THE RELIGION OF A Physician: OR, DIVINE MEDITATIONS UPON The Grand and Lesser FESTIVALS, Commanded to be observed in the Church of England by Act of Parliament.  
By EDMUND GAYTON, Bachelor of Physic, And Captain Lieutenant of Foot to His Illustrious Highness JAMES Duke of York.  
Whom God preserve.  
LONDON: Printed by I. G. for the Author. 1663.   

PErlegi hunc librum, cui titulus [Divine Meditations upon the Great and Lesser Festivals, etc.] in quo nihil reperio Sacris literis contrarium; ideoque Imprimatur.  
Guil. Brabourn, S. T. D. Reverendiss. in Christo Patri ac D. D. Archiep. Cant. Sacellan. Domestic.   

To His Royal and Illustrious HIGHNESS, JAMES, DUKE OF YORK.  
May it please Your Highness,  
TO admit a Centurion of yours into Your Presence, without his Sword by his side, of which he is most joyfully disarmed by this blessed change of Peace; which he hopes no threats of murmuring Malcontents will be ever able to interrupt. It is long since I waited upon your Highness after the Surrender of Oxford, unto the Town of Uxbridge, where I took my leave of as much Happiness as could be left.  
Your Royal Father of ever Blessed Memory, was then alive, a Confessor Royal, and soon after Martyr, for the Protestant Religion, the Privilege of Parliaments, the Liberty of the Subject, and the Laws of the Land. All which no man ever defended so unto Blood as Himself, nor indeed could any man: For He was buttressed up by especial Grace, high Understanding, the Pen of a ready Writer and invincible Patience.  
Not long after His bloody Exit off the Stage of this World, with the general Plaudit of good Men and Angels, your Highness made an happy escape from St. James', where you now are at more Liberty (God be thanked) then before. I have loved the Play of Hide and Seek ever since, and with just regard honour those Gentlemen, who from the Royal Bopeep were grand Instruments to metamorphize the Pyrocles of their Land into a Philoclea.  
Who would not take this History for a Romance, were it not that the truth thereof is undeniable? How did the Red Rose blush, adorned in a Silk Gown and Satin Petticoat? with what Art and cover of Handkerchiefs or Gloves did you imitate Virgin smiles, even to the beguiling those who knew of your disguise? the Pilot and Master of the Ship never carried such a noble Fraight, which was his Barks protection and tutelary power: Not a Tarpaulin but would have thrown his cap at you, while the enamoured winds followed your Ship with all speed, more to salute the Royal Passenger, then to forward the sails.  
Credentne posteri? Posterity will stagger in belief of the future Annals, and Credulity itself will stand awhile dubious, when it shall be wrote, That two such High descended Brothers, should be preserved, the one in standing, the other in swimming Oak. Properly from hence shall our Ships be called The walls of this Nation, which kept safe such a Royal Depositum and Charge. 
Sacra jovi Quercus.  The Oak is a Tree dedicate to jupiter, and no doubt it was never more divine than in those two Services. The Oak, as it is in itself free from Thunder-strokes, so it proved to all in its protection, and loyally secured your Royal Persons from the roar and thunderings of our late Bull-Rampant, who raged like Hercules furens in his poisoned shirt at your Highness his Escape, and never recovered his spirits after His Majesty's Deliverance from him and his Bloodhounds. For though he died not presently upon the effugium, yet, as Queen Mary said of the loss of Calais, you might find the sad impressions of that miscarriage imprinted in her heart. Let a new Dodona's Grove be revived upon this Royal Tree, which crushed the spreading growth of that luxuriant Bramble, which had like to have overspred all the lesser Trees of the Forest, which hath overtopped the neighbour Vine, and the remoter Olive, and brought the Willow to a just subjection.  
Sacred be that Oak, whereby we Shrubs of the Myrtle and the Laurel Grove do shoot up again, more than cropped and browsed by the Vermin of those days. For all that while your Captain was in a Brown study in the City, and at many a dangerous Forage in the Country. In which solitudes these ensuing Meditations were wrote, and did visit some friends abroad, when the Author durst not. Now as Gentlemen who keep Hounds, send a couple to some friend, and a couple to another, until there be a free time for game: So I (the liberty of Studies being restored in Caesar only) have called home these dispersed Poems, and brought them to hunt in a narrow compass. I am sure they do not run Counter, nor are at a fault, but all follow upon the right scent, and open in good music, and go along in harmony (pardon the Metaphor) with the Uniform Pack.  
I humbly present these Fancies (Royal Sir) to Your Highness' protection, which is a Gourd too good for their shelter; yet the amplitude of your extended favour may shroud at once a Captain, a Physician, and a small Poet. In all or any of which Capacities, it is my desire to be ever esteemed (though at a most mannerly distance)  
SIR, Your Royal Highness his most obedient Captain and Servant, EDM. GAYTON.   

To the Favourable READER.  
Quoth feliciter vortat Academici, etc. That it may prove happy to my Mother the Church, and our Civil Father the King, and his Ward or Pupil (for that is all the Wards is left him) the Commonwealth. I have wrote these following Meditations in a time, when it was not a sin, but punishment to observe them. I remember very well, that those two famous Prelates of our Church, the Bishop of London-derry, and the eminent Scholar Dr. Gunning, with many others, were questioned for celebrating the Nativity of our Saviour, when the third of September was kept most religiously for the routing of a King. But, 
Crescit sub pondere virtus.   
The Dog barks, but the Moon goes on: 'Tis not the threats of men, nor their unjust oppressions must scare us from doing our duty. I have heard a learned Prelate say, That Nemo, moritur in officio, a Vicechancelour hath not leisure to be sick: and it hath obtained this Faith de facto, that even those spiritual adventurers I before named, have triumphed over their persecutions, and they live in honour and high esteem, when the Remora's and Swordfish of those days, the Thorns and Briars of their sides are crackling, as under a pot, in their abhorred Nonconformity. If ever there may be a boast of visibility, or of infallibility of a single Church, then modestly we of our Church may lay some small claim to it; which from the scoffs of our neighbours, and the deplored opinion of most of her own spurious children is raised (Deo Gratias) like Job from the dunghill, more niche, more honoured, more conspicuous than ever: so that I may say of my restored Mother and King, as it was said of Marius returning from the Lake of Minturnum, where he was forced to skulk from the proscriptions of Scylla, Catenae, fuga, exilium honorificaverunt dignitatem, that is, their Exilements, Imprisonments, Scorns, Miseries, did emblazon their dignities, and set a varnish upon that Gold, which the evil tongues of those and these days had laboured to rust, and with Calumnies Canker-eat and deface; Victrix causa malis placuit, sed victa Gatono, I loved the Church when she was unlovely, when she was blackest than was she comely. A disfigured Parthenia is the loved Mistress of a constant Argalus. Bright Cynthia with all he spots is amiable, and our Ladies in smaller volumes imitate the pale Lady of the skies. In my Mother the Church her spots are not black Foils but red, the Redletter days being the Ornament of her Year: her Festivals (my present subject) so many pillars as in Solomon 's Porch, the beauty and flourish of the building. I do acknowledge that learneder Pens have laboured in this Argument, and I come forth burdened with their just Fames, and must needs incur the censure of an impertinent and superfluous Scribbler. Scribendi Cacoethes is a Disease incurable, for which there is no dose in our Pharmacopaea. I can make no other Apology than this, that, Nil est dictum, quod non est dictum prius: the Mode perchance, the Fashion may be new, but the groundwork is old. If I prove Scinctillula de Scinctilla, a Sparkle of a Spark is honour enough. 
Longè sequor & vestigia semper adoro.  The many little Stars in the firmament make a very rare Via lactea, which the greater Luminaries do neither envy nor obscure: Let my vantage Candle I pray be taken into the pound, to make weight at least, while your Christmas Tapers carry the glory of the day. These Apologetic compliments premised, I proceed to prove the Antiquity and Legality of these Festivals, wherein also I am prevented by the learned Dr. Gunning, after whom to glean is too much honour for me, unworthy to carry his Books. And first of the Antiquity of Easter, what can be more reverend for its Age, more holy for its Subject? it was instituted by the Apostles themselves, kept by them, and is indeed the leading Sabbath, or rather Holiday of the year; Dies Dominicus non Sabbatum creationis, the Lords Day, a Commemoration of the Resurrection of our Saviour, which was the compliment and perfection of the Redemption of the World. This is the Lords day, in which his Arm brought mighty things to pass. And for the Antiquity of Lent, it is derived by Dr. Gunning very far, to whose more authentic authority I refer you. According to Helvicus and the Chronologer upon him, we find it instituted by that good Prince Sigisbert, amongst us Englishmen (having first restored Christian Religion) in the year of our Lord, 640. but at Rome it obtained sooner observance in Telesphorus his Episcopacy of that See: For then the name of Pope was not appropriate to the Bishop of Rome only, but was shared among the rest of his Brethren; but in Phocas the Emperor's days Boniface the third usurped the title of Universal Bishop, and did affix the name of Papa to the Roman See only, though S. Gregory before him plainly said, That whoever did assume that title, was the forerunner of Antichrist: What need the Geneva Gloss? is not S. Gregory enough to state the Question? And in 142 Lent was instituted at Rome, the forementioned Telesphorus, being Pontifex Maximus: but as for the business itself, the Antiquity makes no great matter, no more than our long contentions for the Superiority of Oxford and Cambridge, though in this present Parliament my Mother hath got the right-hand side; and to show my thankfulness for that Vote, I shall tell the noble Suffragators of a piece of Petrarch (a Poet too, yet of good authority) wherein speaking of the ancientness of the Disputative, Ergo— he saith, 
Vetustum illud ergo hoc Oxoniense, illud Parisciense.  Which doth intimate, that Cambridge had no name then, or no ergo, or ergo fallor; let these Universities be for ever styled (as my Father Ben calls them most politicly in his Dedication before Volpone) most equal Sisters. It is not the oldness of any thing, unless it be also very good, makes it praiseworthy; Stand in the old way, that was the first covenant of the Decalogue, was a holy Precept; but fight for the Good old Cause, which was a covenant for Mischief and Treason, was an abominable invitation, and a call to Rebellion. Curse ye Meroz was a very good commination against those backward Israelites, which kept their Tents, and would not rise with the Lord against the mighty: but to your Tents, O Israel, and the new Curse you Meroz of our times was the decoy to Sedition, Tumults and War, and a spur to England to ruin themselves, to cut off the best King that ever Christianity knew. The jews at this day attribute their long abandoning and dispersion to their rebellion against the house of Judah; Shall a jew repent of that sin of Witchcraft, and shall the Godly Party wipe their mouths like the Harlot, and say it is a sweet thing, and persist in impenitency, and provide for future Risings? 
Pudet haec approbria vobis,  
Et dici potuisse & non potuisse refelli.  Countrymen, I am ashamed of your obstinacy, and beseech you to undeceive yourselves. These Meditations, if read with impartial eyes, will befriend you into the true way, that way which your King upon his Theatre of Martyrdom told you, you had forsaken. Remember the words of your dying Father, of a true Jonathan, though not the son of Rhacab, but a sober Prince, a chaste Prince, a pious Prince, and for his sake, who prayed for your Pardon, who purchased your Act of Indemnity with his own Blood of his Merciful Son; for his Son's sake, for his Christ's sake, yet in this your day leave off murmuring, repining, speaking evil of Dignities, and every high thought of heart, and come with old Barsillai, you and your sons and families, bring the King to Jerusalem, settle him in his Royal City with joy, and make one Festival more than I write of, make one jubilee to the universal rejoicing of this yet distracted Nation. At this Repentance Heaven will dance, the Angels will be pleasant, and your own hearts will be enlarged with everlasting comforts. Which is the hearty vote of a true Son of the Church of England, and a Religious Physician.  
That word makes me reflect upon myself, and commands me to show some reason why I entitle this Book The Religion of a Physician, since that hath been used by Doctor Brown, an able Artist in that Faculty: To whom, for that and his Vulgar Errors, the world stands still engaged and obliged. I do not do it for this end and purpose, that either in Physic, wherein he was admirable, or in Theologie, wherein he was curious, I should match myself with him, or labour to outvie him. A poor Dwarf upon that Giant's shoulders dares not undervalue his Supporters, or stalk proudly and forget the Stilts and Props are under him. This Frontispiece humbly shows, that the Author did not totally in these late years either neglect his Body or his Soul; 
Ut sit  
Mens sana in corpore sano,  aught to be the care of every man, much more of a Christian. 'Tis true, that Sir Jeffrey Chaucer had but an ill opinion of my Faculty, when he saith of a Doctor of Physic, 
His meat was good and digestible,  
But not a word he had o'th'Bible.  To wipe off that stain and aspersion from our Botanic Tribe, I wrote these Meditations, to show the World, that it is possible for a Physician of the Lower Form to be Theologue, at leastwise to seem to seem to be one: S. Luke was a Physician, an Apostle and Evangelist; and we own one of the best stories in the world, The Acts of the Apostles, and the compleatest Gospel: so S. Paul esteems it to that Physician. 'Tis certain, according to practice, our Art doth not so much intend the amendment of the soul as the body, especially▪ if Doctor Butler be judge, whose advice to a salacious Patient a little entrenched against the seventh Commandment: But yet that Cure might have been wrought without infringement of the Precept, if the party would have pleased to have taken a wife; and than Hypocrates and S. Paul might have been reconciled with a circumfer sororem conjugem, and without Goclenius the cure had been effected: But to say precisely and peremptorily, that the Physician hath nothing to do in respect of the soul, is more than can be justified: for the Physic of the body is but a preparative for the bettering of the soul, which is highly eased and fitted for Divine contemplation, by emptying a Plethoric cask: how sprightful is the whole man after the successful workings of a Vomit, moderate Phlebotomy, or a dose of Pills, or a Purge? 'tis true, we may be Canes ad vomitum, and Sues in coeno volutantes, but no man sanae mentis will dedignify his body after a noble Wash, but will rather look out clean places, good air, good company, and endeavour to keep his house neat and gent after its happy evacuations: but if he does contrary, and take 7. unclean spirits into him after defecation, let him look to it, lest his latter end be not worse than his beginning, and so let him be condemned to the Physician, who shall lose his honour by him, plagued by incurable diseases, and only fitted by long, and tedious, and unprofitable Physic for a journey into the Country, and so to the Sexton.  
A Physician therefore and a Divine you see are not inconsistent, the late Times made many Preachers Physicians, and these Sovereign days have made many a Physician Preachers: 
Cum fortuna volet fies de Rhetore Consul,  
Cum volet haec eadem fies de Consul Rhetor.  You know not what a causer of Metamorphoses and changes one Oliver may prove; and one good Augustus may prove as successful (and God grant it) to the repeopling the houses of the Prophets, and rebuilding the Universities and Churches, as ever that Usurper was fruitful to their ruin. The restored Revenue of the Church invites and excites to the study of Divinity; without which endowments and encouragements Arts would be chilled, and Learning frost-bit, and look like the year in October, all snow, barren and uncomely.  
Many able Physicians, my very good friends, are already Reverend Divines, and fit for Prebendaries, Deaneries and Bishoprics; the Urinal is cast quite away, & Thomas of watering is in the place of it. The round Cap is turned square, and I commend the dance of so rare changes, which can make of a Galen and Hypocrates, Van Helmont and Paracelsus, Dr. Prideauxes, Hooker's, Dr. Andrew's and Bishop Laud's. Proceed in that, or any Faculty, so your Degrees and Honours prove worthily taken; Ad gloriam D. O. M. honorem Regis C. 2. & beneficium Reipubls. & studii: or as it is more solemnly spoken at the creation of a Doctor or Master of Art, Ad honorem D. nostri Jesu Christi, ad profectum Matris Ecclesiae & studii, etc. these may very well become the breastplates of every Orthodox Divine.  
And now I crave pardon for this tedious and overlong Epistle, and give you a welcome entrance into our Manual of Divine Meditations, which I hope you will favour ably accept, especially from one who doth constantly employ his time on some Scholastic Work or other, whereby he may, at leastwise in wish, appear to be,  
gentlemans, Your most humble and obsequious Servant, E. G.   

DIVINE MEDITATIONS UPON The Grand and Lesser Festivals, etc.  

Upon the Nativity of our Saviour.  

