THE SOULS EXERCISE, In the daily Contemplation of our Saviour's Birth, Life, Passion, and Resurrection.  
BY WILLIAM VAUGHAN, Knight.  
LONDON, Printed by Thomas and Rich. Cotes, for Humphrey Blunden, and are to be sold at his shop in Cornhill, at the sign of the Castle, 1641.   

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.  

1.  
WHile Mammon blurred the Word within o●r West,  
Which rose, like Lightning, from the radiant East,  
God lent me Zeal, and cleared my Inward sight  
To draw the Type of our Incarnate Light.   

2.  
Within this Map your Royal Grace shall find  
Some Sparks to raise a true Nathaniels' mind  
Above the Clouds, in spite of tempting vice,  
By the review of the Souls Exercise.   

3.  
Here Men may see in Christian Crystal glaesse,  
That None from Earth shall up to Heaven pass,  
Unless they be Refined, and from Above  
Baptised with Flaming zeal and streaming Love.   

4.  
Here wrangling Wits and Make-bates may behold,  
What shall become of them who plot for Gold  
To crucify the Son of God again,  
By wronging of his Members, Saints for Gain.   

5.  
Here Age may learn some harmless Rhapsody  
To rap the Souls of Youth with Melody,  
Like that which Saul found for his Malady,  
Except they stop their Ears, and raving die.   

6.  
Here Peace is taught, Old Simeons' swan like song,  
To wavering Minds, to Sick Folks, & the strong,  
With Notice clear (to speak it without boast)  
Why Some receive? Some lose the Holy Ghost;   

7.  
What Milder means can be for Jars Correction  
Then Christ his Cratch, Life, Cross, and Resurrection  
In Numbers sung with an attracting voice?  
Since Babes and Bees are charmed with tinkling Noise?   

8.  
What more can please the Fancies curious Taste  
Than Types before the Understanding placed  
In tuned Form? the Senses to rouse up  
When surfeited with Copious prose they droop?   

9  
Nay Souls perhaps, which Sermons fail to win,  
They may Convert, assuage, or scare from Sin,  
If, as Reins many Drops hard Marble pierce,  
The Agents play on them with fluent Verse.   

10.  
So Moses, Miriam, Job, and Deborah,  
When Heber's wife had hammered Sisera,  
So David did, and Jeremias call  
Men to praise God by vows numerical.   

11.  
The like rare Sound shapes the New Testament,  
In Zacharies and Mary's Ravishment,  
In Simeons' Ode, and in Our Saviour's Deed,  
Who sung a Psalm, ere He in Sweat did bleed.   

12.  
The Soul, some write, consists of Harmony:  
And that good Angels sing, none can deny,  
Witness their Music, which Saint John describes.  
Who then dares break on Zions Muse his Gibes?   

13.  
Among the Acts which Canterbury's Sire,  
Grave Cuthbert made, within the Church's Choir,  
He willed his Clergy every day to sing  
In Saxon Tongue, the Praise of Heavens King.   

14.  
Among the Gifts ranked of Scholastic Scope,  
Which grace Great urban, now the Roman Pope,  
His Book of Poems wins him most renown;  
The Laureate Wreath excels his Triple Crown.   

15.  
But if my Lays seem to some Worldlings light,  
Excuse the Scribe, O Britain's sweet Delight,  
Say that he aimed at Love, not bubbling Fame,  
Reward, nor Strife, nor Justice to defame.   

16.  
My Strain is plain, the Matter most sublime,  
No Levite I. Then what doth grace my Rhyme?  
With willing mind the New-mans' praise I sing,  
For moulding in shrewd times so mild a King.  
Whom with his Royal Spouse and Hopeful Fruit,  
Like Saints, I pray the New-mans' Lord to suit.  
Amen.   
So Prays your Majesty's most Humble Subject, William Vaughan.   

The Preface. To the Queen's most Excellent Majesty.  

ACcept, great Queen, from a poor Cambrian Knight  
This sparkling Pile, wherewith the Souls delight,  
You may discern an Empress most divine,  
The Glory of the Gender Feminine,  
The Lady Grace, I mean, God's gracious Light,  
Which saves Mankind from a despairing plight,  
If they in Will their Outward Man resist,  
And daily weigh the Birth and Death of Christ,  
But since we are bathed in her streaming Love,  
I know you will my New-mans' Flames approve;  
Cull out the best, which with God's Word agree;  
And leave the rest, as Fire-drakes unto me.   

If I sing well, as Seraphins require,  
Then take my Sparklings like Nehemies Fire,  
Which in the Pit lay hid, late found again,  
Not kindled by the New-mans' Zeal in vain,  
But for a Pious end: by Number's dint  
Our Saviour's Form in weaklings to imprint.  
This Form through worldly fraud lay hidden long  
None durst translate it to the Mother tongue,  
Until the Lord of his unbounded Grace,  
In pity of his Churches wretched Case,  
Looked down of late on his two Prophets slain,  
And breathed New life into their Corpse again.  
With Heavenly Oil He sent the Holy Ghost  
To scour Faith's rust, when we were almost lost,  
Lost through our sloth and Pride, near in Despair  
To be snatched up by Fiends into the Air,  
There, till Doomsday to Goblin it at least,  
Or, which is worse, with Tophets' Damp to feast.   

But if my Tune, like gaggling Noise of Geese,  
Displease, I then reserve it as a Piece,  
Or Fragment fit for some Sidanens' Ear  
Of slighted Wales, with hooboobs Bray to fear  
Nightwalkers from purloining of her Flock  
Rather than I become a flouting-stocke  
To English wits, I will at night retire,  
(Cowrez le feu) put out my Light and Fire,  
And live immured, as in a Cynics Cell,  
Until I can in sweeter Lays excel.  
Howe'er this proves, I lay it at your Feet,  
Not daring stars with glozing phrase to greet,  
Nor stare too long upon the Sunshine Light,  
Lest I be changed into a Bird of Night;  
Or as Old Poets feigned of Niobe,  
Contesting with a Goddess, lest I be  
Transmuted to a stone, or stupid wight,  
For thrusting forth to Your Majestic sight,  
This Ghostly task, my New-mans' Exercise,  
With Oaten Pipe, and in a poor disguise,  
Before I know your Pleasure and your Will,  
Whether you can affect a Mountain Quill,  
And brook that a rude Bardh, or Corydon  
Should screw his Songs with your Court-Helicon.  
Sometime Great Dames the Blossoms of the Field  
Have paralleled with those which Gardens yield;  
So though by Fits or Chance I may expose  
Old Eden's Good and Ill, the Thorn as Rose:  
Shall a few Slips of thorny Doubts downewaigh  
My New-mans' Hopes more fair than Flowers in May▪   

But lest some say, that Sybill-like I rave,  
Or that I do the Higher Thrones outbrave;  
I here submit, and humbly sue to sing  
These Lays: A Cat may look upon a King.  
Both Town and Country strive for Courtly Grace:  
And shall not I then wish to see your Face?  
To see of Kings the Daughter, Sister, Wife,  
And Mother borne to calm great Nations strife?  
Not fawning wise, but hoping that you stand  
For Our New man, I long to kiss your Hand;  
Like Philip's Greeks, who Christ desired to see,  
Like One, who to that end climbed up a Tree.   

And thus I bid Great Britain's Queen Adieu,  
With Sacrifice, my vows, and Service due.    

To the Prince's Highness.  

MOst Noble Prince, Great Britain's Royal Heir,  
The Hope of Wales, where first I breathed Aire,  
And where I live from Troubles Home-retired,  
But never for your Good with Prayers tired:  
If harsh my Tune seems to your tender Ear●  
Let Your mild Grace with my plain meaning bear,  
As well because the matter I rehearse,  
Requires bare naked Truth in simple Verse;  
As that I might the vulgar sort allure,  
To our Newman from their Old ways impure,  
Since Gentle words may for their Babes afford  
A winning Call to jordan's Bathing Ford;  
And that I might hold on my Countries Guise,  
Course Russet, yet sincere, without disguise  
Of Art or Sense, lest that you might suspect,  
That I on Truth no Exercise erect,  
For if I cringed with Charms adulterate  
Of Pickthank Soothes, or borrowed Terms of state,  
I should then cast before your Eyes a Mist,  
Not spreading Truth, like an Evangelist,  
For Christian Peace with pure Devotions Flame,  
But Wild conceits blown up for worldly Fame;  
And so, instead of noysing her Effects,  
I wrong her worth, and show my own defects.  
Truth is the Star, which graced my New-mans' Flame;  
O would I could to you so blaze her Fame,  
As once fell out before the Persian King,  
When her Renown Salathiels Son did ring  
With such a Peal, that all the Court confessed  
Truth only Great, fit for a Monarch's Breast!   

Our Only God Created but One Sun  
From Pole to Pole, Times yearly Race to run:  
No more lent He then this Gift Uniform,  
One Truth, to sway our Souls, and to inform  
All Adam's Seed of the Right way to Heaven,  
One safe High way, not Labyrinthed, but Even.  
This Royal Way is Jesus Christ alone,  
Who left us Truth our Discords to atone,  
To guide our steps into his Churches Fold  
Without hard Yokes, or selling souls for gold;  
And to confound, as with a Lightning Sword,  
The Obstinate by his Mysterious Word.  
Upon this Words bright Substance we depend,  
Fixing on Christ our Faith and Sovereign End,  
With Will prepared, enfranchised by Grace,  
His holy Life and Gospel's Light to trace,  
And to take up with zeal (when so he please)  
His Cross and bitter Cup before soft Ease.  
Besides this Way, to gain the Top of Heaven,  
All Paths like Quick sands are, or puffed up Leaven;  
Of which false steps are Ladders for the Turks  
From Mecha rapt, and those stupendious Works  
Fathered on Saints by Men possessed with Fiends,  
In Legends famed for base Simonious ends,  
Not for One Faith, one God, one Advocate,  
But many Christ's, and Idols to create.   

To shun such Bogs, Byways, and Fallacies,  
I have set forth the Souls sweet Exercise,  
Kindled by Truth, Jehovahs' bosom Daughter,  
Who by his Son wrapped in the Scriptures brought her.  
By her mild Rays reflecting on my strains  
Your Grace may reap some fruit. And for my pains  
Sweet Prince, I crave no other recompense,  
Then that you take them into your Defence,  
With my true vows; till in your riper Age  
You them oppose against the Old Man's Rage.    

The preface to the Reader.  

Our New-mans' Lord be praised for evermore,  
Who with New Lays augmented hath our store  
And by his Rays hath lately raised my will  
To Sacrifice above Acquired skill.  
He stirred me up with Zeal, on Zions stage  
To act a Part, though in my drooping Age,  
Having outgone the step which Sages call  
Lives Fatal Year, the Climacterical.  
My Morals He turned to Diviner ways,  
My Roman Dactyls into English Lays.  
My rugged Prose He changed to Smother Lines,  
That with New-straines I might win Libertines,  
Maugre his Spleen, who doth this Work confine:  
Will Poets preach, or sing of things Divine?  
Shall Knights usurp the place of Clergy men?  
To praise God's Church? or Christ his Life to pen?   

He may as well Apollinarius tax,  
Or as enraged against Old Ephres wax,  
Both which by Tunes on Grecian Lyre did strive  
To settle Faith in the Church Primitive.  
He may aswell blame Nazianzens Quill,  
Prudentius, Claudians, or S. Austin's skill,  
As strike at Poets for recalling Souls  
From Darkness unto Light by Sacred Scrolls.  
Were Zions Muse to Clerks alone entailed,  
The Critic might with Semeies' sting have railed  
On the sweet Post hume of our Royal James,  
Which ravish English Ears with David's Psalms.  
He might with Theons Tooth good Bartas bite,  
Or for Doomsday our Noble Sterline smite.  
Or if he fears to hit so high a Mark,  
Why claims he not Zoiles privilege, to bark  
At Him, whose worth deserves Ulysses style?  
Whom Grotius taught Christ's Passion to compile?  
Our stars late graced my Raptures of the Bride:  
How then dare Momes the Bridegroom's praise deride?   

But can a Prophet rise from Galilee?  
Or Wa●es in Tune shape Truth's Evangelee?  
Or can her Geese compare with English Swans?  
To sing good News to Contrite Publicans?  
To paint such Flights no Mortal should presume,  
Unless his Pen were of a Cherubs Plume,  
Unless the Poet rapt above the Pole  
Charm Men from Jars, & Fiends from taking Toll.  
So that the End be good, Truth ought to pass,  
Though by a Scythian noised, or Balaams' Ass,  
And whilst we not Divine● Flames profane  
With false Poetic Dreams, Devotions Bane.  
There is no Sex in Souls. Aswell the Least  
As Greatest here shall shine at Christ his Feast.  
At the Lamb's Feast where Saints for ever sing,  
The Simplest Swain on Earth joys as the King.  
Now if our Wales such Novelties relates,  
Disdain them not, Ye Noble English States,  
But pry into them, (like her Silver Mine,)  
For which of late her Alps ye undermine.  
And since ye see her Womb and Bowels yield  
Lime, Coal, and Marl to raise the wearied Field:  
Then why likewise may not her Streams afford  
Some Swans, aswell as Thames, or Humber's Ford?  
If not to chant their Native Melody,  
At least to tune a harmless Rhapsody,  
Whereby from Fiends some Converts may be drawn  
To ransom Wares, which they had left in pawn   

That with our Head the Members sympathise,  
God breathes into men's Hearts New Faculcies,  
For when his Son ascended up on High,  
He captive led our Wills Captivity,  
Renewed of Grace our Charters Liberties,  
And gave rare Gifts with Flaming Novelties,  
Which if some hide, or Miser like engross  
They frustrate make their Freedom by the Cross,  
Lest therefore I encurre that Prejudice  
I publish here my New-mans' Exercise,  
With this true Warning shot, or Tolling Bell,  
That the Old Man, Ye Readers, first expel,  
Before ye mend these Raptures, or proscribe  
With Cato's Broach or Brand a Christian Scribe  
By a non licet, lest your Negative  
Bar that which sorts with Saints Affirmative:  
That this my Work in substance comprehends  
An Offering which to Christ his Glory tends;  
Not Noised forth, like Chymiques Quintessence;  
For sordid Gain, but strife and Carnal Sense,  
(The Gangrenes of this Age) to cauterize,  
I freely vent my Souls W●●kes Exercise.  
And though my Tone, like Gileads shibbeleth,  
Suits not nice Tongues, nor David's Leeks your Breath,  
Yet doth my Muse with England's Faith agree,  
And hopes by Trance our Saviour Christ to see  
In Bethlems Cratch, and on Mount Calvary;  
His Rising up, and Triumph I descry,  
And blunder forth by the like Mystery.  
But with sharp Hounds, my Muse, and Memory,  
I'll first assay Ol● Reinards' Brood to stoup.  
View then the Game: Behold, the Hunt is up.    

THE SOULS EXERCISE.  
The Argument.  
Before the Great and Fearful Day of Doom,  
Which by true Signs near past will shortly come,  
Great Brittain's warned the Old Man's tricks to scan,  
And with more Love to lodge the Inward Man.  

O That Men would think on the Latter day!  
Whose Signs began with Horror and Dismay,  
Since Satan was let loose to rack and scorch  
With Martyrs Flame our late Reformed Church!  
No Preterperfect nor the Future Tense,  
But then the Present suits the Creatures Sense,  
When Time shall be no more, but ever Light  
Or ever Dark. From this Perpetual Night  
Of Sadness, Lord, defend my Spotted Soul,  
That canst at Will the Gates of Hell control,  
And by sweet Trance canst open the Milk-white way,  
To lead my steps to that Eternal Day.  
How oft hast thou from Weaklings raised thee Praise▪  
Then grant me Grace to warble out these Lays;  
Which I began with th'Hunt is up to day:  
That I may chase Hell's Instruments away,  
The wily Fox, the Wolf, and ravenous Bear;  
But not with Y●alpes poor silly Sheep to fear,  
No● to disturb, like Taverns roaring Boys,  
Good Christians Nightly Rest with Hellish Noise,  
Or with base Fiddlers Tunes, who gape for Gain  
Their Lusts from Strangers Windows to maintain▪  
(Fly Buffoons hence; no flouts, nor wanton glance,  
Nor scuffling Tones, suit with. our newman's trance)  
Not for wits Froth, nor Poets potting Pen,  
Nor for Old Dreams shall any Godly men  
Tax me withal. My aim is Libertines  
And Sluggards to rouse up by Christian Lines;  
And that th'Elect of Britain's Isle may blush  
To jar for Trifles, Nifles, or a Rush;  
At least, to let them know, that we should side  
With him, whose Rights with Mammon they divide.  
But let Divines without Scholastic cavel  
And Politics without damned Machiavelli,  
Tell us how comes Mankind so prone to Evil?  
〈◊〉 from O●d Adam? Custom? or the Devil?  
Or rather from this mixed Triplicity  
By God's just Doom for men's Impiety?  
Our Statesmen stand here gravelled, nor define  
Can Nature such deep Points, but the Divine  
On these Resolves assures our Pilgrimage:  
That, to secure from the Old Creatures Rage's  
Our New-mans' Spark, we must contend & buckle  
With Men & Fiends, ere Grace this Infant suckle;  
We must Believe, and Pray, do Fruitful Works,  
And crush the Snake, which in our bosom lurks.  
For these Attempts, the Serpent to unmask  
In Eden first Man's Cross row is: my Task.   

The two, from whom our Heralds all agree  
With one Consent to draw men's Pedigree.  
Be they Crowned Kings, or Subjects, bond, or Free,  
Adam and Eve, the Male & Female Tree,  
Were formed by Him, who both the Globs Created,  
Whereof the One with Goodly Rights estated  
God gave to them from Tax or Tribute free;  
And so their Race enjoyed it, till the Fee  
By Giants waved and Nemhrods Tyranny.  
The upper like a Spangled Canopy  
With Crystal propped, to lift their minds with wonder,  
He left for Breath, for Heat, to seat them under;  
And to observe the Influence, Motion, Height,  
Not racking Stars with Necromantic Sleight?  
Because Man should with Angels linked in One  
Harmonious League on God depend alone,  
To do his Will, who raised him from the dust,  
To praise his Name, without the least distrust,  
Not Creatures, Thrones, or Principalities,  
Nor courting other Gods with Sacrifice,  
(For who would sue to an Inferior Lord,  
The King in place that heareth every word)  
God for this End, and for his Glories sake  
Assigned Man his Comforts to partake.  
He left all things to his Elections Sway,  
Except One Tree in Eden to assay,  
And try by One Command his Creatures mind,  
Whether he would prove Constant, or Unkind:  
Yea, God forbade to taste the Curious Tree  
Of Good and Ill, because He did foresee  
" That Longing Fits in Maladies would end,  
" That worldly Craft did restless Cares portend,  
" That Innocence once lost, Man would divide  
" Christ's Sovereignty, and with the Devil side;  
" That he the Golden means would soon neglect,  
" And fall into Excess, or the defect;  
" That Will uncurbed to damned Actions tends,  
" That Pride much knowledge puffes, shame Pride attends,  
" For when good knowledge with the Ill did match,  
" Then they began a Mongrel Brood to hatch,  
" Like those who heretofore with Pagan Rite  
" And Schoolman's Gloss disguised God's ho●y Light.  
Although such Plagues ensued by the Breach  
Of God's Command, yet doth Experience teach  
The Fruit itself so strange in Operation,  
Perhaps might bring with it some Alteration,  
And help the Humours to exasperate,  
As the Breach did the Soul contaminate:  
" So Meals without Thanksgiving cause disease,  
" And Physic with God's blessing turns to Ease.  
Do not all things on which our Bodies feed,  
Blood, Choler, Fleame, and Melancholy breed?  
Do not we see, that things Inanimate;  
As Roots and Gums; nay Minerals, abate  
Or raise the force of things more excellent?  
Doth not dimmed Eyes the Saphire blew content?  
And Hemlocks Juice, like Vapours of strong Wine,  
Disturb the Brain, and Humour Crystalline?  
Doth not the Jet insult upon a Straw?  
As Steel is by the Loadstone kept in awe?  
What Frantic Lust comes by Cantharideses?  
What Flames by Circe's charmed Hippomanes?  
How luckily Quicksilver mortified  
Hath for the Worms, and the great Pox been tried?  
Yet Sublimate doth like to Hell inflame,  
To Poison turns, and kills the Vital Flame.  
How have the Lungs by Orpiment been cured?  
And the Faint Heart by Liquid Gold secured?  
How forcible against Plagues and Fevers are,  
Myrrh, Saffron, Aloes, Stibium, Bezoar?  
Garlic allays raw Air and waterish Food,  
But Mads like Wine, the Dry Brain, and the Blood.  
Winebibbers know, that Vines with Coleworts war;  
As rampant Lust is cooled by Nenuphar.  
Sometimes I saw a Glutton crossed in Will,  
His Trencher daubed with Colloquintids' Pill.  
How by the Sun Glass things remote may fire,  
To yield the reason, would not Reason tyre?  
Or why Tobacco, or the Vomick Nut,  
Opium, or Henbane, do the Senses glut?  
Or why the Juice of Spurge, or Tithimall,  
Held to the Gums, cause all the Teeth to fall?  
If such as these with us work Mira●les,  
And growing plants yet more, what Obstacles  
Can Atheists plead to bar Our Fatal Tree?  
Or that of Life? but that it grew so free?  
Whereby on Man no feral Death's disease,  
The Fruit once ta'en by him, could ever seize,  
Until God did th' impaled Garden fence,  
Or drown it by the Flood for Lust's Offence?  
This Fruit we reaped by knowing Good and Ill,  
When as the Precepts Breach defiled the will.   

But to return where now I did digress,  
Man stayed not long before he did transgress,  
And violate the Law with Carnal sense,  
Slighting his Maker's Love and Providence.  
Man had large Grace and Freedom of Election,  
But he of Both did quickly make defection,  
He knew th'Events, the Covenant, his Doom  
For Life or Death, and what would sure become  
Of him, and his, if he Gods will transgressed,  
Yet would he be of Knowledge more possessed  
Than well became a Creature limited:  
Yea, and perhaps the Woman coveted,  
Assoon as Satan told his form all Tale,  
With Carnal taste that fruit of sugared Bale,  
And longed too, because she was forbidden;  
Or else because, like to a Gues● unbidden,  
The Tempter, which is likely, watched the hour,  
When she was less Devout, ere he could pour  
His Ban● on her in a Corporeal shape,  
That in the Fi● she for the fruit might gape.  
She sooner might all Enemies withstand  
Than Python's mists unseen always at hand.  
" Where once he welcome finds he there doth bring  
" More Spirits like himself that Soul to sting:  
" As to a Friar chanced, who tempted choose  
" Once rather to be drunk than Soul to lose  
" By Lust or Murders Choice. But by that feat,  
" He whored, and slew the Husband in his heat▪  
So Satan plays at this time with us all,  
Old Adam's seed; he knows in General,  
That we by Nature frail and wavering are,  
Lustful, and Proud, then in particular  
" He knows to what vain pleasure more than other  
" We are most prone, whilst we Devotion smother;  
" Which so observed by him with damned Craft,  
" He Guilds that Pleasure fair before his shafts  
" He shoots; from which, o Christ, we have no fence  
" Nor help, but thy dear Cross and Innocence  
To put them by with daily watch and Cares,  
Lest like to Eve he catch us unawares.   

When Satan saw that God to Man assigned  
The world's whole Rule, he by a masked kind  
Of shape devised with Lies to tempt Eves mind,  
And by her means her Husband's wits to blind.  
O subtle Fiends inevitable Fetch!  
Above a Cheaters or Projectors reach!  
To set upon the weakest of the Twain,  
Before he dared the Husband in to train!  
He knew the power of a Favourite,  
And what Mans second self, the Night-Crow might  
Suggest to bring strange matters to effect.  
This moved the Fiend the Woman to select,  
And work upon her Frailties imperfection,  
Because he knew the Man had more perfection.  
He knew the Man had more Composed wit,  
More ancient, stayed, and harder to be hit:  
He knew the Woman had a moister Brain,  
More shallow, nice, and of a smother grain,  
" Moore pliant than the Male to be allured  
" With Tales and Toys, whereof he stood assured▪  
" Therefore, Ye Men, beware of women's guiles;  
" Take heed, Ye Women, of Old Satan's wiles,  
" Tempt not your Husbands unto vanity,  
" To Idols, Pride, nor sloths Infirmity:  
" And let us hence both Men and Women all  
" The Devil chase, the Author of our Fall.  
He grudged to see those of an Earthly Feature  
Above him set, sometimes a Heavenly Creature;  
That Humane-kind, such Creatures New & strange  
Should breathe that Air, where he did hope to range,  
Rage & despite to have Man thrown below  
Or at the least in Furies fell his Fellow,  
Wrought on his Spirit, all to Vengeance bend,  
Till at the last he got his Lewd Intent.  
About that time more Wise than any Beast  
With speckled skin, like Golden Damask dressed,  
The Serpent stalked in Eden's Paradise,  
Him Satan seized, and in his shapes disguise  
Thus with his Charms to hide his cunning Hate,  
He tempted Eve in absence of her Mate:  
Fair Dame, more fit for thy sweet Beauty's Grace,  
As Goddess, to possess the Highest Place,  
And all the world to Rule, then to be curbed  
Of thy Freewill, or in thy Choice disturbed:  
Hath God forbidden you that Fruit to taste?  
The fruit of Knowledge which shall ever last?  
Which Life renews, and makes an Idiot wise?  
Eat it, and spare not; Be not too Precise.  
Ye shall not Die: that's but a scaring Crow  
To blear your fight, lest you this secret know.  
For God well knows, that tasting of this Tree,  
You like Himself will soon Immortal be.  
The woman fired with Satan's fair discourse  
Resisted not, but ran th'Ambitious Course  
Of Lucifer (who climbed the highest stair  
Of Mysteries) built Castles in the Air,  
And rapt with false Imaginary Toys  
Of being wise, like God, with hope of Joys,  
She started not with that odd Tree to grapple,  
But thence she plucked, what God forbade, the Apple;  
One, two, or more, as liked her Palate best,  
With whose sweet Taste her Husband she possessed:  
As likewise with the virtue of the Fruit,  
Which did with their high towering Fancies suit.  
Ev's haughty mind was soon, too soon persawded  
And adam's too, whereby they were degraded  
Of Innocence, true Joys, and Quiet Life,  
Made Slaves to Vices, Death, and Endless strife.  
The Devil too, which ranged then unbound,  
With borrowed shape, in stricter Chains was bound  
Yet mounting a●d descending with his Mates,  
To try and sting, as Faith grows, or abates.   

Hence Passions from Hell's poison soon began since  
To make Young Adam an Old worldly m●n:  
With vain Proud thoughts his Seed were ever since  
Swollen, & baned in every State & Province.  
The Elder Part against the New rebels  
With wily Plots, till Grace the Fox expels.  
Hence spring those Plagues which now defile the Earth:  
" Cold Charity, our sly and needless Dearth,  
" Distrust of God, Ambition, Simony,  
" Base Idleness, Carousing, Gluttony,  
" Damned mongrel Matches, Saints with Reprobates,  
" High purchased Names, Envy in all Estates,  
" Malice, Law-suites, Deceits, and Avarice,  
" Pride, Thriftless Pomp, and every other uthe:  
Whose foul Excess, like Fire's abuse, I blame,  
So to prepare room for Devotions Flame.  
For such as those, the first Old world was drowned  
As Our shall shortly burn about us round:  
For such, the Lord our Tongues did first confound  
At Babel's Tower from one Harmonious sound.  
For such as those, the Hebrew● were rejected,  
And unto such are most of us subjected  
By that Old Python's Sat●●ns subtlety,  
Unless Faith help and 〈◊〉 Humility:  
We are indeed beset by him, that speaks,  
And through a thousand throats now plays the Reaks,  
In tempted Brains suborning men for Pelf  
To sell the Spirits Gifts, yea Hea●en itself,  
Our mother Eve in Serpent's shape he tempted,  
To gull and gaine-How shall our Earthlings now  
Escape? when that Bad Humours overflow  
The Body's State? when Tares do over top  
The Gospel's Seed? and when we see him hop,  
Swear, and Carouse, even on the Sabatth Day?  
And every other Day to catch some Prey?   

O wits bewitched by the false Serpent's Art!  
Who sacrifice to Fiends your Noblest Part!  
" there's nothing more than Prayer which they fear,  
" Because they know that's music in Gods Eare.  
" When they hear Abbaes' Peal ring from Man's Heart,  
" With hate of present sin, they soon depart,  
" And leave the Forts, which they usurped then,  
" The Humours, Brain, and Heart of Man I mean.  
And where they find no Catechising is,  
Nor weekly Sermons used, but All amiss  
For want of Means, Gods Tithes kept back like spoils,  
There, Sports with Oaths, with Healths they mingle broils.  
" But woe to them, who do Gods Tithes engross,  
" Whereby ensues of Christian Souls such loss:  
" If Cursed they were, who ravished them at first,  
" Who dim Faiths Light, are they not more accursed?  
" Transferring by those Pr●yes to yawning Hell,  
" Like Antichrist, more Souls than Tongue can tell?  
And here with dreary eyes I must lament  
The Fate of my poor Native Soil near rend  
By Fiends a sunder through the Words defect:  
For though the Tithes some Annually collect  
Amounting in each Parish to the sum  
Of hundreds twice, yet the poor Curates room  
Is scarcely worth nine or ten pounds a year;  
Nay, some there be, which counting that too dear  
Hire yearly Cocks for half that sum to crow,  
And what Soule-food such creatures chant you know.  
Nor Parish-poore help they, nor Churches Rate,  
But as it were in sin Inveterate,  
Cloth with church-good their Sacrilegious backs,  
Not dreaming once of Hell, or inward Racks,  
For their converting Tithes to private store,  
Which were ordained for Churchmen & the Poor;  
" Nor weighing yet what Temporal● despite,  
" And fearful plagues on tythe-ingrossers light,  
" Upon their house, and Crime-partaking fry  
Here in this world, to rot their memory.  
And some of these I knew in Jails to lie  
For Treason●, Debts; and some die suddenly.  
And some likewise I knew, their Widows, Heirs  
And Children tired with Broyles & Law-affaires.  
Take Learnings hire away, Learning decays,  
Unless God's Spirit by unusual ways,  
Immediately to bring rare things to pass,  
Inspire some wits with new Celestial grace;  
But if both fail, what Chaos may ensue,  
I'll leave to scan till Time brings them to Rue,  
And wail with howling pain and soul-sick groan,  
Alack the Day that we our Mother's moan  
Contemned, and peeled her bare, since Saracens,  
Her deuce to keep, feared like the Pestilence.  
" All Labourers deserve their Day-reward,  
" But much more they, who watch the soul to guard.  
To this I add the scandal and offence,  
Which they procure to sects of tender sense,  
Who tax our Church, and Levites Commonweal  
With Jeroboams Plot, and want of zeal,  
For gracing Clerks of blind inferior rank,  
As though we had no Church, but Babel's Bank  
On Willow trees our Trumpets up to hang,  
Or those sad Lays, which there the Captives sang,  
Denouncing Fate, far worse than jewries woes,  
With Plagues to light on Zions jeering foes.  
So Romish Scribes quip us with scurrile songs  
Unjustly for conniving at such wrongs,  
And twit our Church with Cobblers and Sowgelder's,  
When as the fault lies not upon our Elders,  
But on some graceless greedy minded wights,  
Who seizing on the Tithes put out our Lights;  
As formerly their Monkish Hypocrites,  
Had like to Kites snatched up those Tithing Rights,  
(So Popes were taxed for granting Tithes and Tolles  
To men more fit to feed their Mules then Souls)  
So though Carmarthins Clerks for Parishes  
Enrolled fourscore, yet fifty three of these  
The Popes for Drones improperly assigned  
Their Tithes which were of Old by Caesar's signed  
For painful Bees, and made Authentical  
To their sole use by Counsels General.  
Whence Zions Vines, like Osneyes, nipped at first  
By Wolsey in the Spring quenched Henry's thirst  
In Summer's rage; and served in Autumn since  
As baits for sin: but now gone from the Prince  
To chapmen's hands in time of Winter's cold,  
Church-Farmes by them are dear set and sold,  
With small regard to Clerks, or the Newborn,  
As if Hels-stormes their consciences had torn;  
Hence grow Mault-wormes, unlicenc'd Ale and Beer  
With Shifts to rack for what men farmed so dear.  
O would these Lines like pricking Goads might prove,  
To stir up zeal with more Seraphic Love,  
Or now at last, that some would imitate  
Those few, which rendered back unto the State,  
Tith-spoyles, as did the Noble Huntingdon,  
And in our days Religious Dodington.  
For I avow, they Achans stile deserve,  
Who rob the Church, & her good Shepherds starve;  
Or cause in them the New-mans' zeal to freeze,  
By their unjust purloining of her Fleece:  
I speak not of that Fleece, which Orpheus sung,  
But of true Prophets there by worldlings wrung  
Of their Fee simple rights, and lawful Fees,  
Not due to Drones, but to industrious Bees,  
Whoss Art spreads Sermons forth, like Chrysostom's,  
Sweeter than Honey, or the Honeycombs;  
For if they starve, how can the Flocks survive?  
How can they rise to Faith? in Knowledge thrive?  
Since Faith by hearing springs, Love by God's word?  
Since both wax dark, where Prophets are abhorred?  
Heart's unprepared for vows and Fasting die,  
Or rave with Pride, or pine with Malady:  
And then their souls, like Slaves, are bought and sold,  
When Satan's Ambush breaks into the Hold  
For want of Guides, and watchful Sentinels,  
Whose Means were stopped by worldly Machivils'.   

Our Parliament moved with their brethren's tears,  
Their Civil jars, their grievances and fears,  
Proclaimed some public Fasts for Sacrifice,  
With vows of late for their enormous vice,  
That so they might the wrath of God allay,  
And by good jacob's Ladder make their way  
With Abstinence to stint the fuming blood,  
As with Soule-sighes, our Angel Guardians Food.  
But if the Shepherd's Limbs with Frost benumb  
Lie languishing, or of the Palsy dumb;  
How shall their Flocks the use of Fasts discern?  
Or learn what may the minds true health concern  
How shall they Fast? and feel for Discord grief?  
If they be barred of Sermons, Souls relief?  
How shall they Fast from inbred Avarice,  
If none show them the way to Sacrifice?  
How shall they fast from foul Conspiracies?  
From Rapines, Bribes, Deceits, and Piracies?  
How shall they stand secure from Perjurers?  
If no man them from cursed Oaths deterrs?  
And when such Slaves uncatechized swear,  
Who lives not of false proofs in daily fear?  
How shall our Juries wave Knights of the Post,  
If they as these contemn the holy Ghost?  
How shall we scape these last named Philistines,  
Dwelling in Mesech, or with Libertines?  
Hence I collect, that there ensues this curse:  
" Where Teaching fails, there Souls grow worse and worse.  
Proud Nemrod will not leave his ruffling Port,  
Nor crouch to Christ in Penitential sort  
With vile Attire, much less with inward Shrift,  
As for sin's Gild hath been old Suppliants drift;  
But fooled by Lust, he knows Dame Pleasure's house,  
More than God's Church; or the Old man to touse;  
Nay, in the Church he dares his Bravery  
Of Plumes to show, or rather Ravery.  
The Drunkard still goes on to play the Sot,  
And more than Fasting Rules, to ply the Pot.  
By heathenish healths, mad fits, and lavish cost,  
Polluting gifts breathed from the Holy Ghost,  
" So that moist vapours to the Head ascend,  
" And Rheums from thence into the lungs descend▪  
" The fourfold humours foam, the blood inflames,  
" Moore capable of Pestilential Flames,  
" Then of mild Nature's heat, vowed for impression  
" Of Gifts divine, to hinder Fiends Oppression.  
Our Gluttons will not cease to break the Law,  
Nor spare one dish, to ransom Lazars Jaw,  
But what the Earth, the Sea, and Air produce,  
Their Panders dress for their full paunches use,  
With Spice exchanged for England's dearest wealth,  
Without regard to Souls or Bodies health.  
For which delight, Days Fasting to profane  
Some wish they had the long neck of a Crane,  
That so they might, like to the ravenous Wolf,  
Pour down more store into the Gurmands gulf;  
And though their penance were to take a Purge,  
To have the Cramping Gout, or the like scourge,  
" Yet will they feed on Cates varieties  
" At the same meal in spite of Maladies,  
" Of Laws, advice of friends, Physicians threats,  
" And the repugnant Nature of the meats.  
Nay, though they know some meats may cause offence  
Unto the Weak, the Old man will dispense,  
That on a Friday in a Papists sight,  
They feast on Flesh, his Conscience to despite,  
Against the rules of Civil Modesty.  
As if they meant their Neighbour's Swine to tie  
To Meazeld troughs against the Owners Will,  
Who bred them up with other kind of Swill  
As bad perhaps as Sugar-sops or Fish,  
Which raise up Lust more than the fleshy dish:  
Of old it was not so; Good Christians then,  
In feeding with the Jews, like Prudent men,  
Abstained from Pork and puddings stuffed with Blood,  
They lived content with their Mosaical Food;  
To win weak souls to Christ they seemed content laws  
With all things, except sin, indifferent,  
For whose dear sake, they would each Countries  
Observe, and wear a Fool's coat, were there cause.  
And so sometimes we play the Humourists,  
Faith's essence saved, to raise up Catechists.  
But since our Head commands a Public Fast,  
How dare the Members gape for much Repast?  
But mutually join with their Christian mates  
Of the same Church to calm the threatening Fates?  
On Jonathan a thundering sentence past,  
Because he broke unwittingly a Fast:  
And shall our Gulls unpunished escape?  
Who wilfully commit an Heath'nish Rape?  
And violate the Law with carnal taste,  
Out of crosse-spleene, conceit, and wanton waste?  
Nor for restraint of Wind, necessity,  
Or for raw Air, but of mere Vanity?  
A little serves the Hungry Maw to heal:  
Why then will they devour more at a Meal  
" Than twice five ounces of substantial Food?  
And so much weight of drink to do them good?  
More frugal yet, when Fasting days commence,  
(Lest Fumes oppress the Brain, Sleep press th● sense  
To keep in plight thereby the Bodies Frame  
For the Souls Feast, and Belly Gods to shame?  
Such Food, as will not over soon corrupt,  
Biscuit, Rice, Pulse, or soft Panades supped?  
" A small thing cheers the heart, & Midriff calm●  
" As wines one draught kept Timothy from Qualms.  
Why then will Christians play the Epicures?  
And frustrate make the Souls and Bodies Cures?  
By causing Fumes to breath up to the Brain,  
Where they beget the Souls and Bodies pain?  
" Excess of Meats beyond the Golden Mean  
" Turns into Fat, and Excrements unclean;  
" It taints the blood, breeds Dropsies, Fevers, Gouts  
" Or dulls the wit, and makes them heavy Louts,  
" Unwieldy for Faith's Active Qualities  
" To please our God with humble Sacrifice.  
Of Vessels some are Rough, some Porcelain,  
Of Bodies, some turn Pure and some Profane:  
Note this in Beasts, their dung lets us to weet  
That Swine and Dogs smell rank, the Stags more sweet  
Now Gryllus choose thy mould, Hogs, Stags, or Dogs.  
If Stags be scant, Dog's stink, then take the Hogs,  
And wallow in his mire, until thou feel  
The meazelled Plague, and like a Dizzard reel.  
These Points, and others moe grave Levites preach  
Where they enjoy their Rights, & how the breach  
Of Fasting comes, which makes me tell my friends:  
" He, that neglects the Church's moan, offends.  
For which, and the like crimes, he ought to sob,  
Who thinks it no offence God's Tithes to rob.   

" The Art's contempt, and robbing them of Hire,  
" 'Cause many Plots and strange combustions fire  
" In humane breasts, Divines to Simonize,  
" And other Wits to rail and Libellize  
" At Laws or Times; or else they fly from home,  
" To Douai, Spain, Saint Omers, or to Rome:  
Whence what ensues I leave for Politics  
To judge, while others turn home-Empiriques,  
False Sycophants, or Mountebanks, to seem  
More wise or skilful in the world's esteem,  
When to themselves they guilty are of fraud.  
But Need allures dame Beauty, like a Bawd,  
To prostitute, or rather want of Grace,  
That makes the Whore, the Modest to outface,  
Yet now I hope our forraigne-built Plantations  
Will Britain free from many Imputations,  
When Drones removed; the rest more elbow room  
Shall have to thrive, like Honeybees, at home,  
Unless (which God avert) the Pestilence,  
Abate our swarms, and cross good men's Intents.  
Mean time the world on wheels runs mad, by fiends  
And furies led, whom they mistake for friends:  
One while they tempt to Apish imitation,  
Whilst Pigmies swell with Giants' transformation,  
With furled bold Ruffians Hair, immodest face,  
Proud costly robes, with Gold and needless Lace,  
And thriftless puffes winked at perhaps to reign,  
For Trades increase, Customs, or Mercer's gain.  
For whose support with rich Caparizons  
T●ades with Coach-mares make oft comparisons,  
By these our Offsprings tainted 〈◊〉  
Turn Harpies, Peacocks, or Hermaphrodites,  
By these high sails hath Hospitality  
Sunk in deep Gulfs with Christian Charity.  
The multitude of sinners gone amiss,  
Makes ●inne to seem the less, and so doth this.  
Another while our Gentry with delights  
They train to tread God's gifts with dogs & kites;  
Or else to gape for Others goods at Play,  
Oft to the loss of their own worldly stay,  
Whilst Satan's wily fiends subordinate's  
Confirm such Gamesters for his Reprobates,  
But late they triumphed when against the Rheum  
Some did create a God of Indian Fume,  
Whereby men crazed their memory and wits,  
And parched their Vital Blood more than befits.  
O Custom charmed, besotting Christendom!  
Besotting Brains against the day of Doom!  
Tobaccoes' smoke no other Humour draws  
Then Spawling, which itself doth chiefly cause,  
Nor doth this Hell's evaporating Puff,  
End here, although worse than a Candle's snuff,  
To qualify the Dampish sooty Brain,  
It must be moistened oft for Taverns Gain,  
With Wine or Beer, that the heat Natural  
May swim with Phlegm, as the Moist Radical  
Lies dampt with drought of sense-benumming smoke,  
And this they do so long, until the Heat  
Of Nature fails, corrupt with sulphur's sweat:  
The Brain thus soiled, how shall God's grace erect  
The Spirits Temple in the Intellect?  
By hearing Faith gets room: but if by fits  
Their senses quail, their quailing hurts the wits.  
" Then let this be in Brass, or Marble placed:  
" Who smokes Tobacco much, he dotes at last.   

