Hebdomada Sacra: A WEEKS DEVOTION: OR, SEVEN POETICAL MEDITATIONS, UPON THE SECOND Chapter of St. Matthewes Gospel. Written, by ROGER COCKS.   Woodcut printer's device, featuring a bearded face (not in McKerrow). 
AT LONDON, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston for Henry Seile, and are to be sold at his shop in St. Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the Tiger's head. 1630.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, JAMES, LORD Strange.  

POetry (noble Lord) in these lose times,  
Wherein men rather love, then loath their crimes,  
If hand in hand with piety she go,  
(Though without blushing she her face may show)  
Finds but cold welcome, such things only take,  
As flatter greatness, or fond fancy make  
A bawd to base delight: yet graver eyes  
No sacred lines (though rudely drawn) despise,  
And such are yours: upon this work of mine  
Vouchsafe to let them fall, or rather shine,  
With kind acceptance do but deign to grace it,  
And envy shall want power to deface it.    

To the Reader.  

REader my fortunes are so meanly friended,  
I come into thy presence uncommended:  
Nor would I have thee for Encomiums look,  
Or frontispiece, fare better than the book,  
My vein is not so high, to be commended,  
Nor yet so low, but it may be defended,  
By one sole Patron: Some that carp will gather,  
This is no Poem, but a Sermon rather,  
But let them know who thus severely note it,  
No professed Poet, but a Preacher wrote it.    

A WEEKS DEVOTION.  

Sundays Meditation, or the first Canto for the first day.  
The Argument.  

Christ's obscure Birth described, the Place,  
To which he did vouchsafe such Grace.  
The Time when he was borne is named:  
The jew for unbelief is blamed.   

WHen Caesar famous for his Gallian war,  
Had ended that unnatural civil jar,  
Twixt him and Pompey, and by his defeat,  
Got him a greater name than that of great,  
Perpetual Dictator, Envy rose  
To join with coward Murder, and depose  
Virtue from bearing rule, the Senate made  
A bloody shambles, and a covert shade.  
For horrid treason, was the fatal place,  
Where his black tragedy was wrought, in base  
Unmanly manner, falling by the hand,  
Of an unthankful Brutus: the command,  
Of Rome's fair Empire then in three did lie,  
Augustus, Lepidus, and Anthony:  
Lepidus soon gave o'er, whether in doubt,  
Had he held still, he could not long hold out,  
Or for some other reason, t'other twain,  
Shared equally Rome's glory, and the gain  
Of foreign kingdoms, till at length there past,  
(For great men's friendship doth not always last)  
Unkindness 'twixt them, Anthony had wed  
Augustus' Sister, but forsook her bed,  
For Egypt's Cleopatra, This gave fire  
To new dissension, his unjust desire  
Must be made good by Arms, for gentle words  
Turn him to fury, our impartial Swords  
Shall soon decide this difference said he,  
And soon they did indeed, fate did agree  
To second his proud saying, for his forces,  
Broke by Augustus' powers, he life divorces,  
From her weak hold, and being thus o'ercome,  
Caesar went back triumphant unto Rome.  
Augustus now having sole rule, soon brought  
His Provinces in awe, all humbly sought  
To have his friendship, some few▪ did rebel,  
But with undaunted courage he did quell  
Their vain attempts, and to his fame's increase,  
Established through the world a welcome peace.   

While janus' Temple was shut up and war,  
Chased back to Pluto's kingdom, while no jar  
Kept out soule-joining concord, whose sweet art  
Did Spears to Mattocks, Swords to Ploughs convert,  
While Noah's Dove brought in her mouth (the Mark  
Of general peace) and Olive Branch toth' Ark,  
Christ the celestial Solomon was borne,  
That King of peace, whose Amalthaean horn,  
Poured peace and plenty on us; so they say,  
That when the Eagle flies abroad to prey,  
The prattling birds are silent, should not then  
Wars tongue be silent, when the best of men  
Like to a Royal Eagle from his nest,  
Came from the Virgin's womb in manhood dressed.  
When haltions build their nest, & breed their young,  
The Seas are quiet, the wind finds no tongue,  
'Twas fit the world should have the like behaviour,  
When the pure Virgin did bring forth our Saviour.  
Philosophers observe the dews descent,  
Is in a clear night, when the wind is penned 
Aristotle.   
In Aeols prison: and the Prophet told  
Christ should come down like dew, and such, behold,  
Was his sweet entrance, never was the earth  
So much refreshed by dew, as by his birth,  
Fit was it then for wars loud noise to cease,  
That this dew might come in a calm of peace.   

If in two Kingdoms, suppose Spain and France,  
Which long in hostile manner did advance.  
Arms against arms, one Kings eldest son  
Marries the others daughter, wars are done,  
And they which erst contended eagerly,  
Now meet in love, and feast in royalty,  
So stood the case with us, by fair pretence,  
Malicious Satan made man to commence  
A war with God, a war that would have wrought  
His endless ruin, had not mercy sought  
A means to settle peace, the only son  
Of the Almighty, when he did put on  
That veil of flesh, did by it fast combine  
Our humane nature to his own divine,  
And made a reconcilement, which no power  
Can break or time wear out, though every hour  
Satan attempt new practices, and Hell  
Spit out her rankest venom, to expel  
Man from his Maker's favour, but her spite  
Falls on her head redoubled, while delight  
Crowns our desires, such happy union 'gan  
The blessed Messiah make 'twixt God and man.   

No sooner had Augustus brought each land 
Luke 2.   
Into subjection, but by his command  
A general Tax was laid on every nation,  
judea 'mongst the rest, by Proclamation,  
Each person to his native city went  
There to be taxed: O that men were bend  
With ready mind, and prompt alacrity,  
To yield obedience unto God's decree,  
As well as Caesar's, in the rank of those  
Who with submissive duty did dispose  
Their wills to this edict, a blessed pair:  
joseph the just, Marry the chaste and fair,  
Both Abraham's issue, both of David's stem,  
Came unto David's City, Bethlehem,  
There to be taxed, as the Law required,  
She being near her time, which soon expired,  
While they were there the days accomplished,  
That the pure Virgin should be brought to bed,  
And yet that phrase ist but improper here,  
Because the Inn, though full of guests, yet clear,  
Of Grace and goodness, would afford no room,  
Where she might child her issue, her ripe womb,  
Found, save a stable, no convenient place,  
To rest itself, hard hearts whom such a case,  
Moved to no pity, here she forth did bring  
The World's Redeemer, heaven's eternal King.  
A King, where were the nobles of his Court?  
Where all his followers? Where the full resort  
Of honourable Matrons? to attend  
Upon his mother, was there near a Friend  
To give soft music? by whose gentle touch  
Her sorrows might be swagde, did all hearts grudge  
To lend assistance? at a Prince's birth  
The voice of joy speaks high, and from the earth,  
Unnumbered fires to such perfection grow,  
As they would make another heaven below,  
Hear all was hushed and silent, to his own  
Christ came unentertaind, because unknown.   

But why, O Lord, wert thou thus poorly borne?  
Why didst thou make thyself to be a scorn  
To after Ages? Was it to conceal  
Thy Deity from Satan? or reveal  
Thy unexampled goodness unto man?  
The like whereof, since time and place began  
To circumscribe our actions, was not known,  
Nor shall unto succeeding age be shown.   

As Israel's King did once his habit change, 
1. King. 22.   
When he waged war 'gainst Syria and did range  
The field in strange disguise: So Christ our King  
Whom an unbounded love from heaven did bring,  
To fight 'gainst hellish Syrians, and by arms  
To give us freedom from death-threatning harms,  
Exchanged his habit for bright Majesty,  
Clothing himself with base infirmity:  
If some great King put on his royal Crown,  
And regal ornaments, he may be known,  
But if his Kingly dignity he hide  
In vile array, he may pass undiscried.  
So had our kingly Saviour clothed with light  
As with a garment, come at first in sight,  
He would have then been known unto his foe,  
And none have dared once to exchange a blow  
That he might therefore come unto the fight  
Unknown, this King of Israel had him dight  
In strange array: A Stable was his Throne,  
A Cratch his Cradle, His attendance none,  
With hunger, thirst, disgrace, and poverty,  
Our Saviour covered his divinity.   

Lo here full low he in a Cratch doth lie,  
Who sometimes on the winged wind doth fly, 
Esai. 66. 1▪   
And he whose throne is heaven, whose footstool earth  
Hath but a sordid Stable at his Birth:  
O had not man laid miserably defiled  
In sins polluted Stable, this fair Child  
Had found a better lodging, but 'twas fit  
That he which is our food, the sweetest bit  
That ever mortal tasted, should be laid  
In a poor Manger, since it may be said,  
Men were turned worse than beasts, and therefore they 
Bernard.   
To be refreshed as beasts that feed on Hay.   

The ancient Prophets had foretold of yore  
That Bethlehem was the place whereas ybore,  
Should the Messiah been: the learned read  
The word to signify the house of bread:  
Whether because for fruitfulness and food,  
It as a store-house to the country stood,  
So 'mongst the ancient Romans Sicily 
Horreum Italiae. Tully.   
Was sometimes called the barn of Italy:  
Or because Christ true heavenly bread indeed,  
Whereon our souls, and not our mouths do feed,  
Was there brought forth, so fathers moralise, 
Hierom. Gregory.   
Indeed from him all bread that doth suffice  
Our souls and bodies is derived: he gives  
Corporal bread, by which the body life's:  
Doctrinal bread he also doth afford,  
And this we call his holy heavenly Word,  
Bread Sacramental, in which we receive  
Spiritually the Giver, and conceive  
A blessed union made in a strange fashion,  
By Faith, and not by transubstantiation:  
In fine, celestial bread he doth dispose  
At his eternal Table, unto those  
Which are his Servants whose delicious tasting  
Shall give our bodies an immortal lasting.  
In josephs' time the come of Egypt land, 
Genes. 41.   
Was without number, like the Ocean sand,  
Bethlem had greater plenty at Christ's Birth,  
For here was bread to nourish all the earth,  
And of more blessed continuance: those full cares  
In Pharaohs country lasted but seven years,  
Lean famine than took place: our Bethlehems store  
(As inexhausted) lasts for evermore:  
There the Egyptians when they wanted Cates,  
Were fain to buy them at excessive rates.  
Hear Bread like to the Prophet's Milk and Wine, 
Esai. 55. 1.   
A man may purchase without price or coin:  
And therefore as all nations in their need,  
To joseph came for corn, whereon to feed:  
So let all people unto Bethlehem haste,  
And seek out the true joseph which is placed  
By the celestial Pharaoh o'er the earth,  
To furnish men with corn, against the dearth  
Threatening the soul's destruction, who will give  
If they but ask, enough for them to live  
Hear, and hereafter, where they shall be fed,  
In an eternal house of living bread.   

Thrice happy Bethlehem, thou blessed house of bread  
On whom the Sun of glory first did spread:  
The comfortable beams of his man God  
United nature, and there made abode:  
But O more happy they, within whose heart  
Faith gives him second birth, and will not part  
With this blessed store, I would our souls might be  
The Bethlehem of his Nativity:  
But ere this can be so, we must put on  
Mystically such a condition,  
As that place had: first Bethlehem did seem  
But little in extent, less in esteem,  
The least of judah's thousands: So must we,  
If we expect a blessed renascency 
Micah. 5. 3.   
Of Christ within our souls, or would inherit  
The purchase of his all-sufficient merit.  
Be mean, and little in our own esteem,  
How great, how good soever we may seem:  
In others judgement: every Christian knows  
That Christ a Lily is, but such as grows  
In the low valley of an humble mind, 
Cant. 2. 1.   
Not on proud mountain tops, and as we find  
Floods run not up steep cliffs, but through low grounds  
Convey their current: So his Grace surrounds  
With a sweet stream of goodness, only those,  
Which like low bottoms humbly do dispose  
Themselves to that blessed moisture, we must then  
If we would have our Christ the best of men  
Spiritually borne in us, all agree  
To be a Bethlehem in humility.  
Again we must be storehouses of bread,  
To feed the hungry, he that doth not spread  
A wing of mercy on the poor shall find,  
Christ will not house them there, the supple mind  
Like pliant wax, love's gentle fire must soften  
Ere he imprint his seal, and we must often 
Eccles. 11. 1.   
Cast our bread on the waters, if we look  
That he which humane nature on him took,  
To save the world, while here we live on earth,  
Should have within our hearts a second birth.   

Now was the Sceptre ta'en from judah's hand,  
Nor 'twixt his feet sat he, who did command  
The Laws coercive power: an argument 
Gen. 49. 10.   
The promised Shilo was already sent  
Blind jew, which dazzled with abundant light,  
Sittest like a dull Egyptian, in the night  
Of soule-deluding error, could record  
Of ancient Prophets, make thee give thy Lord  
No better welcome, wilt thou yet deny  
This firm unquestioned truth obstinate eye  
Shut up in wilful blindness, let the place  
Where Christ was borne, the time when, from the chase  
This cloud of darkness, look not still in vain  
For thy Messiah, who till all again  
Turn into Chaos, shall no more be sent  
What time for want of faith thou shalt be shent  
And sentenced to destruction, if in time,  
Thy tears like jordan wash not out thy crime.   

