A true DESCRIPTION OF THE PASSION OF OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST: As it was acted by the bloody jews: And registered by the blessed Evangelists.  
In English Metre by JOHN BULLOKAR, Calend. Novemb. 1618.  
LONDON, Printed by George Purslowe, for Samuel Rand, and are to be sold at his shop near Holborn Bridge. 1622.   

A true DESCRIPTION of our Saviour's PASSION.  

Wrapped in our sinful flesh, yet free from sin,  
The loving-worlds' Redeemer long had sought,  
Unto himself the stubborn jews to win,  
With mighty signs & wonders daily wrought:  
But wished fruit his zeal could never gain:  
He ploughed the sands, and reaped but loss of pain.   

And when he had full thirty three years space,  
For men, and with men dwelled on earth below,  
Lending rich treasures of his heavenly grace,  
To pay those countless debts that Sin did owe.  
The time was come, that should our God restore  
To heaven above, from whence he came before.   

Whose passage must by Death prepared be,  
(As erst the holy Prophets had foretold)  
That so his death from death might set us free,  
Whom sin from life, as slaves to death had sold.  
So deadly was the devilish Serpent's sting,  
That nought but God's death, life to man could bring.   

Which to assure us, ere he parted hence,  
He leaves behind for our immortal good,  
A full release of Adam's first offence,  
Scaling the Charter with his dearest blood:  
That man might see his love, and learn thereby,  
To loathe the sin that made a God to die.   

Yet never could the powerful stroke of death,  
Nor Fate, nor Chance, nor Satan's secret blow,  
Nor humane force enforce him yield his breath,  
Until his Will gave leave it should be so:  
The jews might rage's, yet heaven had fore decreed,  
He chose to die, though they did act the deed.   

But lest the sudden storm, if unforetold,  
Should drown the seeds of Faith so lately sown,  
Or make new kindled love of him grow cold,  
In weak conceits not to perfection grown:  
He shows them every thing must come to pass,  
That of him in the Scripture written was.   

And knowing that the hour approached now,  
To his small number of Disciples, he  
Plamely foretells his death▪ and manner how:  
Withal, the time when as his death should be,  
To strength their doubtful thoughts, & make the know,  
He could foresee, though would not shun the blow.   

Two days there are (saith he) and then the Feast  
Of Easter comes, when Moses did command,  
In memory that Israel was released  
From hard oppression of proud Egypt land,  
The Paschall lamb should yearly eaten be,  
Of all their seed, whom God had Io set free.   

But now the old Law's end approacheth nigh,  
These shadowing Figures shortly must away:  
The Son of man shall be betrayed to die,  
And on the Cross the world's great ransom pay,  
To free it from infernal Charon's power,  
Whose tyrant rage would life and soul devour.   

Thus having warned, whilst at Bethania he,  
Received in Simons house, doth there remain,  
A woman by him late from sin set free,  
Doth come her loving Lord to entertain;  
Bringing a box of Alabaster fair,  
Filled with an ointment, costly, sweet, and rare,   

O Love! sole life of Peace, and death of Strife:  
Strong knot to tie: sweet union of consent:  
Thoughts purity: fair Map of Angel's life:  
Heavens new-made Livery: Nurse of all content:  
How true it is the world of thee doth say?  
That whoso love's, can brook no long delay.   

The curious Box she breaks, and quickly pours  
This precious liquor on her Saviour's head;  
Whose sweet distilling drops full mainly showers  
Adown his neck, and on his garments shed,  
Refining all the air near which they fell,  
With fragrant odour of their pleasing smell.   

But envious Malice soon occasion finds,  
This woman's godly meaning to reprove:  
Some standers by do murmur in their minds,  
As discontent to see such zealous love.  
His own Disciples too that sat at board,  
Do grudge such cost bestowed upon their Lord.   

Why need this needless waste be made (say they)  
Of what was worth three hundred pence at least?  
It better had been sold, and given away  
To poor for alms, against this holy Feast:  
'Tis pity such sweet oil so dear bought,  
With idle vain expense should come to nought.   

Thus they: But Christ that sought to save his foes,  
Forgets not now to help a friend at need:  
He soon perceives the grudging thoughts of those,  
That were mislikers of this woman's deed,  
And mildly doth rebuke them for their sin,  
With praise of her that did the work begin.   