GIve place all Birthday's unto this: and oh!  
That I could write as 
* Virgil.  He of Pollio,  
Or of Marcellus fate, that Kings and Queens  
Unto this Babe might come a gossiping:  
They are too mean to stand for this High Child,  
Who th' 
† Magnum jovis Incrementum.)  Increment of God is indeed styled.  
Angels are Harbingers, Wonders precede,   

A Barren Womb must teem, before a Creed  
For a Virgin-Mother; first than a john 
Luke 1. v. 36.   
Of a dry Elizabeth; Marry anon  
Conceives, brings forth, and all without a Man,  
The Womb conceives more than her small Brains can:  
When Angels sound it, there's no place for doubt,  
To question it, will strike a Prophet mute:  
Old 
* Luke 1. v. 22.  Zacharie, how faithless hadst thou stood,  
Had not the Angel Gabriel thought it good  
To tell thee of thy Cousins wondrous birth;  
Marry, the Blessing and the Gaze o'th' Earth.  
Such Salutation never Princess saw,  
Never Ambassador of so much joy,  
And yet this glorious Legate is not sent  
To th' Court, or to the Jewish Parliament,  
(The Sanedrim) nor the sharp Synagogue,  
(Who read according to the 
a Sicut Septuaginta interpretum glossa.  Seventy's Vogue)  
But to some simple Shepherds this news flies,  
Who are acquainted with the work o'th' skies,  
By their Nocturnal Offices, and see,  
As if some Stars had shot, the Angels ply  
About the Sheepfolds, and then make them glad,  
With news of a Lamb born, more than they had.  
Whose should it be? where yeaned? in this cold night,  
(The hope o'th' Flock!) alas, will be killed outright.  
Be unamuzed, sweet Innocents', your Crook  
And Calendar will both be now mistake.  
No Jacob's Staff can reach the height of this  
Star, and yet this from jacob did arise.  
The Holy Lamb, which amongst the Beasts doth lie,  
Was slain; before his birth, designed to die,  
So that the Martyrdom of Saints ere since,  
Have their Nativities been styled from thence.  
But listen, Shepherds, and your pipes lay by,  
Attend to th' Choir, and Music from on High.  
Th' imaginary motions of the Spheres,  
Did never strike such sounds in any ears;  
The Voices most harmonious, Persons rare,  
A Royal Ditty of Celestial Air;  
A singing Army, without Drums, or Fife,  
The Lords Artillery (but not for strife.)  
What a blessed Anthem chants this Heavenly Host?  
These Soldiers were inspired by th' Holy Ghost;  
As by the joyful matter you may guests,  
Glory to God, good will to men, t' Earth peace.  
When such a Song shall ever more be heard?  
Or when such Choristers? 'tis to be feared  
The Saints are black, and of another tone,  
Hatred to men, War and Destruction  
Upon the Sons o'th' Earth; and yet they cry,  
All's done to the glory of God on High.  
Away then Shepherds, to the humble place,  
And kiss his feet, view your sweet Saviour's face.  
What Glory shines about the Babe? the Hay  
And Straw all on a fire, make no such day.  
The Beasts affrighted with such flames, here gaze,  
And run about the Infant as it blaze.  
What need we care where us our Mothers lay?  
A Manger is God's 
a Cradle.  Incunabula.  
Marry encircled with a glorious Light,  
Is in a cloud herself, her thoughts in night:  
Delivered of a Son, but not of Doubt,  

b Luke 2. 35▪  Her heart was joyed, but yet was pierced throughout.  
Certain 'tis hers, uncertain how 'tis hers,  
She does believe, 'fore Reason Faith prefers:  
The births of all men do depend upon  
Their Mothers, here the Mother trusts the Son,  
Whose Incarnation to himself was known,  
And Mary Mothers it, Father there's none.    

Upon S. Stephen the Proto-martyr.  
HOw shall I write thy Legend? who am all  
Extremely bad, as bad as 
a The King and Apostle.  either Saul.  
What though I threw no stones, as Saul? I had  
A hand in thy Lords Lords death, and that's as bad.  
The Sins preceding, present, and to come,  
Are all upon account, the cursed sum  
And hand-writing against us, which stood good,  
Until Christ had expunged it with his Blood.  
The Jews cried Crucify, their voice prevails,  
But every Sin of mine was Goad and Nails.  
Mount Calvary the Stage, the World the Cause,  
And He condemned for our not keeping Laws;  
And every one that does profess that name,  
Hath for his Badge, Death, Poverty and Shame,  
While devout Stephen preaches him, and spoke  
A Poniard-Sermon 
b Act. 7. 4, 5.  made the heart to ache  
(Like the smart penned Philippics 
c Ciceronis Orot. contra M. Anton. & Catilinam.  word and blow,  
Th' eternal Life and Death of Cicero.)  
What is contrived? his fate, a Sermon (friend)  
Of truth doth th' utterer to th' Scaffold send.  
But what should anger them? Stephen you know  
Was no Apostle, that's no Bishop, no,  
He was a fervent Deacon, had he been  
O'th' higher Form, he'd been the Man of Sin:  
No Order escapes their malice, no Degree  
Exempts the Clergy from their Tyranny.  
If he speak truth, and boldly reprehend,  
Bishop, or Deacon, it shall be his end.  
'Tis not thy Miracles, or Wisdom, Saint,  
Though it convince them, shall obtain a Grant; 
〈…〉   
They are o'ercome, convicted, Gild proves Rage,  
Not only then, but now, in this our Age.  
Look what a crew and crowd of Enemies  
Are raised against apparent Verities,  
Which Libertines convene, they will dispute,  
And Sense and Wonders shan't a man confute; 
Acts 6. 9   
Just like the enemies to David's Throne,  
A line of wicked Combination,  
Edom and Ishm'el, Moab, Hagarens,  
Gebal and Ammon, Tyre and Philistines,  
Conspire against judah all; so here a Nest  
Of Sectaries oppose the Truth professed,  
And all in vain: then to the old Design,  
Make a Malignant of the best Divine,  
Blasphemer, Innovator, one that doth  
Act against God in words, and the State both.  
This will prevail, if that the people cry  
justice aloud, good Stephen thou must die.  
Thus do false criers up o'th' Temple, kill  
The truest Props, and Churches Pillars still.   

Upon S. John Evangelist and Apostle.  
BElov'd Disciple, pillowed on the breast  
Of Christ (which was a favour 'bove the rest)  
From whence thou suckedst sublime Divinity, 
(a) Hensius in Oratione Natalitiâ.   
And soarst aloft, with Eagles piercing eye,  
Into the Mysteries of Faith: To thee  
We owe the profound arguments, whereby  
The Ebionites, and Arrian Heretics,  
Socinians, and their late invented tricks,  
Are all confounded, and whosoever do fight  
Against Christ's Incarnation, or his Right  
In the Blessed Trinity, th' (c) Eternal Word 
(b) Joh. 1. ver. 10.   
(As in a scabbard is enclosed a sword)  
Couched in the Flesh, shown thorough that shadowing veil,  
And 'bove the Hood the Glory did prevail.  
It was not possible to shroud him so, 
Verse 14.   
But by his works his Father he must know;  
He proved his Father by his wondrous Deeds,  
Than those his Acts, there need no other Creeds.  
Believe me for my Works (they're his own words)  
These speak me God, these speak me only Lord.  
To make men eyes and legs were blind and lame,  
It is as to create the very same,  
To raise the dead to life, redeem, restore,  
To raise himself from death, what would you more?  
More if he would have done, his own self saith,  
Could not (if what he did would not) gain Faith.  
The reason of this Unbelief? 'tis this;  
Men hated Light for its discoveries.  
Mischiefs in Lanterns lodge, in Mists and 
c Honesta publico gaudent, scelera secreta sunt. Minutius Felix.  clouds,  
And fly whatsoever their dark designs enshrouds.  
Deluding Oracles are dumb, when Truth  
Doth speak, the Devil himself hath ne'er a mouth:  
When that the Word Essential is in place,  
Darkness and Light can't join Malice and Grace;  
Forced and extort confessions may come  
From Devils themselves (who would, like men, be dumb;)  
But when th' Effective Word exerts its powers,  
Both Devils and Men must then be Confessors;  
But in his Umbrage of Divinity,  
These combined parties dare affront him high,  
Call him a Wine-bibber, companion  
With Publicans and Sinners, any one,  
Harlots, Samaritans, he made no choice,  
Rather with Poor, then Pharisees rejoice.  
Christ was no Separatist, only from Sin,  
He lived up Love, and preached Communion in.  
So did his loved Apostle, whose works show  
The Fountain whence those streams of love did flow:  
How sweet his 
a Three Epistles of Saint john.  Trias of Epistles run,  
And to his last he sang as he begun,  

b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Verba novissima emorientis Apostoli.  Love one another, when his aged eyes  
By guides came to his Pulpit-offices.  
Love one another, his last text, so prove  
Yourselves to be of God, to be in love.  
So ended this Saint's life, for he alone  
Escaped the Cross, the Fire, the Sword, the Stone  
Of all the Twelve, yet was the Cauldron heat.  
And the amanded Fires did straight retreat,  
And could not hurt his Sacred Person, for  
Long life was promised by his Saviour,  
Not a No Death, as was mistake, so he  
In Patmos was an Exile; then did die:  
Where lies the Body of this Sacred Man,  
Banished to th' Isle by proud 
c Irenaeus 1. lib. adversus▪ Heret.  Domitian.   

Upon the death of the Innocents'.  
Lo, here a company of sucking Saints  
(Suffering before the knowledge of their wants)  
Their Saviour's Proxies, Vicar-Sacrifice,  
Whilst He by Angels guide to Egypt flies.  
Egypt, the succour now of Israel,  
Which did to its own cost them once expel.  
Away false gods, and Garden Deities,  
No Superstition near this cradle lies.  
The Land is Goshen all, and Light by thee,  
And cursed Cham a greater Child doth see  
Then Moses, or that famed 
a joseph.  Interpreter,  
Made the chief Ruler from a prisoner:  
Not so in Israel, where the cruel 
b Herod.  King  
Slays without mercy, every sucking thing;  
Nor spares his own young Infants, but lets Rage  
Arm itself keen against that Innocent Age,  
As if the Land were all one Leprosy,  
And Infant-blood prescribed the remedy.  
O horrid sight! see Troopers on their spears,  
Carrying like spoils, Babes had not seen two years!  
Snatced from their mother's breasts, and sprawling, yet  
Take the spears point instead of sucking Teat.  
Was ever such a Monster? to enjoin  
Murder on Babes, and Mercy unto Swine?  
What will not Superstition spare, or kill?  
A sucking child must die, and a 
c Mallem Horodis esse Porcus quam Filius.  Hog swill.  
Brave mighty men of War! stout Cuirassieers!  
How well your Victory in Story hears?  
Your country's Parricides, for pay do this;  
Were ever such bloody Mercenaries?  
Usurping Herod, a false King, half Jew,  
Can make you murder the right King, the true.  
You are the instruments of all this evil,  
And for your pay do serve this bloody Devil.  
Take heed, deceived Soldiers, or your pay  
Will be a little higher in one day:  
Payday will come for this, nor will't be good  
To plead you had commission to shed blood.  
Saint john the Baptist gives you other sense;  
You must not do to any one offence:  
How can we fight then? you will straight reply,  
Soldiers of Fortune serve for salary.  
Examine not the Justice, nor the Grounds  
O'th' Quarrel, made to give and receive Wounds.  
'Tis argued well, and you may justly fight,  
And in some cases question not the Right,  
Where Lawful Power doth muster you; yet than  
They are two things, To fight, and murder men.  
Just War is lawful, but in your cool Blood  
To kill a child commanded, Think ye it's good?  
Remember that brave Slave, and gallant Man,  
Redeemed from th' Oar by Dioclesian;  
When that the subtle Emperor did ask,  
What desperate service, or what rugged task  
He'd undergo, to gain his Liberty?  
Bid him propose unto extremity;  
Courted the worst of dangers, any dress  
Of Death made not his valour spiritless:  
But when the business was to act a Rape,  
Upon a 
a Dorotha● Virgo, Martyr.  Virgin of Angelic shape;  
Do't thyself, Tyrant, said the Moral Slave,  
Return me to the Moans, or to my Grave;  
I will not taint my soul with such a crime,  
To gain the glory of thy Diadem.  
Take heed then, at no General's command  
Act what with honest Justice will not stand:  
Murder no Innocents', enjoin who will,  
Say like the Slave, do you, Sir, such things kill.  
Christians are such in God Almighty's eyes,  
Be tender then of such a Sacrifice:  
For as that 
b Rachel Lugens.  Rachel wept for children there,  
So the Church-Rachel 
c Ecclesia plorans suos per universum Orbem discerptos.  wails hers every where.   

On the Circumcision.  
THe Eighth day Ceremony calls, a Rite  
Of long observance, a Covenant plight  
'Twixt God and Abraham, when his Faith gained  
That promised Blessing that this day's obtained;  
And Circumcision was the Seal, whereby  
That Grant was passed to his Posterity;  
And not to his alone, but the whole Earth  
Was to be blest i'th' product of that Birth.  
Here it is tendered, in the Temple done,  
Legal throughout, as 'twere 'twixt Sun and Sun.  
And now the Covenant-maker doth submit  
To his own Law, which is fulfilled in it:  
A Passion but continued his whole life,  
How will he end that enters on the 
a The Sacerdotal Knife of Circumcision.  Knife?  
Here the first stroke, the last upon the Cross,  
Thy Agony then both a greater loss  
Of blood: entered in discipline severe,  
This Knife is but praeludium to thy Spear:  
Here suffering under Law, and there against,  
Lamblike from shearing thou to th' Shambles wentest:  
Thy Foreskin now is clipped, but the next Dart  
Will pierce thee (Man of Sorrow) to the heart;  
And yet nor Spears, nor Whips, nor Nails, nor Thorns,  
Are so tormenting as unworthy scorns.  
Thus in the rigour of exacting Law,  
Blood from thy Infant-flesh the Priest doth draw;  
Blood from thy side doth after spring, that we  
Might from sanguineous Rites be ever free.  
Water suffices to the same intents,  
And Bread and Wine more kinder Elements;  
Our Sacramental Deuce are easy, mild,  
Which will not hurt i'th' duty the least child:  
Take then them not in opere, in fact,  
But let us do what those sweet Rites exact:  
Be circumcised in Heart, our Will's the Knife,  
Whetted by Grace, the Mulct is a new Life.  
Besprinkled Facesintimate cleansed Hearts,  
And bread and Wine Faith unto Blood converts.  
Easy conversion! who can less require?  
But he that died, that it should be no higher.  
The torment of Redemption, that was His,  
Ours are the fruits of that hard purchased Bliss:  
No longer, Jew, gash thy unmeriting skin,  
The Wounds that are expected are within.  
A sad and contrite spirit, Tears and Sighs,  
Such Sacrifices will ascend on high,  
Grateful and pleasing: Christian, be thou sure  
To wash too, after Lavor and the Ewer:  
It is not often dipping is required;  
Wash oft, as Naaman did, and yet be mired;  
Unless Repentance cleanse the Hands and Heart,  
And a good Life, by Hyssops purging Art,  
Render thee born a new; thou'rt still a Jew;  
All A●ana, nay jordan will not do.  
Sign, are but outward Covenants, and take place,  
If they be seconded with inward Grace.  
His Circumcision and my Baptisms naught,  
Unless we're washed and circumcised in thought.   

