and drink, he free invites all first, And at his last, himself complains of thirst. As to our thirsty souls he tendereth His grace, against all deadly thirst defence, So to his thirst, soul's duty rendereth, The purest water of obedience, There is in him, for which our wants do call, There is in us, he will be served withal. To corporal thirst strong Samson once did yield, Until the jaw-bone of an Ass supplied him: And Sisara (that vanquished lost the field) Complained of thirst, to her whose tent did hide him: And holy David thirsty, water needing, Did long for Bethlem cisterns most exceeding. But different far soul's thirst, from bodies is, Unsatisfied with springs of worldly taste, Grace gained by Christ, doth only answer this, A spiritual substance, craves the like repast, Those foodless souls, famished eternal pine, Which are unfed by th'essence pure divine. FINIS. Consummatum est. EVen when the gall of odious bitterness Was offered to our Saviour on a reed, The bitter drink of bitter wickedness, The jewish present to Christ's thirsty need, To comfort souls his gracious words extended, And sounding mercy, uttered All is ended. What tongue till then durst such a speech deliver? That all took end, which holy writ foretold, Only the tongue of sins true ransom giver, Was powerful his own mercy's power t'unfold, Holy of holies most uprightly spoke, All's ended, ending life, sins end to make. Not David, Esay, jeremy, Elias, Can in their times affirm sin took conclusion, They prophesied alluding to Messiah, That he should work the viper sins confusion, And end his life, to end foul sin, life's killer, Of all predictions to be full fulfiller. By whose own mouth (truth's soundest evidence) We hear sins end, the old law satisfied, How Mercy doth with justice doom dispense, And how the judges son hath qualified His father's rigour, no way to be done, But by th'obedience of God's dying son. The word All's ended, notice gives to all, By death of Christ, the Law was in exemption, The Church began, the Synagogue did fall, And man obtained perfect full redemption, His reconcilement was with God effected To glories throne, by grace's hand protected. High Mystery, and deep profound divine, That God by man, for man should death sustain, As strange a speech, if human wit define, He being man, should die and rise again. Yet God and man, with God to end man's strife, From life to death, from death did rise to life. Our ulcers curing, captive state enlarging, From sins infectious venom, Satan's gail, Bonds of damnation canceled, souls discharging, Descending heau▪ n, to be on earth our bail At price of life, with blood bought and befriended, Sealing salvations trust, with All is ended. FINIS. Pater in manus tuas commendo Spiritum meum. WIth blood-spent wounds, even at the point to die, The last bequest of heavens high testator, Was all eternities rich Legacy, His soul, the soul of man's true mediator, Unto his Father's hands he did commit, Yielding to Death, by Death to vanquish it. The Princely Prophet on his dying bed, Gave charge unto his heir apparent son, To work revenge on martial joabs head, For murdering deed by his offence foredone, T'abridge what nature for his date intended, And cut him off before his period ended. Including with revenge of Abners' death, The wrongs that Simei to his person did, When Absalon pursued his father's breath, Whose ass became his hangman as he rid, And wretched Simei cursing full of spite, Cast stones at David, with most wrath he might. That testament Revenge set hand unto, Imposing wisdoms tutored prince the task, To execute what he was willed do For shedding blood, bloodshedders blood doth ask, To Solomon this charge his father gave, Let them not pass in peace unto their grave. How different David's from our saviours seems? Whose will contained revenge for others act: Christ at his death forgives, sinners redeems, Solicits pardon for a murdering fact: As David dies with, Son let them not live, So Christ's yields breath with, Father them forgive. First guiltless blood to God most high displeasing, Was that just man's, which died by th'hand of Cain, First guiltless blood, God's justice chief appeasing, Was that most righteous, whom the jews have stain, And as the one's blood was a soul's damnation, So was the others many soul's salvation. The blood of Abel from earth's bosom cried, And sounded justice, justice, through the skies, The blood of jesus, at the hour he died, Unto his father, Mercy, Mercy, cries, Whereby God's title of revenge till then, Turned gracious father to repentant men. FINIS. The death of Death, sins Pardon, and soul's Ransom. O Sinful soul, the cause of jesus