To rest on them and theirs, lewes who did cry, So are all those of this which I proclaime, beares; Whilst for their cause, God every thing had curst, Exhausted courage, horrour shall confound, Rome's mildest emperour prov'd for them the worst. Till Hope's high towers rest all oreflow'd with feares: All shall together fall, as by one wound, Not having time to flye, no, not for teares. On day as night (as on the wearied sleepe) sweep. Which (whilst not look'd for) doth most certaine hit, But (murd'ring saints) in wickednesse grown bold, And of all soules the processe doth beginne ; "That town which long was drunk, last drown'd with For straight when death arrests, the Judge doth sit. bloud; To beare this charge, all fortifie the minde, "That town by which who bought the world was sold, “ As death us leaves, so judgement shall us finde." Sold with disgrace, bebeld her scorned brood : Them lov'd by God, men did in hovour hold, Death each man daily sees, but none fore-sees, And loath'd by God, with them in horrour stood. The wage of sinne, the jubilee of cares, Then lewes whom God h gh rais'd, and low doth bow, First judgement threatned base corruption's lees, What name more glorious once, more odious now ? | Inberitance that serves all Adam's heires, And marshalling (not partiall) al) degrees, When of salvation, joyfull newes were spread, The charge enjoyn'd for no respect that spares; With sprituall grace, all nations to bedew, What agues, wounds, thoughts, pains, all breaching Whil'st famish'd soules that sacred nectar fed, breath, The Lord strange judgements, millions made to view, are heraulds, serjeants, vshers, posts of Death. And those who first fierce persecutions bred, A jealous God with vengeance did pursue. Death dores to enter at, and darts to wound, The wrath that he against his servants beares, Hath as the Heaven hath starres, or sea hath sands; Is kindled by their sinne, quench'd by their teares. What though not sicke, not stab’d, not choak’d, burnt, drown's, Built of bare bones, whose arch triumphall stands! The golden fruit, a leader dragon kept. Then since Sinne's hang-man, nature's utter fue, By whom true life is found, life's shadow lost, He who made Himen's torch drop bloud, and teares, When least expected, doth importune most : A thousand fancies interrupting so, (The nation most humane, growne juhumane) Did bloud (when dead) at mouth, nose, eyes, and Guests of the world, poore passengers that post, Haste, haste your reck’nings, all must pay, and goe, As vomiting his surfet so againe: [eares, “ And let us strive (a change thus wisely made) la crime, and crowne like charge his brother beares; To dye alive, that we may live when dead.” The bloudy band by mutuall blowes was slaine. The king, the duke, the fryer, devis'd tbat ill, The king, the duke, the fryer, the king did kill. All thinke whilst sound,what sicknesse may succeed, How in the bed imprison'd ye may be, Whose sight is so eclips'd which now not sces, When every object loathsomnesse doth breed, Within, without, that soule, or eyes can see, In every kingdome, province, towne, and race, On princes, subjects, men of all degrees, (trace? To trembling nature, which still death doth dread, What weighty judgements, sinners steppes doe Whilst griefe paints horrour in a high degree, Which not the crowne, more then the cottage frees? The body in the bed, thoughts in it roule, The wicked man (sayes God) shall have no peace. The conscience casting up a bitter scroule. "Acountenance calme may maske a stormy minde, But guiltinesse no perfect ease can finde." But when th' externall powers begin to faile, That neither tongue can give, nor eares receive, Those temporall plagues are but small smokes of ire, Friends (wretched comforters ) retir’d to waile, To breach a breast which is not arm'd with faith, To agonize the soule alone doe leave, And are when God due vengeance doth require, Which Sathan straight with squadrons doth assaile, Of indignation diops, weake sparkes of wrath ; Then bent to force whom first he did deceive; As lightning is to Hell's eternall fire, Who once entic'd, then to accuse beginnes, Or to a tempest huge, a little breath. To wakened soules upbraiding buried sinnes. That fatall conflict which all flesh doth feare, His calfe, God's lamb, were given the lost to gaine, By helpes from Heaven, which foughten out, and His best sonne griev'd, God's onely Sonne was slaine. wonne, Whil'st soules to Heaven triumphing angels beare, Who can expresse, consider, or conceive, This mortall race magnanimously runne: Our Maker's mercy, our Redeemer's love, Of them that are to decke the highest sphere, Or of that sprite the power, which who receive, The soule shall shine more glorious then the Sunne. By sacred ardour ravish'd are above; Whil'st cloath'd with righteousnesse, a Priest, a O! to create, to sanctifie, to save, King, Ingratitude to gratefulnesse may move: Hell, where's thy victory, Death, where thy sting? Who weighs those works (else damned were bis state) Must (if no more) be griev'd to be ingrate. First, ere by ends beginnings could be prov'd, Her faculties amidst fraile flesh diffus'd; Whilst time