Upon the Epiphany.  
THough in a Manger laid Portentous! then  
Heavens did declare for thee, and wisest Men;  
A proper Star (pracursor of thy Birth)  
Blazons thy Lineage to the duller Earth;  
Concentric to thyself thy Star doth move,  
Only to th' Cradle of the God of Love.  
Astrologers, be your conjectures thus?  
We will allow your Art judicious:  
But if like Balaam (as too like, I fear,  
For gain you'll cant) than Asse-rebuke beware.  
If your Stars tell what after shall arise,  
And point out Christ again, you may be wise:  
Have you not found it in some obscure sky?  
Which makes this noise for a Fifth Monarchy,  
That all the Kings o'th' Earth are troubled more  
About this news, than Herod was before.  
Take heed of such predictions, but chief,  
When you see men in arms for that belief:  
Whom Broughton hath made mad, and ready stand.  
To take Commissions, give no Command:  
All listed Officer in martial  
Equipage, only want the General.  
How bloody was his first approach? what drumming  
And Trumpets shall we have at his next coming?  
Then Infants went to wrack, now Men must fall;  
For Saints must rule, and they're a portion small:  
Few are that number, but a little flock,  
What Hecatombs of Goats must to the block,  
That these belov'd Sheep may have their full,  
And plump their bare-bone sides with sinner's wool?  
But not so hasty, friends, before that day  
Most horrid signs the Heavens will display:  
The Sun (Body of Light) must darkened be,  
No borrowed beams the Moon shall clarify:  
When her Light-fountain's out, Heaven-quakes shall turn  
Stars from their Orbs, which then shall downward burn,  
And the vast frame of that Convex, and round  
Above our heads, shall crumble to the ground,  
The ground to nothing, as at first, then see  
If that the Lightnings volatility  
You can discern, and tell us where it goes,  
Your observations we will not oppose:  
But you and I, alas, (all but a few)  
Who shall pass death by a translation new;  
Shall, like Ezekiel's Vision, dry bones lie,  
Look to be raised from mortality:  
But then how naked shall we be, how far  
From any thoughts of an unnatural war?  
That we shall Mountains wish, and highest Hills  
To cover us, for acting here such Ills.  
For as at Herod's Inquisition  
And bloody Quest, away fled Mary's Son:  
And as when Peter drew th' revengeful sword,  
No countenance was given by his Lord,  
But a V ae Gladio, and a certain doom  
Pronounced upon blood-drawing men to come:  
So will his second coming be, to right  
The suffering Christian, punish them that fight;  
That (will he, will he) will not be controlled,  
But say, His Kingdom shall in this world hold,  
These men are Stargazers led out o'th' way,  
With whom false Ignes fatui do play,  
And run them into pitfalls; but beware,  
Come regulate your motions by this Star.  
This Star, the Gentiles conduct let it be,  
The Badge and Order of Christianity:  
This Star our Phosphorus, which did forerun  
The rising of th' Eternal Righteous Son,  
Which doth enlighten that which rules the day,  
And clears all Heathen Ignorance away:  
Let stars the Wise men lead, and Wise men Fools;  
Let Shepherds teach their Sheep, Pastors the Schools;  
So that this Stars renowned Epiphany,  
An Universal Guide to Christ may be,   

Upon the Conversion of S. Paul.  
IS Saul among th' Apostles? what, that Saul,  
Who men and women to the Judge did hale?  
Who held the clothes of those accursed ones,  
Did devout Stephen unto death with stones?  
'Tis strange, but it is he: Stephen, no doubt,  
Thy dying words this wonder brought about.  
When at thy Vision of the 
a Acts 7. 60.  Trinity  
Thou prayedst, that charge might not against him lie:  
How potent are the words of martyred Saints,  
Who from the Scaffold can obtain such grants,  
Which shall convert their enemies! such words,  
Like those of thy late crucified Lords,  
Are of a vast effect: Father forgive,  
(They know not what their malice doth contrive)  
Did intimate, that Providence overrules  
All humane Projects, bad men are the Tools,  
Whereby it works, unseen, the greatest good;  
Vvho'd think a Salve should rise from shedding blood?  
What judas, Pilate, Jews, act against thy Son,  
Proves their own Guilts, the world's Redemption.  
Thus the Salvation of Mankind was struck  
(As Light once out of Darkness, Chaos-muck)  
From flints and stony hearts, and blessed events  
May issue yet from bloody Precedents.  
Who could imagine a bloodthirsty Saul  
Should mount a Pulpit, and turn preaching Paul?  
But many are not called, like Saul, few are,  
We must not then presume, or mischiefs dare,  
Upon some singular Examples; Saul  
And one Thief are precedents, that is all:  

b S. Aug.  Two that no man despair, and yet but two,  
That no man should presume like acts to do:  
Then view this form, Champion of the Devil,  
Commissioned from the Synagogue for evil:  
The High Priests Letters in his pockets are;  
And what these Warrants for? such special care,  
Hast, Secrecy and Guards; alas, to seize  
Poor people at their holy Services.  
Now to Damascus, full of bitter spleen,  
(His sword then his enraged heart less keen)  
He and his Troopers march; poor upper rooms,  
Look to yourselves and Votaries, Saul comes;  
But his design is frustrate, for a Light  
This Fury and his Firebrands doth benight:  
See the struck man, whose eyes did sparkle now  
With rage, hath ne'er an eye his way to show:  
The Horseman is dismounted, hurled to th' ground,  
And his Horse-party all in a sad sound.  
How weak is humane force, when Heaven will fight!  
One Angel puts an Assyrian Host to flight:  
A word or two's an army of such force,  
Enough to scatter a good Troop of Horse.  
Trust not in wrong and robbery, trust not  
In Horse, nor Guns, nor Iron Chariot:  
Look upon Pharaoh and his vanquished Host,  
By weakest means a heap of waters lost:  
Look upon furious Saul, who did rejoice,  
His work so nigh confounded with a voice.  
Look on Belshazzar, Fortune's Tennis-ball,  
Dis-emperored by a writing on a wall.  
Thus is this Heros in an instant quelled,  
The Billow-brook, with so much malice swelled,  
Tame as his persecuted souls, he's led  
To Ananias for new eyes to's head:  
It is in vain to kick against such pricks,  
Which wound the striker, hurt the person kicks:  
New light with his new eyes appears, the man  
Is changed a very perfect Christian,  
A Soldier for the Cross, to which he stood  
Stout to the last, and with his life made good:  
Read his Engagements, what set Battles he  
In person passed, and got the victory:  
How many dangers both of Sea and Land,  
Tempests and Starving, Frosts and Iron bands,  
Torments, Imprisonments, Scourges, Stocks and Stones,  
What had he not of Persecutions?  
At Lystra some, at Ephesus come see  
His prize with Beasts, oh Inhumanity!  
In Chains led through jerusalem, and beat;  
His death so longed for, some forswore their meat,  
They'll fast for ever, but his blood they'll have;  
Religious Murderers! what Food they crave?  
But that all mischief might be heaped on thee,  
Nero, thou Prince of vast Impiety;  
Paul is reserved for Rome, there is the stage,  
Where this most active Saint shall feel the rage  
Of that fierce Lion, who had burnt his Rome,  
And quenched the Flame with Christian Martyrdom:  
He plays and sings away their lives, what other  
Usage from one the murderer of's Mother?  
Peter and Paul in one day felt his rage,  
Two Saints not paralleled in any age.  
Saint Peter crucified with reversed head,  
A bashful Martyr in that honoured Bed.  
Saint Paul indulged, as learned Seneca,  
Bled by high courtesy his life away:  
So, because He a Roman was by Birth,  
The Axe dispatched his headed Corpse to th' earth.   

Upon the Purification of the Blessed Virgin.  
THe first and only birth of the chaste Womb,  
Is by a long used Rite to th' Temple come,  
A holy Offering to his 
a Luke 2, 23  Father: he  
Was offered thus from all Eternity.  
The Priest for ever, the Melchisedeck,  
Both Priest and Sacrifice without a speak:  
Now in the Temple, on the Cross anon,  
Offered, but not in show, as Abraham's son:  
Who by a bleating Proxy died, this Lamb  
Dies personally, relieved by no Ram.  
In this all Sacrifices, Bulls and Goats,  
(Whose impure blood, and insufficient throats  
Had neither worth, nor virtue) ceased; the Creature  
Was then redeemed by th' death of the Creator.  
The Type unto the Antitype gives place,  
This only is the Holocaust of Grace.  
But what! had Mary's Virgin-womb just cause  
To give submission to these women's Laws?  
Who had Lucina's help, or rather none,  
(The Holy Ghost being present cause alone,  
Both of Conception and Delivery,  
Mary was laid without their Midwifery)  
No need of them, of this same Rite no need,  
For Defecation after produced Seed  
Of a Piamen; but as her great Heir  
Endured the Knife when eight days ended were;  
Then took Baptismal washing, when from Above  
Father in Voice was Witness, Spirit in Dove:  
So all these Ceremonies were undergone,  
Not for Necessity, or Good thereon  
Unto His sacred Person, but to show  
What We, not He, unto the Law did owe:  
He was the Sampler of Obedience,  
A scandal made, but never gave offence  
To any Order, or Professions: thus  
In's Flesh he pleased the Jew, in Water Us.  
So Marry mirror of her sex appears  
To th' Priest, and th' common Thanksgiving hears,  
Veiled as the Jewish custom was; this done,  
She doth present her Dove and Pigeon,  
The poor child's commutation, and ne'er  
That Superstition thought, which they did there.  
Then with a lowly duty to the place,  
She had retired, but Simeon, full of Grace,  
And full of Prophecy, takes up the Child  
In's arms (as much as his old arms could wield)  
Then sings a 
a Nunc Dimittis.  Swanlike note," Lord, let me die,  
" Dissolve me in this instant, Lord, whilst I  
" Have my Salvation in my arms, the Light  
" Which doth dispel the Gentiles long dark night,  
" The Glory of thy people Israel  
" Is in my feeble arms now visible.  
So ended this old Custom, and the Priest,  
The Anthem sung, dissolved, and was with Christ.   

A Hymn of the Resurrection.  

I.  
ARise, arise, Dead soul, arise,  
Alas! I cannot ope' my eyes.  
The heavy Lethargy of sin  
Hangs on my faculties within.   

II.  
Arise, arise, thy Saviour's rose,  
Sin, Death, and Hell are conquered foes;  
Why dost thou yield to enemies,  
Whose stings are lost? arise, arise.   

III.  
Then lend thy hand, thou blessed First-fruit  
Of those who sleep i'th' Land o'th' Mute:  
Say thou, Come forth; and quickened thus,  
My soul shall rise like Lazarus.   

IV.  
All Cords of Vanity I'll break,  
Propped up by thee; their ties are weak:  
Like unshorn Samson I'll make way  
Through every Sin, and Dalilah.   

V.  
But if thou do thy Grace subtract,  
Alas, I can no noble act,  
Unless it be to pull on me  
My ruin and mortality.   

VI  
Yet from those Ruins and Grave-stones  
By thee shall rise my naked bones;  
And from their Charnel-houses all  
Come forth, new clad, at thy last Call,   

VII.  
Those heaps of skulls with hollow eyes,  
Unhaired, unfleshed, shall clothed rise:  
Dead tongues shall sing, their song shall be,  
My Lord is rose, we'll follow thee.    

Hymnus Ascensionis.  

I.  
THe Lord's ascended, see the Fiends,  
And their captived Black Prince doth clear the air;  
A cloud of all his martyred Friends  
Receive him, while th' amused world doth stare.   

II.  
Gone in a Cloud, but in a Glory  
Returns, with all his shining Heavenly Host,  
In such a pomp, this world's vainglory  
United ne'er could make, could never boast.   

III.  
Gaze not Apostles, gaze no more,  
But lift your hearts up after, not your eyes;  
He is not gone, but on this score,  
To make good all his Royal Promises.   

IV.  
As they continued all devout,  
Praying and Fasting, and with one accord,  
(Three things pretended by our rout,  
Which never yet accorded, but i'th' Sword.)   

V.  
At the good time of Pentecost,  
The very time we now call Whitsuntide,  
In fiery-Tongues the Holyghost  
On them descended, on his Church abide.   

VI  
No more Descents, no other Light,  
Unless by him who can himself disguise  
Into an Angel for deceit,  
As at this day's apparent to our eyes.    

Upon the Pentecost.  

I.  
O Holy Spirit! help me to indite,  
No pen can of thee, unless by thee, write:  
Inspired by thee, rude Fishermen speak high,  
Meaner proportions, lower Gifts ask I   

II.  
Not such a bright Irradiation,  
As was t'enlighten every Nation:  
When the whole world was dumb, and deaf, and blind,  
It was high time that fiery Tongues than shined.   

III.  
The lisping of those tongues is speech enough,  
We well may see by that Light's twinkling snuff:  
For with their persons that exceeding light  
(Except some glimmerings) is extinguished quite.   

IV.  
Those, twelve inspired, Illustrious Heads were all  
Thy Church's Rulers Apostolical;  
And their Successors are the envied Stars,  
At which both Heresy and Schism make wars.   

V.  
To out that Light derivative from them,  
How fierce these men blew off jerusalem;  
And when the Jew could not extinguish it,  
He gave the Light to subtle Mahomet:   

VI.  
Who blew that Light into a twofold flame,  
And dimmed Christ's, and blew up his own name;  
So that his Taper is of double twist,  
A Mahomet extolled, a depressed Christ.   

VII.  
Yet still the Light doth shine, do what you can,  
Either by Talmud, or by Alcoran.  
Others (I shame to name it) have this Light,  
But in dark Lanterns keep it from our sight.   

VIII.  
Or, as when Whirlwinds raise the numerous dust,  
The interposed Atoms 'twixt us thrust;  
And the bright beams of the eclipsed Sun  
Darkened by magnified tradition.   

IX.  
But ' ware of little bellows, these at last▪  
Have, with some help, made a most dangerous blast:  
Sectarian Puffers joined to th' Jesuit,  
Have e'en blown out our once Apostolic Light.   

X.  
Come then, and reinstate thy Candlestick,  
Come Holy Ghost, thy Church is more than sick;  
Dead as to sight; requicken her again,  
And make Apostacy's Invasions vain.   

XI.  
Let Ignes fatui to their Fens return,  
Let nothing but the Lamp o'th' Temple burn,  
And let the Church-moths, that in numbers fly  
About the light, be singed, and after die.    

Upon the Festival of the Blessed Trinity, falling upon May 29. 1659.  
WElcome thou double Jubilee; such things  
Are dark, the Mysteries of God and Kings:  
Uncomprehended that, and this unseen,  
Yet we believe they are, shall be, have been.  
Enthroned Elders fall, and worship Thee,  
Most Sacred and Eternal Trinity:  
But our exalted Elders pull down Kings,  
And do themselves create Omnipotent things:  
Yet we, who love th' Old Revelation,  
Do as those Beasts (which did surround the Throne,  
Not ruin it) cry a perpetual Song  
To God, and for the King: O Lord, how long?  
Triunity and Uni-trinity  
Shall stand, and a perpetual Basis be:  
Not so of Kings, whose delegated Crowns  
Are in subjection to the Doners frowns.  
By me King's reign, is God's Commission,  
And he pulls down, and setteth up alone:  
Yet do the Heathen rage, and do strange things,  
Disturb the Offices and Rights of Kings,  
Murder their Persons, and the Heir throw out,  
(Kings are no better than Their Lord, no doubt;)  
Yet shall the Anthem still the Beast become,  
These Christ's both are, and were, and are to come.  
Is there an Evil (that of punishment,  
Or vengeance) on a cursed Nation sent,  
And is it not from him who raiseth Seas,  
And can as soon the people's rage appease?  
Boast not thyself, thou high Babelick-man,  
The Lord hath hooks for thee (Leviathan;)  
And though thou swell in thy conceited height,  
With Asies thou must forage this same night:  
Nor with a multitude go on, the cause  
Is not by number good, but by the Laws:  
The earth the lowest of the people will  
Open, and rise against such as their Kings kill.  
What is it for a season, a short day,  
A vapouring Massinello for to play?  
Murder and plunder, burn and spoil, and then▪  
Be made a laughingstock of God and men?  
Much better they (who not being given to change,  
Nor State, nor their Religion) never range  
From the Old way, in which they firmly stood,  
(These sixteen hundred years accounted good)  
That touch not Aaron's Censers, nor provoke  
The Earth itself with Sacrilege to choke:  
That dare not rob nor God, nor man, but give  
God what is Gods, and wish the King long live:  
That will not fast man's blood away, nor eat  
A Widow's House, nor God's, for pure Manchet:  
That to their minds perpetually call  
Saphira's and her Ananias fall.  
Think upon that, and Dathan, and Abiram,  
And wave the Masters of blue Adoniram;  
That think of Samson, and that tragic house,  
Which ruin'd all that there kept rendezvous;  
Suspecting every hour the like mishaps  
May fall on them, or else high thunderclaps:  
Move not the Father, 'tis the Lord of Hosts,  
Come kiss the Son, grieve not the Holy Ghost.  
Thus if we do, we keep a Jubilee,  
In honour of the Blessed Trinity.   