O why should you, whom I have chose for mine,  
Against your loving Lord offended be?  
Why should your murmuring hearts with spite repine  
At her, whose faith wrought this good work on me?  
Take heed, this lesson first was learned at Hell,  
To grudge at grace, and envy doing well.   

The poor may be relieved when you will,  
No want of them the earth doth ever find:  
But me you shall not have amongst you still:  
The work's now done that heaven had erst assigned,  
And she that knew I shortly hence must go,  
Against my burial did this cost bestow.   

Of truth therefore I say, in each place where  
The world's Redemption shallbe preached or taught,  
This woman's zeal shall be related there,  
In memory of what she now hath wrought.  
Great love shall surely reap a great reward:  
Heaven does the heart, not outward shows regard.   

By this, the Priests and Scribes, whose hearts were set  
A fire with burning spite, and deadly hate,  
At Caiaphas' palace are together met,  
In council closely to deliberate,  
How they might jesus take by subtle train,  
And with some show of justice have him slain.   

Yet must we not (say they) in any wise,  
At this great Feast, in such a course proceed,  
Left the rude people should against us rise,  
Or stir rebellion to withstand the deed:  
His words, his works, and doctrine have been such,  
That him as now we cannot safely touch.   

But Satan fearing, lest by this delay,  
His long-desired work should rest unwrought,  
Presents them with an unexpected way,  
Whereby their mischief might to pass be brought,  
judas one of the Twelve, whom Christ had chose,  
(Unhappy wretch) to this assembly goes.   

There doth the Traitor set his Lord to sale,  
Mongst those he knew long sought to suck his blood:  
Whose precious worth this caitiff counts so small,  
He bids them make the price as they thought good:  
What will you give me, (thus doth judas say)  
And I into your hands will him betray?   

O blessed Lady! hadst thou present been,  
When thus thy Son by thievish hands was sold  
To bloody Merchants, it had soon been seen,  
How dear true owners wel-got pearls do hold:  
Thy tender love had pitched the price so high,  
That jewish wealth one hair should never buy.   

But thou true picture of pure piety,  
Resignst to heavens decree thy proper right,  
Suffering a damned wretch contemptuously,  
To make a market of thy dearst delight:  
Then hie thee, hie thee, since the case so stands,  
Come buy thine own from these Priest's murdering hands.   

And judas, O if greedy hope of gain  
Entice thee thus thy Saviour to forgo,  
Why dost thou show thyself so fond vain,  
As offer him to those that hate him so?  
His friends (I wis) would give more money for him,  
Then scornful foes, whose pride and spite abhor him.   

O what would Lazarus, new brought to live  
From grave, have paid to keep his Lord from death?  
What price would Magdalen refuse to give,  
That loved her Master dearer than her breath?  
Or Martha, and his Virgin-mother too,  
That loved him more than all the world can do   

Yea leave the earth, and ask of Angels bright,  
What they would give thee for their King divine?  
(Doubtless to get him home) their chief delight,  
They would exchange their heavenly state for thine:  
O hadst thou thus made sale of Christ before,  
Thy guilt had been the less, and gain the more.   

But Sin with self conceit itself still blinds,  
Daring, without respect of what it may:  
Witness false judas, who with desperate mind,  
Tells proudly to the Priests, he will betray:  
As if the Maker of heaven, earth, and seas,  
Were in his power to use him as he please.   

They glad with others blame t'effect the deed;  
Whereto their proper malice would aspire,  
Resolve to prosecute it now with speed,  
And thirty pence appoint him for his hire.  
He strait accepts the wages they assigned:  
'Slight gain soon sets to work a willing mind.   

Ah judas, sink of sin, and earthly shame,  
First luckless lamb that strayed from Christ's dear fold,  
Monster of mankind, vile reproach of fame;  
Sequestered from all grace, most impious bold:  
Blind reprobate (alas) what hast thou done,  
To buy hell fire with sale of God's dear Son?   

O did thy wretched eyes so grieve to see,  
Three hundred pennyworth of oil bestowed,  
Whose costly value should advantaged thee,  
If thy false hand had sold the same abroad:  
That now to make amends for such shrewd loss,  
Thou must betray thy Saviour to the Cross.   