But as when Moses was in Egypt borne, 
Exod. 2.   
He was of his own mother as forlorn  
Cast out into the river, and there found  
By Pharaohs daughter, who from being drowned  
Preserved the Infant, and with tender care  
Brought up this foundling, as her womb had bare,  
That goodly Hebrew: So was Christ bereaved  
Of a glad welcome by the jews, received  
By the now happier Gentiles, happier fare  
Than Abraham's issue, whom so bright a Star  
Cannot enlighten, but his word despise,  
And 'gainst the Sun of glory shut their eyes.    

Mondays Meditation, or the second Canto.  
The Argument.  

The Magis come out of the East,  
Unto jerusalem, in quest  
Of the Messiah, and inquire,  
But meet not there their full desire.   

BEhold while gideon's fleece, the juice is dry, 
jugd. 6.   
His floor (the Gentiles) doth itself apply  
To drink the heavenly dew: From Heber's land  
A country fare in the east parts did stand,  
But in what place uncertain, whether Persia,  
Neerer Chaldea, or the farthest India,  
(Each have their several authors) did send forth 
Primitiae Gentium. Augustin.   
These first fruits of the Gentile (whose high worth  
Makes them thought kings by some) I dare not say  
Only from thence they came, from whence the day  
Breaks, and Aurora chases thence black night,  
Where Sol first rising shows his glorious light,  
And guilds the lofty mountains, whence his beams  
Reflect a brightness on the eastern streams.  
Whether these wise men came from Abraham's line,  
Yet not of Sarahs' offspring, some assign  
Keturah their grandmother, or begot  
By baalam's successor, or 'tis not  
Material to examine, so to lay  
For firm position, were to much to say:  
Whether they were Magicians as some think,  
And such who for deep science chose to link  
Their Souls to Satan, or Philosophers  
Moral and natural, or Astronomers,  
(To which opinion I assent thus fare,  
Because we find God called them by a star  
I list not to examine  suffice,  
They have this only title they were wise.   

Wise men indeed, it is true wisdom's lore,  
To seek for Christ, and never to give over  
Till we have found him, so did these that came  
Out from the East, would we could do the same.  
It is a rare thing to be skilled in arts  
Abstrusest cunning▪ and to have all parts  
That better humane knowledge, but to know  
Christ, is more worth, than all that art can show:  
And therefore as when Phoebus begins to rise,  
The stars eclipsed lustre hidden lies  
From eye of mortal; So when as divine  
Soule-quickning wisdom, as the Sun doth shine,  
Each humane science like a petty star,  
Must veil unto it: as a ship from fare  
Spying the Kings ride on the narrow seas,  
When she comes near (though little for her ease)  
Bends her proud head, and doth withouten fail,  
In most submissive manner strike her Sai●e.  
See here the (ne'er enough to be admired)  
Attractive power of Christ, by which ensp●rd  
To find their Saviour out, with joyful hearts  
These Magis come from the remotest parts:  
The Sun doth not exhale more forcibly  
The purest vapours up, the Loadstone nigh  
The Sympathetique steel, makes it not cling,  
More close unto it, than this heavenly King,  
(His innate virtue did such love distil)  
Made their affections cleave unto his will. 
2. King. 10.   
That Sheba's Queen drawn by the bare report  
Of salomon's fair virtue, left her Court,  
For Iudah's country may full strange appear,  
But see then Solomon a greater here. 
Luke 11. 31.   
More strange to Christ the coming of those wise,  
Then hers to Solomon we must agnize:  
She was but one alone, they many were,  
She but a woman, they men, she came there  
Led by the tongue of Fame, but they from fare  
Were guided by the leading of a star:  
She came to one whose riper years did speak  
Him grown to man's estate: they to a weak  
And tender Infant: She to one that swayed  
A royal Sceptre; They to one was laid  
In a poor Manger; She came but to try  
The truth of Fame, and curiously to spy  
His state and knowledge, in effect mere vanity:  
They to adore their God in his humanity:  
In fine we find her coming is expressed  
From forth the South: but theirs is from the east.   

Like as the Sun when he doth first display  
His radiant lustre, and with lightsome day  
Break from the East, and getting in his throne  
Fixed in the middle of the heavenly Zone,  
Makes his diurnal progress to the West,  
And then returns again into the East:  
So those wise men do first their journey gin,  
From out the East nor did they ever lin;  
Till to jerusalem the West they came,  
And fitly may this occidental name  
Be given to it, since the glorious Sun  
Of righteousness having his course run,  
Did there sit red and bloody, there he died,  
Who for the sin of man was crucified,  
From thence they Eastward pass, and never cease  
Till to their country they come back in peace.   

Of all the parts in the world's continent  
The East hath aye been held most excellent.  
Whether because that fruitful Paradise,  
Was planted Eastward or that Sol doth rise  
There in his glory, or that the day spring  
Is made an attribute to heavens great King: 
Luke 1. 78.   
Hence is it that in Churches (when addressed  
In Prayer to God) we look unto the East.  
Either because the earth's most honoured part 
justin Martyr.   
To the Almighty's worship we convert:  
Or because Paradise, which Eastward stood,  
Lost first by Adam's fall, and since made good 
Greg. Nysse.   
By Christ our Saviour, we by look desire:  
Or cause the Lamb of God, which did expire  
Upon the Cross, extended to the West, 
Damascen.   
We to behold him look into the East;  
For many causes which might be assigned,  
This quarter of the World, the East, we find  
In high repute, of which the least in worth  
Is not, that such wise men it did bring forth.   

Well doth the title with the place accord,  
Wise from the East, for eastern parts afford  
Best intellectuals: so when holy writ  
Would Solomon commend for rarest wit,  
This Elegy it gives, he did exceed, 
1. King. 4. 30.   
The best of those, which the East parts did breed:  
As if the men which did inhabit there,  
Then all the rest of mortals wiser were,  
Which commonly is so, either because  
Of Phoebus' near vicinity, which draws  
Gross vapours thence, and by his quickening ray,  
Refines the fluent blood, whose pure allay  
Gives vigour to the Spirits: So we see  
That Plants by Gardeners careful industry  
Set, that the morning Sun may on them glow,  
Do soon ripe, and to perfection grow:  
So natures well red secretaries say,  
That in the morn of all times, of the day,  
The fairest Pearls are generate, and most bright  
Than shines the gold Excelling Chrysolite▪  
Or happily in wisdom they excel,  
Cause our first Parents in the East did dwell,  
And might to their Successors, more confined  
Some monuments of knowledge leave behind,  
How fitly come they from the East, t'express  
The rising of the Sun of righteousness:  
And with the glad report of this bright morrow 
Bernard.   
To chase from humane hearts the night of sorrow,  
From thence they come, from whence the day is borne▪  
And Phoebus hides the blushes of the morn,  
That from the place where the day 'gins to clear, 
Chrysost.   
Faith the soul's daylight also might appear  
Where after Adam was create of earth,  
'Gan humane bodies first to have their birth,  
After our blessed Saviour's Incarnation,  
The soul did 〈◊〉 receive Regeneration,  
Where sin and nature first beginning had,  
There G 〈…〉 and truth arise, where mischief clad  
In mercy's habit did first ●●ine man  
His blessed reparation there began  
Indeed 'twas fit that part which did begin  
To poison humane nature with foul sin,  
Should send forth those that did in Grace excel,  
And of a general Antidote foretell.   

Within the heart of judah's fertile land,  
Salem the soils Metropolis did stand,  
builded by Shem, the Magis to this place,  
Arrive, in hope to see their Saviour's face;  
And where indeed on humane state to ground,  
Was the Messiah likelier to be found,  
To see the King where could they have opinion,  
If not in the chief seat of his Dominion:  
To find the heart, they that body the enter,  
Seek out the midst, because there lies the Centre.  
Christ was our head, and where could men expect  
Him, but in Shem's fair City, which erect  
Above the rest in judah, did so stand  
As doth the head the body to command 
josephus.   
jerusalem the vision of peace  
Imports, as Learned say, stern war did cease,  
When Christ was borne, where then could make abode  
Better than in jerusalem the God  
Of Peace and Mercy? Was not there the Court?  
Why should the King be absent? the resort  
Of Priests was thither; there the Altar stood,  
Why should not Christ the Sacrifice, whose blood  
Did expiate our sins, be also there?  
There was the Temple, whose fair frame upreare  
Did Solomon the wise, but since despoilded  
Herod in greater beauty did rebuild:  
Why should not then the Temples God abide  
In such a place, so highly beautified?  
To question this no more, 'twas God's behest,  
Nor are the greatest places still the best:  
Experience tells us, Christ is sometimes found  
In a poor smoky cottage, when the ground  
Of goodly Palaces, paved with fairest stone,  
And Rooms of choicest beauty stand alone  
Unvisited by him, he may receive  
Birth in a petty cottage, while him reave  
Of life a city doth: So was it here,  
As plain in sacred Story doth appear:  
Bethlehem at first into the world him sent,  
jerusalem out of the world him hent,  
I'th' first of these a cradle he did finde,  
But in the last a Grave was him assigned,  
Borne, though obscurely borne, at Bethlehem,  
And crucified at jerusalem:  
The wise men then at Salem may inquire,  
But shall not there find out their Souls desire.   

