SEASONABLE THOUGHTS IN PASSION-WEEK. By J.S. 1. Cor. 9.22. I am made all things to all men, that I may save some. Dr. Jam. Gardiner. Whoever a true Worshipper would be, Was taught his Duty first by Poesy. Mr. G: Herbert. A Verse may find him, who a Sermon flies, And turn Delight into a Sacrifice. DUBLIN, Printed by Joseph Ray, on College Green, and are to be sold by the Book sellers in Dublin. 1691. THE ARGUMENT. a Joh. 12.23.27. 1 Pet. 1.20. Matt. 26.45. Joh. 17.1. Acts. 4.28. Luk. 22.22. The Hour is come in which God long Designed His only Son should die to save Mankind; The Hour in which Heaven b Gen. 3.15. openly Decreed (On Adam's * Grego. happy Fall) the Woman's Seed Should bruise the Serpent's Head; that wondrous Hour Both of the c Joh. 10.18. Almighty's and the d Luk. 22 53. Devil's Power, Is come: e Matt. 4. to 11. Luk. 22.3. the Devil assaults, than vanquished lies; f Isa. 53.7. Matt. 26.52, 53.54. Phil. 2.7, 8. God-man Submit's while and silent dies; g Rom: 6.9, 10 Revel: 1.18. But than does an Eternal Conque'rour rise. SEASONABLE THOUGHTS IN PASSION-WEEK. I. 'TIs strange Chief Priests & Scribes such Fools should be To a Luk. 22 2. dread Man more than the Divinity! b Luk 19.47, 48 Mar: 11: 18. With some Pretence they Plot to kill the Heir; Because they did the admiring People fear; Although their bloody close Hypocrisy c Heb. 4.13. Lay naked unto God's Allseeing Eye. So we, while worldly Int'erest does dissuade From sin, unwillingly are honest made: A Child does more our losest Thoughts control Than God, d Gen. 1.26, 27 who made and can e Mat. 10: 28. destroy the Soul. II. a Mat. 26: 15. What will ye give? Judas, what Question's this? b Matt. 16: 26. What should man take for everlasting Bliss? For Toys the Indi'ans give their common Gold; But Thou, for Thirty Pieces, God hast Sold: Pagans, in such a fond Exchange, may be Judged to act wisely, when compared with Thee. With Cov'etous Hearts what cannot Silver do? Christ it buys from them, and gets Heaven too. III. When the world's Savi'our freely condescend's a Luk 22.14. To make mean Fishermen his choicest Friends, How can we without Joy and Wonder see Such kind Compliance of Humility! It can't disgrace men in the Highest State, The Son of God himself to b Joh. 12.26, 13: 15. Matr. 11: 29 imitate: Yet Mortals, as they rich and higher grow, With c Psal. 73.6. Pro. 13: 23. Jam. 2.3. Scornful Eyes look down on all below: d Luk. 16.21, 22. Dogs feed within, but Christi'ans at their Door; As if we ' had better be Unmanned than Poor. e Pro. 14 20, 19 4. We value men for what they do possess, f Act 20.35. Pro. 12.26. But God esteems them most for Holiness. iv a Matt. 26.47. A Murd'ering Band, O Judas! canst thou Head, And without trembling, b Matt. 26.20.26. take the Sacred Bread? Life's Food, to thee, is into Poison cursed; Eat it thou may'st; c Mat. 27.3. drink too; Repent and d Act. 1.18. Mat. 27.5. Burst; And then in everlasting Burn Thirst: e Luk. 16.24. To Abraham, in vain, for ever pray For one cool Drop, thy Torments to allay. Conscience, (awake at last) will make Thee own f Matt. 27.4. 'Twas I betrayed the Lord, 'twas I alone. Damned Hypocrite! who didst thy Wit employ g job. 1 29. 1. Pet 1.19. The Spetless Lawb of Ged for to destroy. How didst thou act two Parts to gain that end, A real Traitor and a seeming Friend! Yet be Apostle still; and teach us all How to prevent our own by thy sad Fall; Lest when we're raised to any higher Place, Our Fall should be exposed to-more disgrace. Teach us h Luk. 14.16, 17. 1 Cor. 5.8. when Christ invites us to his Feasts, All way to come, and come i 1 Cor. 11. 