Did this bad crop spring up from heavenly seed?  
Did Christ's example such vile thrift maintain?  
Ah no, he taught thee by his Word and Deed,  
T'abhor the muddy mind of worldly gain,  
T'embrace pure thoughts, whose safety fears no fall,  
To hurt no man, and to do good to all.   

But thou (unchanged) a graceless Imp of hell,  
With jacobs' spiteful sons, in sin art grown;  
Whose malice did their brother joseph sell  
For twenty pence, to Merchantmen unknown:  
Yet joseph was preferred to honour high,  
And called the Saviour of the world thereby.   

So Christ thy Lord, by thee sold to be slain,  
Though death and hell strive both to press him down,  
Shall Phoenixlike with glory rise again,  
And win by death an everlasting Crown:  
That in his Name, eternised without end,  
All knees in heaven, in earth, in hell may bend.   

The Feast of sweet bread now was hard at hand,  
And spotless paschal lambs were marked to die:  
When Christ's Disciples came to understand  
Their Masters will in this Solemnity:  
Where wilt thou (say they) we prepare for thee  
The Passeover, that now must eaten be?   

Strait blessed Peter readiest to obey,  
And john, whom jesus always held most dear,  
Are called for, and sent without delay,  
To make provision for this heavenly cheer:  
Receiving by their Lords directing care,  
A sign that showed them where they should prepare.   

You two (saith Christ) shall now this task begin  
At yonder town, where you shall surely meet  
A man, as soon as you are entered in,  
Bearing a pot of water through the street;  
Him follow, wheresoever he doth go,  
What house he enters, enter you also.   

Ask of the owner for some place, where I,  
With my Disciples, may this Supper eat;  
And he (I know) will show you by and by,  
A parlour room, well paved, fair and great,  
Which will be fit: make ready there for me,  
For there shall this last Supper eaten be.   

O happy Feast held by a heavenly King,  
Where bread of life with bounty was bestowed:  
No more a Type, but now a figured thing,  
True Rock, whence pure sin-cleansing waters flowed:  
Sweet antidote, whose virtue sets man free,  
From deadly surfeit of forbidden tree.   

When thou wert made, each ceremonious Rite,  
●hat had prefigured better things to come,  
●y God's appointment was abolished quite;  
●ew Sacraments succeeding in their room:  
Whose worth in Christ who worthily embrace,  
Adopted are new heirs of heavenly grace.   

Clear light was then in place of shadows brought:  
●igures for better Truth exchanged away:  
●he joyful Gospel for the Law was taught;  
●nd Mercy crowned, where justice erst bare sway:  
New Life was borne, and Death began to die,  
In this great Suppers heavenly mystery.   

●here did the King of Glory think no scorn,  
Leaving behind a pattern for us meet)  
●ith girded loins addressed in servile form,  
●o stoop and wash his own Disciples feet:  
That those which after should the Gospel preach,  
Might by himself be cleansed, ere they did teach.   

●●t this is not yet all that then was done:  
●or the new-spoused Church redeemed so dear,  
●he precious Body of God's only Son,  
●as instituted to be eaten here:  
That blessed Body borne for sinners good,  
True Manna, fare exceeding Angels food.   

Such wisdom did th'Almighty workman show,  
In altering shadows into substance true:  
Such humble service did a God bestow,  
Pure humbled thoughts in proud man to renew:  
Such precious cates were by our dying Lord,  
Bequeathed for ever to this heavenly board.   

The bright Sun now with Western clouds was hid:  
Dim darkness on the earth began to grow;  
Nor day, nor night it was, when jesus did  
With his Disciples to this Supper go.  
And as they ate, he spoke: Of truth I say,  
That one amongst you here shall me betray:   

They strait with dead pale looks bewray their fear,  
And gaze together, doubtful to suspect:  
As mazed persons wont are, that hear  
A sudden presage of some dire effect:  
And willing there their innocence to try,  
Each after other said: Lord, is it I?   

judas that felt himself near touched herein,  
Wondering to hear his guilt so soon made known;  
And fearing, silence might disclose the sin:  
(For Craft and Treason still are linked in one)  
Asked last of all, feigning himself dismayed,  
Lord, is it I? Christ answered, Thou hast said.   

But woe be unto him that makes this match;  
Selling the Son of man to sinner's spite:  
Fare better had it been for that vile wretch,  
●f he, unborn, had never seen the light.  
O ten times happy life, that liveth well!  
But cursed is he that life's, to live in hell.   