But why, O Lord, since there thou wast not then,  
Didst thou permit those well devoted men  
To wander from their way, and go about,  
Protracting time in seeking of thee out:  
Did their own error lead them from the way?  
And thou in justice suffer them to stray?  
Subtracting from them thy stars glorious light, 
Bernard.   
Because they trusted more to humane might,  
Then thy assisting power: into my thought  
It cannot sink, that ignorance then brought  
But their all careful providence, whose hand  
Makes all our actions wait on thy command:  
Perhaps it was thy will these men should come  
First, to jerusalem, lest they should room  
Uncertainly about, for their records  
Of ancient Prophets, kept, could show the Lords  
Most certain place of birth and as one saith  
Inform their knowledge and confirm their Faith: 
Chrysost.   
Or it may be as Legates thou didst send  
These Magis unto Salem, to the end  
The jews might their Messiah Birth discern,  
And these teach others, while they seek to learn,  
Or was it not to stir up Isaac's Line,  
To seek their Saviour out, when thus combine 
Chrysost.   
They saw the Gentiles: or as some conclude  
To argue them of foul ingratitude,  
Who would not their Messiah entertain 
Augustine.   
Whom they saw strangers seek with so much pain?  
O let not us like these hard-hearted jews  
Out of a wilful blindness thus refuse  
Grace freely offered, let these wiser men  
Lead us by their example, how and when  
To seek out Christ, but yet take heed their fashion  
Be not abused by apish imitation:  
As 'tis by jesuited Rome, which draws  
From hence her pilgrimage to Saints, because  
The Magis come to Salem, who indeed  
Their action gives no countenance, nor our Creed  
Warrant to this device, for but compare  
The Romanists with them, and they will share  
No correspondency at all, unless  
A kind of poor resemblance they express,  
In their long journeys, and their larger gifts,  
They offer at their shrines, impotent shifts  
For their gross Idol worship; first we know  
The wise men taught by God to Salem go,  
He blessed that journey which they had begun,  
And sent a Star to lead them to a Sun:  
These have no star at all, the heavenly Word,  
That light unto our feet, doth them afford  
No help in all their journey, ne have they  
The star of Faith to guide them in the way:  
Blind zeal may hale them forward, or perchance  
Humane tradition may itself advance  
But as a wand'ring Planet, no true guide,  
Or else the like doth unto them betide,  
Which doth to those, who journeying in the night  
Espy an Ignis fatuus, whose false light  
Leads them o'er ditch and hedge, though dirt & mire,  
His main invention is just such a fire,  
Deluding those that follow it, let me say  
Rome's Pilgrims are thus guided in their way:  
Again the Magis seek for Christ alone, 
Mat. 2. 2.   
Where's Judah's King? O show us him or none▪  
Whereas the Romish Pilgrims Christ forsake,  
And for their Saviour unto Saints them take:  
The wise men came Christ living to behold;  
These but dead rotten relics to unfold:  
They came to worship God; these idle drones  
Come but to worship senseless stocks and stones:  
Shall we then say, these imitate the wise?  
Alas, I cannot, no we must device  
To follow them a better way than this,  
Or find we shall not, cause we seek amiss:  
And would ye know, wherein to imitate  
These blessed Magis? Let it be in that  
Which is praiseworthy, as their care and pain,  
To find out Christ, for as the learned sane,  
They took their journey when the colder air,  
Changed dews to frosts, when winter's silver hair  
Stuck full of Snow, and Boreas bitter breath  
Blew numbness on their limbs: yet did pale death  
Stand, as the Angel stood in Balaams' way 
Numb. 22.   
With a drawn Sword, their bodies he might stay,  
Not their affections, they went forward still,  
Choosing to die, rather than want their will,  
Like them, so us no rub, no bar should hold  
From judah's King: As covetous for gold,  
Ambitious after honour: So must we  
Seek Christ, with fervour and alacrity:  
Religion is not bred in sloth and ease,  
The sweat of labour, ere she God can please,  
Must sit upon her brow: yet see we are  
Happy in this, we need not journey fare  
To find Christ out, our lot so fair doth stand,  
That we may still keep in our native land,  
And meet our wishes, Christ is to be found  
Within our Kingdom, in the hallowed ground,  
Whereon our Temples stand, each Sacrament,  
May every good soul is his continent:  
Yet we to find him out (so mean our care)  
More slow than Snails, more lame than Cripples ar●:  
O how shall the great care and diligence  
Of those, condemn our sloth and negligence?  
How should we fear, since in offence we stand  
Equal with judah, God's all-powerfull hand  
Should throw down vengeance on us, and our eyes  
●est that fair light which now they do despise.  
The country of these Magis was the East,  
And commonly men love their own soil best,  
Yet ready pressed they in obedience stand,  
To leave (as Abraham did) their native land:  
When that blessed Maid and Mother lost her son,  
At her return from Salem, as undone  
Without him (who can have so great a loss  
And not go home again by weeping cross?)  
She sought him sorrowing 'mongst her friends & kin, 
Luke 2.   
But could not find him, she might there begin  
Her search anew, Christ is not always found  
'Mongst kindred and acquaintance, if the ground  
That gave us birth, will not our Lord receive,  
For him we must our native country leave,  
Our Friends, our home, and stranger places greet,  
Though our own Jthaca be ne'er so sweet.  
Thrice happy is that man, which can with these  
Forsake his soil, banish neglect and ease,  
Go from the East of pleasure, till he find  
jerusalem, that is, the peace of mind.  
Now had the Magis found this City out,  
Where Zion stood, and walking round about,  
(Not to survey the building or behold  
The stately Temple, richly decked with gold)  
Inquire for judah's King, her new born King,  
This seemed to Jsaacs' Line an uncouth thing,  
They knew the Sceptre was from judah gone,  
And Herod who was now their King, was one  
Inaugured by the Romans, therefore they  
Posed by this question, knew not what to say:  
But the wise men the more they found them slow,  
To answer, were the more inflamed to know:  
Tell us we pray (for we desire to learn)  
Where life's this Infant King? we can discern  
No sign of joy, to make us think him here:  
O then where is he? we account not dear  
Our travel or expense, so we may gain  
The long-wished sight of judah's Sovereign:  
That he is borne, we do true tidings bring,  
Borne yours, your promised, your expected King,  
Borne in your Country, what we speak we know,  
What we have seen we willingly will show,  
We have his star seen, whose unusual light,  
Shone in our eastern climate, and made night  
Excel the day in beauty: There's no cause  
You should suspect we come to break your Laws,  
Or to invade your Kingdom, for we bring  
No armed troops to set upon your King,  
We do not come as spies, to understand  
The fruitfulness and strength of this your land,  
Our travel is not to increase our wealth,  
By traffic with you, or by private stealth  
To get your treasure, see, we bring great store  
Of costly spices, and rich Indian Ore,  
Unto this royal Infant to present,  
Which with submissive reverence our intent  
Is to lay down before him, and fallow  
Ourselves before his footstool, for we know  
That more than man is in him, and are come  
Thus fare to worship him: This is the sum  
Of all our wishes, let but your report  
Be our direction, to this Prince's Court:  
This said they ceased, but none can them resolve  
In their demand, which doth their souls involve  
With a new cloud of sorrow, in which plight  
A while I leave them, till a clearer light  
●nfuse more knowledge, time ere long will bring  
The devout Magis, to this new borne King.    

Tuesdays Meditation, or the third Canto.  
The Argument.  

Herod and his the News appalls,  
The King in haste a counsel calls:  
Next to confer in secret wise,  
He with the Magis doth device.   

BY this time same having new imped her wings,  
Flies from the City to the Court, and brings  
News of these men's arrival, and the end  
Of their intended journey: to commend  
Their diligence Court-Parasites will strive,  
Like Ahimaaz and Cushi, who shall thrive 
●. Sam. 18.   
Best in their expedition: Princes ears  
Do like their hands reach fare, and tyrant's fears  
Place Spies in every corner, whose close art  
Slily insinuates into the Heart,  
Of the abused Subject, and from thence  
Draws danger on his head, under pretence  
Of more than common kindness, what he find●  
Sincerely spoken from plain meaning minds,  
He poisons in report, when he it bears  
To his King's greedy, all-suspecting ears.   

After this tattling goddess once had spread  
This News abroad▪ and buzzed into the head  
Of fawning Sycophants, a pickthank tale,  
Look how a ship driven with a foreright gale  
Cuts through the Ocean: they hie fast to court,  
And to stern Herod make a loud report.   

No sooner had fame touched the tyrant's ear,  
But that his coward blood gave way to fear,  
To take possession of him, that he stood  
Astonished at the news: the raging flood  
When the fierce winds impetuously do blow,  
And in their unresisted fury throw  
The angry billows, 'gainst the sandy shore  
Spits not out some, or doth more loudly roar,  
Then vexed Herod, who did inly burn,  
When icy fear to fiery rage did turn.   

Like as a silver Current, whose clear strea●●  
When sweetly guilded by the lightsome beam  
Of gold-lockt Phoebus, it reflects a light,  
Becomes a pleasant object to the sight,  
But if some ruder Swain disturb the flood  
By taking in it, fetching dirt and mud  
The water thickens, and gins to look  
More like a foul sink, than a christ all brook:  
So while the river of man's life runs clear,  
And Sunlike reason, from his lofty sphere  
Guilds it with beauty, 'tis a precious thing,  
Surpassing Thames and Isis, or that spring  
Which fond N●rcissus in his journey found,  
In which the self-admiring Boy was drowned,  
But if that passion easy passage find,  
It soon disturbs the quiet of the mind,  
Then the Conceit grows muddy to the brink,  
Like puddle, bad to view, but worse to drink.  
So stood the case with Herod, and indeed  
Suspicious Tyrants seldom better speed:  
A panicke ●er●out takes them oftentimes,  
When none seek to offend them, but their crimes:  
And reason good, for this truth hath been said,  
He whom all fear, of all must be afraid: 
Seneca.   
O heavy burden of a Monarch's crown,  
O Pillow stuffed with thorns, and not with dowlne,  
O glorious bondage seldom blessed with age,  
O lofty building subject to the rage  
Of storm and tempest, O fair guilded Cup  
Containing poison, who would take thee up,  
(So once a Macedonianking did say,) 
Antigonus   
Though he should stumble on thee in the way.   

As a fair room at some great nuptial feast  
Hung with rich Arras, and each corner dressed  
With costly furniture, here goodly plate,  
There curious glasses, all set out in state,  
Tables well wrought, with perfumed damask covered,  
Embroidered stools, nothing amiss or slubbered,  
By some rude fray of the distempered guest  
(As with the Centaurs at the Lapythes Feast) 
O 〈…〉   
Becomes disordered, so that all the frame  
Nought but a Chaos you can justly name:  
Such a confused heap was Iudah's King,  
When fame humming about his ears, did sting  
His very heart and soul, with the report  
Of a new rival, to his Crown and Court.  
Now 'gan remembrance of his Tyrant reign  
●o torture him with an unwonted pain,  
●he stormy rage which on his subjects fell  
He thinks they will revenge, and now rebel,  
Dismayed at this, he doth begin to moan him,  
As if they came already to dethrone him:  
F 〈…〉 e is an ill Interpreter of things,  
Especially within the hearts of kings:  
He thinks that strangers will invade his land  
In hostile manner, and with powerful hand,  
Expel him thence, and in his seat advance  
The new borne Infant: then he sees a glance  
Of a great Persian Host, that hard at hand,  
Have got already at their full command  
The bulwark of his kingdom, Salems' town,  
Or else the Magis durst not up and down  
Make such enquiry, quite against his will,  
Who with a very frown was wont to kill:  
Moved with the wind of different thoughts he raves,  
Like the bark, beaten by the furious waves  
Of the enchafed flood: the Devil too  
Exagitates his mind, yet doubtful who  
The newborn Infant was: he knew decreed 
Gen. 3. 15.   
A time in fate, wherein the woman's seed  
Should break the Serpent's head: As when the queen  
Of heaven, fiercely enraged with jealous spleen  
Against Alcmene, and her jove-borne son  
From Africa brought two Snakes to seize upon  
His infant body, that their gripe so fierce  
Might cause his cradle to become his Hearse,  
But young Alcides made his tender hands  
About the Serpents such death-threatning bands,  
They could not hurt him, squeesing them so sore,  
That 'twixt his fingers a foul purple gore  
Issued apace, in which their life was drowned,  
Then let them drop quite senseless to the ground:  
So stood the case, when as dissension rose  
Betwixt this royal Infant and his foes:  
H●rod and Satan two foul Serpens were,  
Whom this new Hercules did squeeze with fear  
Of his all-powerfull hand, they both did dread  
Their kingdom's ruin, and by this were led  
Into unwonted troubles, Satan thought▪  
That this was he, by whom was to be wrought  
(As a new Moses) Israel's Redemption  
From Hell's proud Pharaoh, and a full exemption  
From all Egyptian bondage, which oppression  
Lay heavy upon man for his transgression:  
This troubled Satan in infernal shade,  
And with new horror did his thoughts invade:  
Like as the greedy wolf, when as he spies  
The careful Shepherd near, or hears the cries  
Of the fierce Mastiff troubled therewithal,  
A chilling fear his senses doth appall:  
So wolvish Satan when he saw so near,  
The Shepherd of our soul, a deadly fear  
took hold upon him, and disturbed him so,  
As doth the presence of a powerful Foe  
A weak opponent: robbed of his content,  
He vexes Herod his fit instrument,  
Knowing that fear of such a danger will  
Stir up a care, how to prevent his ill,  
Regardless so he may securely reign  
Though deep in blood he do his hand ingraine,  
Well hoping this distraction would him bring  
To seek the ruin of the new borne King.   

That such a Tyrant should so fare give way  
To his perplexed thoughts, and so dismay  
With fear of future troubles his weak mind,  
Is not to be admired: But when I find  
That all jerusalem was rend in sunder  
With him in this strange Passion, than I wonder  
She, that as one or'eioyed at this new birth  
Should have expressed a triumph and with mirth  
Have crowned her brows, she that doth represent  
A peaceful city, and with full content  
Should the great King of peace have entertained,  
Was at Christ's birth, as in her travel, pain.  
But wonder not, a Prince's fashion  
Is soon observed by Subject's imitation:  
Cameleons cannot into colours turn  
Faster than Courtiers: if their Sovereign mourn  
Black clouds of sorrow cover all their face,  
If smile, they change their copy; 'tis a grace:  
Clysophus thinks to be without an eye,  
If Philip be but blind: to go awry  
If Alexander do so: Parasites  
Are just like glasses to their Prince's sights,  
Fitly resembling every look they have,  
Merry or sad, ridiculous or grave:  
And as the Echo answereth the voice 
Iwenal. satire. 3.   
In the same tone it speaks, if it rejoice  
Sending forth joyful accents, if it sorrow  
Utter, as sad a language it doth borrow.  
So Herod's Courtiers Echo-like, but sound  
What they receive from him by a rebound:  
Thus with him these (true royalties worst bane)  
Sealike, or like the moon do wax and wane.  
Another sort of Courtiers, Herod's friends  
Did sympathise with him, but in their ends  
Much differing from the former, some did doubt  
A new commenced war, others more stout,  
Expected alteration, for the Theme  
It is best fishing in the troubled stream,  
Did whet desire, only they did not know  
Which part to side on, when the storm should grow  
And this perplexed them: A third sort there were  
Of graver Citizens; much dismayed with fear,  
That Herod vexed at this strange report  
Would wreak his spleen on them: or if the court  
Should change her King they feared a heavier yoke,  
For seldom comes the better when the stroke  
Falls from a far-fetched hand, it heavier lights  
To have an unknown Prince it even affrights  
Their understanding: As that ulcerous man,  
Stuck full of flies, when some in pity began  
To chase them thence, cried out in piteous wise,  
O do not wrong me so, these full fed flies  
Now sated with my blood, I well can bear,  
But if you drive them thence, I much do fear  
New ones will fill their places, and the ease  
You think to do me, me fare more displease:  
So these thought better, with the rustic swain  
Once to dig up Antigonus again,  
And to endu●e those flies that had their fill,  
Rather than new ones, which more blood might swill.   