passion, Put sorrows on, and sighing view thy guilt, Bring all thy thoughts, fix them on meditation, weep drops of tears, for streams of blood christ split: Summon thy fostered sins, self-hatched evils, And cast them low as hell, they are the devils. Seat virtue rival, where usurping vice Had seized for Satan to possess thy heart, And though the traitor flesh from grace entice, Yet yield thy saviour his dear purchased part, The greatest love that heaven or earth doth know, Did heavens free-love on hell's bondslaves bestow. He left his father's glorious right-hand seat, To live even where his earthly footstool stands, Unmoved thereto by our submiss entreat, No suit of clay obtained it at his hands, No power in us, no human will that sought it, It was his love, grace freely given wrought it. O love of souls, death's victor, true life-giver, What charity did overcome thee so, To die, that man might be eternal liver, Being thine adverse disobedient foe? For friends if one should die, were rarely much, But die for foes, the world affords none such? An ignominious death, in shames account, Of odious censure, and contempts disgrace, On Caluarie, a stinking dunghill Mount, For murderers the common fatal place. There died the Angel's brightness, God and man, There death was vanquished, and true life began. Yet there began not jesus suffering, Nor in the garden with his soul's vexation: There he performed victorious conquering, His life was nothing else but stintless passion. From cratch to cross, he trod a painful path, Betwixt our guilt, and Gods revengeful wrath. What pains, their pains to jesus not impart? What moment tortures want did he endure? What anguish adds not to his grieved heart? What minute was he sorrowless, secure? What age, wherein his troubles were neglected? What people, but his death chiefly affected? In eyes he suffered moanful showers of tears, His face had spittings and despiteful blows, Blasphemous speech upbraid his sacred ears, Most loathsome carrion stinks entered his nose, Gaul in his mouth, the holiest hands were bound, Hands, feet, heart, head, were nailed, pierced & crowned. From his birth-hour, until his life-lost blood, What moment passed where in he did not merit? What minute scaped employment unto good, Who did implore his grace, and he defer it? How painfully his preaching spent the day, How watchfully his nights were hours to pray. Whom taught this Truth, that him for truth believed? Though truth without his presence ne'er was known? With whom did he converse and was ungrieved? How ill entreated even amongst his own? Though fox and bird could find both hole and nest, Where found his head, reposed place for rest? poverty he endured in the manger, War with the tempter in the wilderness, Exile in Egypt, forced by tyrants danger, And on the way over-painful weariness, In all his speech and actions, contradictions Laden with wrongs, burdened with dire afflictions. With hunger's sword food-giver was acquainted, And that the stone-presenting devil saw, At jacobs' well with thirst he welnie fainted, While pinching woman stood on terms to draw: All wants and woes imposed upon him still, And his obedience suffered every ill. Traitor-led troops by night did apprehend him, Haling him cruel to the judgement hall, Where all inflicted torments did offend him, And mockeries to grieve his soul withal, There judge was judged, king scorned, priest abused, And of all Just, the Just unjustly used. Thence to his death, with clamours, shouts, and cries, thieves at his side, the torturing hangman by him, His cross (his burden) borne before his eyes, Hart-lancing Longius, the Centurion nie him, His friends aloof environed round with foes, Thus unto death, soul's love, sweet jesus goes. Victoriously upon the dunghill field, He managed combat with the roaring Lion, Old serpent, death and hell at once did yield, All vanquished by triumphant lamb of Zion, Performing in that glorious bloody fight, The ever conquest of infernal might. FINIS. The wonders at Christ's death. THat instant hour the world's Redeemer died, And breathed out his soul upon the cross, heavens glorious lamp, abating all his pride, Bewailed in black his murdered makers loss, Turning his splendent beams of gold, to dross; The Moon like suited in a sable weed, Mourned for sins outrageous bloody deed. When josua (Israel's valiant captain) prayed, And in his prayer conjuring did command The firmaments bright eye stand still, it stayed▪ Till he was victor of the wickeds band, Weighting upon God's battle then in hand, Yielding the richest treasure of his light, Lengthening the want of day with day-made night. But here, reflecting light to