These threats in judas could breed no remorse,  
That black detested action to abjure.  
Obdurate hearts, though warned, yet still wax worse:  
Like rotten ulcers mastering Physics cure.  
So hard it is, except God's grace be strong,  
To save that soul where sin hath harboured long.   

Peter, whose daunted thoughts could take no rest,  
Until the author of this ill were known,  
Makes signs to john, who leaned on jesus breast,  
To ask his name, whose sin should cause their moan.  
Resolving boldly, if in him it lay,  
To kill the wretch did plot his Lords decay.   

But Peter's purpose could not come to pass:  
The hateful traitor closely sits concealed:  
In secret john demandeth who it was,  
And Christ in secret thus to him revealed:  
Who next receives a dipped sop of me,  
Shall do the deed, the rest hereof are free.   

O john, dearst darling of thy dying Lord!  
Earth's flower, heaven's star, pure virgin, foe to lust:  
What pen can worthily thy praise record,  
Or blaze thy blessed name with titles just,  
That foundst such grace to ask and understand,  
When none of all thy fellows durst demand?   

Soon after in the dish Christ dips a sop,  
And gave it mildly to his murdering foe;  
Who unrelenting takes and eats it up:  
But strait the devil entered in him tho;  
Urging his traitorous heart still more and more,  
To execute what he had vowed before.   

That which thou dost (saith Christ) with speed fulfil:  
Not animating him to do the deed:  
But showing by these words, the great good will  
He had, that man's salvation should proceed:  
For which absented from his Father's sight,  
His love thinks long till it be finished quite.   

Whereto these words were spoke, none then did know,  
Only (perhaps) false judas understood:  
They thought Christ bade him buy, and to bestow  
Some thing in alms, to do poor people good,  
Or for the Feast provide: thus Error too  
Helps forward what this Traitor means to do.   

But see how apt man's frailty is to sin,  
When humbled thoughts with pride are overthrown?  
These late-amazed Disciples now begin,  
(Forgetting quite Christ's last example shown)  
To reason hard in words, and disagree,  
Who should among themselves the greatest be.   

Ah foundlings! is your Master cumbered now  
With humane error of his dying day?  
Hath one amongst yourselves conspired how,  
By treachery, to take his life away?  
And can you, warned hereof, misspend your time,  
In idle folly of ambitious crime?   

O pluck up sin whilst yet the root is young:  
Surcease this variance, breeding but offence:  
Weep your own loss, wail your Redeemers wrong,  
And wish to die with him in innocence:  
Rather than strive to be exalted hire,  
As pampered worldlings, in their pride, desire.   

But Christ o'ercome with that exceeding love,  
Which from the world had chose them for his own,  
Suppressed with grief, forbearing to reprove  
This folly, and defect of duty shown:  
Yet to make known their faults, and strife appease,  
He gently warns them in like words to these:   

Supremacy and honour is embraced  
Of profane Potentates, and earthly kings;  
Not worthy those desires whose thoughts are placed  
On better love of God, and heavenly things:  
For such, though greatest, must inferior be,  
And minister to those of low degree.   

The master who doth sit at meat alone,  
Exceeds the servant that attends his will:  
Yet you to me this duty have not shown,  
For I do minister among you still:  
And by humility example give,  
How such as are my followers ought to live.   

But you for my sake have abandoned clean  
The late-loued world, renounced yourselves and all,  
And in my greatest temptations always been,  
Abiding with me since I did you call:  
And therefore I appointed have for ye,  
As God my Father doth appoint for me:   

I mean a Kingdom, not of earthly bliss,  
Such as mortality aspires to get:  
But one in heaven that perpetual is;  
Where, at my table you shall drink and eat:  
Where you shall sit on seats, as is decreed,  
judging the twelve great Tribes of Israel's seed.   

So spoke our Lord, when from the table rose  
judas, full fraught with hel-nurced desperate sin,  
And hastily out of the house he goes,  
Leaving his Master and the rest within,  
True type of heavenly bliss at latter day,  
When no bad bides, nor good doth go away.   

And now doth Christ in sweetest speech commend  
His love, and mutual concord to the rest,  
With promise, that he would from heaven send  
Another Comforter to make them blest:  
Whose presence should abide for evermore,  
And teach them all the truth they heard before.   