The common sort seeing their sovereign sad,  
Thought it their duty also to be clad  
In the minds mourning habit: Princes are  
Like the first mover to the lower star,  
Unto the Subjects, by their swifter motion  
They draw them strongly to their own devotion:  
And as a Horse though full of force and spirit  
Backed by a skilful Rider seems ●i●herite  
His will and judgement, one while standing still,  
Then pacing, running, bounding at his will,  
So fares it 'twixt the Subject and the King,  
Backed by the Prince Rules snaffle doth him bring  
To what his sou●raigne please: the King's th' head,  
The subject are the members, which do spread  
And grow from thence, now when the head's diseased  
How ●hould the members but be much displeaed?   

But here a doubt is moved, Must Subjects still  
Conform their manners to their sovereigns' will?  
May not jerusalem with fair intent,  
In this, or like perplexity descent,  
From troubled Herod, must the Prince's fashion  
Still lead the Subject to an imitation?  
Not so, Kings are but men, and so may err,  
The King of Kigs' Edict we must prefer  
Before a mortals: though Augustus say,  
Do this, if God forbid it, to obey  
Is to become a traitor? Gods Command  
Compared with man's, must like an Ocean stand,  
To swallow up that drop, to quench that spark,  
As Idol Dagon fell before the Ark;  
As stars are hidden when the Sun doth shine:  
So humane laws must stoop unto divine.   

The tyrant thus with fear perturbed, at last  
Summons his wits together, and doth cast  
How to prevent all danger, and in mind  
Revolving many things, at length doth find  
No better course can with his safety stand,  
Then by an Edict sent throughout his land,  
To call a counsel, and lest by delay  
He might incur a hazard, men that day  
With special writs to further his intent  
Go out, and summon strait a Parlaiment:  
In this, though else full of impiety,  
Herod to Kings a Precedent may be,  
Not on their own sole judgement to rely,  
But to consult with their grave counsels eye,  
Which can see fare into high points of state,  
And deepest matters learnedly debate.   

Well knew the cunning Tyrant how to make  
A fit Election, and such men to take  
As his design might further: for which cause  
He convocates the wisest in the Laws,  
And those whom he knew fittest to expound  
Old Prophecies, and mysteries profound,  
For Priests and Elders, with the learned Scribe,  
He picks the best for ●ame from every Tribe:  
Had war the subject been to be discussed,  
He wo●ld have called Commanders for the trust  
Of martial matters, fits them best that are  
Well seen and practised in the feats of war,  
But this was no such thing: Herod's desire  
Was by all means he could device, t'exquire  
Where he to whom so many ages past  
Iudah's Dominion was assigned at last  
Should take his birth: the true Messiah place  
Was the main question that they had in chase.  
They had not sat in consultation long,  
But they were soon agreed, and yet among  
So many▪ scarce there cou●d be one found out  
To be their speaker, and resolve the doubt  
At last an aged Priest did undertake  
To be the tongue for all the rest, and make  
A full relation of Prophetic truth,  
So up he ro●e, and spoke what next ensueth.   

Great King led sure by some diviner light.  
From the black darkness and Cymmerian night  
Of the World's error since state policies  
Thou leavest to search out heavens high mysteries:  
Happy are we thy subjects to behold  
Such goodness in such greatness, keep thy hold,  
Go on in Grace and virtue though alone,  
And thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 th●se prop●●, hold thy throne:  
Know thou bright 〈◊〉 Bethlehem is the place,  
Which our M●ssias c●o●en hath, to grace  
With his maiestqu● presence, when he shall  
First see the light o● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ball:  
So writ our ancient Prophets, 'mongst the rest,  
Mi●ah, whose Oracles are thus expressed:  
And thou, O Bethlehem, in judah's Land,  
Shalt not for least among the Princes stand,  
For out of thee shall come a King▪ which well  
Shall know to guide my people Israel:  
Thus in few words I do my sovereign show,  
What he with so much care desired to know;  
Herod well pleased with this▪ bestowed a nod,  
And they their adoration, as some god  
Had sent them a rich favour: then they kissed  
His hand, and so th' assembly was dismissed.   

But I (though Herod) not dismiss you so,  
Something I have to say before ye go,  
O can ye be so light, yet seem so grave,  
Profess so much zeal, yet so little have▪  
Can you to Herod truly point the place  
Where your Messiah is, yet want th● grace  
To visit him you selves? As larger stones  
Erected in some high way for the nounce,  
Direct the Passenger, but do not move  
A i●t from thence, where they were fixed in love:  
Or as the Bells loud repercussive sound  
Calls unto Church, neighbours that hear it round,  
But in itself doth not least motion feel,  
To make it leave it semicircled wheel:  
So these could show where Christ was to be found,  
Yet never seek him, all was show and sound,  
No solid substance: They must needs be ill,  
Who rich in knowledge, are so poor in will.  
By this time Herod who in thought revolved,  
Many a Plot, and Platform, was resolved  
To fix on one for all: slily he sent  
For the wise men to court, with whom he spent  
Some time in free discourse, the main thus fare  
Did reach, to know what time the eastern star,  
Made his first apparition, this once told  
Herod his mind did in these words unfold.   

With how great care myself have sought to know  
This Infant Prince ye come to, well doth show  
The counsel called of late, called for your good  
For now we know the place of his abode:  
That he is more than humane I believe,  
Though clouded in obscurity, and grieve  
Time and occasion will not give me leave  
To go this progress with you, and receive  
That soul securing comfort, and delight  
Which you will ●eet with in the gracious sight  
Of such an Object: but do you go on,  
And search with Lynceus eyes, to light upon  
The house that holds him, and if once you fortune  
(For which I will the higher powers importune)  
But bring you to him, after you have done  
That you are led to by Devotion,  
Do but so much of happy time afford,  
As may return you back, to bring me word,  
And I myself submitting state and glory,  
Although to aftertimes I make a story,  
Will winged in my desire approach before him,  
And falling prostrate on the ground adore him.   

O subtle Fox, that with so fair pretence  
Couldst such a deed of cruelty commence,  
As the sweet Infant's murder, for we find  
Such Lamblike se● blance hide a wolvish mind:  
Of Christ the Lamb he spoke, as if he meant  
To worship, when to worry he was bend:  
Hypocrisy with a fine thread is spun,  
And seems an Eagle that dares face the Sun,  
But once exposed unto that glorious light,  
Shrinks back amazed, and canopies her sight.  
Herod by craft thought he might quickly gain  
What by plain dealing he could not obtain:  
So Generals in their exploits of war,  
Seeing the Lion's case will not reach fare,  
That they may bring their Stratagem about  
Piece on the Fox's skin, to eke it out.  
So the sly Fox as dead himself doth lay,  
When he intends to make the largest prey:  
So joab hugs him whom he means to slay,  
So judas kisses whom he doth betray:  
But Herod's cunning doth himself beguile,  
The Wolf delays, the Lamb escapes the while:  
The wise men lend an ear unto the King,  
But that we find answer not any thing,  
Yet since by silence they do show consent,  
They are dismissed, and Herod seems content.    

Wednesdays Meditation, or the fourth Canto.  
The Argument.  

By the stars help the wise men find  
Our Saviour out, their gifts defined,  
Admonished from God before  
In Herod's sight they come no more.   

THe Magis finding not what they do lack,  
Upon jerusalem soon turn their back,  
They had not travailed from the city fare,  
When the thrice welcome lustre of their star  
Did reappeare unto them: God withdraws  
His blessings from us, that a little pause  
Of absence may endear them: so the light  
To one immured in prison seems more bright  
When his enlargement comes: so when the blast  
Of some impetuous wind rends up the Mast  
Of the Sea-tossed-Hulke, ready as food  
To stop the mouth of the devouring flood,  
A sudden Calm is sweetest: A disease  
Makes health in the repurchased better please:  
Vicissitude delights, and breeds respect,  
Where long enjoying generates neglect.  
Ha● the wise men in all their journey kept  
The Star a daily guide, they had not leapt  
For joy, as they did now: indeed content  
Might then have kept pace with them, but as penned  
Within too straight a prison, their vast joy  
Breaks forth into expression, no annoy  
Able to countercheck it, 'twas more great 
Gavisi sunt gaud●o magno valde.   
Than text could well describe, or I repeat.   

Like as a mother of a son beloved  
As her eye sight, from her eyesight removed  
By a long absence, and no news arriving,  
Whether he do consort the dead or living,  
Grieves at her hap, while heart-dismaying fears  
V●nt out her sorrow, not in words, but tears;  
Which when past hope she sees him home return,  
Ceased any longer his decease to mourn,  
And ravished in her joy, her spirits drowned  
In such a deluge, falls into a swound:  
But having once those powers recollected,  
Seeing the object by her so affected,  
Kisses, embraces, hugs her dearest Boy,  
Ready to skip out of her skin for joy:  
So fared it with the Magis; when the Star  
First disappeared, it made no doubt a war  
Within them, sundry passions did contest,  
But grief soon gets the mastery of the rest;  
Yet ●ong the ●rabbed tyrant doth not reigue,  
Ere he be clean deposed, the Star again  
By new appearing a●ters quite the state;  
So joy succeeds, and doth predominate;  
Tuned to a holy key, their tongues doth sound  
Lauo●taes, while their heart ●oth dance a Round.   

This Star●●, ●hether a● 〈◊〉 in that fashion,  
Or else some radiant holy inspiration, 
Chrysost.   
Whether an errant P●a●et among the seven,  
Or one of those fair bodies ●ixt in heaven,  
Sent down to serve the turn or else created  
For this sole use, and then annihilated,  
I will not stand to question: on it went  
As a sure convoy, for the course it hent  
Was not orbicular, but so direct  
As they could wish a guide, whose best respect  
Might lead them on; the motion of it slow,  
And as it may be well concluded, low,  
Else could it not have kept an equal pace,  
Nor yet havefully pointed to the place.   

Come to the house, as if it had no will  
For any further motion, it stood still,  
And over the poor cottage long did hover,  
Or like some golden Canopy, did cover  
The place of Christ's abode: which once descried  
By the wise men, its lustre it did hide,  
And ne'er was seen again, although some tell,  
Gliding from thence, it fell into a Well.  
Interpreters do by this Star express,  
Such as turn men to faith and righteousness.  
Thrice happy are those Starred, which souls do guid●  
To Christ, and also there themselves abide.   

Entered they find the Infant with his Mother;  
She puts not out her Child unto another:  
Me thinks it is an error against kind,  
That Mothers which have store of milk assigned,  
Should dry those fountains, to preserve their beauty,  
From whence their infants should suck love and duty  
Or that for state, for trouble, or for pleasure,  
They should expose such an unvalued treasure  
As children are, unto another, care,  
While they themselves thereof will bear no share.  
The blessed Virgin bore a better mind,  
To her own issue then to prove unkind,  
Milk she a blessing knew, dry breasts a curse,  
Therefore she deigned herself to be a nurse:  
The wise men when they come, the Infant see  
Hang at her breasts, or dandled on her knee.   

Now did the Magis meet their full desire,  
And might with Simeon wish they might expire:  
Great was their joy, when they beheld the Star.  
To see the Sun must needs transcend it fare:  
Abraham rejoiced to see Christ's day in spirit; 
joh. 8. 46.   
Your joy must needs be greater, which inherit  
A larger blessing, you in flesh behold him,  
And have that favour in your arms to fold him:  
Prophets and Kings have long desired in vain,  
To see what you see, Judah's Sovereign; 
Luk. 10. 24.   
Therefore (to him who best can censure things)  
Happier you are then Prophets, or than Kings.   

Yet let me say, 'twas not the sight alone  
That made these wise men happy, had they gone  
No further, they had ne'er arrived at bliss,  
Many eyes saw him which of that shall miss:  
But these wise men when once they come before him,  
Fall prostrate on the ground, and do adore him:  
Well might good Bernard this strange act admire,  
That wise men, great men, who to sense were higher  
Then what they fell so low to, should afford  
Such worship to an Infant, poorly stored  
With what should fit a Royal birth, the place,  
Attendants dressing, cradle had no grace  
To move such vassalage; sure God inspired  
(A thing which well deserves to be admired)  
Such Faith into their minds, as made them see  
A God head clothed with humanity.  
Being to come fore one of more command 
Athanasius.   
Than Persiaes' Monarch, with an empty hand  
They dare not make approach, but open their treasure,  
And give their own in an abundant measure:  
The gifts they dedicate to Christ are three, 
Augustine.   
To note they did adore the Trinity:  
Or else to show, the person they adored,  
Although but one, was with three Natures stored,  
Deity, Soul and Body; or to bring  
His threefold Office of Priest, Prophet, King,  
To our remembrance; therefore some do call  
These, sacramental gifts; Prophetical 
Cyp●tian. Rupertus. Basfil.   
Others entitle them; the first was Gold,  
Which with a King doth correspondence hold;  
Or else they offer plenty of their Ore,  
That to supply their wants they might have store  
When Christ should f●ie to Egypt: they bestow  
Myrrh, that a mortal man we might him know:  
The Frankincense they offer doth define,  
As God he must have sacrifice Divine.  
Again, pure Gold, clear Myrrh, sweet Frankincense,  
Do each of them afford a moral sense;  
Gold signifies pure doctrine, Faith sincere,  
A charity refined, which God holds dear:  
Myrrh represents the tears of penitence  
Shed for our sins a mortified sense  
To worldly matters: Frankincense doth show  
Perfumed devotion, where we must bestow  
The Incense of our prayers: these well presented,  
Are offerings wherewith God is much contented.   