" Who can deny but Satan in our Age  
" Is let more loose with violence to rage?  
" And with his Angels daily goes about  
" To batter Faith? and true Zeal to root out?  
" He is let loose to range about at Pleasure,  
" And more than Love pricks men to dream of Treasure.  
" We prate of Faith, but Pride eats up the fruits,  
" We talk of Peace, but that ends in Law-suites.  
For fear of humane Plots Saints oft are dumb,  
And Love is by the Dragon's wiles become  
A thing of naught, a cipher without fellows,  
Whilst Golden hopes of Lucre blow the bellows.  
As Passengers their ship being weak and riven,  
To s●ndry Coasts for many Leagues are driven  
Of gusts and storms, of Gulfs they make report,  
Before they can arrive at Safeties Port:  
So now are Saints by Gog and Magog vexed,  
And glad to fly with civil Broils perplexed  
Out of their Native soil to Strangers Arms  
For refuge against Mars his fierce alarms.  
As witness now of late the Valtoline;  
France, Belgia, Hesse, all Dutchland, and the Rhine.  
So others are by suits and quarrels feigned  
To sundry Courts for many miles constrained,  
Through thick and thin to travel for small cause,  
Under pretext to answer breach of Laws,  
To lose their precious time and spend the same  
In strife, which Christ enjoined to Holy flame,  
To satisfy officials greedy wills  
More than need is for moulture to their Mills,  
As our King James of famous memory,  
With lightning glance checked this foul injury,  
Our coin by bribing Tongues grows scant of late;  
And men for want of means wax desperate.  
How many Motions do some make in vain?  
And endless Pleas with in ward joy retain?  
Such Sophisters in Paper-length to draw,  
And spin rich Suits will white the blackest D●w,  
And blur the Candour of the holiest man;  
But seldom help to save the weak and wan.  
But O! are not those Christians whom they gull?  
Christians they are, O worldlings, whom ye Lull  
A sleep to feed upon, like Cannibals,  
They look not like those Popes or Cardinals,  
Or those great mighty men, whose flesh and Souls,  
Are to be preyed on by the Mystic Fowls  
At God's triumphant Supper; No, these are  
Your Brethren, whom to pill and poll ye dare:  
" Like to the Airy fiends typed by those fowls  
" Who feed upon the jars of carnal Souls,  
" On whose weak passions, wits, and fits ye work  
" Whilst under Sugared Pills doth danger jurke.  
Who knows not that the fiends of Hell rejoice  
At these your broils? to hear your screaming noise?  
Therefore repent, before th●s waning light  
shuts up the world with terrors of the Night▪  
Be sparing of your Crotchets for his sake,  
Who spared not on himself our sins to take,  
Let to your brawls six months a period fix;  
Submit to friends award without Law-tricks,  
Or costly fees, what ye suggest for wrong,  
Not vaunting of a Mercenary tongue.  
I need not warn our Gravest Counselors,  
Who for the Newman spend more precious hours  
In grieving at debates then taking Fees,  
For they decline Gods wrathful cup of Lees;  
But I exclaim, and raise with Hue and Cry  
My Wits against our Pettifogging fry,  
Those Mountebanks, that Hollow-hearted crew,  
Which cog with Truth, and stir up Gulls to sue;  
Who make no Conscience in an honest cause,  
To vex Good men, and scandalise the Laws.  
Such men I only blur. Let Honey Bees  
Live by their painful Hire, and well-gained Fees:  
I envy not their Station, nor their store,  
But pray that they in Grace grow more and more.  
I wish to them all Happiness and Joy,  
That they with Love their Labours fruit enjoy.  
For unto such our Patriots Commonweal,  
Can not more portions than they merit deal,  
Yea, those ripe silver hairs I honour most,  
Who with good Laws help to entrench God's host  
From raving Ravening Wolves, which but for them  
Had long since spoiled our Tents, & still contemn  
Our Clergies Rites reformed, and their intents,  
Supported by our Christian Parliaments,  
These were indeed the Champions of our State,  
Against Rome's Bulls and the degenerate  
From their Allegiance to our Native Prince;  
They Abbot's sloth, and Legates did convince,  
By casting out Rome's painted Wares and Trash,  
For which brave Act, and memorable Lash,  
Besides the Gospel's Light, God yet is pleased,  
To leave their Rank a prop for the diseased:  
So some are blest with an Immortal Lot,  
Whilst useless Drones, like shooting Meteors, rot.  
They merit too in Britain's Orb to shine,  
Like Stars, that move in the Ecliptic Line.  
" Who weigh the Laws with Reason, Right, and Ruth,  
" And at the first acquaint men with the Truth▪  
" What the Event will be, what danger lies,  
" For daring Justice with surmised Lies.  
And specially, those Lawyers I commend,  
Who Clients suits with expedition end!  
Scan well my Laws, ye Masters of the Law,  
And ye, that be their Clients, stand in awe  
Of Judgement justly due for your dis-union,  
For your contempt of Love and Christian Union.  
" Be slow to wrath, speak fair, do good to all;  
" Forgive your foes, and raise up them that fall,  
" Look that false Mammon's wiles tempt not your zeal,  
" Lest for your bribes Astraeas' Commonweal  
" Grow to contempt, like that Monastic state  
" Of Ghostly form, which ye suppressed of late.  
" Through many tongues the devil moves despite,  
" And yet may seem an Angel of the Light.  
That Spirit, which through ahab's Prophets spoke,  
Now tempts most men in falsehood to partake,  
And likewise works in nimble factious pates,  
That they for cursed hire spread more debates,  
Which but for their suggestions would expire,  
Or dormant lie, as under ashes Fire.  
God loves a mild, a free, and open heart,  
Which melts like wax, to see his neighbour's smart.   

As I went on our discords to atone,  
My Zeal broke forth into a Prophet's Tone:  
Unkennel ye that old and crafty Fox  
Whom having catcht, cease not to thump & box  
Him other while. If for the Palsies grief,  
To nose his scent, ye yield him some relief,  
Be sure in Chains to keep him always bound,  
For if let loose, and he abroad be found,  
Your tender Lambs, the hope of all your flock,  
Can never scape, nor well endure the shock  
Of his sly tricks; O therefore let him now  
Be wisely looked unto, that he may bow,  
Make room for Lambs from spoil and theft secure  
Wash, rinse, and scour, and keep your vessels pure,  
Flay not Christ's sheep; but feed them without strife,  
As he for you hath sacrificed his life.  
" Let none God's place of judgement undertake  
" For Coin; but for true zeal, & Conscience sake▪  
" Let none for wealth accept a Benefice.  
" For the Souls gain was Christ his chiefest prize.  
" Let Dives bid his golden gods avaunt,  
" Cashiering quite all things extravagant.  
Let Christian Dames leave off the Peacock's train,  
And now resume their modest Garbs again.  
" Let Soldier of the Fort, Ship, Tent or Tongue,  
" Live with their hires content, not offering wrong.  
Let them of all degrees, both Old and Young,  
Both High and Low, of Sex's weak and strong,  
Let all Repent, before th' Eternal Day  
Breaks forth, which shortly without more delay  
Will fatally conclude their civil jars,  
Their greedy wiles, their Pomp, and bloody wars.  
But put the case, that Day comes not so soon,  
As Fools conceive, yet Orbed, like the Moon,  
Man's brain receives the form of glistering notions  
Except betimes he curbs the Old man's motions,  
Whence if they break through those Ideas room  
Into the Heart, there, Idols they become.  
The New man is sent back by Carnal sins,  
As was God's Ark by Dagons Philistines,  
And in his Place those Puppets he observes,  
Whom more than Christ he loves, & oftener serves.  
Thus Worldlings wise in darkness roam about  
As well as they, whose Light strife hath put out.  
The Way unto God's Paradise is straight,  
Narrow, and steep, to which transcendent height  
" Frail flesh and blood must not ascend, unless  
" The Soul be in this world purged more or less  
" By twofold Flames: whereof the one Hell's pain  
" Resembles; th'other heats with zeal the Brain.  
Like as the Body grows in Quantity,  
And in the Fourfold Humours Quality:  
So the New man shoots up, draws us to grace  
If we do stop the Old man's wily race.  
" Deatb Crowns a Saint, and none can die in Christ  
" Except he living here become his Priest.  
" For God's Elect must lead a Righteous Life,  
" Subject to Christ, as to her head the Wife;  
" She knows no male but one, she stands in Aw,  
" Yet loves him dear, and his Advice is Law.  
" Sweet heart (quoth he) lose not the morning's Prime  
" But, as Christ thee, do thou redeem the Time  
" With Prayers, Zeal, true Love and Fruitful Deeds;  
" For of ten thousand Souls scarce one well speeds.  
Now he, that hath discretion in his pate,  
Must mark these Maxims, ere it be too late:  
When strife for Love, & dreams we take for watching,  
When Praise for Preys, and Grace we look for Catching;  
And when from Fasts we fall to Feasts and bibbing,  
Then Abbaes' stream stays in the lowest Ebbing.  
Our Advocate craves it to flow again,  
The Father yields, and so to every vein  
Their stream flows fair, until our changeling fools  
Have sought to other Streams from Muddy Pools.  
The Trinity then loathing Brains so sick  
Their Motions stop, and men die Lunatic▪  
From which Relapse, Distrust, and Lunacy,  
Bless we ourselves, as from Apostasy.  
If I speak well, or rave with puffed up Learning,  
Judge they, who have the Spirit of Discerning.   

In the mean time keep we God's Trumpets Feast,  
And watch, till it shall summon us to Rest.  
All Feasts expired in Christ's his Oracles,  
Or were exchanged for our Souls Spectacles,  
In memory to keep our Saviour's Name,  
The Blessed Virgins, and th' Apostles Fame,  
With watch against the brats of Antichrist,  
Which bear Christ's Name, but not the marks of Christ.  
To blaze these News I find none more Divine,  
Then Epiphanius, and Saint Augustine  
Since the decease of those good Fishermen,  
Which toiled to free souls from the Devil's den;  
For he that marks them blazing Heretics,  
May soon convince our modern Catholics,  
Who were baptised and styled Regenerate,  
Went out from us, but since degenerate.  
Christ's Oracles next to th' Apostles Time  
Shone, as bright stars six hundred years in prime:  
But afterwards by Pomp, and Sodomy  
They were left Breathless for Anatomy,  
Yet to the Spirits Feast of Shavelings slighted  
Our West hath been by Prophets late invited,  
To cleanse Christ's Church from Superstitious Feasts  
Proclaiming Truth against the Mounted Beasts  
Mysterious charms, Soule-gulling Merchandise,  
Which Gospel seemed, till Wickliff proved them lies  
Truths Oracles, which Antichrist suppressed,  
Are freely now in our own Tongue expressed;  
Each Parable made plain, to Babes revealed,  
And every Mystic Leaf lies now unsealed  
In spite of the Red Dragon's Flood and Fraud,  
And maugre all the Tricks of Babel's Bawd,  
So that we may (unless our Riots let)  
Escape, and break out of the Hunters Net.  
Strange Fires & croaking noise from Balaams' lips  
Cannot dash out our Light, nor yet eclipse  
Those Rays whereby the murdered Lamb of late,  
Cheers up his Faithful Bride, and Zions state  
Relying on his Aid and powerful Arm  
His Spirit warms, and keeps from Leaguers harm▪   

But clandestine and by sly cheating tricks  
Some win more Games to Babel's Meretrix.  
He that deceived Eve by subtle Train,  
Would our return into her stews again  
Persuade. By Zions Rents they shortly hope  
To blur our Church, and reinvest the Pope  
With his Old Keys, and with his Golden Cross  
In Gods own Temple Graces to engross;  
And for small cause to excommunicate,  
Nay, for neglect of Fees to shut Heaven's Gate,  
They hope to put (by Satan's Tares late sown)  
Our Laymens' ward of Praemunire down.   

But why cast I such Goblin doubts abroad?  
When the Last Knell determines our abode,  
Our short abode on Earth? O let us then  
Repent, and wail our sins, dear Countrymen,  
Let us renew, whilst that it is to Day,  
Our Sacrifice, and vows of Love repay,  
Oft musing on Saint Paul's advice, that now  
We Christ no more after the flesh must know;  
But as it were in trance, the New-mans' way,  
To weigh his Cross and Passion every day.  
The Service, which belongs to Him alone;  
Withdraw not from that All-sufficient One,  
By kneeling to our fellow-servants down  
For Ghostly help, who saved but their own  
Dear Souls by virtue of that Costly Blood,  
Which on the Cross was shed for our joint good.  
If we believe, as Saints have done before us,  
In Christ alone, Hell's sting can never gore us.  
Think on my words, O ye backsliding Souls,  
Who pay to Saints your vows, like Market Tolles,  
" Think on your own, and Christ his painful death,  
" The Judgement day, and gaping hell beneath.  
Our days are few: Times period is at hand,  
And Christ his Ark will shortly sail from Land.  
The waves of sin swell high; Love grown too cold  
In most men's Hearts, men's ruins doth unfold,  
True Faith for want of more Devotions heat  
Exiled pleads before God's Judgement seat  
Against Mankind, as at the Flood of Noah.  
To plague the world with flames, & worse annoy▪  
Mens hearts are hardened, like the Fiends of Hell,  
For if a Prophet do sins doom foretell,  
Dissuading them from Broils, O how they swell  
At the Good man, with rage and passions fell,  
Imposing for his pains, Racks, shackles, shame▪  
Or silencing, or blacking his good Name!  
Before Doomsday this dark Prodigious fault  
Must follow next upon the Whore's assault,  
For though the Church Triumphant doth rejoice  
To see her Fall, our Jars supplant our Joys,  
And so instead of Psalms to Heaven sent  
We temporize, or with her Compliment.  
Awake therefore, ye watchmen with your flock,  
Lest you and they be hurled against the rock  
Of scandal to our Church's infamy,  
Ending in Schisms, Broils, or Phlebotomy.  
Think on the Fowls, which ere the Sun did set,  
Abram had watched, and then huge darkness met.  
Awake, I say, out of your slumbering sleep,  
Look to your charge in time, Christ's wand'ring sheep:  
Behold our Souls great Shepherd is at hand,  
Though some are loath the Signs to understand;  
The last day's Bell, or Clock of Mortals time,  
(Be watchful ye were best) will shortly chime,  
Christ shortly comes, the Faithful to requite,  
And to confound our Mystic Giant's might:  
No Tyrant's threats, no double tongue will serve,  
Fee, nor Reward, the guilty to preserve.  
God's Darts, like Comets, threat our Western Orb,  
And Justice will the Austrian faction curb;  
God's Angel now begins to go about  
To warn before Doomsday the Christian Rout▪  
Already hath his Holy Trumpets sounded,  
Christ shortly comes to save the sick and wounded.  
Watch, Fast, and Pray, and cheer up one another;  
This is God's will, by Christ our Elder Brother;  
(His warning peal rung forth unto the Jews)  
But scorned by them he left to us these News.   

Because they slighted what they might have held,  
The Word of Life, the Light, which they beheld,  
The Lord removed his precious Candlestick,  
Cleared others sight, and left them blind and sick;  
The Obstinate, I mean, not all of them,  
For some believed before Jerusalem  
Demolished lay, yea, thousands were baptised  
Both then and since of the Crew Circumcised,  
Some Jews baptised were by th' Apostles, some  
At Christ his death, when Saints rose from their Tomb,  
How many Jews turned Christians in one day,  
Who had the gift of Tongues on Whitsunday?  
Some Christian Jews, when Roman Rage had rend  
Judaeas' state, to jordan's Pella went  
To Antioch, Tyre, Arabia, Babylon,  
To Corinth, Crect, Damascus, Macedon,  
And to remoter Coasts in hope of rest,  
Whence after James decease, in time distressed.  
Some fell, some grew. By these the Gentiles rose  
From darkness to Souls light, took up the Cross,  
Preached Christ, & mixed with Jews they were engraft  
In one fair stock, until by Satan's craft,  
The Nicholaites, and the Nestorian Sect  
Did with false drugs the Eastern world infect.  
" In vain therefore we look for more Conversion  
" Of modern Jews before the World's subversion  
" Than what is past, unless (which Jews abhor)  
" Our Romanists leave off Shrines to adore;  
" Much less, Elias to descend in Flesh  
" With Enoch, since their Spirit some possess,  
" And since the Former's gift infused in John,  
" He cleared the way for the Creator's Son.  
Already hath the Gospel's Alarm rung  
To quicken souls, whom the Red dragon s●ung,  
Yea Nations to our Ancestors unknown  
Herd lately of Mount Olivets' renown;  
" And might unto the Christian Faith be won,  
" If Britain, Spain, and Holland join in one  
" Religious League to traffic on the Main  
" For Indian Souls more than for Worldly Gain.  
As Spain exchanged her wares for Gold and spice,  
So we by Peter's Net may sacrifice,  
And catch more Preys for Christ then Spain hath done,  
Except henceforth our New Man's course she run:  
What braver gain can be, than Souls to win,  
From Heath'nish spoils and superstitious sin?  
What task can Pilgrims take more happily  
Than th' Abissine for Manuscripts to try?  
Who, as they say, hath those unknown to us,  
Which will strike dumb all Sects Idolatrous?  
What easy means and secondary ways  
Hath God lent us now in these latter days?  
Since Printing and the Loadstone he made known,  
To clear the dark, and put the Polestar down?  
That so his Word might with the setting Sun,  
Conclude the work, which in the East begun.   

O Noble Europe, how I pity thee!  
If that great Plague, which some Divines foresee,  
Due for thy Wiles and Pride, light on thy flock,  
Americans raised to the Living Rock,  
Whereof sometime thou vauntest in Aprill-youth,  
While Feasts for Fasts, and Lies thou take for Truth.  
But I leave these, as secrets of the Lord;  
As yet thou hast his Pledges and his Word,  
Which may till Doomsday last, if thou repent,  
And banish Schism, the Ba●e of Love's content.  
How many stout Confessor like bright Stars,  
Hath God inspired to 〈◊〉 our jars?  
How many men of Ghostly Rank as Lay,  
Yea, Mitred Saints have gone the Martyr's way?  
Grave Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, Latimer,  
And Ferrar famed in England's Register,  
Not fearing, like true Members of their Head,  
To suffer rather death then be misled?  
Or to connive with false dissembling Brow,  
At Babel's Charms, though ne'er so fair of show?  
How many Heralds hath he sent of late,  
Yet slighted all, to warn each Christian state,  
To sue for Grace, their follies to forbear  
And to prepare with true Religious fear  
For their New Birth and Spirits Renovation,  
Before the day of wrath, Earth's conflagration?  
Among the rest his Grace enlightened me  
In Britain's Isle, Soule-dangers to foresee,  
And by a Spark lent from his Heavenly Flame,  
To Sacrifice and spread the newman's Fame.  
To this effect, and that I might regain  
Some swarms for Christ, I chose a tinkling strain  
Wherewith I found, like John in Jewry-Land:  
Repent, Repent; God's Kingdom is at hand.   

Admonitio Christiana.  
EXitus Orbis adest, Chaos & fatale diei  
Extremae subit, atra brevi Campana sonabit.  
Vos igitur moneo Praeconis more, Litate  
Pectoris ex imis Christo Nova sacra Monarchae.  
Ille Dei Sermo concludet Ovesque Luposque  
Judicii extremi Sermone: Venite; vel Ite,  
Ite hinc in Furias, in Tophe● ite Ferae;  
Fida sed ad Ferias Turba venite Poli.   

A Christian Admonition.  
THe Fatal end, which shall the world confound  
Draws near, & Doomes-dayes Bell will shortly sound.  
In Preachers Type, I warn you then to bring  
New Offerings from the Heart to Christ our King.  
For He God's word will close the Latter day  
Thus by his word: Come Sheep: Wolves pack away▪  
Pack hence to Hell, ye Creatures wild;  
To Heaven Come ye, the True and mild.   

A Hymn of Repentance to be sung for the ease of an afflicted Conscience.  

WHat strange assaults of sins surrounding tide,  
Break in upon our Souls on every side?  
How fearfully Gods darts of vengeance glide?  
So near they glide, we cannot turn aside?  
We feel enough to pull down Pride,  
More terrors than we can abide.   

It is no wrong, but Justice which we feel  
Though we were scourged with Wires of keenest steel  
Or broiled on the Coals, or flayed alive.  
We merit not Doom's respite, nor reprieve.  
Because in time we did not grieve  
For sin, nor sought in Grace to thrive.   

Sin is the cause of our Lawsuits and jars,  
Sin is the cause of our late Civil wars.  
The former robs us of our means of Thrift,  
The latter of our friends with bloodier drift.  
For want of shrift, and hearts uplift;  
Fiends do as Wheat our Passions sift.   

We ought indeed more god●y to have been,  
Before we felt God's Judgements for our sin:  
We ought indeed his Arrows to prevent  
With Prayers, Vows, and hours more frugal spent▪  
Yet we repent, with heart near rend  
His Talents use, by us misspent.   

We will not yet of Freedom quite despair:  
No, Gracious God; we know thou canst repair,  
Our drooping state, though plunged in the mire  
Of mangy sin, or scorched with Troubles fire.  
Thou canst refrain thy Judgements Ire,  
Our Temples cleanse, our Souls inspire.   

Thou at a beck Soules-tortures canst remove,  
Or else assuage our griping fits above  
Strained Natures reach, as thy Son Jesus did  
Poor Publicans of their diseases rid.  
Yea, though griefs were of causes hid,  
Their utmost sting thou canst forbid.   

To thee alone for Mercy we appeal,  
Who heretofore the Israelites didst heal  
By Serpents stung, and sundry others cure  
By Miracle, thou canst Soule-ease procure.  
Nay, health assure, and cleanse us pure,  
As thou didst Naaman, though impure.   

Lord pity us, and bless our Second Birth,  
As thou with heat & showers dost barren earth,  
As Peter, Paul, the Thief in Calvary  
And her, whom Jews took in Adultery,  
Thou didst cheer up in misery,  
Because they did for Mercy cry.   

Behold how Satan wheels about our brain,  
More busy now than ever with his train  
Of fiends unseen to circumvent our will;  
He knows us weak, and therefore bends his skill,  
The more his malice to fulfil,  
Because we are so crazed and ill.   

He styles our Heathenish spoils states purging pills,  
Our jarring Pleas as necessary ills,  
Our Niggardize good thrift, Pride decency,  
Our drunken healths kind Fellowship: and why?  
He knows that Carnal fallacy  
Enwraps the Soul in Lunacy.   

Against his snares we have no other fence,  
Then thy Son's merits, Blood, and Innocence,  
O God most Just, and for his sake we trust,  
Thou of mere Grace will't us repute as Just,  
Before we be by Satan crushed;  
Before our Bones lie in the dust.   

Now is the Time, or never, to us aid;  
For after death when we in earth are laid  
What Sacrifice? what Offering wilt thou have?  
Thy Christ hath ransomed us, and thou dost crave  
No more than his deserts, to save  
Sinners from Hell's devouring grave.   

Christ is our Head, him only we adore,  
Christ is the Saint, whose help we still implore.  
Christ is the Light, which hearts more cold than Ice  
Hath warmed and cheered by the Souls Exercise.  
Christ is the Lamb, that paid the price  
To Justice due for humane vice.   

This Sacrifice regardful of the strife  
'twixt Heaven & Earth, for our sick soul's relief,  
Most gracious Lord, we to thy Grace present,  
Not to fulfil Rome's Annulets intent,  
Or unction charmed for Sacrament,  
But with pure Faith, Loves Balm to vent;  
Both which thou hast from Heaven sent,  
Both which on Earth yield thee content.    
Amen.   

The Second Day's EXERCISE.  
The Argument.  
The Mystery explained of Christ his Birth;  
Why he came poor, and strange to Carnal Mirth.  
Here they are touched, who soil his festivals,  
With Riot, Pomp, or drunken Bacchanals.  

THe Scribe, of late who blazed the Church's state  
From Christ's Ascent till this years present date,  
Now represents a more Soule-quickning part,  
And to win strays drops on the stony heart,  
Alluring them by sacred charms to watch  
And wait on Him, who made poor Bethlems cratch  
(Borne there without Male-Sire in Judaes' Land,  
Like daniel's Mountaine-Stone cut without hand)  
More glorious than the Roman Capitol,  
Or Rhodes Colosse in the seven Wonders Roll.  
For this sweet Trance, to rebaptize the Will,  
To rouse the Brain, the Soul with zeal to fill,  
Draw, Christians, near: and view the Stable-Cratch  
Where lay the Virgin's Son; Draw near, dispatch,  
And humbly greet this heavens & Earth's umpeere,  
Whose Joyful Feast good Christians every year  
Do solemnly renew for twelve Day's space,  
Till that bright Star ends at his Native place.  
Wisemen they were, who did this Light partake  
Led by that Flame, which through the Prophets spoke.  
Had we their Star, or Jacob's Staff for Guide,  
Diviner Dreams our Fancies would betid.  
We might then hope with safety and with Ease  
To pass the Spanish straits and Midland Seas  
In spite of Moorish Pirates, or Algiere,  
And without fear of Turks to domineer,  
Till we arrived at last on Joppaes' Strand,  
And so from thence survey that Holy Land,  
Where dwelled sometime a Shepherd Royalised,  
Out of whose Ligne Our Saviour Humanised,  
The second Adam, our soul's Shepherd came  
As well from God as from Just Abraham.  
But how cam'st thou, quoth Zeal, to found out Truth  
In tuned form? a work for Jovial Youth?  
No humane skill can ancient years exchange:  
From whence then spring these Tunes? these motions strange  
In thee, whose Beard betrays that Melancholy  
Strives to supplant the sanguine humour wholly?   

He that inspired poor Fishermen to roll  
Deep Mystics with New Tongues, and to enrol  
For aftertimes his Gifts on them conferred,  
Hath now fresh Heat into my veins transferred:  
To scare the Proud, to cure the crazed Fool,  
Like that which sometimes stirred Bethesdaes' pool.  
He guided me to Bethlem, Nazareth,  
To Jordan, Salem, and Gennes●reth.  
Whence by Christ's Birth, Deeds, Cross, and rising up  
From death to Life, we cheer up Souls that droop  
For there is no distemper, nor disease,  
But if we fix on Christ, we shall find ease.  
Christ paid the Price for our infirmities,  
Christ only is the New man's Sacrifice.  
To honour Him, with Soule-rapt Ecstasy  
God breathed in me sweet-working Post.  
'Slight not then, Readers, my conceits, but hear  
With spongy ears what I deliver here.  
God grant that these work more sung of his Son  
Then all my former works; and I have done.  
Old things are done; we must be borne anew  
Rise, Libertine, and Christ his Birth renew.  
Rise up, thou lazy Soul, thou pampered Sot,  
'tis near Sunset; leave we this sensual Cot  
For castaways, who spend their time in pleasure,  
And cannot in a year find one day's leisure  
To meditate upon Christ crucified,  
With humble thoughts and vessels sanctified;  
Nor on Christ's Birth, how that his Incarnation  
Avails us more than Adam's first Creation  
O why, came he into the world a stranger?  
And would be borne in a poor homely Manger?  
Why did the Lord of Lords himself abase  
To take on him our faults? but to give place  
To Justice, which equality required?  
Which to shame Pride harmoniously desired?  
God's Righteous Zeal did satisfaction ask,  
But Man could not perform so great a task  
The infinite high Wisdom was offended,  
And for a price as infinite intended.  
The whole world shook; the Elements did war;  
The Planets, stars, and humours fell to jar;  
All changed their former course; The Sun looked pale;  
Fiends into Hell were like Mankind to hale.   

There were but two: and they from goodness fell;  
How could their Race then be but slaves to Hell?  
Soft, hasty wit: I saw the New man coming  
Just at their Fall to curb the Devils cunning  
I saw their Grief, their Penitence and Cross;  
I saw God's Grace Conditional after Loss;  
I saw God's Seal of Pardon for their Sins,  
When their bare Limbs he clothed with Coats of Skins,  
For when our Parents sinned they were ashamed,  
Sh●me wrought remorse. Then Christ God's Mercy claimed;  
The second of the Glorious Trinity  
took pity on Man's loss of unity;  
The Word, that spoke when Light and Life began,  
Claimed share of Grace for his Reformed Man.  
As a Just Sire and his Mild wife do treat,  
How their lewd Child they might reclaim, or beat▪  
So Justice did, and Gra●e expostulate,  
What should become of Adam and his Mate:  
Justice alleged their voluntary Fall,  
But Grace opposed the Serpent's Charms and Gall▪  
The One protested Death, but the kind Other  
Sought with God's Love the sting of Sin to smother.  
The One did Man a Turncoat Tra●tour name,  
The Other on his Frailty laid the blame.  
The One Man's wicked Thoughts insisted on,  
The Other Man's Repentance stood upon.  
Justice strict Law, but Grace against Laws Scourge  
God's Court of Conscience did most strongly urge,  
And sweetly prayed her Sister not to rank  
Mankind with Fiends for One, though mortal Prank.  
This Matter then of mighty consequence  
Betwixt them Both yet standing in suspense,  
With various Pleas concerning our Salvation,  
Or in Hell's Flames our final Reprobation:  
The Virgins two did mutually agree  
To compromit the same to God's De●ree;  
On which Suspense these Glorious Attributes  
With Zeal and Love concluded their Disputes.   

Th' Almighty then consulted not with any  
Of Angel's Rank, though there he had full many,  
Not for their Zeal with Seraphins approved,  
Nor Cherubins, though them he dear loved,  
(They Spirits were but of a Creatures mould.)  
Then mystickly the Father did unfold  
The Matter to his Son and Holy Ghost,  
God's Honour saved, how Man might not be lost,  
Nor left deprived of Light and Favour wholly,  
Like those proud Angels darkened for their Folly.  
There was no way to make Legitimate  
Man's Bastard slips, nor to repair our state  
With Faith's freewill, Divine, and absolute,  
Of whose essential Form Some now dispute;  
There was no way for Adam, nor his Seed,  
Nor Nature left to do this Glorious Deed,  
Since that the vapour of the Dragon's Gall  
Had foully blacked their Gifts Organical;  
There was no way this work to bring to pass  
But by Regeneration to deface  
The sting of sin, and by a Newmade Creature  
Borne of the Spirit and of Humane Nature  
To do Gods will, which Adam failed to do,  
One that could live here poor, and patient too  
Void of s●nne spleen, and thoughts deformities  
Void of all guile, and lustful vanities;  
One that could fix his Faith on God alone  
Of Power earth with Heaven to atone;  
One that could break the Devils combinations,  
One that could brook the trial of Temptations▪  
One who mankind was able to renew;  
And with New gifts their nature to endue;  
Yea, such a one, that could endure the rod  
Of his, for Sins of men displeased God;  
And that partaking of Divinity  
Could with the Head unite Humanity;  
And lastly One, that able was to tread  
Down s●nnes delight, the wily Serpent's Head▪  
This Rarest One the Trinity did see  
Could not among men's Race, nor Angels be  
(For the brightest Angels unfaithful proved,  
And the best men were bad, though well beloved  
To satisfy God's wrath there needed then  
A Higher power for the Sins of men  
To sacrifice before their full atonement.  
No Blood of Beast's could make this reconcilement▪  
No Prayers made to Angels, Stars, nor Saints;  
No Purging Flames could stint sad Souls complaints;  
No Dovelike Sighs, nor Cataract of Tears,  
No Fasts, nor Hermit's Garbs could ease their fears;  
Not Incense, not the blood of all the World,  
Nor all their merits yet together hurled;  
But blood of Man that never had offended,  
Of a Newman down from Above descended,  
Of a New Mould endowed with Free will,  
Which Adam lost, with power to bar all ill  
Who taking on himself all men's transgressions  
Would die that death, which by their own confessions  
They had deserved, and by that means t'assuage  
God's Justice, and supplant the devil's rage.   

The Father's Word then, and his bosom Son,  
By whom, & for whose sake all things were done  
Consented to be borne of Humane flesh  
With dowries meet the fainting to refresh,  
Whereby their eyes might see his real light,  
Though Infinite, yet not to hurt their sight:  
Gods own true Heir, the light and Spring of Life,  
Did willingly assume to end all strife,  
To bond himself, although ubiquity,  
To Calendar in Time Eternity.  
Christ undertook a new to represent  
The second Adam's Part, to which Intent,  
And to redeem us from his Father's Doom,  
He our frail flesh took in a Virgin's womb,  
For Nine Month's space shut up in narrow place,  
Whose strength no place can hold, no Time, nor space.  
Almighty God, his Promise to make good  
To his adopted Saints of Adam's Brood,  
That One of Evaes' Seed in time to come,  
Should at the last the Serpent overcome,  
And triumph by his Death on Hellish Sins  
As Samson did on Dagons' Philistines,  
Had moved Joseph one of David's House  
To take the Virgin Mary for his Spouse,  
Both known to be of Zorobabels' Race,  
Which branched from David's Root hold up to grace  
Their Pedigree, though they were clouded then  
Through poverty. Whereby appears to men  
How much to Lawful means God's Pureness tends  
Whilst thus by Wedlock's veil He shrouds his Ends;  
How Mary's lowly mind by Grace Divine  
For her Babes worth did Evaes' pride decline:  
But leaves the Rich with Mammon's Pitch defiled.  
For She was Poor, and He a Carpenter,  
Yet God did them before Great Folks prefer,  
A Slighted Pair, his twofold Instrument,  
To bring Christ's Birth to full accomplishment.   

Now Six Months came, since Grave Elizabeth  
Of John conceived: And then to Nazareth  
God sent again the Angel Gabriel  
Glad Tidings of much wonder to foretell,  
That there the Blessed Virgin should with Child  
Conceive, not by the Male, but by the Mild  
And Gentle Sparks breathed from the Holy Ghost;  
And that likewise in Judaes' Hilly Coast  
Elizabeth her Cousin then was blest,  
Though Old and barren, with an Embryo Guest,  
Who born should room make for the highest King,  
As his Tong-loosed would shortly sing.  
This Sign the Angel added to Confirm  
The Maiden's Faith, and make his Message firm,  
For Malachy had prophesied, that John  
E●ias-like should preach ere Christ came on.  
The Angel gone: in haste the Virgin-Saint  
Went with these news her Cousin to acquaint,  
At whose Approach the Six months Embryon sprung,  
And she a Psalm God Magnifying sung.  
I need not, since Old Wives of it can prate,  
The Angels Ave Mary here relate.  
His words to her were News Miraculous,  
But wrest for vows they prove Idolatrous,  
When mumbling on fine Beads, like Parrot's Cha●,  
They beg in a strange tongue they know not what.  
Yet by the New-mans' leave we paraphraze,  
And paint her Dowries forth in modest phrase,  
Not Suppliant wise to court Imagery,  
But to renew, like Saints, her memory,   

All hail to thee, O Marry full of Grace,  
Happy be they, who see thy Virgin's face  
Among the Angel's Legions raised on high,  
And there advanced for thy Humility;  
Which didst Christ by the Holy Ghost conceive,  
As Clay God's stamp did by his Word receive.  
Blessed be thy Name, O Maid, God's Spouse, & Mother.  
Which brought'st a Son, our Saviour, and our Brother,  
Such Greetings thou didst from the Angel merit  
Before thou knewest Conception by the Spirit,  
Whereby thou didst Manoahs' Wife excel,  
Though Sampsons' birth an Angel did foretell  
But why seek I to overcloud thy Praise  
With these poor lines, lame hobbling sorry Lays?  
To pray to thee would derogation be  
To his high worth, who saved thee and me  
(For not the Woman, but the Woman's Seed  
Did Satan foil, and ransom Adam's Deed)  
To praise thee more than thy dear Son in Books,  
That were to rack thy praise on tenterhooks,  
As if God thee a goddess did install,  
Conceived without sins sting Original.  
In Heaven thou shinest no more to be molested  
With Sinners songs to superstition wrested;  
Where leaving thee Gods Treasures to contemple  
I greet on Earth thy Infants former Temple,  
Concluding thee of Female kind the best  
The mother of my Saviour, ever Blest,  
The Type of that true Church, in which we thrive,  
And therefore Blessed in the Superlative.   

But when that Joseph knew his Bride with Child  
By him untouched, he thought he was beguiled  
In his late choice, and therefore privately,  
Like a Just man, most loath her publicly  
To shame, by letting all their Neighbours know  
Her fault supposed with Indignations Brow,  
He purposed the matter to protract,  
Or to give up the Note of the Contract.  
He studied how this new Affinity,  
He might shake off, and shun her company.  
One while he thought to pocket up the Fraud,  
Yet feared to be to his own house a Baud.  
Love, Grief, & Shame perplexed him with remorse;  
It grieved his heart to sue out a divorce:  
He pitied her, yet never more intended  
To dwell with her: but while he so contended  
With nettled Cares, behold an Angel's voice  
Thus in a dream changed all his cares to joys:  
Be not afraid, O Joseph David's Son,  
To take thy Spouse. In her the Work begun  
Proceeds from none but God. The Maid is not  
By Man defiled, but is with Child begot  
By Gods own Breath, which overshadowed her;  
He to her womb did his sweet Rays transfer,  
For which above all women she is blest,  
And of that Sex for ever ranked Best.  
That Son, which she brings forth, shall called be  
Jesus, that is, a Saviour, because He  
Shall many save, and from Damnation free,  
Which they deserved had by Adam's Tree;  
Both God and Man, Prince, Priest, Emanuel,  
He shall redeem men from the Bonds of Hell.  
When Joseph had awaked, he plainly knew  
It was God's Will, and for a Vision true  
Acknowledging the same, her hallowed Womb  
He honoured as God's Seat, and took her home;  
And during Life, as a true Saint became,  
He lived with her without reproach or blame.  
O Happy Saint, a Foster-Sire become  
To Him, whose Sentence shall all creatures doom!  
Who God and Man, God by the Father's Side,  
Man by the Mothers, through the Earth did glide!   

Thrice Blest is He, who with the Morning's L●●ke  
Doth Christ his Birth, his Life, and Passion mark;  
And, ere the Sable veil invites the Brain  
To slumbering Rest, repeats his Part again:  
Christ is our New-mans' Crown, the Woman's Seed,  
God's Word, men's Light, who sued for men unfeed,  
Who trod on Satan's Head, on Death Sins Hire,  
Sinaies' thunderer, who spoke in Flames of Fire,  
jacob's Shiloh, Moses his Prophet Great,  
Of Whom did David and God's Prophets treat,  
daniel's Messias, Isaiah Emanuel,  
The Virgin's Son, who strangely conquered Hell  
By Lowliness, and scorn of worldly Fame;  
Yielding himself a Spectacle of Shame  
Upon the Cross with Nails tormenting woes  
For most unthankful Men, his mortal Foes.  
To this High Priest, Melchisedech of Peace,  
Stick, Christians, fast: and let home Quarrels cease;  
For None get in through heavens narrow Gate  
But Men of Faith in Christ Regenerate,  
Men vowed to lead like Him a Godly Life,  
Men that would leave Wealth, Honours, Pleasures, Wife,  
Rather than they would blur Gods tendered Grace,  
Detract from Christ, or his poor Saints disgrace.  
With this Belief, and Mysteries of Old  
Well Catechised, like Saints, Come on, behold,  
And kiss God's Son, keeping th● Evangelles Path,  
Lest Jealous He consume you in his Wrath.  
Faiths Curtain is removed, the Cloudy Bar,  
View then the Root of Jesse, our Morning's Star.  
About the end of jacob's Prophecy,  
That out of Judaes' Land their Policy  
And th'Execution of their Law's Decree,  
Till Shiloh came, should not extinguished be,  
Nor that until he came Time should deface,  
As with a Flood, the Lot of Judaes' Race:  
heavens true Shiloh, God's great Ambassador  
Arrived on Earth, & yet could scarce have harbour  
Although the Jews did see their Sceptre gone  
Under proud Aliens, and their Laws undone  
Except a show of Policy with stain,  
Which likewise ended in Vespasians Reign:  
Yet few observed Old jacob's testament,  
Thinking that he and all the Prophets meant  
A Temporal Prince by him that was to come,  
Who as they dreamed, a David might become  
With a Camp Royal, and the warlike drum  
To Triumph, Conquer, and the world to doom  
To free fair Zion, and the Land of Jury  
From Caesar's yoke, and th' Idu●●ans fury.  
But their Messias, while the Jews thus raved,  
Of Judaes' Tribe descended, and from David,  
Typed in that Kings dreamt stone hewed without hand,  
Begot without the Male, in Jewry Land,  
Was borne at Bethlem, lodged among the Beasts.  
(Such pity Inns show to distressed Guests)   

Soon as th'autumnal season of the year  
Had Balanced the twofold Hemisphere,  
The Temple's Porch of Rome's Bifronted Saint  
Shut up, whom they the God of Peace did paint:  
Augustus, than the Roman Emperor,  
When he had swayed by his Triumphant power  
The Land of Egypt, Syria, Palestine,  
And what did next the Parthian state confine,  
And more than forty years the Sovereignty  
Had held, grew bold upon their Lenity,  
Their vassalage, long Peace, and dandling rest,  
Thence he resolved to hoard into his Chest  
Much Eastern Gold, as he had oft before  
Vexed them with Rates, and with his Cohorts more  
About that Time, when Annual Contributions,  
Or Subsidies by Senate's Constitutions  
Were paid unto the officials of the Prince  
For Legions Hire by the Subjected Province,  
Which was September by Rome's Audit Book,  
And then belike they for this Toll did Look,  
Unless they for this New, and special Rate  
Prolonged the time, until December's date,  
As Statesmen to prevent tumultuous Arme●,  
In Winter use to tax repining swarms,  
To this effect did Caesar Writs direct  
To Syriaes' Pre●our, that he should collect  
This Rate: And sent withal a Proclamation  
With these Contents, on pain of Confiscation  
Of goods and states, and for their sloth Rebukes,  
That all the Kings, and Tributary Dukes  
Should cause Rome's Eastern Vassals to resort  
To their Birth Place of the Espoused Sort  
To pay a Rate, by Name, the Head, or Poll,  
And this by Book the praetor to enrol.  
This strict Edict made all Men hast away  
Into their Native Soil, the Tax to pay.  
Among the rest went Joseph to be taxed  
With his true Virgin Bride, by that time waxed  
Ready to Child of Israel's fairest Hope,  
The Woman's Seed which promised was to cope  
With Carnal Sin, and to smite Lucifer,  
So to save them, who lost in Adam were;  
Her Time was come, and then the blessed Spouse  
With Joseph took in haste that homely House,  
For wa●t of other lodging at the Inn,  
Which being full would not let poor Folks in.   

Christ in the World this Entertainment had,  
And who are truly his shall find as bad  
Among his Foes, unless they bring them Gold,  
Or Projects their Ambition to uphold;  
Unless they come in Ruffling Vestments  
They are but held poor Snakes, or Innocents';  
Or if such crave Relief, they with a P—  
Will pack them to the Beadle, or the Stocks.  
What Patron now will his poor Members foster?  
Few but for Gain. No Coin, no Pater noster.  
" The Cross is Christian's Badge, or Poverty,  
" The Antichristians' Mark is Dignity  
" With Pride, and Wealth. Lord, temper our vagaries,  
" When thee we do neglect, with Contraries.   

Though few than knew the Lord of Heaven & Earth,  
Nor heeded much the Cause of his poor Birth,  
At which, although no Ladies of Renown  
Did meet of Salems', or of Bethlems' Town,  
Nor giddy Gossips triged to Gourmandize,  
To cheat the Time with idle Chat, or Lies,  
Yet let our Inward man, his Swaths behold,  
And this Child's Swaths the Scriptures shall unfold.  
Here they shall find another Hercules  
Than that which Poets feign, to crush in less  
Than a Thoughts while two Snakes from Juno sent  
To Murder him within his Cradle penned.  
Here they shall find a Theme beyond all Thames'  
Truth wrapped in Flesh, to throttle Tales & Dreams.  
Here they shall find despised by worldly Men  
Saints basely laid, as in a Dungeon Den.  
Here they shall find God's Babe in poorest Bed,  
Though borne to tread upon the Serpents Head.  
Yet though Dull Men were silent in his Praise,  
The holy Angels with Harmonious Lays,  
And shouts of Joy, divulged his Horoscope;  
They sung of his sweet Grace, and future hope;  
They chanted out God's Glorious Name with Mirth,  
Good Will, and Peace to men through Christ his Birth;  
For at this Time, when All One Colour wore,  
Whilst Epicures outslept their Dainties store,  
Some Shepherds watched their Flocks near Bethlems' Town,  
To whom the Angels made these Tidings known.   

For Drowsy Drones here is Authentic warning:  
Some Mysteries disclosed for their Learning;  
" The first Man in the Spring was formed of Earth;  
" Of God and man in Autumn Christ his Birth  
Began, and with more Light rose from the East,  
But now it sets in Stormy Winter West.   