Upon S. Andrews Day.  
BRother of Peter in thy double trade,  
A Fisher first, than Fisher of men made.  
How virtual was thy call? how high thy rise?  
What nets will serve to make a soul a prize?  
Long time and hearing now is requisite,  
'Tis not a cast, and draw; one fishing-night,  
And so to market: baits and many hooks  
The Pulpit anglers use, that's many books.  
Thy Master was a walking Library,  
(Himself Apollo, All Divinity.)  
That Mount-spoke Sermon, full of Doctrines choice,  
Not read from charge, but uttered by that voice,  
(Had 
a Pondus in i verbis & vocem fata sequuntur.  weight and destiny) was the best Lecture;  
The Holy Spirit was thy notes Collector:  
So Fishermen instructed, so made fit,  
Needed nor rational, nor other Writ  
For a direction safe; when he that sent  
Impower'd, and made thorough sufficient.  
He was the only Tryer, tries the reins  
And heart, whose feat crazed covetous man profanes  
With simple and ridiculous Quaere's, such  
Which are but snares, and a time-serving couch.  
Thus they run Crablike, counter, backward all  
To th' Erudition Apostolical:  
Which made them Orators, and men of parts,  
But these renounce, as profanation, Arts;  
As if the practice must be retrogade,  
And Andrew forced to turn to his first trade,  
(From whence he once was called) to catch by th' net,  
And Paul must leave the learned Gamaliel's feet,  
And mount a Tent, and work Divinity,  
Not through his own, but through his needle's eye:  
The Cast was from the Nets (I take it;) these  
Are both for Barkin Church and Barkin Seas.  
There is no need the Spirit should divert  
From men well qualified, and of desert,  
Into a Cobbler's stall, since Learning is  
The Gift of God, an influence of His.  
Fools are uncapable of Earthly Rights,  
And under Guardian for their want of wits:  
How comes it, that the best Inheritance  
Is managed, that o'th' soul, by Ignorance?  
As if the blind should lead men in the way,  
And Seers into Ditches, or astray.  
Unlike Saint Andrew in this Call, let's see  
Whether his followers in aught else you be.  
Upon the Call straight Andrew left his nets,  
The world, and profits are a bar, and lets  
In Christian progress: Tell me (covetous Priest)  
Dost thou alike, who seizest all with Christ,  
And more than is thine own, another's bread?  
You follow true, as those sometimes were fed  
By gainful Miracles; 'tis the good Loaves  
And Fish, that makes so many preaching Droves.  
Or can you follow in Saint Andrew's way,  
And preach the Word in barren Scythia? 
a Duplessis.   
Where were no Livings, nor fat Benefice,  
(The lures and baits of your known Avarice.)  
New England left, America forsook,  
There's better fishing in Old England's Brook.  
This fetched home Peter's, Hugh did understand  
The Call of Bishops, Dean and Chapters Land.  
Or can you in Achaia, with our Saint,  
Endure the Prison, whips, and extreme want?  
And for converting a Proconsul's wife, 
b Maximilla, wife to Egeas, Proconsul of Achaia.   
(Not as your Hugh did) render up your life  
On a slope Cross, the studied cruelty  
Of fierce Egaeas, pain to magnify?  
When any Priest, badged by Saint Andrew's Cross,  
Shall be of life, or state, at either loss;  
This on his Tomb an Epitaph be set,  
The Fish not caught, he threw away the Net.   

Upon Saint Thomas Day.  
THomas, Apostle of a Dissident,  
Peter after Apostasy is sent;  
Distrust is a high crime, Denial worse,  
Yet worst of all did 
a judat.  He who had the purse.  
Despair doth barricado Heaven's gate,  
Such to themselves are their own early fate.  
Few are reduced, who, for the love of Gold,  
To part with a good conscience make bold  
To entertain another God, (no less  
Than so is that grand sin of Covetousness)  
Is to shake hands with Christ; Mammon and He  
Cannot go sharers in a Sovereignty.  
Apostasy from fear, (as Peter's was)  
Distrust upon a reasonable cause,  
As was Saint Thomas his, may mercy find,  
Which is blocked up in an impenitent mind.  
For to despair, and think our sins above  
Him that is infinite in Grace and Love,  
Shuts out our general pardon; and lost hopes  
End in Self-murders, Poisons, or in Ropes.  
Thomas through humane frailty did diffide;  
The stoutest Soldier in the battle tried,  
Is fearful 'fore engagement; but at sound  
O'th' Trump his spirits rise, fear falls to th' ground.  
Great promisers do soon and oft nest fail,  
When fear and trembling may the Fort assail.  
Salvation is so wrought, for no man knows  
Whether his feet may fail him as he goes:  
Commanders that are sure of victories,  
For fear o'th' worst do not neglect supplies.  
Reserves in Christian warfare is good art,  
And to secure the Rear a soldier's part.  
Great heed take thou that standest, for a fall  
May fatal prove, when fear will catch at all.  
Fear hath a fastness still, some certain hold,  
Which those refuse that have been overbold:  
To rest unsatisfied is no such taunt,  
As to deny after a glorious vaunt.  
Come see then, Thomas, see the print o'th' Nails,  
See his pierced side; this evidence prevails:  
The evidence of things seen will once suffice,  
More happy they believe above their eyes.  
Let us no Obloquys upon him cast,  
In Christ's acception all the error's past:  
No more look on him in his failings, there  
He will (but like thyself) a man appear:  
Nor are Saints weaknesses examples set  
For men to follow, and destruction get  
By precedent; but cautions they are,  
Church-marks and buoys, of which we must beware.  
See our Apostle, how in India  
Another piece of valour he doth play:  
See him converting Parthians and Medes,  
brahmin's, Hyrcanians, opposing seeds  
Of cursed Idolatry in Persian Land,  
Where the Sun's Idol at his sole command  
Fell to the ground in cinders, while the Sun,  
Regardless of the business, Westward run.  
Come see him for this fact bound (as those Three,  
Who did defy the like Idolatry)  
And thrown into a Fiery Furnace, but  
The noble Sun those Kitchen-flames out put  
With its exceeding beams, and rescued this  
Saint, though t'himself designed a sacrifice:  
What Stars and Elements refuse to do,  
Men dare attempt, for an accursed crew  
Of Infidels with Spears and Scimitars 
a Duplessis, Euseb.  run  
Upon the Saint, once rescued by the Sun.  
So died our famed Apostle; Calvin hence  
Began his Legend, not from's Diffidence.   

Upon Saint Mathias Day.  
Trained up with the Apostles from Saint john  
The Baptist's Doctrines, thou at length art one,  
One of an hundred, one of that resort,  
Who after Christ's Ascent made Holy Court;  
A Consistory of Votaries, still staying  
For the Descent o'th' Holy Ghost in praying:  
Initiate first in john's repentance; then  
Consorting still with Apostolic men,  
It was capacity enough: they err,  
Who think one may shoot up a Presbyter,  
(As Slips and Grafts are wont, whose secret growth,  
Not their own selves, nor yet the Gardener knoweth;)  
Unlearned, undisciplined, from shop, or stall,  
And start to Callings Apostolical.  
Fisher's indeed were called (the meanest trade)  
But did not teach, till they were able made.  

a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  God-taught for many years, yet than not fit,  
Until inspired by Tongues, their opened wit.  
Called to their memories those Doctrines, which  
Their Master taught in Parabolic speech.  
Then, so enlightened, gifted by the God  
Of Wisdom, who on their obtuse brains road,  
(As at the First Creation Forms were struck  
Out of Opacous Chaos, and that Muck.)  
What could they not unfold? what Mysteries  
Of deepest Knowledge could not these Twelve Keys  
Unlock, which could Heaven-doors or shut, or lose?  
So with new gifts their old names they did lose.  
But now a Cobbler (in existency)  
And not translated to Divinity,  
Nor able to translate, 'cause of a trade  
Mean as was Peter's, will a Priest be made,  
And venture at a Pulpit (very blue)  
Not from Saint Peter's Chair, but from Saint Hugh.  
Preparatory knowledge was required,  
Even in those Twelve, which after were inspired;  
When first sent forth with neither Scrip nor Shoes,  
They did but only carry the good news  
Of a Redeemer come, and bless the place  
With peace, not yet accomplished with full Grace.  
Time did produce that Consummation,  
And in the interim this great thing done;  
A new Apostle chosen, 
a Psal. 69. 25  judas Seat  
Was this day filled, the number made complete;  
Not all alike in order, than no need  
Of this high day's solemnizating deed:  
One from inferior order is promoted,  
And to succeed by holy lot is voted:  
If equal, all th' election had been vain,  
Seventy as good as Twelve; no Chorah's train  
Are amongst these, nor no Church-Leveller,  
No self-exalting filthy Presbyter:  
And yet the Congregation is all Holy,  
But Priests and Deacons under these rule solely.  
The Forms of jew-church-government remain,  
The Offices, not Names, they do retain.  
Then welcome to thy high Investiture,  
Sacred Mathias, may thy Rites endure:  
May a succession of such Pastors be  
For ever in thy Church's Hierarchy:  
And though the Apostles Names ceased with their Gifts,  
(For time and custom names of Orders shifts,  
And changeth as it pleaseth) yet their power  
Of Order-giving lasteth to this hour,  
Corrective, and directive right, and all  
The ordinary power's Episcopal:  
Making of Presbyters by laying Hands,  
Is the continued practice of all Lands:  
Unless since Calvin did get up and ride,  
And set on Bishops his foul foot of pride:  
ere since Rebellion in the Minor flocks  
Hath sprung, and One hath caused many 
a Knox of Scotland, and his Sectary's.  Knocks!  
Yet the abused world doth plainly see,  
There is no peace but in this Prelacy.  
Geneva's platforms, and new fangled stuff  
Will end in its long Beard and little Ruff;  
Whilst the Apostolic Successors shall  
(As did their Predecessors) Martyrs fall.  
And like 
b Mathias stunned to death by the Jews, Dupl●ssis.  Mathias, Pastor of the Jews,  
Be ruined by false men, hired to accuse  
And swear that blasphemy, which all accord  
A truth, that Christ was Son o'th' Living Lord.   

Upon the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin.  
NOw Israel's bereft of 
a Isa. 9 16.  both her Kings,  
And an Usurper hath command of things:  
The promised Shilo comes, the Sceptre rend  
From judah, then is Iudah's Lion sent.  
It is a good exchange, i'th' vacancy  
Of a good King to have a Deity.  
When humane Helps and God's known Deputies  
Are snatched away, Himself is our supplies:  
He does resume his Sceptres lent, but then  
Woe to perfidious and rebellious men.  
'Tis not the breaking Seals, or battering Crowns  
Subdues the Donor, he's above the Lowns,  
And lets them act a while to their own wills,  
That they may see from whence spring all their Ills:  
Injustice, Murder, Liberty, (that Word,  
And pure Religion, that can draw the sword  
Upon their right Protectors) suffered are  
To show the mischief of Religious war.  
When did a pious Rebel ere come off  
But with his own disgrace, and people's scoff?  
These Sovereign's Hails and Aves now set by,  
Let us with Angels Marry gratify:  
Though this great Salutation, so divine,  
Is not allowed so much as in a Sign:  
The Day indeed, as it refers to Rent,  
Is not put down by Mayor nor Parliament.  
Let's keep it as we may, for Mary's Son  
This day proclaimed, was the Redemption,  
The Apolutr●sis, the general Pay,  
Which solved the world of a smart reckoning day.  
Surety and Payment too is this day's boon  
Security and satisfaction:  
For Surety's (as in Laws Municipal  
Are in chief, Debtors, and obliged for all)  
Bound for what they ne'er drank (as we use say)  
And yet the Judge enforceth them to pay:  
Our sums of sin were high, and not to be  
Discharged but by a Surety that was free.  
God did engage in's person to defray,  
What all the world could not conjunctim pay,  
Obedience for us, which we could not do,  
And Death too, that we might not undergo:  
The merit of his Person was above  
Our Debt, he supererogates in love.  
Then for his sake no single person hate,  
Who bears Christ's name (as you have done of late;)  
Nor suffer the memorial of her day  
By beardless Ministers be swept away,  
Who in a senseless zeal, some years since, run  
Down both our Lady's Day and her Great Son;  
And got a name unto his action due,  
By Common Council, being styled a 
a Ald. It— Mayor, 1658.  Jew.   

On Saint Marks Day.  
FIrst Bishop, Mark of Alexandria,  
And Patriarch of that ancient See; this day  
Is dedicated unto thy memory,  
Which doth confirm the sacred Hierarchy;  
An argument invincible, from whom  
And Antioch we derive, and not from Rome.  
Yet when the Latian Empire (after 
a Persecutions under the first Emperors.  ten  
Bloody Phlebotomies of martyred men)  
Began to nauseate blood, and being filled  
With such sad sights, did honour what they killed:  
And the Spread Eagle to the Cross gave way;  
(The Ensign which an Angel did display  
To fight Constantine) the Emperor  
Being then the sole most Christian Governor,  
And Rome the Mistress of the World; that See,  
Above the rest, had the precedency.  
Not so from the beginning: 'twas but meet  
The Seat o'th' Empire, and the Church's Seat,  
Or Chair Apostolic, should be together,  
The sacred Power of calling Synods thither,  
Over its subject Priests, for unity,  
And Order made the Roman chiefest See:  
Thither appeals of grieved Churches came,  
And thence the Fountain of that Bishop's fame:  
For bodies Ecumenical without  
A head would be, but monstrous without doubt:  
Read the degrees and ranks the structure made,  
By 
b Ephes. 4. 11, 12.  which Church-government in Saint Paul is laid;  
Apostles some, Evangelists, some Pastors,  
Some Preachers, sub, & supra, all not Masters;  
That had confusion been, 'twas fit the best  
Of bodies should with the best form be blest.  

a Eph. 4. 16.  Christ is the Head, by Joints and Sinews all  
Compacted are those parts Synodical:  
No Linsey-woolsy Fabric, Chequered Fry,  
Half Church, half Lay, a Chessboard frippery  
Of Calvin's foisting lately in the lag  
Of time, and good for nothing but the 
b Which judas kept.  Bag:  
But since his petty pawns have had their play,  
They dare give 
c Allusion to Chess-play.  Check to Kings, and take away  
Bishops and Nobles, Sceptre and the Mitre  
Are all thrown down by this upstart Presbyter.  
Let all true Christians (as the 
d See the Collect for the day.  Collect) pray,  
Which was appointed for this great Saints day,  
That our confirmed souls and settled mind  
Be not like Weathercocks, with every wind.  
And puff of Doctrine carried into sin,  
Nor yield to a new whim of Discipline:  
But let us stand, as in a Soldier's station,  
Fixed to the old way, once fixed in this Nation;  
Fearing the fearful vengeance that doth range,  
And will arrest those that are given to change.   

On Philip and James, called Minor, Son of Alpheus.  
JAmes, Bishop of the Jews for thirty years,  
Sat in that first of Councils, of 
a Twelve Apostles.  Twelve Peers,  
Who all were equal Rulers, yet the Chair  
Was James', sure he sat the Precedent there.  
All was then done in ordered decency,  
Nor did the spirit of Presbytery  
Then rise against their Fathers, and 'twas long  
Before 
b Aerius condemned of Heresy and Schism, for equalling Presbyters with Bishops.  Aerianisme grew strong;  
Which was rebellion against Bishops, and  
Aerius a Heretic condemned does stand  
Upon Record, and that great Councils edge  
Was sharpened against that sin as Sacrilege:  
So named they his design of 
c Equalling a Bishop with a Presbyter.  levelling  
A Bishop with a Priest, Subject and King:  
Converted Jew's obeyed their Bishops, shall  
The English only make their Funeral?  
And bury them alive? first damn their Votes,  
Then take their Purses, rob them of their Coats?  
A piece of Baseness acted in our days,  
Becoming none but cursed Apostatas,  
(Such as was julian) whom the Son of God  
Struck with an arrow, as i'th' Camp he road.  
But let Saint 
d S. james his general Epistle, v. 2.  james himself our pattern be,  
And in Affliction's school rejoice, as he.  
What do we learn? d'ye ask the best Lecture?  
Patience most harsh, Affliction's sweet Corrector.  
To him that can endure and bear his Cross,  
His very enemies are at a loss,  
Their malice frustrate; Martyr, 'tis all one,  
If thou canst bear thy Cross, as if thou'dst none:  
The patient man feels not his injury,  
The torment's his that thus doth punish thee.  
Then let the Pharisees, and envious Sect,  
And always vexing who would them detect;  
Surprise thee from the Pulpit, where thou taught'st  
Doctrines they like not, yet such as thou ought'st;  
And raise this aged Preacher from his 
a The Pulpit.  Cell  
Unto the Temple's highest 
b james threw headlong from the Temple, and stoned to death. Dupl.  Pinnacle;  
Thence throw him down, and then (most courteous ones)  
Raise him a 
c Buried by the Temple. Euseb.  Sepulchre of those same stones  
With which you beat his brains out, for with you  
'Tis use, to keep the Tombs of those you slew.  
What says our Saint to this? blessed am I  
Who can endure, 
d James 1. 12.  my crown of Life is nigh.  
Thus in jerusalem they're made away,  
Small difference 'twixt it and Scythia;  
Where Philip after taught Samaritans,  
Converted Eunuch and Magicians.  

e Acts c. 8.  Simon, whose name a brand perpetual stands  
On those who buy the Laying on of Hands,  
After so many wonders in all fights,  
At last extirpated the Ebionites:  
Twenty years preached this Holy Man, and gained  
All Scythia, with Idolatry profaned,  
Then in Hieropolis his stage of fate  
Is raised; true Doctrine preached procureth hate.  
He that did doubt Christ's Deity as much  
As Thomas did his Flesh until the touch;  
He that with Thomas (surnamed Didymus)  
Of Christ's Eternal Birth was 
f Joh. 14. 8, 9  dubious,  
Dies in defence, and justifies the Son  
To be God's only Generation  
From all Eternity: the Cross his Banner,  

g With his head upwards, as Peter's was downward.  And crucified after his Lord's own manner.  
Thus holy Men and Tyrants have like fate,  
And few of these go down to the Dead's state  
With dry and bloodless Death, but still they are  
Sable, their Rubric in the Calendar.   