27, 28, 29. prepared Guests; With Souls from Cove'tous Thoughts and Malice free, Still to receive the Holy Mystery. From Thee we learn, when Sin gain's any Part, Satan takes Courage to assault the Heart: As when the outward Walls are beaten down A Conqu'erour enters and destroy's the Town. V a Gen. 22.1. Almighty God, when he resolved to prove And signalise the b Gal. 3.9. Faithful Abra'ham's Love, Obliged him (after all that he had done,) To c Gen. 22.2. offer his belov'd his only Son; A Son, the sorrow at whose Death might be Great as the d Gen. 21.6, 7, 8. Joy of his Nativity. e Gen. 22. from 3. to 10. Yet Abra'ham God's, and Isa'ac Abra'ham's, will In that severe Injunction, did fulfil: And when a Savi'our, God from Heaven sent, He proved his Love by his own f Gen. 22.12 Argument.. g Heb. 11.17. Abra'ham's Intent'ion was his Sacrifice; But Christ's can't be received unless he dies: Yet he thus pays the duty of a Son, h Luk. 22.42. O Father, not my will, but thine be done. True Love does with the hardest Terms comply; Making us pleased to live, and free to die: Christ's Love bore all, until It overcame A i Isa. 53.3, 4. Life of sorrow and a k Heb. 12.2. Death of Shame. VI One Place (at diff'erent times) the Scene may be Of great Unhappiness and Felicity: a Gen. 3. Man, in the Garden, Heaven forfeited; b joh. 18.1. Mart. 26.36. There, to regain it, c L●k. 22.44. Act 20.28 God his Blood did shed: d Mut. 26 37. There, first his Soul with sorrow was oppressed; e joh. 19.41, 42. There, from his Toils, he in the Grave did rest. In flowery Walks than we should meditate On Adam's Sin, and on our Savio'ur's Fate: In them (tho' we, 2 Kin. 21.15. with Joseph, cannot have Our Tomb) we may think daily on our Grave. VII. If deep Concern, to overloaded Eyes, (Life's great Restorer) balmy sleep denies, Sure a Isa. 63.3.5. God ordained none should Christ's Burden bear, (That none the Glory of his Death might share) Since all your Grief had not suffici'ent power, To b Matt. 26.38.40, 45. keep your Eyes a wake for him one Hour. The Hour is come; his Soul'●, with Grief oppressed; Sleep on Disciples now, and take your Rest. VIII. To servant Pray'er how great an Enemy Are Crowds of Busi'ness and of Company! Well, therefore, are we ' instructed what to do By our Lord's a Matt. 6 6. Doctrine and his b Luk. 22.42. Practice too: When thou wouldst Pray, from all the world be gone, And in thy Closet meet thy God alone; Who number's c Psal. 56.8. Isa. 38.5. every Tear and every secret d Psal. 38.9.102.20. Groan. IX. See, how the Lord of Life Prepare's to die; a Luk. 22.44. Earnestly Praying in an Agony: When sufferings approach by slow degrees, 'Tis the best way to meet them on our Knees. Sinners can't show too deep Humility, b Psal. 95.6. Entreating, for Assistance, the most High: In greatest Troubles God might be obeyed; And they bear well that Humbly beg his Aid. But sads their State under God's heavy Hand Who are too proud to Fall, too weak to Stand: His angry Storms, their Stubborn Hearts confound; But nobly spare what lies upon the Ground. X. a Mat. 26 47. Joh. 18.3. In vain, O Judas! does thy Treason bring Souldi'ers to lead thy Lord to Suffering: b Luk. 2.15. That heave'nly Host which did attend his Birth c Mat. 26.53. He might command, for his Lifeguard on Earth: d Mat. 16.21. But He will suffer; and have no Defence More hurtful to thee than his e Mat. 27.4. Innocence: Weaker than f Jud. 15 14. Samson's all thy Cords would prove, Were He not held by stronger g Hos. 11.4. Bands of Love. XI. Cowardly Wretch! 