CHRISTUS NATUS EST, CHRIST is Borne. Angels clap Hands; Let men forbear to Mourn: Their saving-health is come; For CHRIST is Borne. The History of Christ his Life and Death. CHrist was borne in Bethelem a little Village in jury, not far from jerusalem: Mary (a Virgin) was his Mother, and joseph (a Carpenter) his reputed Father. He lived in the reign of Augustus Caesar, Emperor of Rome, and was put to death in the time of Tiberius. At twelve years of age he disputed in the Temple, and put down the Doctors. He was the best Master that ever was, for he gave (and to this day still gives) Heaven to his followers, yet had but bad Servants, for judas betrayed him, Peter denied him, all forsook him. He was the best Sea▪ man that ever was, for he walked upon the Waters, and at his bidding the Winds lay still. No man ever did such Cures as he did, for he raised the dead to life, gave sight to the Blind, made the Lame to walk, and cast out Devils. No man ever made such Feasts as he, his last Supper being one, where he and his twelve Disciples sat together▪ At which time, rising from Table, he tied a Towel about his middle, and then washing all their feet, he dried them with that Towel: Another Feast was, which he fed five thousands with five Barley Loaves and two Fishes: At another time (being at a wedding) he turned Water into Wine. His whole life was spent in labour, in Preaching, in fasting, praying, healing sick People, and doing miracles, yet for all this the jews hated him▪ Herod despised him, Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, the Scribes & pharisees, with all the Doctors of the Law sat in consultation together, how to entrap him, and put him to death, and for that cause hired many false witnesses, who came in against him, but they agreed not in their testimonies: yet he was betrayed by his own Servant judas, who for thirty Roman Penes sold his Master, came to him, cried, All hail, and with a kiss delivered him into the hands of such, as with Bills and Staffs in the night came to apprehend him as a Thief; He was thus haled to Prison. Then the custom of the jews, being (at every Easter) to have a Prisoner delivered to them to be put to death; and Pilate asked the people if they would have one Barrabas (a Malefactor) or Christ▪ they cried out to have Christ crucified, and Barrabas to be made free. Hereupon, Christ with strong Cords was tied to a Pillar, and with Cords & Whips scourged. At his Arraignment, he was spit upon, and struck over the face: At his coming from the Hall of judgement, he was whooped at, reviled, mocked, and miserably abused. That day then which we call good Friday, being set down for his day of Death, he was forced on his sore shoulders to carry his own heavy Cross, on which he was to suffer, & to carry it through jerusalem, to Mount Caluarie, his place of Execution: But before this, in the open Hall, the jews set a Crown of sharp pricking Thorns upon his head, struck him with a reed, and Iéered at him: To that Cross he was nailed with his Thorny Crown on; his Hands and Feet bored through, hung between two common Théeves: His side pierced with a Spear; Vinegar and Gall given him to drink as he hung: Close to the Cross stood his mother, her Sister, and Mary Magdalen: Christ said to his Mother, Woman behold thy Son. In the end giving up the Ghost, the Body was taken down; He was buried, yet rose again, and was amongst his Disciples until be went up into Heaven. O See! Man's Saviour is in Bethlem borne, His lodging base, he himself held in scorn, The Crib at which the Ox and Ass were fed, Mary (Christ's Mother) makes her young Son's bed; Yet see how Shepherds fall down flat before him, And how the Wisemen do with gifts adore him, Hark, what a heavenly Qurre of Angels sing Sweet Carols, at the birth of this new King; O happy man! when thus, (thy Soul to save,) Christ comes from Heaven, and makes himself a Slave. SEe else that Pillar, where being naked bound, Thy Christ had his flesh tore with many a wound▪ When a Cock crows, let it this grief afford, To think how Peter (thrice) denied his Lord; See judas Lantern, and see judas Pence, See the Dice thrown, to unclothe Innocence; See Pincers, Nails, and Hammers, how they mere, To nail toth' Cross, Christ's blessed Hands and Feet: O Wretched Man! where Christ for thee thus died, Let him not still by thee be Crucified. Christus Natus est Quando? Hac Nocte Vbi. Bethlem 〈◊〉 in excelsis. H 〈…〉 depiction of Nativity of Christ And for Debts which Men should Pay, Down his Life at Stake did lay. ✚ Here's a Wonder never known, A King a Manger makes his Throne. The Explanation of this Picture. A Religious Man inventing the Conceits both for the Birds and Beasts drawn in this picture of our Saviour's Birth, doth thus express them. viz. The Cock croweth, Christus Natus est. Christ is borne. The Raven asked, Quando? When? The Crow replied, Hac Nocte. This Night. The Ox cried out, Vbi? Vbi? Where? Where? The Sheep bleated out, Bethlem▪ Bethelem. A voice from Heaven sounded, Gloria in Excelsis. Glory be on high. Whilst Armies of Angels sung, Halleluiah. Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and power been to the Lord our God. Apoc. 19 1. An Epitaph upon Christ, who was Buried in a new Tomb, cut out of a Rock, in which no Man but he was ever enclosed. Within this Rock the Rock himself is laid, Who both the Tomb, and the Tomb-maker made, A Man he was, was no such man beside, None lived so just, none so unjustly died: He was in debt for nothing, yet did pay The debts of all the World at a set day. Never of Woman could so much be said, When he was borne his Mother was a Maid. He many wonders wrought▪ and this a chief, A very bad Man, made he a Good Thief. It happened well, he so by jews was Crossed, For all the Souls i'th' World had else been lost. Thirty-three years be lived: Had not he been, No Christian upon Earth had ere been seen. He died a King, yet was a Beggar borne, And wore (which no Kings do) a Crown of thorn. First went he to his Grave, from thence, to Hell, Then up to Heaven▪ And there this King doth dwell. FINIS. London, Printed for JOHN STAFFORD, 1631.