The wise men having their oblation ended,  
And seen, and known what might be comprehended,  
Take leave, and do betake them to their rest,  
Deeming themselves to be not meanly blessed  
In such a happy issue, now their mind  
At quiet, a sweet sleep their sense doth bind.   

About the dead time of the silent night,  
They saw, or thought they saw a glorious light;  
In it a shape more bright, an Angel● stood,  
Who came from heaven to warn them for their good,  
And having gently waked them, with a voice  
Able to charm attention, and rejoice  
The very heart to hear it, thus he said;  
Let not your minds with terror be dismayed,  
Almighty God, whose I rejoice to be,  
Hath sent me to you on this embassy:  
The honour which you lately did his Son,  
Hath so much favour from his goodness won,  
That knowing you are bend to undertake  
A dangerous journey, he desires to make  
The hazard known unto you: Iudas King,  
Herod I mean, is rather any thing,  
Then wha● he seemed unto you: his pretence  
Of worship, when in that close conference  
He broke about the Infant, was a wile,  
Both you and him the better to beguile;  
For in his heart he plotted long before,  
To wash his hands within the purple gore  
Of his l●e blood, and chose for this intent  
Your simpleness to be his instrument;  
Meaning when he had served his turn, to reave  
You of your dearest lives, striving to leave  
A precedent unto posterity,  
Of an vnmat●●●, unheard of tyranny:  
Be mindful of ●. ● words, and take good heed  
How you return to Herod, rather speed  
Into your Country b● some other way,  
For no ●●al● danger waits upon delay.  
This said, he quickly vanished out of sight,  
And they fell to their rest that rest of night.   

No sooner did the grau-eyed Morn appear,  
And by her blushing ●hew the Sun was near,  
But to their ●ourney they themselves address,  
And mindful of the vision, which did press  
Their memories afresh, they leave the road  
Which leads to S●●em, though the tract were broad,  
And ride through la●es, and byways, till at last  
The confines of ●udea they are passed.  
Secure from danger, their post-haste they stay,  
And travail on at leisure, by the way  
Discoursing with joy not to be expressed,  
How highly they were in that journey blessed:  
Ere many days their Country smoke appears,  
And they in peace at ho●e live many years.   

I cannot leave this part of history,  
Till I have showed a useful mystery:  
Herod by the unanimous assent  
Of Fathers, doth the devil represent,  
They then which by God's mercy are set free  
From bondage, worse than Egypt's slavery,  
Satan's oppression, must abhor such bands,  
And take good heed they fall not in his hands.  
The silly Bird having escaped the net,  
Fare from the fatal place herself will get.  
The Lamb which from the Wolf hath got away,  
Will no more venture from the flock to stray.  
If by the Gospel's Star we once are brought  
To Christ, let us by no temptation wrought,  
Turn back to Herod; but forsaking quite  
The works of darkness, in God's Word delight.  
Indeed I know we are to travail fare  
To our own Country, in this world we are 
1. Pet. 2. 11.   
But strangers: he that life's the longest age,  
Doth waste his life in tedious pilgrimage:  
Heaven is our happy home, and we must strive,  
Though close by hell we pass, how to arrive  
Unto that blessed Harbour, by the way  
Removing all such rubs as would us stay.   

But let me tell you, lest we chance to stray,  
Our journey thither lies another way:  
'Tis not the tootoo common road of vice,  
Which is the passage unto Paradise;  
Ah no, the path which unto bliss doth lead 
Matth. 7. 13.   
Is strait, and few they are that do it tread:  
Then, only then, another way we take, 
Immutatio viae emendatio vitae: Eusebius Emissenus. 1. King. 13.   
When of our vicious life a change we make.  
Like as the Prophet which was sent to cry  
Against that Altar of impiety,  
Set up by jeroboam, had command  
Not to go back unto his native Land  
By the same way he came: the like have we,  
We must our old ways leave, and speedily  
As we new creatures are, new ways inquire,  
Such as may bring us whither we desire.  
He that by sin hath left heavens usual tract,  
Must by repentance a new way come back.  
Hast thou walked on in lust's impurity?  
Return another way, by chastity.  
Didst thou with pride a stately march maintain?  
Another way humility regain.  
In avarice didst thou delight to move?  
Return another way, and walk in love.  
Did sharp contention make thee trudge to Law?  
From that misleading path thy feet withdraw,  
And strive to live in peace. Did thy heart range  
In usuries wild maze? O let it change  
(Though much against thy native constitution)  
With good Zacheus to a restitution.  
In fine if we wander from truth, or stray  
Never so little from the narrow way,  
We ●isse our path, and so abberring room  
From the right way, should lead us to our home.  
And therefore as the traveller in doubt  
Which way to take, with heed doth look about  
To spy some house, or person, which may be  
A help to him in his perplexity,  
And never leave enquiring, till he know  
Which way he must decline, and which way go:  
So if ye be in doubt which path to hold,  
With Salomons fair Spouse get to the fold,  
Where shepherds keep their flock, of them inquire, 
Cant. 1. 8.   
And they will satisfy your just desire;  
Then having found it, keep it with delight,  
And neither turn to the left hand, nor right:  
So shall ye find what ever may betide  
In your way thither, 'twill you safely guide  
To your own Country, where you shall possess  
More good than heart can think, or tongue express.    

Thursdaies' Meditation, or the fifth Canto.  
The Argument.  

An Angel is to joseph sent,  
To tell him Hérods' foul intent:  
He with his charge to Egypt flies,  
And there remains ti●l Herod dies.   

NO sooner had the Magis left the Land  
Of Palestine, but He which hath command  
Of all that know a being, and can see  
Things plotted with the greatest secrecy,  
And easily elude them, di● intent  
To Herod's project a vain▪ fruitless end:  
God can (though man be crafty to device)  
Infatuate the Counsels of the wise,  
And free his children from what may annoy them,  
Though malice join with cunning to destroy them  
So Pharaoh, who from Israel will not part,  
Wants of his will, yet for it feels the smart: 
Consilium divinum dum devitatur, impletur, humana sapientia dum reluctat●r, comprehenditur. Greg.   
So Saul, who practised Dauid ●● confound,  
Did himself fall, and Jsh 〈…〉 s son was crowned:  
So Herod who did seek ●● have deprived  
Christ of his life, did find himself short lived.  
Thus Gods decree while hund, doth take effect,  
And humane wisdom w●ile it strives, is checked.   

Now were all humane eyes shut up in sleep,  
But such whom care, or pain did open keep,  
When a blessed Angel (Angels are prepared  
To be to Gods Elect a surer guard  
Than mortals can be) unto joseph came,  
Sent to that just man in jehovahs' Name,  
Whose Sunlike presence had so bright array,  
That it made midnight to excel midday:  
Yet the good man fearless, because untainted,  
And with such apparitions pre-acquainted,  
Expected the event; when thus made bold,  
The Angel did his Embassy unfold:   

O thou which from the Lord such grace hast won,  
To be the Foster-father of his Son,  
And husband (though thou livest more like a brother)  
Unto that ever blessed Virgin Mother,  
Look well unto thy charge, the Wolf doth warch  
With bloody mind, both Lamb and Eve to catch,  
That he may pray upon them, therefore take  
The tender Infant, and his Mother make  
Copartner in thy flight, to Egypt flee,  
There's room and safety for thy Charge and Thee:  
There plant thy habitation, and remain,  
Till thou mayst safely venture back again,  
Which safety when the time shall once afford,  
I'll be a Messenger to bring thee word.   

This message ended, back the Angel goes,  
When presently good Joseph doth dispose  
Himself to God's command, that very night  
With his dear charge he begins to take his flight.  
But though such haste joseph made to be gone,  
we'll stay a while, and meditate hereon.   

That woman in the uncouth Wilderness, 
Revel. 12.   
Whom near her time the Dragon did distress,  
One thinks, doth represent the Church; another  
(Not much amiss) the blessed Virgin Mother:  
Indeed the Dragon suits with Herod well,  
And Mary is the woman's parallel:  
The story tells us, that the woman fled  
The Dragon's fury, when delivered:  
So was the blessed Virgin glad to fly  
With her young Babe from Herod's cruelty:  
The Dragon there stood ready to devour  
The Child, when he was borne; and every hour  
Herod did gape for news, that he might slay  
The blessedst Infant ever yet saw day:  
Yet Child and Mother both escaped there:  
So Christ and Mary both preserved were:  
As Moses guarded by God's mighty hand,  
Came safely of from the unjust command  
Of persecuting Pharaoh, and became  
A mighty Captain in jehovahs' Name  
To quell the pride of Pharaoh, and set free  
The Hebrews from Egyptian slavery:  
So by God's providence did Christ escape  
From Dragon Herod's mouth which wide did gape,  
To swallow him alive, that he might be  
Unto his people in captivity  
A mighty leader, and the power quell  
Of Sin, and Satan, of the Grave, and Hell,  
And so in fine his Israel safely bring  
From bondage worse than under Egypt's King:  
Finally when the Dragon did perceive  
Hi● force against the woman vain, did leave  
To persecute her, yet did i●ly burn  
In indignation, and his fury t●●ne  
To war upon the remnant of her seed,  
Hoping to meet ther● with successful speed:  
So Herod frustrated of his desire,  
Suffers his heart to burn in flaming fire  
Of furious rage, and will needs wreak his spleen  
On silly infants, but this shallbe seen  
More largely, in the progress of this story,  
Christ's flight a while keeps back the Infant's glory.   

Like as a gardener when he spies a plant,  
Full of fair hope fit elbow room to want,  
As nigh some overspreading tree, bereaven  
Of the Sun's heat, and the fat dew of heaven,  
With care removes it to another place,  
Where it thrives mainly, in a little space:  
So when the Lord his Son that plant did see  
Placed to near Herod that fare spreading tree,  
Yet fruitless, therefore worthy to be field  
Lest the unwholesome shadow death should peld  
To the near neighbouring plant, his powerful hand  
Doth now transplant him to another land.   

He that in flight our refuge is here flies,  
He that assists us ●gainst our enemies,  
Avoids the fury of his mortal foes,  
And like an exile into Egypt goes:  
That in such kind of dire calamities  
He might with us the better sympathise:  
Our Saviour Christ without a Gyges' ring  
Can have obscured his person from the King.  
Or had he pleased what ever was intended  
'Gainst Herod's malice have himself defended:  
He that by fire did his Eliah guard  
He that an host of Angels had prepared  
Elisha to secure, he that did save  
Daniel from Lions, Lazarus from the grave,  
Had it seemed good could here have gone as fare  
And quailed the force of Herod's men of war:  
But he chose rather to sepose his might,  
And to expose his person unto flight:  
Either to show what he himself doth say,  
He came no worldly Sceptre here to sway: 
joh. 18.   
Or else by his example to declare,  
The Church for persecution must prepare:  
Or it may be to teach us, that the Lord  
No extraordinary will afford,  
When we have ordinary means at hand,  
By which we may withdraw, and quit the Land,  
To work our safety: or to teach in fine  
Us personal persecution to decline:  
So Moses fled from Pharaohs cruelty:  
So David from his son's impiety:  
So Paul, no safety being in the Town,  
Was in a basket by the wall let down,  
That he might scape the danger; so again  
He fled from Salem, fearing to be slain:  
So Polycarpe in persecutions heat,  
Did by advice, for a while change his seat: 
Eusebius.   
So Athanasius did often fly  
From that blood thirsting Arrian tyranny:  
So when justina, Valentimans Mother, 
Socrates scholaslicus.   
Her rage against S Ambrose could not smother,  
He fled from Milan: chrysostom like fate  
Drew from Byzantium, to shun the hate  
Eud●xia bare unto him: Christ our Saviour,  
When past an Infant, had the like behaviour:  
So when the Pharises a counsel took  
Against his life, their presence he forsook: 
Mat. 12. 15. Luk. 4. john. 8.   
So when the nazarenes malicious will  
Would throw him headlong from the City hill,  
He left the place: so when with fell despite  
The jews did seek to stone him, from their sight  
He hid himself: to make this truth more plain,  
He gives this as a precept, to remain  
To all succeeding times, when tyrants hate,  
Shall rather seek your lives, than your estate,  
Out of one City to another fly, 
Mat. 10. 23.   
And save yourselves from their st●rne cruelty:  
This is to be like cunning Serpents wise, 
Mat. 10. 16.   
When innocence of Doves will not suffice.   