'midst all thy a Mat. 26 47. Staves and Swords, How dost thou b Joh. 18.6. tremble at thy Master's Words! A guilty Soul, like Adam's, makes thee fear, When thou, c Gen. 3.8, 9, 10. God's Voice, dost in the Garden hear. XII. Osten does Satan (by a wicked Heart) To the worst use, the best of things pervert: a Mat. 26.48. Mar. 14 44. That same is He, take him whom I shall kiss; No sign Apostate! couldst thou choose but This? Doubly at once, thy Soul does guilty prove; Traitor to God, and Traitor unto Love. Didst thou resolve to make all sure, by This Most sacred Pledge of Mankind's chastest Bliss? The less suspici'on it does still create, With signs of Love, to ruin those we hate: The wit of Woman Agrippina proved, In pois'oning Claudius with the Meat he loved: And, Henry the 7th Emperor. next to Judas. Rome her Monk may boast, Who Murdered Henry with the very Host. XIII. a Mat. 26.36, 56. Is this the boasted kindness to your Friend! Is this remaining faithful to the End! b Pro. 17.17. Love is most helpful in Adversity; a Sam. 16.17. They should not name it that forsake and fly. Must we believe then such Professors ran? c Jer. 17.9. What more deceitful than the Heart of Man! False World! on thee no more will I depend; No more expect in thee a constant Friend: Trusting to thee is leaning on a Reed, That let's us sink down in our greatest need. XIV. Dear Lord! one need not any a Matt. 26.68 Prophet be To tell the Man that Smote and wounded Thee; b Isa. 53.4, 5. Thy Soul was grieved thy Body bruised by me. For me didst Thou put on Mortality, And, for ungrateful me, didst Bleed and c Rom: 5.8. die. XV. What braver Resolution could He make a Luk: 22 33. Than, for his God, the world for to forsake? Lord, may we always thus prepared be To go to Prison and to Death with Thee; 'Tis Glorious dying in such Company; b Rom: 8 17. 2 Tim: 2.12. For if we Suffer we shall Reign with Thee. XVI. A Woman may be Satan's Instrument; But Man is weakest when he gives Consent. When we behold a Mat: 26.69. Luk: 22.54, 55, 56, 57 Peter's inglori'ous Fall, (Urged by a Damsel in the High-Priest's Hall,) We see how vainly Man presums to stand, When Heaven denies him a supporting Hand; But when this does impow'r the smallest Stone, b 1 Sam: 17.45, 49. A bold Goliath is, by It, ore'thrown. c Eph: 6.11, 12, 18. 'Tis Prayer, not d 1 Sam: 17.8, 9, 10. Boasting, that must arm the Soul, And bravely Satan's fierce Assaults control. Thoughts of ourselves too great, of others small, Are oft forerunners of a dismal Fall. Big things we talk when Danger's not in view; But, as it shows it sell, our Fears renew. How stoutly some take Castles in the Air, Who poorly, at one real Siege, despair. But when, Presumpti'on meets an overthrow, By Peter's Fall his Courage was improved; Who more denied his Lord? and who more e Joh: 21.15. 16, 17, 18, 19 loved? XVII. We often promise to ourselves great Joy a Matt: 27, 3, 4, 5. In things that most our inward Peace destroy: Some seeming Pleasure Judas might obtain; b 1 Tim: 6.9. But see the Bloody end of Bloody Gain! Soon is his Money grown so troublesome, He casts it down; and does at once become A witness, Judge, and Executioner; And a base Death to ' uneasy Life prefer. So Judas closed his Treache'rous Villainy; And so all Traitors do deserve to die. On this unhappy wretch think all such Men, As, for this World, would sell their Lord again: The lightest illgot Riches will appear A Load to heavy for their Souls to bear. XVIII. a Mat: 4. to 11. 