His peace likewise he doth among them leave,  
Exhorting perfect unity in one,  
A growing: branches from the Vine receive  
Their fruit, and bear not of themselves alone.  
Forewarning too, that troubles, hate, and spite,  
Should shortly for his Name upon them light.   

Which to endure, without grudge or despair,  
He cheers them up by his examples still:  
Concluding lastly with a fervent prayer,  
That God would bless and keep them from all ill.  
As that together they in one might grow,  
As he himself was with the Father, so.   

The night is now fare spent, the Supper done;  
The Grace is said, the Table took away:  
The Guests are risen, and the work begun,  
For which the Son of God on earth did stay:  
judas is coming with a kiss to greet him,  
And with the Eleven, Christ goes forth to meet him.   

A place there is, where (raised from lower ground)  
A goodly fruitful Mountain threats the sky;  
Whose top with Olive branches shadowed round,  
Forbids the heat of heavens bright burning Eye,  
And overlookes a garden fair and sweet,  
Close situated to Gethseman street.   

Hither, as was his often former guise,  
When he in private for his Church would pray,  
Or did his own Disciples catechise,  
This last night our Redeemer took his way:  
That so he in a Garden might restore,  
What Adam in a Garden lost before.   

And by the way thus warns: All you this night  
Shall run in scandal great because of me:  
For it is written, I will surely smite  
The Shepherd, and his sheep shall scattered be:  
But when I risen am from Death below,  
To Galilee before you will I go.   

Ah poor Disciples, weak and miserable,  
Now is at hand the comfort-killing hour;  
The hour of fear and darkness palpable,  
Whose foggy damp shall in your hearts obscure  
Bright beams of Faith, and yet lend light to see,  
How frail and feeble of yourselves you be.   

In one way now together all do go:  
In diverse (shortly) all shall scattered sly▪  
True faithful followers now yourselves you show,  
As ready with your Lord to live and die.  
Yet daunted with base fear, you shortly shall  
Renounce your truth, your faith, your Lord & all.   

Thus still fresh cause of sorrow Christ doth find,  
His over-burdened senses to dismay:  
Erewhile he troubled was, to think in mind,  
That one of his own Twelve should him betray:  
And now not one alone, but all the rest,  
Shall false their faith, & leave their Lord distressed.   

Alas, sweet Saviour, who shall comfort now,  
The dreadful terror of this sad night's fear?  
Thy Father threats the sword with angry brow,  
Against thee, for our sins, which thou must bear.  
Thy mother wails, thy friends shall all forsake thee,  
Whilst death devising foes conspire to take thee.   

O might the merit of thy bitter pains,  
Endured for all alike, alike redound  
To all of Adam's sons, whom death detains,  
Some consolation herein would be found:  
But (O dear God) thou know'st how few indeed,  
For all these torments shall the better speed.   

And to th'increasing of thy griefs, dost see  
Millions of misbelieving Souls misled  
With sins sweet bait, or infidelity,  
Shall run into perdition void of dread:  
Scorning thy Cross and Passion suffered here,  
Or valuing light what thou hast bought so dear.   

But Peter hearing what his Master told,  
And clear in conscience from so black a sin,  
Presuming of his strength with courage bold,  
To promise for himself, doth thus begin:  
Though all the world offended were in thee,  
Yet herewith spotted Peter would not be.   

O Simon, Simon, (thus doth Christ reply)  
The subtle Fiend your settled thoughts to quail,  
Hath sought to sift you all as wheat, but I  
Have prayed for thee, that thy faith might not fail.  
Thou therefore once turned to the perfect way,  
Confirm thy weaker brethren what thou may.   

To whom th'Apostle, (grown more confident,)  
Lord, I am ready with resolved heart,  
Not only to endure imprisonment,  
Or in such slight affliction take thy part,  
But with thee lose my life, if need require,  
To show my love, and further thy desire.   

The wakeful Cock (saith Christ) twice shall not crow  
This night, till thou hast three times me denied:  
Yet Peter cannot be persuaded so,  
But plights his faith most constant to abide:  
At which, the rest, seeing his courage such,  
By solemn vow, protest to do as much.   

O what high tasks can rashness undertake,  
Ere difficulty of the work be known?  
What vaunts can overweening humours make,  
Which in an instant will he overthrown?  
Great odds in what they'll do, and what they speak:  
Their words are strong, their deeds will be but weak.   