Saint Barnabas Day.  
THis is the Saint which Antioch doth claim,  
Not tutelary genius, 'tis his fame  
To be chief Founder of the Christian Faith  
By Paul, and him built up unto that height.  
Thence first Disciples were called Christian,  
(Would it had held till now as it began)  
For since men would of Cephas be, and some  
Of Paul; what rents are wrought in Christendom?  
Had the first Heads, and Leaders of late Sects  
Reflected on those selfdenying Texts  
Of Paul and good Apollo's, we had ne'er  
Seen such Divisions, nor such Massacre  
Of Christian blood. Now Hussites, Zuinglians, Thraskites,  
Smectymnuans, names enough to fill a basket;  
With Hugonots, Twissits and Calvinists,  
Spiritual Captains of spiritual Lists,  
Alarm all the world, which stands in awe  
Of new Wat Tilers, Leyden, and jack Straw.  
Did these men die for us? O Base Reproach!  
And well retorted by old Antioch!  
Run back Religion, to thy ancient Head,  
And shame to see thyself thus ravished,  
Turned prostitute to every Holy Rout,  
That in a change shall Saintlike cast about:  
Repair to thy first Standard, that's the Cross,  
Thy Arms are not for Victory, but Loss;  
Success no sign of thy right Cause, no plea  
Or flourish for a Visibility.  
Nor dar'st thou cast on Providence, thy deeds,  
Whereby Christianity itself now bleeds;  
Prayers and tears were thy Artillery;  
(Men are unweaponed when they come to die.)  
Such was the Martyr's armours, Patience,  
Prayers for enemies, Life without offence.  
What poor, or no resistance could these make?  
Yet these so violent, that Heaven they take;  
Their 
a Regnum Christi non est de hoc mundo.  Kingdoms and their Saviour's are alike,  
Not of this world, for all the world not strike;  
Not to get all the world hazard a 
b Quid proderit universum mundum lucrari, & animam perdere?  soul,  
Which by th' adventure must with Devils howl:  
Nor (when a 
c Healing the Cripple at Lystra, Act. 14.  Godlike act was done, that all  
The city would have sacrificed to Paul  
And Barnabas) would they allow their votes,  
Or be Canonised by such popular throats.  
How different those and our new Pastor's ways  
Their half-eyed sons can guess, like Barnabas.  
They part from Paul (indeed) and Doctrines broach  
Which Paul ne'er owned, nor He of Antioch.   

A Commemoration of Saint John the Baptist.  
WElcome thou Martyr-Saint, I'll sing thy Fate,  
Thy Birth, thy Life; to thee I dedicate  
These studies, for to thee my College owes  
Its name, and on this day thy Legend shows.  
All of thee is miraculous, thy Death,  
Thy Life, thy Birth, and motions before Breath:  
Child of a barren womb, must needs forerun  
A Wonder, and foretell a Virgin's Son:  
A leaping Prophet in thy parent's womb,  
Thyself an Infant didst thy Sire undumb.  
So powerful was the name of john, but wrote,  
It made a Prophet of a Mute: thus got,  
And thus produced, what Wonders will succeed?  
The first of Hermits, this in hairy weed,  
Lives in a wilderness to unbeast men,  
Outdoes a Lessian Diet; the rule than  
Was not in weight, but temperance; which shows  
That abstinence all Physic-rules outgoes.  
Locusts and Honey of the unhived Bee  
Preserves, and meat dressed in a hollow tree.  
The Current runs him sober drink, I fain  
Would know, whether the Germane, or the Dane,  
Or the out-toping Britain, drinks such Healths,  
Even now, in their reformed Commonwealths.  
Mark how jerusalem runs forth to see  
This prodigy of new sobriety!  
Which Noah (though i'th' Flood preserved) did lose,  
And Moses bred o'th' waters, did not choose:  
But as at first Creation, on the waves  
The Plastic Spirit moved, so here it saves.  
What cannot water do? weakness is lost,  
When that the Inmate is the Holy Ghost.  
Water inflames, inspires, blows up, warms Grace,  
And washes souls, but used to cleanse the face.  
Besprinkled with such Holy Water, Jew,  
Thou art reborn, and circumcised anew.  
The Sacerdotal Knife cuts not the Evil,  
These drops drive out the World, the Flesh, the Devil.  
How highly ought this Sacrament be prized;  
Be then baptised, but be not rebaptised!  
john was no Anabaptist; people came  
But once to th' Font, and Christ did just the same.  
A seventimes washing was for Naaman,  
One dipping will suffice a Christian:  
Preparatory Graces bring in God,  
He fits a lodging for his own abode;  
First john, and then a jesus; Penance hath  
The happiness to usher saving Faith.  
Safe in thy Desert, hadst thou there remained,  
Prophet, thy virtues to the Court's proclaimed,  
Where thy rough Doctrines, thy Destructions are,  
So did our Court dispatch a long-lived Parr.  
His by a change of diet, no excess  
Killed thee, the Court was a fine wilderness:  
Herod the Beast o'th' Forest, whet his sword,  
And did behead our Prophet for a word,  
For a non licet to his lawless lust,  
First to the prison, than the Axe thou must.  
Methinks in these our later days I see  
(Great Saint) thy now reacted Tragedy;  
Only our age outstrips that horrid thing,  
And does behead not only Priest, but King.  
Thou that but once, and that i'th' womb, didst dance,  
(For joy thy Saviour to thee did advance)  
Art at a dancing Ladies loose request,  
Deprived of life, but by it higher blest:  
So that thy triple Baptism standeth good,  
By Water first, next Spirit, then by Blood.   

On the Feast of Saint Peter.  
WHat honour (Great Apostle) is not due  
To thy renowned Confession? first you  
(I am no Thover) started that great word  
Which made that Article, Lord from the Lord,  
And God of very God: no Flesh can tell  
(Unless inspired) whence that great Issue fell.  
Th' Eternal Generation was too high  
For mortal reach, and is a Mystery  
Revealed, not understood, the motions know  
Of Divine actions in thick darkness go,  
Or clothed in light that's inaccessible  
(Hid by their brightness, Angels cannot tell,  
Though they desire to peep into it) and  
Shall our unequal souls hope t'understand?  
Not Peter, while he spoke, did comprehend  
Himself; if so, he'd not denied it 'fore his end.  
Yet worthily thy name was changed, a Stone,  
A Rock surnamed for this Confession,  
And upon it, not thee, the Church's Faith  
Is laid, may I believe, as Peter saith.  
I do believe by the same Grace, not boast  
Myself, but give the praise to th' Holy Ghost.  
Peter did so, the honest Fisherman  
Near dreamt of what the Petropolitan  
And Denizens of Rome have since contrived,  
Nor would have worn three Coronets had he lived:  
The Chair Infallible, perchance that he  
Might well have wished before's Apostasy.  
How weak was the Man Peter, for to lay  
A Basis on, should last until this day?  
When that a wave, and something weaker too,  
A pitiful wench made him his faith forego.  
But weakness is made strong, when Tears precede,  
And high Repentance washed away that deed.  
I don't upbraid thy known Apostasy,  
But balance it with their new Primacy,  
Which Roman Catholics, kind souls, bestow  
On thee, insensible of things below.  
We all allow thee the First Confessor,  
Where james was Precedent in Chair and Power.  
We all confess thee praised by Christ, when one  
Was more beloved, the Eagle-eyed Saint john.  
We ne'er deny to thee the Keys of Heaven;  
But of those Keys there were, beside, Eleven:  
We all applaud thy Heaven-dropped sheet, whereby  
The Faith broke forth into Community.  
We all confess thee Apostle of the jews,  
(Though now the Roman thee their Primate choose.)  
Unkind repulse! when Paul to th' Romans wrote  
Alone, and to their Faith such honour got.  
We allow thee Bishop of Christ's Flock,  
Twelve equal Pastors, a most Royal stock.  
Feed then, successive Angels, that's your care,  
Feed the poor Lambs, they're Wolves that do them tear.   

The Legend of Saint James, called Major, one of the Sons of Zebedee, and Apostle of Spain.  
ARt thou Red Lettered? Yes; the Almanac  
Preserves thee; though the Holiday we lack,  
We keep the 
a Bristol and other places.  Fair: 't had been good policy,  
If that the Church (could it these times foresee)  
Had made the Twelve Apostles Marts, than they  
Might all, whereas now some, have a Saints day.  
Dame Zebedee, so full of zeal, ne'er thought  
His Honour should to so low ebb be brought:  
The right hand and the left was her bold boon,  
And that in Heaven her sons, both james and john,  
Might be advanced; how would the woman pout,  
If she had known on earth they were put out,  
And that he is denied the pay by some,  
Of honour to his glorious Martyrdom.  
Herod thy person murdered, Holy Saint,  
Our mighty men of War thy Day: why mayn't  
We hope to see, as in those days befell  
Our Herod's, as that 
b Acts c. 1.  Herod, fall as well.  
It was not long before Revenge did seize  
That Deified Orator, struck in a trice.  
Pimme had not all the worms, it once may please  
Vengeance to smite (not only Conscience)  
But their Apostate bodies with close Lice,  
Who only spoil and murder solemnize:  
But these and Herod differ in some things,  
Herod kills Prophets, These both Them and Kings.  
Herod imprisons for popular applause,  
How many have been cooped upon that cause?  
But by a finer word; Imprisoning  
Securing's called, Robbing is Sequestering:  
But Herod speeches it, and gives no praise  
To God; O but these do in our good days:  
There's not a Murder, not a Plundering, but  
They do the Pulpits with Thanksgivings glut.  
Had you now lived (you Sons, surnamed, of Thunder)  
Then fire from Heaven you could not have asked under,  
Nor would have been denied; but 'tis as well,  
Their fire is sure, if not Above, from Hell.   

Upon the Legend of Saint Bartholomew.  
THe Gospel's sound, though the whole world is run,  
Now hear it preached, where Inmate is the Sun  
On India's parched ground, the East, the West,  
(Wealth that few Merchants get) and yet the best.  
Who dare upbraid the Lord at latter day,  
And say, this news did never come in's way?  
Shall he be damned for what he could not know?  
No, Arguer; thou shalt not, if't be so:  
No Gospel slighted, no Apostle slain,  
No Faith rejected, no eternal pain:  
God by no absolute Decree does list  
Men to damnation (maugre Calvin's Twist.)  
Conditional are his Decrees, and they  
Mulcted alone, who gainsay, disobey.  
We fond therefore to jamaica sent,  
To convert Indians, (when for Gold'twas meant.)  
Saint Bartholomew, full sixteen hundred years  
Ago (as in Eusebius Chronicon appears)  
Preached to those Heathen Folk; who did not weigh  
The matter, so he went into Armenia.  
What if the Indians prized more their Gold  
Then this rich Margarite? will the reason hold?  
(Because the Negroes will not Faith receive,  
Because Apostle-taught, they'll not believe:)  
Is therefore God unjust? whose sentence is,  
Whosoever believes in Christ, Salvation's his.  
His acts of Grace and his good Pardons be  
In Law and Gospel never Covenant-free.  
Repent, and be secure, proud Nineve,  
Believe, and enter my Felicity:  
They therefore put the Obex, they bolt out  
Themselves, who are or Reprobate, or doubt.  
Armenia shall rise up against India  
And thank her for her Refuse, she will say  
Our King converted by Saint Bartholomew,  
His Folly our great Idol overthrew:  
And we exampled by a pious Prince,  
Received the Faith, and have been Christians since.  
We honour him as our Great Saint, and boast,  
That e'er his Sacred person touched our coast:  
But it proved bloody to him, for a King  
Astyages by name (O horrid thing!)  
Apostate to the Faith, and full of spite  
To those that did, and would continue right  
(After so many wonders done, such shoals  
Of preaching Bartholomew's converted souls)  
Condemned this Saint to a most cruel end,  

a Duplessis.  Flayed him alive, and raw to th' earth did send.  
But thou, Great Saint, art one o'th' Twelve, that shalt  

b Luc. 22. 30.  Judge the whole world, thy Saviour will exalt  
Thee for a witness of his Judgement last,  
When sentence on all Flesh by him is past.  
Then shall Astlages and the jews see  
Him whom he flayed, they cast out, 
c Acts 5. 28.  glorified be.   

Upon Saint Matthew Apostle and Evangelist.  
FRom the Receipt of Custom called? what? leave  
Excise and Tax-money, the Bank? and cleave  
To Poverty and Preaching? Blessed Saint!  
Thou cam'st alone, and didst companions want.  
Few of that tribe will live on parables,  
The scent of Gain a great deal better smells  
Then the perfumes of Prayer, though th' Incense fly,  
And please the Nostrils of a Deity:  
Heaven and earth too, the Lawyer will content  
To barter this for that, he'll not indent:  
Sell all? leave all? give to the poor? be poor?  
Give him his parchments, farewell Saviour.  
O bunch of Camel-wealth! damned Avarice!  
That stops the narrow pass of Paradise;  
That strait-eyed Needle cannot entered be,  
Till all that Mountain of Monopoly  
Be wiredrawn into such slender lines,  
A Spider works not smaller, finer twines.  
Thus stretched, and beat, and crushed, impaired, and lank,  
He may arrive to the Elysian-bank;  
For Charon will not ferry in his light  
Cork-vessel any Fare of heavy weight:  
Spirits are all his passengers, no gross  
Usurers, nor gluttons abominous:  
Such Loads will sink his Boat, and themselves too,  
And then in Styx they'll stick, amongst a crew  
Of Snakes and Vipers, in most noisome mud,  
Which like themselves ne'er was, ne'er can be good,  
Matthew forsakes these clogs, this heavy lead  
Casts off, 'twas but his Foy, his own God-speed.  
Wrestlers and Racers strip unto the shirt,  
Any superfluous weight will do them hurt:  
Away with Luggage and Impediment,  
A Wife, a Farm, Honour, Merriment,  
May lose the Goal. Run, run, Atlanta, fly,  
And let those rubs, the Golden Apples lie:  
A Christian life is Race and Warfare too,  
A strict Militia we undergo:  
Hard Duty, little Pay, strong Enemies,  
A passage blocked with Blood and Injuries:  
Yet all must be encountered, all o'ercome,  
Or else no Laurel, no Elysium.  
Our Banner is the Cross, the Standard died  
In Gules of our chief Captain crucified,  
Like General, like Soldiers, so he  
Was made triumphant first, and so must we:  
Whether the Indies, or 
a The two places where S. Matthew preached and converted; in the later he was murdered.  Ethiopia  
Be our sad Field (there was Saint Matthew's day;  
There he did fight his last) we must march on,  
The word is Martyrdom, the Van is gone,  
And the prime Leaders of the Front are seen  
Blazoned with Crosses, Swords and Axes keen,  
With Saws and poisoned Cups, and Gridirons hot,  
Caldrons of boiling Lead (all to the pot)  
And we, the following Rear, must tract by tract,  
Tread the same way, and end in the same Rack.  
All's but a death, the acute Stone, the Gout,  
Ulcers in Reins and Bladder bring about  
Their Persecutors fate. But oh! they die  
Not once, but are revived to misery.  
Death after death, a second Fate doth seize  
Those, besides tortures of consciences.  
When quiet are the passages of Saints,  
Their ends are Charity, and no Complaints.  
Forgiveness fills their mouths, Praises their heart,  
The Tyrant's hurried hence, but these depart.   