2 Cor: 2.11. By what delightful way's does Satan win Our full consent to any damning Sin! But when the b Heb: 11.25. Joh 20.5. short-lived Joys of Sin are past, To c Rom: 6.21. Dan. 12.2. shame he leaves our guilty Souls at last. We vainly throw the fault on d Gen: 3.13, Him and e Gen: 3.12. Men; f Mat: 7.4. Jam. 1.14. Both rightly charge it on ourselves again. g Lam: 3.29. Eze: 14.10. And since weare wicked by our own Consent 'Tis just that we should bear the Punishment. XIX. No wonder that Chief-Priests and Scribes are bend a Luk: 23 10 So vehemently 'gainst the Innocent. b Joh. 8.44. Like Children they their Father imitate, c Gen: 3. to 7. Who ruin'd Man in his most perfect state. The Devil most endeavours to destroy, d Matt: 3.16, 17. Matt. 4.1. When we, God's choicest Blessings, do enjoy. e Matt. 27.18. Envy's that Canker-worm which still devours The ripest Fruit and feeds on fairest Flowers. XX. How powerful are the Charms of worldly Gain! a Joh. 19.13, 16. I● reconcile's Men unto every Reign: A Monarch's Favour makes them Sentence give Against the Just, and let the Guilty live. They freely vio'late the most sacred Thing. Condemn even God, rather than b 2 King: 5.1, 18. lose the King. If only such base methods recommend, No honest Christian can be Caesar's Friend. XXI. Pilate, what Folly is't to a Matt. 27.24. wash, and then b— 26. Deliver up thy Lord to bloody Men? c 1 Joh: 1.7. Thy Soul might have been cleansed by his Blood, d Mat. 27.11. Hadst thou cleared him, when he before thee stood: e Joh: 19.12, 13, 16. But timorous Judge! now thou dost wash in vain, Seas can't wipe off thy Soul, so deep a Stain. XXII. a Mat. 27.25. His Blood on Us, and on our Children rest; What Tongue has a more heavy Curse expressed? No Blood of Man was e'er so loud before; b Luk. 19.43, 44. Rom: 11.20, 21, 22. Plagues it has called, and still it calls for more. Unhappy Men! beyond Redress undone! Without c Col. 1.14. Heb. 9.12, 22. Christ's Blood there's no Remission. For you, Salvation what can now procure, Who have done all to make Damnati'on sure, Turning to Poison Heaven's only Cure? XXIII. How cheerful, Simon, should thy Looks appear a Luk. 23.26. When, with thy Savi'our, thou the Cross dost bear? Afflicti'ons surely can't too heavy be When God himself does share the Load with Thee; Sufferings are lightened by good Company. XXIV. Complain not Simon, of a Load so light; Our Lord a Luk. 22.44. Sweat Blood under a greater weight: To b Joh. 19.17. Matt. 27.32. carry on the Cross, but Part of th' way Is all the Burden Soldiers on thee lay; But till our Lord through Life's last Scene has gone, Our heavi'er Sins God makes him c Isa. 53.4. bear d Isa. 63.3, 5. alone. XXV. a 2 Sam. 1.24. If Isra'els Daughter's mourned their mighty Saul, b 1 Sam. 31.3, 4. 2 Cor. 5.14, 15. (Who by Himself more than his Foes did fall) How should we weep for him who Died for All. c Jer. 9.1. Psal. 38.18. O let our Eyes with pen'itent Tears overflow, For all those Sins which brought him down so low; From Heaven to Earth, then to the Grave and Hell; d Matt. 26.38. Filling his Soul with Grief unspeakable. e Tit. 1.16. Since e'vry Sinner does his Lord deny, f Luk. 22.62. With peter too let all weep bitterly. Such as neglect the present g 2 Cor. 6.2. Graci'ous State, Shall be condemned to foolish h Heb: 12.17. Esau's Fate, Seeking the Blessing when it was too late. i Matt. 5.4. Jam 4.9. What Lents of Mourning then should Sinners keep, k Luk. 13.28. That they in Hell, in vain, may never weep. XXVI. a Luk 23.33. Joh. 19.17. See, how the Cross ascends Mount Calvary; In this All great Ones of the Earth may see That, in their Height, secure they should not grow; Since Troubles reach the High as well as low. XXVII. How long, O Lord, have I neglected Thee! How long slipped every opportunity! Yet now at last incline me to embrace The tender offers of thy saving Grace: And when I must lay down Mortality, In thy great Mercy a Luk. 23.32, 40, 42, 43. Lord remember me: In that sad moment comfortably say, Thy Soul shall be in Paradise to day, But oh! how can I hope for to One Of that bright Throng, which shall surround thy Throne, When thou, dread Judge, hast that great sentence given, Which shall divide