darksome change, Shaming to see what shameless sin had done, Was more admired to alter kind so strange, Then when he ceased his posting course to run, Love to God's forces, his bright staying won, But now beholding Satan's power prevailing, He turned the day to night, in darkness wailing. At death of Christ, appeared four signs of wonder, To evidence divine and Godlike might, The first: The temples vail did rend in sunder, Next, Sun and Moon extinguished both their light, Affording darkness to blind jewish sight: Then flinty stones dividing, part in twain: And Saints from graves revived to life again. What faithless jew or graceless Atheist can With impious tongue, sound out blasphemous breath, Affirming Christ to be but only Man, Whose deity, wrought wonders after death, Wonders in heaven, strange miracles on earth? Of each beholder's heart, fear took possession, And taught the Pagan captain Truth's confession. Thou canst not say those works were magic's art, From slanders charge, Christ's power divine is free, His soul was fled, and did before departed, His lifeless body every eye did see, No charming words by dead tongues uttered be, Thou must of force confess true Godhead by it, Or say that Malice wilful doth deny it. FINIS. The Funerals of jesus. WHen joseph's suit had got the judges leave, To take sweet jesus from the bloody cross, Whose blessed life Iewes blindness did bereave, To our eternal gain, their endless loss: Christ's night-disciple aidful did agree, To take his body from that guilty tree. The Virgin mother chief in mournful tears, With holy Mary's twain that stintless wept, To Caluarie both sheet and odours bears, There must the sacred funeral be kept, Whom hearts did love, him with their feet they sought, Tears in their eyes, hands myrrh and aloes brought. Their griefs and labours they divide in parts, Partaking each t'afford some needful thing, True faith and love, was seated in their hearts, On shoulders ladders, arms the shroud do bring, Their hands have ointments, eyes with tears abounds, Tears well employed to wash his bloody wounds. With tired steps they overtook the place, Where store of weeping dew moistened the ground, The Sun was hid, night's dark approached apace, Griefs did surprise, dolours increase abound, Whom infidels nailed up, did pierce and crown, Faithful, from Cross, act holy taking down. Before the same (to sign a perfect zeal) They cast themselves so low as earth gave leave, In reverence of those wounds that only heal All feavered souls, blood-salve from thence receive: Which worship well performed, they sighing rise, And towards the cross all guide plaint-pouring eyes. The honourable two old aged men, Advised the rest respect what scanting time Remained to anoint, and shroud, and bury, than Their ladders raising, up the cross they climb; Tears, sighs, and sobs, descend each step they go, While eyes (wet Orators) replied below. On jacobs' ladder joyful Angels sing, No jar their heavenly music did restrain, On joseph's ladder tears to top they bring, And mournful sobs send sorrows down again, Those heavenly quires partake no tunes like this, Christ's bitter death, was faulty man's amiss. When hands and feet they careful did unnaile, Letting the body down congealed in gore, This was the object, Visage wan and pale▪ Eyes turned in head, his flesh all rent and tore, skull bored through, thorns spurting out his brains, Bones out of joint, and full of broken veins. Upon the ground the holy corpses being laid, Most rever'nt where the shrouding sheet was spread, His blessed Mother full of woes dismayed, Renewed her plaints with showers of tears she shed: Whom judas sold for thirty pence alive, To buy him dead, her pearled drops did strive. The task of sorrows equal to divide, At jesus head laments his pensive mother, joseph with Nichodemus at one side. And both the Maries place them at the other, Thus 'bout the mangled corpses these mourners stands With tears in eyes, with ointments in their hands. Wken kneeling round, the body they enclose, Prepared with balm, and ready to anoint it, Viewing blue wales, that came of jewish blows, Rupture of nails, wan flesh, how they disjoint it: Compassion, pity, love, with true remorse, Invited all their eyes to wash the corpse. Their knees with humble service lowly bowing, Their hands embalm him, wounded, rend and tore, Their eyes no mangled part unwashed allowing, Their hearts with worship, God and man adore, Both knees and hands, with hearts and watery eyes, All sorrow laden, tired with sighs and cries. For deep-made wounds, and torturing cruel blows, No small expense of ointments could suffice: But bounty on that holy work bestows