Upon the Festival of S. Michael.  
WHat? Wars in Heaven? Angels disagree?  
Ovid hence took his Gigantomachy,  
Or else from Babel: so that Pelion,  
Pindus and Ossa (batteries of stone)  
Were these bold Builders Babel, that whereby  
They thought t' have scaled Olympus 'bove the sky.  
Unequal force! like Titan's saucy Race,  
Instead of juno a void cloud embrace▪  
So Satan, and Abaddon, and his train  
Conspired against the Highest (all in vain.)  
Michael doth muster up his Holy Host,  
(Who in their confirmation only boast)  
Propped by Divinity and their Chieftains power,  
That Grand Devourer they did soon devour.  
Scattered those Legions of unjust array,  
Who took up arms, as Lucifer bid say,  
For God, and Hierarchy, and Covenant took  
To make him glorious, but 'twas but a hook,  
A snare, a Devil-trepan to list gulled sprights,  
And cozen them of their eternal Rights.  
Dethroning was th' intent; the Juncto-Devils,  
When they cry peace and truth, contrive all evils.  
But Michael understood their cloaked design,  
And did the Underminers undermine.  
God and his Angels, was the Devil's word,  
For God alone this Angel drew the sword.  
No power concurrent, no nor Parliament,  
Nor any trick of Satan's sly Invent,  
(As that their God should lesser be in power  
Then all his Angels, and then each one more.)  
These Engines would not serve, for Michael  
Knew their false coinage, Art for to rebel,  
And hating daubed Hypocrisy worse far  
Than their Hostility and open War,  
Bade the Usurper and his specious tail  
Avaunt, and in God's name he did prevail.  
Down fell that Fiery General and's crew,  
And Michael did his Victory pursue;  
Left not a Devil there, not to accuse,  
(Whom first he did misled, and then traduce.)  
But woe to us! us Men! since this defeat  
Expulsed Satan makes the Earth his seat,  
And makes base men his Agents, which outdo  
In villainy him and his Angels too:  
He and his fellow-Dragons about fly,  
Armed with all malice and malignity,  
Against the Seed o'th' Woman; which blessed Seed,  
Though bruised i'th' Heel, yet broke the Viper's head;  
Yet wounded, not subdued, he fights in blood,  
And his last station far a while makes good.  
Heaven given for lost, and routed of all bliss,  
To people Hell his dire ambition is:  
And to enlarge that kingdom's his desire,  
Though King and subjects all must dwell in fire.  
The world being his de facto, there he spied  
The Lamb's most fair, but yet distressed Bride,  
(Her Bridegroom for a time in Heaven contained)  
His spotless Spouse he hoped to have profaned,  
Made her Adultress, and abjure her Head,  
(Because not seen) and take another bed.  
But she stood chaste and firm, defied his suit,  
Then Lust turned Rage, and he did cast about  
How to confound, whom he could not persuade;  
(All Stratagems in vain) he will invade:  
Her and her children this pursuer drives;  
Into the Wilderness, yet there she thrives;  
Short grass is sweet; afflictions smooth the face,  
Nothing so fair as persecuted Grace.  
The blubbered eyes of Saints their Ceruse proves,  
The choicest Unguent which their High God loves.  
See how her children (pretty Lambkins) run,  
(Not a whole skin their plundered backs upon)  
Some worried by fierce Wolves and Dogs of prey,  
As in the wilderness they pass away:  
Nor heeds the Serpent, though he knows full well,  
And his cursed Emissaries too can tell,  
They should not hurt nor wrong these Little Ones,  
Because that Angels are their Guardians,  
And intimate their sufferings in God's ear,  
Who's slow to wrath, but will not long forbear:  
'Tis for a time and times; but then come woes  
To this poor persecuted woman's Foes.  
Amen say Heavens, Angels fill the Choir,  
Triumphant be the Church that's purged by Fire,  
That through the Wilderness and bloody Sea,  
Shall with her Bridegroom keep long jubilee.   

Upon Saint Luke's Day, Physician and Evangelist.  
NO Calling is exempt from Grace; why, Priest,  
Dost thou exclude? when an Evangelist  
Of a physician's made, who can deny  
This to be true Religio Medici?  
See, our decried profession here is purged,  
Let Atheism never against us more be urged,  
Cleansed and baptised in thee (most eloquent Saint)  
We bid those foul aspersions avaunt.  
Then for our lives, who ever lived with less  
Than Galen, and renowned Hypocrates,  
Who not by Lessius or Cornarus weight,  
(Measures of abstinence devised of late)  
Did scale out Diet; that is tyranny,  
These were the standards of sobriety:  
And as a Prince in Physic should, they both  
Obliged their willing Patients by an oath:  
A voluntary Sacrament, and why  
Is not this too Religio Medici?  
Fasting and abstinence are Harbingers  
To Divine Gifts, the one the other infers.  
No Devil with his tricks can circumvent  
A fasting john, or jesus in his Lent.  
And those fast always, who do sparing feed,  
Then are Physicians a most sacred Seed.  
It is the staple Doctrine of my Art,  
Which to our loss, to th' world we do impart:  
Be temperate and live; be temperate,  
And be an Hercules, be wise, be that,  
And be a Saint; Angels will be our guests,  
If we do treat them with such frugal Feasts.  
Physician's Diet is like Angel's Food,  
A very little, but 'tis very good.  
Now for our Acts, Saint Luke his Book of Acts  
Shall be our Aera and our first Epacts.  
To thee (Divine Historian) we owe  
What of our Saviour's Life and Death we know:  
None hath so fully wrote; and learned Saint Paul  
Calls thine his Gospel, as if that were all.  
Saint Paul had not been known, but that for thee,  
To thee we owe the Church-chronology.  
Not such a History doth Livy write,  
Compared with thee deep Tacitus is light.  
Where such a piece can any Annals boast,  
As the Descending of the Holy Ghost?  
When all the sacred Apostolic Choir  
Spoke all Tongues with Tongues, out of Mouth in Fire;  
Not jupiters' escapes, nor the Iliads,  
Nor he who wrote of wand'ring Trojan Lads,  
Comes near Saint Paul's escapes and voyages,  
Aenea's Storms in famous Virgil's dress  
Sounds not so high as thy Saint Paul's dire wrack,  
When his wind-beaten Bark did bulge and crack  
Into a thousand pieces; when Heaven pours  
Another Sea into the Main in showers:  
When Lightning was instead of Sun, and th' air  
In sheets of flashes had its lights repair:  
When Thunder did with noise of high winds vie,  
And did all voices, but Saint Paul's, outcry.  
Then in that Storm the greatest Light was he,  
He like a Rock in all that tyranny  
Of winds and Sea, stood unremoved, and brought  
Each soul to Land, each splinter was a Boat;  
And his all-shattered Ship came safe to bank,  
Each passenger was shipped but on a plank.  
So floated this great Navy of one Bark,  
And Paul the Pilot of that swimming Park.  
When such an Orator as thy Saint Paul?  
Or such Oration as from him did fall?  
The famed Philippics of Demosthenes,  
And Cicero's Catiline's, and Anthony's  
(Gallant, but fatal speeches) have ●o name  
With his Oration of eternal fame.  
Whose killing words and language Spirit-shook  
The gaudy 
a Felix.  Governor, that bribes had took,  
And made a 
b Agrippa.  King his Convert. These (Saint Luke)  
Are the great subjects of thy worthy Book.  
Physician 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, let me  
In Physic and in Gospel follow thee,  
E'en unto Roman Martyrdom, when all  
But thee alone forsaken th'Apostle 
c The second of Paul to Timothy.  Paul.   

On Simon and Jude's Day.  
BRothers in Blood, and Blood (a double Die)  
For Martyrdom is a Nativity  
Justly in Church-account, Thaddaean Race,  
Of meanest Parentage, of meaner Grace.  
We shall not blazon now your Fishing-coats,  
Your Church-Nobility's not from your Boats,  
But Pulpits, not unlike your Trades before,  
Fishnets for souls almost in every shore.  
How many at a Cast Saint Peter caught!  

a Acts 4. 4.  Five thousand from a Sermon, mighty draught!  
Simon, no less adventure didst thou make  
In Egypt, where thy holy baits did take  
That superstitious people; won by thee,  
To leave their manifold Idolatry.  
Thence to jerusalem thou art recalled,  
And james thy brother stoned, there installed  
Bishop in's place, remain in Persia,  
Or come unto the Jews, the same's your pay,  
This is the wages, this good Bishop's fate,  
(That on the Altar, not on the Trencher wait)  
To hang like 
b St. Simon crucified under Atticus.  Simon, or like's brother 
c St. jude mudered at E. dessa. Dupless. Euseb.  jude,  
Be murdered by a Pagan multitude.  
Old Crucify in vulgar mouths is loud  
Still, and as high as for our Saviour's blood,  
Whom in his Priests they daily crucify,  
And till he come last will this tyranny.  
Then in that Monarchy (be it called the fifth)  
He that was first lift up will these uplift  
Unto Tribunals, seats of Glory, where  
All their accusers naked shall appear  
In thousand horrors of confused mind,  
Looking for shelter-mountains, but none find:  
Wishing the Seas vast entrails would receive  
Their souls; or, that they are at all, they grieve:  
Annihilation were a kindness, all  
Twisse's distinctions metaphysical  
Give not a grain of comfort: Not to be  
Is better than to be in misery.  
Better be never born, then born for Hell,  
And for God'sglory in pains lasting dwell.  
The Millstone in the Sea (if it could hold  
The swallowed captive) that wretch rather would,  
Then for's 
a The general Epistle of jude.  Apostasy, and hating Light,  
Lie in the blackness of the darks of Night.   

Upon All-Saints Day.  
WIll you behold this glorious company  
In Earth or Heaven first? there cannot be  
(Take all Imperial pomp) so rare a show,  
Whether the Scene above be, or below.  
Let then their first Representation be,  
As they stood here i'th' vale of misery,  
In the Church-Militant: how they appear  
With cheerful looks, but ragged every where?  
Poor in Apparel, but in 
a Mat. 5. 3.  Spirit more,  
You'll meet him in the streets and at your door,  
In Tears, in Sighs, in many doleful tone  

b Ver. 4.  Bemoaning others, none doth them bemoan:  

c Ver. 5.  Calm as the Lew at Sea, yet themselves blown  
By Envy's blasts and Sequestration  
Upon the Quicksands of deep Wants, yet than  
They are still meek and most becalmed men:  
Nay, though their Lenten faces, and dry cheeks,  
And shrivelled stomaches for cold water seeks,  
(And get it not) their hunger doth increase,  
And they thirst on; but 'tis for 
d Ver. 6. Ver. 7.  Righteousness.  
The mercy that they cannot find, they give,  
They will not hurt the poorest worm alive:  
For 
f Ver. 8.  innocence is in their Hearts and Hand,  
No Wool, no Snow so white on Cotswold-lands,  
As are their thoughts and actions; their eyes  
And often lift-up hands are known to'th'skies';  
And in Contentions and Domestic Jars,  
Or when Ambition raiseth Civil Wars,  
For 
g Ver. 9  Peace is all their Intercession:  
No armed Petitioners, which won't lay down,  
Unless they have their wills; which when they've got,  
They are undone and ruined by the Vote.  
No, these, though in their just requests denied,  
Rest with repulsed content, and satisfied:  
Or if a 
a Verse 10.  Persecution on them fall,  
They don't recalcitrate, but take it all.  
Call 'em Malignants, Enemies to th' State,  
(Words on good Christians stamped too much of late)  
A Sigh perchance is sent, or look on high,  
But not a word provoking, rather die;  
And for the Name of jesus, and his Truth,  
They 
b Verse 11.  suffer gladly, open not the mouth.  
Thus in their lower garments they appear,  
Now in their upper Robes, triumphant tire,  
Please to behold them: Those, those tattered things,  
The scorn o'th' world, the footballs of proud Kings;  
Those are the persons now arrayed in 
c Rev. 7. 9  white,  
In garments which surpass the brightest light;  
With Ensigns of their blood-got Victories,  
Palms in their hands; these are the Martyrs, these  
They whom despiteful men did hale like Rogues,  
And hurry up and down to Synagogues,  
Unto high Courts of Justice; first by throats  
Of people murdered, then by Judge's votes.  
How hear they now? another hue and die  
Their actions bear: Hark! there 'tis Loyalty:  
What here was Treason called: Disturber here  
Is there a Laureate for a Peacemaker:  
The Innovator here is there on high  
With Angels all in Uniformity,  
All in one voice; one sacred Anthem's sung,  
That holy Choir, and sacred Saints among.  
The Spirit there, though present, and still by,  
Likes their set Form and holy Liturgy.  
Amen begins the Hymn, Amen concludes,  
And this is chanted out by multitudes,  
And tongues, and people of a several show,  
Who learned these Anthems (they there use) below.  
where's their accusers now? they're slunk away,  
And not a man has any thing to say:  
The mouth of all Iniquity is shut,  
And Satan to perpetual silence put.  
What shall we do? who live in the sad age,  
Where all these Combatants were on the Stage;  
Some flying up in fire, some flowing on  
In streams of their own blood to the Lamb's Throne;  
We follow must, and with long steps adore  
These Hero's, that shall never suffer more.  
Who ne'er shall thirst, nor hunger, nor drop tear,  
But with the Lamb keep jubilean year.   

Upon the Prohibited Festival of the Nativity of our Saviour.  
WHat? are our prayers refused? and do the Jews  
Prevail? that we decry this High day's News?  
Born, and not owned? 'tis Covenanted well,  
'Twixt Rabbi Presbyter and 
a A Jew, who would have bought Saint Paul's Church for a Synagogue.  Israel.  
We shall join Synagogues in time, and say,  
No Christ come yet, as well as No Christ's Day.  
Who could imagine things should alter thus?  
That an Index Expurgatorius  
Should pass upon the Calendar, and Red  
Letters expunged, and Black be hallowed?  
The very Horn-books censures undergo,  
Because they do begin with Christ-cross-row.  
The times were not so stingy once, but cried,  
Mass, I defy thee, but allowed Christ-tide.  
A Generation now starts up so holy,  
That counts all Festivals (but two) mere folly,  
Saint Rend day, and Saint Gunpowder; the rest,  
As superstitious Figments, are suppressed.  
Not so these sixteen hundred years, till now,  
As if a light from Hell had broken through,  
And a new voice of sense quite contrary  
Had cried, Saul, Saul, why dost thou honour me  
Chim cham, Enthusiasms; Bells do backward ring  
With Mottoes changed, Honour no God, no King.  
O for an Athanasian spirit, that  
Durst now stand up, and these new Arrians flat!  
Or that the Swedish Sword had found the way  
To weed Socinus from Cracovia!  
Blessed Reformation, had it so gone on,  
And beat into their heads the first of john:  
A Sword is best Expositor for brains,  
Who poison Scripture with divine Rats-banes:  
But Jews have shipped them over in Dantz ' boats,  
And we (like Brutes) have swallowed Polish Oats.  
Crellians and Crollians, and Socinians we,  
And any thing but Catholics may be.  
Thus Heresy doth burgeon, since the Creed  
In the suppressed Liturgy doth bleed.  
But Jew, dost thou by an unalter'd Law,  
(As if the Persian did thy conscience awe)  
Still keep a Passeover? and solemnize  
That day, the day from Egypt's tyranny,  
(The Type of this day's birth) and we to wipe  
Out of our Calendars the Antitype?  
Why don't we keep this Festival as well?  
Is a day from Egypt good, and not from Hell?  
Did Abraham joy through Faith's dim Perspective  
To see in after-thousand years Christ live?  
And we, who from the true Apostolic See  
Deduce an uncontrolled Chronologie,  
(Like job in bitterness of soul) defy  
And damn the day of this Nativity?  
Are our own births and days but on repute,  
'Cause none our Mothers can, nor Clerks confute?  
And shall the Mother-Church of the whole world  
In this one computation be controlled?  
Senseless contest! when her Authority  
For the altered Sabbath good we grant to be:  
We give her Faith to th' Resurrection,  
But for the Birth of Christ her verdict's gone.  
Abhor, my soul, this base confederacy  
(Praeludium to a Sanedrim) when I  
A Synod see, and judaism go on  
From the denial of the day to th' Son.  
Let us in Chorus join with Angels, they  
No share i'th' Anthem have who hate the Day.  
Let us with Eastern Sages come from far,  
Worship the Babe discovered by a Star:  
And let the mad Apostates of the Age  
Get Gold and Myrrh, but ne'er be counted Sage.   

