VERBUM SEMPITERNUM. Printed at London by JO BEALY for John Hamman 1616. TO ANNA Queen of Great Britain. The Epistle. GReat Queen, (the sum of this great little book If your high Grace, will grace to everlooke. I know your goodness, puts disdain to flight, And though detraction bark, she dares not bite. IO. TAYLOR To the Reader. THou that this little book dost take in hand, Before thou judge be sure to understand. And as thy kindness thou extend'st to me, At any time I'll do as much for thee. Thine IO. TAYLOR Genesis. Iehovah here, of nothing, all things makes, And man before all things his. God forsakes. Yet by th'almighties mercy, 'twas decreed, heavens Heir should satisfy for man's misdeed. Man's age is long, and all are great, not good, And all (save eight) are drowned in the flood. Old Noah, second Sire to worst and best. Of I'm the cursed, Japhet and Sem the blest. Of Abraham's starlike numberless increase Of offsprings offsprings, and his rest in peace. Of Israel's going into Egypt, and Of their abode and living in that land. Of I●sephs brethren, faithless, and unkind, Of his firm faith, and ever constant mind. He pardons then that did his death devise Hests his children's children, and he dies. Exodus. Th'increase of jacobs' stock is grown past number, And fear of them, th' Egyptian king doth cumber Who giving credit to th'enchanters tales, Commands to kill all infant Hebrew males. But Moses is preserved in the river, To be a Captain Israel to deliver. Stern Pharaohs Civel adamantine heart Will not permit God's People to departed. Ten plagues from heaven are on th' Egyptians powered, Blood, frogs, lice, flies, beasts scabs, hail thundering showered, grasshoppers, darkness, death of first borne men. These were th'Egyptian plagues, in number ten. The Isr'alites are freed, and pharoh's host In chase them, are in the Red sea lost. A cloud doth shroud them from the burning day, By night a fiery pillar guides their way. The murmuring people, fearing famine, rails, God rains down Manna from the heaven & quails. The Law is writ in stone, (to Moses given) By Gods own hand to guide men unto heaven. The Ceremonial sacrifice is taught, As ripes of whom our breast redemption's wrought. Leviticus Hear man is showed, it is the almighty's will, To guard the good, and to correct the ill. The truest service of the highest stands In no man's fancy but as he commands. And cause men are so apt, from grace to swerver. He shows them here, their maker how to serve. The Levite are appointed by the Lord To preach unto his chosen flock, the word. Numbers Old jacobs' blessed offspring numbered are, Their valiant captains & their men of war. Cursed Korah, with his kinsman Dathan, And bold Abiram, (three sworn sons of Satan) Rebel 'gainst Moses, with their tongues unhallowed And by the earth, by heavens just vengeance swallowed. The Isralites to fell confusion brings Great Og, and Sibon, misbelieving kings. Where Balaam thought to curse, of force he blest, And by his Ass was told how he transgressed. Five Midian Monarches, juda's host doth slay, And all their spoil divided at a pray, The land of Canaan, measured is, and found, That in it all things plenteous doth abound. Deuteronomy This book again the Law of God repeats, With blessings, cursings teching and with threats. Meek Moses dies, lies in an unknown tomb, And Nuns son (josuah) doth supply his room. Joshua Great captain Joshua, great in faith and courage Through greatest dangers valiantly doth forage He passeth Iorden with his mighty host, And to the Tribes divideth coast from coast. The harlot (Rabab) doth preserve the spies, She knows the Lord that reigns above the skies. They all pass Iorden, which is parted dry, Whilst they securely march invasively. The fear of Canaanites doth much increase, jericoes' rane, & Manna here doth cease. Vise Achan closely steals the cursed prey. And israel beaten from the walls of Ai. Five Kings are hanged, and Phoebus standeth still At Iosuah's prayer whilst he his foes did kill. Just one & thirty mighty kings were slain, Ere Is●●el could in peace the land attain. Which being done, the bloody wars doth cease Their faithful captain (joshua) dies in peace. judges juda is captain Anaks sons are slain, The Cananite, as vassais doth remain: The Israelites rebel and serve strange gods, And are all plagued with heavens correcting rods. The men of M●dea, Is●●el much doth grieve, Stout Gideon comes, their sorrows to relieve. And as God's spirit doth his servant move, He overthrows Baal's altar and his grove. A woman's hand King jabin's host doth quail, And ki●de his Captain Si●'ra, with a nail. Ahimel●ch (by wrong) the kinglome gains, A woman dashed out his ambitious brains. Victorious Jephtha, rashly swears (not good) And ends his conquest in his daughter's blood, Great Samson's borne, whose ever matchless strength Overthrow the Philistims, in breadth & length. Fair flattering Delilah, her Lord deceives, he's ta'en himself, himself of life bereaves. The Beniamites abused a Levites wife, For which all (but six hundred) lost their life. Ruth (According to the flesh) this woman Ruth Was ancient Grandam to th'eternal truth: And though she from the Moabites doth come, It shows th'almighty in all lands hathsome. 