Some think Christs-Tide false bears December's Date,  
Because the Tax was by the Roman State  
Exacted in September, as they prate:  
And S. John's Birth bears March for antedate,  
Abiaes' Course cast up for Zachary:  
Yet this supposed true, to shun their Cry,  
I say, what if the Fiery Comforter  
(Christ's Deputy, the Churches wise Supporter)  
Indifferently Dispensed with this Exchange?  
That with S. Mathewes Memory we change  
The same, and with S. Michael's Jubilee?  
Whereof the first records Christ's Pedigree,  
And Birth, as th'other serves to represent  
His Church's State, through Civil Discord rend?  
Or else because the World shrunk to old Age,  
This changed Feast calms Melancholies rage,  
To comfort us amidst our Storms, and Snowes,  
When to the Root the Sap fall from the Boughs?  
Perhaps rude Goats Couched under Capricorn  
Now Good Men tame, or Tares divide from Corn,  
New Hearts presenting, with the New years Sun  
For Incense, Gold, and Myrrh unto God's Son,  
Who at this Feast took Flesh and Circumcision,  
Whereto his Star led Wisemen in Procession,  
Proclaiming him in Salem, King of Jews,  
For all fierce Herod's craft vexed with the News:  
That Israel's Prince, Whose Spring of Pedigree  
Eternal was, in Bethlem borne should be;  
His Craft availd him not, for they by God  
Were the same way home to Return forbade,  
And though in stead of Christ poor Babes he slew,  
He did by death his Deed soon after rue.   

But why came they to Christ with Gold & Store  
Of preciove Gums, who might from Heaven have more?  
Was it to show, that Christ our Royal Head,  
High Priest, and Judge Commands the Quick and Dead  
By virtue of his Godheads Triple Mace  
Of Justice, Mercy, and Inspiring Grace?  
Uniting Man to God's Conformity  
●y these three Gifts, Types of the Trinity?  
A Priest to Mediate, Preach, and Sacrifice:  
A King to Reign, a Judge to Punish vice?  
" And that more oft than Incense, Myrrh or Gold,  
" God might with Faith perfumed Hearts behold?  
Or did these Sages of their own accord  
Present such Gifts, as welcome to the Lord?  
Or which is likely, did God's Spirit move  
Those holy Pilgrims to express his Love  
And Care for his Beloved in Distress?  
Who at that sudden pinch were Moneyless?  
That with such needful Means they might supply  
Their wants, when he forewarned them to fly  
To Egypt from the Tyrant's bloody sword,  
Till their Return from Exile by his Word?  
When they that sought the Infant's Life were dead,  
And Herod's Son Installed in his stead?  
This Passage sure believe it as your Creed,  
" God never fails the New Man in his Need;  
But gives his Angel's charge, as for his Son,  
That he dash not his Foot against a Stone.   

But missing Christ, why were poor Infants slain?  
" That for the Head the Members suffer pain:  
" And that their Types as Blazing Stars display:  
Who Christians slay, they Christ himself wou●d slay.  
And why blessed He a Virgin with his Birth?  
And made her first Christ's Temple here on Earth,  
That was no Lady Crowned with worldly Honour?  
Nor with Rich glaring Robes took State upon her?  
And why graced he poor Shepherds with these News?  
Not full-fed Peers, Princes, nor wealthy Jews;  
Not Rabbis, Popes, nor Lordings of the Church,  
Who looked for Christ, ye● lived upon the Lurch?  
Let Dogmatists resolve these Doubts, that know  
Why Thunder smites high Trees, & spares the Low.  
" Gods Grace, & Pride, can never brook each other,  
" Nor dwells Humility, and Pomp together:  
The Former doth our Breach with Heaven repair,  
The Latter whilst it swells, bursts into Air:  
For there, some play with Airy Fancies Elves,  
Till Hell devowrs the Tempter's, and themselves.  
God's Church seems poor to Carnal Libertines:  
" In Heavens she sups, though hard on Earth she dines,  
" God chose the weakest to confound the Wise,  
" That Man with Christ by simple means might rise,  
Embracing more his Crib for Souls behoof  
Than Satins Crown in this our world of proof:  
" Yet God allows, to shun an Anarchy,  
" For Orders sake a kind of Hierarchy,  
" With Pastors' Power in every Christian State,  
" To Bind, or Lose, or Excommunicate;  
" To heal the sickly, and to bathe his Flock  
" With Waters streaming from the Living Rock,  
" More fishing for men's Souls then Carnal Preys,  
" More glorying in the Cross than worldly sways:  
" Whom Christ bids Feed, and not like Wolves to bite us:  
" Whom Christ bids Watch, as Paul exhorted Titus.   

Yet, Little Flock, that bleat'st through Tyrant's Rage,  
Grudge not, there shortly comes a Newer Age.  
He that revenged on Herod and his House  
The Blood of Bethlems' Babes, will right his Spouse.  
The Blood late spilt in our West Christian Lands  
God will require at Gogs and Magogs' hands:  
God will his Servants wrongs ease, or conclude,  
Whom Tyrants snared in Egypt's Servitude.  
God will revenge their Cause, Complaints, and Tears,  
Whom our Make-bates by Tricks set by the Ears.  
" No Motion, Plea, Decree, nor false Demur  
" Of Jarring Brains can Heavens Sentence blur,  
For with the Beast and Lords that took his part,  
They shall in T●phets Flames for ever smart;  
The Members for their Plots, Bribes, & Misdeeds,  
Their Perking Heads for justifying their Deeds,  
For suffering Elies Sons on Saints to prey,  
For sparing agag's, whom the Lord bids slay.  
Be patient then, Ye Servants of the Lord,  
Poor Nabaoths, who fear the slaughtering Sword:  
The Sun will shine after some Thunderclaps,  
New Heavens Joys will smother all Missehaps;  
And God will plague those Lords, who make a Prey  
Of Christian's Goods, nay worse, who Christians flay.  
Let none, that holds of Faith the smallest Grain,  
Despair, but that with cheerful mind again,  
Though girt with Flames, as the three Children were,  
He may without Annoy, or Servile Fear  
Of the Souls Gild escape from his Distress,  
If he believes that God's bright Word took Flesh  
And died for him, he cannot do amiss.  
" Gods Grace appears in dangers most extreme  
" Betwixt the Bridge and the devouring stream;  
Nay, plunged in the Deep o'er Head and Ears,  
God may reprieve, or rid him of his Fears,  
Transplanting him to that Eternal Rest,  
Where griping Grief shall never him molest,  
As the good Thief, whom they did Crucify  
With Christ and others saved can testify.  
" Let this suffice: None ever missed Relief;  
" Who fixed on Christ alone his Heart's Belief.  
From hence poor joseph's, though in Closest ward,  
May look for Liberty with Angels Guard.  
From hence good david's, though in Banishment,  
May hope for Calmer Days, and some Content.  
From hence God's Prophets may in their distress,  
Like Jeremy and Paul, expect Redress.  
From hence may Saints, though in their Tents beset  
By Millions of proud Foes, deliverance get.  
He that warned Joseph with the Babe to fly  
From Herod's Sword to Egypt, will supply  
Their wants, and aid them in their Pilgrimage  
Against insulting Foes and Satan's Rage.  
And though they feel the Plague, Saints may respire,  
Casting, like Paul, the Viper in the Fire.  
Or were their Eyes drawn out, their Noses slit,  
Or all their Members racked, they may hope yet  
With Inward Joys to be more ravished,  
Than if unmaimed their Bodies flourished.  
Nay, were they flayed for crossing Hell's Decrees,  
Like the seven Brethren in the Maccabees,  
They shall o'ercome those Fury's Insurrection,  
And joy like Job, to see the Resurrection;   

For they well know that their Redeemer lives,  
And for that Martyr's Sight dare pawn their lives,  
S· Stevens Sight who here on Earth entraunced  
Saw Jesus first on God's Right hand advanced,  
Which with his stoning sealed confirms our Creed,  
" That Martyrs Blood became the Church's Seed;  
" And that all those, who would see Christ in glory,  
" Must bear his Marks, & heed his Passions story.  
In Spirit where saw John th' Evangelist  
The Throned Lamb but in his Banished List?  
In Pathmos, where he saw by Revelation,  
The Church's State, and Babells' Fornication?   

To feel Remorse, some feed their Ravishments  
With Herod's Sword unsheathed on Innocents',  
" That bloody Sword, wherewith the Eagles Peers  
" Did persecute near for Three hundred years  
" The Christian's Race; And which lay then suspended,  
" Till Satan it to Babells' Whore Commended,  
" As witnessed old Chaucer's Pelican  
" Against the Griffon, and his Vatican;  
" Which Berengarius long before descried,  
" Which the Waldenses and Albigians tried;  
" And which as yet our Mother Christendom,  
" Like Rachel, feels in her seeds martrydom.   

To show Faith's Tree more pregnant by the Fruit,  
Some Lazars feed, some with Apparel suit.  
One while they Chant the New Man's Sacrifice,  
And how the Lamb un●eal'd hid Mysteries.  
Another while they Co●●t these Festivals,  
With Zions Songs, Or Bethlems Pastorals;  
Yet so, that whilst they kiss the Babes Memorial,  
The Cross be not forgot, nor F●ery Trial.  
Some hold it Joy, and great Felicity,  
To keep for Saints Kind Hospitality  
No Wassailes Cup, nor Cates variety  
Doth relish them, like Good Society.  
The Reason is, God gave them their Request,  
That Lady Conscience be their Daily Guest;  
Dame Prudence doth the Household charge o'erlook,  
Her Cousin Thrift is Cater, Care the Cook,  
Sobriety the Butler; Will the Page,  
And Manners set in comely Equipage  
The Pots and Messes full, where Zeal says Grace,  
And honest Love points every one his Place:  
Content with welcome carves; then Doctor Diet,  
Old Merry man, and the Peace maker Quiet  
By stem recite what moral Tales conduce  
To cheer the Heart for Souls or Bodies use.  
" Thrice blessed are they, who pass the Time away  
" With them, be it in Talk, at Board, or Play:  
" For living so, like Angels, with the wise,  
" Their Mansion seems a Second Paradise,  
" With safer Fate than Palaces of State,  
" Than Balthazar's with all their gods of Plate.  
Others steal Hours from the Immortal Part  
With Games and Gambols to delude the Heart,  
Or which is worse, with Bacchanalian Potting,  
And surfeiting, oft to their Bodies rotting,  
Which wanton Jigs more oft accompany  
Then Sacred Hymns, with Soule-rapt Harmony.  
" Mirth fits the Time, so doth good Cheer and wine,  
" But the excess betrays a Libertine,  
That never quakes at the rich glutton's Fate,  
Nor ever strives to be Regenerate.  
Drown Hoary Cares with Healths, & hang up sorrow,  
For who will care, what may befall the Morrow?  
Let Papists fast, let Puritan go whistle:  
They are but Turks, who against Wine will Bristle:  
No sullen Stoic, no crabbed Critic Fool  
Shall taste the sweets of Aristippus School:  
Such Revels keep our Roaring Epicures,  
Whilst they protract the New Man's wholesome Cures.  
But no such Course shall my new Sparkling Breast  
Conceive to Counterpoise my Saviour's Feast.  
I love his Cratch, & fear his Judgements Thunder,  
Both which warn me to slight a nine Day's wonder,  
For Pampered Sin can hardly be kept under,  
Except vain things from the Divine we sunder;  
" Who will be puffed with windy Luscious Fare,  
" And leave the Soul half starved in Satan's Snare?  
" How dare they spend in Drink, like Frantic Elves,  
" Thrice more than serves men abler than themselves?  
" Or waste in Smoke, at Games, or such Abuses  
" The means left them for more convenient Uses?  
When as such Deed's stink in our Maker's sight,  
And weighed, they prove with in his Balance Light?  
How dare our Sots on Carnal Sense rely  
When as they know, that they at last must Die?  
And after Death feel Hellish pain for ever  
With Racks & Flames worse than a Bedlam Fever?  
Where Dives failed to have with Tortures wrung  
One waters Drop, to cool his scorched Tongue?  
But why touch I licentious Saturnals?  
Christian I am, and Christ his Festivals  
I humbly with new Raptures celebrate,  
From whence I bar the Harebrained Reprobate,  
Whose Lamps may dim our Altars of Devotion,  
Therefore I leave them to their Frantic Motion,  
And to be fattened for those Mystic Fowls,  
Which at God's Feast shall snatch their Flesh and Souls.   

Yet now, because at Newyeares-tide they say,  
They will turn New, I greet them on that Day,  
Not with Rich Plate, nor Bowls of Liqoured Sin,  
But Gifts fetch't from the Spirits Magazine,  
Not with Delights of Putrif●actions Kind,  
But which preserves to fortify the Mind.  
Doth Flesh and Blood, distrust what I have written?  
Let Flesh and Blood be circumcised or Smitten;  
Let the Old Man with will uncircumcized  
Be punched, or else with quickening fire Baptised.  
So that our Thoughts be New, Christ represented  
In sacred Swaths, and with New vows presented,  
I weigh fierce Herod's Threats no more than chips,  
And less I prise his Plot, his Sword, or whips.  
For with the Magies rapt, I more behold  
God's Babe in Manger laid than Thrones of Gold.  
O would I had been living in those days,  
To feed mine eyes with that New Comets Rays,  
Which led those wise Arabians from the East  
To see him, whom I glance at in the West!   

But whither hath my zeal transported me,  
At this great Feast, our Wimers jubilee?  
To place poor dust and Ashes near Divine  
Conceits, like Roman Coleworts by the Vine?  
Yet not so great is the Antipathy,  
But that true Saints may feel some Sympathy  
Betwixt the Members and their General,  
Sith a mild Sense will make them Musical.  
Indeed sweet Love, and union help to hide,  
Like mastics velvet, what they find too wide  
A Blemish, or a Scare on Faces foul,  
" But causeless Nips can never harm the Soul.  
Then, let not worldly wits our New Man Scorn,  
Though vile he seem, or of the Hope forlorn,  
For he, that outwardly looks vilified,  
May pass yet for a Creature Justified,  
Whilst that he bears the Crib, where Christ was borne  
In mind, with his Red Cross, and Crown of thorn.  
Be meek therefore ye States and people all,  
All from the King's Bench to the Cobbler's Awl:  
Thank God for them, whom for your Good he sends,  
And ponder that which to your safety tends.  
" Repent ye of your Sins, depend on Grace,  
" That so Christ's merits may your sins deface.  
" Think Daily on the New Man's Crucifix;  
" And Christ his Cratch in your Remembrance fix.  
" Pray oft against lewd Francies Provocation;  
" And let your Deeds to Love have more relation.  
" Compare our years from Christ his Incarnation  
" With the Floods Time from Adam's first Creation,  
" And one Thousand six Hundred fifty six  
" May to the World a Fatal Period fix;  
In Desolation to all hardened Hearts,  
In Dissolution of our Earthly Parts,  
If all the Signs foretold by Daniel, Christ,  
Paul and S. John, fall out with Antichrist;  
True Signs indeed, which Faith and Love withdraw  
By Wars, Pride, Schisms, and Wiles in winding Law;  
" Besides this Sign: that Gods two Prophets lay  
Martyred, ere Babel could her charms display.  
And who can tell, but when th' Electors fail  
Rome's Empire sets? and Doom's Day shall prevail?  
" That Empire, which began when Christ was borne,  
" Ere he returns, shall set and be forlorn?  
" Since that which barred in Paul's time his Revealing,  
Lies waste: what boots the Antichrists Concealing?   

Now whilst we look for Time's extremest Date,  
And Christ his Coming, either soon or late,  
Let us salute his Cratch, his Birth admire,  
And pay our vows to him with zealous fire.  
Great Abraham rejoiced to see his Days,  
When rapt to Paradise, he felt his Rays.  
So did that Baptist Babe in Mother's Womb  
Spring by Instinct with Joy, to hear him come  
Conceived in Flesh of that Immortal Flame,  
Which promised was Sin, Death and Hell to shame.  
So Angels sung of him Prophetic Lays:  
So Simeon sung with Anna songs in praise  
Of Bethlems' Babe, both ravished at his sight,  
(When Mary closed her due Mosaical Rite,)  
Acknowledging the true Messias Borne  
Of Evahes' seed to save the Soul forlorn.  
And so shall we in mind feel Music rare,  
If we muse on our New Man's Birth with care;  
" I mean, that Spark, which at our Baptism rose  
" Within our Hearts three Monsters to oppose.  
Then freely we his Gospel may embrace,  
And sing this Lullaby with measured pace:  
The Holy Ghost, to save frail Adam's Race,  
Breathed a sweet Flame in Mary full of Grace.  
This Flame infused in Flesh, both Man and God,  
We greet and close his Birth with Simeons' Ode:  
Thy Birth and Name do saving Health betid,  
O Maide-borne Man, God by the Father's side.  
Thou art the Gentiles Light, Emanuel;  
The Glory, Head, and Crown of Israel:  
Whose Glimpse we having seen in sacred Trance,  
Lord, now in Peace us to that Light advance:  
That Light, which thou conceived'st in our Flesh  
To save Mankind, and Satan to suppress:  
The Light of Souls, thy true essential Form  
Of Mary borne, Eves Offspring to reform;  
Whom with Thee and thy Spirit, three in one,  
We honour, praise, and serve, Great God, alone,  
Without depending upon Angels, Saints,  
Or such whom Baal for Advocates be Saints.   

A Hymn in Memory of our Saviour's Birth and Incarnation,  

ALL ye, that are of Spirit mild,  
And long to greet the Virgin's Child:  
Lay by a while your worldly Cares,  
The Outward man's bewitching snares,  
And let us now submissive sing  
The Cradle-cratch of Heavens King.   

Blessed be the womb which Jesus bore;  
Blest be his Name, that saves from care  
Frail Adam's seed, if they repent  
Their time misspent, to Satan lent.  
Christ's only Name doth Satan shame,  
Then, let us all sound Christ his Fame,  
Let every Heart submit to Christ,  
For without Christ, none can subsist.  
Blessed be the Breasts, which gave him suck.  
Blessed be thy Cratch which hadst the luck,  
O Bethlem, with a Star to boot,  
To spread abroad King David's root.  
In thee was the Messias borne,  
Jew's Shiloh Prince, yet held in scorn,  
Because he did not personate  
A Royal Babe with open state;  
But that he lay in Manger base,  
They weighed not well the Mystic Case,  
That Mary did Eves want supply,  
Our Newman adam's qualify;  
How Christ was come to humble Pride,  
And by Low Ebbs Floods to divide:  
That Christ at first grew, like a Graft  
From Heaven sent, to put down Craft:  
Whence like a shrub, but Cedar now,  
The hugest Tree he makes to bow:  
And so must we stoop often Low,  
Ere we shall like this Cedar grow,  
We must embrace his Crib and Cross,  
Ere parted be our Gold from Dross;  
We must Cashier wild Fancies wags,  
Our high Conceits, and Merits brags.   

Then Ye, that hope God's Babe to meet,  
Weigh more than Plumes your Peacock's feet.  
Sith Christ before a bed of Down  
Preferred a Cratch, beat Pleasures down,  
I mean, those snares, which ye shall f●nd  
To cheat good Time, and mad the mind,  
And bear about you more his Marks  
Then Carnal Toys, or Nine day's sparks.  
Observe what things ye vowed of late  
At your New Birth to shun and hate,  
Ere ye presume to kiss this Child,  
O ye that are by Nature wild.     

The Third Day's EXERCISE.  
The Argument.  
The Life, which Christ led in our vale of Tears,  
Until of Age he grew to Thirty years,  
How then he was Baptised by Holy John,  
And tempted thrice by Satan thereupon.  

THough Christ a Child inherent Righteousness  
Original and Actual did possess,  
And in his Youth sufficient gifts inherit  
To cope with Hell, yet by the Sacred Spirit  
He was not led into the Wilderness,  
Till to more years he grew of Manliness,  
That in all points like us, excepting sin,  
He might on Earth his Humane course begin,  
" Clothed with our f●esh, exposed to scorners gall,  
" Temptations, Death, and yet o'recomming all.  
" (For never God his children leaves for trials,  
" Till he them arms 'gainst Satan's false espials)  
Now I review the shadow of his Dial,  
Back to his Swaths, with a short true Memorial  
Of his rare gifts, and Heavenly Qualities,  
Which more & more shot forth with properties  
Convenient for his green, and tender Age,  
Whilst here he went his earthly Pilgrimage,  
" From his Conception, Birth, and Cradle Blest,  
" I do proclaim of Babes this Babe the Best.  
Nature and Grace contended in his Feature,  
Till they it formed a peerless lovely Creature,  
And what they did (if aught at all) let slip,  
His Godhead made complete their workmanship.   

O would my Lord now do the like for This,  
This weakling, which with awful sense I kiss,  
This Embryon, or Conception of my brain,  
Christ's Portraiture, which I shall draw in vain,  
Except the Spirit of th' Evangelists;  
The Holy Flame, which guided to the lists  
Of the Triple Combat this Man of men,  
Do purify my style from Blots unclean,  
And my swift Trance, from Superstitious fury,  
Whilst I from Wales to Galilee in Jury  
Am carried with a rapid zealous Flame,  
To see how Christ a Child, a Man became,  
A Man Baptised, as we his Members ●e,  
Tempted by Satan, yet got bravely free.   

Though Jesus had escaped the Hunter's snare,  
Yet Judgement crossed the Tyrant's jealous Care,  
For out of hand, after the Butchery  
Of Bethlems' Babes deceased in Misery  
With entrails scorched proud Herod, to his Sons  
Leaving his State waving in dissensions;  
First having caused even in death's agony,  
His Eldest Son to bear him company;  
When three of them stood for their Father's place,  
And each of them would bear a Royal Mace.  
With factious sides, to make their challenge good,  
These Aliens borne of Edoms-viper-Brood,  
Contended for their Sires usurped Throne,  
The Rule of Laws from Jewries People gone;  
Since Shiloes' Birth, God's messenger of Peace,  
The vigour of their Laws began to cease,  
As afterwards by Titus came to pass;  
Who did their Laws and Nations state deface;  
As likewise when in fierce Domitian's reign  
And Trajan's, David's stock were sought and slain.  
But all their claims appealed unto Rome,  
The Brethren stood confined to Caesar's doom,  
Who by Decree for taming of their fury  
Most Politic then Tripartited Jewry,  
To Archelaus by style of Ethnarchy  
South-jewries Land he gave, the Tetrarchy  
Of Galilee and Jordan's Land betwixt  
The other two he left for portions mixed.   

The Brother's broils thus quieted at last;  
When all those storms were overgone and passed,  
Joseph advised from Heaven with his Bride  
Brought back the Child from Egypt. But aside  
Turned (doubting Archelaus the Tyrant's Son,  
Who then to sway South-judaes Land begun)  
To Nazareth Northwards in Galilee;  
Where suckled was the Infant Jesus, free  
From worldly Broils, as to a Nazarite  
Belonged, His head unpolled by Legal Rite.  
There Mary not omitting any mild  
Or watchful care for nursing up her Child,  
Directed him now weaned from her breast,  
One while to go, another while to rest,  
His Infant's time beguiled wi●h Lullabies  
With gentle smiles, sweet songs, or soft replies.  
She fed him not with Suckets nor Conserves,  
But with that meat, which strengthens tender nerves▪  
" To diet him for health, was her chief Care,  
" Not urging him to eat of dainties rare,  
But victuals fit for Nature thin and spare:  
Butter and Honey were his daintiest fare.  
" She knew that Souls in pampered bodies pine,  
" That Both corrupt through luscious cheer and Wine.   

But no man him with Idols durst present,  
Nor with those sights whose pictures represent  
Horned Bugs, or Household gods, for she herself  
Could never brook to see a Laban's Elf:  
Woe to those fondling dads, who tempt the souls  
And pliant brain of their soft little Fools  
With such Trim trash, the unmarkt Nursery  
Of Faithless Fears, and blind Idolatry.  
She those defects with sacred Care repaired  
Which Mother Eve by Satan's fraud impaired,  
God's Instrument to bear and breed that Child,  
Which jarring Earth with Heaven reconciled.  
And when more years came on, she did assay  
To teach his tongue a Psalm, or else to Pray;  
Whereto his Will became more forward bend  
Then Courtly Lads to learn smooth Compliment▪  
" No boy's permitted she her house to haunt,  
" Such Rakehell Boys, which used to lie and taunt,  
Like those rude Imps, which heretofore did yalp,  
And call Bald pate Elishaes' reverend scalp,  
" No Maid of hers durst sing a wanton song  
" Within her ears or his; nor to the Throng  
Of Reprobates, those whom she knew defiled,  
Would she from home adventure out her Child.  
And if she had (such was his Inclination,)  
His inward Lore prevented Education.  
There is no doubt but by Infusion He  
Had needful what the Spirit knew to be.   

Soon as his Childhoods Stature did increase,  
His mirthfull-fits began soon to decrease;  
For without grief how could that Heavenly spark  
Hear men to swear, like fiends, like curs to bark?  
How could he but lament to see them crouch  
To Stocks? and yet the Godhead to avouch?  
How could he choose but grieve at their Extortions?  
Debates, and spending of their dearest portions?  
To see a Brother fight, the Courtier feign,  
The Lawyer lie; and all for cursed gain?  
To see men strive for Place and Sovereignty,  
Like fiends for pride who lost their dignity?  
To see the Townsman pawn his soul for wealth?  
The Husbandman Corns price to raise by stealth?   

Successively there budded every year  
New Hopes of him, which did his Mother cheer:  
His godly talk delighted joseph's heart,  
And made him oft his labours lay apart;  
Both Joseph and the blessed Virgin much  
Astonished were to hear his Childhood touch  
On such profound and Heavenly Mysteries  
Concerning Faith and Love, how they arise  
In Adam's Sons? and why they set again?  
Wherefore it storms and why God sends us rain?  
His only Reading was the Prophet's Book,  
He would not once on lying Legends look,  
But on his Father's Laws both day and night  
He fixed his mind with all his will and might.  
While other Lads were awed with Tutors curb,  
He served the Lord, that sways the Heavenly Orb.  
" He never took a meal, but still the Lord  
" He glorified with his Thanksgiving word.  
And as himself lived Innocent and pure  
So by his fair ensample from impure  
And childish crimes, he many Children drew  
To give God praise, as still in years he grew.   

When Jesus had twelve tedious Winters passed,  
He travelled to Jerusalem at last  
In company of his supposed Sire  
And his dear Mother-maid, in whom the fire  
Of zeal then burnt to see, and solemnize  
In Abibs' month the Legal Sacrifice.  
Where when they had beheld the Rites passed over  
At their great Feast then styled, the Lambs Passeover,  
These sacred Saints returned homewards bound;  
But with the Stuff when Jesus was not found,  
They after search their friends and company  
Forsook, and back again most heavily  
They hied fast, and looked him all about  
Among their Kinsfolk every where throughout  
The City, till they found Him in the Temple,  
Where Saints Gods works accustom to contemple;  
And there amidst the Doctors of the Law,  
They saw, and heard how Jesus put in awe,  
And posed Grave Rabbis, whom he out did single  
For Questions deep, that made their ears to tingle  
His Arguments their Fallacies did quash,  
That they were stroke, as with a Lightning flash.  
So fair a square, so just a Symmetry  
The Godhead held with his Humanity,  
His Actions sure his Godhead did express  
(Yet in his Flesh we mortal him confess,)  
That to dash Lies brave Flames he never wanted,  
With smiles he pleased, and with his frowns he daunted.  
His Godhead darted Awe and Majesty,  
His Humane Presence shone with Lenity.  
They wondered at his words well couched, so sage,  
So well composed to put by wrangling rage,  
On Scriptures Ground, without Chymeres of Clerks,  
Without Latriaes' or Douliaes' Quirks.  
Such Doctrine in a Child, such sparklings rare  
Amazed them, as late did Bethlems' Star,  
Such thoughts confused, most sensible of Signs,  
Doubting th'effects racked & perplexed their minds  
Whilst with the Scribes Christ thus disputing stood  
Mary to meet her darling almost proud,  
Betwixt Seraphic Love and Ravishment,  
Lay, like the Doctors in Astonishment.   

As men rejoice in a dark Cloudy day  
To see the Sun his sudden Beams display,  
So did they startle at Christ's Lightning words  
Whilst her soft greetings Mary thus affords:  
My loving Son, why hast thou stayed behind,  
And not as doth thee Nature's duty bind,  
Returned with us: Behold, I and thy Father  
Have sought thee sad for three day's space together;  
Soon as we found thee missing by the way,  
We hither came and sought thee night and Day.  
We searched with careful thoughts most diligent,  
The City where we used to frequent;  
With heavy hearts God knows we looked for thee;  
Whom Christ undaunted answered grave, and free,  
Is't possible that you forget so soon  
The favours late, which God for you hath done?  
Dear mother, wot you not that I must go  
About my Father's Business, t' undergo  
More travels yet? you know the Prophecies  
Of Ancient Seers: you know the Mysteries  
Disclosed by the Angel Gabriel,  
That I am sent to ransom Souls from Hell,  
That I must preach to Spirits thralled in Jail  
My Father's will, which shall o'er sin prevail.  
You know what means Heaven's word, men's Light, God's Breath  
From Simeon, Anna, and Elizabeth;  
And in yourself the Spirits ravishment  
Reveals the cause of my Birth and Descent.  
(My Father's zeal so burnt within my breast  
Against these strays I could not but contest)  
Whose Oracles of me and many more  
Your true Believing heart lays up in store;  
Although the same as yet you seem to smother  
You cannot but remember them, good Mother.  
These words of his the blessed Virgin weighed,  
And safe them up within her mind she laid.   

Out of the Temple then with her he goeth,  
And presently they set for Nazareth,  
Where Mary found his Will with hers agreeing,  
Though Him she held the Author of her being,  
And her sole Head, yet then the Head subjected  
Unto the Limbs, and nothing he rejected  
To Undergo in his Minority  
For their behoof and best commodity,  
Or murmured at, which his dear Mother Maid,  
Or joseph's voice of charge upon him laid:  
But as a Son, or rather Servant true,  
He yields them Honour and Obedience due:  
What they at home, or else abroad assigned,  
Labour or care in Body or in mind,  
As an Apprentice, Carpentary Drudge,  
To toil for them he never once did grudge,  
But wrought his Task and servile Trade upright  
Not needing checks, nor frowning oversight.  
" Base idleness by Nature he abhorred,  
" Which made him work, when some as Outlawed roared.  
For he accounted meat not duly got,  
If daily for the same he laboured not.  
" He for our sakes sustained poverty,  
" To purchase wealth for us and Dignity.  
In this poor plight the curse Christ underwent,  
To earn his bread with sweat and small content,  
Yet what he gained would scarce weak Nature feed  
And it grieved him to see his friends in need,  
What therefore he of meat earned by his sweat,  
The Overplus he gave the Poor to eat.   

Thus Christ shot up in shape, and thrived in Grace,  
And all Good men loved him that saw his face,  
For he preferred God's praise before his own;  
More prising Truth than they Judae as Crown.  
But to describe his worth, his modest looks,  
And qualities would fill up many Books.  
The matter far exceeds my strength and wit,  
My Form turns proud except thou temper it,  
O Holy Ghost, and curb'st my swelling sense  
Above frail Natures botched excellence,  
With humble thoughts Christ's Innocence to quote,  
To note his plain Attire, and seamelesle Coat  
Worn in his Youth, but parted since, which now  
To burn as tainting Rage, false Christians vow;  
To seek gay cl●a●hes never did curious Pride  
Tempt him, he only cared his skin to hide.  
" He knew that Man attired in ruffling Robes  
" Begs seldom Grace, and vents but feigned sobs▪  
" Nor can he shed salt tears, our Guardians food,  
" Nor well submit for his perpetual good;  
As for this cause they used heretofore  
In vilesi weeds God's Favour to implore;  
He knew that our First Parents bare and poor  
Went, till Fig leaves & Coats of Skins they wore,  
Which, like these L●nes, our Gallants now would scorn,  
For Satan prompts they were more Nobly borne,  
Wherefore to rob, their Factours must persever  
Silk worms and Beasts for Chamois, Plush & Bever.   

No Pleasure's shape so far his mind endears,  
To Idolise the same, though young of years.  
No Envious Stings, nor motions Arrogant  
Once pricked his heart, nor thoughts extravagant,  
For he was so sincere, sweet Natured, mild,  
That none with Passions knew him once defiled,  
Though from without he often Tempt had,  
As Man, while he conversed with the Bad,  
Yet with contempt, and a most brave disdain  
He passed them by, not soiled with one stain.  
For as the Sun, the world's fair radiant Eye,  
Doth Dunghills touch, and stinking Jakes survey  
And yet his Beams escape from tainting free:  
So this blessed Youth, though he did daily see  
Notorious sins, and Beastlike filthiness,  
Himself he kept untouched from wickedness.  
He laboured oft in Childing woman-wise  
Of our frail Passions and infirmities.  
" He had, as Man, our Natural Affects,  
" But yet without Excesses or defects,  
" And not as we, o'ercome with their delight,  
" Or seeming Good, or spurred on with despite.  
In midst of Darkness shone Divinest Light,  
Error he turned to knowledge, wrong to Right,  
The words contempt he changed into Grace  
Fables to Truth, our slips to surer pace.  
He did exchange our Lustful sports to sorrow  
And on to work our Humane Natures borrow.  
For Lazarus he shed forth Tears of Grief,  
And he much Grieved for Salems' unbelief.   

Ambition did his Manheads Fancies raise,  
But that Flight was to raise his Father's praise,  
His High desires stretched pliant Souls to win  
To blissful Joys from Satan, death, and sin.  
His mounting sparks to Magnanimity  
Extended, mixed with zeal and Charity,  
" His lofty thoughts aspired but to the Cross,  
" That Theatre which ransomed Adam's loss.  
" He Chastely longed, yea and he lusted too  
" With flames of Love, for he the Church did woo,  
" He sought her Love with zealous Oracles,  
" Sometimes with tears, sometimes with Miracles.  
" He Coveted for wealth, not worldly wealth,  
" But for Eternal Goods, mens saving Health.  
He felt within his Souls essential Parts  
Great Joy to hear of True Believers hearts.  
For barbed Steed, he chose a bare-backt Ass,  
Fishers for Mates, for Palace the Low Grass;  
He burned with wrath, when he drove from God's House  
Those Huckesters' out, whom he with whips did touse▪  
" But his short wrath converted into zeal,  
" Not for Revenge, but for the sinner's weal.  
He seemed to grudge, or Envy at the Priests,  
Because he saw them live like Antichrists;  
" He much repined that Pureness went to wrack,  
That Satan's sway did keep God's Kingdom back;  
He languished with Fears and Agonies  
The night before his death's Extremities;  
" But those deep Fears sprung of weak nature's sense,  
" Not of Despair, or want of Innocence.  
So from our Passions Christ, as Mithridate  
Of Vipers wrought, good Motions New begat.  
For Jewish Thalmuds, he the Gospel taught;  
For their Old Types, substantial Truth he brought  
And our Newman in him Regenerate  
Shall do the like, if we cooperate;  
We shall God's word love more than Superstitions,  
And follow Truth more than Humane Traditions.  
The which Christ grant, who felt, excepting sin,  
All Nature's griefs, which we are plunged in.   

From those Ten Laws in stony Tab●es wrote  
By God himself, he never swerved one Jot,  
But them observed inviolated all,  
Yea, and the Moral, as the Ceremonial.  
On Sabbath days no man could him prevent,  
But that he would the Synagogue frequent.  
Which Ne'er I may not silent overslip,  
How sacredly Christ did all men outstrip  
In honouring the Seaventh feastful Day,  
At which time he most joyfully did pray,  
With David's Tunes both Hymns and Psalms he sung,  
His heart whole Peals to his dear Father rung  
Of Jubilees and Thanks for Humane Good,  
For sending him to save his Flesh and Blood.  
" Yet ne'ertheless, he seemed not to gainsay,  
" But that Good deeds might well be done that day,  
" Or Casual works forced of Necessity:  
" Those would not bar the workers Piety,  
" No more than David's deed, when as he fed  
" Constrained by Hunger on the Holy Bread.  
" For, as he said, God made the Sabbath day  
" For Man, not Man for it; On it to pray,  
" On it to satisfy weak Nature's Need,  
" And yet with mounting thoughts, to save his Creed,  
" He must Praise God, the Author of his Calling  
" And others by his steps confirm from Falling  
" More often on that days Solemnised Feast,  
" Then other days not limited for rest.  
Six days God left for Nature's worldly Carke,  
But that day to refresh th' Immortal Spark.  
God's Laws he kept unabrogated Holy,  
Which none besides himself did ever wholly.   

Above all sins, which he saw reigning here,  
Idolatry he loathed most: for dear  
His Father's Honour was to him, and next  
To this great sin, his soul was oft perplexed,  
To see debate amongst his Neighbours, Those  
Of Abraham's seed, whom of mere Grace God chose  
And singled out from Superstitious Nations  
Peculiar to avoid their profanations.  
For He (the Son of Love) borne from Above  
Could not endure the Opposites to Love.  
He could not brook without anxiety  
And troubled thoughts to see Cold Charity,  
To see them with fat gifts the Lawyers feed,  
To nourish Pride, whilst others starved for need.  
Therefore against all Malice he contested,  
Nay them, who hated Good men, he detested.   

He spent the best part of his Youthful hours  
In hearty suit unto the Heavenly Powers  
For their conversion from such carnal pleasure,  
And for their Wills restraint with Grace's measure  
Because his life he might securely lead  
Till thirty years were full accomplished,  
Himself he mated with the simplest Jew,  
But seldom with the Proud, or Heathenish Crew.  
To shun Vainglory, and the Serpent's rage,  
With Servants form he cloaked his Parentage.  
" To Old and Young, though but of mean Repute  
" With whom he met, he gave the first salute;  
" With Peace, God speed, Good morrow, or Adieu;  
" And chiefly to the virtuous, whom he knew  
" So stamped in Soul, after the New-mans' Form,  
" Who did their best the Old man to reform,  
With gracious words he ever heartened those  
According to his Natural dispose.  
To such as grieved in body or in mind,  
He showed himself most pitiful and kind,  
With word and deed he sought their Amity,  
And to accord their strife and enmity.  
Though he no thanks for Peace-endeavours had,  
More than in Egypt, Moses of the Bad.  
He never Place nor puffed up Glory sought,  
Nor what he not performed did promise aught.  
" His Word and Meaning still agreed in one  
" Grounded upon their substance, Truth alone.  
" He for ill use his Tongue did never train,  
" Nor ever took the Name of God in vain.  
All wrangling Sects he shunned, the Pharisees,  
For Pride, and for Faith wracked the Sadduces.   

" He hated them, who scandalised the Law,  
" And nourished strife for Profit without awe  
" Of God or Man, as likewise their lewd Members  
" Which kindled needless fires rak't up in Embers.  
" He scorned for Gold our Mercenaries hire,  
" To cloak the Right, or Clients draw like wire.  
" He loathed wiles, and lies, and loved Truth  
" More than his life. In hottest time of Youth  
" When choler, gall, and passions domineer,  
" In him no sign of wrath did once appear.  
" He used more to hold his Peace then speak,  
" Comparing those to Sives which secrets leak.   

Against the Bodies loathsome Maladies  
To live, as if he were in Paradise,  
A diet spare both to the whole and sick  
He still advised, and Fasting the best Physic;  
This moved him to fast in Youth far more,  
Than in his Greene, more springing years before.  
" He knew the worth of Diets Excellence,  
" That a small thing works Chyles nutriments.  
" Because the Blood and Humours Eb●●litions  
" Derived from Food evapourate pollutions  
" Toward the brain, and souls chief faculties  
" Distempered by the Body's Qualities,  
" He affected Diet, even at a Feast,  
Whereat (Good man) he came a seldom Guest.  
By this stayed course, of Constitution sound  
His Body grew; no Humours did abound  
Pernicious, but with daniel's might compare,  
Or the like choicest Saints for sober fare,  
And by this stint to Nature, his Complexion  
Most rare arrived to Beauties chief perfection.   

As Carbuncles do in the darkest Night  
Afford to all the Room about them Light,  
So was Christ's Life of all the Neighbours seen,  
To shine, that none could tax him of one sin,  
Or justly say, that he at wealth did aim,  
Or Honour, for he did them both disclaim,  
As opposite to what the Trinity  
Affects in Man: divine Humility.  
With daily Prayers, Fasts, and watchfulness  
He still repulsed the Darts of wickedness:  
He had so much (and yet he made no boast  
Thereof) Divine gifts of the Holy Ghost,  
That Satan failed to peep in, or contemple  
The smallest chink of his fair Spirits Temple,  
Perhaps not thinking, that the Godhead would  
Descend so low, but leave Hell uncontrolled:  
" Yet our defects, that were most miserable,  
" He had as Man, but not one damnable;  
" Which might have been to Purity a Bar,  
" Or for our Ransom which might work a Jarre.  
He honoured God, the Author of his Good;  
He loved Man, as his own Flesh and Blood:  
His whole pure Heart not mixed by halves or hire  
He vowed to God; and kept his vow entire.  
He never halted betwixt God and Baal,  
Nor ever made of Souls Mechanic sale;  
Which was the cause he went by day unshot,  
And with those shafts that fly by night unsmote,  
God's holy Angels guarded him without,  
God's holy Spirit guided him throughout  
From those close Baits of the Infernal Angle,  
Which more or less all Adam's Brood entangle,  
For proof or Loss, according to their Creed;  
But Saints at last God succours in their need  
With Patience, strength, and Faith Apostolic,  
Whereby they may unto their Saviour stick.  
As God inspiring Gifts, and their true sense,  
As God and Man Christ drew their Quintessence,  
And left the same within the Gospel couched,  
Which Saints have since with Martyrs seals avoucht.  
Thus Jesus lived, and spent his youthful days,  
And yet my Pen sets out not half his Praise.  
No Orators, nor Poet's wit can Limb  
At full the gifts, wherewith God furnished him,  
For as the Sun's bright shining Lamp at Noon,  
Excels the lesser Stars, and pale faced Moon:  
So Christ more Just, more Meek, and Patient was  
Then Enoch, Moses, Job; and did surpass  
As well in Mysticke, as in Actual Flames,  
Whereof indeed we mortals know no Names;  
Unless we term them Graces most Transcendent,  
To him alone from Our Great God descendent,  
All Adam's Sons, with joseph's Maiden wife  
For Zeal, for Faith, for Holiness of life;  
Nay more, were all their Virtues joined in One,  
They would look foul, compared with his alone,  
Comparing him with other men, the Light  
Of Heaven you must confound with darkest night;  
" For without his Habiliments of Grace  
" No Mortal man can see Gods Heavenly Face:  
" Without his Help the Godhead full of Ire  
" Consumes Mankind as Stubble in the fire.  
" Without his Merits veil, as Wedding suit,  
" No Humane wight can win a Saints Repute;  
Clothed with his Robes none ever went amiss,  
The Alpha and Omega of all bliss.  
At last Christ grew to thirty years of Age,  
Which was the time, that in his Pilgrimage  
He from thenceforth till death should exercise  
His Priesthoods place to open Israel's Eyes,  
Melchisedeches predestinated place,  
Whose Order Time should never more deface.  
But they more blind than Bats were in those times,  
When Zeal and Love were Snares and Nets for crimes:  
He therefore now to grace his Legate John  
To Jordan went, and by him thereupon  
Would be baptised, although the Prophet strove  
To put him by, as worthier from Above,  
Christ's will was such, he Baptism would receive  
That to his Church he might that Pattern leave,  
And that, as he perfected Moses Laws,  
So he for us would plead the New man's Cause.  
Which at ●he Font from sin Original  
Doth cleanse, and to New life invites us all,  
If we go on, as we were Catechised,  
And crave with Flames of zeal to be baptised.  
" For Baptism is Heaven's gate, the which to open  
" Grace gives to us the Keys of Faith and Hope.   