A MEDITATION Upon the Churches pious Observation OF LENT.  
THis is that portion of the year, in which (as the Prophet says) the Lord calls for Fasting and Mourning, Sackcloth and Ashes, the usual Rites of the Jewish Penitence; wherein we Christians (as well as they of the Circumcision) should forsake our beds of Pleasure, and boards, not only of excess, but convenient food, to the dismantling and attenuating the body, that the soul being made active and unclogged of the load of her unwieldy scabbard, may be more expedite in the exercise of holy duties. He that is to go a great journey (says Minutius Felix) doth not load himself, but lighten his garments, lest the ballast of his obese and heavy body should sink him in the way. Ships that are for speed and sail are not big bottomed, but gaunt, and made neat for their quicker dispatches. No man seeing a Flemmin and a Spaniard, both dressed for a Race, would ever imagine that the Dutchman should come first to the Goal; wherefore with great care and wisdom hath the Church of England called the first day of this Quadragesimal Fast, Ash-wednesday, Dies Cinerum, a day of the most low prostration of our Mind and Flesh to all acts of Humiliation. In my University it is the day of convoking or convening our determining Bachelors (the Lambskin hopes which the Mother lately yeaned into the first degree of Academic honour.) These Cyens, Grafts of early learning, meet at a Latin Sermon, where the Concionator excites them gravely and appositely to both sobrieties, the abstinence from Lusts and Meats, the Nerves and Sinews of the other, that these young men might be (as Solomon wished his) Rememberers of their Creator in the days of their youth; with which severe pickle if that age be seasoned, you have a Poets warrant, 
Servabit odorem testa diu & aliquid haerebit.  Their whole life will smell of the ingredients if it took a due and handsome tincture.  
This introductory Sermon is the Parent of many more, solemnly performed in another Pulpit at S. Peter's in the East, and so held on till the Religious grief of the whole Lent ends in a joyful Resurrection Sermon in that place, and two at S. Mary's, which all are and have been of late years most excellently repeated by two successive admirable sons of Pia Mater 
Students of All Souls, and Magd. Coll.  memoria: Which circumstances premised, I shall to the matter of this Meditation, which is the things for which we fast, and from which we fast. Our Saviour could not be imagined to undertake the latter part of this, whose pure and guiltless soul, as it could not be tainted, so it needed none of these auxiliaries for its pious support. Holiness itself, essential Purity, wants no Fulcra Pietatis; those props are for us mortals made of fragile composures, which are apt to faell and break, if not corroborated and strengthened by continual covers and shields of Grace and Prayers. And for the things for which we fast (unless it were the glory of his Father) Christ also needed not to have undergone this miraculous Lent, which no man could ever keep but himself, although some do not forbear to think and say that any man butterest up in Grace may attain to such perfection. It were to be wished indeed, but never to be hoped for; therefore the Montanists of old, and the Racovians of late; and the Roman Catholics, pretenders to highest Discipline may prescribe much, but never can take this Dose of Penance, nor observe the Rules they teach others: Nor was this Example of our Saviour set for an adequate Rule, to be imitated either by his Apostles, which were otherwise assisted then any of us, or by any of us, who though our spirits perchance may be willing, yet he knows our flesh is weak; Deus non requirit ab homine, quod non habet, and our measures of Grace are proportioned to our capacities. If we are by Divine assistances holy men, yet men are men still, and not Gods. Let no Pharisaical presumption delude us into a wilderness; for the experience of our strength and spiritual valour, for fear Satan, that vigilant spy of all our devotions, smell out the pride or hypocrisy which first were of his instilling, and while we think to be Similes altissimi, like Christ in this duty, fall down and worship (what he never could) the Devil himself. In my small observation I never found the most Atlantic professors, both in Civil and Religious resolution and practice, those Hectors for Monarchy, and the Hierarchy in times of peace, I found them fall in the days of temptation most sadly. Saint Peter's verbal magnanimity and great challenge; what a poor come off hath it? how does it end? This Dimock for Christ lays down the Cudgels at the Quaerie of a poor Damosel, & turns an Apostate of a Cavalier, until a Cock (the valiantest of creatures) alarumed his affrighted heart, and made him know that it is not good to crow before the Christian Engagement be begun: 'tis not he that putteth on, but he that putteth off the armour, knows the success of the battle. This diversion pardoned, I shall succinctly touch (for I intent a speech rather than a Tract) the Res substrata, or subject of a Fast: And first, the things we fast for, are Faith, assistances of Grace, and for gifts of Prayer, whereby so assisted, we may persevere in that Christian state wherein we find ourselves, for not only resolutions of amendment of our lives, but real changes. For both charities, that principal of the love of God and our Neighbour, which indeed is the summary of the Law, and the other lesser of the hand, which will be opened and enlarged, as the heart is inflamed within; for fire is of a dilating and expansive property, which no clutched fist can ever hold. We fasted also, or should, for Righteousness, Justice, Meekness, Temperance, Obedience, Patience, Thankfulness, and all Christian and Moral Virtues; and if we fast sound, He that only can quench that thirst and appease that appetite, will distil into your dry floors such comfortable showers, as the dew of Zion and Hermon hills cannot excel in fragrancy nor fertility. This is to fast for life, for everlasting life, and the Bread of life that came down from Heaven, will again descend by his Spirit into your hearts, and fill you full of all spiritual joy and assurances of Heaven, which are only certified to us by our constant sanctification, ietched out in fear and trembling. A Christian is always under a Caveat, in his most Soldierly posture upon his armour, this is the Word, Cave pedibus miles; look to thy foot, take heed lest thou fall: The whole Armoury of S. Paul is but little enough to defend these Militia-men against three such enemies, which sometime lie in Ambuscadoes, sometime attempt them with open hostility, and batteries, and dangerous onsets, besides undermine: wherefore knowing you are to fight, whether in the Wilderness, in a single Duel, or in Campania, in the open Field, or Pickeering, that is, against one particular vice; Cape arma, sta in procinctu; be harnessed, be girt, and let the word be Sit Deus nobiscum; let God be with us, and then you shall so fast and so fight, that a joyful victory will follow, or quick delivery, which is as good. Which hints unto me the second things from which we are to fast, which are most excellently enumerated in that singularly well composed Prayer of the Litany of our Church's Liturgy, wherein we pray God to deliver us from all Evil and Mischief, from Sin, from the Crafts and Assaults of the Devil: Which if avoided, by necessary consequence God's wrath and everlasting damnation will be escaped. And take the concluding Prayer into your Fasts, and say, From all Sedition and privy Conspiracy (begot by & arising) from false Doctrine and Heresy, and from hardness of Heart (which is now called tenderness of Conscience) and contempt of God's Word and Commandments, (which is now called The new Light) Good Lord deliver us. Thus fast and you shall obtain, not out of the work done by you, which is acceptable, but in his fasting, who is only gracious, and in whose merits all our lame and imperfect works are sanctified.  
For by his holy Incarnation our flesh is purified, by his holy Nativity and Circumcision our new life is raised, & our old Adam buried; by his Baptism, Fasting and Temptation, our Fonts, our Abstinence, our Trials, are all made in some measure holy, so in the procession of his glorious Merits.  
By his Agony and bloody Sweat, by his Cross and Passion, our Sufferings, Plunderings and Martyrdoms are crowned; by his precious Death and Burial, by his Resurrection and Ascension, our pious Exits and goings out of the sad Stage of this World, our Sursum corda, our liftedup souls, our awakenings from the Lethargy and Death of our past Sins, are gracious with his Father, and beneficial to ourselves. And by the coming of the Holy Ghost we are fortified and double guarded, entrenched and palisadoed against all the malice of our invading enemy, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. Fear not little Garrison, though you fast a while, relief is coming, yea, & by a party of Horse, by an Army, such as Elias was upon the Mountain, greater in number then your enemies. Fear not, besieged soul, for God will rescue thee, and he shall bring you forth from this Garrison of the World, with Colours flying, Drums beating, & all but your Moneys, which must be left behind; that bunch in the Camels back, which must be crushed, and pashed, and wiredrawn, before you can be fitted to take that narrow pass, the eye of the needle; and then look before you the straight way of Christian Discipline, the Gauntlet run, what joy do you enter into! what variety of Heavenly Mansions! where every Soldier for his earthly services hath a Patrimony, which cannot be taken from him, which cannot suffer waste, but is upon improvement for ever, where every Soldier hath a Medal of his Chieftains Donation, the Seal of the Everliving God, which is the Badge of his fidelity, and a perpetual and indelible character of his Loyalty to his Master: No more shall be heard the word of Indigent Officers, or any such Sarcastic sound against them; for they shall hunger no more, nor thirst any more; neither shall the Sun of Persecution, nor any heat of Oppression light on them: But the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall lead them to Fountains of living waters, and God shall wipe away 
Rev. 7. 16.  all tears from their eyes.  
Amen.   