1 Samuel The Prophet Samuel's borne, & Elies sons To sin and flat confusion headlong runs, The Isralites, are by the Lord forsaken. And by the Philistines the Ark is taken, The figured presence of this All in All, Doth make the Diu●is invention Dagon fall. God takes his people to his love again, The Ark's brought back, the Philistines are slain. The sons of Sam'uel, wrong their Father's trust, By partial judgements, and with bribes unjust. Saul seeking straying Asses, finds a crown, And is anointed King in Raman town. The Philistines, Is'rel doth oppress, King Saul doth proudly 'gainst the Lord transgress God bids kill Agag, Saul will have him spared, His will, more than his Gods, he doth regard. Goliath armed leads an host from Gath, Defies the Lord of Hosts, provokes his wrath. Young David comes, and in his hand a fling, And with a stone the giant down doth ding. Old Ishay: son, before the king's preferred, And David hath saul's daughter for reward. Th'ingrateful king seeks David's causeless death, True hearted Jonathan preserus his breath. Saul leaves his God, and to a Witch doth go, And so himself, himself doth overthroe. The Philistines his children's blood did spill, And with his sword king Saul, king Saul did kill. 2 Samuel King David's royal heart is filled with woe, For jonathan & Saul his friend, and foe. In Regal state he lives and flourisheth, And loves saul's Grandchild ●ame Mephibosheth. Affection blinds him on Urias' wife, T'accomplish which, her husband lost his life. The kings reproved by Nathan, and reputes, And by repenting, heavens high wrath prevents. Incestuous Amnen, Absalon doth kill, For forcing Ta mar 'gainst her virgin will. he's reconciled unto his loving fire, And proudly to the kingdom doth aspire. The old king flees and over jordan hies, The son pursuing and the Father flies. Achitophel himself hangs in despair, And Ab●olom dies hanged by the hai●e. The King for his rebellious son doth mourn, His people numbered are at his return, The Lord is warth, the pestilence increased, That seventy thousand dies, & then it ceased. 1 Kings The kingly Prophet (valiant David dies, His throne is left to Solomon the wise. False Adoniah, joab, Shimei killed. By his command, as erst his father wild. With speed he sends for workmen from far coasts, To build a temple to the Lord of hosts, Before or after him was never such That had of wisdom or of wealth so much. A thousand women, some wed, some unwed, This wise king to Idolatry misled. He dies, and's buried by his father's tomb, And Rehoboam doth succeed his room. Now Israel from juda is divided, Both kingdoms by bad kings are badly guided. Yet God to jacobs' seed doth promise keep, And raises faithful pastors for his sheep. 2 Kings Eliah worketh wonders with his word, By inspiration of the living Lord. he's taken up alive, and his blessed spirit, Doth doubly in E●shaes breast inherit. Some Kings do govern well, most govern ill, And what the good reforms, the bad doth spill. Till Isrel, juda, King, and kingdoms lost, To great Nabuchadnezzar and his host. 1 Chronicles H●ere every tribe is numbered by their names, To their memorial, and immortal fames. And David's Acts t'instruct misguided men, Are briefly here recorded all again. 2 Chronicles The state of Isrel, juda and their kings, This book again, again recordance brings, Their plagues of plague of famine, slavery, sword, For their contemning heavens Al-saving word. Manassehs prayer. Manasseh almost drowned in black despair, Gains mercy by repentance, & by prayer. Ezra The Persian Monach (Cirus) granteth leave, The jews once more their freedom should receive When at jerusalem they make abode. They all with zeal repair the house of God. Malicious men (with poisonous malice filled) Makes Artaxerxes hinder those that build. Yet God so works, that Isrels love & zeal, Resumes again their Church and Common weal. Nehemiah The book of Ezra doth concord with this, Commanding good, forbidding what's amiss. And godly Nehemiah here reformed What sin and sathan had long time deformed Ester Hear he that dwells in heaven doth deride Queen Vshty's and ambitious Hamans' pride. The jews are saved by ester's suit from death, And Heman and his sons, hanged, lose their breath. Poor Mordecay is held in high account, And to great greatness humbly he doth mount Thus God doth raise all those his laws that seek, He lays the lofty low, exalts the meek. job No loss of sons and daughters, goods and all, Makes not this man into