No sooner did that heavenly Dove descend,  
And Satan marked to what those words did tend;  
This is my Son in whom I am well pleased,  
But all amazed he stood, and sore displeased.  
And hearing John before himself Him prise  
The Lamb of God, that should with Fire baptise,  
He doubted much lest this was He should tread,  
As on a footstool, his Old Serpents Head.  
To cross therefore the doom of God's Edict;  
And Justice force herself to contradict,  
This Prince of Fiends, the Python of the East,  
Our Antichristian Dragon of the West;  
Bend all his thoughts; his plots, and machinations  
Gods Heir to win, and raze our Hope's foundations.  
Which when the Searcher of all Hearts had read  
With deep insight, he by the Spirit led  
His Son from Jordan to a desert, where  
He might be tried with Fasting and with fear,  
Aswell to satisfy for Adam's Deed,  
As us to warn the Dragon's wiles to heed.  
Satan, as shadow, dog's him at the heels,  
And cunningly, ere he his Pulses feels,  
Physitian●like ●like, who first the Signs and Diet  
Notes, and what brought the Patient out of quiet,  
He waits aloof, and finds our Saviour still  
Watch, Fast, and Pray, to save Mankind from ill.  
But at the last, with fasting forty days,  
To Christ supposed weak, the Fiend betrays  
His fraudulent and perilous design,  
" Which was at Hell's instinct to work a sign  
" Or Miracle, and by that act repair  
" His Pride-falne state, or drive Christ to despair.   

Thou dost believe (saith he) that thou art Holy,  
The Child of God not dimmed with Carnal folly,  
A Saint foretold by Prophet's Oracles,  
And canst, like them, work some rare Miracles.  
Now in this Place make Trial of the Spirit,  
Whether such precious gifts thou dost inherit  
To equal Moses; and the Thesbites Fame,  
Both which thou may'st by working wonders shame:  
I see from Food thou fastest overlong,  
Whereby thy Body faints, and feels much wrong.  
" Lose not the Substance for the Accident,  
" Nor thy dear life, for what's impertinent.  
Thou art but Young, and in thy flower of Age,  
And may'st do wonders on this worldly Stage,  
If thou cheer up thyself this present day,  
Else beauty, strength, and Body will decay.  
" Some I have known so long to mortify  
" Their Flesh, in hope their Souls to purify,  
" That by such fasts they were much stupefied,  
" Light heads, and all to seem Soule-glorifide;  
Be thou more wise to shun the fatal rod  
Of Famine. If thou be the Son of God,  
Command these present Stones to be converted  
Into pure bread, or else thou art perverted.  
When Satan thus had ended his discourse,  
Christ to God's word did hasten his Recourse;  
No other Shield then Scripture did he use,  
Which by heaven's leave I paraphrased produce:  
I do renounce the Flesh, and Worldly guile,  
Thy tempting Baits shall not my heart beguile,  
To long for Earthly Food, more than God's Word,  
To break the vow I made at Jordan's Ford;  
The Covenant of Baptism, which I sealed  
I mean to keep, whereby Mankind is healed  
And purged: I will not once distrust the Lord,  
Nor in least thought traduce his written Word:  
He can by many means relieve my wants,  
That clothes the Lilies, and renews the Plants.  
" Man's Body here not only lives by Bread,  
" But with God's word his Spirit must be fed.   

The Holy Ghost for Light to after- Saints,  
And to divulge our Ghostly Foes attaints,  
To force them to confess: their wiles and pride  
Do try, not daunt those whom the heaven's guide,  
Permitted Satan yet to tempt him more  
With all his slights, but not to hurt or gore  
His Body which reserved for Sacrifice  
Himself would shortly yield for sinful vice.  
The Fiend would not so let him pass away,  
He had more Tricks upon Mankind to play:  
Because our Saviour Satan did contemn,  
He rapt him up into Jerusalem;  
And set him on the Temple's Pinnacle:  
Now show thyself (quoth he) by Miracle  
The Son of God by casting thyself down  
From hence headlong, for God will guard his own.  
Be confident, and take it as thy Creed,  
Saints may perform all things, 'tis so decreed.  
I see thou shinest replenished with Faith,  
And know●st full well what sacred Scripture saith;  
By this great Act thou mayst thy Fame advance  
Above the Stars, and now on earth enhance  
Thy Praise among the vulgar Multitude,  
Who will be weaned from their old, gross, & rude  
Traditions, and thee for their Great Messias  
More will believe, than John their new Elias,  
Who with new Rites of Baptism now of late  
At Jordan toils men to regenerate.  
Proceed then boldly to this famous Act,  
And never doubt the Issue of the fact,  
For God hath given his Angels charge of thee  
To save thy Body, and defend thee free  
From all Annoys, Perils, or hurts of Stones,  
That might against thee dash, or bruise thy bones.   

With such or like surmizes Satan sought  
Our Saviour to entrap, and turn his Thought  
From lowliness, and worldly Pompes contempt,  
The chiefest mean Man's Freedom to attempt  
And bring to pass, which Satan well foreknew,  
Although he strove God's Judgements to eschew,  
In vain he strove our Sunshine to eclipse  
Where such as these come from a Christians lips:  
Alas, what poor weak Fame, a Nine day's wonder  
Do worldlings rove at, if their Ends they ponder!  
" When mwn ground Faith on Humane Policy,  
" The Lord reputes it but Hypocrisy.  
" When he vouchsafes to lend some Miracles,  
" He doth it to confirm his Oracles  
" To be divine, and not Humane positions,  
" He doth it freely without Compositions,  
" And with a Caveat too, that none wax proud,  
" As though the gift were for their Own allowed  
" Why should a Saint expect for Miracles?  
" Whilst he enjoys Faith and Truths Oracles?  
For this regard did Jesus put to flight  
With Holy writ the Fiend with all his slight;  
Thou shalt not tempt by any means, said he,  
The Lord thy God who first Created thee,  
That is the Scripture thou shouldst muse upon,  
And if infringed what vengeance hangs thereon.   

Thus Jesus twice already for our faults  
Endured had the Devils bold assaults;  
Him now again the third time he assails  
To captivate, or make him strike his sails.  
" And knowing nothing in this worldly frame  
" Can tempt a Saint like to Ambition's Flame;  
" Nor sooner can the finest wits defile,  
" As is Recorded on old Athens File,  
" Then to be pointed at by People's Press:  
" Lo this is he, the rare Demosthenes!  
He comes no more with Scripture in his mouth,  
But with the whole world's Empire, North, and South,  
The E●st, and West; he labours to entangle  
Christ's Senses, like to Tiber's Fishing Angle,  
Wherewith his Vicar Crowns like Gudgeons took,  
That Beast with Lambs two Horns & Dragon's hook  
So long ago described by Saint John;  
The man of sin, and that Perditions Son,  
Whom Cardinals at his Instalment Grace  
With Triple Crown, and on Mass Altar place;  
He rapt him in the twinkling of an eye,  
To a high Mountain's Top, thence to descry,  
As from Mount Ne●o, where Canaan was shown  
To Moses, many Kingdoms of his own,  
All the round world he there made to appear  
In a false Map, doubling the Hemisphere.  
The like Rome's Prelate scarcely could install  
For his to Right Castille and Portugal.  
So Satan did his Monarchy contrive,  
As Neptune stood on his Prerogative:  
That great Command with triple forked Mace  
By Lot to me, and not to him did pass.  
Out of mere Grace and Love I bear to thee  
(Says he to Christ) if thou wilt worship me,  
And homage do, these Crowns I give in Fee,  
These States for thee and thine for ever be.   

No greater snare could Lucifer invent  
Our Second Adam's mind to circumvent▪  
No Motive, nor more working Argument  
Then Sceptres, or a Mitred Government;  
As Mahomet took hold upon the First  
With th' Alcoran, and of them all the worst  
Of Christian men usurped, aspiring higher  
Both swords to manage, and approaching nigher  
To the red Dragons claimed Jurisdiction  
With Souls and Bodies sale, and interdiction.  
But Gods dear Son did out of hand Control  
These Lofty towering Flames, Souls tainting foul.  
He would not listen to Supremacies,  
Nor to the worlds suggeste Primacies;  
His Kingdom was not of this worldly station  
Of mortal Stamp, but for sick soul's translation  
By Fiery Trials to Jerusalem  
Not built with hands, a place which fools contemn.  
To cool therefore our Thoughts irregulare,  
Our Saviour thus put by the Serpent's snare;  
Not ask him, as our late Exorcists  
Vain questions, but him packing from the Lists.  
He could no longer his Just zeal refrain,  
But instantly repulsed him with disdain,  
Avaunt Satan, make here no more abode,  
Pack hence I charge thee in the Name of God:  
Thou of my Faith hast made sufficient Trial,  
But of his Rights I cannot brook denial;  
I cannot hear with Patience Blasphemy  
Against my Father's endless Royalty,  
Who sways this Globe by Aristocracies,  
Democracies, and awful Monarchies.  
The Lord thy God, as Scriptures do observe,  
Thou worship shalt, and him alone must serve.   

Such Checking Words spoke with a Conscience clean,  
" Free from ambitious thoughts, and Deeds obscene,  
" With vows and Fasts aswell to purify  
" Themselves, as the Old man to mortify,  
" Oft naming Jesus Christ our Advocate,  
" Will quickly Satan chase, or subjugate.  
" There needs no Charms, Masses, nor Exorcisms,  
" No holy water, Relics, Cross nor Chrismes,  
" To dispossess or send the Devil packing:  
" Let such those trust where Faith & Love are lacking.  
When as I know (as who is free?) myself  
● brain or dream near cast upon this shelf.  
With Gales of worldly winds in show most fair,  
Gulling my Sense, like Atoms in the Air,  
With false Self-love, by him an Idol praised,  
With subtle Themes by his suggestions raised,  
Such as on wits for want of vows have played,  
Or with such Quirks, as our late Sects displayed,  
Or with wild fits, and moods extravagant:  
Let me but say with Jesus Christ, Avant,  
At their first coming with a pious mind,  
At Christ's sweet Name God sends them back confined  
" Let me review his Wounds, I may be bold  
" To conjure Satan from his strongest hold.  
This Shield I take, no other help I look  
From Heaven or Earth against this Fisher's ●ooke.  
" Christ's coat I wear, no other Aid I crave,  
" Then His: who other crave, do surely rave.  
" To other Saints, whom they God's Courtiers ca●●  
" I say with Job: Poor helpers are ye all.  
Against Sin's Rage, and Satan's proud Bravadoes  
Against his Plots, his wiles, and Ambuscadoes  
My Faith, though weak, supported me wit● Arms,  
Contritions Groans prevented all my Harms;  
In Christ his Robes I feared no Annoyance,  
Fenced with his shield, I ●●ung at him defiance,  
After Resisting I did ever find  
My Foes departed, and good motions signed,  
Or printed in my Heart unknown to me.  
From brutish Elves to guard my Newman free.  
" This should be writ in Cedar, or in Gold;  
" The man Newborne, who is for Grace enrolled  
" Shall sure be tempted by some wicked Fiend,  
" Whom if at first he do suspect for Friend,  
" And not receive his Baits with hearts delight,  
" That Man shall win the Field through Christ his Might,  
And from thenceforth with greater dowries blest  
Shall surely live and die a Saint professed;  
His Soul with Christ shall rest in Paradise,  
His Body at Doomsday with Joy shall rise.  
In this we have our Master for Example,  
Who by the Cross on Satan's head did trample,  
As living he his motions had repelled,  
And with God's Word three times had him refelled;  
Although he was alone, and destitute  
Of Humane help, yet he made Satan mute.  
After his Conflicts to congratulate,  
And him relieve in the like hungry State,  
As was Elias, who in Horeb past  
His Forty days by means of fore-repast,  
It is recorded that the Angels came,  
Which shows God's Care, Faith's strength, & Satan's shame.   

But here's a doubt, a question scrupulous,  
Which to decide for me were perilous,  
Lest that I seem in Negromanticks versed,  
Or that my Rule by Saints might be reversed;  
Whether these Assaults Real were? or visions?  
Or mixed with Satan's Juggling Apparitions?   

To argue that God's Son, the world's bright Light,  
Should be transported by the Prince of Night  
From thence, up to the Temples pinnacle  
With unextinguished breath by Miracle,  
Like to a Bird, in person through the Air,  
Deserves small thanks for pleading to impair  
God's Glory in his wondrous workmanship  
Of the Newman: That were by doubts to clip  
His Providence for careless watch and ward  
Over his Son, to whom the Angels Guard  
He promised by Satan's own Confession;  
The Fiend durst not, had Jesus made expression,  
That he was God, have moved him to Transgression,  
To shoot at Souls, which took his marks Impressions  
" To play upon the wits of Reprobates;  
" Yea and for Trial of Regenerates,  
" Who like to wanton Apes, or stubborn Boys,  
" Must smart till they leave off their pranks and toys:  
" To charm the sense of witches who have ranged  
" Their bodies resting still in rooms unchanged  
" On Hackneys, as they dreamed, borne through the sky  
" With Nightly feasts their Wills to satisfy,  
" (So anodynes, and Poppies drugger entrance  
" Their heavy Nerves, that their wild fancies dance)  
" The Lord indeed permits him still to range  
" With lies, false shows, & seeming wonders strange.  
Yea too, and other while to play the Ape,  
Ghost, Goblin, Fairy, in fantastic shape,  
Whereby men's outward senses he beguiles,  
As their Crazed brains, with visions, dreams, and wiles.  
The greatest Clerks sometimes he trains to folly,  
Some for their Pride, and some for Melancholy,  
Our Youth he leads with Fancies wild vagaries,  
As at Full Moon Apes dancing the Canaries.  
He wheels about the world, the Arctic Pole,  
As Southern Coasts; the virtuous, sick and whole.  
All's Fish alike: but his most dainty spoil  
Is Learned Men with Crotchets to embroil;  
Whom rather than they shall escape his claws,  
He tempts to jar for words, bare Names, & straws.  
In samuel's shape he Saul by Endors Witch,  
And in the Serpent's form did Eve bewitch;  
Hating the Woman's Seed, he sought by sleight  
And Angels mask to blear our Saviour's sight;  
But through the Air to bear his Body up,  
I fear to pledge Scribes in that curious Cup:  
For in the Place, where he first met him, there,  
We read he left our Saviour void of fear,  
Although he did by Vision or in Trance,  
Or Actual form his highest Plots advance▪  
And Jesus might through his Humanity,  
Like Peter's Trance, see Satan's subtlety  
Within that uncouth place, or Desert coast,  
As opposite to that which Adam lost;  
Because he found Christ in distressed plight,  
Sole, and fasting, he thought to hit the White.  
" Satan might tempt his Outward sight & Brain,  
" But at his Will and Heart he shot in vain,  
" The Godhead swayed those parts, his Angel's Guard  
" About his Person kept both watch and ward;  
So that nor Satan could, nor all his Bands  
Without his leave once touch his sacred hands,  
Much less against his Will him to transport,  
Whom God always did strengthen and support,  
Till he by Judas sold should pay the Price,  
Or Ransom due for our Enormities.  
Yet where God's Word doth not my Light advance,  
With Humble sails I veil my Ignorance.   

Since Seraphins their zeal were fain to cover:  
How then dare I nice Problems to discover?  
" A modest wit affects the New-mans' strain:  
Pack hence therefore ye wormelings of the Brain.  
Yet would I had the skill of Augustine;  
Such knotty doubts to canvas and define,  
Or that I were rapt with Poetic Flam●,  
Sedulius-like, or Ara●o, to tame  
Wits puffes, that so I might in English stile,  
As they in Latin Lays, a work compile  
Whereby our Saviour's deeds, the New-mans' Glass,  
Might with fair Rays reflect on Hearts of Brass:  
I would imprint by his Life's Innocence  
In Britain's thoughts an imitable sense,  
To shun fond Quirks, and Plainness to embrace,  
I would assure them then of Heaven's Grace;  
Whereas most Wits now hover in the Air,  
Betwixt frail Hope, Presumption, and Despair.  
Who knows not that the Fiend from his restraint  
Late loosed goes on the Saints with doubts to taint?   

But some will say, An Angel clothed in flesh  
Cannot the stings so punctually repress  
Of raging Sin, as I have painted here;  
Nor from Hell's tempting baits his Passions clear,  
For borne in sin how can we choose but err?  
By our first Parents sold to Lucifer?  
" The wisest Man some touch of madness hath,  
" Of Pride, or Lust, of Niggardize, or wrath.  
Do what we can, our Gloss and Merits store  
Look like a menstruous cloth, or mattry Core.   

I grant that None but Jesus Christ alone,  
The Father's Essence and his Holy One,  
Did wholly live according to this form,  
Or spotless could the Will of God perform:  
But yet know this (O worldly shifting man)  
That thou art bound thy second Birth to scan;  
Enamoured more on Grace and Charity  
Then on the World, and carnal Jollity,  
And in all points to imitate thy Head,  
Or else thou art cut off, as Member dead.  
Thou must at first repel the Tempter's snares,  
Be they Ambitions ●ookes, or Golden wares;  
And if through Faith thou struggle and dost strive  
Against lewd thoughts, thou shalt o'er come, and thrive;  
If his lives Type for Precepts thou avow,  
Thou quickly shalt attain thyself to know,  
And be assoyld by Faith's Prerogative  
Of Reigning sin, at least imputative.  
For which Intent, and Saints encouragement  
God many means both Old and Modern lent,  
To rouse the Slothful up, to look about,  
Before that Satan puts their Torches out.  
Among the rest, I hope, Good men will hear,  
Or read my Lines, and with my plainness bear,  
Since my aim is proud sin to mortify,  
And by the New-mans' Lamp to edify  
The Lowly minded and the Penitent,  
Who more prize Truth then Falsehoods blandishment.  
Let others trim their Muse with Gaudy Tires:  
I envy not their Lays, nor labours hires.  
A simple Robe I like without a Seam,  
(For such a Coat Christ wore) and such a Theme  
Consorts most fit with an Evangelist,  
Whether he English, French, or Latinist,  
For public use the Praise of Christ compose;  
Be it in Numbers, or in Copious Prose;  
And so for Truth he sound a thankful Peal;  
Ere vows he hoard up, for his private weal;  
Not like to Clowns, who when they gain good turns,  
Neglect their Patrons, or pollute their Urns,  
And memory with Urine, spital, spite;  
Instead of thanks tyth'd out to do them right.  
But howsoe'er Young Gallants censure this,  
The Graver sort will clear me from amiss,  
And for the Close, these Golden Rules infer:  
Plain Poems best become a gospeler:  
The Strained phrase, puffes up: Truth suits a Saint;  
Those women fairest look, who never paint.   

A Hymn of Thanksgiving to the Lord for his Church's preservation from Antichristian Tyranny.  

1.  
WHile Nature's Sons at random rove,  
Our Newman fixed on things Above  
By holy Trance doth Christ descry,  
In Bethlems Cratch, and Calvary.  
Now, we God's word and wonders sing,  
Anon, we scan, O Glorious King,  
Thy Triumph; how thy faithful Crew,  
While Tyrants raved, the stronger grew,  
And how bright stars, Hell's storms withstood,  
Till Mongrels on Man's Merits stood.  
Lord, grant us Peace, our Crosses ease,  
Or them Release, if so thou please.   

2.  
As thou didst drown proud Pharaohs Host,  
And guid'st thine own through Marine Coast,  
So thine Elect through every Age  
Thou didst preserve from Satan's rage;  
So didst thou raise to life again  
Thy Prophets twain in Sodom slain;  
So didst thou, Lord, in Judgement meet,  
In Eighty eight the Spanish Fleet;  
And save us then, and since again  
From Ruin, Loss, and Powder-traine.  
Lord, grant us Peace, our Crosses ease,  
Or them release, if so thou please.   

3.  
Their Leaguers force thou didst divide  
When we most feared Hell's raging Tide,  
Reforming Faith in Publicans  
Among the Britain's, Dutch, and Danes,  
Bohemians, Swethens, Polanders,  
The Swissers, French, and Hollanders,  
To counterpoise Great Babel's side  
And by thy Word to tame her Pride;  
Which near hath rend her Triple Crown,  
When every Bird required their own.  
Lord, grant us Peace, our Crosses ease;  
Or them release, if so thou please.   

4.  
O Gracious God, how strange is this!  
That thou hast called blind Strays to Bliss!  
And didst for us New Kings beget,  
When Old Eliza's Sun was set!  
The Tent she pitched, James settled sure;  
And Charles now Reigns, like Cynosure,  
With Golden stars encircled round;  
He doth not slight the Gospel's sound,  
But still renews the Holy Fire,  
Bequeathed him by his Royal Sire.  
Lord, grant us Peace, our Crosses ease,  
Or them release, if so thou please.   

5.  
When Bavares Duke, and Ferdinand  
Had yoked thy Flock in German Land,  
There rose up from the Northern Zone  
A Machabee, who eased their moan.  
Nor is it less miraculous,  
That thou hast raised great Bourbons House,  
Against the Eagle to make head,  
When Both would gripe thy Turtles dead;  
And this diverting of their Force  
Spins Truce for us, in them Remorse.  
Lord, grant us Peace, our Crosses ease;  
Or them release, if so thou please,   

6.  
A thousand years the Fiend was curbed,  
And no great Plague true Saints disturbed;  
He made no fierce prodigious war,  
Till Wichliffe preached what Berengare  
And former Saints had vowed with cares  
Against the Mass and Mauzzimes wares.  
But afterwards, when by thy Word  
Some were Reformed, with Fire and Sword  
He then pursued thy New born Flock,  
Because they chose Faiths living Rock.  
Lord, grant us Peace, our Crosses ease,  
Or them release, if so thou please.   

7.  
Even to this day, Hell's Magogs' still  
Thy Servants rack, their Blood do spill.  
O when shall we poor Pilgrims be  
From Satan's wiles and tumults free?  
O when shall we their Period see?  
And sing to thee our Jubilee,  
Exempt from cares and Carnal stings,  
O Glorious God and King of Kings?  
Not in this world, till Christ doth come  
In person first all Souls to doom.  
Lord, grant us Peace, our Crosses ease,  
Or them release; if so thou please.  
Amen.     

The Fourth Day's EXERCISE.  
The Argument.  
Christ having Preached the Gospel, and New-Birth,  
Confirmed the same by wondrous signs on Earth;  
The Priests conspire his Death. Judas revolts.  
His Supper, Bloody Sweat, and sore Assaults.  

" IF I had drank at pale Pirene's well,  
" As to the wise Bellerophon befell;  
" Or that I had Urania for my guide,  
" I might transcend the Stars, and hope to ride  
" On the Pegasean Steed with Azur'd Reins,  
" Until the Poles resounded with my Strains.  
Such Lofty wishes through Poetic guile  
far be they from my Low and trembling stile.  
Not Phaeton, nor waxe-winged Icarus,  
But Lucifers and Adam's Fall should scare us  
From mounting high to Pinnacles and Towers,  
Where Lightnings Flash, where reign the Airy Powers,  
Which may our Carnal thoughts blow to despair  
(Such mighty sway bear Spirits in the Air)  
Like them, whose Hearts once touched with hallowed Fire,  
Have quenched the Flame by ruffling to aspire,  
Or like our Eves, who in this Evening Age,  
When they should kneel, climb up proud Honour's stage,  
Where Mammon they adore, and Christ by halves,  
As if God's Grace would breathe on Golden Calves.  
No sure; his Spirit loathes Ambitious Fires,  
But the mild Soul and humble he inspires:  
Such as of Yore were Jewries Fishermen,  
The Virgin Mary, Anna, Magdalen.  
" God will not hold him guiltless that presumes  
" To touch his Ark with Flaunting robes or plumes.  
Avaunt then, Gallants, with your Idoll-Fumes;  
Depart, ye Ladies, with your nice perfumes;  
Kiss not God's Son, ye proud imperious Lords,  
For he abhors High looks, Bugbears, bigge-words!  
A simple Garb contents our Saviour's Cratch:  
" Smooth glozing Terms take those who Termely catch  
" Sad Sackeclothes weed becomes this age of Our,  
" Where Fiends unseen wait ready to devour,  
As lawful spoils, our Kingdom's fairest flower.  
This suits me plain; my Applications sour,  
Yet wholesome, like to Lemons in a Fever,  
To curb those putrid Fumes of Head and Liver,  
Which now of late the Gentry of this Isle  
With Riot, Pride, and costly Feasts defile.  
Then, O Great Britain, take it for no wrong,  
If I enchant thine ears with a mean song  
Not grounded on false druids Antique Tales,  
But wrapped in Christ his Swaths, & found in Wales,   

From that wild Place, where Satan's Policy  
Failed to tempt his Will and Phantasie,  
Arrived then to thirty years of Age,  
Our Saviour, to perfect his Pilgrimage,  
Returned back to Galilee again  
In the third lustre of Tiberius' Reign,  
Where he on Truth at Nazareth commented  
But thence repulsed, the next Coast he frequented,  
With this true Note by that respectless Town,  
" No Nation heeds a Prophet of their Own:  
And having chose his Prime Apostles there,  
Who to that end predestinated were,  
He Preached good News unto the true Beleeve●,  
To cherish his New Church and to relieve her;  
Good News indeed, which thralled Souls restore  
To greater Grace than Adam lost before.  
The Tree of Life that of Old Adam's foiling,  
And it of all Luxuriant Sappe despoiling  
Christ did transfer to Mortal men on Earth,  
Who hardly could believe the Second Birth;  
They thought that none but an Old Serpent could  
Cast off his Skin, and so renew his Old  
Inveterate New; None but the Phoenix dead  
Could of his Ashes rear another Head,  
With lively Parts as burnished as the First.  
This seemed a work Divine, which no man durst  
Attempt, before our Saviour made it plain,  
That Humane Imp must here be Graft again  
And rebaptised by the bright Holy Ghost,  
Whose Name and Gifts he blazed through Jewries Coast.  
Elixirs dream, nor Pythagorean Change  
Could work this Feat, & Ghostly Wills exchange.  
Not Sun, nor Stars, not Humane s●ed, nor Sense  
Could breed or cause this quickening Quintessence;  
That spirit, which breathed on the Waters crude,  
When that earth's Lump confused lay and rude;  
From a thick Chaos th' Elements did sever,  
And with all- quickening Thaw did Ice dissever,  
Transforming what he would have new & straight  
Harmoniously by Number, Measure, weight;  
This Love-bred Flame, graced the pure Virgin's womb,  
And none but him, such wonders great become.   

This Doctrine Christ to Nich●demus taught,  
Who then of him Soule-Consolation sought;  
When at the bruit of his strange Miracles  
This Learned Scribe, to hear Christ's Oracles,  
Had stole to him at Salem in the night  
Fearing the Factions of th' Herodians Might,  
Who ne'er about that time got Captived John,  
And through a frisking Wench slain thereupon:  
I hear (quoth he) that thou a Prophet art,  
From Heaven sent Salvation to impart,  
Thy Deeds import no less: for who but One  
Of Gods own Choice, or his beloved Son,  
Can do such works beyond set Natures reach,  
Or utter such deep points as thou dost preach.  
Inflamed with the sparks of thy renown,  
Which flies abroad throughout our spacious Town,  
I come to thee desirous to be taught,  
In the true way: and so to Heaven brought.  
Our Saviour turned to our Faith's Alphabet  
And him to learn Truths A.B.C. did set.  
Not Principles of men's Philosophy;  
But Rules which Stony hearts do mollify;  
" He must (said Christ) who will God's Kingdom see,  
Become Newborn, and so an Infant be▪  
That saying is (quoth Nichodemus) strange,  
How can I now my Ancient years exchange  
For a New Birth: I shall get sooner room  
In an old Tomb than in my Mother's womb.  
Jesus convinced his Error, and mistake,  
With this reply; Thou dost my speeches take  
In a wrong sense, for truth I tell to thee,  
None enters Heaven, nor shall God's Kingdom see,  
Except he be of Water and the Spirit  
First borne, and then that place he shall inherit.  
" That part of Man borne of the Flesh, is Flesh,  
" Moore Old, than of the Spirit, which is fresh,  
" Young, and Gallant, he which is borne hence  
" Leads a new Life, and void of Lust's Offence.  
When the wind blows, thou hearest a noise and sound,  
But knowst not whence it comes, nor whither bound:  
So fares it with the Holy Spirits man,  
How he came rapt with Bliss he can not scan;  
He knows not how his Spirit New became  
By Grace unseen from the Great Spirits Flame.  
When Nicodemus heard this Lesson rare,  
He answered, these things not likely are,  
How can it be that Man without Commotion  
Of Nature's sense should apprehend this Motion  
Of his New-Birth by the quick Spirits Seed,  
And grow so strong except some thing him feed?  
Except some Rays, which we not Outward see,  
Or Godhead rap the Mind: how can this be?  
Bearest thou a Doctors Style? and dost thou teach  
(Said Christ) and knowst not this which I do Preach?  
I speak the Truth, and what my Soul hath seen,  
I testify, yet all in vain hath been.  
If when I speak of Earth, you●le not believe,  
Sure if I tell of Heaven, you will grieve  
" None ever yet that Glorious place ascended,  
" But through the word, which from that Place descended.  
" Yea, none comes there, but who by faith on earth  
" Believes Gods Word, the second Adam's Birth.  
" The Woman's seed foretold in Paradise,  
" Who should confound the Charmers Sorceries,  
" Who was foredoomed to be s●ung in the Heel  
" By the Old Serpent, and Gods wr●th to feel,  
" Whom men lift up, and wicked Satan stung,  
" As the Brasse-Serpent in the Desert hung.   

Out of this Text all ye who are misled  
With glozing sins, your destiny may read,  
" That no man shall behold Gods Glorious Face▪  
" Unless by Grace Regeneration raze  
" Sins aspic stings, & for those stings that zeal  
" And Love be stamped in him with Heaven's Seal;  
" Unless we leave to serve the Old Man's Lord,  
" And hate his Life and Laws in thought and word:  
" Unless we look on Him, who was lift up  
" On Calvares Cross, and pledge him in his Cup,  
" Unless we leave our sins, and to conspire  
" Against his Saints: Hell is indeed our Hire.  
" Hell is Man's Hire, Except his Earthly Clod  
" Be sanctified and rebaptised from God:  
" His Brain, Heart, Tongue, and Souls chief Faculties,  
" In one must with Christ's Nature sympathise;  
" Which spite of sin God's Spirit soon or late,  
" By Grace effects in the Regenerate:  
" Which comes to pass by pondering Truths Record,  
" Christ's Testament, his Covenants, and word▪  
" Shunning Scandal the cause of foul offence  
" By a pure Life, Faith, Love, and Penitence.  
" And lastly by oft cheering up the Soul  
" With that Repast, which Nature doth control,  
" That Mystic Lamb unseen, yet real flesh,  
" Slain, yet living now Souls to refresh.  
Thus doth the Holy Ghost work and Create  
A new borne Babe, a Soul Regenerate;  
Even He, that quickened Christ in Mary's womb,  
Will breathe on him, and make him then become  
By Motion calm, unseen, and secret means,  
Christ's lively Member, pure, Reformed, Clean,  
Conformed to the Head, our Elder Brother,  
Whose last command was this: Love one another.  
Now by these signs our Britain's sure may know,  
Whether they be of his true Christian Row.   

To be Baptised without the Sacred Spirit,  
Is surely never Heaven to Inherit.  
They be but Nurles, half Christians, dwarves, or elves,  
Nor Hot, nor Cold, which do persuade themselves  
By Baptism bare with Water, the Communion,  
And Outward works to be of Saintlike union;  
For what will our great Charters Seal avail?  
If to perform the Covenants we fail?  
" That is, to love our New man's Lord and Head,  
" Learn his New Law, and a New life then lead?  
God by Christ's death more power did restore  
With that freewill, which Adam lost before.  
" Grace gave to us this Supernatural  
" Free gift to cope with the Will Natural.  
" This Will our Newman hath from Bondage free,  
" Because true Faith brought Bondage on his knee,  
" Which, as Love-tokens, each good Christian hath  
" Left him by Grace, to lead him in Christ's path.  
But if he slights this Path being Catechised,  
How can he be with Flames Characterised?  
How dares he say that he doth harmless save  
His Sureties triple vow, except he rave?  
" If he delights in Carnal talk, or Lust  
" More than God's Word: his Faith lies in the dust.  
" Devotion fails, whilst sin in Man doth reign,  
" Whilst Satan's reigning fancy guides his brain  
" Nor can Gods Gra●e within his heart fix anchor  
" Till it be cleansed of rust and Nature's rancour;  
" Or if it burn, it quickly may expire  
" By Carnal means and blasts, except the Fire  
" Of zeal be kept still in by daily use,  
" With watch and ward from Holy things abuse:  
" Except the Soul for God Faiths Tything pours  
" Heaped daily from the four and twenty hours.  
This is a Mystery, which few observe;  
And fewer like: but give themselves to serve  
The vicious Times: more for Promotion striving  
Or Plots to please rich humourists contriving,  
Then Grace to beg with humble hearts and sorry,  
Then first to seek before their own God's Glory.  
" Join we our wills to his, we shall be pure,  
For Christ his death Old Adam's Plagues did our.  
But now a days in worldly Policy  
Some temporize, to hide their Lunacy,  
Like Adam's nakedness, till time more mellow,  
And ripe shall change their Youthful hairs & yellow,  
Or else because against the Holy Ghost  
For sinning they do tremble to be lost,  
If once New borne of the same Flaming Spirit  
They lose their Talon, or chance to bury it.  
O causeless doubts, like to Hobgoblins Fears!  
As though God's spirit loathes the sighs and tears  
Of his poor Converts, nay, he will assure  
And help to make their rather Election sure.  
No Fits stop them, like Agues, storms, or Rain,  
But Grace moves to their Centred Hearts again.  
Though I confess that great Presumptuous sin  
Concerns them much, who have New-formed been,  
(As many were soon after Christ's Ascent  
Possessed with Gifts to Schools Astonishment)  
By the Immediate wondrous Inspiration  
Of God's bright Flame, though by the Instigation  
Of Satan, they chance afterwards to fall  
To Lunacies, yet let them hope with Paul  
And Peter fall'n by Christ his Blood Remission,  
For who dares judge Grds' Grace without misprision?  
Or sentence our Grave Cranmer for his fears?  
Since at his Death he purged his Fall with Tears,  
And sacrificed his Hand first to the fire,  
Because it did against his Heart conspire?  
Let them take up these words with Job, and say:  
" i'll put my trust in him, though he me slay.  
" 'tis true I fell: which Fall I will not Cover.  
" I was Soul-sick: but God may me recover.  
" Bar Aire and Blood of motion Circular,  
" Meteours the one, Heart-griefes the other scare,  
" The Body feels sins Symptoms and diseases;  
" So feels the Soul, till Grace them both releases,  
" Which never fails a Saint, though for a while,  
" Fowl Lustful fogs Faiths working may defile.  
" Let none despair that hath Repentant been,  
" Or can but once a day sigh for his sin.   

Many grave Rules and Documents profound  
Christ left, and did unto the Jews expound  
Amongst which others here I will relate:  
" The Lowly, Pure, the Poor and desolate,  
" The Peacemaker, and for the Faith oppressed,  
" These with the Zealous he pronounced Blest▪  
Christ terms those Blessed, of Spirit Poor and Mild,  
" Than what is Man's Great Spirit? Satan's Child.  
" His bristling up with Braggadochian vaunts,  
" With fuming Spleen, with Gall, and Girding Taunts;  
" His standing on fond Natures brittle Pinion,  
" Or his own Merits puff, or Wit's opinion;  
" His slighting of a Saint that favour craves,  
" As if himself were Pope; Christ's Members slaves▪  
" His thundering peals of Penalties high racked,  
" As if his own swelled Head no Surgeon lacked;  
" His false designs to bring home Massy Crimes  
" From Foreign Climes in Antichristian Times;  
" His Challenges for Honours wronged repair,  
" Or by Law-suites Saints Fortunes to impair:  
" What Spirit sways, shows the Red Dragon's Mace,  
" Not of the Lambs, but wicked Belials Race.  
So far was Christ from wrath, or vengeance taking  
So far from spoiling foes, or greedy raking,  
That he bad Peter to put up his Sword,  
When he had Malchus smote; and at his word  
Confessing he was Jesus, though they were  
Scared at his voice, he willed them not to fear;  
And when his own Disciples did presume  
To urge him, like Elias? to consume  
Those men with fire, which wilfully denied  
To harbour him; the fiend then undescryed  
By them he checked, and said, that they did rave,  
" For he came not to kill, but Souls to save.  
Who then believes Saint Patrick's Oracles?  
That Irish Kerns he killed by Miracles?  
Or credit our New Sects, who do conspire  
To plant our Saviour's Church by Sword and Fire?  
So far lived Christ from Pride; at once he had  
But one plain Robe, wherewith his back was clad;  
One Coat he wore to shroud his naked skin,  
A Seamelesse Coat to cover Adam's sin;  
A Coat indeed wrought uniform and plain,  
To show that he recovered back again  
Our former suit of Innocence entire  
Without those seams of Schoolman's nice atti●e,  
Which likewise we, like Turtle Doves, must wear  
At our New Birth with Love and filial fear,  
Not slashing it, like Schismatics unbid,  
Nor casting Lots, as Rome's fell Soldiers did,  
Who not content to gore his Guiltless side  
And Body slay, his Raiment did divide.  
" The Fóxes had their Holes, the Airy Fowl  
" Their proper Nests: But he poor harmless Soul,  
" Like Noah's Dove, on earth could scarce have footing;  
" No certain Lodge, nor comforts worth the booting,  
" Glad in his Travels to receive relief  
" Of them, who for his sake received Life.  
Instead of Ease, he Persecution felt,  
Chose Deserts oft, and into Brine did melt  
His Eyes with grief to see such Combination;  
Such Pride among his own selected Nation.  
He spent the day in Preaching and good deeds,  
The night in Prayer for their foul Misdeeds:  
Yet lived he more contented with his Fate  
Than Solomon with all his Royal state,  
Before whose pomp & trains Illustrious muster,  
He prized the Lilies for their native Lustre.  
Such Artless flowers he saw of goodlier hue  
And Glaring more than any Mask or show.  
This Christ expressed with Gospel's Majesty,  
With Practice patience, Love, and Poverty;  
Tears often shed, true zeal, and thereupon  
His Father's Doom for Sinners undergone.  
To stint our daily Cares for worldly pelf,  
" The Morrow's Carke he bids leave to itself.  
For why should we distrust our Father's Aid,  
When we see Fields with various Robes arrayed?  
And Sparrows bred without Man's industry?  
Then how much more will he our Need supply?  
Before we think on things mere Transitory,  
Seek first, said Christ, the Joys of Heavenly glory,  
And then be sure of this: you shall have more  
Than serves your turn out of his bounteous store,  
Or at the least, what Nature may suffice,  
Food, Raiment, Lodging, or the like supplies:  
Have you forgot the many Thousands fed  
With a few Fish, and Barley Loaves of Bread?  
To teach us thrift, the scraps when they were filled  
Most frugally to be laid up he willed:  
Look carefully the Fragments be not lost,  
Or cast away (quoth he, the Gentle Oast.)  
" A fair advice to them that spend on Hounds,  
" What serves for Humane use, though wealth abounds.  
" This Rule likewise a warning Type I place  
" For them that waste their Inward Food of Grace,  
" Distributing in Plays, some Pearls to Hogs,  
" Christ's holy scraps, as Huntsmen cheer their Dogs.  
" When we must keep the Relics of our board,  
" Ought we not more the Sacred Word to hoard?  
" The smallest crumbs and passag●● of Grace,  
" May stead the weak in their New holy Race,  
O let us then without Sophistic Brabble  
Reserve all Remnants of the Mystic Table,  
Lest that the Seed, which Christ the better Part  
Most needful calls, miss rooting in the Heart,  
Lest Martha-like with Household toil ●pprest  
We want the Food which Mary liked best,  
The Word, which she so well digested then,  
That her best Choice crownes her Saint Magdalen.   

To wean us from aspiring to Promotion,  
The Old man's plot, the Serpent's shining Motion,  
When some of his Apostles strove for place,  
Jesus did thus their lofty minds abase:  
He took and ranked a Child in midst of them,  
Protesting that, though he of scorned stem  
Were held by them: yet Meek and Innocent,  
His Spirit might an Elders worth prevent,  
And that unless a Child we imitate  
In harmless Love, we seek God's Lamb too late▪   

Doubtless there is a great Antipathy  
Betwixt the World and Heaven for Quality  
And Motion: when the Church here Militant  
Failes to Consort her Tunes extravagant  
With the Elects Allelujahs Union,  
The Greatest here may miss of Saint's Communion  
But if our thoughts shine circled in the Ring  
Of mutual Love with constant Faith, (a thing  
That may not be except the Holy Ghost  
Infuse those flaming Twins) then will the Hoas●  
Of Angel's Choir by the like Sympathy,  
As Load stones, meet our Wills conformity.  
Though Nature doth Impostumated swell,  
Or burn with Fevers, like the fits of Hell,  
The Spirit yet more strong in the Vacation  
Will overcome, and settle our Vocation;  
God's Mercy will with Nature's moods dispense,  
If fixing on his Son our Confidence  
And Rest, we kneel 'twixt Love and reverend fears  
To Him alone with contrite sighs and tears,  
Unfaignedly sweet Abbaes' sound to greet,  
Oft looking down on our vile Peacock's feet.   

O would these Lays might now rebound with Echoes!  
And pierce the Ears of Earth's Magnificoes,  
With sad Portents reverberating Rue,  
And Wormwood moods for slighting what is true!  
Because they dote, despising Saints Correction,  
On Idoll-praise of Good my Lord's reflection,  
And derogate from God's Prerogative,  
Not giving thanks to him by whom they thrive  
With Titles more than Don●, than Gundamore,  
Like Herod, or proud Babel's scarlet Whore:  
God's wrath in spite of all their brave reputes  
Will squeeze their Pomp and Popelike Attributes.  
Truth echoed Ruth: and he that scorns her Echo  
Pigma●ion turns, Don Quishot, or a Hicco.  
Truth spoke this doom with Trumpets sounding loud:  
" God helps the meek, and tumbles down the proud.  
" So spoke her voice in them that bade us shun  
" High Seats, rich Robes, to wear the homely spun  
" Old Sackecloathes weed, plain stuff, or Camel's hair,  
" Contritions Garbs, puffed Honours to impair.  
So spoke bright shining Truth, that Noble Dame,  
In them that warned the Outward man to tame,  
Who by Saint John at the Lamb's Feast records  
That Fowls shall eat the flesh of Mighty Lords,  
When poorest Saints and meanest of Esteem  
Shall feed with Christ, though they unworthy seem  
To Carnal Eyes, and whilst those Potentates,  
Or pamp'red Lords with all their Glistering states.  
For want of Wedding Robes shall be excluded.  
And to become a shameful prey concluded.  
Mean while to gain a Name like Alexander,  
Some live by Bloody spoils, or else they squander  
Their surest Means on Earth for the support  
Of their high pomp, and blazing stars report.  
But after death, O Fools; what Harvest shall  
Ye reap by Fame? or Port Pontifical?  
Or if perchance ye live to dappled Age,  
Will not a lingering hell abate your Rage?  
Would God these Lines might prove Angelical  
That they were stamped in Letters Capital,  
For never Age durst be so bold to call  
Like Ours, Damned Pride of Grace's Principals.   