But we must know our Saviour ●led not death, 
Mortem distulit non fugit: Chrisost:   
Out of a fear to lose his vicall breath:  
Only for this cause he did now foreslow it,  
That afterwards he better might bestow it:  
He meant to lay it down, as a rare gift  
Of his own bounty, not by Herod's drift,  
By his freewill he did intent to die, 
Morietur non vinculo necessitatis, sed proposito voluntatis: Fulgen.   
And not out of a forced necessity.   

But seeing thou wouldst have thy Son, O Lord,  
To fly, wherefore to Egypt so abhorred?  
Can that to thy beloved safe harbour give,  
In which thy Israel did in bondage live.  
Have the Egyptians those plagues forgot  
Thou didst impose upon them? Will they not  
Study revenge? Or may not joseph fear,  
If Egypt's King of his arrival hear,  
He shall be taken for an Hebrew Spy,  
And by some uncouth torment forced to die.  
O let not flesh and blood expostulate  
With God's determination, or debate  
The matter any further, God who draws  
Honey from Hemlock with the Bee, can cause  
Each place that is to serve unto his will,  
And safety raise even from those would kill.   

The time was once when his almighty Hand  
Threw plagues apace on the Egyptian Land,  
The worst of which wherewith they were annoyed  
Was, when their first borne issue was destroyed;  
To recompense this loss he sends his own  
And by his bounty his great love makes known.  
Once making Moses his fit instrument, 
Exod. 10.   
Cymmerian darkness on their Land he sent.  
And which was worse, groping for light as blind  
Suffered them live in darkness of their mind.  
Therefore his son, that Sun shall now arise  
To give them light, which do not shut their eyes  
Against his splendour, for as stories tell,  
When he came thither all their Idols fell.   

And as we read that Joseph best beloved  
Of jacob, from his Father's eye removed  
By envy of his brethren, was conveyed  
To Egypt where by God's direction stayed;  
He was a kind of Saviour to the land,  
In keeping famine out which did command  
After a seven year's plenty: so more want  
Threatening to ruin Egypt which grew scant  
Of grace and goodness, Christ a Saviour came,  
And in great mercy did preserve the same.  
For he the true bread is where he doth dwell  
All fa●ine from the soul he doth expel.   

By this time joseph whom much care did press,  
Had gotten all things in a readiness,  
And in the covert of the shady night  
Gins his journey, darkness could not fright 
Non attendit verus obediens quale sit quod praecipitur: hoc solo contentus quia pracipitur. Bernard.   
Him or his charge: obedience doth contend  
How to please God although it sense offend.  
Not into what commanded is, it pries,  
But that it is commanded doth suffice:  
Good joseph murmurs not at the great pain  
Or the long journey he must entertain,  
He staggers not in faith, that he doth fly  
Which must save others from their misery:  
But as he came from Abraham, behaves  
Himself like Abraham, in his mind he graves  
How ready the glad father was to go  
When God commanded, and should I be slow,  
To execute said he what God enjoines,  
I should want worth, to issue from such loins  
Man's heart must be like paper, clean, and white,  
Whereon the Lord what he shall please may write:  
Or like to wax well suppled by the hand,  
Be soft and pliant to his just command  
We must in all things, seem they good or ill,  
Conform our wishes to out sovereigns' will:  
Faith and obedience stand not to dispute,  
But are still ready pressed to execute:  
Our God, obedience doth so highly prize,  
That he prefers it before sacrifice. 
1. Sam. 15.   
And worthily, for they who with consent  
A legal sacrifice to God present,  
But other flesh, the flesh of beasts do till, 
In victimis allena caro obedientia vero voluntas propria mactatur● Greg.   
Where we obeying sacrifice our will.  
Thus did good Joseph, whom no let could stay  
No not so long as for the lightsome day:  
And well in the black night did they begin  
Their travail from a place more black in sin.   

Now 'gan the day from out the east appear,  
Whose comfortable light their hearts did cheer,  
And ere the Sun had fully shone an hour  
They found themselves got safe from Herod's power:  
At length in Egypt they arrive what town  
Did give them harbour, the text sets not down  
Nor will I seek to know, there they remain,  
Till Herod's death did call them back again.  
All this saith the Evangelist was done,  
To firm that prophecy which said, My Son  
From Egypt have I called: the literal sense  
I know, concerneth Israel, who from thence  
Was brought by mighty hand, yet hath respect  
To Christ, as types do upon truths reflect:  
And as God's people, Israel, did stay  
A time in Egypt, till the Lord made way  
For their departure; so his blessed Son  
Had for a while his habitation  
In the same Egypt, till the Lord did call him,  
Whom there I leave to that which did befall him.    

Fridays Meditation, or the sixth Canto.  
The Argument.  

The King's fierce rage, his men of war  
The innocents do massacre:  
Rachel doth mourn her heavy loss,  
And will no comfort in her cross.   

TIme now (which erst did unto judabs' King  
Seem to move forward with a lazy wing)  
Made him suspect, or rather plainly see  
The wise men did delude his subtlety:  
And th●re was reason for it, he that thought  
To mock, is mocked, and rakes but what he brought;  
The law of taliation did require  
He should meet this event: the sittest hire 
Nequc enim lex lustior vila: Ouid.   
For fraud is slic deceit, and they that cherish  
Dissembling, in their art do justly perish:  
God on these men his judgements doth express, 
job 5. 13.   
And takes the wise in their own craftiness.   

Now this delusion in the King begets  
An indignation, and in rage him sets.  
When Tyrants cannot by their craft prevail,  
In a red Sea of cruelty they sail.   

But why, O Herod, wert thou thus perplexed?  
Why dost thou rage's? or wherefore art thou vexed?  
Didst thou not know that Christ's birth was divine?  
Or wert thou blind, because the Sun did shine?  
Didst thou not convocate from every Tribe  
Many chief Priests, many a learned Scribe?  
And did not they by ancient Prophecy  
Resolve the truth of this deep mystery?  
Didst thou not know the wise men came thus fare  
To worship Christ. led by a glorious Star?  
Thy cheek should rather blush, than thy heart flame,  
And look red, not with anger, but with shame,  
That such Barbarians, which were fare below thee,  
Should in their zeal to God so much outgo thee:  
The love and faith wherewith they were inspired  
Thou shouldst have imitated, and admired:  
For unless thou didst altogether shun  
Prophetic truth, so much it might have won  
Upon thy judgement, that by just compare  
Of passed things with such as present are,  
Thou mightst conclude, this was ' not a delusion  
Of the wise men, but a confusion,  
Which God, who sometimes counterchecks a King,  
Upon thy wicked purpose meant to bring.   

But say thou hadst some injury received,  
And by the cunning Magis wert deceived,  
How had the silly Innocents' offended,  
That so much misciefe is 'gainst them intended:  
O why is their unjust destruction sought?  
which ne'er so much as wronged thee in a thought,  
Surely, should jordan lend thee all her store,  
It could not wash away the purple gore  
That hangs upon thee, with thee still shall bide  
The title of a bloody Homicide.   

Thou soughtest for Christ, but wentest too far about,  
'tis faith, not fury, which must find him out;  
O foolish Herod which dost think t' expel  
Him that will still be King of Israel,  
Yea King of Heaven and Earth, in spite of thee  
Out of thy poor, and petty liberty:  
O wicked Herod, and of lewd behaviour  
Who fearing thy successor, hat'st thy Saviour:  
O bloody Herod, which by the fell death  
Of harmless children, wouldst prolog, thy breath:   

But little admiration it requires,  
That Tyrants seek to compass their desires,  
Or found their thrones on slaughtered innocence,  
Pharaoh long since had taught him to dispense  
With murders of that rank, who to secure  
His crown, made Abraham's issue to endure  
A heavy burden, while he did command  
To drown their issue male throughout the land. 
Exod. 1.   
So did Abimelec the base borne son  
Of that courageous warrior, Gedeon,  
Who through the blood of 70. brothers waded,  
Unto the Crown most wrongfully invaded,  
Herod was more unnatural than these,  
'Gainst his own son he could not rage appease,  
But fearing he should the Messiah be,  
Among the rest he wrought his tragedy:  
Therefore Augustus did this saying use,  
If I were bound to live among the jews,  
With greater willingness I would be swine  
Then son to Herod: for by law divine 
Malo Herodis porcum quam filium esse: Macrobius.   
Swine's flesh forbidden the Hebrews they did give  
A kind of privilege the beasts might live,  
Whereas King Herod a worse beast did grudge  
Unto his own child to afford so much.   

The Lion will not tender Infants slay,  
Unless mere hunger force him to such prey,  
O With what hunger then was Herod waged,  
When he against so many Infants raged,  
With hunger of ambition, which of all  
The greatest hunger we may justly call:  
Hunger of reigning sure must needs be great,  
Which to appease it, must have so much meat;  
So many Infant's flesh, that thirst is sore  
Which nought can satisfy but crimson gore,   

Enjoy blood thirsting Herod, re-injoy  
Thy kingdom safely, free from all annoy,  
He that above doth Heavenly crowns bestow,  
Gapes not for earthly sceptres here below,  
Such earth-bred honour Christ doth much despise,  
Elephants take no mice, nor eagle's flies:  
Though he of power be for to cast thee down,  
Yet fear no deprivation of thy crown,  
For though two Kings can in one kingdom reign,  
No more, than Heaven can two bright Suns sustain,  
Yet every King may with him, in him deign  
His kingly Lord, his true Messiah reign,  
As the fair Heaven with many Stars is dight,  
And with the Sun, from whom they take their light:  
Only learn mercy from this potent one,  
And heap not blood so long upon thy Throne,  
Till it become so slippery, as to threat  
Each step thou tak'st, to cast thee from thy seat.  
But rage, like to the belly, hath no ears,  
To reason deaf, it only passion hears,  
Advice is vain, say what I can or will,  
Herod will be himself, a tyrant still.   

They say, that Bee who of the rest is King,  
Either hath none, or doth not use a sting:  
Surely this man, whom wretched Bethlehem sees  
Reek in the blood of Infants, not of Bees,  
But Wasps was King, for wasplike full of spleen, 
2. King. ●.   
He thrusts his poisonous sting (so great his teen)  
Into the flesh of children, and doth kill  
Those, who to hurt him had nor power, nor will.  
Indeed two Bears did certain children slay,  
But cause they mocked God's Prophet: thou than they  
More fierce destroy'st the guiltless: fearful man,  
Dost thou dread silly children's force? or can  
Faint cowardice with thee prevail so fare,  
Thou shouldst 'gainst Infants wage such bloody war.  
Great praise no doubt, and many a worthy spoil  
Thou shalt enjoy, by giving them the foil.  
The noble Elephants will not invade  
The weaker sort of beasts: thou shak'st thy blade  
At sucking children, and send'st men of might,  
To challenge those that know not how to sight.   

There is a story of great Constantine,  
How true, the Author's credit, and not mine,  
Must answer: but the matter ●le relate,  
And leave the question further to debate:  
Before he came to Christianity,  
The Prince was troubled with a Leprosy;  
To cure this sickness the advice and care  
Of his Physicians would have him prepare  
A Bath of Infant's blood: sure here the Devil  
Prompted his Doctors to so great an evil:  
But being by God's providence converted,  
He from so foul a slaughter was diverted  
By soul's Physicians, who do well assure him,  
Baptism a Bath more powerful is to cure him.  
He hearkens to them, is baptised, and free  
Both from the bodies, and soul's leprosy.  
Behold, ambition Herod's soul invades,  
Like a foul Leprosy; ●atan persuades  
(Such is hell's physic) naught will do him good,  
Unless he bathe himself in Infant's blood;  
And not the opening of a ve●e or two,  
No, but their life blood this great cure must do:  
Therefore to satisfy the soul-sick King,  
Each tender Babe must empty all his Spring;  
And now God lets the Wolf the Lambs devour,  
Without restraining of his rage, or power,  
He puts no bridle into Herod's nose,  
But lets him take full swinge in his dispose,  
Because he knew how to draw good from ill,  
And make this wicked action serve his will:  
From Lion's mouth sweet honey he can take,  
And Marahs' bitter waters wholesome make.   