Boldly they boast themselves, resolved to slay,  
And die with Christ in such a quarrel good:  
Yet one small storm shall blow them all away,  
And he for them must bide and shed his blood.  
So feeble are th'attempts by man begun,  
When heavenly grace is not relied upon.   

But Christ in mercy doth not sue the debt,  
Which they by vow stand bound this night to pay:  
Knowing their weak estates unable yet,  
He well is pleased to grant a longer day;  
When after his Ascension they shall,  
In unknown shores be wider scattered all.   

Then shall self-penance scourge the trothless blame  
Of this night's work, that now their work defaces:  
Then shall they boldly preach his healthful Name;  
Not recking danger, or the world's disgraces:  
Then shall they go to prisons joyfully,  
And for his Truth's sake glorious Martyrs die.   

By this, the Lamb of God, who for man's sin,  
With willing steps, went meeting to be slain,  
And made a Sacrifice: is entered in  
The Garden with his yet-unscattered train;  
To whom he sorrowing speaks, Here sit & stay,  
Whilst I withdraw myself awhile to pray.   

Then Peter, james, and john he takes aside,  
When strait with an exceeding fear oppressed,  
His stonisht senses could no longer hide  
The grief, that had surcharged his guiltless breast.  
My soul is heavy to the death, saith he,  
Abide you here, and watch awhile with me.   

Accompany thy Saviour, O my Soul,  
In outward signs of inward griping woe:  
Break forth in sighs, and with true tears condole,  
The dreadful horror that torments him so:  
Sith for thy sake this sorrow pierced his heart,  
Good reason in his grief thou bear some part.   

See how that heavenly face is altered quite,  
Scarce to be known by what it was even now:  
Dead-pale usurps the seat of red and white:  
And Care sits figured in his wrinkled brow.  
Distressful fear seems drowned in watery eyen,  
That overwash his cheeks with weeping brine:   

Like as the bright Sun in a Welkin fair,  
With pitchy mist on sudden overcast,  
Shoots forth his beams in vain to clear the air:  
Cloud upon cloud still thickening wondrous fast:  
Black night doth over-hang the shadowed land,  
Threatening a cruel tempest out of hand.   

Or as the Sea tossed by some boisterous wind,  
Doth mainly beat upon the quiet shore,  
Swells in huge waves above due course of kind,  
And with selfe-motion laboureth more and more:  
Such is the troubled state, and deep unrest,  
Wherewith our Saviour's soul is now oppressed.   

O heaven's great'st strength, and Angels chiefest joy,  
Earth's hope, hell's fear, true God omnipotent!  
What grief can vex, or terror strange dismay  
Thy spotless soul with such sad languishment?  
What terror can these pangs of passion breed,  
Which make thee seem not as thou art indeed?   

Is death, the entrance to felicity,  
The final date of all terrestrial woe,  
The glorious triumph of thy victory,  
The way by which perforce all flesh must go,  
So dreadful to affright thee, like as those,  
Which here on earth their highest bliss repose?   

O wherefore didst thou leave thy heavenly Throne,  
And shroud a Godhead in our mortal frame?  
Why hast thou here by signs thy might made known,  
And taken to thyself a Saviour's name?  
If not to quell the rage of hellish powers,  
And lastly by thy death to redeem ours.   

If now (woe worth the while) thou shouldst give o'er,  
And leave thy work so near an happy end;  
Who then (ah who) shall promised health restore  
To us, whose hopes on thee alone depend?  
No Son, but thou, of earthly mother bred,  
Hath power to crush the cursed Serpent's head.   

●n outward show thou didst pretend of late,  
An inward longing for this present time;  
●rging the Traitor to accelerate  
The issue of his il-conceived crime:  
Yet now the hour and judas both are nigh;  
Thy courage fails, and thou art loath to die.   

But oh! what have I said? can fear dismay,  
Whom, moved to wrath, the earth doth quake to see?  
Can his thoughts change so soon, whose power doth stay  
All powers in stable order as they be?  
Ah! no defects impair not heavenly store;  
And he is now the same he was before.   

This sad eclipsing fear, that seems so dim,  
The glorious Sunshine of his Deity,  
Can never have a rising cause from him,  
But from our nature's imbecility;  
Which, though supported by celestial grace,  
Yet faintly shrinks, and shows of what it was.   