Christ wils us not to Judge men for that sin,  
Whereof we know ourselves have guilty been,  
For look with what rough measure we do meet  
To others, God will make the like complete  
Upon our score: To cure a Brother's sight  
'tis fit our own be clear to Judge aright.  
We must not give Gods holy things to dogs,  
Nor Minister his Mysteries to hogs,  
For hogge● in Mire the finest Pearls will tread,  
And envious dogs with Brutish Passions led,  
Will snarling-wise their Master's Guests molest,  
Whom he invited to his marriage Feast.  
These dogs and ●ogs, Christ warns us to prevent  
Full cautiously, lest us they circumvent,  
And interrupt our entry into bliss,  
The Gate whereof is straight, and many miss  
To find it out; Although they have been Called,  
Yet very few are chosen and installed  
True Saints: (so narrow is the heavenly Gate.)  
Some know the Way, but coming there too late  
They are repulsed; some boast of Miracles,  
And of great Merits, yet find Obstacles,  
And for their vaunts are dashed; Not every one  
That calls Lord, Lord; or knows God's murdered Son,  
Shall enter there with glozing snares and Nets:  
The hollow Hearts prove then the greatest Lets,  
As do their Brags of Meritorious works,  
Or naked Faith. Here the sly Serpent lurks  
Unseen of Carnal eyes, and will betray  
Souls with feigned Echoes, till they lose their way.  
But if they like our highest Fathers will,  
They must shun ill, and so climb up his Hill.  
How many thousands dote on worldly Pleasure  
So long, until they lose Souls sacred Treasure?  
Sometimes Hell's thiefs break in, and all is gone;  
Some other time wanting the Corner stone,  
Their house falls down, which whilst they build again,  
Death summons them, or tortures them with pain  
That they forget their Master and their charge,  
And lose thereby his Grace, and their discharge.  
All ye therefore, that mind the Heavenly Palace,  
Take Christ's advice; Build not for carnal solace,  
On Bog, or Sand: but build upon the Rock  
Your Temple, where you need not fear the shock  
Of Tyrant-waves, nor foggy Earth's eruptions,  
Nor undermining Fankes, nor Thiefs eruptions.  
And then you shall be sure though Nature's date  
Concludes your State, to meet with happier Fate.  
" Too Counterfeits much blame Christ did impute,  
" And such as gave their Alms for vain repute;  
" He wills us not to strive for Wealth or Place,  
" Nor for Good works to look for Humane Grace,  
" To love his Friends, and not on them to prey,  
" Nay, to forgive, and for our Foes to pray.  
" We must not on a Brother wreck our teen,  
" Nor let the Sun go down upon our spleen;  
We must remit not only seven Times,  
But Seventy times seven; and that betimes,  
Lest that we run that wretched Steward's race,  
To whom his Lord compassioning his Case  
Suspended all his Debts, until he heard  
How he had dealt with others sore and hard.   

He God forbade with Babbling to abuse,  
But when we pray, the briefest Terms to use,  
" More tending to his Praise, than our supplies,  
" Which last we season must sometimes with sighs:  
" Not Parrot-like by roate, but from the Root,  
" And Bottom of the Heart with Abbaes' Note;  
The Module whereof himself declared,  
Thus having us from tedious Forms debarred:  
" Father most High, thy Name be glorified:  
" Thy Kingdom come: As doth in heaven betid,  
" Thy will on Earth be done: Food daily give,  
" To us: As we our Foes; Lord, us forgive:  
" And let us not be tempted by the Devil,  
" The World, or Flesh, but free us from all Evil.  
This pithy Form the Lord to us did leave  
For pattern pure, if we it well conceive.  
We must in chief look on God's Sacred Power,  
And sanctify his Name before we pour  
Devotions forth for our own Private Ends.  
We must do nothing worldly, but what tends  
More to his Praise than to our own respect.  
He warns that we false Christians must expect,   

Who the true Faith to bring into neglect  
Will forge strange things well-nere to fool the Elect;  
False Balaams, who not holding Love for Roof,  
Would cover Faith with Golden Clouds aloof,  
" False Teachers, like the Scribes and Pharisees  
" Who should seduce the world with Dreams and lies,  
" Who like Jew's Rabbis for Supremacies,  
" Should gape, and Hunt for Lordly Primacies,  
" Over his Members, whom he Brethren styles,  
A Caveat true for Antichristian Wiles.  
Yea, and for Lords, if they good Christians grieve  
Under pretext of God's Prerogative.  
To these he other adds, signs that portend  
The Judgement day at hand, and the worlds End.  
" When that we see strange Plagues, Fraud, Famine, Jars,  
" With Massacres of Saints, and Bloody wars,  
" When Mauzzims Type reigns in God's holy place,  
" Like Caesars set for Zions last disgrace:  
" When Frogs, or Locusts waste our means of Light;  
" When the Baptised our New man's Gifts do slight,  
" And sell men's Souls; when one betrays another,  
" And of Christ's flock the Brother hurts the Brother;  
" When Children to their Sires rebellious prove,  
" And Wives to Husbands fail in mutual Love:  
" These tearing Unions Bond by love's divorce,  
" Those razing Nature's Fort without remorse:  
" When both these States, the Churches mystic type,  
" Each other cloy with Tares, or fruit unripe:  
" When men create New Christ's both here & there,  
" Or, then in Heaven, Christ's body seek elsewhere;  
" When his bright Light shines in the utmost West,  
" Which, like to Lightning, rose first from the East▪  
" When most men's zeal shall frozen be and cold,  
" Then every hour look for the End foretold;  
" Which End steals on, like daniel's desolations,  
" Or Noah's Flood, which overtook all Nations,  
" Whilst they were feasting, like our Libertines,  
Who slight these Flames, as they those Crystal signs.  
Heed, Readers, than your Monitors advise,  
And scorn not this his Servants Sacrifice.  
Other good Rules to us Christ left behind  
To clear the sight of the most sinful blind,  
And those in solid words more comprehending  
In one short Parable, more by descending  
From Generals to forms Particular,  
Conducting Saints to the Archangels war,  
With easy steps, and edifying phrase,  
More than by thorny doubts, Meander's maze.  
" Which course if Preachers now adays would trace  
" With Catechising Lectures to make place  
" For Seed to spring, not half so many Tares  
" Would choke pure-seeded hearts with worldly cares.  
" If in their Sermons to the simpler sort  
" They leave to canvas and to make report  
" Of matters past their reach and Apprehensions,  
Or such deep points, which might provoke contentions:  
As God's Essential Form, Pelagian doubts,  
The Souls freewill, hell's place, or whereabouts  
Departed Saints are seated till Doomsday;  
And not the Pulpit beat with an Affray  
On Bellarmine, and other Clerks unknown,  
Whom they with Latin there would tumble down.  
If they shoot not Wits Squibs against the Truth,  
Nor Legend-dreames to sing the ears of Youth;  
If they Preach nothing but Christ Crucified,  
And saving Faith, sin would lie mortified:  
Their zeal would spring, if they with zealous mood,  
Expound Christ's Gospel to be understood.  
Men would repent, sins Baits if they disgrace,  
Dividing the Law's Thunder from mild Grace.   

Some kind of sins, which daily he beheld  
Committed by poor humble Souls, he held  
More venial, of compassionate regard:  
He pitied them, and their petitions heard,  
If with Contritions Groans they did lament,  
And of their sins unfeignedly repent.  
To show his Love unto the Convertite,  
To lift up Souls from discontented plight,  
And that none should despair of Clemency,  
He did these short similitudes apply.  
A man had lost one sheep of many score,  
But finding it with toil, rejoiced more,  
Than for the rest, which never strayed at all  
From their own Rank, his whistle, or his call.  
A Woman next he cited, who did boast,  
More of one silver piece, which she had lost  
And after search recovered, then of nine  
Left in her purse, that never made her whine.  
For further proof, he brought the Prodigal,  
Who spent his means, both use and Principal,  
Most lavishly, yet afterwards Repenting,  
With tears he found his Father's hearts relenting,  
That his Return a Newman from a Beast  
He welcomed with a Calf, and made a Feast.  
" Such Joy (Christ said) transports the Angel's Choir,  
" When men Repent, and seek their Heavenly Sire.  
" They triumph more for One poor Convertite  
" Than for less Strays, or more in life upright.  
So pitiful was Christ, that to unfold  
His Love, Remorse, and mercies manifold:  
Were endless pains above Capacity  
Of Humane wit clogged with Infirmity:  
As may appear by that Adulteress  
Led by the Scribes, when seeing her heaviness  
He bade her to go home, and sin no more;  
And when himself stood tortured at death's door  
He comforted the Thief with Paradise,  
Because he asked for Grace with doleful eyes.   

" But for the Higher sort, who proudly dared  
" Masked under Law's pretence with burdens hard  
" To Tyrannize upon men's Consciences,  
" And by School Quirks, or wrested sentences  
" Of Scripture to molest the Church's union,  
" Those with a woe he doomed for disunion,  
With such who force the gift of Chastity,  
Unless God gave it, on Humanity;  
Who barring Saints Gods In age to beget,  
Would wove for foul Asmod●eus Priests a Net.  
Christ utterly misliked such Scandalists,  
Like them who dare, beyond Religion's Lists  
As petty Kings, to Lord it by their gripes,  
Wounding the Poor, worthy of many stripes,  
Those he Judged to be, for above all sins  
Then reigning strong, and whereby Satan wins  
Most in our Age, smooth-faced Hypocrisy  
He loathed as foul thoughts, Souls Leprosy.  
Eight several woes therefore against the Scribes  
He thundered for their hollow deeds and Bribes:  
" Who knew his Masters will and did it not,  
" But wilfully would loiter, play, or plot  
" Some lewd design against his Master's profit,  
" Or saw his loss, and not informs him of it;  
Such witting slaves he sentenced to be  
Worthy of smart in a most high degree.  
It grieved him much to see Wisemen contend,  
Like Idiots, and fond children to no end,  
For shadows on the wall, for Dignity,  
Short lasting Pomp, for so true Liberty  
Quite losing through their Pride, and vain desires  
They quench the flame of Intellectual fires:  
Christ saw these Flashes, Dreams, and Fooleries,  
And oft lamented them with weeping eyes.  
To shun therefore God's wrath, and to fulfil,  
While we on earth survive, his Father's will,  
" Of force we must (he said) forsake our own,  
" Though dearest, Lusts, and tread Temptations down:  
" We must take up his Cross, and that prefer,  
" As Heaven's door, and our Remembrancer,  
" Before our Parents, Children, or Alliance,  
" And on his Blood to fix our whole Affiance.  
To Penitents through Faith, he preached Remission  
Of sins, but Plagues for temporised omission,  
The which with Tears he Prophesied would light  
For wilful sin on every faithless wight.  
This Judgement on Jerusalem foretold  
By Rome's proud Conquests afterwards took hold,  
When Abraham's seed, the Circumcised Ligne,  
Were quite expulsed the Land of Palestine.  
And sithence we, the Christians of the West,  
Yea, and the East, whom Infidels molest,  
Have felt for sin God's Plagues of Vengeance due,  
And shall feel worse, unless we change our hue,  
With better Leaven than the Pharisees,  
Our Faith, like ill baked bread, soon putrifies.  
O hardened hearts! O most unhappy men!  
How oft sought Christ, like to a careful Hen  
Her wand'ring Chickens, or a loving Brother,  
To reunite your strays? and wrongs to smother?  
How oft likewise hath he recalled home,  
Into his Flock our Western Christendom?  
God grant our B●itaines may regard this pittance,  
These crumbs of mine, not slighting their admittance  
Into his Fold, least Antichristian soul  
Devour their seed and their New man control;  
" Lest for their want of Faith's Lamp-oil in Heaven,  
" They be like to the Foolish Virgins driven  
" From the King's Feast; or that they hide their Talents;  
" Or they shut out for want of wedding raiments;  
" Or like those Clowns, who their Lords Servants stripped,  
" Murdered his Son, and were themselves extirpt.   

These several sorts of Temporizers touched,  
We find by Christ himself, and sharply couched  
Under these pithy Parables, like them;  
Which praise the Tree, and yet the Fruit contemn  
For some there are, as Jesus did rehearse,  
Who by the High way side, good Corn disperse,  
And this the Birds catch up, and prey upon.  
Some sow in Barren ground too near the Stone;  
Which wanting Earth & moisture wants increase;  
" So hardened Faith can never harvest Peace.  
" And though God's word be Preached on Sabbath days,  
" Yet lacking Roo●e, it withers & decays.  
Such Auditors, and outward Formalists  
Stand both excluded out of Christian Lists.  
" Some seed springs fair, but choked with thorns and Tares,  
" Soon fail, like brains too full of worldly cares.  
" When Satan's weeds of vanity, or Lust  
" Grow up with Faith, than Faith lies in the dust.  
So in God's Church spring Heresies accursed,  
Unless Good Pastors weed them up at first.  
" But blessed be they, who sow in Fruitful ground,  
" Their Grain shall sure a hundred fold abound;  
" Like Mustard seed, though at the Prime but small,  
" Yet at the Harvest, it grows full and Tall.  
If Adam's Sons could with a zealous mind  
Receive God's Word, his Spirit they should find,  
His holy Gifts would multiply with store;  
From bliss to bliss they should rise more & more.   

Such Prophecies of Christ's are come to pass,  
Where we may see, as in a steely glass,  
How some ●ay for God's Messengers a train,  
Yea and to slay their Master's Son again.  
How near some run into damnation's brink,  
Like Bears to eat his Flesh, his Blood to drink?  
" For do not they with Blasphemy mistake?  
" To brag, that they did Flesh material take?  
" When Christ before his Passion, as he sat  
" At Supper, did no such communicate.  
" In real form? nor yield for them to gnaw  
" His Limbs, which then and there entire they saw?  
" His Flesh and Blood Christ consters to be Life,  
" And Quickening Spirit, and to end all strife.  
" He saith, that Man must have another Birth,  
" The Elder borne of flesh, or Carnal earth.  
" The second of the Spirit, New and quick;  
" Whereto a Saint with constant faith must stick,  
" For as the flesh subsists with earthly Bread,  
" So by his Death's Record the Soul is fed:  
" His Sacrificed flesh with mouths Confession  
" And Hearts Belief received, heals all Transgression;  
" And doth through Grace the Spirits food impart  
" Unto God's Image pure, Man's noblest part.  
" This made Christ say: The flesh cannot avail,  
" For Bliss, but that his quickening words prevail.  
" This quickening food Christ's Spirit satisfied,  
" When Satan tried his Body mortified:  
" Man's person here not only lives by Bread,  
" But with the word of God he must be fed.  
" This unseen meat Christ had, as he did tell,  
" Whereof they knew not, at Samariaes' Well.  
" On which Eternal ●ates those Souls that feed,  
" Of Carnal food shall never stand in need,  
" Nor at Doomsday, when Hags howl out, Alas!  
" Shall Soule-fed Saints to condemnation pass.  
This Living water free'y without sale,  
Christ cried to all a thirst, both great an small;  
" To drink, believe, and feed on Christ, implies  
" The self same thing in our great Sacrifice.  
Our Body's food by Nature rots at last,  
Converts to dung, and to the draught is cast,  
Or is to Humours changed; but Christ his food  
Transforms us to his quickening flesh and blood,  
Of the like Substance formed and Quality  
As the New man's by Christ's Conformity.  
" The Rock a figure was, the Vine a sign;  
" Blessed be the Branches grafted in this Vine,  
" So blessed be they, who make true Ghostly use  
" Of this Rock, Vine, and Blood without abuse.  
" As here our Souls feed on Christ's flesh and blood,  
" By faith: so musing on his Sacred food,  
" We shall raised up to higher Dignity  
" Feed on Christ's Godhead and Humanity;  
" Where now we feed on Christ the Lamb divine,  
" We than shall Feast through Christ, with God in Trine.  
" Gods word begat the Church's Sacraments,  
" Of sundry forms, yet One in their intents;  
" The Circumcision and the Easter Lamb,  
" Our Baptism and the Eucharist became;  
" Mysterious signs Christ's Image to renew  
" By Grace in man, the Gentile as the Jew,  
" In which, as they their Faith enfolded fixed,  
" So we on Christ Baptised, and C●ucifixt;  
" For in the Cloud the Nation circumcised  
" Were in the Desert to Faith's Rock baptised,  
" An easy yoke for us, two Objects free,  
" Both which they darkling saw, through Crystal we:  
●They God admired in their old Sacrifice,  
" As we do Christ in ours with Ecstasies.  
" Faith saved them and did their souls relieve,  
" And the same God saves us, if we believe.  
" Since they were saved believing in the Shadows,  
" Than why not we receiving him that made us?  
" Yea sure, we may according to our Creed  
" And zeal, feed on his Flesh, true Flesh indeed,  
" Not Chymicke-like, with changing Accidents,  
" But as our Newman feeds with Soule-rapt sense;  
" Not with our Teeth, nor yet Fantastic flesh,  
" But as himself at Supper did express  
" It for Souls Food to his Disciples then,  
" As now, with his Death's type, to Christian men.   

Who this believes and helps the wounded man,  
Without a Fee, like the Samaritan,  
If he be Lowly, as the Publican,  
Ashamed of sin, and doth the best he can  
To please the Lord▪ he shall be borne anew,  
Of God's bright Spirit, and see all things New,  
" The Sacraments typed with New properties;  
" The one doth cleanse the Babes impurities,  
The other cheers us up by Sacrifice  
Of Bread and Wine, Food of new Qualities,  
Under whose veil they blest by sacred Word  
We mind in Trance the Body of the Lord,  
And then we check the World, the Flesh, the Devil;  
For Saints well know, that nothing which is evil,  
Nor yet that Flesh, wherein our Spirits move,  
Shall Heaven see, till Grace our sins remove:  
(Which may not be, unless we will Repent  
To Nature's grief, and Fiends astonishment▪)  
How we become New borne, no more we know  
Than Nicodemus, how the wind did blow,  
But by our Faith: that God's Son crucified  
Doth now on his Right hand sit glorified  
Above all Thrones, A Saviour, Priest, and King,  
Triumphant over sin, the Dragon's sting,  
And may heal us, as the Brass Serpent hung  
Did Israelites by fiery Serpents stung,  
If we receive this Viands excellence  
With Inward taste more than with Outward sense.  
But why did Christ Evangelize Salvation  
In mystic sort? and aim at Reprobation  
By sentences to carnal wits so dark,  
Was it that we more seriously might mark,  
The Sense, when they should moralised be  
By Clerks of our levitical Degree.  
Perhaps such Tropes propped with Divinity,  
May work in some with greater Majesty  
" So Saints sometimes to States Tyrannical  
" Have read by Riddles, or in General  
" Grave Lectures on the Gospel's Lightning Text,  
" Lest their seeds growth by spleen or by pretext  
" Of winding Laws were dashed with disrespect,  
" Or silenced themselves with foul neglect,  
" If bluntly they, or headlong out of Season  
" Preach much of Peace to Tyrant's void of Reason.  
Christ's flock well knows his voice: but on the rest  
That stray, let Wolves and Roamers Feast,  
Let carnal Sots poare on Carnalities,  
Whilst we Christ's Body see with Angels eyes,  
Or at the least, while with our New man's sight,  
We do discern from Carnal Sense his Light:  
After this way hid from the Old man's brood  
Our Noblest part receives Christ's mystic Food.   

Some other times He proved his Oracles  
Concerning fruitless faith by Miracles;  
As when he to a Figtree did repair  
For fruit; which a far off seemed green & fair  
In show, but finding there not aught but Leaves,  
Incensed, he it with indignation leaves,  
Because he found it backward in the yielding,  
And not well Graft, he left it for a Hielding,  
And from thenceforth a Reprobated Tree:  
For when he said, Let never fruit on thee,  
Ripe or unripe, ●e from ●ence forward found,  
The Boughs fell dead, & withered to the Ground.  
What shall I write of Tabors Mount the Story?  
Where three Disciples saw his shining glory?  
In all his works of greatest Eminence,  
He ever had his end and Reference  
To Constant Faith, and to his Father's Will,  
Which for Man's good he thirsted to fulfil.  
The number of the signs which Jesus wrought,  
Were infinite, beyond man's Wit or Thought:  
Whereof the first was water turned to Wine,  
To grace a Marriage-feast by Deeds divine  
At Cana wrought a Town of Galilee:  
Which him confirmed the Mystic Vine to be;  
That as raw water took the taste and shape  
Beyond men's reach of Nature's rarest Grape,  
So might dull Thoughts, though cold, receive impression  
Of the Fire-cloven tongued zeals expression.  
He by his word made simple Fishermen,  
More wise than Doctors without Book or Pen.  
He made the Blind to see, the Lame to go,  
The dumb to speak; the sick past cure, forgo  
Their Palsies, Dropsies, and Issues of blood  
Yea, from his Vesture touched proceeded good.  
He forced his Foes, the Luciferian rout,  
To quake, and at his word he chased them out.  
He many freed with Real fiends possessed;  
Cleansed Lepers, and all as were distressed  
With Fever's Fire, or Humours foaming Rage,  
Or were diseased of Young or Elder Age,  
In Body, or in Mind; He raised the Dead  
To Life, and Lazar in his Earthy Bed  
For four day's space entombed he revived,  
And thousands with small victuals he relieved:  
Which deeds his Power proved Omnipotent,  
That could raise Food, and make his guests content.  
He walked dryfoot on the liquid Seas:  
He calmed rough storms with words: Be still & Peace;  
Words cyphring him Gods mighty Son, and Word,  
Which could so soon both winds and waves accord.  
Not one, who had of Faith the smallest grain,  
Departed from his sight uncured of pain.  
He cured their Body's griefs, their sins remitted,  
He calmed God's wrath, and nothing he omitted  
Expedient for the Souls salvation here,  
Whereby we might before God's Throne appear,  
Made pure by Faith: free from Concupiscence  
Original, and sins derived from thence  
By means of his great Merits excellence,  
His words, his works, and Virgin-Innocence.  
He knew the thoughts and Plots of Salems' Clerk's,  
And did strike home at their sly muttering quirks.  
And all these wonders of amazement full,  
Christ acted to provoke a Nation dull,  
Yea to confirm his Gospel's Oracles  
Transferred from God, he wrought such Miracles,  
To make our Souls to see the Heavenly Light  
With Eyes of Faith, and here to live upright,  
According to his Pattern: more to raise  
Our Maker's Glory, than our causeless praise;  
To muse on more the New man's lasting Food,  
Then Transubstantiate Toys of Flesh and blood,  
That we by fiends and worldly wiles perplexed,  
Might find sound Cure in his true Gospel's text,  
Christ's Testament, which in the Church more bold  
Then wise, some in their hands, not Hearts do hold  
But 'tis in vain to turn the Scriptures over,  
To quote some Text, and presently to hover  
About our worldly business, as if borne,  
Like Butter flies, or Nature's shameful scorn,  
To flutter time away with painted wings;  
But we must plod on these Eternal things  
With serious care, that when our Tempter's come  
(As come they will) they may not find us dumb,  
Or Planet struck, but finding us prepared,  
With Jesus in our mouths, and hearts; out dared,  
They out of hand will from our Lodge depart  
To other Ranks their venom to impart.   

Such wonders were achieved for three years' space,  
To witness Christ God's Son, and in God's place,  
The first at Canaes' Marriage did appear,  
The last concludes by healing Malchus Eare.  
Moore Miracles were by our Saviour wrought,  
To satisfy the true Believers Thought  
Then living in that Age. But these suffice  
To manifest his God head to the Wise,  
To Penitents, and hopeful Catechists,  
Which were left by the four Evangelists.  
For if the Precepts all, which Jesus taught,  
With Wonders wrought, were to our knowledge brought,  
They would confound the Hearers memories,  
And fables seem in Baal's blind Oratories.  
God's word is pithy, short, and ponderous,  
Where Humane Gloss is long and frivolous.  
We have enough Christ's Gospel to confirm;  
We crave no more to keep our Inside firm,  
Than what we by the Spirits Penmen find  
Recorded there to edify the Mind.  
If any cover more, let them take heed,  
That they smart not for their Presumptuous deed▪  
As sometime sought a Princess fond with zeal,  
Of Christ his deeds to add an ampler deal;  
Those which Saint John omitted she desired  
To bring to Light, but while she thus aspired,  
A wand'ring Friar of like Holiness  
From Italy arrived; and did possess  
Her mind so much, that he by Revelation,  
False dreams, deceits, and Satan's provocation,  
And feigning, that he got into his hand  
Saint Peter's Relic sho●e in Jewrie● Land  
Had soon persuaded her, that from her womb  
A Prophet borne should afterwards become  
The man, that should those Miracles omitted,  
Divulge to Light, whereby he was admitted,  
Because more Holy in her vain opinion,  
Then other men, to be her Carnal Minion,  
Until at last, 
z This Story is largely set out in that Treatise entitled, Les Comptes du monde Adventureux Imprinted at Paris. 1572.  A Duke's Inheritrix  
With a great Belly turned a Meretrix.   

BUt all Christ's works could not from Martyrdom  
Protect his Life, such was the Godheads Doom,  
That him to sting the Serpent should aspire,  
And him to slay now men and fiends conspire:   

That Year, when Caiphas sat in Aaron's room  
By Deputation from Imperious Rome,  
In th' Eighteenth year of Old Tiberius' Reign,  
When Pontius Pilate for ambitious gain,  
And bloody spoils had racked Judaeaes' Land  
About seven years with his Praetorian Band:  
Then Christ his Fame for raising Lazarus  
From death, and for such deeds Miraculous,  
Began to spread abroad with glorious wings,  
And then it pleased the Sovereign King of Kings  
To free his Son from Earthly cares and fears,  
And to recall him from this vale of tears,  
Where he had lived among the Jewish Rout  
For three and thirty years, or thereabout.  
The period now approached of that Decree  
Foredoomed by the Sacred Trinity:  
That Gods dear Son, New Creatures to create,  
Should for Old Adam die a shameful Fate.  
The Jewish Scribes of Salems' Hierarchy  
Had long before with plots begun to try,  
How him they might entangle in his speech,  
But his wise answers still outstripped their reach.  
Sometime they did with questions him assay,  
To know, if they should unto Caesar pay  
Tribute or no; whereby they might for Treason  
Attach him: but they failed for that season.  
So wary in his talk they found him still,  
They could no way entrap his Tongue for ill,  
Nor tax his life with the least heinous Fact.  
At last the bruit of his late famous Act,  
How Lazarus revived from his Grave,  
Where he had lain for four day's space, that gave  
More cause of envy and astonishment,  
New Jealousies, fuel of discontent;  
But most of all when loud Hosannae● shout  
To welcome him the City rang throughout.  
How many griefs on his Humanity?  
How many wrongs on his Divinity  
Did they from time to Time, when they should render  
Him grateful thanks, inflict? though thanks were slender:  
Instead of thanks his Favours they requited  
With Adder's stings; his wonders they backebited,  
And took him for a Witch or Conjurer,  
With Belzebub in League; that he did err,  
Dislodging Friend's but by the Prince of hell.  
But how Christ raised the dead, they could not tell  
Which way that chanced before the latter date  
Of crooked Time doomed to a flaming fate.  
That some revived, they had some instances,  
But they were few, or but few hours in trances.  
Never did Enoch pay his debt to death,  
Death never stopped the zealous Thesbites breath:  
For these they had their Schoole-distinctions clear,  
But Christ's late Act amazed them with fear.  
They feared the loss of their high Temporal sway,  
Lest this New man might turn men's hearts away  
From Moses Laws, and make their Offerings less:  
They had of late by Rome felt some distress.  
Their yearly gains, which did support their pride,  
They doubted much would fall with his Springtide.  
This moved the Scribes, with their High Priest and Judge,  
Proud Caiphas, so at Christ his Fame to grudge;  
Which to deface a Council they did call  
Of their chief Priests and Scribes in Caiphas' Hall,  
Where Annas styled the High Priests Suffragan,  
Or SAGAN to Jew's Metropolitan,  
Whose Daughter was that time to Caiphas' Wife,  
Conspired thus against our Saviour's life:  
Right Reverend Rabbis, and renowned Scribes,  
The Countenance of our most holy Tribes,  
Have we not suffered griefs enough of late?  
But that more cares must now infest our state?  
A Counterfeit Messias, a New Man,  
Jesus of Galilee, a Puritan,  
Thinks now because he is a Nazarite  
Professed, to change the Priesthoods Ancient Rite,  
And Ceremonies of Mount Sinaies' Law.  
Behold, how he doth labour to withdraw  
The frail and giddyheaded multitude  
From our Traditions, which he termeth rude,  
Humane, and not Divine. If this World hold,  
Farewell Peace offerings, which our State uphold.  
We must bid Moses, with God's Laws adieu,  
And Aaron's Tinkling Bells shall lose their due.  
We shall no more meet here before the Lord,  
If this upstart with his unlettred word  
Shall by New dreams raise up a Newer sect  
Than Holy Johns, whom none of us suspect  
Of Fraud. To Schisms this matter sure will tend,  
Which in short time our Synagogue will rend.  
Rome's greedy Kites will of these News be glad,  
Nor Herod will be thereof very sad.  
But both will join to share our finest wool,  
And down they will our goodly Temple pull.  
How shall our Levites then themselves sustain?  
Nay, how shall our Grand Mitred Prelate reign,  
To represent great Aaron's Majesty?  
If this Impostor masked with poverty  
Do stop the gap, through which to Paradise  
We lead men's Souls, the simple and the wise.  
I do protest it grieves me to the Heart,  
And I foresee, we shall hereafter smart,  
If he goes on in this his Newfound motions,  
Though Begger-wise, yet may it breed Commotions.  
For did you note, when through the Streets he passed  
Upon a bare-backt Ass, how some did cast  
Their Garments on the way, with Branches green  
Held in their hands, like Fools, to have him seen,  
And for a Demigod observed, the Crowd  
Hosanna with great Shouts proclaiming loud?  
And all because he had by Satan's Aid  
To Lazarus late dead new Life conveyed.  
Indeed some signs he works, and men possessed  
With Fiends he cures, having some league professed  
With Belzebub: for which he hath no warrants  
From God, or us, to execute such errands.  
Anna's had scarce expressed himself at full:  
When Caiphas, like to Basans' bellowing Bull,  
Began to roar: Shall we put up this wrong?  
And not suppress him, ere he be too strong?  
Have we not yet both Swords at our Command?  
Pilate will not deny, if we demand  
His Armed help to take a Mutineer,  
Who calls himself God's Son, to domineer  
The sooner by that high and lofty style.  
But let us now attach him by some wile,  
Lest to some Desert he depart again,  
When he shall hear, that we would take him fain;  
And thither will a world of people flock,  
Itching to hear what of the Living Rock,  
Or the New Birth he blunders out, to blear  
Their silly sight, and so away to bear  
The Palm from us, or draw them to despise  
Our Ancient Rites, and Stately Sacrifice.  
'tis meeter for one man, though Innocent,  
To die, then that we live in discontent;  
Yea, and that Lazarus, his late raised minion,  
Shall suffer too, to stay the world's opinion.  
And then with shame the Rabble rout shall see,  
That Prophets never rose from Galilee;  
For our new King in Bethlem must be borne  
With state and pomp, not like this wretch forlorn  
Who for a Throne, shall mount the Cross most royal,  
And for a Mace, shall bear a Reed as loyal.  
This is his doom, though he the dead revive,  
That dares affront our high Prerogative  
Derived from God, with Ephod● golden Guard,  
With Vrim which and Thummim we regard;  
Which evermore Jehovah did assign  
Over his Church to us of Levies Ligne;  
At least until our Great Messias come  
Of Judaes' stock in Kingly David's room,  
Before which day Elias must descend  
From Heaven down, things crooked to amend.  
In the mean time let us our State defend  
Against New wits, which labour it to rend,  
By broaching forth a New Religion's Form,  
Under pretence the Ancient to reform  
From all Traditions and Formalities  
By their New f●ames, the Spirits Novelties.  
Before his fame soar up a higher pitch,  
Clip we his wings, lest his New Sect bewitch  
The better sort with Hell's attractive charms:  
His sudden fall will stop all future harms.  
So Caiphas yalpt; and all the Sadduces  
Approved his plot with some proud pharisees.   

From that time out they sought to apprehend  
The Lamb of God. And Satan to that end,  
Because he thrice failed in the Wilderness  
To Tempt him with his Baltes to wickedness,  
With all his Art began to play his part,  
And to his Mates his poison to impart,  
Aiming at Peter, whom he thought to sift  
As whea●e. He had already to his drift  
Snared Judas in by Nets of Avarice  
To gape for gain, and some of those supplies,  
Which by Freehearted men for their Relief  
Had been conferred, to turn, like a false Thief  
To his own use. With him therefore the Fiend  
Conspired to bring to pass his damned End;  
Which was to ruin Christ, and all his Crew  
Before he could on Earth God's Church renew:  
But could none other of th' Apostles win  
Save this Perditions Child to act that sin.  
Judas suborned thus his Instrument  
Against his Lord and Master did invent  
An ambushment Christ's Body to betray,  
Though he his own, and Soul did cast away  
To Satan for a Prey. For when he saw,  
As Purser, that he could no money draw  
More than he had by Christ his Company,  
And that at Simons house in Bethany,  
Whilst he summed up with avaricious Care  
His Theft, he marked how Christ went poor and bare,  
Not caring for the world, or worldly gain  
(His chiefest aim) and would not then restrain  
The woman which poured Nard upon his Head  
And feet; an Oil, that might him much bestead,  
If to the Druggist sold; he murmured sore,  
He could not catch, as he had done before.  
This when our Saviour marked: Why dost thou grudge,  
Judas, said he, like a pelfe-serving drudge?  
This Ointment sold disposed to the poor,  
I grant, might have their wants relieved more;  
But they are always here, so am not I.  
Embalmed thus, know, I shall shortly die;  
And through the world, where shall be read my story,  
Her loving deed shall published be with glory.  
These words distasted foul Iscariots thought,  
And to betray him now he hourly sought.  
Away he went to the Chief Priests in haste,  
And told them of Christ's life, and of this waste.  
Now is the Time, quoth he, for you to take him,  
Whilst he at night to Prayers doth betake him.  
He names himself the Christ. I heard him say,  
He would God's Temple raze and ●ast away,  
And afterwards rebuild it up as well  
In three day's space in spite of Men and Hell.  
The Priests were all of such a Chapman glad,  
And presently a Contract with him made,  
That their Catchpoles might without jeopardy  
Arrest him by the Night's obscurity,  
For thirty pieces of that Country Coin,  
Which to their Treasure house they did purloin  
By shifts and fraud, for which they were reproved  
Of Christ before; which them to malice moved  
far more for that than any other cause,  
Though they surmised the breach of Moses Laws,  
For plucking Corn upon the Sabbath day,  
Or bringing down their Temple to decay.   

About that time, the Paschall feast to hold,  
On Maundy Thursday, so enstyled of Old,  
Jesus did sup that Evening tied his last  
At Salem in an upper room; where placed  
With his Disciples twelve he first took Bread,  
B●est, brake, and gave it them, whereon they fed  
After his blessing: This my Body is,  
" His body sure Man's sacrifice for Bliss,  
" If rightly ta'en by a Just true Receiver  
" With Inward taste, and of a true Believer  
" (For otherwise who touched Christ in the Press  
" Aswell as the Blood-fluxed had found more ease)  
" In the remembrance of his body nailed  
" Unto the Cross, whereby the Saints stand bailed  
" From terrors here and in the world to come;  
Nay, warranted in Spirit they become  
Against doomsday from the dark second death.  
He blessed the Cup alike with holy Breath  
" After the New man's way, and bade them drink  
" The Sacred Wine, and on his Blood to think;  
As lately at our New man's Sacrifice  
With bright daylight confounding Heresies,  
My ravished Muse beheld the Heavenly Vine  
With Purple Grapes for Mortals pressed to Wine.  
this costly food, Souls Manna purging vice,  
" The figure of his Body's Sacrifice,  
" This Type of Blood▪ unbloudyed Mystery,  
" Christ left for Saints to keep in memory  
" His death, until his coming from above,  
" Where yet he sits to intercede, and move  
" For Penitents his Father wronged by Man;  
" This way I feed through Faith: And who dares scan  
" Another sense, yet with Humility  
" Let him here stop, as with the Trinity  
" Of Persons in the Godhead, which he ought  
" More to admire than by transcendent thought  
" To soar more high than Eagles to the Sun,  
" Where, by the stame his sense may be undone;  
" Since how we change to Christ no more he knows  
" Then Babes the manner how the Spirit blows.  
" The Sun draws up Earth's vapours: And so can  
Christ lift like Stephen up our Inward Man.  
This humbleness of mind, when Christ had supped  
That Evening, as it were to interrupt  
Our Future doubts, he showed by stooping down  
To wash his Servants feet with Love unknown.  
" To which he added, that the Mark for ever  
" True hearted Christians from the false to sever,  
" Was mutual Love, which a Commandment New  
" He styled, for without Love Faith proves untrue.  
" Our souls, and bodies are the Church, where God  
" In the third person holds his sweet abode.  
" But if we hate good men, God dwells not there,  
" For the true Church's Roof Love ought to bear.  
The Sacrifice all done, Christ went his way  
Out of the City, as he used, to Pray,  
Accompanied with his Disciples true,  
For Judas was departed to his crew,  
(His Master's nip made him the sooner go:  
Do quickly that which thou intend'st to do.)  
To execute his Treason and Compact,  
And to receive his bire; while Jesus racked  
With grief prepared by Fervent Love aswell  
As Faith and vows, against Sin, Death and Hell.  
With his ensuing griefs he had acquainted  
His Chosen Mates, how he should be attainted,  
Bound, and arraigned that night, how thereupon,  
As scattered Flocks, his servants would be gone,  
And him would leave amidst his Bloody foes  
Enthralled, and sore distressed with dismal woes.  
But Peter trusting to his rusty sword  
Seemed to distrust his Lords Prophetic word;  
No Mortals force, nor death, nor Furies grim  
From Gods dear Son should ever sever him.  
Before the Cock crow thrice, thou wilt deny,  
Replied Christ, me and my Company;  
Thou and thy Mates before the Morning's peep  
Will fly for fear, like weak and heartless Sheep.   

There close unto Jerusalem confined  
Near Olives Mount, a place for him assigned  
By Destiny, which was his Father's Will,  
To vent the throbs which did his Inside fill,  
A Garden styled of Old Gethsemanee,  
Secure at Nights from Worldlings Company.  
There, Jesus felt what might the stoutest quell,  
A world of griping cares, of Torments fell,  
The dreadful vengeance which the Godhead passed  
Upon Mankind, his own so over cast  
And almost sunk with Agonies of sorrow,  
That one had thought he could not live till morrow.  
His tender Body did extremely languish,  
And did partake of more and sadder anguish  
Than other men's, wanting the Nature Male  
In the mixed frame of his Conception Female,  
Or weaker earthly Flesh, whereby he stood  
So tortured, that he sweated drops of Blood:  
" So sensible, so full of piercing pain,  
" That he could not but more than man complain;  
" Like him, whose youthful Locks changed into Grace  
" In one night's space, on fame that the next day  
" He should be slain. But Sweats to sacrifice  
" Of streaming Blood exceeds all prodigies,  
" And shows that Saints by means most violent,  
" Win Grace, to Nature's sore astonishment.  
Christ by this Strange Pro-passion tortured  
Shows that his Mind as Body languished.  
His Agony surmounted all men's Fears,  
Whose eyes for sin gush seldom out with tears:  
Nor can they force one brinish pearly drop,  
Nor fetch true sighs, though sighs might vengeance stop:  
To which I join the burden which he bore  
Of Adam's sins, which did augment his care.  
His delicate smooth mortal Flesh did strive  
With Hell, and as it were sought to reprieve  
The coming vengeance of the Godheads Doom  
To every Mortal due, even from the womb;  
And after he had craved his Father's Aid  
For his true Church, thus for himself he prayed:  
Dear Father, now let not my Soul become  
For Sinners debts charged with a greater sum,  
Than Nature can repay. But let me pass  
Without more pain; poor man is like to glass,  
Soon broke & bruised; or like the withered grass,  
Unless he be supported by thy grace;  
" Unless thou please the Torture to abate,  
" Or give him strength▪ hard is the Martyr's Fate.  
Is't possible thy Lees and wrathful Cup  
To pass, that I shall not sins banquet sup?  
Ah no; The Ordred course of things to come  
Must correspond with thy Eternal Doom.  
Therefore my will to thine, Lord, I submit,  
I kiss thy Cross, I love and honour it.  
Such piteous plaints Christ with a troubled spirit  
Poured, when no curse he for himself did merit.  
And no marvel, for he endured the scourge  
For all men's sins, and all he sought to purge:  
" He took on his own back, on his own score,  
" The whole burden, which made him groan the more.  
" Of mere Free will, and Love, not by constraint,  
" He took on him our frailties, as our shape,  
" That from the Hunter's snare we might escape.  
" Our Pride, our lusts, malice, and wiles he bore,  
" And bathed them in his sweat, tears, blood and care  
" He suffered for all Adam's Progeny,  
" Unless some madly cross their Destiny,  
" And choose the Kite, the Fox, and Leopard  
" Before the Spirits Dove or Lamb for Guard.  
All Christians reap his Passions benefit,  
Save those who had renounced him of despite:  
Or those who fixed their hope on others Fate,  
Distrusting him to be Sole Advocate.  
O that men marked what their Redemption cost,  
How Christ's dear Blood hath God's Handwriting crossed!  
And that they weighed the Persons dignity  
Abased thus out of mere charity;  
To Sacrifice his own most guiltless Blood  
For saving from hellfire frail Adam's Brood.  
With weeping eyes and with a bleeding heart  
He came to his Disciples gone apart,  
And in this posture sad besmeared with signs  
Of grief's excess, Tears shed like brackish Brines,  
He calls to them, whom fast he found asleep:  
Awake my Friends, from sleep can you not keep  
Yourselves one hour to watch and pray with me  
Arise, I say, for now my time I see  
Draw near, I may not shun what is decreed  
In Heaven, that I must ransom Adam's Seed.  
The Fatal Hour draws near, that I must smart  
For Humane kind, Come, let us hence depart.  
With such Prophetic words he them awaked,  
Although his heart strove with deep sorrows racked.  
And thereupon the beaten path they took  
Near Olivet to cross Old Cedron's Brook,  
Which running through Jehosaphats fair vale  
Did, where they were, bedew the Garden pale.   

A Hymn in honour of the blessed Trinity, for our New Birth and Spiritual Regeneration.  

LEt us extol with Sacred Mirth  
The Triple Spring of our New Birth.  
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost  
Recalled us from every Coast,  
When we were tossed,  
And almost lost.   

The Father chose us for our Good,  
The Son redeemed us through his Blood,  
The Holy Ghost came from Above  
And sealed us Faith with Flaming Love,  
Yea, Jordan's Dove  
Taught us to Love.   

The Turtle Dove loves only One,  
But losing Him, she lives alone:  
And so do we, as heretofore,  
●n Persons three one God adore,  
One God implore  
For evermore.   

The Son of God, who represents  
The Father's Person, Excellence,  
And Majesty, we daily bless,  
And sue unto in our distress,  
For wrongs redress,  
Or more or less.   

Above the Stars three persons shine  
Of Godhead One, One will Divine,  
Who bathed our Wounds, and gave us Wine,  
When we for pain were like to pine.  
Christ is the Vine,  
His Cross the sign.   

By them we change from Death to Life;  
By them we hate fell Passions strife;  
By them we do these Rays partake,  
That Pride and Lust we must forsake,  
And Fiends, which rake  
For Tophets' Lake.   

For our Old Lord the Tempter, now  
We Christ for our New Lord avow,  
And for old Plots and Carnal lies,  
With our New man we sympathise,  
And Christian-wise  
We Sacrifice.   

By his dear Blood we do confess  
He ransomed hath our wretchedness;  
If we repress the Rebel Flesh,  
He will not leave us comfortless,  
But us will bless  
With Joys Excess.   

He, as our Head, Faiths Living Rock,  
Both God and Man of Judaes' stock  
Was borne, and bathed in Jordan's stream,  
To wash us from sins foul extreme.  
This Holy Theme  
The New-mans' Dream,   

We to thy Throne present, O King Supreme,  
Dipped in the Spring, which from thy side did stream.     

The Fifth Day's EXERCISE.  
The Argument.  
Christ is surprised, and Peter him forswears,  
But soon reputes. False Judas raves with fears.  
Led after flouts to Caesar's Judgement Hall,  
Christ is condemned, to stint the Jewish brawl,  
By Pilate to the Cross, where pained he dies;  
Then Joseph begs the Body's Obsequies.  