Herod in this his rage doth type out those  
Of the malignant Church, who still are foes  
To the Church Militant, and by their will  
Religion in it infant age would kill:  
Herod like malice, and impiety,  
Egyptian, Babylonian cruelty.  
It is (though tyrants hold these terms in scorn)  
To smother piety as soon as borne,  
To quench Religion while it is a spark,  
And drown poor souls by keeping from the Ark▪   

Again, in Herod's foul design of blood,  
Satan's condition may be understood,  
Who seeks not only by malicious will,  
Christ while an Infant in our heart to kill,  
But many children more, every good thought,  
Though it be never into action brought,  
To make those babes good motions in us die,  
Though they want strength to go in act, and lie  
In meditations cradle, is his glory,  
But I leave types to prosecute the story:   

While Herod inly vexed, became thus wild,  
With furious rage, the Devil rocked his child,  
But would not let him sleep: like some mad beast,  
By nature fierce, if wounded will not rest,  
But doubling his fell fury and even blind  
With rage, regards no longer how to find  
His foe that hurt him, but with head and feet  
Fiercely assails the next that he doth meet:  
So Herod, who conceived himself much wronged  
By the wise men, for whose return he longed,  
His hope deluded like one robbed of sense  
Wreaks his revengeful spleen on Innocence:  
For full of doubtful thoughts as well as sins,  
To reason with himself he thus gins:  
What child is this? that hath from Heaven his birth  
Foretold, ere it be perfected on earth:  
Unto the World himself he hath not shown,  
Yet is to those that never saw him known:  
Over no people yet he hath command,  
And wise men, great men, leave their native land  
To wait upon him: o who is the wight  
That overcomes me, and yet does not fight:  
That like a tyrant over me doth reign,  
Ere he the kingdom (I possess) obtain:  
If he already me of state beguile,  
What will he do if he increase a while?  
Poor as he is, he is more feared, than I  
With all my riches, and authority:  
Or else these wise men or impostors rather,  
(For by their dealing less I cannot gather)  
Whom my intelligence is I did make,  
Would not have faltered with me for his sake,  
But here I vow, who ever do be friend him  
Nor heaven, nor hell shall from my power defend him:  
No I will make (if my unhappy fate  
Cross not my will) Bethlem as desolate  
Of Infants, as this Infant hath made me  
Of comfort, since his new nan●'d sovereignty.   

Thus he resolves in rage, an● what that still  
To rash attempts a Counsellor full ill,  
Suggests unto him, he in action brings,  
So soon men execute the will of Kings:  
And now come other actors on the stage,  
The bloody instruments of Herod rage  
Made ready to present unto our eye  
A tragic scene of horrid cruelty.   

Not to examine who they were, we see  
Subject and King full well, and ill agree,  
Tyrants do never want fit Instruments,  
To execute their very worst intents:  
Would wicked Saul have the Lords Priests be slain▪  
Doeg the motion soon will entertain:  
Doth David plot to stop Vr●ahs breath?  
Joab will set him in the face of death:  
Doth jezabel 'gainst Naboths life conspire?  
The elders will effect her lewd desire:  
The world yet never knew a Prince so vicious,  
But that he should have men to be officious,  
Such as account it an especial grace  
To do their Lords will be it ne'er so base:  
The officers of Herod bore this mind,  
Ready to go when he their warrant signed.   

And now suppose them unto Bethlehem come,  
Ready to act the tyrant's fatal doom,  
While the Sun hides his head at such a sight,  
As if a Noon he meant to make it night,  
And with black clouds did cover his sad face,  
Grieving that men should have so little grace:  
The melting heavens do also shower down rain,  
As if they wept for the poor Infant's pain;  
Even the walls there in a cold dew stood,  
As struck with horror, to see so much blood:  
Yet these feel no remorse, nor once desist  
From the commanded murder, but persist  
In that abhorred work of cruelty,  
Which shall them brand with lasting infamy:  
With their swords drawn, that none this course may stay,  
Into men's houses they do force their way.   

Here they an Infant from the cradle snatch,  
There from the father's arms another catch,  
And the poor children's sad destruction wrought,  
Ere the amazed parents had a thought  
Of any danger near: some they transpierce  
With their blood thirsting sword, others in fierce  
And savage manner, they divide asunder,  
While they that own them stand stone still in wonder:  
Me thinks in one place I some father hear  
(At his dear Infant's danger struck with fear)  
Like Nisus in the Poet, or more mild,  
Cry out unto the Butcher of his child;  
O spare my son! or if you blood must spill,  
Here turn your swords, the grieved father kill?  
I might, he durst not could not entertain  
A thought of wrong unto his So●eraigne.  
Me thinks I in another place behold  
An Infant stabbed, whose pretty arms lay hold  
About his mother's breast, whence he doth drain  
Milk, that in blood runs out as fast again,  
While the affrighted mother, with her hands  
Heaved up, like Niobe, turned Marble, stands.  
In every place that doth afford an age  
Marked out for slaughter, death and fury rage,  
While the poor souls, some for their mother's crying▪  
Some smiling on their murderers, are dying.   

O here a while your speedy haste forbear  
Compassionate parents, and vouchsafe a tear!  
Think but what sad, what soul affrighting sight  
These saw, when they were robbed of their delight.  
Suppose your Infants whom you highly prize,  
Snatched from your arms, and slain before your eyes,  
What would you do in such a case as this?  
Nay, what would you not do? surely amiss  
I do conceive, or else your sorrow would  
Be greater fare, than all their suffering could;  
While from their pretty eyes salt tears did trill,  
Your pierced hearts would liquid blood distil;  
And every wound their bodies should receive  
Fron murderers hands, your very souls would cleave.  
And yet behold such was the woeful state  
Of that late happy City, fortunate  
Erst in her Saviour, who there first drew breath,  
But now most wretched in her children's death,  
Whilst by this fearful act of sin and shame,  
Of Bethlehem a Bethaven it became.   

But not this bloody act could yet assuage  
Either their cruelty, or Herod's rage,  
No, the near Villages in her hard fate  
The woeful City must associate:  
Not one poor cottage can keep out pale death,  
Wherein a child sucks in an infant breath.  
They pass through all the coasts about, and strive,  
That not one Infant may be left alive:  
Their charge so ready are they to fulfil,  
And satisfy the Tyrant in his will.   

O merciless and matchless murderers.  
How can you think wh●n justice once prefers  
A bill against your lives, and death you brings  
Fore the Tribunal of the King of Kings  
To answer this foul act? when their blood cries  
To Heaven for vengeance, it will not suffice  
That you had Herod's Warrant, God's Command  
Did you knew well 'gainst murder firmly stand.   

But how have I forgot you all this while,  
Poor Innocents', delay must not beguile  
You of your worthy suffering, ample glory,  
The which alone deserves to make a story.   

The Church on blood, and the not doing wrong,  
But suffering for it, hath foundation strong,  
By persecution she receives renown,  
And martyrdom gives her a glorious Crown.  
The blood of Abel at the World's creation  
Of this truth gives a pregnant demonstration:  
So likewise in the Gospel's pupillage,  
The blood of Infants, slain by Herod's rage.   

There be two colours which God much delight,  
And they are white and red: first, the pure white  
Of innocence, than martyrdoms blood red,  
And b●th these in the Infants largely spread:  
Not all the coats, though quartered ne'er so fair,  
W●●re men th●ir arms emblazon, to repair  
Th' 〈…〉 ●●●try of their Family,  
Which time would wear out but for Heraldry,  
Are half so glorious, as those fair Arms were,  
These Innocents' did in their Scutcheon bear,  
For, cross of Gules in Argent field they carry, 
Versus est vagitus in ga●dium luctus in iubilum. Cyprian. O paruuli beati nunquam tentati, multum luctati, ●am coronati. Augustine.   
Well may their Crest be a rich Crown of glory.   

Some doubt, but such either do judgement want,  
Or else of charity are wondrous scant,  
Whether these Infants here deprived of breath,  
Were saved or no from an eternal death:  
But what should this strange dubitation breed?  
Is not Gods promise made unto the seed  
Of faithful parents? Were not these received  
Into the covenant ere of life bereaved?  
They were, they were, therefore their cry did turn  
To joy, and they now laugh, who then did mourn:   

O blessed Infants, whom the cunning Devil  
By his temptation never led to evil,  
With death you struggled hard, and for that strife,  
You are now crowned with immortal life.  
Sure Herod's flattery could ne'er have wrought you  
So great a blessing as his fury brought you.  
O blessed age, which could not speak Christ's Name,  
Yet was thought worthy to die for the same:  
Sure you were borne in a thrice happy time,  
Felicities high toy so soon to climb.  
You are scarce past the threshold of your birth,  
When life comes forth to meet you, and from earth  
Takes you to heaven; you do no sooner leave  
Your infant cradles, but a Throne receive:  
In stead of hanging at your mother's breast  
In Abraham's bosom you securely rest:  
Fair Infants whom the ancient Church did hold  
The Flowers of Martyrs, sprung up in the cold  
Of unbelief, whose buds were ●pt to death, 
Flores martyrum. Aug.   
By frost like persecutions bitter breath,  
O how your death due praise to Christ affords, 
Sanguine non lingua passione non Sermone. Chrysost.   
By blood, not tongue; in wounds, and not in words.  
When greedy Wolf the Lamb doth bear away,  
The tender flesh torn by his teeth, some say,  
In taste, if eaten, men shall sweeter find,  
Than others killed whole of the same kind:  
This observation whether true or no,  
Is not material any way to know:  
Certain it is, the flesh of these brought under  
The fangs of wolvish Herod, torn asunder,  
Was sweet unto the Lord, and gave delight:  
For death of Saints is precious in his sight.   

That children should teach men, may seem 'gainst sense,  
Yet we may learn from them, fair innocence  
In all our sufferings must companion be:  
For if we suffer aught deservedly,  
With these we can expect no Crown to take;  
The cause, not cross, doth a true mart●r make: 
Causa non poenafacit Martyrem. August.   
If that be good, though Herod's do conspire  
Against our lives, and threaten sword or fire,  
They may our bodies, not our soul's distress,  
And their hate shall but work our happiness,  
Our cross shall crown us, and the death they give,  
Shall be a means to make us ever live.   

Now was fulfilled that fatal Prophecy,  
Which was foretold of yore by Jeremy; 
jer. 30. 15.   
A voice was heard in Rama, whose dire sound  
In woe and lamentation did abound.   

Among those mothers which were childless made,  
Rachel was one, whom grief did so invade,  
That shunning company, she seemed to live,  
As she were borne for nothing but to grieve.  
A shady Grove near her now hated-home  
A neighbour stood, there did she often room  
In that thick Covert, which made day like night,  
She sought to hide her from all humane sight:  
Sometime she sets her down close by the foot  
Of a fair spreading tree, upon whose root  
With nimble hand she begins to carve her woes,  
But ere she half have done, her passion grows  
To such a height, she mars what she hath made;  
Then with stern rage the bark she doth invade,  
Stabbing, and mangling of it without stint,  
As if her Infant's wounds she there could print.  
Starting at this, as if fear wings did borrow,  
She fled, as if she would outrun her sorrow:  
At last a burbling Brook she doth espy,  
Whose noise, she thought, did hold fit sympathy  
With her in mourning, there she stays her pace,  
And seated near it, doth extend her face  
Over the current: having fixed her look  
A while upon the Stream, she chides the Brook  
For his to speedy passage: Stay, O stay  
Thy course, relentless Torrent, did she say,  
And carry my complaints with thee along,  
My words, although my woes, shall not be long:  
Say that a Mother of two hopeful twins  
Robbed of that hapless issue, for her sins,  
Will never cease to mourn their bloody death,  
Till the just heavens in pity stop her breath;  
And for this kindness, I to thee will pay  
My tears, as a due tribute every day.  
This said, her eyes a liquid shower distil,  
As they the Fountain were, the Stream to fill.   

All that was done, which she thought undescried,  
By a near Kinsman of hers was espied,  
Who now approached, and sitting down beside her,  
In this mild manner did begin to chide her.   

For shame at last leave to be thus alone,  
And unto senseless things to vent your moan;  
Your faith and patience I once thought more strong:  
Griefs that recureless are should not be long:  
By your immoderate sorrow you offend  
The highest Powers, and hasten on your end.  
Beside such grief is vain, whether the dead,  
Or else the living be considered:  
The first, if they die well, are blessed; if fail  
Of a good end, our tears will nought avail:  
Your Infant's death in innocency found,  
This should you rather comfort, then confound.  
The body the soul's prison's said to be,  
Now it is death which sets this prisoner free,  
Who mourns for the enlargement of his child?  
But 'tis the body's death that makes you wild.  
If it be so, O be no longer sorry,  
That falls to rise again in greater glory.  
Who grieves to see a house pulled to the ground,  
Which shall he knows be better built? Some bound  
Set to your sorrow then, God will restore  
The body fare more glorious than before.  
Look on yourself, and you will find it vain,  
So great a grief so long to entertain:  
For shoul● your tears in as great plenty fall.  
As blood did from your Infants, could they call  
Your children back to life, no, though you mourn,  
And pine to nothing, they shall ne'er return.  
Take comfort then, lest if you sorrow still,  
You seem to spurn against jehovahs' will.   