mankind 'twixt Hell & heaven? What share in Bliss can one expect to have, Who has not joined with Heaven himself to save? I see my Sins in srightful Order set, As they shall stand when all the world are met. When awaked Consci'ence open's wide the Book, I (covered all with shame) at every Look, Behold (as well as Tears will let me see,) In each full Page, my own Iniquity. I see fair written with a Faithful Pen, Sins against God, myself and other Men; And than my Tears more strongly stream again. Good God how Mise'rable will be my Fate Unless thy Mercy, as my Sins, be great? Beyond all sad Examples is my Fall; Thou hast my Soul in Sin out done them all; Yet think upon the pardoned Prodigal: When he on bended knees confessed his Sin, With Joy and Feasting he was taken in: May I then ease my labou'ring Heart once more With this soft Thought, that Mercy may restore A thing so lost and so undone as I; So, every way, involved in Misery: Mercy! the Antidote against despair: Mercy! the peni'tent Sinner's constant Prayer: Mercy! the grateful Song of all the Blessed, Who now, thr'o Mercy, are of Heaven possessed. XXVIII. How strangely, Lord, do thy great Suffe'rings make Inani'mate a Met. 27.51. Rocks rend and Earth to quake! Yet it's more strange the Jews should not repent; Their b Eze. 11.19.36, 26. Hearts of harder stone will not relent. XXIX. Has the a 1 Thes 4.16. 1 Cor. 15.52. Archangels Trump called up the Dead, That many Saints forsake their quiet Bed? 'Tis sure too soon; but, when their Savi'our dies, As if they would make way for Him, b Mat. 27.52, they rise. Graves Open, as if every one would have Their Lord choose It, for his embalmed Grave: And by their Bodies rising now in Haste, c 1 Thes. 4.13 14.15, 16. Joh. 6.20. They show what He will do for all at last. XXX. Is the World still a place of Grief and Pain, To which the Saints do thus come back again? It seems It is; they make so short a stay; Just a Mat. 27.53. see their Friends and hasten then away: (As if they came only to let us know b Rom: 8.10. Rev. 6.9, 10, 11. Souls live above, whilst Bodies c 1 Thes. 4.14.15. sleep below:) So rising Waves advance unto the Shore, Salute, run back, and then are seen no more. XXXI. When, (from a Luk. 1.48. A Blessed Mother's b— 1.35. hallowed Womb,) The infant Savi'our of the World was come, Heaven, with a c— 2.9. Glori'ous new created Ray, Made Night more fair and cheerful than the day: But, when he died, the d— 23.44, 45. Sun withdrew his Light, And day became more dismal than the Night. XXXII. Let no Man wonder at the Mourning Sun, (As if the work of Nature were undone,) When Its great God, a Matt. 27.46. the Brightness of his Face, Vails from his dearest Son in his disgrace. Never before has he forsaken been; Fclipse so full of wonder ne'er was seen. Kind Savio'ur! that would bear so strange a Night, That we might live in an b Joh. 8.12. Col 1.12. eternal Light; Enjoying still the c 1 Cor: 13.14. Rev. 21.23, 24. Mat: 5.8. Beatific Sight. XXXIII. a Joh. 19.25. Luk. 23 27, 49. With flowing Eyes well might the Mother see Her guiltless Son hang on the b Deut. 21.22, 23. Gal. 3.13. Cursed Tree; From Her alone he took Mortality. Had her too watchful Eyes but lost their sight, When c Mar. 15.33. the whole Earth was overspread with Night, The burden of her Grief had been more light. If David when he saw his Absalem d 2 Sam. 18.9, 10.14.15, 33. 