nor place, to limit nought attain'd, As judgement, reason, memory, and wit, All wholy holy, wholy to be lovd, Then all refin'd, no more to be abus'd. God in himselfe, and all in him remain'd: And parts in triumph, free from earthly toiles, Whil'st both the Sunne, and spheare in which he Yet longs perchance to gather up her spoiles. mov'd, That which contain'd, and that which was contain'd; Let those great plagues (smokes of our Maker's ire) Truth lightned light, all in perfection stood, 'Make all in time tbeir inward state reforme, More high then thoughts can reach,all God, all good. Those plagues of which, loe, even to sing I tyre, Ah, what doe those who beare their ugly forme ! All this alone the Lord would not possesse, Yet they but kindlings are of endlesse fire, But would have some who taste his goodnesse might, And little drops which doe foregoe a storme. Which (when bestow'd) in no degree growes lesse; Look, look, with clouds Heaven's bosome now doth What darker growes the Sunne by giving light? To blow the wicked to the lowest Hell. [swell, / Yet, not that grace oreflow'd, as in excesse: All was (uf purpose) providently right. That they might it admire, him serve, and praise. When God in us no kinde of good could see, Save that which his, we not our owne could call, OR, Great was his favour, making us to be Even ere we were, much lesse deserv'd at all; bought. fruit, not root of mercie's saving tree, (ceeds; Do gratefull, yea, not meritorious deeds; Some lewes convert, the antichrist growes knowne: Divels rage, vice raignes, zeale cooles, faith failes, As owing most, they should most humble be, Which was Christ's crosse whence all our rest prostars fall, All sorts of plagues have the last trumpet blowne: To him whose grace in them sach motions breeds; And by prodigious signes it may appeare, From whom so good a minde, and means, they had, That of the Sonne of man the signe drawes neare. Where others were abandon'd to be bad. Doth give good things, as who them justly owes, Though thundring down those who transgresse his Bound by his promise, pleaded with true zeale ; And with disdaine his bounty do abuse : [lawes, Which all the arguments of wrath orethrowe, As adamants doe iron, repentance drawes Whilst they from it to merey do appeale, The Lord to love them whom he first did chuse; Which justifies all that repentance shows; A space retir'd from the tempestuous waves, God sinnes confess'd with griefe, with joy forgives, The port of mercy must refresh my Muse; That which faith humbly seeks, power freely gives. Whose ventrous Aight all loftinesse must leave, And plainly sing what all men should conceive. He who (when pilgrims) all their trouble sees, The faithfull souls from danger doth secure; The Lord delights not in a sinner's death, And them from fetters of corruption frees, But sheepe which stray, toiles to recover still; As griev'd that mortals should such griefe endure; To please a sonne, who had deserv'd his wrath, But now for them (whom he to save decrees) His calfe (long fed) the father straight did kill: He sball true rest perpetually assure, Not for the best whose thoughts(sway'd byhis breath) At that great court which must determine all, Had squar'd his actions onely to bis will; Even till Christ rise as ludge, from Adam's fall. THE SECOND HOURE. Their bloud, which tyrants (by evill angels led) Lo, as the sacred register records, Yet that portentuous warrewhich Christ's owne words Such was the warre which in each age was mov'd, But onely patient, willing all to winne ; When by preposterous cares from rest restraind : Time's consummation quickly shall disclose Bent to be more then men, men monsters pror'd, The period of mortality and sinne, Who (lords of others) slaves themselves remain'd, And for the same his servants to dispose, For, whilest advancement vaine they fondly lov'd, Else charg'd by signes the processe doth begin, The Devill their souls, whilest they but bodies gain'd; Signes which each day upbraid us with the last, So.with their owne disturbing every state, Few are to come, some present, many past. They bought Hell's horrors at too high a rate. What fatall warnings do that time presage, A due attendance in the world to breed : Christ came below, that souls might be releev'a, (Though oftner now) some us'd in every age, Not to breed peace, but worse then civill warres : And some more monstrous, straight the day preceed: Broyls amongst brethen, scarce to be beleev'd; Ab! flie the flames of that encroaching rage, Even twixt the sonne and syre engendring jarres. And arme against these terrours that succeed : “ God must be pleas’d who ever else be griev'd; For whom the first not frights, the last confounds, The gospel's growth no tyrant's malice marres. As whilst the lightning shines, the thunder wounds. The truth most mounts when men would presse it As Ægypt's burdens Israel's strength did crowne, Whilst threatning worldlings with the last deluge, downe." Old Noah scorne acquir'd, but never trust : Though building in their sight his owne refuge, Those warres that come before that fatall day, So were the people blinde with pride and lust; End