impatience fall. Assailing sathan tempting wife, false friends. With perfect patience he all woes defends. I naked came (quoth he) into this world, And naked hence again I shall be hurled. God gives and takes, according to his word, And blessed ever be the living Lord. Psalms The blessed kingly Prophet sweetly sings Eternal praises to the King of Kings. God's power, justice, mercy, favour, look For they are comprehended in this book. Proverbs The wisest man that ever man begot, In heavenly Proverbs shows what's good, what not. Ecclesiastes Health, strength, wit, valour, worldly wisdom, pelf. all's nought, & worse than vanity itself. Salomons song This song may well be called the song of songs, It to the heavenly Bride, and Groom belongs. It truly shows Christ's love unto his love, His Church, his wife, his virgin spouse, his dove. Isayah This worthy Prophet truly doth foretell, How Christ shall come to conquer death and hell. Rewards unto the godly he repeats, And to the godless he denounceth threats. jeremy This man of God long time before foreshoes jerusalems' Captivity and woes. Lamentations He wishes here his head a fountain deep That he might weep, weep, nothing else but weep. That he might gush forth flowing streams of tears For Iudas thraldom, misery, and fears. Ezechiel. In Babylon this Prophet captive is, And there he prophesies of bale and bliss. How all must come to pass the Lord hath said, How judgement surely comes, although delayed. Daniel The King's dark dream the Prophet doth expound For which he's highly honoured & renowned. Nabuchadnezar doth an image frame, Commands all, pain of death t'adore the same. Three godly jews by no means will fall down, And for contempt are in the furnace thrown. Where midst the flames unhurt they sweetly sing, Which wonder doth convert the tyrant King. Here Daniel prophecies of Christ to come, Of Babel, Persia, Gracia, and Rome. Hosea He tells misgoverned Isrdel their sins, And how the loss of grace destruction wins. joel This Prophet tells the stubborn hearted jews, How heavens consuming wrath apace ensues. He therefore doth persuade them to contrition, And by contrition they shall have remission. Amos Man's thankless heart, and gods unmeasurd love, This Prophet doth to Isrels faces prove. Obadiah He comforts judah (overpress with woes, And prophesies destruction of their foes. jonah Hear jonah tells the Ninivites, except Repentance, wrath of heaven doth intercept, In forty days, high, low, rich poor, great, small The Lords hot fury shall consume them all. With hearts unfeigned, the sinful City mourns The Lord grants mercy, jonah back returns. Micah He speaks of Isrels and of Iudas crimes, And tells them their confusion comes betimes. Nabum The Ninivites (again forsake the Lord, And are subdued by the Assyrian sword. This Prophet comforts those that are oppressed, And tells the godly they shall be released. Habakkuk He doth bewail th'oppression of the poor, For mercy humbly, he doth God implore. To keep the captived jews from fell despair, He teaches them a heavenly form of Prayer. Zephaniah He fills the good with hope, the bad with fear, And tells the jews their thraldom draweth near. Haggay H'exhorteth them to patience in their pain, And bids them build the temple once again. Zechariah He tells the jews why they have plagued been, He bids them shun Idolatry and sin. Malachi For sin he doth reprove both Prince and Priest, And shows the coming both of john and Christ Malachy Which Christ shall be a Saviour unto all, That with true faith obeys his heavenly call. Apocrypha These books do all in general intimate, The state of good men and the reprobate. In many places they do seem to vary, And bear a sense from Scripture quite contrary. In Tobit, and dame judith disagrees From text, and Razes, in the Mathabees. For which the Church hath ever, held it fit To place them 〈◊〉 themselves from holy writ. SALVATOR MUNDI Printed at London by JO BEALE for John Hamman 1616. TO CHARLES, Prince of Great Britain. The Epistle. THou high-born Of spring of the best of men, To thy protection my unlearned pen Doth creep for shelter; though my book be small, In substance, t' is no less than all in all. The Cedar shields the shrub from winter's flaws, And Greatness guards the least, from envies jaws. So I the worst, (that in these times do write) Implores your Grace t'accept this worthless mite. IO. tail OR. To the Reader Here, Reader, mayst thou read (for little cost) How thou wast ransomed, when thou quite wast lost. Man's gracelessness, and Gods exceeding Grace Thou here mayst read, and see, in little space. I. T. S. Matthew. LO here the blessed Son of God and man (New borne) who was before all worlds began, Of heavenly seed th'eternal living Rock Of human race, of kingly David's stock. Our blessed Redeemer, whom the Prophet's old In their true preachings hadso