Plenty of odours in such liberal wise, Their balm to cover him enough had been, And tears might serve to have baptized him in. His glorious body shrouded in the sheet On which to be embalmed they did lay him, With binding clothes, wrapped whole from head to feet, To be interred, his servant Saints convey him Only in arms good jesus dead they have, Within their hearts he lives being borne to grave. O mournful trod, where comforts paths are failing, Death's bed must have eternal life in keeping, Joseph goes sighing, Magdalen bewailing, there's john laments, and Nichodemus weeping, The blessed virgins eyes like fountains run, Left woeful widow to her murdered son. What pens report can tell her sorrowing heart That saw her son, the only of her womb, Before her eyes pay death, man's foul desert, And with her arms assist him to the tomb? What sorrows map like sorrow ere expressed? What eyes like tears, what tears like griefs professed. Her liquid eyes strove each t'exceed the other, By sighs her moan, by tears her woe appears, She weeps, yet is the mirth of heavens mother, Virgin in office, young in tender years, Filled with grace, eternities Princess, Excelling in perfections holiness. O Sun whose shine is heavens eternal bright, Of funeral pomp why art thou destitute, Borne to thy grave, without one candles light, Or Clergy, night precedent institute: Thy birth was simple, void of worldly pride; And in thy burial, cost was laid aside. Oh heavens riches, mercy's fountain head, When thou waste borne, no house thy parents have, Thy life was poor, thy death without a bed, Thy burial was in joseph's borrowed grave, Thou didst endure our pains, sins purchase, hell; Thou lovedst souls, lost souls, so wondrous well. Though Solomon was Israel's crown successor, And gained his kingly father's state and throne; Of David's mercy seems he no possessor, Funeral cost, or tears we read of none: But Scriptures recommend the honour done In jacobs' burial, by his grateful son. The great Priest Simon caused to be made, A monument of curious carved stones, Wherein his body after life was laid, And eke his brethren Machabes their bones: But tomb for Christ was in his life unknown, And for him dead his mother knew of none. No earthly care, souls love to him was sweeter, When unto john the virgin was commended, His enemies to Mercy, church to Peter, His soul to Father, saying All is ended: No speech he used, nor any order gave For costly funerals or a sumptuous grave. With griefs, attaining to the garden place, From which oft stays to weep and wipe did let, Pensive distressed, in most perplexed case, The shrouding sheet all moistened, slack and wet (Not with the dew descending from the skies) With tears that reigned from their shouring eyes. Oh glorious herbs this garden plot did bear, Oh holy ground trod in this journeys pains, Not for the oil of Olives growing there, But sanctified by blood from jesus veins, O earth whereon true love and griefs combine, Blood from the son, tears from the mother's eyen. The tomb prepared wherein he should be laid, From which although great pain the stone removed, Yet far exceed the suits entreaty made Before his mother yields her dear beloved, Still they solicit, still her loves deny him, Until on knees with price of tears, they buy him. The brother's son entreats his holy aunt, Persuasive reasoning humbly doth beseech, Time's brevity, good Lady, moves your grant, Let eyes do more with tears than tongues with speech: Upon detaining, now no longer stand, Dark sable night leads dangers by the hand. If foes should wrong us, bootless we to strive, How can poor three our Lords dead corpse defend, Twelve could not guard him when he was alive, Give licence this last service take an end, Much troubles cease, when by free will is done, That which constraint well near dispense to shun. Thou friend of God incline to us at length, Let our weak words o'ercome thy loves the stronger, Our heart's want comforts, all our members strength, Our tears are spent, eyes dried can weep no longer, Sorrow that holds us for her lawful prize, Hath left not one poor tear to task our eyes. Weary with importunity and weeping, A most unwilling leave the Virgin gave, Yielding her son to the sepulchres keeping, Her sweetest love to deaths most bitter grave, Like as from Golgotha, they brought him thither, All help, all sigh, all put him in together. Thus being laid into his bed of stone, By liquid eyes, and hearts of sorrowing flesh, Instead of earth their tears were poured on, A last farewell griefs cisterns yield afresh: There left they jesus that sins burden bears, Wept, wrapped, anointed, bathed in streams of tears. FINIS.