2 Sam. 19.4. To the sad close of a Rebellion come, Did all his Joys and Royal Robes lay by, And freely vent his Grief in Secrecy; What Tongue of Man can speak? what Pen can write This Mother's e Luk 2.35. great concern at such a sight? Yet Grief may guests how by f Joh. 19.25. the Cross she stood, Shedding her Tears as fast as Christ shed Blood: Lamenting thus, art thou for ever gone? O sweetest Jesus! O my Son, my Son! Against the Jews she could not but complain, Are all his Wonders, all his Cares in vain? Did he in Love, g Luk. 19.41, 42. weep for your future state, And does your Malice still fresh Grief create? Wilt thou, unfortunate Jerusalem! So kind a Lord to greater Pains condemn? But unto you his Grief in vain I tell; The very h Mat. 27.52, 53. dead are grown more sensible. Yet cease at last; surely the worst is done: O my dear Savio'ur! O my Son, my Son! XXXIV. See from the Cross how she attends his Hearse! At every step new Grief her Heart does pierce. And yet no weak distrust in her appears; The Christi'an's Hope ore'come's the Mother's Fears. a Mar. 16.10. Luk: 23.55. She weep's; looks on him lying dead like men; She looks upon him, and she weep's again. Yet she believes a Joyful Morn will come, When rising like a God, he shall deceive the Tomb: So drooping Flow'ers, set in the ground in Rain, With greater Glory soon spring up again. XXXV. a Joh. 19.39, 40. 'Tis kind, tho' needless, to embalm God's Son, b Act. 13.35, 37. Whose Body cannot see Corrupti'on. Death, can't destroy One who, from death, can save; And being Buried, He perfume's the Grave. Yet to our Savio'ur such Offici'ous Love, Sweeter than all your Spice, shall ever prove. XXXVI. Spend not, ye Jealous Priests! a Matt: 27. from 62●0 End your care in vain, b Mar. 8.31, 10, 34. After three days, the Christ shall rise again. Your wit can't find, nor can your Malice have Bonds more secure, or stronger than the Grave: Death c Act 2 24. can't hold him, and can Man's power defer One moment's rising from the Sepulchre? His Power on d Mar. 5.41, 42. Luk. 7.12.14, 15,— 8, 55. Joh. 11.39, 43, 44. other Bodies you have known, Shall he do more for them than for his Own? Cease then your vain Attempt; 'twill only prove Your Watch and Malice e Cant. 8.6. weaker than his Love: His Love that brought him from a Glori'ous State, To Joh. 10.17.18. lay his Body down and then translate. XXXVII. In vain a Mat: 17.64. (lest any should their Master steal) b— 66. Upon the Stone you set both Watch and Seal; c— 51, 52. Both Graves and Rocks were opened yesterday, To morrow will not One Tombstone give way? XXXVIII. a Jer. 23.29. Heb. 4.12. Strong is the working, b Isa. 1.18. great the change of Grace; A defiled Soul it makes an holy Place: Our Magdalen, since God her Heart had turned, With most refined flames has ever burned: c Luk. 7.37. Idols on Earth enjoyed too long her Love; From that blessed Hour 'twas set on things above. All d Luk. 8.7. Devi'ls dislodged, as a more worthy Guest, The e Luk. 7.44. 44, 45, 46, 47. Lord she gladly took into her Breast. f Luk. 7.38. She wept and washed his Feet with joyful Tears, Bowing her Head to wipe them with her Hairs; Then, having kissed She did anoint his Feet; With such kind Gratitude did his free Pardon meet! g Luk. 8.1, 2, 3. Living, he proved all day her Soul's delight, And entertained her waking Thoughts at Night. Nor, with his Life, could her Affecti'on end, It makes her on his h Mat. 27.55, 56. Cross and i Luk. 23.55. Grave attend. Tho' night and Labour summon all to Sleep, Love does her melting Eyelids waking keep: Her Body no refreshing Slumber knows, As if she too did watch her Lord's Repose. To her how tedi'ous is the Mournful Night! No colder Reg'ion long's so much for Light, As her benighted Soul for dawning Day: And tho' the Sun be early on his way, It seems too long for his Approach to stay. Thr'o the k Joh: 20.1. dark Cold (fearing the least neglect) Love, that had l Luk: 24, 1. filled her hands, her feet does well direct. We see by This, and wonder when we see, How generous and bold true Love can be. Could David enter on Life's Stage again, He m 2 Sam: 1.26. 