HE that affects th' eternal Sabbaths Rest,  
There with the Lamb to live for ever Blest;  
He that desires to be a Saint professed,  
And to the Son of God a joyful Guest,  
Must in this world for sad Good fridays Feast  
Reserve one Day within the Week at least:  
He must take up the Cross with Love-dread Note  
And wear with Abbaes' sound Christ's seameles coat:  
He must lay cares aside, be moved to pity,  
And for his sake sing out a doleful Ditty.  
'tis not a Poet's feast of Progne's Cooking  
Her guiltless Child; but here's one worth the booking  
And looking on without nice wits rebukes  
By Men of Lowest Rank, as Greatest Dukes.  
A Feast in blood before the Father laid  
By his dear Son to save the Soul dismayed;  
A Feast indeed, which Carnal minds despise,  
Because it types the New-mans' Sacrifice.  
O Happy Guests, for whom this Feast is dressed!  
O Happy me, if I could cook this Feast  
According to the New-mans' appetite,  
And without blame to do the Founder right!  
If it be dressed like to a Hodgepodge, say:  
What meat God sent, the Scullion marred to day;  
If well, give God the praise, and not to me,  
Give Him the Thanks, who sent these Cates to thee,  
Bought at a Costly rate to clear from Lust  
And passions Gall thy Soul, and mine I trust.  
To further this, we must first Purify  
Ourselves with Fasts, and Nature mortify,  
Not like our Gulls, or gutling Libertines,  
Who slight all Fasts, vows, and Religious Lines.  
Pack hence therefore, ye carnal Epicures,  
Touch not this feast, nor our Mount Calvares cures.  
Good fridays Priest warns them that went astray,  
With Peter's Tears to greet that mournful day,  
Which puts the Soul in mind 'twixt Love and Fear  
To heed the Cross each Friday in the Year,  
Or oftener, if Occasion so require,  
To watch, and cast Sins viper in the fire.   

Now had the Priests the silent Night chose out  
To act their plot, which they to bring about  
By Daylight feared, lest that the vulgar sort,  
Who late Hosanna cried, might Christ support,  
Or rescue from their foul injurious hands,  
In spite of all their Scribes, and bribed Bands.  
Whilst He the path with his Disciples took  
Which led from Olives Mount to Cedron's Brook,  
That Brook, which gliding through the Royal vale  
Did tears then from Gethsemane exhale;  
Judas arrived, who, his Compact to gloze,  
Thus with a kiss betrayed him to his foes:  
Master, All-haile; at which watchword a Band  
Of Armed men commanded him to stand,  
And yield himself to the High Priests command.  
Christ soon obeyed, not willing to withstand  
The Serpents Hiss, but like a Lamb gave way  
To their Arrest, as to stern Wolves a prey,  
Knowing that now the Fatal time was come  
To satisfy God's wrath for Adam's Doom:  
For at their first Approach, to their demand,  
Which Jesus was? He them to understand  
Gave without false Equivocations wiles,  
Wherewith Hell's Dragon now the world beguiles:  
I am the man, said he; But why come ye  
To apprehend with Clubs and Halberds me,  
As if I were a Thief. I daily taught  
Among you in the Temple, yet none sought  
Me to impeach. Though at his Lightning word  
They backward fell, and Peter drew his Sword  
In his Defence, and lopped off Malchus Ear,  
Yet he controlled the Fact, bade them not fear,  
Healed the Cropped Ear, and voluntary went  
Along with them without astonishment  
To Anna's house, who to his Son in Law  
Transferred him bound, whom when proud Caipha● saw,  
He on some points examined, but still  
The witnesses produced agreed but ill,  
For the chief Article they stood upon,  
Or in blind zeal so seemed to stand thereon,  
Was for their high towered Temples casting down,  
And in three days to build it with Renown:  
Which words he spoke by figure or a sign,  
As he termed Bread his flesh, himself the Vine.  
Unto the which when Jesus stood still mute,  
Not answering with cavilling dispute,  
Caiphas adjured him in the Name of God,  
As him he loved, or feared his smarting rod,  
To tell; if he were Christ, Jehovahs' Son,  
Who Israel should restore then near undone?  
Our Saviour then engaged to show the Truth,  
Undauntedly, though Inward touched with Ruth,  
I am, said he, the very same, and ye  
Shall me the Son of Man hereafter see  
A Judge from Heaven descending on you all,  
I am that Christ, Messias whom ye call.  
When Caiphas heard this constant Protestation,  
He rend his clothes with yelling acclamation:  
O Cursed speech, Intolerable Tongue,  
Worthy of stoning both by Old and Young.  
So fumed the Fiend, so cried the Orgian Priest,  
As at God's Word did since the Foes of Christ,  
As likewise to this day, bloodsucking Rome  
His Members tempts with taunts and fiery doom.  
No other proof than this his Blasphemy  
Need we produce worse than Idolatry.  
Who hearing this can from Revenge contain?  
With outcries loud they roared, and did arraign  
Christ guilty of a foul notorious crime,  
Of Sinners the most capital and prime;  
They railed on him, and could no longer brook,  
But buffeted, and with their fists him struck.  
They strove who first his Person should deface,  
And with a Reed they smote his Head and Face.  
They bound his eyes, and rapt with Lunacy,  
With Girds and Blows they said: Now Prophecy.  
They spat on him, who with his spittle cured  
The Blind man's Eyes, and him his sight assured.  
One while his tender Flesh the Sergeants nipped,  
Another while with drunken Songs they quipt  
His Doctrine; which they termed New Oracles,  
And by and by they mocked his Miracles.  
Such spite they wrought on him with revel reaks  
Till word was brought to them, The Morning breaks.   

When Peter had observed, who present was,  
How all things did against his Master pass,  
And that some charged him borne in Galilee,  
Bewrayed by Speech of Christ his crew to be,  
He utterly denied, and Christ renounced,  
Which he with Oaths to save his life pronounced  
He never knew the man. This thrice he swore,  
But then the Cock warned him, that he forswore.  
By which sure real sign poor Peter knew,  
That he had broke his Vow, and proved untrue.  
With trickling tears distilling down his cheeks  
He then retires aside, God's Mercy seeks,  
And with such words as these bewails his fault:  
" Why did I wretch 'twixt God and Belial halt?  
" Why did I play the base Dissemblers part  
" For fear of rage, or momentary smart  
" The Son of God, my Saviour to deny?  
" Who for my sins feared not death's agony?  
Why did I not think better on my Fate;  
Whereof my Lord forewarned me so of Late?  
That Satan watched to winnow me like Wheat?  
Why did I not his Prophecy repeat?  
That I would him thrice, Craven like, not know  
Before the Cock should clap his wings to Crow?  
Alas, that I a Member from my Head  
Disjointed prove, like Judas, false, and dead!  
Alas that I Baptised to Grace, once feeling  
Good motions, pine with Falling sickness reeling!  
That I a Saint in Possibility  
Am turned Apostate by impiety!  
That I late taught by Christ's eternal word  
Am now become a Traitor to my Lord!  
Alas, that I, whose feet my Saviour washed,  
Should now so soon with Dirty sins be dashed!  
Sin's pain I do deserve, and foul disgrace,  
Because I strove ambitiously for place;  
Because I stood too much upon my worth,  
I well deserve from grace to be thrust forth.  
O what is Man, if destitute of Grace  
He shall presume with Saints to gain a Place?  
In stead of place with Saints he merits well  
With Lucifer to tumble into Hell.  
But I disclaim men's merits, Grace entreat,  
And fly from Justice to God's mercy Seat.  
Mercy I crave, for Mercy still I cry,  
And if that fails, no other means I'll try.  
If for this fault I meet with Mercies stream,  
I will take heed how ever I blaspheme.  
I'll cleanse my Heart with Folly lately stung,  
And will henceforth reform my erring Tongue.  
I will redeem my foul Apostasy,  
That all the World shall see my Constancy.  
" I will protest the Truth, that 'tis Damnation  
" To cloak the Truth with mental reservation.  
" Let him retain Hell's Scribe for Advocate,  
" That trains his Fellows to Equivocate:  
" Though with his Tongue he hath untruly sworn,  
" Yet in his Heart he bears a Mind unsworne.  
" But I was taught within a better School  
" At Truths Wellhead, than so to play the Foole.  
My Conscience, upon whom my thoughts relied,  
This Hearts true Judge tells me, I foully lied.  
There needs no trick, nor traverse in my Plea:  
One may the Sands count sooner of the Sea,  
Then reckon up the many sins I did;  
Of Sinners chief I vouch myself unbid.  
Yet of all sins none troubles me so deep,  
As this my last, for which I wail and weep.  
O would my eyes a Fountain were of Tears!  
If tears would please my God, and ease my feare●,  
I would then hope to show a Converts Love,  
And to my Lord a constant Soul yet prove.  
But though salted tears do fail, sighs shall abound,  
Which with my Heart well-nigh in sorrows drowned,  
I once again present to thee, Dread Lord,  
And without shift here of mine own accord  
I humbly do confess my grievous crimes,  
For which I merit Hell, unless betimes  
It please thy Grace some pity to extend  
On me vile wretch, & my weak thoughts to bend  
Towards thy Laws, forgiving what is past,  
That my sins be from thy memorial racked;  
The which I beg for thy Son Jesus sake,  
Whom I henceforth will never more forsake.   

Thus poor Saint Peter bitterly complained,  
And lived to Christ a servitor unfeigned  
Chief Elder of that memorable Town,  
Where, by that Name first Christian men were known;  
One of the Prime Apostles in Commission  
With James, and others for all doubts decision,  
Toiling with them to feed the New-mans' flock,  
Which built their Faith upon the Living Rock.  
Which Pastors place he did so well improve,  
That all true Saint's Saint Peter's deeds approve.  
Nay, he that room did since so well discharge,  
That roaming Rome dotes on Saint Peter's charge,  
And till this day, to gratify his Fame,  
Our chiefest Towns hold Temples of his Name.   

This happy Lot did to this Saint befall,  
" Whereas the Traitor Judas by his Fall  
" Exemplifies to us what Carnal Scribes  
" Shall reap at last for their Truth-choaking bribes  
" For sale of Souls, and what great dangersly  
" For them in store, who plot most wickedly  
" Good Christians ruins, hired for Golden Fees  
" To play the Wasps by wronging painful Bees.  
But we have now more sobs of grief to vent,  
For pilate's Doom recalls us to lament.   

Scarce did the day, sad fridays Morn, begin  
To dawn, when that about their Bloody Sin  
The Clergy met, consulted, and arraigned  
Of Treason Christ with Accusations feigned.  
Nor paused they too long, what should become  
Of him. They had already read his Doom,  
That Christ should die for their whole Nations good,  
Lest his New sect might put down Levies Brood.   

And to this end, soon as the Sun had rose,  
Because they would not the least minute lose,  
Themselves not daring on that Sabbaths Eve  
Him to condemn, lest they their Nation grieve  
Or scandalise for sitting then on Blood.  
When they should more prepare to do some good  
They Jesus led to Caesar's Judgement Hall,  
Who had reserved Offences Capital,  
Such as concerned not Religion's Breach,  
Or their Misdeeds, who did false Doctrine teach  
To be heard by his Precedent alone:  
To Pilate there with glozing bitter moan  
They Christ accused, how he himself a King  
Had styled to Caesar's wrong. About which thing  
When Jesus was demanded, he stood mute,  
Grieved at his Nation's spite, loath to dispute,  
Or make his power known unto his Foes,  
For whose Salvation he resolved those woes  
To undergo, and his dear Blood to give  
In Sacrifice for them that would believe.   

But when the Judge had oft to him replied;  
He said, that never he on Man relied;  
" His Kingdom was not earthly, but Divine,  
" To which high Orb he did his thoughts confine;  
Which by this sign and Argument he proved:  
For if he were a King on Earth beloved,  
His Armed troops his Sceptre would defend:  
Whereas the cause, which made him to descend  
From Heaven down, was Sacred Truth to show  
To sinful men, who for God's Grace would sue  
Truth was to pilate's Ears so rare, divine,  
And mystic, that he could not it define,  
But asked him what Truth was, yet would not stay  
To hear it blazed, but wondering went away,  
And told the Jews: I find no heinous fault,  
No Treason, Theft, no Criminal assault,  
Nor crying sin. In uttering of which speech  
One whispered him, his Wife did him beseech,  
As he himself did love, not to proceed  
In Judgement against Christ for any deed  
Pretended by the Jews, but to take heed  
Of their false Bills. It makes my heart to bleed  
Said she, to think what troubles most extreme  
I for his sake have suffered in a Dream.  
This Message I scarce risen from my Bed  
Have sent to thee, lest that thou be misled  
To yield consent for shedding guiltless blood.  
Therefore for mine and for thy Future Good  
Be not severe against that Righteous man.  
When Pilate did this dream and message scan,  
And knew the Priests had of mere Envy brought  
Jesus before him without cause, he sought  
By all fair means to free him from their spite,  
And him of causeless Treason to acquit.  
" Fear, pity, fraud, wrought on his Policy,  
" But Fraud at last got the supremacy:  
And thereupon he shifted for a while  
To lengthen out the cause, or them beguile,  
To satisfy his Wife, or else to brew  
A plot to make the Envious King to rue;  
To curry favour, or to Compliment,  
Because he was of Herod's Government,  
At Nazareth bred up in Galilee,  
(That part, which Caesar●●yl'd ●●yl'd the Tetrarchy)  
Who at that time lay in Jerusalem,  
He Christ transferred to him, and caused them  
What circumstance or proof that might conduce  
Before the Tetrarches Throne there to produce,  
And to obey what Herod would adjudge,  
Whom you shall find, quoth he, a Meeter Judge,  
A man that Better knows your Country's Laws  
Than I a stranger do, show him the cause.   

Herod seemed glad at first the Man to see,  
Of whom he heard such Fame in Galilee;  
Or that John Baptist was rose up again,  
Whom for a Dancing wench he late had slain;  
In hope he might behold some Miracle  
Wrought in his sight, or hear some Oracle,  
Which might delight his curious carnal sense  
With Courtly News, or Projects excellence.  
But finding Christ in outward habit plain,  
Of sad aspect, and that he could not gain  
What he desired from him to see, or hear,  
With Thanks to Pilate now his Friend most dear,  
By this late act of tendered Amity,  
(For till that time both lived in enmity)  
He sent Christ back to the Praetorian Bar,  
Despised by him, his Guard, and men of war.  
Yet morall-wise betokening Innocence  
They veiled the Lamb in white, and packed him thence.  
Thus was the Lamb of God, men's Saviour, tossed  
By wicked men from pillar unto post.   

When that Rome's Praetour saw, he must content,  
Or move the Jews to wrath or discontent,  
And thinking that some corporal correction  
Might qualify their spleen or Insurrection,  
He scourged him. But that they deemed too light,  
For they, like Dragons, gaped his blood outright  
To suck. Yet Pilate seemed to calm their spite,  
" Like to those rash and partial Politicians,  
" Who punish Saints to pleasure Antichristians.  
Because they had a Customary Right,  
Or Indulgence to blear the vulgars' sight,  
To pardon one against that Festival,  
He sought to save, or else to make reprivall  
Of Jesus. But they all cried out amain:  
Not him, but Barrabas. Jesus in vain  
Thou offerest us, for this man may amend.  
If Jesus scape, thou art not Caesar's friend.  
This Barrabas was a notorious Thief  
With murder stained, the more was pilate's grief,  
(For of the both he Jesus favoured).  
Yet seeing their Hate, he at the last agreed  
To please the Rout, whom Caiphas with his mates  
Of Herod's side to murder animates.  
And thereupon the Roman Hypocrite  
First washed his hands, as if he were upright  
And clean from Blood shed by his own command,  
Alluding that he could not them withstand,  
" When as he might the Prisoners Life defend,  
" Or him before the Roman Senate send,  
" Or construe with mild sense Jew's wrested Laws,  
" Or on the cause, like grave Gamaliel, pause.  
But to content the giddy multitude,  
He chose the suit with slaughter to conclude,  
Adjudging to the Cross in Caesar's Name  
Christ to be nailed, whom he found void of blame,  
Whom neither he, nor yet th' Incestuous King  
Could once in compass of set Treason bring:  
Nay, when he heard the People Christ upbraid  
With Tide of God's Son, he seemed afraid:  
As witnessed his Conscience pricked within,  
As openly he said: I find no sin  
Deserving Death, what evil hath be done?  
They yelling still, he styles himself God's Son,  
Himself a King, to Caesar's wrong a King:  
The former merits Death, the Latter thing  
No less than death. The first is Blasphemy,  
The other Treason in a High Degree:  
By our just Laws he well deserves to die  
Without delay, demur, or remedy;  
Let then your Judgement pass securedly.  
His Blood on us and on our children lie,  
His Death on us and on our Nation rest.  
Yells ominous. And so they live unblessed:  
For ever since their Nation fared the worse  
By this entailed hereditary curse.   

The Romans since, on whom they did rely,  
Like Egypt's Reed, in stead of Aids supply,  
Or humane Ruling Lords, proved Hellish Rooks,  
With rapines, spoils, and circumventing Hooks  
Imbrued in blood by Albines' Briberies,  
Felix, Florus, and others Butcheries,  
Such griping Tyrants proved at last their Foes,  
Ransacked their City, turned their weal to woes,  
Burnt their Temple, and made them slaves abhorred  
As they had scorned and Crucified the Lord;  
And to this day they either live in Bonds  
Of servitude, or, like Cain, vagabonds;  
To Christian's odious for their bloody works,  
For killing Christ, as odious to the Turks;  
For their Religion, or patched Alcoran  
Bears Christian shows, as lies Mahometan.  
" They breathe, and that is all, by Brokery,  
" Only to keep the Nations Memory,  
" Lest if they perished quite, some doubts again  
" Might grow perhaps of the Messias slain.  
Their Land, which once with milk and honey flowed,  
Lies waste, and cursed as with a Fatal Cloud;  
In stead of Wine, Figs, Balsam, and good seeds,  
Replete with Snakes, wild Beasts, & stinking weeds  
Like a rude desert grown, for where the Horse  
Of Ottoman once sways, he leaves a Curse.   

When that the Judge had so delivered him  
To his Praetorian Band, or Sergeants grim  
With the Mad Jew's applause, they Christ attired  
In Purple Robes, as if he had aspired  
By mutiny to make himself a King,  
Which he worse loathed than they the Serpent's sting●  
A Crown of Thorns they plaited on his Head,  
And him blasphemed with abase Sceptred Reed  
Saluting him: All hail thou King of Jews,  
With bended knees we'll pay thee all thy deuce.  
Yea, Pilate too for all his Inward sting  
Proclaimed: Behold the Man, the Jewish King,  
And to the Cross he fixed that style alike  
In Characters of Hebrew, Latin, Greek.  
When they had mocked their fill, with many bobs  
And scorns they took from him those royal robes  
Apparelled him in his own Coat again,  
And fell anew to their deriding vein,  
Besmearing him with spittle on the Face,  
And with a Cane they lashed him in disgrace.   

O bloody Folke! the grieved Soul to gore!  
To torture him, who tortured was before!  
Hood-winking him, like Boys at blind man's Buff,  
With Frumps, who smote? they did him lately cuff  
And now again vexed him, till Nature stooped,  
And but for Heaven's strength had deadly drooped.  
The Thorns, wherewith they crowned his tender Head  
Put him to so much pain, that almost dead  
His Soul was forced most grievously to groan,  
The thought whereof would melt even hearts of stone.  
They heard the Praetours doom, yet would they add  
More fuel to the flame to make him sad.  
They heard his groaning sighs, & that no sorrows  
were like to his; his face seemed ploughed like furrows  
They wreathed his Head with thorns, and yet that wreath  
Saves us from prickling Thorns of sin and Death  
When Judas now had seen his Master bound  
Reviled, beaten, spit upon, and found  
Guilty of Death, he grieved, but too late,  
Felt deadly gripes, and therewith desperate,  
He to the Temple speedily resorted,  
There left his hire, and to the Priests reported:  
Lo, here I yield you back the Price of Blood,  
The man, quoth he, did never harm but good▪  
He, whom I sold I know is Innocent,  
A Righteous man, from God a Saviour lent.  
Your Eyes have seen his mighty Miracles:  
Your Ears have heard his Gospel's Oracles.  
His words and life his Innocence express:  
For who with sin can tax him more or less?  
Ah woe is me, that I have lived the day  
For a base Bribe my Master to betray.  
Look thou, said they, to that; for die he shall,  
Were he more Just, to save us from a Fall:  
For, if he lived, opinions would arise,  
And Caesar then would stop our Sacrifice.  
'tis better that one die, than many fall;  
That one miscarry, than we perish all.  
This policy the Jewish Church professed;  
And the same course Great Babel's whore possessed,  
As testifies her Hate to Protestants,  
Whom for no cause she calls Extravagants  
(Excluding them from Rome's Society,  
Although one God they serve in Trinity)  
But that she fears the Radiant Gospel's Light  
With their Newman might quite expel the night  
Of Ignorance, and Superstitious mists,  
Which darken yet her roaming Romanists  
With bribing sale of Pardons meritorious:  
Redeeming Flames to sinners most notorious.  
For so that Whore her Lovers bears in hand,  
If they bequeathe unto her Goods or Land,  
Or Fight for her Croisadoes Liberty;  
Under her guard they need not fear to die:  
She will appease, like an Indulgent Mother,  
God's Justice, though for murdering of a Brother.  
But from the West returning to the East:  
See here what rage seized on the Traitors breast.  
Judas distract with furious discontent  
By Satan, and his Spirits Instrument  
Choler adust, departed out of hand,  
And wanting Grace his Passions to withstand,  
He hanged himself, and to be marked the more,  
The Lunatic his weight down headlong bore,  
Till all his Bowels gushed to public view,  
And at his death such words as these did spew:  
And shall I live, quoth he, a Traitor named,  
For selling guiltless Blood, always defamed?  
What hope of Rest, when God doth me debar  
Of inward Peace? When he proclaims me war?  
And lets those slaves, which I was wont to tame,  
Base Passions, now to black my former Fame?  
O let the Sea on me Christ's quarrel wreak  
With vengeance, with a Millstone at my neck.  
Cursed be the hour that ever I was borne,  
I am undone, My Wife all quite forlorn,  
My Children must unpitied vagabonds  
Range through the world, myself in satins bonds  
For 'tis decreed that I in Hell must lie  
And that Another must my charge supply.  
Nothing but horror sounds without, within  
My Soul, like Zims and Oyms full of sin  
Scritcheth out aloud: Judas Iscariot,  
Come away to Hell, for thou hast forgot  
And renounced thy Baptism, betraying God,  
The Son of God, make here no more abode  
On Earth. I come, I come, a Damned Ghost  
By you, O Furies, to be ever tossed.  
God frowns, because my Master I did sell:  
And now, because God frowns, I'll down to hell.   

The fearful end, which Judas made, so known,  
So common ran dispersed through all the Town,  
That Salems' Clergy stood as men aghast,  
And doubting lest for their rash sentence past,  
And treachery, the hand of God might strike  
With vengeance them for their false deeds dislike:  
They all agreed their Church not to defile  
With Blood's Reward, but so to reconcile  
The fact with works of Merits bastard kind,  
That God might seem to them, like Mortals, blind.  
This made them play for cloaking of abuses  
Bopeep with Faith, and turn to Pious uses  
The Thirty pence, the hire of treachery,  
As Zachary foretold their Salary,  
Buying therewith the Potter's field to Bury  
Poor strangers in, thereby to slack God's fury.  
O fond conceit! to do an Injury,  
And afterwards, like Hallifaxes Jury,  
To fit, and see the wronged man redressed,  
When doom forepast could never be reversed,  
Nor ransomed with guerdon Competent,  
Chiefly for Blood, to which they gave consent  
Against God's Lamb, not of Religious care,  
But factiously the Church's Fleece to share  
Without reproof, or Shepherd's Brow severe;  
For this made them to Christ such malice bear,  
Fearing lest that in time the Cautious wise  
Might countercheck their masked hypocrisies,  
If this New man in that luxurious Age  
Should draw their Flock to his New Pasturage,  
With Parables infolding Charity,  
Repentance, Faith, and Heart's Humility.  
No doubt but they acknowledged the Word  
To be Divine, and worthy of Record,  
Which Jesus taught confirmed with Miracles,  
But Satan had cast forth such Obstacles  
Of Merits Clouds before their Carnal sense,  
That they might slight the Spirits Quintessence,  
The Bread of Life, the New man's nourishment,  
As cross to that which they for Lucre vent:  
Gods holy Writ corrupting with Traditions,  
With Thalmuds Quirks, and thorny Expositions.  
For Juries Church with Carnal Pharisees  
Was branded then, and with dull Saducees,  
Which with their Monks Essences would deface  
By Merits brags God's Covenant of Grace,  
Making the weaker sort of Souls believe,  
That they could stint God's wrath, or it reprieve.   

But why blame I the Jews Apostasy?  
When now the time of daniel's Prophecy  
Was come, that their Messias should be slain?  
Not for himself; but for Another's stain?  
(The more vile wretches we, that gave the cause  
By the flat breach of our Creators' Laws.)  
" He Legions might of Angels to his Aid  
" Have called, but than Man's ransom was not paid.  
" He might to Hell all Adam's race have cast,  
" But then he had left none his Grace to taste.  
And this sweet Grace of his made him to bear  
Such wrongs in Jewry Land, and to forbear  
With us our debts, which none could satisfy,  
But he alone, whose Merits Justify.  
" This is my Faith, the upshot of my Creed:  
" Thy Blood, O Christ, can save frail Adam's seed  
" If they Repent, believe, and turn to God,  
" Thou wilt absolve them from thy Father's rod,  
" Yea, from Hell-flames, for thy worth's excellence  
" Restored what Adam lost, Souls Innocence;  
Thy humble Life and Death upon the Cross  
Have crossed God's Sentence, and repaired our Loss.  
Let therefore to his Cross our zeal return,  
And never cease with Holy Flames to burn,  
Until we end sad Friday's Sacrifice,  
And see what Christ paid more for Humane vice,  
" I mean not only that which Helen found  
" With rubbage soiled, but the Cross, solid, sound,  
" Which scorching Souls for new Jerusalem  
" Affords to Saints a more expedient Theme.  
We never saw the Cross, where Christ was fixed▪  
Yet we believe, that he was Crucifixt.   

Now to his Death, his sore tormenting Death,  
They led God's Lamb to end his wearied breath.  
With flouts and shouts they led him to the Cross,  
The weight whereof by force they did impose  
(Because his Lamblike strength began to faint,  
And could no longer bear it by constraint)  
On Simon of Cirean, a labouring man,  
A good poor Soul, an honest Publican,  
Whom there by chance the Ruffian Soldiers met  
Upon the Raised Cross they Jesus set  
With loud Outcries as at a Maypole Game,  
And to the same with Contumelious shame  
His hands and feet with piercing Nails they fixed,  
And, like a Judge, placed him two Thiefs betwixt  
The more to spite him. But the Moral is,  
Some he shall doom to Hell, and some to Bliss,  
For these two Thiefs were of a different Faith,  
Th' one rails at him, the other meekly saith,  
We faulty are, but this man guiltless dies.  
Remember me, Good Lord, when thou dost rise●  
To whom sweet Jesus instantly replies:  
This day thou shalt with me to Paradise.  
Which words well marked, who will not thence infer  
But Grace works more than Merit? and aver  
" That Christ God's power had; when Crucified  
" He could so soon a Thief make Justified,  
" To reap that Harvest, where he never sowed,  
Even Bliss, which with their Caterwalling loud  
Some hunted for, yet could not with it meet,  
Like Cats for Fish, that would not wet their feet.  
But th' unbaptiz'd, that lived not to restore  
What he had robbed, doth wonder-rap me more  
To see him Crowned a Saint in Heaven Above,  
Then that I dare discuss God's hidden Love,  
Who of mere Grace pays some at Sunset hires  
Equal with them, whom earlier he inspires;  
Or ask the King, why he to Honour screws  
Some men of less desert than mine in shows.   

Faith wins us Grace, So while proud Rabbis laughed,  
Poor Women wept, and at the Cross were taught.  
With Swanlike Song, though in death's Agony,  
Christ warned them by way of Destiny:  
Shed not, ye Daughters of Jerusalem,  
Your Tears for me, but for yourselves shed them.  
My Father, to whose care I recommend  
My Soul, will to his children comfort send.  
The days will come, when they that Barren are,  
More safely shall then Women Fruitful share;  
When many shall in perils dolorous  
Cry out, ye Caves and Mountains cover us:  
For if a Blooming Tree of verdant sap  
Be thus cut off, how shall the dry escape?   

To show what Love is unto Parents due,  
His Mother Mary at his last adieu,  
(Whose Soul with his, as Simeon did relate,  
Was, as with sword, pierced in that Bloody fate,)  
Having with constant mind, whilst others fled,  
Stayed by the Cross, till she should see him dead,  
He comforted with John, Behold thy Son,  
With charge to him: Behold thy Mother, John.  
(Two sacred Saints joined in one Legacy,  
Two Souls fast knit in Saintlike Amity)  
John therefore home the blessed Virgin took,  
And never she her Son bequeathed forsook,  
But in his house remained a Widow-Mayd,  
Until her debts to Nature she had paid.  
These pithy Types of Charity and Grace  
Christ dying left for his New Church to trace.  
God grant, that they may sink with some remorse  
Into our Hearts, and that they Nature force  
With her proud wanton brats to lay aside  
Our pranks, and view what from our Saviour's side,  
Twofold, besides his Hands and Feet did slow:  
That to Christ's Yoke they by those signs may bow;  
An easy yoke▪ if on those double Rillets  
They humbly poare without vain quirks and quillets;  
If inwardly his Cross they muse upon,  
As Mary did with doleful tears, and John▪   

While Natures Light, the New man's Glory, lay  
Thus on the Cross in doleful pains dismay,  
The Sun's Noone-light mourned for such cruelty  
From twelve to three with Sable Canopy,  
At sight whereof Rome's fierce Centurion quaked,  
And like to Aspen leaves most Newtrals shaked.  
" Note here the Nature of the Clay and Wax:  
" The one turns hard, the other soft doth wax  
" By the Sun's Heat, or Fire. And so were then  
" The lookers on, some mild, some hardened men;  
" Some mollifyed by Grace grieved with remorse;  
" Some scorched by fiends yelled out till they were hoarse,  
Chiefly, some Scribes were hardened more & more,  
For they Christ still derided, as before:  
Though Nature did her children's deeds deplore,  
Some 〈◊〉- necked Jews held on with taunts to gore  
The fainting Lamb: Now, if thou he God's Son,  
Come down from thence, or else thy Fame is done:  
Where are become thy famous Miracles?  
Thy latest vaunts, stupendious Oracles?  
That Gods fair Temple ruin●d to the ground  
Thou in three days couldst build it up more sound  
Physiti●n, heal thyself. Couldst others cure,  
And raise to life? and not thine own assure?  
Some mocked his coming forth from Galilee,  
His Native home supposed: Hurl down the Tree,  
Great Nazari●e, and tear those boring Nails,  
Which trouble thee. At him another rails:  
Couldst thou a man from death to life restore,  
Which in the Grave had lain four days before?  
And canst not now thy dearest self redeem?  
Thus did they, like mad Bedlams, scoff & skream,  
While the poor Lamb almost brought to despair  
Souls by his Cross and patience to repair,  
Perplexed as well for their obduracy  
Of heart, as for their foul conspiracy,  
Like a Childing Woman o'ercome with Throes  
He cried out in height of all his woes,  
(Borne down with weight of man's mortality▪  
His Father's wrath, his Nation's Cruelty,  
And pressed with Satan's threats of Tyranny)  
Eli, Eli, Lamasabachthani?  
In English, why hast thou forsaken me  
My God, my God? When I forsake not thee?  
Some hearing that, and doth our Great Messias  
Vouchsafe, said they, to call upon Elias?  
Well, let him come, and save this Royal man  
With Fatal Fire from Heaven, if he can.  
near to death's point he made his Moon: I thirst,  
That is, for Souls Salvation, which accursed  
By Justice stand in a suspended plight,  
Like to be chained with Spirits of the night,  
Unless, O Father, this my Sacrifice  
Thou wilt accept to purge their damned vice.  
But his lewd Foes with unrelenting Gall,  
In stead of drink to quench his thirst withal,  
Soon dipped a Sponge in galley vinegar,  
Which on a Reed reached him, although eager  
And bitter too, he tasted to fulfil  
The Prophecy, as thereby Lust to kill  
In Adam's Seed, and likewise to distaste  
The Fatal Apples sweet delicious taste.   

Since now all needful things for Humane good  
Christ had fulfilled by shedding of his Blood,  
Which through his Nailed Hands and Feet did stream  
With pain in Soul and Body most extreme,  
The New-mans' Offering, poured out to assuage  
God's wrath conceived against the Old man's rage;  
And knowing that all Prophecies relation  
Were to the bottom brought by his Oblation,  
He said: Now all is at a final End.  
Into thy hands, O Father, I commend  
My Spirit. O forgive this Crying sin,  
Which they of Blindness are now plunged in.  
At which Last words groaned out with Sacred breath,  
The Lamb of God, men's Saviour, sealed his death.  
Assoon as He had yielded up the Ghost,  
Whilst at his death the rout insulted most,  
Black hideous clouds, which had begun before,  
Quite dimmed the Sun; The Earth then laboured sore,  
As if her womb some uncouth Birth would vent;  
Her Centre shook with Throes so violent,  
That Salems' Temple veil asunder cleft  
(A sign that Levies brood should be bereft  
Of the Holy of Holies, by Entail  
The High Priests room, and parted by that veil  
Then rend) so that the vulgar gazed on  
The Mystics hid, and Tetragrammaton  
With great Jehovahs' Name, which Satan fears,  
They saw disclosed in Hebrew Characters.  
This Rupture chanced soon as by pilate's T●●ine  
Our Prince Messias on the Cross was slain,  
When Nature was, or Nature's God perplexed,  
As one than glossd at Athens on the Text  
Of this Eclipse, if Credit be to greeks.  
But Holy Writ informs us that with shrieks  
Some Jews that saw those signs, disclaimed their crimes,  
And beating of their breasts, bewailed the Times.  
Others stood still, and looked on him with fear,  
When they beheld his side pierced with a spear.  
God grant their race, which roam as yet, like Cain▪  
May turn to Christ, and so redeem their stain,  
Preferring more the Cross, than Aaron's Ri●es,  
Christ's living Temple more than Carnal sights.   

Now ye, that read, or hear this Tragedy,  
Tell me, did any man more causeless die?  
" If ye retain a sympathyzing sense  
" With ours on Earth, and know what passed from hence,  
" Ye Passengers, who saw that bloody day,  
" Was any grief like his? declare I pray.  
That harmless Souls should for lewd soul's attaint  
Be pained, deserves a piteous sad complaint.  
" When faithful Pythias should for Damon die,  
" A Tyrant could not brook that Tragedy;  
" But that God's Son, to free men from hell-●●ares,  
" Should suffer death, might Tiger's more to ●●ares  
His Cares transcend all men's Capacity;  
His Love surmounts Seraphic Charity.  
O think on Christ his Passion, sinful Man;  
What here I penned, with understanding scan;  
And never let his Bloody Cross depart  
By worldly charms or wiles, out of thy Heart;  
" But every day in spite of tempting vice,  
" Think on the Cross, the New man's Sacrifice;  
How he spent years, Man to regenerate,  
Who did the World but in few Days Create.  
Think how He died to ransom us from Death,  
By whose sweet Word man first received his breath.   

At Evening tide, on this their Sabbaths Eve,  
Among the Jews, who then for Christ did grieve,  
One Joseph was of Arimatheas Town,  
An upright Man, a Counsellor well known  
In Salem for his zeal, good deeds, and wealth,  
One that Believed, but as it were by stealth  
In visits close, for fear of Factious Scribes,  
Which in those days possessed the Jewish Tribes  
With doubtful Schisms: He grieved the Priests to see  
So fierce and so unnatural to be,  
Like to those cain's, Spain's Inquisitions bounds,  
Who trounce poor Souls beyond Religion's bounds,  
As to complot the murder of their Brother;  
But now his grief he could no longer smother,  
Undauntedly, not caring to be shent,  
He for Christ's Body unto Pilate went,  
Entreating him, that from the Cross he might  
Remove the same, and bury it in the night:  
For with our Feast suits not this sight of sorrow,  
You know (quoth he) our Sabbath is to morrow,  
And by our Law, we are by Moses Taught,  
That but till night no hanged Body ought  
To lie unburied, lest it taint the Air,  
Defile the Land, or Health with smells impair▪  
We vowed ourselves, a Nation consecrate  
To God, who hates all things contaminate,  
Such as might bar us to be Sanctified  
In Soul, and in our Bodies purified.  
Our Soil likewise, while we from vices stand  
Absolved, is styled Jehovahs' Holy Land;  
Which Holiness of Body, Soul, and Soil  
Makes for his Burial me to keep this coil.  
O let not then the Nailed Coarse endure  
Polluted long for want of Sepulture;  
Since not so much as any Carrion Beast  
Is left uncovered at our sacred Feast.  
My Country men have wreackt their ut-most teen  
On him, and you their bloody minds have seen,  
When Barrabas, that Robber, they preferred  
Before his Life, whom now to be interred  
I beg and crave at your most gracious hands.  
And none of them, I think, this Boon withstands,  
Or if they should by scrupulous surmise  
Oppose my suit, that he again will rise  
Within three days from Death to Newer Life,  
Because he did so Prophesy: In brief,  
I am content they watch the silent Grave;  
Or seal it up; And what more would they crave?  
When Pilate knew, that Christ was dead indeed,  
After some pause, he at the last agreed  
With this Proviso, that the Priests should set  
His Seal, and with a Guard the Tomb beset.  
Then instantly, unto his great renown,  
Good Joseph took the breathless Body down,  
Enwrapped it in a shroud, and it conveyed  
To a New Tomb, where no man else was laid.   

An Epitaph upon our Saviour's Corpse hanging upon the Crosse.  
Mark, Worldling, here a Tragic Mira●le,  
Suspend vain Hopes, and view this Spectacle:  
The Son of God hangs fixed to that Tree  
With nailed Hand● and Feet, thy Soul to free  
From his Dread Father's Curse, and the same pain,  
Which thou of right shouldst feel, He doth sustain;  
Gods wrathful Cup, to ransom Adam's F●ll  
And lusts, he drinks with vinegar and Gall.  
To add more woes, in presence of his Mother,  
Like Kid●-flesh boiled in the Dams Milk, their Brother  
See how the Priests do flout, the Romans mangle  
His Harmless Corpse, whom they could near entangle  
In the least Word or Act, whilst he did Preach  
His Father's Will, and in the Temple teach.  
He tendered Grace, and eased Laws Penalties,  
He cured their Fevers, Palsies, Leprosies;  
Restored their Lame, gave Sight to Blinded Eyes;  
Raised up the Dead, and for these gifts he dies,  
He Praying dies; and then Gore-Blood did come  
From his pierced side with that clear water from  
The Pericardion Skin about his Heart,  
Which late it held to cool that Moving part.  
O wretched Men, who did God's wrath provoke,  
And were the cause of this great Bloody stroke!   

A Lamentable Hymn in the Memorial of our Saviour's Passion.  

AS our sins did Our Saviour pierce,  
So must we bathe with tears his Hearse,  
Though One of his Bloods many drops  
Exceeds all Tears, and Passion stops.  
How can our Souls choose but complain  
To see our Prince Messias slain?  
Not for himself, but for our Cause,  
Who daily break our Maker's Laws?  
How can the Members choose but weep,  
That the Good Shepherd for the Sheep,  
The Head of all our Humane Race  
Should lose his life with such disgrace?  
With bitter ●ibes, more bitter stripes,  
And dismal Deaths most bitter Gripes?  
His Forehead Crowned with pricking Thorn,  
His Hands and Feet Crosse-naild and torn?  
Christ's senses all paid for that sin,  
Which the first Man delighted in.  
For the fair Fruit of Paradise,  
The Jews hoodwinked his harmless Eyes;  
For Adam's listening to his Wife,  
His Ears heard s●outes and raylings rife.  
For Eves hand-reaching to the Tree,  
His feeling gripped with Tortures see.  
For the sweet fruits delicious taste,  
With bitter gall he broke his Fast;  
And where the Fruit Eve Fragrant smelled,  
He Skulls foul scent at Golgoth felt.   

This doleful doom to Christ befell,  
Though he dislodged the Fiends of Hell;  
And though their Prince failed him to win  
With his three snares, or charms to sin  
Within that wild or Desert place,  
Where Christ withstood him to his Face:  
Yet now in part he got his Will,  
And to that end with poisoned skill  
By Judas means had made his way  
For greedy gain him to betray:  
He got his Will, bruised Adam's Heel,  
And mad with Rage made Christ to feel,  
As he was Man, his utmost shaft,  
Since him he missed to gull with craft;  
Nor could him charge in thought, or word,  
That he transgressed against the Lord.  
Only because our sins he bore,  
God suffered Satan him to gore  
By Sinners hands, hell's Instruments,  
The Guiltless Lamb with Punishments;  
Which we indeed, and none but we,  
Had well deserved for Adam's Tree  
To Undergo from Crown to foot,  
With all the Pain of Hell to boot,     

The Sixth Day's EXERCISE.  
The Argument.  
The four great wonders wrought at Christ his Death.  
How Paradise received his Ghostly Breath,  
Purgatory condemned, and Tombs expense,  
The Cross is praised, what profit comes from thence.  

I Sing no songs of antique Saturnals,  
Emblems of Time, Scythes mowing Festivals;  
Though Saturn's name I wrest to that set day,  
On which our Saviour's Corpse entombed lay:  
Nor deign I once his memory to greet,  
Who fled to Latium from his Native Crete.  
Nor strike I at that Melancholic Sphere,  
Whose Motion ends not till the Thirtieth year.  
No such conceits intoxicate my Brain,  
To think, that Ovid's Ta●es might grace my strain  
No such Capricious Toys, wits whimsey-dances  
Nor dreams of Raving Pates take me with trances  
Improper for a Christian Scribe to hold,  
Or them to blaze abroad, like Bardhs too bold,  
Who in this Age of impudence and scorn  
Turned more Baboons than Babes for Christ Newborn,  
Would gull the world with lewd Fantastic fables,  
Our Youth with Cupid's baits, or Elvish Babbles:  
No line shall glide through my New sacred Pen  
Save that, whereto Gods Angels say Amen.  
But who will hear, or credit our Reports?  
When men wax deaf, bewitched with Babel's sports  
When though they know, that her Chief Forts were taken,  
Her Lovers sundered, and her Basans shaken  
By them that hate the Whore, yet still they strive  
By the Old Dragons false prerogative  
To build her Walls, like Jerichoes again?  
And blow up Zion, with Hell's Powder-traine?  
Look how they Plot to undermine our walls!  
And to repair their own, Just ruined, falls!  
See how Rome's Mongrels, mercenary whelps,  
Go on to bite the Saints! And how she helps  
Some, viperlike, their Neighbour's hearts to tear  
Under pretence of Purgatories fear!  
Behold how Mammon tempts our brightest stars  
To fall down from the Orb of Peace to Jars;  
Whilst Humane Arts do want no licensing,  
They threat Gods Heralds with a silencing.  
But O! are not those worldlings much too blame?  
Or do they not obscure the Spirits Flame?  
Well meriting from Heaven punishment  
Exemplified with Arrows Pestilent  
For their Eclipse of zeal? if that they fear  
To favour those Choice works, which every year  
Some New borne Spirits in these days of evil  
Present from Christ, to conjure down the Devil?   