The grieved Mother, who had all this while  
In much impatience heard him, with a smile  
Borrowed from scorn, thus answered, that they live  
In health can easily good counsel give  
To such as languish in disease and pain,  
And they as hardly do it entertain:  
Words are but words, I never yet could hear,  
That the grieved heart was cured by the ear.  
Aswell may he which hath desire to eat,  
Be satisfied by seeing painted meat:  
Or he that is through cold like to expire,  
Warm his numb limbs at the Ape's Glow-worm fire:  
As I from cold and painted comfort find  
A medicine, to recure my thought sick mind,  
Withal that I can from poor patience borrow,  
I cannot pay so great a debt of sorrow:  
In vain you waste your words, my woes are more  
Than time can wear away; therefore give over  
Your fruitless counsel, since my children are not,  
Though I consume myself in grief, I care not;  
Sorrow hath ta'en possession in my breast,  
And only can by death be dispossessed.  
When she had spoken thus, in hasty mood  
She runs, and hides her in the thickest Wood:  
But while to trees she doth her woes rehearse,  
To other matters I must turn my Verse.    

Saturdays Meditation, or the seventh Canto.  
The Argument.  

An Angel doth to joseph tell  
The death of Herod: Israel  
He longs to visit once again:  
Nazareth doth him entertain.   

NOw was the time that the Lord meant to take  
Vengeance on Herod, therefore he did make  
By just permission, his own issue strive  
How he might him of Crown and life deprive:  
Herod, while these foul treasons were a breeding,  
Got notice of Antipater's proceeding,  
So was his base son called: the irksome thought  
Of this unnatural action, quickly brought  
Sickness of mind upon him: and that soar  
Increasing, God did yet afflict him more,  
And on his body lay a foul disease:  
A secret fire he had, whose heat appease  
No course of Physic could though much he tried, 
josep. de Bello jud. lib. 1.   
All was in vain, the flame did quenchless bide,  
His bowels full of pain did not within,  
And worms to swarm about him did begin;  
The Cramp and Dropsy on his limbs did cease,  
And there was nothing which might give him ease.  
Passing o'er jordan, near Asphaltis' Lake,  
Calyrroes' hot Baths, he needs would make  
A means unto his cure, there he did bane, 
Euseb.   
Yet as he went in, came out full of pain.  
While Herod thus did in his torments broil,  
Physicians gave advice, that in hot oil  
His body should be suppled, they prepare  
A vessel for that purpose, and with care  
Put him therein; the fume perturbs his head  
So much, that he is taken out half dead.  
At last come to himself, he knows to sure,  
That he this evil seeks in vain to cure.  
Full of despair, somewhat before his end,  
For Salome his sister he doth send,  
(Together with her husband Alexander)  
And to perform this foul design command her:  
Sister, you see (said the sick man), that fate  
Hath marked me out for death: the deadly hate  
My subjects bear me, will not let them mourn  
To see mine ashes closed up in their urn:  
The meanest of them will scarce deign let fall  
A tear, to h●●our my sad funeral,  
Rather I fear they will exceed in mirth,  
To see my body turned into his earth:  
But I have laid a plot their joys to cross,  
And make the mourn, not mine, but their own loss,  
Their joyful exclamations I'll strike mute,  
If you but faithful be to execute:  
All their young Nobles (so have I disposed)  
Within Hyppod●omus are fast enclosed,  
And a strong guard about it, at my death,  
Assoon as ever you shall see my breathe  
Forsake my body, give a strict command,  
That they may all be murdered out of hand;  
So when my corpse unto the grave shall go,  
The jews shall mourn whether they will or no:  
So shall I have a glorious Epitaph,  
And though low under ground, shall highly laugh.  
This said, his ill increasing more and more,  
And his despair grown greater than before,  
Taking an Apple (such was then his meat)  
And being wont to pair, and so to eat,  
In hasty wise he called for a kntfe,  
And with that sought to rid himself of life:  
But either his weak arm this foul intent  
Can not perform, or others did prevent  
The fatal blow: and must I then still live?  
Cried out the Tyrant? Will the just Heavens give  
No end unto my sufferings? Must I be  
The Ball of scorn, and Butt of misery?  
Break break my heart! fly forth imprisoned breath!  
And welcome, what I have long looked for, death.  
More he had said, but that he scarce had spoke  
This, when with rage his very heart strings broke.   

While Herod thus in horror breathed his last,  
A blessed Angel doth to Egypt haste,  
That joseph may have word of this event,  
Which well he knew would give no small content  
To him, so long an exile: in the night,  
When dreams the fancy please, or else affright,  
The Angel makes approach, and thus gins:  
The Tyrant Herod, whose abhorred sins  
Did cry so long for vengeance unto Heaven,  
At last is justly of his life bereaven:  
They that delight in blood not long endure,  
Though God be slow in striking, he strikes sure;  
His hands be iron, though his feet be wool,  
And Tyrants never leave, until they pull  
Dire vengeance on their heads, which long delayed,  
Falls with the heavier weight. Be not afraid  
Of any future mischief, he that sought  
The Infants▪ hath his own destruction wrought:  
Dead is the Wolf, whose rage like fire did burn,  
Back to his pasture may the Lamb return:  
Therefore arise and take the blessed Child,  
Nor let thy care forget the Mother mild,  
To Israel with them return again,  
In Egypt thou no longer mayst remain.  
This message which the Lord did now direct  
To Joseph, shows that he doth his respect:  
Gods Saints in trouble must not always live,  
In time he will a joyful issue give  
To all their sorrows: joseph may be cast  
Into a loathsome prison, but at last  
He shall come forth with honour: for a ●it  
job may in anguish on the dunghill sit,  
Scraping his sores, ere long a happier fate  
Shall crown his joys, and double his estate:  
Daniel through envy of malicious men  
May closed be within the lion's den,  
But he their utmost fury shall withstand,  
And after live advanced in the land:  
Babylon's king may give command to throw  
●ust Sadruc, Messhac, and Abednego.  
Into the furnace, but he shall admire  
To see them walk unhurt, untouched by fire,  
And afterward, their innocence to grace,  
Over the Kingdom seat them in high place.  
joseph an exile may from Herod fly,  
But in this persecution must not die,  
Now the time comes, when he by God's command  
Must travail back to his own native land,  
And with a happy salutation greet,  
His Galilee, whose smoke he held so sweet:  
Like as a man for some long tedious time  
●●nisht from his dear Country, to a Clime  
●arsh and unpleasant, will, if he do hear  
His banishment repealed, with greedy ear  
Receive the happy news, and in his mind  
A not to be expressed comfort find:  
So fared it with our Joseph, when he knew  
The tidings of the Tyrant's death were true,  
And that he might return to Israel,  
From which in exile he so long did dwell,  
With a glad heart, and more than common care,  
He all things for his journey doth prepare,  
And Phoebus scarce salutes the lightsome day,  
When he gins his travail, by the way  
Rendering due thankes to that Almighty power,  
Which had preserved him to this blessed hour.   

Suppose by this time they are safe arrived  
There, where unwearied labour had so strived  
To bring them to the Land of Palestine,  
Here joseph doth inquire about the line  
Of the deceased Tyrant, and being told  
That Archelaus did the Sceptre hold  
After his father: such man's weakness is,  
Though hitherto the Lord did never miss  
Safely to guard him a cold trembling fear  
Passing the maze of his offended ear,  
took hold upon his heart: the best of Saints  
While here they live, live not without their taints.  
So Lot, when Sodom was consumed with fire,  
Did doubt the Mountain's safety, and desire  
A place of surer refuge: so the sight  
Of Esau's Band of men did much affright  
Perplexed jacob, when he did repair  
Back to his native home: O can despair  
Lay hold on such as these? what then shall we  
Do, when in danger and extremity?  
So great a power hath fear upon our souls, 
Resest i●periosa timor. Ouid. Saepius opinione quam re la●oramus. Soneca.   
That it checks virtue, and even grace controls,  
And yet sometimes (though fear so fare proceed,)  
We suffer in opinion, not indeed.  
But why, O joseph wert thou thus afraid?  
Didst thou misdoubt the Lord would send thee aid,  
And propulse danger from thee? Can thy mind  
Conceive a thought of fear? Since thou didst find  
Thy gracious God so ready still to send  
An Angel for thy guard? Did he defend  
Thee and thy charge from Herod's cruelty,  
To let you fall by his son's tyranny?  
Was his arm shortened, or his love grown less,  
That now he could not as much care express  
In preservation of you, as before?  
Ah no, God's love increaseth more and more  
To such as serve him, and his power extends  
Beyond all limitation to his friends.   

● grant thou mightst, as not unlikely gather,  
That Archelaus would be like his father,  
A bloody Tyrant, for a wicked Sire 
Mali coru● malum owm. Proverb.   
Leaves his son like himself: a strong desire  
To be thought apt for imitation,  
Leads children to observe their parent's fashion:  
But yet for all this thou mayst rest secure,  
He who hath undertaken, will procure  
Safety for thee and thine, only be bold,  
And on his goodness by true faith lay hold:  
Danger may threaten, but it shall not harm  
Such as are guarded by th'Almighties arm.   

Now was the time, that Morpheus with his wand  
Did charm a silent sleep on all the Land,  
Only perplexed joseph could not rest,  
〈…〉 any cares lay tumbling in his breast.  
●he while he thought he should most safety find  
〈◊〉 going back to Egypt: but his mind  
Did quickly alter, when the Lords command  
Which bade expressly he should leave the land  
To his remembrance came: then he thought best  
Where he now lodged to set up his rest:  
But that was dashed, when being come so near  
He did consider an unmanly fear  
Should keep him from his home: in maze of doubt  
An Angel came at last to lead him out,  
Giving direction, he should not abide  
Near Archelaus eye▪ but turn aside  
Into the parts of Galilee, for there  
He might securely live, without all fear  
joseph obeys and now his course he bends  
To Nazareth, where all his travail ends:  
Forfully seated there he life's in peace  
With his soul's comfort, and his joys increase.   

And this saith the Evangelist was done,  
That there might be a consummation  
Of what the Prophets told of Christ: for he  
A Nazarite say they shall called be.   

Expositors have here been much perplexed,  
Because they can directly find this text  
In none of all the Prophets; some conceive  
That time which doth of many things bereave  
The world, hath in his revolution lost  
Those sacred books, where these things were engro'st 
Chrysost.   
Another before this his sense prefers.  
And doth for Prophets read interpreters, 
Isidor.   
For Prophets may be thought to say that thing,  
Which men from them by good deduction bring.  
But matter fetched so fare we need not use,  
Or seek the sacred writer to excuse:  
For holy writ two ways a thing affords,  
Either according to the sense or words:  
Now though we meet not the same words in sound,  
Yet the same sense in Scripture may be found.  
Nazaren signifies one flourishing,  
And doth not Esay call this heavenly King  
A Rod of jesses' Stem, a branch that grows  
Out of his root, each one that Scripture knows, 
Isal. 11. 1.   
Knows this prophetic truth: Again this name  
Is given him, that he may have the same  
Which his type had before him: Sampsons' facts  
Did but foresignify our Saviour's acts:  
Samson from barren parents did proceed:  
And Christ alone was the pure Virgin's seed:  
His killing of the lion did foretell  
Christ should that roaring lion's power quell:  
Slaughtering his foes even when he lost his breath  
shown Christ should overcome his foes by death:  
Now of the first we read that he was styled  
A Nazarite to God: therefore this child 
judg. 13. 15.   
That truth and type might fitly both agree,  
was called a Nazaren as well as he.  
But properly his name came from the place  
Height Nazareth, which had the happy grace  
To give him education as a bower  
Most fit to entertain so sweet a flower.  
Nazareth doth a flower signify,  
And what place could he better dignify  
With his abode, then that whose name expressed  
His nature, who of all flowers was the best:  
Alcinous garden, or Adonis' Bower,  
Was never decked with half so rare a flower,  
Those of the greatest beauty are but silly  
〈◊〉 Sharons' Rose, or to the Valleys Lilly.  
This is not like French Flowers, in out side brave,  
Which yet within nor sent, nor virtue have,  
No, from an outside mean there doth distil  
Such virtue, as the Saints with grace doth fill.   

The Soul a Nosegay is, if this adorn it,  
The Lord will take the sent, if not, he'll scorn it.  
O may this blessed flower which now doth grow  
In Heaven's high Nazareth, not here below,  
Make us so sweetly in God's nostrils smell,  
That we transplanted from the earth may dwell  
In Heaven for ever, and in such a joy,  
As time cannot wear out, or death destroy,  
Flourish with Christ, and blissful Paeans sing,  
Unto the praise of our eternal King.    
FINIS.   

Errata.  
Pag. 3. l. 2. r. an. l 25. r. armies. p. 10. l. 10. r. jew. l 27. r. successors. p. 13. l. 2. r y'runne. p. 16 l. 25. r. thy. p. 17 l 17. r. when p. 18. l. 6. r. humane. p. 19 l. 20. r. lose. p. 31. l 18. r. nonce. p. 34. l. 10. r. repurchace. p. 43 l. 16. r. Ewe. p. 45. l. 14. r yield. p. 49. l. 19 r. kill. p. 57 l. 22. r in.