In what he hath assumed our feeble flesh,  
Therein he trembling faints, and stands dismayed:  
Like as that strength we have in our distress,  
Comes not of us, but of his heavenly aid:  
To right our cause, his Godhead suffers wrong:  
He weak by us, and we by him are strong.   

When first made Adam joyless all alone,  
In Eden's beauteous Garden did remain,  
To fashion Eve he gave his proper bone,  
And had with flesh the place filled up again:  
So Christ's deare-loved Spouse the Church still wears  
His rib of strength, and he her frailty bears.   

Retired about a stones cast from the rest,  
Hemmed in with horror, such exceeding weight  
Of earth-committed sins his soul oppressed,  
That on both knees he falls, and after strait,  
His pain increasing, prostrate lies to pray,  
That from him this sad hour might pass away.   

Ah, Abba, Father, which all things didst make,  
And dost preserve them made, (if so may be)  
Bow down thine eyes, and for thy mercy sake,  
Remove this bitter cup of wrath from me.  
Yet let not my will be fulfilled herein,  
But thine (dear Father) which hath ever been.   

Full oft elsewhere good Christ did intercesse  
For us, and never had one suit debarred:  
And yet folliciting his own distress,  
Obtains not of his Father to be heard:  
For God so loved the world, that now he gave  
His only Son from sin the same to save.   

Who Lamblike mild in league with heaven's decree,  
Folding earth-dwellers in as dear embrace,  
Would, pleading for himself, repulsed be,  
That for us praying, he might still find grace.  
O rare obedience, perfect zeals true sign,  
How much own we for this great love of thine!   

But now he riseth from the dewy ground,  
To visit his Disciples left distressed,  
And finds them all securely sleeping sound:  
When waking Peter, (heavy as the rest)  
O Simon, art thou now asleep? (quoth he)  
What? couldst thou not watch one bare hour with me?   

As he would say, Wert thou of selfe-accord,  
So prodigal of vows, with timeless speed,  
And dost so soon neglect thy helpless Lord,  
In drowsy slumber at his greatest need?  
Ill canst thou in my safeguard spend thy blood,  
That wilt not wake to do thine own soul good.   

Not so false judas, who for petty gain,  
Sleeps not a wink this night, nor can forbear:  
Posts round the waked streets, calls up his train,  
Solicits help, seeks armour every where,  
Marshals his Band himself, and thinks a year,  
Till he may come to apprehend me here.   

O shame! that Satan's slaves so forward are  
In acting mischief, that shall bring damnation;  
And you, to save your souls, devoid of care:  
O watch and pray therefore, lest ill temptation  
Oppress your faith: the spirit fain would do it,  
But that weak flesh is hardly brought unto it.   

Not yet through-waked, he leaves them slumbering still,  
And fraught with fears, departs again to pray,  
Impulst by weakness of his humane will:  
O Father, if this cup in no wise may  
Pass by, unless the potion work in me,  
Thy heavenly pleasure let performed be.   

Thus this good Shepherd, jealous of his sheep,  
Whom ravening Wolves, he knows, will soon molest,  
Watches with care, whilst they securely sleep,  
And sighs alone, that they in peace may rest:  
Not sparing to engage his proper life,  
To save them all from slaughtering butchers knife.   

His prayer ended, he returns again,  
And finds like comfort, that he found before:  
They still slept hard, unable to refrain  
One minutes rest; and, which did grieve him more,  
So careless of the former words he spoke,  
Quite unprovided what excuse to make.   

O now what horror in this soul doth dwell?  
●aked of help, forsaken all alone,  
●●ught by his bloody foes, assailed of hell,  
betrayed, or else neglected of his own:  
Given up by heaven to die with painful shame,  
And bore the burden of all sinners blame.   

awake, my soul, run forth with joy and dread,  
〈◊〉 to this garden where thy Saviour lies;  
●●ere shalt thou see the Book of life wide spread,  
●ith lessons stored of heavenly mysteries:  
There shalt thou see thy truth, thy strength, thy food,  
Thy way, thy life, thy light, and all thy good.   

●here shalt thou see the way of patience,  
●he Sun-bright lamp of burning charity,  
●he perfect pattern of obedience,  
●he mirror of profound humility,  
The root of love, the goal of virtue's race,  
The salve of sin, and fullness of God's grace.   