things begun, and endlesse things begin : And ere the coming of the generall Iudge, Are not us'd broils which states with steele array, To damne the bad, and justifie the just, Whilestworldlings would but worldly treasures winne. Even when the tokens come, which Christ advis'd, As Noah's then, Christ's words are now despis’d. No, even religion shall make peace decay: And godlinesse be made the ground of sinne. As life's last day hath unto none beene showne, Then let the world expect no peace againe, That still (attending death) all might live right: When sacred causes breed effects prophane. So that great iudgement's day is kept unknowne, Such warres have beene, some such are yet to be, To make us watch, as Christ were still in sight ; What must not once plague Adam's cursed brood? Like virgins wise with oyle still of our owne, That when the bridegroomecomes, we want not light. Which zeale had kindled to be quench'd with bloud, Ab, that the world so oft those flames did see, " Live still, as looking death should us surprise, Whilst disagreeing thoughts in deeds agree, And go to beds, and graves, as we would rise.” Some bent for sprituall, some for temporall good, “ Hell's fire-brands rage, whilst zeale doth weakly what great wonder that so few are found, When policy puts on religion's cloke." (smoke, Whom those strange signes make griev'd, or glad, appeare! [found, All nations once the gospel's light shall see, Though that day haste which should their souls con- That ignorance no just excuse may breed, Or from corruption make them ever cleare. Truth spreads in spite of persecution free: If holy lerome thought he heard the sound The bloud of martyrs is the churche's seed, Of that great trumpet thundring in his eare, That it receiv'd, or they condemn'd may be, What jealous cares should in our brests be lodgid, All on the word their soules may sometime feed, Since greater sinners, nearer to be judg'd ? The word by which all help, or harıņe must have, When will to man, or rather man to will, “ Those knowledge damnes, whom conscience can not save." Was freely given, straight discord did begin: Though brethren borne, th' one did the other kill, When bent to mitigate his Father's wrath, Of those who first were made life's race to runne. Man's mortall veile the God-head did disguise, Thus striving (as it seem'd) who did most ill, The world's Redeemer was engag'd to death, The father fell, the sonne did sink in sinpe. And rais'd himself to show how we should rise; Love Adam lost, but Cain did kindle wrath, Those twelve whose doctrine builded on his breath, The author breeding, th' actor bringing death. To beare his yoke all nations did advise, Thus at the first contentious worldlings jarr'd, They terrours first, and then did comfort sound, For, ere the gospell heale, the law must wound. Of all the world when onely two were heires; And when that nations were, then nations warr'd, In simple men who servile trades had us'de, Oft sowing hopes, and reaping but despaires ; (The wisest of the world are greatest fools) Base avarice, pride, and ambition marr'd The Holy Ghost one truth, all tongues infus'de, All concord first, and fram'd death divers snares: And made them teach who never knew the schools; “ Thaughi as a winde soone vanish doth our breath; Yea, with more power the souls of mep they brusid, We furnish feathers for the wings of death." Then rhetorick could do with golden rules, “ The sprite (when God the souls of men converts) | But when that onely soile too narrow seemd, Doth move the teachers'tongues,the hearers' hearts." To bound God's glory, or to bound his grace; The Gentiles' soules from Satban he redeemid, The south was first of soveraigntie the seat, And unto Shem's did joyne of laphet's race: From whence it springing, spread to neighbouring The bastard bands as lawfull were esteem'd; parts, The strangers entred in the children's place. Whilst mercie's minious vessels were of wrath. To lend us light their darknesse did begin. (slev. The light of Heaven first in the east did shine, Yea, worse then we when worst, God's saints they Then ranne the course kept by the earthly light, And when that his wine-yard they entred in, And did (as zeale in realines) rise, and decline, They first his servants kil'd, and then his sonne, Still giving day to some, to others night, Nought grows more fast then mischiefe when The faith of man yet toil'd it to refine, begun." And left no land till loath'd, not forc'd, no flight, Christ's light did still amongst the Gadarens shine, Sonnes of the second match whom Christ should Till to his presence they preferr'd their swine. Ah, brag not you as heritours of grace: [crowne, The naturall branches they were broken downe, Where are these churches seven, those lanterns Avdowe (wilde olives) planted in their place. seven, Feare, feare, lest seas of sinnes our soules do drowne, Once Asia's glory, grac'd by sacred scroules? Shall be spare us who spar'd not Abram's race? With monsters now, as then with martyrs even, As they for lack of faith, so may we fall; Our light shall once them to salvation leade; That promise which to Abram's seed was made? The world's