1 Sam. 18.1. would not praise so much the Love of Men; His Jonathan's out done by Magdalen. And since love comes with n Mar: 16.1, 2. Spices and with Speed, Tho' her raised Lord can not embalming need, He rate's her Will as highly as the Deed. o Luk: 7.13. Her preci'ous Spikenard he did once receive; Now 'tis enough she did design to give. Lovers, like p Gen: 29, 20, 30. Jacob, purchase their delights with many toilsome days and restless nights; Yet think it great Reward for all they have passed, To ' enjoy the Object of their Love at last: But q Pro: 13, 14. disappointment of their Hopes and care, Sinks Sorrow down into a damned Dispair. How pleased had our great female Convert been, Could she her Lord, tho' in the Tomb, have seen: But r Joh: 20.12.13. Grief or'ewhelm's her at an empty Grave; Missing that Lord who all her sins s Luk: 7.4. forgave. In vain she asks t Joh: 20.25. where her dear Lord was Laid; More by her Looks than all her words she said. Her Tears with most persuasive Rheto'rick show The'im pat'ient longing of her heart, to know Where she the u Joh: 20, 15. pious Present might bestow. But w Joh: 20, 16. hearing Christ, it cannot be expressed, What mighty Passi'ons strove within her Breast, Tokens of great Respect they B conser; x Joh: 20.16. She wellcome's Him to Life; He honour Her. y Matt. 28.9. Joh: 20.17. 2 Kings 4.17. His Feet with hasty Eagerness She kissed; z Matt. 28.10. Joh: 20.17. Mark 16.9. And He makes her the first Evangelist. a Joh: 20.18. This Office she performed and with her Love Still followed him unto the Seats above. When (Conqu'erour like,) b Eph: 4 8. He ' Ascended up on high And Captive bravely led Captivity, The Best, tho' last, half of her days was giv'en To him; on Earth she still conversed with heaven. 'Tis Gratitude unto that c Ro: 14.8. God to live, Who does our many d Isa. 1.18. scarlet Sins forgive. XXXIX. How wonderfully did our Savi'our come, From a Luk: 23 53. Death's and from b Matt. 1.23, 25. a Woman's sealed Womb! Of Mary He was born to c Psal. 22.6, 7, 8. Isa: 53, 3. Heb: 12 1. Phil: 2 8, 9 Grief and Scorn; But, from the Dead, to Joy and Honour born. d 1 Cor. 15.20. Col. 1.18. Firstborn He was too for our Happiness, e Rom: 11.16. Leu. 23.10. As the first-Fruits succeeding Crops did bless. 'Twas fit so great a Person should obtain, To Virgin-Places, f Joh. 19.41.42. where no Man had lain. XXXX. Of Angels, as of Men, sure Christ is Lord; Such constant service they to him afford: a Luk. 2.14. Glory to God on high, and Peace on Earth, Was their sweet Anthem at his wondrous Birth. b 1 Pet. 4.11. 1 Cor. 10.31. Heb. 12.14. (The same great ends may all our Acti'ons have, Until our borrowed Dust c Ecl. 12.7. returns to th' Grave.) No sooner was his Glori'ous Combat passed, But, from above, d Mat. 4.11. they to his Aid did haste. ( e Heb. 1.14. Psal. 91.13. Such powe'rful Guards his members still descend, While with the Prince of Darkness they contend.) When with an heavy load of Sin and Grief, f Luk. 22 43. He sunk, one swiftly flew to his Relief. And when our Lord (after his g Mat. 12.40. three days sleep, No longer his cold Bed of death would keep, But) was resolved h Mat. 28.1, 2, 3, 4. to rise at th' dawn of Day, Another came and rolled the Stone away: Like lightning bright his Countenance did grow; And all his Raiment was as white as snow: At his descending well might Souldi'ers shake, When th' Earth Itself, on which they stood, did Quake. So pale they grew, one might have thought them then, Not the Grave's Keepers, but Its Guests, dead Men: And when he saw the mighty work was done, He sat in Triumph on the Conquered Stone. FINIS.