●here shalt thou see the strength of Israel's weal,  
●●at valiant David, thy most loving God;  
●●est to the fight, armed all in fiery zeal,  
●●rning with hot desire to spend his blood,  
And wash away the foul opprobrious blot,  
That threats vile bondage, if he secure not.   

Emboldened with exceeding love of thee,  
Here in these paled lists alone he stays,  
Expecting till his foes arrived be:  
Mean while accumulating sundry ways,  
With willing mind to his al-ready store,  
Such pains, as never flesh did feel before.   

O with what sorrow did the nobler part  
Of his pure soul, where Reason hath her seat,  
Pity th'inferior, where weak Sense doth smart?  
How faithfully for it did he entreat,  
Until at last, concorded both in one,  
They jointly cried, Father, thy will be done.   

Yet though this blessed Union did gainsay  
Detract of time, whereto faint flesh aspires,  
From the Disciples he departs away,  
And to his praying place again ●et●es,  
And there the third time, doth with tears implore,  
Using like words as he had used before.   

When lo, an Angel gliding through the air,  
Appears to him, from starry Region sent,  
Which makes him for a while desist his prayer,  
To hearken what this heavenly Herald meant:  
Who nearer comes, with sweet speech comforteth  
His fainting Lord, against dismay of death.   

Sweet jesus, how art thou dejected now,  
From sublime glory, to disgrace and fear?  
Most true it is the Prophet spoke, That thou  
Art somewhat lower made then Angels were,  
Since in thine agonizing languishment,  
To comfort thee, an Angel down is sent.   

See, see, O Angel, how thy Maker lies  
Below, and here on earth, afflicted sore;  
Whom, placed in majesty above the skies,  
With fear and reverence you do all adore:  
Wonder of wonders, the like never done,  
How can thine eyes endure to look thereon?   

Can rivers add unto their fountains slow,  
Through whose supply, those streams they have, do run?  
Can branches help the quickening root to grow?  
Or palefaced Moon lend light unto the Sun?  
How canst thou, Angel, comfort then his mind,  
In whom thyself dost all thy comfort find?   

But this, O man, must needs on thee be laid,  
Whose flesh's frailty, and sins earned smart,  
Doth with surcharging horror so invade:  
That even almost forgetting his best part,  
(His Godheads power) be sdaines not in this dread,  
Of his own creature to be comforted.   

And yet, alas, this comfort could not cure  
The death-sicke dolours of his wounded heart:  
But now the time grew on, his body pure,  
Unto the dreadful Cross, must needs departed;  
And rising up, he thus to them did say,  
The man was near, that should their Lord betray.   

No sooner had our Saviour told this news,  
But strait the traitorous judas with a kiss,  
Betrayed his Lord and Master to the jews,  
A cruel act, which lost eternal bliss:  
The sands on shore in number are not told:  
His sundry faults pass number to unfold.   

O let me breathe, before I do proceed:  
Surcharging loads will crave a little rest:  
The grants are small to them that stand in need,  
That will not bring some comfort to their breast:  
And he that writes what doth in wicked lurk,  
Shall breathe him twice before he end his work.   

Look how the Sea-fowles on a stormy day,  
Do flock themselves about the Ocean shore;  
As thick as Leaves when Summer fleets away,  
So throng these jews unto him more and more:  
Cruel reward! he aught to them good will,  
And they, like traitors, sought his blood to spill.   

●●en from the Garden they their Master brought  
〈◊〉 to the Priests and Elders of their crew:  
●●ey bore false witness, there his life they sought.  
●ch cried, that death should be his only due:  
Labouring (indeed) as much as in them lay,  
To take the Life of lives, their Lord away.   

●●d then from thence they dragged him to his death:  
●●en to the Cross they nailed his hands and feet:  
●●en did they stop their blessed Saviour's breath:  
●●en did they him with scornful titles greet:  
And now the Scripture true is brought to pass:  
For he amongst the wicked counted was.   

〈◊〉 now the hour of death being fully run,  
●●e heavens were dark, he to his Father cries;  
〈◊〉 God, my God, why dost thou leave thy Son?  
●●d ending so, his soul from body flies.  
A happy death, since death doth make us live:  
And blest be He, that blessed life doth give.   
FINIS.