oft foretold In figures, ceremonies, types and trops, He here fulfils their words, confirms their hopes. The world's salvations sole and total sum. Poor mankind's Saviour, lesus Christ is come. From married Mary, wife & virgin springs This heavenly, earthly, supreme King of Kings. he's naked born, & in a manger laid, Where he and's mother (blessed wife and maid Are by the Wise men sought, and seeking found, And having found, their joys do all abound. Where they their love, their zeal, their faith unfold, And offer inense, myrrh, and purest gold. False hearted Herod seeketh to destroy This newborn infant, our eternal joy. But joseph by a dream is warned by night T'ward Egypt with the Babe to take his flight. Amongst th' Egyptians he not long sojourns, But back to nazareth he again returns. To end the law the Babe was circumcised, And then by john in Iorden was baptised, When lo the Father from his glorious throne Sends down the Holy ghost upon his Son, In likeness of a pure unspotted Dove, Which did his birth and baptism both approve. Now subtle Satan's he attempts and tempts him, And fasting, to the wilderness exempts him. But jesus power the foul fiends pour destroyed, Commanding Satan hence, Avoid, avoid. The fearful devil doth flee, Christ goes & preaches, And in the mountain multitudes he teaches: He said, Repentance wipes away transgressings, And to the godly be pronounced blessings. He makes the lame to go, the blind to see, Deaf hear, dumb speak, the lepers cleansed be. The devils from the possessed out he drove, The dead are raised, the poor the Gospel have. Such things he doth, as none but God can do. And als to bring his flock his fold unto. All that are laden, come to me (quoth he) And I will ease you, therefore come to me. You of your heavy sins I do acquit, My yoke is easy and my burden's light. Upon Mount Tabor, there our blessed Messiah Doth show himself, with Moses and Elias. Yet all these mighty wonders that he wrought: Nor all the heavenly teachings that he taught. The stiffnecked stubborn jews could not convert But they Remain obdurate, hard of heart. The man (quoth some) by whom these things are done, It is the Carpenters, poor joseph's son. Some said how he these things to pass did bring By power of Belzebub th'infernal king. Thus with the poison of their envious tongues, They guerdon good with ill, and right with wrongs His own not knows him, judas doth betray him. To Annas and to Caiphas they convey him. From Caiphan back to Annas, & from thence Is sent this everlasting blessed Prince. Thus is this death, this sin, this Satan killer, 'mongst sinful wretches tossed from post to pillar. he's flouted, spitted on, derided, stripped, he's most unmercifully scourged, and whipped, By impious people he's blasphemed and railed, And of the jews (in scorn) as king is hailed. He like a lamb unto his death is led, Nailed on the Cross for man, his heart-blood shed. He (after three days) glorious doth arise; He leaves the sinful earth, and mounts the skies. But first to his Disciples he appears, Where he their drooping half ded spirits cheers S. Mark. S. Mark declares how blest bapti●ing john, Forerunner was of God's eternal Son. Which john in wilderness baptises, teaches, And of contrition and remission preaches. Our Saviour ●alles no Pharisees or Scribes, Or princely people out of Iudah● Tribes: But Simon, Andrew, james and john are those Poor toiling Fishermen which jesus chose To show that with the humblest smallest things God greatest matters to perfection brings. By sundry wondrous works our Saviour jesus From sin and Satan lab'reth to release us. And in requital the ungrateful jews devise their blessed Redeemer to abuse. Some inwardly do hate him, some belie him, His servants all forsake him, or deny him. But Peter thou wast blest in thy denial, Of thy presuming thou hast found the trial. Repentance washed away thy frailties crimes, And thou a pattern art to aftertimes. The son and heir of never fading heaven Into the hands of sinful men is given. He dies, he's buried, & in glory rises, Triumphing over all his foes devices. S. Luke. Hear Marie, and old Zacharias sings In joyful manner to the King of Kings. And aged Simeon in his arms doth take The Lord of life, and doth rejoicings make. Christ teaches, preaches mercy unto all, That by amendment will for mercy call. he's ta'en, and by false witnesses accused. he's beaten, scoffed, scorned, and abused. he's hanged upon the Cross betwixt two thieves The one doth rail on him, and one believes. He dies, he's buried; rising he doth quell And conquer all ●is foes, sin, death and hell. S. john. In the beginning was th'eternal word, The word with God was, and that word the Lord. In the beginning the same word with God Was; and for ever hath with him abode. With it was all things made and made was naught▪ Without this word the which