A MEDITATION ON THE PASSION Of Our SAVIOUR.  
I Do present Your Royal Highness with such a Scene of Sorrow, such a Tragedy, as that Age only beheld, and no Age after it shall see, The Prince of Peace, the Councillor, Murdered by his own People, Crucified at his own Gates: Was there any Sorrow like this Sorrow? which is magnified by the Dignity of his Person, by the Baseness of his Accusers, the Falseness of the Accusations, the Impudence of his Judges. From which unjust Tribunal, those that loved him fled: at whose sufferings the ashamed Sun withdrew its light, testifying by its miraculous opacity and darkness, that the God of Light was extinguished, the Earth opened; and had not the God of Mercy and Love forbade, would have swallowed the Nation, as it did once before a part of them, whilst his helpless Spectators (the ever Blessed Virgin his Mother, with his belov'd Disciple) stood by pierced at the heart to see him so pierced, to see her Son (the Son of God) so roughly and barbarously butchered, by those who lived, and moved, and had their Being from him, while God looked through the Cloud, permitting (what was from Eternity designed) Men and Devils to act a piece of Wickedness, which was the ruin of the Contrivers, the Devils fatal overthrow, the destruction of jerusalem, the abandoning of the jews, and Redemption of the whole World.  
Pardon me Sir, if in honour to my Saviour's Sufferings, I undertake what would ask the pen of the most Ready Writer, and he only could truly blazon that Princely Prophet, from whose Loins (as to the Flesh) he was descended.  
I had need of a Protection Royal, nay an Army Royal, for a Guard, while I enter upon the History. As many Enemies hath Christ himself as had his Father David, Gebal, and Ammon, and Amaleck; the Philistines, with they of Tyre, Hagarens, Moabites and Ishmalites, and a number of confederate and associate Conspirators united against the Tribe of judah; So against this Lion of that Tribe are combined Marcionites, Ebionites, Eutichians, Nicolaitans, Arrians, Socinians, and a Hydra of Schismatics, all of them either enemies of his Humanity or Divinity. These crucify not his Person on the Cross, but his Natures in their Heretical Writings: they untext the Gospel of S. john, and with false and pitiful glosses would persuade their Sectaries that Tempus erat quando non suit, that there was some time when he was not, and so labour to null his Eternal and coessential Being with his Father before all Worlds, deprive him of his just Right of Creation of the World, testified by that Eagle-eyed Evangelist, who says, directed by the Holy Ghost: By him all things were made, 
John 1. 3.  and without him nothing was made that was made; who being the Wisdom of his Father, was the most accomplished Agent through the Holy Spirit to effect that stupendious Convex that hoops in this lower Orb. And how bravely were these Blasphemies introduced by the assassination of a most Christian King Aurelius 
* Or Moritius. , & that murder proving successful, per scelera sceleribus iter est, they march in a procession of wickedness, and straight stab the Deity of him that is anointed for evermore: That inhuman butchery got an Empire to Phocas, and a triple Crown to his sacrificing 
* Boniface the Third.  Priest, who ever since usurps the Purple Robe; a fit Die and eternal Testimony of his Blood-got Supremacy over his fellow-Bishops. These crucify the Scriptures, as the Jews did Christ, and expunge the sense, though not the words: and whereas the letter says, None shall be greater than another, they say, one shall, and is above them all; nay not only their Apostolic Overseers, but in Ecclesiasticis, over Emperors and Kings. Well gratified (old Phocas) that by the base acquisition of a Diadem, strait didst part with the best Flower in it. No such Regimen was left by our Saviour, nor no such Vicar, nor no such Peter, with a brandished Sword, no such Boanerges, with a sublunary Fire, Cellars of Gunpowder and spiritual Ammunition, that shall more expeditely convey three estates to heaven, than Elias fiery Chariot; yet this usurpation still obtains upon some Princes, who for politic ends, or for fear of Raviliacks and Jesuited Daggers, or which is▪ worse, for covetous and ambitious designs, suffer that Christ that is in them, to have his head stuck with Thorns, and his mouth imbittered with this damnable Doctrine, the Lees of the Cup of the Lady of Babylon.  
How far short are our Sectarians at home, who hold not forth indeed a Golden Cup, but a worse, an 
a Against the Commandments.  Antinomial Cup; which if the Princes of this World drink, the rough emetic will make them void all the just prerogatives belonging to their sacred Authorities. Up comes first the Militia, without which Kings are as powerful as our Saviour with his Reed in his hand. Arundinem pro Sceptro, they must hold forth a Bulrush instead of a Sceptre. The next reach or strain of this vomitary Purge, is Potestas vitae & naecis, without which there can be no Magistrate, the Administration of Justice, the Dispensations of Rewards and Punishments, being the Charter of God, delegated to his servant the King, for the encouragement of the good, and punishment of evil persons. The third operation is as bad, which fetches all his jurisdiction Ecclesiastical up at one heave, and throws that precious Right into the Classical Basin first, and then into the great Cauldron of a Provincial Synod, in which his own head must boil, if he descent from that Consistorian sentence and Assembly suffrage. What Jew, what Loyalist of Ignatius could ever desire more? These are the Abisgah of our Adonirams & Adonijahs humble petition to his Majesty, and let his answer be (as I hope his wisdom is) like Solomon's, ask the Kingdom also to be tripartite and divided betwixt Abiathar a covenanting Presbyter, and joab the Son of Zervia, a traitorous General: So let the King serve them as Solomon did, who dare to entreat him from his power with bended knees, and hands lift up to Heaven, yet carry short swords to destroy the loyal Abners, the Kings most trusty and wellbeloved friends. So let the King displace such Abiathars, who not subscribing to the enacted Laws of the Land, under pretence of weak conscience, have the consciences to disturb the Peace of the Land, and affront the Government thereof. There is no fear, Royal Sir, that your Majestic Brother should want Zadocks, Orthodox and Loyal Priests: For look, Sir, in the Cave, where God hath hid from cruel persecution five thousand, who never bowed to the Baal of those days, nor fell down to worship the Calf, though made of the Earrings, Whistles, Bodkins and Silver Spoons of the deluded Sisters of the Nation. Let them bite upon the bit, and stoop to the sentence of the house of Eli and Abiathar, till they snap at a morsel of bread out of the inferior tables belonging to your High Priests. If upon any threats or solicitations, these Prerogatives be parted with, then take heed of a Tolle, & crucifige, away with him, crucify him; as your Martyred Father saith in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Kings once divested of their power, are soon imprisoned, and then murdered.  
For truly, Royal Sir, the Lives of Princes run almost parallel with their Saviour's: Their whole Reigns are but continued Passions. Damocles did well in his Item of Regal Care and Danger to suspend a naked Sword with the point downward, by a slender twist over his head as he sat at table.  
How early was thy Persecution, my dear Redeemer, when thy Cradle was not free from a murderous Herod, whose life he so much thirsted for, that many Hecatombs of Infants were mustered for fear Thy tender Person should escape. That stream of Innocent Blood was praeludium to the Death of the Lamb, that the Red Sea wherein thou didst float to Egypt, which harboured Thee in Thy flight, the only Goshen of the Land. No Pharaoh's daughter now to suckle this Divine Exile, but Angels were thy Rockers and Nurses, and the Apis of Egypt, I mean the Cow, was prostrate, and fed the only Via Lactea, or milky way to Heaven. Herod dead, and the Wise men thy Worshippers, Star-guided home, thou didst return to thy jerusalem, a while to preach, anon to die. 'Tis true indeed, the loaf-fed multitude, very pious by qualms and fits, especially when their bellies are full, would have made an earthly Prince of the King of Heaven: But Thou that knewest the danger of such Principalities, didst fly from a Sceptre with more haste than Richard the Third came to it, of whom it is storied, That he came from the womb with his feet forward, and he made wicked speed, and in a crimson flood swom to the Crown, which he did not long enjoy, the Duke of Richmond soon after avenging the blood of his slain Kindred in Bosworth Field, which was his just Aceldama. Just got Diadem, Regal Inheritances are insecure, but ill acquired Thrones never sit safe, and Tyrants seldom make a dry end, but are wet and bedewed in blood to their graves. 
Neque enim Lex justior ulla est,  
Quam necis artifices arte perire sua.  
'Tis just th' Inventors of great Torments have  
The Executions they to others gave.   
There is a Bull for a Phalaris, nay his own Bull, a Thomaris for Cyrus, a Gibbet for Haman, an Axe for a Bloody Rump, and a Pole Rampant higher than the rest for an aspiring Oliver. Our Saviour said, His Kingdom was not of this world, he was Lord over it, Lord Paramount, and these the Fifth Monarchists, who so much contend for his reign upon earth, though they make themselves only his subjects, shall never see their adopted King, whom the Heaven of Heavens must contain, until all Kingdoms, Levellers and all, are leveled with the Earth. He came not to wear a Crown of Gold, but Thorns, which made his head so many Fontinells of blood, every prick opening an Orifice, whence issued salvation to the world. In the Garden this bloody Fight began, when by his strong apprehension of the imminent danger, he sweat thick drops of blood, the sovereign water of that Garden: then he prayed, that man of sorrow deprecated, that that Cup might pass. Vox hominem sonat; the Prayer shows him Man, but his Suffering and his Submission, God: not My will, not the will of me, as Man, for what man can court Death? but thine and my will, as God, be done. Therefore his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, his vehement Groaning and Weeping were the strong and emphatic Emanations of his sad Soul, laden with the Sins of the whole earth, as a Cart is laden with sheaves, in which are millions of millions of Grains, the complicated vices of the Seed of Adam; so was this Winepress-treader burdened, who alone trod the Grapes in garments sprinkled with his own Blood. Can we hear this, and not compassionate? weep Daughters of jerusalem a little for him, but more for yourselves, for whose defections, whose spiritual Fornications, for whose Pride and Luxury, Covetousness and Hypocrisy: this Hen (that so oft would have gathered you as Chickens under his healing wings) is pulled and torn to pieces, hash'd by barbarous Soldiers and tumultuous villains. If we can, let us with watery eyes follow the pomp and prowess of his Sufferings: through Water and Tears Objects are magnified, but this Show cannot be made greater by any Optic helps. The God that made us is as much above our deciphering as comprehension, and no Painter, no Apelles can draw the lines of this Representation, so strong the Agony, 
Luke 22. 43.  so vehement, that an Angel is sent to strengthen the Man (the God for a time withdrawn.) The Angel no sooner gone (O take not from us those Guardians!) see a multitude comes, and judas, a Devil and his Legions: 
Verse 47.  The Traitor now acts his part, this holy Cutpurse, this Pious uses man, whose love to money made him verbally good to the poor. He was more thirsty and saving for a box of precious Ointment then for the Lords Anointed: For with a Kiss (the sign and seal of highest Affection) this false Apostle betrays the Lord of Life to certain Death; for thirty pieces of Silver sells the King of Righteousness to the Devils Emissaries. 
Auri sacra fames quid non mortalia cogit,  
Pectora.   
A purse of Gold, and a million of money shall preponderate and outweigh plighted Allegiance, covenanted Fidelity, and a King (if Queen Argent command) shall be delivered to the merciless cruelties of implacable Beasts.  
Now the Rout have him and Soldiers, Captains and Chief Priests, a combination of Murderers, (but a Jewish High Court of justice) they first privately in the close Committee 
Verse 52.  vote him to death, & in mockery of the Law bring false witnesses against him in the Court. As judas was bribed to betray his Person, so these mercenary mouths swear his Gild, accuse him of a Fact he never did, nor they never knew.  
This is the known Artifice against all good and loyal men in every Age: When their Virtues and Actions grow either suspected and hateful to the State, then 
Sparge res voces, 
Virg. 〈◊〉.   
In vulgum ambiguas & quaerere conscius arma,  
If Lies will not prevail,  
Tumults and Soldiers do it without fail.  So the Renowned Prelate, the noble Earl of 
Archbishop Laud.  Strafford, and his Sacred Majesty of ever Blessed memory, were belied out of their lives, and Armies raised to defend the lawless Execution.  
But the Jews may not put any man to death, that morsel of sweet revenge & Regal Power was not permitted to their Elderships; they might accuse stoutly, but could not sentence: That Jurisdiction was the sole Privilege of the Supreme Power, which at that time was Tiberius the second Emperor from Caesar, so then to Pilate his Governor under him, was this Innocent Person led by malicious Persecutors, whose charge is, that he was an Innovator, a Sabbath-breaker, an Enemy of Caesar's, I, there it went; for Pilate was to look to that above all other accusations: the first device of his intention to change Religion, was to open the people's throats, who though they understand little in the point, yet they are always very fierce for the Word, and are very jealous of losing that indeed they never had; but all these aggregated and accumulated Treasons would not reach to his life: 'tis strange they had not begged the murder, and enacted it with a salvo Law to their own necks, 
Ne trahatur in exemplum.  But that trick was reserved for our Modern Jews, who far outdid these of the Text: 
Luke▪ 33. 34.  For our Saviour begs pardon and forgiveness for these, excusing them to God, because of their ignorance, They knew not what they did; and the Apostle afterward apologises for them, If you had known, you would not have crucified the Lord of Life; but our Hirudines, our King-Leeches, the Eldership of the late Model knew that Charles the first was their King, had sworn Faith and Allegiance to him, and yet in pursuance of a blessed Covenant, suffered their fellow-Foxes to worry that Lamb of the Land to death. Their hypocritical excuse is nothing, That they never intended the business should go on to Blood: But, 
Qui nolunt occidere quenquam,  
Posse volunt.  
Many there are who will not kill,  
But wish the power to do it still.   
Is it the Axe only destroys? do not the Accusers, do not the Witnesses, do not the Despoilers of the Fences of Innocency do as much as the Executioner? He is more excusable than the other, for being an appointed Minister for that purpose; he does the commands of Superiors, and let them look to it, whosoever were the Authors and Abettors, who brought him to the block.  
But observe, I pray, what a league of love is struck in the very height of an intended murder, Herod and Pilate, two public Ministers of the Imperial State, are this day cemented into a fresh amity by the blood of Christ, Sectarians and Soldiers, Cromwell, Bradshaw and Ireten could not hug closer in private than these great Officers did in public; 
Quos opinio divisit, scelus hoc conjunxit;  whom diversities of Religions did divide, a prosperous Mischief does unite. O fatal Friendship! for by this confederacy the Lord of Heaven & Earth was exalted to the shameful death of the Cross, see him pendent in his own Air, which when he made it was good, but desires to be now as it was before struck out of Chaos; 
Haec est illa dies quae magnae conscia caedis,  
Exitio Christum (virgo Beata) dedit:  
This is that fatal day, and conscious hour,  
Virgin, which killed thy Son our Saviour.  See here the Type of that Brazen Serpent, long ago raised up in the Wilderness, which saves even those that fixed him to the Cross, that saved the Trooper Longinus, who, converted at the sight of his Sacramental Blood, and Miracles of the Passion, was baptised at the Wound himself made in his side; sovereign is the Blood of Sovereigns; so the blood-dipt Handkerchief of a scoffing Soldier proves a Cure to the King's Evil, when they had done all Evil unto him. The Scoffs, the Taunts, Revile of stony hearted Spectators were greater piercings to him then that of the Spear, that was Vinegar to his ears, more sharp and acid then that of the Sponge; a sad draught to drink his last in; yet in that Salutem propinavit mundo, he drank Saving Health to the whole World. And so, 
Exit Regum optimus,  
Vitaque cum gemitu fugit exornata sub umbras.  But what a Scene is in that last Catastrophe? The Sun withdrew his light, the Temple rend asunder, the Graves opened. Let me a little paraphrase here: so was it (under correction) at the departure of our King? The Light, which was more precious than the Suns, the Gospel, was for a time clouded and extinct: Darkness, worse than Egyptian, surrounded us, no Goshen, but here and there a light, like ignes fatui, the Wise and Learned of the Land wandered up and down in Fields and Dens; the Routed Glow-worm's of this Land shone for all that in this obscurity. Temples rend not only, but pulled down, or violated by Horsedung, and what is worse, Dungmen. Graves opened, and the bodies of new Saints straight appeared, which no man ever knew before. These Graves were truly open Sepulchers, which devoured Widows Houses, Royalists Estates, Church, Kings and Bishops Lands. See now what a Pharaoh's Dream is new interpreted: the lean Kine, the meanest, basest and worst wretches of the land, eat up the Fat, the Rich, the Fortunate; and what becomes of the lowing of these Oxen? the bleating of these Sheep? Alas, ye fools, ye saw not the hand-writing on the wall; your Mene Tekel was then set up, and your fatness only prepared you for the slaughter. 
Saginati in caedem,— Mischiefs feed  
Like Beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed.    

A MEDITATION Upon the 29th. of May, being His Majesty's Birthday, and Day of Restauration, and upon the Fifth of November, being the day of the General Deliverance of the King and Parliament from the Gunpowder-Treason.  
IF the noise of joy were not as loud as that of Treason, we should not on this day hear the news of our own Redemption (said a learned archdeacon of Christ Church) and to quote an eminent Prelate of the same House, I shall borrow a little Preface from him also, and say, Sicut infra sic supra, Sicut extra sic intra, as the Mine of the first Treason was in a cellar, and below the House, so the second, which was no less in intention, and higher in execution, was in the House itself, where depraved and most wicked persons out-gunpowdered the Popish Conspirators. What those intended, these acted, & the Conclave was but the Antimasque to the Consistory. If ever Lenthall the faithless Speaker spoke any thing true, it was, that the Presbyterians were and are the mortal enemies to Monarchy. This was no extorted confession, but the words of a dying sinner, afraid, of the account he was to make to him by whom King's reign. His vast Estate could not quiet a troubled conscience, nor will Brandywine, though it intoxicate for the present, comfort or relieve a Harrison, or a Hugh Peter. Sir Henry Vane saying he died a Presbyterian, showed he died a Rebel in Grain, and in his confession aggrevated his Sin against God, and entailed to that Faction. I believe the Prick-eared Knight thought to see a new War out of the Elysian fields, where he, Cromwell, Ireton and Bradshaw, are dancing a Fiery Morris, and the three Furies playing upon severe instruments to their deplored Changes. Let not any man or party think, that evil is, or aught to be done, that good may come of it, when it is contrary to the express words of the Text: no man is able, or can, or must bring good events out of bad actions; 'tis only God can do that, and always does, who overruling all designs, and suffering high mischiefs for ends best known to himself, doth, and providentially did confound the Presbyterian Contrivances by an Anabaptistical Army, and that Army by an Indigent Rump, and an almost beggared City, and the sound rather than the power of an Army, and so restored without a blow, a most Heroic Prince to the Rights which every one of those Factions had deprived his Father of. Who, I pray, but God blasted the Councils of Achitophel, dethroned the hotspur Absalon, entrapped the politic Adonijah and his Second, joab, the revolted Captain of the Host of Israel? Men may plot, but God order the event: What are the tutelary Angels of Kingdoms for, but to execute his Will, and to overrule the mad erterprises of ambitious, covetous and blood-thirstymen? Nor do I write this because of the joyful event only, but in the midst of the Usurpers glory it was my faith, though I could not assure myself the sight of it, that it would be brought to pass.  
These are thy Doing, O God, and it is wonderful in our eyes; let our hearts be enlarged with thankfulness, as thy favours are amplified above our deserts. Honourable mention is made by the Parliament for the 29th. of May, and in everlasting memory will be the fifth of November. Here the Grandfather, Uncle and Father of our King was preserved from the blow of unruly fire; and now the joy of our hearts, the breath of our nostrils wonderfully brought in into a gasping and almost expiring Kingdom: ezekiel's Vision acted to the life, bones, carcases, Skelitons, are re-enlivened, refleshed, and walking, not like trees, but trees reversed, men indeed, Royalists, the reputed offscouring of this Nation, in Feathers, Velvet Jumps, and Gold Belts, as if it had been their Resurrection day: an Army, but a month ago in pay against their Prince, the loyal Rearguard of his Majesty's person: Red-coats, that routed him at Worcester, and my heroic Duke at Dunkirk, houting and shouting loud Vive le Roy's, tossing their caps for joy that he was come again to them, whom God would exalt. The Devils extorted confession of our Saviour was the effect of a Divine Power, and these Acclamations were the Fingerwork of God, who can turn the hearts of men as it pleaseth him best, who stills the raging of the people, and allays the foaming of the Sea. Let us therefore cry Salvation to him that sitteth on the Throne, & setteth in the Throne: Let our Amen be as a clap of Thunder, and our Hallelujahs as the roaring of the Sea. Let the harmony of our Souls outvoice the Organs, and let the Anthem of all true Englishmen be, as that sometimes of the Angels at the Birth of Christ, so now at his Restitution to this Island, Glory be to God on high, good will to men, and peace on earth.  
Let the Discontented no more repine at what the Lord hath brought about; let them not fight against Heaven, but imitate this story of Philip, the husband of Queen Mary, who when he heard of the loss of his formidable Armado, dispersed and scattered by the Fleet of Queen Elizabeth (but as it was related to him by a Tempest) he patiently said, He did not send his Navy to fight against God Almighty.  
The 29. of May be ever as the Spring itself for Glory, a day of all Ornaments, Feasts, and Jubilee, for two such great Blessings, a Prince born, and a Prince reborn without a Baptism of Blood to his Crown of Inheritance.  
Caesar came to a Dictatorship through a Pharsalia Field of Blood. But here was no Feri faciem Miles, Strike at their faces Soldiers, but rather a Parce civibus, an Act of Indemnity, which every Citizen should wear in their hats, to expiate for the Libellous Petitions they sometimes so carried. In that Oblivion let the triumphs for two seditious Barrabbas' Burton and Bastwick be for ever forgot, and let the cursed Hue and Cry maker be forgiven, and his. Exit Tyrannorum ultimus be washed out of his conscience, as it is exploded from the Statue. Let the Crucifige of the Soldiers be drowned in their Vivat Rex, and let the Powder of the Petropolitans be buried in the earth from whence it is made, even in that cellar where it was barrelled up for King and Parliaments destruction. Let the Restoring of a true persecuted Church inform the Roman Catholics, that This is Mother of the true Children, the Common Prayers add good Preaching, which the Dragon of Huntingdon, General under the great Dragon in the Apocalypse, pursued into the Wilderness: But see how she sits, most eminent, most conspicuous; O may she continue so for ever; and let her Priests be clothed with Righteousness, as with a Surplice, and with meekness and liberality as in Scarlet Robes and rich Mitres. And you my loving friends of the Clergy, raise yourselves high by good examples, lives and hospitalities in the opinion of the people; and do not as the Giants of old, who by heaps of mountains fought against Heaven, do not not you, I say, by piles of multiplied steeples think so to ascend thither: But as you are Soldiers of the Church Militant, remember the advice of S. Iohn Baptist's to the Caesareans; or if you like best the Text of the Apostle, Let a Bishop or Presbyter be the husband of one wife; which in the Rhemish interpretation, or in the literal, is good; or as the Poet saith, 
Pectora nostra duas non admittentia curas.  Yet do not, I beseech you, misunderstand me, for I am not against Pluralities, where they are conferred upon deserving and suffering persons, but I am really against Plus-plurimalities.  
And so I conclude these well intended Meditations, desiring your Royal Highness gracious encouragement, whereby I may be warmed into another Work.  
FINIS.