I fear no such false Squibs, nor cloudy Brow,  
That some with Benet's Badge might overcrow,  
Or clog my Conscience, like an Ape, in Hell;  
I fear no such Bugbears, nor Magic spell,  
Wherewith Massmongers, Flamines most profane  
Bragge to fetch Fiends from out a Puritan.  
For in my Will the marks of Christ I bear,  
His Image on the Cross, which thus I wear:   

" Like as the Fiery Serpent made of Brass  
" Within the Desert raised an Object was  
" To cure all such as were by Serpents stung,  
" Only by seeing that which Outward hung:  
" So the Resemblance of Christ Crucifixt,  
" With constant Faith in our Remembrance fixed  
" Heals up the wounds and scars which Python old  
" Procured to sin, when our first Parents sold  
" Themselves for slaves. There is no Antidote  
" More strong than Christ his Cross, or Seamelesse Coat  
" Against our Foes; The which with more impression  
We shall believe, if following our Profession,  
We mark what dismal change the whole world crossed,  
When Nature's God on Earth gave up the Ghost.  
Even then (O strange) Apparent to the Eye  
" Four Miracles amazed Mortality,  
" Which four likewise sour Creatures made aghast,  
" For Nature they, Sin, Death, and Hell defaced.  
The first, that rapt the standers by with wonder,  
Was Salems' Temples veil then rend asunder:  
(A Sign, that shadows of Realities  
Ceased with the Jewish Rites and Sacrifice)  
The third did Tombs and Monuments uncase,  
With Trembling Motion of the solid Base,  
(A Sign, that Satan's Kingdom was undone,  
And by the Cross, the Gentiles should be won.)  
The Fourth, the Resurrection did make clear,  
For certain Saints did visibly appear  
Unto their Friends out of their Monuments,  
When Christ fulfilled the Prophecies Contents;  
(A certain sign, that God will, like to those,  
Others through Christ into New life transpose)   

In the mean time the Soldiers stood not Idle,  
Nor would their spite, nor greedy Passions bridle.  
Some swaggered for their Robes with open throat,  
Some did cast lots about Christ's seamelesse coat;  
Some broke the Prisoners Bones; but finding sure  
Jesus deceased, yet they to keep in ure  
Their Bloody hands, them would not then forbear,  
But one of them his side pierced with a spear.  
" A Soldier of proud Rome then pierced his side  
" As now that City would his Limbs divide.  
" Out of whose wounds two Sacramental signs  
" Did Water flow and Blood, like juice of Vines  
" Both White and Red; The One for Circumcision,  
" Prefigured Baptism; th' other Sin's Remission  
" By Blood unseen within the Vine presented  
" Instead of Carnal Altars represented  
" By Moses Laws, and abrogated since  
" By our great Prophet, Saviour, Priest, and Prince.  
The Guardian Chief, whom they Centurion styled,  
Began to quail, and to become more mild,  
When he had seen those strange and fearful signs  
From Heaven sent for pilate's fierce Assigns  
To warn Mankind of Judgements Doom to come:  
That God for wrong was neither deaf, nor dumb  
He (to conclude) did make this Protestation,  
That Jesus was most Just, and Gods own Son.   

View here ye Mortals, the effects of Blood,  
Of Crying sin, wherewith the Jewish Brood,  
And the Old Roman state imbrued their hands.  
O let their Deeds amaze our Christian Lands  
With horror, dread, and true relenting Fears  
Mixed with the Heart's Compunction & sad tears,  
To see the Son of God slain for our sakes,  
For our defaults Felonious, as Mistakes;  
A●ive his hands and feet, transfixed were  
With Iron Nails; And after death his side  
So gored through with a Soldier's spear beside,  
That many there dismayed in sight and Breast  
Most earnestly behold him, whom they pierced.  
(Which doleful sight likewise thrice happy we,  
Could it in our deep Breast reposed be)  
But what ensued to them, that were the cause  
Of this sad Feast, you heard in fridays Clause.  
As for the Judge, false Pilate, Rome's Records  
Authentic show, that by the Senate-Lords,  
And the Imperial doom, a Banished wretch,  
(Because his deeds beyond the Laws did stretch)  
He went forth in despair, and slew himself.  
And for Rome's state, then Proud for worldly pelf  
Triumphant, Great, and Potent over Nations,  
She never found one year without vexations.  
Her Consuls, Knights, and Legionary Bands,  
Her Tribunes, and her Pretours had their hands  
So full of Treasons, Treacheries, and Blood,  
That seldom since but she Confused stood.  
Yea, and her Caesars, like to Cedars fell,  
Whilst Christian shrubs, maugre the plots of hell  
Gained Rooting firm through both the Hemispheres,  
Spreading our Saviour's Fame with filial fears.  
The Parthians, and Arabians robbed her East,  
The Goths and Vandals spoiled her in the West:  
" And her huge Sceptre to the Thracian strait  
" Transferred, she stayed behind for Babel's Bait,  
" Or tempting Bath unto the Man of sin  
" For Sale of Souls to plunge the Faithless in,  
Such Plagues Rome felt, and shall feel yet far more,  
If she holds on Christ through his Limbs to gore.   

So suffered Christ for our Infirmities,  
Whilst his divinest part to Paradise  
Rapt up with Joy, expatiated free  
From Satan's spite, where tasting of the Tree  
Of Life, to his Elect perpetual Life  
He gained instead of those dark Passions rife,  
Which Adam's sin with death's Calamity  
Had heaped on him and his Posterity.  
Such comforts there, of Immortality,  
Christ of his own, above capacity  
Of our weak knowledge did no doubt possess,  
As he deserved. And yet our Schoolmen press  
So far to know of his departure hence  
In those two days, before he did commence  
The Resurrection of his Bodies hew,  
That some have broached what Curious Wits did brew  
By Satan's fraud. And thence did schisms ensue,  
To yoke, and Christ to Crucify anew.   

What Croaking noise in our decrepit years,  
Have lately been stirred up by Mauzzims' Peers,  
Like Hellish Frogs, for Purgatories seat?  
The Quintessence of Superstitions heat  
Extracted from the dregs of Gods just wrath,  
Because they did forsake the beaten Path?  
And worshipped a God not known before,  
Which Christ his Primer Church did ne'er adore?  
These Lees made Friars bray, like Balaams' Ass,  
Made Schoolmen prate, and both like Chemists rash,  
New Bodies Forms by crotchets to create,  
By Sophistry strange terms to procreate.  
Such Gibberish stuff, and Metals blind Projection  
Bewitched Grave Clerks, and caused true Faith's defection;  
Whilst their Crazed Brains commixed Divinity  
With dunghill heaps of men's Philosophy:  
(As Curious Chinois hatch their Ducklings rather,  
Like Chemists Temper of Saint Mary's bath)  
With Apish Art the Spirit to disguise  
And more than God was pleased with, to seem wise;  
" Bare Accidents by Whymsyes of the Brain  
" To Substances turned of Promethean strain,  
" With Moonsick sense, and Carnal Appetite,  
" Like Capernaites, eating their God outright.  
Out of such Eggs many a Cockatrice  
Hatched to uphold the Old man's Sacrifice.  
Were fostered since the Time of Hildebrand,  
The Western Church's scourge, Plague and Firebrand.  
Out of such Nests came words of Giants growth,  
Huge Mongrels fit for Garagantuaes' mouth  
Baal's sophistry, and Chymickes' Transmutation  
Begot and coined Transubstantiation.  
Then, Vulcan's built Souls Purgatories Forge,  
And by those Flames fantastic lies did forge.  
For near about that time did Alchemy  
Begin to reign with Schoole-Theology,  
When Satan was let loose from his Restraint  
To play upon the Conscience of a Saint.  
Woe to the Time that our W●st Church forsook  
The New-mans' way, which Berengarius took,  
And dared Christ Body so to understand  
Which till Doom's day doth sit on God's Right hand  
Since his Ascent, and there in Heaven stays,  
Till Saints at rest, his Foes suppressed he lays.  
Thence Purgatory sprung, Rome's forged Bull,  
Of Satan's plot to fill their Bellies full  
Like Bells false Priests, by making men believe  
They could Redeem, or Purge poor Souls that grieve  
In that Third place for their Offences past,  
Which Pardons bought with money might lay waist,  
And frustrate, if Rome's Indulgence assure,  
When she herself of Sickness cannot cure  
By Miracle or Charm; nor stop one hour  
Of Death's Arrest by her Transcendent power:  
Much less can she, frail Mortal wight, abate  
Another's pain, when Physic comes too late.   

Some Fathers dreamt at doomsday, not before,  
Souls should be purged with flames, or less or more.  
But in this Life, where time is limited,  
Souls must be purged, or they are forfeited:  
" Souls may be purged with Sighs, Fasts, & Contrition;  
" By Faith with works, which some hold in derision  
" Souls may be purged, and that with Sacred fire,  
" If them Gods Grace with Faith and Love inspire.  
'tis not enough to have a Christians Name,  
Except we be Baptised with Christ his Flame.  
The Jews did vaunt of Abraham for their Father,  
Where they should joy of Abraham's Faith the rather.  
'tis not enough to be Baptised alone,  
For so were Jews in Jordan's Flood by John;  
Nor yet sufficient to Communicate;  
So Judas did, yet Excommunicate.   

The gentle Spark, that stirs the Heart and Brain,  
Must pray God's Spirit in those Seats to reign,  
For whose Content, as he was Catechised,  
So with Love's Flame he would be Rebaptised;  
Which done, he harmless grows, an Infant twice  
In worldly Craft, and in Christ only wise;  
Though tempting fiends with carnal baits he fears  
Yet, Serpent-wise, a newer Coat he wears,  
A Coat quite void of Seams, or Factious Schisms,  
Which with God's Word he wears for Exorcisms.  
Souls Comforter then to God's Son doth marry  
The Understanding, Conscience, Memory,  
Those threefold parts of this adopted Soul  
Whose Name with Saints New Man he doth enrol,  
And signs with Abbaes' Seal. The Man vows Love,  
And this rare vow the Trinity approve,  
Thenceforward giving him the Two fold Flame  
Of Christ his Cross, and Zeal, with Christian Name  
To purge his Outward Man of Earthly dross,  
Which may be styled our Purgatories Gloss.  
Long since God earned the New man for his Son,  
" And gave through Christ him freewill thereupon,  
" Which for his Faith's support can never fail him  
" But in the proof and combat shall avail him;  
" The Son, by whose dear Blood he's Justified,  
" Loves him, because his Will is purified:  
" He loves, and makes his first Election firm  
" By sending One his Conscience to confirm.  
" Because he chose his Pattern and his Cross  
" When as he might false joys and wealth engross  
" According to the Freedom of his Will,  
" Which Grace restored, and Faith had Schooled from ill:  
" He carks for him, and sues for his Persev'rance,  
" He hears his griefs, & warrants his deliurance.  
" The Holy Ghost, as Man's Love ebbs and flows,  
" His sweet gifts more or less into him blows;  
" And chiefly him he graceth, who is mild,  
" Freehearted, Just, and not with wiles defiled:  
" One that adores not creatures, nor yet swells  
" With Merits puff: In such a one he dwells,  
" In such a mind He breathes Truths gentle gales,  
" Which scorns old charms, vain legends, dreams and tales.  
Thus Sanctified, with Christ incorporate,  
A Bastard slip becomes Legitimate,  
〈◊〉 with Christ, partaking of that Feast  
Of Unity, which brings eternal Rest.  
Thus is a Man borne of Immortal seed,  
A Saint newmade, a Priest, a Prince indeed,  
Nay, a true King commanding Lordly passions,  
Which monarchs have enthralled in fearful fashions.  
Thus Saints are Crowned and thus is tendered grace  
If men do not their Charters Seals deface.  
But not, before the Old man be suppressed,  
Shall any mortal wight be this way blest.   

O Grace more rich than Chinaes' glittering Treasure,  
O Love more sweet than Mahomet's feigned pleasure  
Elected tby he Father without merit  
At the Son's suit, and sealed by their Spirit.  
This Grace, suit, and Seal of God's Majesty  
The persons working in the unity  
For dust and ashes, sinful Man's Salvation,  
And with New flames his Spirits inspiration  
Do wonder-rap my Soul with Ecstasies,  
In gazing on their Lights supremacies  
With glaun●es more beseeming Prophets visions  
Then those, which Arrians blurred with blind misprisions:  
That to speak much of their transcendency,  
Would me confound, half put in Jealousy,  
Lest I offend my God, or go awry  
With narrow bounds to stint this Mystery,  
Like Lucifer, who for opposing Christ  
Was thrown to Hell, to father Antichrist.  
Thence with his Mates to tempt and poison such  
As dare to scan God's Secrets over much.  
●ith our weak Brains can hardly apprehend  
Those Axioms, which to Quadrate circle's tend:  
How dare we Clouded with infirmity  
Rake for more Light of Heaven's Trinity?  
Whose knowledge long lay hid from sinful Men  
For our first Parents fall, till Christ's time, when  
It pleased God, three persons to reveal  
By Him, which he did formerly conceal.  
From Carnal wits? as from Crowned Popes he did  
The Gospel's use, and which as yet lies hid  
From their crownd-shaven Crew, and Babel's Rabble  
Who darkling grope for Christ's Communion Table;  
As they do likewise for that Orb of Rest,  
Which for good Souls departed God hath blest.  
Yet our New man sees by his rays reflection,  
As through a glass, enough of God's perfection,  
And room enough without such purging flames  
For Saints to sing Allelujahs Psalms  
To satisfy our Faith; whilst by high mounting  
Some meet with Airy foes their strength surmounting.  
Nor must we scale the Sunbeams with those Eagles  
Whom glory, pride, or curious Art inveagles  
To know Gods will, concealed from humane breast  
Or to eat more than gluttons can digest.  
This sure I know by Holy Inspirations,  
" God breathes in humblest minds most Revelations;  
" For when our Hearts with lofty thoughts arise,  
" Fiends screw themselves into our fantasies.  
" Yea, they will tempt the most Regenerate  
" And Holiest Men, as the most reprobate.  
Some under Form of Art they slily Charm  
With hired plots to work their Neighbour's harm  
That by their sowing daily Tares of strife,  
The Father, Son, the Husband and the wife,  
Friends, kindred, Town, and Country Folkes may vary,  
So as with Christ their Souls can hardly marry.  
" Such sleights use Hellish Fiends, though few suspect  
" Their shining Baits, yet surely Gods Elect  
" Know, that all make-bates have just cause to tremble  
" As well as they, who being at Mass dissemble.  
" These Members help to make up Antichrist:  
" For without Parts how can the head subsist?   

But chiefly Hell claims those men, who believe  
They may for Gain coin doubts our Church to grieve,  
To yoke weak Souls, and Faith to falsify,  
Which through Christ's death alone doth Justify,  
Without Rome's purging flames, or Humane deeds,  
Trentals, Masses, or ringing more than needs,  
To fool weak minds, which knew not Paradise  
Was promised by Christ, where in a trice  
His Spirit did arrive with the Good Thief,  
And there for aught we know, might find relief  
With Abram, Moses, Daniel, and the rest  
Of Saints, until his Body rose released  
From joseph's Tomb, wherein it lay interred,  
As Ionas stayed within the Whale as buried,  
" Or, to speak plain, his Spirit without s●int  
" United with his Sire in Triumph went.  
As for the certain place of Paradise,  
Let this our curious Intellect suffice,  
That God's high Orb hath many glorious Mansions  
Unlimited by Local spans dimensions;  
Like as to us on Earthly Many Lands  
Beyond New-Guiny, which none understands  
As yet; If sundry Stars our world exceed  
In compass, why do some their Fancies feed  
With hopes of Limboes' Rest, Elysian Groves,  
Or the like Place, which none but Rome approves?  
But leaving these for wits Fantastic flim-flams  
More fit for Apes or Owls then New borne Lambs,  
God give me Grace the Scriptures sense to follow,  
The solid Truth, without Abysses' hollow,  
Not daring to maintain Hell's Paradox  
With the old Serpent, and the Wily Fox:  
That after death Christ suffered more unrest,  
Since he himself said: Consummatum est.  
The manner how Christ's Soul went down to hell  
Before his Body rose, I dare not tell,  
Nor search that depth. Yet who can safe deny,  
But that his Souls Triumphant Majesty  
Did there descend, or from some Higher place  
By virtue of his Godhead, hell deface?  
(Which whether part in sulphurd caverns glows,  
Or at the Poles part Frozen hard, who knows?)  
Christ did descend, Hell's fury to assuage,  
For, where his Spirit is not, fiends do rage.  
So undiscerned by sense some fiends may dwell  
Within the Air, as in the utmost Hell.  
'tis probable a Battle might be fought  
By fiends, although unknown to mortal thought  
In that dark time, when Christ gave up the Ghost;  
Which battle soon they through his Godhead lost  
Whilst that in Spirit quickened up he went,  
And preached to them in Errors prison penned;  
For by his Death Christ spoiled them in a trice  
Of their chief sway and Principalities;  
(When in men's hearts the Gospel's buds did bloom  
And at the noise Hell's Oracles fell dumb.)  
This moved Saint Paul to publish for Christ's glory,  
Death, where's thy sting? And Hell, thy victory?  
Yet my Rule is, where Holy writ, for Guide  
I find obscure; when graveled I abide,  
Another Theme I take, another Lamp  
I light anew, and quite forsake the damp  
Of Sulphured Meteours, and erroneous spells,  
Which smoked out first from blind Monastic cells  
For of Deep Gulfs a holy Ignorance  
I far prefer before a curious Trance.   

I now return back to my Saviour's Grave,  
Where yesterday I left, a Virgin-Cave  
Afforded by the Arimatheans care,  
Which ever since did to the Church declare  
This Mystery, that as a Virgin's Womb  
Became his Birth, so dead a Virgin-Tombe.  
When Joseph had the Body there transferred,  
He decently forthwith the same interred,  
〈◊〉 Nichodemus aided in the Night,  
To do their Master this last pious Right,  
Without much pomp, or Pride's solemnities,  
Or Ceremonies used at Exequys,  
By carnal Friends, who oftentimes consume  
In Glozing shows, for Ostentations fume,  
More substance to set out a Funeral,  
Then would well serve to build an Hospital.   

●o show the Fruits of Love at Obsequies  
〈◊〉 not amiss, but not Hell's Sacrifice;  
●o pacify Dis or Persephone,  
〈◊〉 Masses Orphean Harp, or Orgian Plea.  
This Baal and Bacchus did, the One for Gain,  
The other his mad Revels to maintain.  
This Dives doth, whilst at his Lordly Gate,  
Poor Lazarus with Christ incorporate  
Begs needful Alms for his dear Passions sake,  
Yet cannot have them, though his Head doth ache.  
This Dives did, while the Prince Palatine  
With Britain's royal seed forced from the Rhine,  
Their proper Right, as from Bohemian Prague,  
Stood to our shame confined to the Hague.  
This Dives did, when thousands did lament  
In London streets with Fevers pestilent.  
What Obelisks with tears of Crocodiles?  
What Mourning weeds with cries masked under wiles  
Do our false Christians sumptuously prepare,  
Perhaps for cursed bones, with care on care?  
Did Dives to his Tomb with pomp conveyed  
Pass Lazarus in Abraham's Bosom laid?  
Leave off for shame such Heathenish Sacrifice,  
And for your Dead build rooms of richer price,  
Nay, for yourselves with lasting Royal State,  
Whereby you may pass for Regenerate.  
More Hives for Bees with necessary stuff  
here or abroad, to shun vain glories puff,  
Ye may erect with lesser cost and charge,  
Your duties in some measure to discharge,  
" Redeeming Plagues, I mean the Temporal,  
" Which on frail men for carnal pleasures fall.  
That way will help to expiate, and to cover  
Those sins, for that great vengeance which hangs over  
Your heads unmarkt; Lo, how Virginea vents  
Forth heavy groans, and newfound Land laments.  
See how New-England under noble Gorge  
Against the Dragon craves a new S. George;  
All three look for their Infant Age no more  
Out of their Mother's rank superfluous store  
Then what she riots. There, brave Monuments,  
May be set up to Christian men's contents  
far fitter, then in needless shows at home.  
And these will pass old Peter's pence to Rome.  
Or if you be home-tide, and wealth betid,  
Christ's Members feed, but do it without Pride.   

Above all things I wish you to forbear  
From Burying Courses in God's Temple, where  
His Word is Preached; O do not taint the Air  
With G●lgothaes, which can not but impair  
Your tender healths by damps and exhalations  
From sulphurs' sweat, Earth's put it oppilations.  
Our Saviour's deeds should for a pattern stand,  
Who from the Temple, with a Whip or Wand  
Drove Chapmen out, and such, who over bold  
With in that sacred place wares daily sold.  
My Father's House (said he) appointed was  
For Prayer, not a Money-changing place.  
Why may not in the Fields a heap of stones  
Serve as the Church for Graves to rotten Bones,  
Resembling that, which near to Mamre sold  
Dead Abraham's Wife, for Sepulture did hold?  
Or the Churchyard crossed by Massmongers old  
From Goblins haunt their Carcases might hold?  
For shall the words of that Mahometan  
Spoke at his death confound a Christian man?  
To Saladine one winding Sheet is left,  
Of all his state by cruel death bereavest.  
Who then will dote on Shrines and Mauzzim● Wares?  
Give me the Quick; let Satan take his Tares,  
With them in Relics who Religion place,  
Besainting Bones within a Silver Case.  
Let not the Church, nor glozing Epitaph  
Grace my poor Corpse. From Crows the Cynics s●●ffe  
May guard me for a need. Were Martyrs bones  
Quite burnt in Flames? And shall rich Marble stones  
Enclose my Coarse? far be it from my thought,  
Who higher place crave then for Money bought.  
That station I expect through Christ his Cross,  
Which worldly minds prise less than chaff or dross.  
Another kind of Body I expect,  
Which like to his my Saviour will erect.  
This moved me my Children three to bury  
In the Churchyard, whilst I saw most men hurry  
Proud Carcases into the Church, polluting  
God's house, and zeal with superstition suiting  
This moved me New Cambrioll to Baptise  
In New found land, whilst others Idolise  
Their native smoke with sloth & griping Cares,  
Caught with false Pleasure's baits in Satan's snares.  
This moves good wits, whilst here they make abode,  
To send so oft ●oud sounding Books abroad,  
To cure or curb litigious Brains that Rave,  
And by such Fruits, to build themselves a Grave,  
A quickening Grave, that when their Sinews rot  
The Saints for them might praise the New man's  
As I do for Great Britain's shining Lights,  
Or them, whom Andrew's Posthume now invites Lot  
Andrew's, that shames Beauford and Gardiner,  
And yet all Three were styled Winchester:  
For how shall we discern another Man,  
Then with bright Truth his living works to Scan?  
Whether a Lamb or Wolf he led his Life?  
In Peace with Christ or with Hell Fiends in strife?   

What more than Swan like Songs keep Men alive?  
Or can on Earth their Noble deeds revive?  
Bear witness then, my twofold Epitaph,  
Whilst Windy wits lie swilled, like Swine with draff  
This Glass renews brave Robert's Memory  
Of Essex Earl, the Flower of Chivalry:  
Whom Flanders, Lisbon, Cales, Spain's Isles, nor France,  
Nor Irish Force could daunt with Shot or Lance,  
Home-Ostracisme this Famous man did foil,  
Whom Mars durst not affront in Foreign Soil.  
" But his sweet Soul, because he Sacrificed,  
" Christ Cleared from Gild, and Saints him Canonised.  
Or if the Seas and Land contend for Room,  
The Seas will Ebb, and show us Desmonds' Tomb.  
" Scotland his Birth, England his Tilting Fame,  
" Venice claimed his venture, Ireland his Name.  
" Whilst these Four strove to build a Monument▪  
" For Desmonds' Corpse, the Seas crossed their intent.  
" Because the Seas for Worthies might appear  
" To match the Land, they took this Noble Peer.  
Thus Two by Sea and Land have Lawrelles got,  
While worthless Lords, like Falling Fire-drakes rot.  
Thus Virtue some Crowns with a Living Tomb  
Which more doth them then Coronets become,  
And longer will than Mausolaeans last,  
When Time shall Pomp, and nine day's Wonders blast.  
" Hence I infer, that God hid Moses Tomb  
" Lest men might Saint his Bones in time to come.  
" Hence I resolve: from Graves old Folks begun  
" To make an Idol of a Mortal man.  
Hence I conclude, to hang a Hearse with Scutcheons,  
Serves for a Bait to catch our Heirs, like Gudgeons:  
For without worth Gild honours proves but vain,  
And Styles the scum of a Fantastic Brain.  
" Without the New man's Robes none are indeed  
" True Noble Men, but borne of Mongrel seed.  
Let men therefore besides the Cynics Staff  
Upon my Grave Engrave this Epitaph:  
Taint not the Church with Skulls; O ye that mourn;  
Nor with Wormsmeat; the Yard will serve my turn  
Rob not the quick, a dead man to adorn,  
But bury me as poor, as I was borne.  
Only a shroud for decency I crave,  
Such as my Saviour wrapped in joseph's Grave.  
I hated Pomp, and Drunken Sacrifice  
When I breathed Air, much more in Paradise.   

" Man here is but a Steward of his Pelf,  
" For others bound, aswell as for himself,  
" To cark and care according to the Talon,  
" Which so to him was on Condition lent;  
" For which misspent he must one day account  
" Be he a Knight, a Baron, or a Count  
" Look how Christ did, the second Adam, live,  
" So must we sure, if we intent to thrive  
" In Piety; we must esteem the Cross,  
" Though sad, true wealth; & pamp'ring ease souls loss.  
" Therefore when Honour, Gaine, or worldly Pleasure  
" Do thee befall, suspect the Heaven's displeasure,  
" Unless thou out of hand to some good use  
" Convert them without Riot or Abuse,  
" Look where so ere thy worldly Treasure is,  
" There lies thy Bane, thy hindrance into Bliss.  
" No man two Masters serves with conscience clean,  
" God, and the World, but he becomes unclean  
" And quickly soiled with sense-alluring Toys,  
" Which him bereaves of true Immortal Joys.  
" For by superfluous Cares and Worldly Wealth  
" The way is quite blocked up from Saving wealth.  
The serious thought of which Impediments  
Made wisest Men amidst their sweet Contents,  
(As sometime did the Samian Tyrant fling,  
To season Joys, into the Sea a Ring)  
To mix some Wormwood Cares and Objects sad,  
To live, like Angels, here in Sackcloth Clad,  
To fly to Cells from Wars and worldly wrath,  
Like Austriaes' Charles, and Turkish Amurath:  
To choose a dying Life, retired from Ease  
Rather like Monks, then like nice Damocles,  
(Or like some Kings maligned Favourite,  
That dreams not of a Fall, till Envy smite,)  
To live with Luscious Cheer, and pleasing plenty;  
Foreseeing that at last scarce one of twenty,  
Which gives himself to Carnal Liberty,  
Escapes unstung with some Calamity,  
If not living, yet surely at Death's Gasp  
The Libertine shall feel the Hellish Asp  
Poison his Soul unseen with Mortal sense,  
Maugre his Heirs vain Obits and expense.  
(For after death all Sacrifice is vain,  
Nor can Rewards redeem the Soul from Pain)  
The which empoisoned thus, barred of God's sight,  
Of the least glimpse of comfortable Light  
With the rich Glutton in the lowest Hell  
Till Doomsday roves among the Furies fell;  
And then the Body in more hideous state  
Joined with his Spirit, he cries out too late  
For Mercy, when the second Death is come,  
Which by the first he might have smitten dumb,  
And Conquered too, if like our Saviour, He  
Had living died, or living sought to be  
Reborn, and formed after his Image true  
With Faith and zeal (contending to eschew  
His Spirits Foes, the Letts unto the Cross)  
Which every Christian Soul ought to engross,  
As Mystic Type, and Seal of Man's Adoption,  
His Ransom lent from Lordly Sin's Irruption.   

" Unhappy is that Wight, that never felt  
" The Crosses weight, whose Heart did never melt  
" At others smart, but living all at Randon  
" Gods Justice to dull ease did him abandon:  
" Since it is hard to have smooth comforts twice,  
" Both in this World and in the Heavens likewise.  
" Yea, most unhappy He, who for his sin  
" Was never Chastened, but hath suffered been,  
(As Epicure, not Checked by Sickness, Grief,  
(As Epicures till checked by Sickness, Grief,  
By Shipwreck, Fame, Friend's loss, want of Relief)  
By our Creator to consume amiss  
His useful Talon, and to swarve from Bliss,  
Without control, or masterly reproof,  
As if God slept; or slighted man's behoof.  
So on the other side I count him Blest,  
Who in this World felt Sorrow and unrest,  
" For we ne'er feel the comforts of God's Spirit,  
" Till our Flesh quails, or outward troubles stir it.  
" Frail Flesh & Blood may not in Heaven reside,  
" Till Christ his flames the same have purified.  
The Crosses sight the Carnal mind confounds,  
But it looks bright, and with perfumes abounds  
Within God's sight, who thereby maketh room  
For his rare gifts to lodge in, with the broom  
Of Discipline sweeping foul Lusts away  
And the World's love, which bring into decay  
The Heavenly Seed, choked up with Pomp & cares,  
Like Earthly Grain with Cockle, Thornes, & Tares.  
What makes a Surgeon use Corroding Waters  
For Festered Soars? but that they are Abaters  
Of the proud Flesh? why do Physicians give  
Their Bitter Pills unto the Sick that grieve  
Of causes hid? but that the body's sink  
Cannot be Purged of Filth and Humours stink,  
" By sweet Receipts? no more should Gods E●ect  
" The Joys of New Jerusalem expect  
" Without first passing through the Blood red Seas  
" Of Sorrow's deep, to gain perpetual ease,  
" I mean not Grief for loss of worldly wealth,  
" Or Carnal Friends, but loss of Saving health;  
" Grief for the words eclipse, Grief for our sin,  
" Grief for the Snares, which Saints are toiled in.  
Who to this dying Doctrine will incline  
His Heart, and to Austerity confine  
His Life, he shall be crowned for his durance  
With Heaven's Bliss, whereof Christ gives assurance  
With these true Golden Rules sealed in the Heart:  
None gains the Godheads love without some Smart.  
Who Christ his marks more here of Torture bears,  
In Heaven be the brighter Garland wears.   

A Hymn explaining the cause of our Saviour's Sufferings on the Cross, together with the effects of his Burial.  
WE were the Cause, and none but we,  
Why Christ was nailed unto the Tree,  
We were the Cause worse than the Scribes,  
Nay, worse than Judas with his Bribes  
Of Christ his death, and Guiltless Blood;  
We tore his Flesh, like Viper's Brood;  
We drunk his Blood, like Cannibals,  
Who men Redeemed, when they were Thralles.  
The Jews misused Him but one day,  
Whereas we daily him betray,  
And Crucify the Lord again,  
Saints in his Limbs, for spite or Gain;  
We rave far worse than did the Jews:  
Our Carnal Lusts, and Ghostly stews,  
Our Pride, Deceits, and Avarice,  
Our Riots, Feasts, and Fopperies,  
Our Healths, Debates, and loss of Time,  
Show why Christ up the Cross did climb.  
Let us then weigh with Penitence  
Sins fiery sting, the Crosses sense,  
Let us bewail our wretchedness,  
Which brought our Saviour to distress,  
And think upon these Rules with Fear:  
" That Trees, which are both dry and sear,  
" Shall sure be felled, since blooming Wood  
" Hath been destroyed as with a Flood;  
" And that all Souls shall suffer loss,  
" Unless they muse upon the Cross,  
" And thereby hope for inward Peace,  
" The Spirits gifts, and sins release,  
" By virtue of that Costly Price,  
" Which hung thereon for Sacrifice.  
For which high Deed while we have breath,  
We never will forget his Death,  
But in our Minds we will infix  
His Merits, Love, and Crucifix.  
" His Living Rock can hide our Soars,  
" As joseph's Vault entombed his Coarse:  
" We may to Bliss rise up from Bale,  
" As Ionas did from out the Whale,  
" If on his Wounds we fix our Souls,  
" Like Doves that pitch on Rocky Holes.    

The Seventh Day's EXERCISE.  
The Argument.  
Old things made New: now is Jew's Sabbath Day  
Changed to the Lords, to mind our Saviour's sway,  
Who Rose, stayed here six Weeks, than went his way  
To Heaven, & Men Inspired on Whit-sunday.  

OUr two Days storm is cleared: come, let us sing,  
And Tribute pay to our Triumphant King  
Who trampling on our Foes hath led the way  
To Resurrections Port on the third Day  
After his Death, which first of their Weeks Date  
●ld Hebrews Calendar did Calculate.  
O Blessed Day! most blest in the Exchange!  
Whilst we do not from zeal like worldlings range!  
" But all with joy for this our World's Creation,  
" And Christ his Rising, minding our vocation,  
" As likewise for the Holy Ghosts descent  
" On Whit-sunday, ten days from Christ's Ascent,  
" We Holy keep our Lords, this Seaventh day,  
And in his Praise our thankful Hymns display,  
Who did, because our sins the Old withstood,  
Transfer a newer Feast cleared by his Blood.  
Though Christ was Lord, & Sabbaths prime perfection,  
The manheads Crown, yet he to make defection,  
Of that Day's Rest did never Condescend,  
But left it us until Times final End.  
He left it us to mind th' Eternal Day;  
When Time with baldness never shall decay;  
That Feast of Feasts, with none can parallel,  
For it above all Triumphs bears the Bell,  
The Harmony whereof no Tongue can tell,  
And more doth Our then Our the Six excel.  
The which whilst we look for, let us forego  
Our Deeds profane, and Pious duties do  
On this High day. Let us congratulate  
With Jubilees our Resurrections state,  
And our through Christ redinte-gratious Peace  
With God the Father in his Flocks increase.  
Let us cheer up our Souls with Joyful Psalms '  
And show our Love by Prayers, Vows, and Alms.  
Let all the Earth, let Christians all rejoice,  
And hear God's word, the Lord of Sabbaths voice,  
Not in a Language strange, or Noise unknown,  
But in that Tongue which men do term their own.  
Let them with understanding sound his Fame,  
And Glorify Jehovahs' awful Name,  
With Voices Music, sound, and Symphony,  
With David's zeal, and Asaphs Harmony.  
Unanimous let us proclaim his Glory,  
Not dreaming wise, but in a real story,  
To be admired of all the Sons of Men,  
And Registered with adamantine Pen:  
All Glory be to thee, as heretofore,  
In Persons three, one God for evermore,  
" Who, lest that Cares might dull our Inward sight,  
" Hast Weekely left us one of brighter Light,  
" Aswell to match the Hebrews, as to raise  
" New zeal on it for our Redeemers Praise.   

Because Christ's Faith stood firm, not shaked at all,  
His manhood calling God, God heard his Call.  
Because his manhood spurned Hell's Crown of strife,  
Preferring here on Earth an Humble Life,  
And constantly endured the dreadful shock  
Of Perils, like a Shepherd for his Flock,  
And to his Father dear did pray alone  
For help; he at the last did hear his Moon:  
When he his Blood had on the Altar shed,  
Soon as he said: All is now finished,  
His sacred Soul strait way to Paradise  
Leaving the Cross and his Body●●yes ●●yes.  
Whence in Earth's womb after two Night's repose,  
Brave Giantlike refreshed with wine he Rose,  
His Body Rose from Grave, from the Whale's Belly,  
Raised Jon●s-like to live Triumphantly;  
For how could he, whom God ordained to save  
Old Adam's Seed, be captived in the Grave?  
Thou art my Son, men's Light, whom I begot,  
Said his just Father, and here take thy lot  
In choicest Soil. The Heathen I give to thee  
For Heritage, and all the world in Fee,  
To bruise or break, for thy own precious merits▪  
Thou by thy blood hast tamed the wily Spirits,  
O murdered Lamb▪ Henceforth on my Right hand  
Sat in thy Humane shape, none shall withstand  
Thy Powerful will in Heaven, Earth, or Hell,  
For thou shalt judge all Men and Furies fell.  
My sentence just thou hast appeased alone,  
For which mysterious deed we both are One.  
Because the Winepress thou alone hast trod,  
Thy Flock shall ever dwell with me their God.  
Because for Sin thou hast endured wrong  
Thou shalt divide the least spoil with the strong.  
And for thy love to Man bought with thy Blood,  
I Cancel quite against Old Adam's Brood,  
Their Bodies Death excepted, my Decree  
Of vengeance due, if they believe in thee,  
Without adhering to Idolatry,  
To their own works, and humane Foppery.  
" Be thou their Patron, and sole Advocate,  
" (Who trust to other Courtiers, I do hate)  
" Sue thou for them in thy Humanity  
" Before our Throne of endless Majesty;  
" And for thy sake, I will Elect them sure,  
" For unto thee all Glory I assure,  
" Till th'Elect come in, and thy Foes in Thrall,  
" That then our God head may be all in all.   

To this effect our Heavenly Father spoke,  
When his dear Son his Body Raised did take  
From joseph's Tomb; when by the dawning day  
Those Women came there, where his Body lay  
Entombed, with mind to sacrifice their woes  
For Him, whom they saw Martyred by his Foes.  
To solemnize his sacred Funeral  
Out of true Zeal and hearty love withal,  
Thither they came, not Superstitiously,  
Nor yet for Fashion sake, but really  
With an intent on his Dead Corpse to pour  
Most precious Oils, but by the Heavenly Power  
They were debarred. For as they did adventure  
To show their Love, and in the Vault would enter,  
An Angel all in white of lightning hue  
Them interrupted with these Tidings true:  
What would ye now, poor Souls, embalm his Coarse,  
Whom late your Nation wronged without remorse?  
Why seek ye here the Quick among the Dead?  
" God's living Son within an Earthly bed?  
" God would not let his Son Corruption see,  
Nor could his Body long enclosed be  
Within this Rock. The third day now is come;  
Christ Risen is from Tomb, as from earth's womb.  
Then go your ways, and his Disciples tell,  
What News ye hear, what Lot to him befell.  
The women shuddered and distracted almost  
With the strange sight, as if some wondrous Ghost  
Had them encountered, ran away from thence  
(Such is the nature of weak mortal sense,  
When they meet Objects of Immortal Frame,  
Reason lies hid, as under Ashes Flame)  
But pilate's watch with horror sore aghast  
Forsook their charge, and fled away more fast  
Than did the women at the Angel's Noise,  
For they (good Souls) were soon replete with Joys;  
And when their Wits they recollected had,  
christs true Disciples they acquainted made  
With these glad Tidings, who them held too good  
To be so true, until in zealous mood  
Christ did himself expostulate the cause  
With two of them, who travelled to Emaus  
The self same day, when he did Rise from Death:  
O simple Souls void of Celestial breath,  
Ought not (quoth he) Messias to be slain  
By sinners hands? and all these wrongs sustain?  
Do not the Prophets all agree in one,  
Which men refused should be the Corner stone?  
That evermore Melchisedech's high Priest  
By David sung should rule? that Jesus Christ  
Messias should be first smote with the Rod  
Due for your sins, by your Dread-loving God?  
Though, as God's Son, he might have chose to feel  
The Taunts and Nips of men more hard than steel,  
Yet he of mere good will, not by constraint,  
Enthralled himself to sinners false complaint.  
" He opened not his mouth, nor them withstood,  
" But, as a Lamb before the shearer stood  
Dumb, Patient, Meek, whilst for your Treacheries  
He wounded was. And these perplexities  
With Tortures, Stripes, and scorns he underwent  
To ransom Adam's seed from Punishment.  
But now ye are by his Afflictions healed,  
And through his Cross shall shortly be ensealed  
" A Gospel's New, a Testament of Grace;  
An easy yoke with covenants to raze  
The former Curse. If ye believe that Christ  
Is Gods own Son, your Saviour, Prince, and Priest:  
If, like to him, ye humbly live together,  
As he rose up, so shall each faithful Brother.  
These said, and more than my weak thoughts record  
By giving thanks, and breaking Bread, the Lord  
They knew, and then he vanished from their sight;  
He vanished from them Twain, and in the Night  
He did appear to his Apostles, where  
For zeals devotion they assembled were,  
And catechised them for Faith and Love,  
With other points which might their Souls improve.  
Nor can I overship my ready Pen  
From laying down his love to Magdalen:  
Whilst her confused thoughts 'twixt doubt and Fear  
Roved what became of his Dead Corpse elsewhere;  
He kindly called her by her proper name,  
Showed her his person, and confirmed the same  
By Message, which unto his friends he bid  
Her to declare. Thus sundry times he did  
Appear to them, whom formerly he knew  
To be th'Elect, and his Disciples true,  
That they might be Eye-witnesses, and blaze  
To all the world this wonder of amaze.  
" And that true Flesh his Body was become,  
" He eat with them Bread, Fish, and Honeycomb.  
" To show himself a Perfect Man indeed,  
" And not a Ghost, Christ hungered, and did feed;  
" Immortal he with Mortals, as a Guest,  
" took what was next at hand, not curious dressed,  
" To let men know what Nature might suffice,  
" And that with Men He man did sympathise.   

Among the rest when Thomas Didymus  
Was absent first, and all unanimous,  
Excepting him, believed what they saw:  
Although the News might well his senses draw  
To credit them, yet he stood off, and said,  
Unless I see, I am not well appayd;  
Unless these Eyes his Person shall behold,  
How can these News for currant true be told?  
Unless myself shall feel his nailed hands  
" And side late pierced by the fell soldiers Bands,  
" At sight of which deep Wound by Roman Spear  
" The lookers on appalled were with fear,  
I will not you believe. Therefore the Lord  
His wavering Creed to settle, and record  
To future times his love, a sev'night after  
His first appearance, he again did enter  
Into the Room, where Thomas with his Mates  
Were then shut up, and there Christ animates,  
Commanding him to tou●h him, and to ponder  
With Faith and understanding rapt with wonder  
His misbelief, and told him for our Rest,  
Who so believes what he had seen is blest.   

When Jesus had conversed forty days  
On Earth, half way 'twixt Zions walls he stays  
And Bethany, where his Disciples met  
Upon the Summet of Mount Olivet,  
The place where he the night before his Passion  
Had poured forth bloody sweats, his antepassion,  
Which over-peeres Jerusalem, and all  
The Country round about with stately fall:  
Where likewise some do Critickly conceive,  
That all men shall their Final doom receive;  
There, He full Power ' to his Disciples gives,  
Their sins to lose, that vow to lead new lives:  
As also those to Excommunicate,  
If they offend, that were Regenerate.  
" This Charge to them and Peter Christ prescribes  
" Joint, as to judge hereafter Israells Tribes:  
" Thus speaking in the Plural: Go your ways,  
And Preach; to bind or lose ye have the keys.  
Above all rules, on Faith he most insisted  
And fruitful Love, both which who so resisted  
With wanton spleen, or contumacious wills,  
He prophesied Damnation for their Ills:  
But saving-health to them, who should confess  
Such faithful love, as Peter did express.  
Assoon as Christ his documents had ended,  
Some did presume, who on him there attended,  
To ask him, whether then he would restore  
To Israel the Kingdom as before?  
(Forgetful so of Jesus Crucifixt  
Were they, and to a Carnal Monarch fixed)  
Whereto Christ answered: It concerns not you  
To know the times and seasons which ensue.  
Such secrecies the Father doth reserve  
Unto himself. Do you my words observe,  
Who am your King, the Head of humane-kind,  
As I to you, so to my Flock be kind;  
My Gospel Preach, the weak ones Catechise;  
See, that my Sheep ye feed, my Lambs Baptise,  
Invoking on, as you have learned of me,  
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, all three;  
Which Last shall shortly you Baptise with Fire,  
As John with Water, and your Souls inspire,  
As God's Viceroy, or Angel of the Lord,  
By Heat of what I taught, the saving word,  
Until I come in Person from Above,  
See that ye Watch, and one another Love.  
Such or like words when Christ had fully ended,  
He in a Cloud up to the Heavens ascended,  
Where he as God and Man all thoughts beholds  
Preferred by the Father, and there holds  
As Man for Men, a Mediators place  
On God's right hand, Saints joyful to embrace  
As God and Man, Paul's Fury he did fright:  
As God and Man, Saint Steven saw his Light.  
So did Saint John from Pathmos see his glory,  
When he revealed his future Church's story.  
By Visions have some others ravished been,  
That they from Earth his Power there have seen:  
" For had we seen him here with Carnal sight,  
" Our Darkness could not comprehend his light.  
Whilst his Disciples there with careful Eyes  
Watched as he went, two Angels humane-wise  
Apparelled white appearing to them said:  
Ye Galileans, why are ye dismayed?  
Why gaze ye up? This Jesus, who is hence,  
To Heaven gone, shall so return from thence.  
Seek not therefore his real presence here  
On Earth, until as Judge he do appear:  
Mean time on God's right hand a Prince and Priest  
He reigns, and doth you in your vows assist.   