was made or wrought Here Christ's divinity is told by john, The blessed Trinity, one three, three one. How God had now performed the oath he swore To Abram, and to Israel long before. How Christ should come, to ransom Adam's loss, And satisfy God's justice on the Cross. Though times and places far in sunder be, Yet Prophets, and Evangelists agree. In jesus birth, his doctrine, life and death, Whereby our dying souls gains living breath. If all things should be writ which erst was done By jesus Christ (God's everlasting Son.) From Cratch to Cross, from cradle to his tomb To hold the books the world would scarce be room. Acts. Th' Apostles praising God, and singing songs, The holy Ghost in fiery cloven tongues, Descends upon them, who are all inspired With learned languages, adorned admired. Saint Peter preaching, tells the people plain, How they the living Lord of life had slain: Some flout and mock, remaining stubborn hearted. And many souls perverted, are converted. The Church increases, daily numbers comes, And to the Gospel's furthring ●iues great sums. False Ananias and his faithless wife, In dreadful manner lost their wretched life. The envious people stone the martyr Steven, He praying for his foes; leaves earth for heaven. The Church's archfoe, persecuting Saul, Is made a convert, and a preaching Paul. He's clapped in prison, manacled, & fettered, And through his troubles, still his zeal is bettered. Th' Apostle james by Herod's put to death, And Herod eat with louse, lost hateful breath. Th'increasing Church amongst the Gentiles spreads By Nero, Paul & Peter lost their heads. Romans Th'apostle Pau● from Corinth writ to Rome, To strength the●● faith, & tell the● Christ is come, He shows how high and low, both jew and Greeke Are one with God, who faithfully him seek. He tells how si● in mortal bodie● lurks, How we ar● saved by faith, & not by works. In loving terms ●he people he ●oth move, To faith, to ●ope, to charity ●●d love. 1. Corinth's. Paul to Corinthus from Phillippy sends, Their zeal, & faith he lovingly commends. He tells them 〈◊〉 God's service ●●ey regard, Th'eternal ●owne of life is ●●eir reward. 2. Corinthians In this saint Paul sends the Corinthians word, Afflictions are the blessings of the Lord. He doth desire their faith may still increase, He wishes their prosperity and peace. Galathians He tells them that their whole salvations cause Is all in Christ, and not in Moses ●awes. The law's a glass where men their sins do see, And that by Christ we only saved be. Ephesians Paul bids, Cast off the old man with his vice, And put on Christ, our blessed redemptions price. Philippians He bids them of false Teachers to beware, He tells them that humility is rare. And though they live here, in a vail of strife, Yet for them is laid up the crown of life. Collossians. Th'Apostle doth rejoice, and praiseth God, That these Collossians in true faith abode. He praiseth them, he bids them watch and pray. That sin and Satan work not their decay. 1 Thessalonians. He thanketh God his labour's not in vain, So steadfast in the faith, these men remain That they to others are a blessed light, By their example how to live sprite. 2. Thessalonians. Again to them he lovingly doth write: He bids them pray, the Gospel prosper might. He wishes them prosperity and wealth, And in the end souls everlasting health. 1. & 2. to Timothy Paul shows to Timothy, a Bishop must In life and doctrine be sincere and just. And how the Scriptures, power have to persuade Whereby the man of God is perfect made. Titus. To Titus ('mongst the Creetans) Paul doth send, And warns him what t'allow, or reprehend. Philemon Paul earnestly the master doth request To pardon his poor man that had transgressed Hebrews. Although this book doth bear no Authors name, It shows the Iews how they their lives should frame. And that the Ceremonial law is ended In Christ, in whom all grace is comprehended. S. Iame●. Hear, speak, and do well, the Apostle saith, For by thy works, a man may see thy faith. 1. & 2. to Peter. He counsels us, be sober, watch, and pray. And still be ready for the judgement day. 1, 2 & 3. of john He shows Christ died, and from the grave arose. To save his friends, & to confound his foes S. jude. Jude bids them in all godliness proceed, And of deceiving teachers to take heed. Revelation. Divine S. john to Pathmos I'll evilde, This heavenly work, t'instruct us, he compiled. He tells the godly, God shall be their gains. He threats the godless with eternal pains. He shows how Antichrist should reign and rage, And how our Saviour should his pride assuage. How Christ in glory shall to judgement come And how a● people must abide his doom. Prayer. Oh thou whose name is greatest of all names Preserve and keep the Race of Royal jamet, That Britain's throne for ever may besure Of one of them whilst Sun and Moon endure. Amen.