On Whitsunday next after Christ's ascent  
He ravished his Disciples with content,  
Who then attended at Jerusalem  
For the last promise, which he made to them:  
That he would send God's Spirit in his steed,  
To rectify and aid them in their need,  
And, while the world should last, his Church inform  
In some or other place with wondrous Form.  
When that high feast of Pentecost was come,  
And for that end they meeting in one Room  
With one consent: there fell a bustling noise,  
Or sudden sound, replete with stirring joys,  
As of a mighty Breath, and rushing Wind,  
Which filled the House, and wonder-rapt the mind:  
For Cloven Tongues appeared to them, like Fire;  
And sat on each of them, and did inspire  
Their Souls with gifts of the great Holy Ghost:  
So that the Standards by of Aliens Coast  
Astonished were th'Apostles joys to hear,  
Men of a different Tongue and Climate there,  
Poor Hebrew Fishermen, that never went  
Far out of Jewry Land, extatick bend  
With them in their own Language to agree,  
And in their zeal to God to be so free,  
And fluent of their Phrase, that Babel's Breach  
Seemed reconciled by their harmonious speech  
Some thought they were like Bardhs Enthusian rapt,  
Or that strong Wine in them such Blabs had clapped;  
That men before the third hour of the day  
Should rave with Wine, they wondered with dismay:  
They were amazed, till Peter made it known,  
That for Christ's sake God sent this wonder down,  
Not for Mad fits, but for Souls joyful feast,  
God sent the Holy Ghost this wondrous Guest.  
O Wondrous Guest, that vents forth Abbaes' Cry  
Within the Heart, the will, and memory!  
O wondrous Guest, the Heaven's Harbinger,  
That scorns not to become the Messenger  
Betwixt our Souls and God to bear our Love,  
And our weak Faith to strengthen and improve!  
That severed Earth from Chaos medley Puddle,  
And raised our Orb out of the lumpish Huddle!  
And though the Earth were heavy, hung it fair,  
With store of stuff in the loose fleeting Air!  
This is that Prime and ever quickening Mover  
Of all the world, Angels and men's approver;  
That spirit, which through all God's Prophets spoke,  
Which taught the sense of Mystics to unlock;  
Which cleared the Wits of simple Fishermen  
To preach those News, which Doctors failed to pen:  
" Which ruled in every Age since Christ's Ascent  
" The Church, and daily yields Soule-nourishment:  
" Which at our feast Christ's Body doth convey  
" Into our Hearts by his Spiritual way:  
" Which sent the gift of Printing now of late,  
" Old Babel's spells and mists to dissipate;  
" And by the Word to rescue Thralles from death  
" As he at first the gift of Tongues did breath:  
" Which animates the Saints with courage rare  
" In midst of Tortures Tyrants to out dare:  
" Which glads the Lowly, and the Penitent,  
" And thousands doth unite in one Consent  
" Of Christian Faith, though sundered much in place,  
" Tongues, rites, or form, yet one in sacred race.  
O Holyghost, how strange is thy proceeding!  
Angels and men's capacities exceeding!  
No pen can limne thy Raptures most profound,  
No humane voice can thy hid Graces sound.  
One thing I blunder out; what thou concealest  
From carnal Clerks, to Children thou reveal'st.  
Then let my Soul, O Lord, be like these last,  
Whilst others feast on Peacocks, let me fast,  
Or taste no other Food, but what conduces  
To praise thy Name without profane abuses:  
And let all them, who view these humble Lines,  
Prove bettered in their thoughts with contrite signs,  
If the old man they labour to deface,  
And do their best the new man to embrace,  
Not like our modern Gulls, who grow Profane,  
Lest they be marked with brand of Puritan.   

Let us God's Spirit by these Wonders seek;  
These Wonders wrought the first day of the Week,  
Our sevenths' Light, now styled The Lord's day,  
Thrice hallowed and sanctified for Ay;  
For this rare Bliss to Christian Souls accrewes,  
That Christ his rising up their hopes renews,  
To Rise, like him, engrafted in his stock,  
To quench their thirst with him, the living Rock,  
To bud a new, as Branches of his Vine,  
To feed on Angel's food, his word divine.  
He led the way to Resurrections bliss,  
And us invites to follow him in this  
High flight, without diverting towards Earth,  
But with due care of the new Spirits Birth,  
Our former resurrection in this Life,  
To gain th'immortal prize through strong belief,  
With those true joys, which did but Monarches know,  
They would forego their Crowns the same to owe;  
A glimpse whereof for understanding Souls  
We read by John revealed in mystic scrolls  
With those delights, wreathes, and immunities;  
Which God allots to Saints in Paradise:  
But for the Temper, Place, Degrees, or Site  
No Astrolabe, nor Brain of worldly wight  
Can apprehend the height, Dimension, Rays,  
Unless they fall on false Poetic ways.   

Yet Paradise some to the Moon confine,  
And there to be another World define  
Of moving Groves by Galilees late Glass,  
Where Apuleius found his Golden Ass:  
Whence likewise came Dame Errors Charmed Lamp  
Which kindled Legends of th' Elysian Camp,  
And Limboes' field, which Royal James (to hit  
False Dreamers home) conceived for Hawking fit.  
Others more Sage in Types describe that Place:  
A Starry Soil eng●rt with Crystal Glass,  
Or Sea translucent with stones precious ranks,  
Pearl, Amber, Beds of Coral on the Banks.  
These may, as Tropes, rouse up the drowsy mind,  
" But to impale God's Mansions, were to blind  
" The Artisans, and to confound the Sense,  
" If curiously they break to Eden's fence.   

" The azur'd Sphere, whereto my hopes are bound,  
" Spiritual stands, above this massy Round:  
" Of lively frame, not like our mortals Land,  
" Or Temples built by carnal Creatures hand;  
" A Commonwealth secured from fiends alarms,  
" Won by our Saviour's blood, and Ghostly Arms,  
Which long before he promised to prepare  
For them that would through Faith his Foes outdare.  
" There, in the midst of Saints God reared for them  
" A Metropole, the New Jerusalem,  
" Not of materials wrought in Earthly mould,  
" But of Celestial stuff more bright than Gold,  
" Than Diamonds, which Liquids may deface  
" Or Canker-fretting Time the Fabric raze.  
The structure might be one with Fixed Stars,  
Or like that Lamp, which ●●●ting stints our cares;  
An Orb so far transcending Eden's site,  
As doth the Sun the Moon, the Day the Night;  
Where He, that made the Sun, more glorious spread  
The New man's gifts then Schoolmen ever read:  
" A Region of incomparable Light,  
" The Globe or Seat whereof no Humane sight,  
" Till Glorified, can pry into, nor Art  
" By reason of the Lustre can impart,  
No more than Paul by Christ in spirit brought  
Up to that Orb, of it could utter aught;  
No more than we dare scan the Trinity,  
Or weak Eyes see the Sun's resplendency.  
Since puzzled we in Nature's secrets be:  
What Natures Lord concealed, how can we see?  
Nay, why should we presumptuously aspire  
To peep into God's Ark? or steal his Fire?  
Old Scribes Prometheus' vouched of Grace bereft  
For robbing Jove's bright Fire (a heinous theft)  
Now more than this (lest Fancies me deceive)  
I blaze not of that Orb what I conceive:  
" Mansions of endless Joys, and sweet Repose  
" God made for Men and Angels, whom he chose,  
" For Men and Angels, who should side with Christ  
" Against Hell-fiendes, the Beast, and Antichrist.  
But whether in our Zones changed, or refined,  
Or Higher Orbs, I leave it undefin'd.   

" Let this suffice: no object represents  
" There, more than God to Souls departed hence,  
" Which honoured Christ, nor can divert their Sight  
" From fixing on his Beams their whole delight,  
Chiefly, at that Eternal Jubilee,  
When Saints shall from Hell-squadrons parted be.  
" By his great Light through Christ Saints there shall shine  
" So bright, that their new shape will turn Divine,  
" Compacted of the purest Quintessence,  
" Which Air and Flame could work in Humane sense.  
The Body, which on Earth so clogged the Soul  
Terrestrial, shall no more that Guest control,  
But mounted up in Oval Coach of Fire,  
Elias-like, doth to the Heavens aspire,  
" And, like high Eagles wings, both here and there  
" Comports with Christ the manhood up to bear;  
" Of Motion swift, of Strength without compare,  
" Like Seraphins all Love, of beauty rare,  
" Leagued with the Soul in sympathising frame,  
" Of Qualities aethereal mixed with flame,  
" Of glorious mould, not subject unto sin,  
" Disease, or grief, as the first man hath been;  
" Like Cherubins all Light, composed of Light,  
Saints than shall reign in a far happier plight  
Installed then Chinaes' King, or Tiber's Priest  
With triple Crown, which cannot long subsist,  
For these at death leave Corpse and States behind:  
As those bear Bodies new, like Christ's refined,  
With whom they reap more pleasures and content  
Then Tongue can tell, Ears hear, or Fancies vent.  
" No Sex's Form shall then preoccupate  
" The Sense, since Fate had procreations' date  
" Worn out, and cancelled Lust in Evaes' Race,  
" Her Choicest blessed with even blooming Grace.  
" Because on Earth they trusted God alone,  
" And loved his Saints, he made them with Christ One.  
" Both Young and Old, though maimed, burnt, or drowned,  
" Shall flourish then alike with Members sound,  
Of Body spanned, yet purged of Drossy Mass,  
Perhaps, like Christ's (which some would force to Mass)  
With Knowledge ripe of Goodness, void of Ill,  
From Passions free, and rectified in Will;  
" Perhaps at the same Age, when Adam fell,  
" Or Christ Rose up triumphant over Hell.   

There they shall sing and praise the Lord always;  
Not having need at all to sue or Pray.  
O how they move with mutual zealous fire  
To praise the Lord for sparing in his Ire  
Old jacob's Tribes! for choosing him and them,  
While he did Esau and his Brood contemn!  
They see themselves culled from the Gentiles throng,  
Though they deserved to sing their howling Song:  
" For though God did all future things foresee,  
" He did till than no Reprobates decree,  
" But them reserved with Devils to partake,  
" Till Christ judge them to Tophèts burning Lake.  
They know the state of all the damned Crew,  
And thereupon their thankful shouts renew,  
Ascribing Praise with Hymns Angelical  
To Alpha and Omega, God in all:  
" Of one consent, one will, one yea and nay,  
With the like Music, and Harmonious Lay.   

Such Bliss on the eternal Sabbath day  
Crowns them, when God their Bodies shall array,  
Who in the Lamb believed, and did their best  
By doing Good to gain his Sabbaths Rest.  
As meaner Men made Lords wear Habits new,  
So shall our Bodies then be changed anew,  
The good invested with perfections rare:  
The bad with hideous shapes, and hellish Care.  
Then many, now which stalk with Peacock's Plumes,  
With various Garbs, with Licks, and Bawds perfumes,  
More ugly shall appear then Toads, or Bugs,  
Which Children scare from screaming for the Dugs.  
" Nor will the Good then pity the Distressed,  
" Because God's love had Nature's Foams suppressed.  
Embosomed Couples, which on Earth embraced,  
The one shall be received, the other cast:  
" Where humble Saints shall surely be preferred,  
" And Tenants set above their Lords that erred.   

" Our Saviour, Enoch, and Elias led  
" The way, to show that God the Quick and Dead  
" Can raise: that Mortals have regained their Breath,  
Yea, from their Graves Saints rose at Christ's his Death.  
This Doctrine seems to Carnal Sadduces  
scarce true, although they see in Summer Trees  
●nd Corn to sprout with other vegetalles;  
●hough they see yearly many Animals,  
● Swallows are, Silkwormes, and Butterflies,  
revived when the Sun doth hotter rise.  
Then, since Those Life by the Sun's heat have won,  
Why should not Men by Him that made the Sun?  
Such Sots have been, and such (I fear) there are  
Too many Faithless ones, that never care  
Here in this Life the certain means to gain  
Of glorious Shape in time to come again,  
(Like skittish Maids, who at the fairy Game  
Do Dance, until their Bellies swell with shame.)  
Nor how fares Truth, nor what a Christian ails;  
Will they yet learn, until the Fiend prevails,  
What shall become of Body or of Soul,  
So they may Feast and drink without control.  
The Mirrors of the Moon are trimmed a new,  
Whose Face the four Weeks Term had dimmed the Hue.  
See they not bred of Putrefaction Flies?  
And Barnacles from Wood or Pitch to rise?  
To hear the Birth of the Arabian Bird  
With Golden wings from Ashes Pile they gird.  
They see huge Pompions of small seeds renew,  
Yet they make doubt that men shall Rise anew.  
They see the Salamander in the Flame  
Unscorched lives, yet they are void of shame.  
Some in our Time quite dead again have lived  
By Miracle; and some by drinks revived:  
Yea, when the Bird out of the Cage did roam,  
The Soul reverted back into her home.  
In heavy sleep they feel the Soul to range,  
And yet they doubt of the Immortal change.  
But thou hast sent, O bright Celestial Light,  
Into our thoughts a Guest to teach us right.   

" O sacred Faith, our Charter, Aaron's Rod,  
" Great wonder-worker betwixt Souls and God,  
The chiefest Bar betwixt our Sins and Hell,  
The Quintessence of Flowers of sweetest smell.  
" Faith conquers all, Mountains of Sin's removes,  
" Makes Lions Lambs, and Kites more mild than Doves,  
" And may be styled the Gospels' Golden Gloss,  
" To know aright the meaning of the Crosse.  
This is that Rock unseen with Carnal Eyes,  
Whereon our Church stands firm, in spite of Spies  
Late sent from Hell Christ's Building to deface,  
And with false News dispersed to darken Grace.  
This is our New man's sure and constant Rock,  
Whose sense from Lambs old Reynard seeks to lock.   

This precious Gift we gain from Grace above,  
●ut flies away, if we profane God's Love  
●lipsing it on the Lords glorious day  
●ith worldly mist, false Fire, or Heathenish play,  
●he old Man's Tricks, his stale and stinking Leaven;  
For if that Day we Rest not, we lose Heaven:  
" I mean from Gain, Lust, and unlawful Plays,  
" Or Work, which might be done on other days  
" We must refrain, and our own Carnal ways  
" Set far behind the course of Sabbath days,  
" Except our Mother Church, which holds the Keys  
" To bind or lose, dispense with Exercise,  
" Or with some harmless Joys at vacant hours  
" To sweeten Cares, and raise the vital Powers,  
" Which might grow drowsy, sad, or drooping dry  
" For want of Motion and due Symmetry.  
" Provided that the Souls chief faculties  
" Be not betwitcht too much with vanities:  
" And that our sports, or Recreations be  
" From Spleen, or G●ll, Bibbing, or swearing free:  
That we rejoice in presence of the Lord,  
Like Man and Wife, of one mind and Accord.  
Provided, that what Money we shall Play,  
Or hap to win, we count it lent away,  
And so Confer it to avoid Abuse,  
For mending ways, the Church, or Lazars use:  
" But in this Point let Saints be circumspect,  
" Lest at their Play the Serpent them infect.  
" Provided still, we may Advantage win  
" On that set day to put down Reigning Sin,  
And glorify with mutual one Accord,  
And holy Hearts our Sabbaths gracious Lord  
Who knows that Man is full of Imperfections,  
And by degrees must climb to more Perfections.  
So have I seen some Children from the Dugs  
By leisure weaned, then, terrified with Bugs  
From screaming loud, and afterwards with Bells  
Appeased, like Angry Bees, until their Yells  
They quite left off, ashamed of their Folly,  
And grew in time more stayed, devout, and Holy.  
So I have known, where men were most Precise,  
In Foreign Parts, that some did exercise  
At Butts with Arrows, or with Bullets Play  
Between the Sermon While on this High day.  
The like Effects our Elders Tolerations  
May bring to pass amidst our Profanations,  
That when our sweaty Hobbs have danced their fill,  
They and their Marian's mount to Zions Hill;  
Or else defer their Games and Alchouse Bowles,  
●ill sacred Liquor hath bedewed their Souls,  
●or than I hope our New man will extend  
●is quickening Heat, that their Old man will bend,  
●nd stoop, like joseph's Brethren, overcome  
●ith th'awful splendour of succeeding Doom,  
●hat shall inflicted be on Libertines  
●or slighting Prophets, and their sacred lines,  
〈◊〉 their abuse of Christian Liberty,  
〈◊〉 causing scandal with Impiety;  
●or keeping back God's Tithes, and starving those,  
" Who might Soul-fed our Sabbaths Foes oppose.   

O would my words might pierce into the Flint,  
And strike remorse with Numbers feeling dint  
In them, who to support their Pride, engross  
The Means, whereby ensues the Church's Loss;  
In them, that put no cautious difference  
Betwixt the Lords and other Days in sense,  
Good ends, and use, like those who sometimes fed  
On the Lord's Body, as on Common Bread.  
But leaving these, like achan's, to themselves,  
Or to be ranked among the Fairy Elves,  
I hope the Gospels' Light, which now shines bright  
In Britain's Isle, will so confound the Night  
Of misty sins, that we shall shun the Rock  
Of Scandal, and be grafted in one stock,  
As Members of our All-puissant Head,  
Whose Tenfold Laws the greatest States must dread,  
And by their Light 'twixt Motion, Love, and 〈◊〉  
Cause Lesser Stars, like Charles his Wain, to draw  
That Head and Parts may join in unity,  
While Charles his Name renews whole Charity.  
Membra Caputque ligant Charites, quas Carolus ambi●  
Dum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 renovat Rex nomen & omen.   

Blessed be that Light, which late in Oxford shone,  
And there Inspired fair England's Royal Throne:  
" Our Carriers, Carts, and Waynemen to restrain,  
" Who sullied Sabbath days for greedy Gain.  
Blessed be that Act, which served for a Charm  
Amidst our vows, to stay God's Thundering Arm,  
That scared from Westminster our Parliament  
With Fiery darts and Arrows Pestilent.  
No strict Edict could cease the Dismal knells:  
No Judges Writ could stay sad London's Bells.  
" No Golden Fee, the Soul of Eloquence,  
" Could further Suits against the Pestilence.  
Our Gallants then, (so for their Outside styled,)  
Thence hurried fast away, like Creatures wild.  
The Courtiers fled, so did Rich Londoners;  
The Coachmen fled: so did the Waggoners.  
Both Sexes fled, yea, Men of all degrees;  
Grave-diggers Gain down weighed the Lawyer's Fees,  
Though since some complained of Fees abate:  
For many weekly Graves but few of late.  
Our Fashions, Beauties, and daubed Jezabels  
took then for Fiends the Noise of Tolling Bells.  
Few stayed behind, save some in hope of Gain,  
Or those for Christ who shrunkt not to be slain.  
Nay they, who bragged of Aromatic Pots,  
Cures for the Pox, and sovereign Antidotes  
Against the Plague, than brooked not London streets,  
Lest they might dance the winding of the Sheets.  
But now attend, a Wonder great I tell,  
Which thousands can as yet remember well:  
" Assoon as that New Act came published,  
" The Plague abated, and few perished.  
This an Eyewitness of their Desolations,  
Their Trades Decrease, their Woes, and Lamentations,  
In that great City, where the Sickness reigned,  
I then their Guest undaunted, not constrained,  
Do testify for our Preservers praise  
And to reclaim them, who shall read these Lays,  
With Dalilaes' from dallying overlong,  
Their sweetest sins, I mean, God's day to wrong;  
" Gods day of Rest his Wonders to display,  
" Gods day for man's best part, Souls Holiday;  
On which High day the Spirits Gate stands open,  
And we may then for store of Grace's hope.   

I●t not absurd New sweet Wine to put in  
Old Butts not first well purified within?  
And is it not Profane to Sacrifice  
To God, before the Soul be cleansed of Vice?  
How many ways may we redeem the Times,  
If we apply our Wills thereto betimes?  
The Morning's prime in Prayer to the Lord  
We ought to Sacrifice, and to record  
His wondrous Acts unto our Families,  
Or Neighbours, whom with Charitable Ties  
The Chain of Faith hath linked in together,  
As Fellow Saints. The Noontide we may either  
In sober Meals, or in Almes-giving spend.  
The Afternoon to gentle Walks may tend,  
There, more to praise the Flowers variety,  
Then Solomon in all his Royalty,  
To suck the Hills, or fragrant Gardens Air;  
" Or it may tend to make the Soul more fair,  
" By reading Scriptures, or the Martyr's wrongs,  
" Choice Catechisms, Sermons, or sacred Songs.  
To show us zeal against a Graven Elf,  
Moses broke the Tables of God himself.  
The like pure Flame burnt in Phinehes Soul,  
When he with Steel foul Whoredom did control.  
Do we contend in Lawful War's debate?  
Or in defence of our Religion's state?  
Who in Old time more constantly did brook  
Proud Giants scorns? Or with more Patience took  
Their Flouts, which did at his good Sermons bark  
Then No, whilst he built his famous Ark?  
Who better did Gods Chosen Soldiers guide  
Then Abram, Josuab, and the valiant David?  
Who more resolved to fight in a good Cause  
Then the brave Maccabees for Moses Laws?  
Would you observe a Kings, or Judge's Part?  
Their lawful Charge grave Moses doth impart;  
As Subject's Damage by their winked at Bribes,  
And Tyrannies old samuel's Book describes.  
Would ye Rule well yourselves? a House? or State?  
These Solomon and Sirach moderate.  
Ere Sidrach, Misach, and Abednego  
Would Idolise, the Fire they undergo;  
Nor could the Lion's Den, nor Medes decree,  
From serving God enforce good daniel's Knee.  
Do we desire to see a harmless Mask  
With Dances, Songs, and Shouts? Here is a Task  
For our New man with David to consult  
And Judaes' Kings; whilst Incest doth insult  
On that great Baptists Life from Jordan led  
To pay unto a Frisking Maid his Head.  
Comforts for Grief we feel in David's Psalms,  
By Jeremy, by Job, or Tobiths' Alms.   

What wonders do the Spirits Penmen teach  
Performed by Saints beyond Dame Nature's reach?  
Do we affect to drink most wholesome Wine?  
Go we to Cana, or to Christ the Vine,  
Where without charge both White and Red abound  
To cheer sad Souls, while Christ his Health goes round.  
Would we see acted a rare Convertite?  
Damascus shows us Paul Christ's Favourite.  
Would we discern the Newman in his strength?  
The Gospel paints his Portraiture at length.  
Would we behold She-paragons of Beauty?  
Or of that Sex some others False and Haughty?  
Sara, Rebecca, Rachel, Deborah,  
Miriam, and she that nailed Sisera:  
So Hanna, Ruth, Priscilla, Magdalen,  
And Philip's Nuns deserve a Prophets Pen.  
So Judith, Ester, and Susanna chaste;  
And she within all Glorious, that's embraced  
By Heaven's King, with Sunny Robes adorned,  
Maugre the plots of men by Fiends suborned,  
Whose praise we find blazed in the Canticles,  
Extended then, and since by Oracles.  
So for her Zeal, with them I parallel  
Christ's Prophetess, the Widow Phanuel.  
These Female sparks invite my Soul a Guest,  
And so the Church's Type at the Lords Feast  
Sweet Mary blest in the Superlative  
Cheers me, with her whom Zachary did wive,  
Who brought, like Sara, forth in Ancient Age  
A Prophet to proclaim Christ's Pilgrimage.  
The Elect Lady, Hulda the Prophetess,  
Lydia, and Dorcas make a Holy Mess.  
Then, Jezabel I read, and Babel's Whore,  
Both rampant bent the Church of God to gore.  
Last, Athaliaes' Fate from Bloody snares,  
Saphiraes' me from Double dealing scares;  
As likewise do from Gadding Dinaes' Fall,  
Lot's wife, and Evaes' Doom good Dames recall.  
These Histories, or such in Holy writ  
Exemplified this sacred Day befit.  
Good Books advance the newman's Sacrifice,  
But Bad to Heathenish vice soft Brains entice.  
Therefore let us borne of the Spirits seed,  
Immortal, scorn our Christian Minds to feed  
With Tales, vain Sports, or fond Lascivious Books,  
Which Fiends suggest for Souls as shining Hooks.  
Exploits belied on Patrick, Arthur, Guy,  
The Peers of France, or Spain's bald knightly Fry;  
To the intent, that from God's word the Will  
Might be seduced, t' apprehend more Ill   

Arming our Minds, let us our Bodies too,  
The Parcels of Christ's Temple, not undo  
With Drunken Healths, the Devil's Sacrifice  
In these last Times, nor yet Apicius-wise,  
" With various kinds of Gurmandizing Cheer,  
" Which dims with noisome Fumes the Spirits Clear,  
" And the Five senses so intoxicate  
" That Pulpits blush to see such Nodding Pates.  
How oft saw we some at this Holy Tide  
More Sensual bent then any day beside?  
Some haunting more the Tavern than the Church?  
Some on the Spoil, some living on the Lurch?  
And some far more to deck their Outside bend,  
Then by God's word to feel Soule-ravishment?  
Strutting more oft to Church with Painted Wings,  
Then to bear thence Soule-wares & sacred things?   

Yet press I not too peevishly Precise,  
" But Christians may in comely modest wise  
" Wear what they list, so that their glittering Port  
" Cause no offence unto the weaker sort:  
" So that their Pomp do not Devotion let,  
" I care not how in Foreign Robes they jet.  
What Hurrying Noise? what March? and rumbling Coil,  
As if they went unto a Play, or Broil,  
Do Gallants keep wirh Coaches in the Street?  
When they at Church should Saints most humbly greet?  
Since God allows to the Domestic Beast,  
Which laboured the six Days, our Sabbaths Rest:  
How dare they then his Creatures put to Pain?  
More to proclaim their Pomp, than Peace to gain?  
Such Sabbath-breakers (I do greatly fear)  
Before the Lamb prefer proud Lucifer.  
Yet for this Clause let not the Courtly Ear  
Mistake my sense: for I do not aver,  
But that in their Caroche, or their Sedan,  
Without Disgust to the most Puritan,  
The Aged, Weak, or those of tender feet  
May use what Means they please in Church to meet,  
When with loud Threats tempestuous Winds do reign,  
Or When the Clouds dissolve to dropping Rain;  
So that their Hearts be void of swelling Pride,  
And that their Journey be with Christ to side,  
Who, when he did in greatest Triumph pass  
On Earth as Man, rode on a Simple Ass.   

Nor do I weigh such points so strict a way,  
But Fishers, Cooks, and Pothecaries may  
Labour, or save what would be cast away,  
If on the Eve they toil not for that Day.  
But I could wish good Christians not to play  
The Epicures on the Lord's Sabbath Day,  
Causing their Cooks to dress more Choice of Meat  
Then Heliogabale could digest to eat,  
Whilst that ten Quails or Pheasants in one Dish  
His Panders sauced with Pearl and Ambergriese.   

God grant, that we more suiting our Vocation  
May ruminate with serious Meditation  
This wholesome Feast, which I have plainly dressed,  
And those New Rules, which I have now expressed  
For Boiling Brains swelled up with Arrogance,  
That they may stoop, and feel the Spirits Trance,  
To do Gods Will, to muse on Heavenly Joys,  
And not to clinche those Joys through worldly Toys.  
Lord, here we yield thee thanks, though soiled with Errors,  
And round about beset with many Terrors,  
For turning Britain's Island from a Beast  
To be Baptised, and of Baptised the Best,  
While she doth firmly to thy Pledges stick,  
To thy true Seals, and Spirits Candlestick.  
Praised be thou, who hast to us revealed  
The Certain Means, whereby we may be healed  
Of Nature's Spots, and those Contagious Evils  
Heaped on us by the World, the Flesh, and Devils,  
More in these Latter Times then heretofore,  
When our Great Tempter lay enthralled more,  
And of his Stings curbed by the Holy Ghost,  
Till Babel's Whore perked up, and ruled the roast.  
Which sacred Means we humbly pray thy Grace  
May still support us in our New-mans' Race,  
As we begun so with more Love to burn,  
Until thy Son Incarnate shall return  
With Final Doom to judge the Dead and Quick,  
The Dead in Faith, and the Church Catholic.   

A joyful Hymn to be sung on the Lord's Day, winding up the Sevenths Days Exercise.  

Rejoice, ye Saints, hoist up your highest Sails,  
And magnify with loud Hosa●●aes hails  
The Lord, that first saluted from the Grave  
Frail Adam's Sons, and them their debts forgave.  
Spread forth his Sabbaths Palms, sing joyful Psalms,  
Attend his word, and to the Poor give Alms.  
How Amiable and Cordial is thy Word  
Above all Objects else, O mighty Lord!  
How ravishing with Pleasures Manifold  
Surmounting Music, Pomp, or heaps of Gold,  
Sounds in our Hearts the Heavenly Bridgroomes' voice!  
How sweetly ring those Peals of Hallowed Noise,  
Thrice Holy sung by Hosts of Cherubins?  
Thrice answered by Love Flaming Scraphins?  
" O Unity thrice blest in Trinity!  
" O Trinity thrice blest in Unity!  
For the pursuit of which Harmonious strain,  
Though fully we cannot as yet attain  
To that brave Pitch by reason of our Fogs,  
Thy Grace yet draws the will, and dries our Bogs.  
So if we glance, as through a Glass, a while  
At their sweet Tunes, and in thy Laud Compile  
Some zealous work to testify our Love,  
And ready will, which therewithal may move  
Thy Saints on Earth to warble forth thy Praise,  
Thou art well pleased as with the Widow's Mite,  
Who Abraham's deed didst by a Ram acquit.   

Teach us, O Christ, to weigh th'effect and Cause  
Of this Day's Rest, like those whom at Emaus  
Thou mad'st with zeal to burn the self same day,  
When thou didst Rise and metst them by the way;  
That we with Vows, and Sabbaths true Delight  
May think on thee without the least despite  
Of Spleen, or Gall, which might profane the Time,  
And black our Souls with a Notorious Crime,  
If we neglect our Duties and thy Call,  
Now to appear at this thy Festival.  
Withdraw our minds from Nature's fond desires,  
Or Ruffling shows which might put our Fires,  
And make some justly call our Day of Rest  
A Carnal Time, or Saturnalian Feast.  
" Restrain our Longing Fits from all excess  
" Of Meats and Drink, which might our Wits oppress,  
" And by their mounting Fumes up to the Brain,  
" Thee to neglect our Noblest Part constrain,  
" And cause us, Nabal-like, the Sots to play,  
" When we to Thee our Thankful vows should pay;  
For on this Day thy Cabinet stands open,  
And we on it for store of Jewels hope.   

O let us not, like to that Thorny Ground,  
Be choked with worldly Cares, but Fruitful found,  
And watchful still, attending on thy Word  
At this thy Sabbaths Feast, it to record,  
And edify our Neighbours as ourselves,  
Before our Crimes link us with frantic Elves;  
Or to Conclude, before thou do remove,  
As Son of Man, in Person from Above,  
To judge Mankind, which shortly we expect,  
And on the seventh Day, as some suspect.  
Good Lord, by virtue of thy Sabbaths Rest,  
According to thy will grant our Request;  
That, as thou didst with Body Glorified  
Rise up from Death, so we Soule-purified  
May Rise from Sin, and up to Heaven ascend,  
And not to Hell, like damned Ghosts, descend.  
All Glory be to Thee, as heretofore,  
In Persons three, one God for evermore.   
Amen.   

Another Hymn in our Redeemers Praise.  

LEt all that soiled the Precepts Ten,  
New Daylight crave through Christ. Amen.  
And let all Angels, Saints, and Men  
For ever bless Christ's Name. Amen.  
Amen, Amen sound we, like Thunder,  
That at our Zeal the World may wonder,  
That at our Noise the World aghast,  
May turn to Christ now at the last,  
To tune his Praise with Newer Tongues,  
And with the Heart more than the Lungs.  
Let Christ be Alpha in our Songs,  
And our Omega, as belongs  
To Catholics of Christian stock,  
The Spirits seed, Sheep of one Flock.  
Let all our Thoughts conspire in One,  
To fix our Faith on Christ alone,  
And with one voice aloud to Sing:  
" Christ is our Head, Judge, Saviour, King:  
" The Prince of Angels, God's Delight,  
" The Crown of Saints, men's only Light;  
" The Woman's Seed, the Son of God,  
" Which on the Head of Satan trod;  
" The Lion borne of Judaes' Ligne,  
" The Root of Jesse, Mount Calvares Sign;  
" The Glorious Star of our New Birth,  
Whence springs our Peace, and sweetest Mirth.   

The second part.  
BOth First and Last, as we begun,  
Let us applaud our Maker's Son  
With loud Hosannaes' every day,  
Like chirping Birds in Month of May;  
Like Consorts Tune, or Ring of Bells,  
Let us show how our Love excels,  
And never cease Christ's Name to ring,  
Till we meet all as in one Ring,  
Or Circle round: whence no Disunion  
Shall ever part our Heart's Communion.  
Like Nightingales in Summer's Bower,  
Let us on Christ think every hour,  
And never leave to blaze his Story,  
Until we meet this Lord of Glory,  
This Lord of Lord, that crushed the sting  
Of our great Foe: for which we sing  
All praise to him that conquered Sin,  
And did for us the Triumph win.   
Amen.   

The New-mans' Song, of Thanksgiving after the Receiving of the Communion.  

WE took this Day Christ's Flesh and Blood  
Dressed in the Form of sacred Food.  
We fed on Bread surmounting Wealth,  
We drank Christ's Wine of Saving Health.  
O Mystic signs! O Grace Divine  
Transferred from the Heavenly Vine,  
And Living Bread that came from God  
To warm and change our Earthly Clod!  
We took those Signs, like Baskets rare,  
But opening them most dainty Fare  
We found to please our Spirits Taste,  
We found enough to break our Fast.  
We felt our Souls cast in New Mould,  
And changed from the Creature Old.  
Love made us all of one consent,  
Faith wrought in us the Lords Intent:  
To mind his Passion, Death, and Love,  
Till He to Judge comes from Above.  
By these two Gifts we grow to be  
Christ's Body from disunion free.  
By them, like Flower baked in one Loaf,  
The Lord feeds us under our Roof.  
By them, like Lines we meet in one  
Firm Centre, in God's Truth alone,  
God's Truth, that blest our Christian spouse  
With happy Lot, like Obeds House  
Blest for the Ark, while there it stayed,  
When Others were by it dismayed.   

The second part.  
WE yield thee Thanks, most Gracious Lord,  
Who dost Faith's Light to us record;  
That they, who at thy Table feed,  
In spirit must Christ's Passion heed.  
O let us then with Holy Trance  
From Carnal sense our Thoughts advance.  
Let Christ behold us in the West,  
Like to those Wise men of the East,  
Greeting his Cross and his Uprising,  
As they his Birth and Manger Prising.  
Let Christ our vows of Thanks behold,  
Our Faith more Pure than Ophirs Gold,  
Our Hearts more bruised than Myrrhes Perfume,  
Our Love more sweet than Incense-fume.  
This good Advise we will engross  
Within our Souls, and mount the Crosse.  
His Cross we feel. But now we hear  
An Angel say, He is not here.  
Christ, whom ye seek, is Risen up  
Having now made your Foes to stoup.  
Until Doomsday his Body none  
Shall see on Earth, for he is gone  
To Heaven. There, behold your Christ  
On God's Right hand, a King, a Priest,  
An Advocate without a Fee  
Pleading to have Faith's Household free.  
Draw near his Throne, and without doubt  
The Golden Sceptre he holds out.  
He will extend his Spirits Grace,  
Whilst ye in Spirit seek his Face,  
Not wresting your Soule-Feast more real  
Than Paul, who terms it Christ's Memorial.  
This Trance stirs up true Saints to Joy  
Like Him, who, though an Embryon Boy,  
Within the Womb seemed to rejoice,  
Soon as his Dam heard Mary's voice.  
The Babe did spring, and so do we  
At our Soule-feast with Jubilee.  
Unto the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost  
Be Praise both here and throughout every coast,  
As of Old time hath been, is now their due,  
And ever shall in Heaven and Earth renew.  
Let Heaven and Earth by Angels, Saints, and Men  
To God rebound with Glories sound. Amen.    

The New man's Song of Thanksgiving after our Ordinary Meals.  

1.  
THe Lord be Blest, who gave us Food  
In season for the Bodies Good.  
Our God be praised for evermore,  
Who our desires supplied with store  
Of Meat and Drink more than would serve  
For Nature's use or we deserve.  
No Need we feel, no want we know:  
So doth the Lord his Gifts bestow.   

2.  
He never leaves his Saints in need,  
But Carks for them, and for their Seed.  
He leaves them not with Beggar's shame  
To starve, if they call on his Name,  
He taught them how to bless their Meat,  
By giving Thanks for what they Eat,  
No Need we feel, etc.   

3.  
Unto his Flock, just Abraham's stock,  
He Water gave out of the Rock:  
With Manna filled their Hungry Maws:  
And Cloyd with quails their longing Craws  
He Cared for Ravens and their Breed,  
And Ravens made Elias feed.  
No need we feel etc.   

4.  
He David holp in Banishment:  
He Daniel made with Pulse content:  
He with wild Fruit did John sustain,  
And his Elect from Dearth maintain.  
He Thousands in the Desert fed  
With a few Fish and Loaves of Bread.  
No need we feel etc.   

5.  
One Day He sends us store of Flesh;  
Another time Fish salt and Flesh,  
And commonly Bread, Ale, and Beer,  
Milk, Fruit, and Wine, our Hearts to cheer.  
Yea, Junkets fetched from Sunburnt Spain,  
Which do too oft our Tables stain.  
No need we feel etc.   

6.  
How Gracious is Almighty God  
Unto vile Man, an Earthly Clod!  
Thus to provide and Carke for him,  
That oft himself fills to the Brim  
With more than serves for Nourishment,  
For hunger's sauce, or Souls content.  
No need we feel etc.   

7.  
God grant that we his Creatures use  
Do Thankful take without abuse,  
Not loathing them as over-cloyd,  
Nor them devouring overjoyed;  
That as of Need Saints toil for Wealth,  
So we Feast not for Lust, but Health.  
No need we feel, no want we know▪  
So doth the Lord his Gifts bestow.    

The New man's Triumph in English and Latin measures presented to the Kings most excellent Majesty.  

WHo Christ his Birth, Life, Death, and Rising up  
From Death to Life observes, He soon shall stoop  
And quash the plots of Hell's black Darkened Troup,  
And likewise make the Outward man to droop  
With all his false Designs, and fond Conceits  
Sprung from the Flesh, or from the World's Deceits;  
For as the Morning spreads the Dawning Light:  
So Faith by Teaching shines, and Daunts the Might  
Of that Huge Whale, which waits with triple throat  
To swallow Souls, as Preys of Chiefest Note.  
So much new Light spreads by the Gospels' sound,  
They now praise Christ, who were in Fetters bound;  
And Sins keen Edge, wherewith the Devil was wont  
To boar our Hearts, turns on the sudden blunt;  
And so remains, unless they grind again  
Their Augurs on the Whetstone of the Brain.  
But how fares then our Soldier in that plight?  
With David's sling he doth the Monster smite;  
Whether the Fiend within, or from without  
Shoots Fire, he doth for Christ stand bravely out;  
For at the Broil his Inward Guardian springs,  
Baptised, Fire-sindged, and Graced mith Burnished wings  
Of mounting zeal, who thus the Triumph sings:  
O happy wight, which hath escaped the stings  
Of Mortal Jars! who, though he understood  
His Foes Allures, yet loathed them and their brood!  
O happy Soul, which dared with Saints to side  
Against God's Foes, the Luciferian side:  
Whom with Christ's Merits armed nor swelling Tide,  
Nor fiery Trial could from Christ divide;  
Whom neither Charms, nor yet a thousand Braves  
Could terrify, nor yet the rolling waves:  
But to safe Port with Joy she brings the Cross  
And Christ his Ship, which Pirates did engross,  
Where she with Saints the Cross Triumphant rears,  
That Cross, which Saints on Earth have won ●ith Tears,  
Happy is he, who brooks a wrong-attaint,  
For by the Cross he lives a Canoned Saint,  
A Name indeed, which overtops so far  
The highest Spire, or style of worldly Star,  
As doth God's Grace above men's sins abound,  
Or the Lamb's Blood more than our Merits sound.  
Thrice happy Man, I say, whom Angels greet;  
And whom Christ's Will made for that Honour meet!   

So Happy be the Best of Kings,, if these  
Our New man's Songs to judge he gently please:  
For with our Cross there grows sweet Inward Ease  
And with Our Crown of Thorns a wreath of Peace.    

The same in Latin Hexameter. Novi Hominis Laurea Triumphalis.  

QVi Natalitium, Vitam, Miracula, Mortem,  
Et Christi Corpus Redivivum ment revolvit,  
Ille tenebrosae reddet Molimina Gentis  
Irrita, Conatus Hominis veterisque repellet,  
Seu de Carne fluant, seu sint Phantasmata Mundi.  
Sicut enim radiis Primordia Mane Diei  
Dilatat, per opaca Fides sic sparsa coruscat,  
Tergeminumque domat Monstrum, Caetumque Trifaucem,  
Qui vorat omne pecus, Praedasque absorbet opimas.  
Tantum Numen inest Fidei, ut modo Carmine Christum  
Compede qui vincti quondam latuere salutant;  
Quin & acuta, quibus terebrabat Pectora Daemon,  
Tela repentino fiunt obtusa reflexu;  
Sic que hebetata manent, nisi devia forte voluntas  
Illa super Cerebri renovet Terebrata molare.  
Quomodo tum Miles valet in discrimine tanto?  
Nempe studet monstrum Jaculis superare Davidis.  
Seu vis Hostilis tonat, aut Civilis amictu.  
Fraudis in orbe furit, Christo Constanter adhaeret.  
Nam Novus ex gemina Genius Baptismatis aura,  
Numinis afflatu, Zeloque micantibus alis  
Nascitur, intus agit, victoris & ille Triumphum  
Sic canit: O Faelix, qui tot Certamina vidit  
Illaesus! qui vafra Hostis stratagemata novit!  
Et tamen haec spernit generoso pectore Miles!  
O Faelix, qui sacra Dei Praedonibus aufert,  
Ausus ad extremum Fidei defendere causam  
Contra Luciferum Meritis innixus Jesus!  
Non scloppi reboante sono, non Marte, nec arte,  
Non Pugnis, non mille Minis, nec territus undis,  
Donec in optati Navem ferat ostia Portus!  
Et Crucis abductae renovata Piacula Christo  
Immolet, Aetherea Laudes resonante Caterva!  
Faelix, quem signat Crux Ignea Nomine Sancti,  
Nomine Pyramidas tanto exsuper ante vel Astra,  
Quanto Peccatis existit Gratia major,  
Quanto Hominum Meritis Sanguis praestantior Agni.  
Ter Felix, inquam, quem Christi summa Potestas  
Angelicos inter Coetus dignatur Honore.   

Sic quoque tu Faelix, qui nostros imbibis Hymnos  
Judicio sensuque pio, Rex optime Regum:  
Cum Cruce nam crescit dulce Levamen. Amen▪ Eccho.  
Cum Spina Sertum fulget O vale. Vale▪ Eccho.    
FINIS.