chiefe state old Rome with glory gain'd, Por his great harvest ere that Christ be bent, Of which the losse her nephew's shame did seale, The lews shall bave a church, and him their head. The gospel's truth at Rome long taught remain'd; We feare their law, they sball our gospell love. Beth lews and Gentiles once, one church shall prove. But now she would the same too much conceale, Thus temp'rall power, and spiritual, both Rome stain'd, This signe it seemes might soone accomplish'd be, Grownie cold in courage first, and last in zeale, Were not where now remaines that race of Shems, The church first stood by toils, whil'st poore, 'still The Gentiles' dregges, and idols which they see, pure, Makes them loath all, for what their law condemnes; And straight whilst rich then rent, fell when secure. To be baptisde yet some of them agree, (temnes; Whilst them their mates, their mates the world conFrom off ring grace no storme the word can stay, And why should we not seek to have them savid, Since first from them salvation we receiv'd ? When the evangell most toil'd souls to winne, The antichrist' his kingdome did begin To poyson souls, yet, ere the day of wrath, God may of stones raise up to Abram seed. Once shall perdition's childe, that man of sinne, Be to the world reveald, a prey to death. The gospell clearly preach'd in every place, God may by tyrants scourge his church when griev'd, To lands of which our fathers could not tell, Yet shall the scourge be scourg'd, the church reliev'd By signes and conders to delude the eyes : That who the truth contemnd, may trust in lyes : Christ wbom he first did call, shall last receive. And this with justice stands, even in God's sight, “And, oh! this is the uttermost of ill, Over all that is callid God, or is ador'd; Though worthy of the world to be abhorred; N This hypocrite huge mischiefes borne to breed, “ Church-angels all, all for examples tse, Should look like God, yet prove a devill indeed. So that their fall doth many thousands bruise." This mysterie of sipne which God doth bate, Men so the world shall love, religion hate, Even in Paul's time began, and since endur'd: That all true zeale shall in contempt be brought, Yet could not then he knowne, till from the gate, The spirituall light's eclipse shall grow so great, That which then stop’d, was razde, and it assur’d; That iyes the truth, truth shall a lye be thought: The Romane power was at that time so great, Yet some shall weigh their workes at such a rate, That of lesse states the luster it obscur'd; As they themselves, not Christ, their soules had The let which then remain’d, while as remov'd, bought: This antichrist, the next aspirer prov'd. All just to seeme, not be, their wits shall wrest, That spirituall plague which poysons many lands, Not bent to edifie, but to contest. Some signes are gone, which registred were fonod, But, ah! what all now see, and I must sound, No fue confess'd, but a professor faint. I wish they were to come, or else were past; For if all did him know, none would him know, Those signes, those sinnes I sing, doe warne, shah A foe (thought friend) gives the most dangerous blow. This age, too ag'd, and worthy to be last. [wound It signes that shadow'd were, doth so designe, Since thousands were to be seduc'd by lyes; The Divell (whil'st all adore their owne device) Shall be reveald, and to confusion brought. Doth taint men's hearts, or else upbraid their eyes, “ For causes hid though God a space spare some, The froth of vertue, and the dregs of vice, Their judgements are more heavy when they come.” Which onely last, the world's last time implyes. Thi effronted whore prophetically showne Not griev'd, no, not asham'd, of sinne some vaunt; By holy lohn in his mysterious scrouls, Impiety doth so vaine mindes supplant. Whom kings and nations to their shame should owne, The Devil's chiefe bawd adulterating souls; Men with themselves so much in love remaine, Though scandaliz'd, and to the world made knowne, They poore within, without themselves adorne, By mingling poyson with her pleasant bouls, And (if not gorgeous) garments doe disdaine, Yet shall her cousening beauties courted be, Though the first badge of bondage that was borne, Till all at last her fall with horrour see. Yet pampred bodies, famish'd soules retaine, Which seeke the shadow, and the substance scorne. The part where that great whore her court should “ Ere high advanc'd, all once must humble prove, Vile Babylon, abhominable towne, • (hold, Those first themselves must loath, whom God will Where every thing, even souls of men, are sold, love." Low in the dast to lye, shall be brought downe : Her nakednesse all nations shall behold, The greatest number now prophanely sweares, And hold that odious which had once renowne; And dare to brawle, or jest, name God in vaine, Dat her discovery, and her ruine's way, Yet that Heaven thunder, or th’ Earth burst, not Are bid till that due time the same display. feares, Flie, faithfull Christians, from that sea of sinne, Lest so they crush'd or swallowed should remaine : Who hate the whore, and from the horned beast Some vomit forth (polluting purer eares) Flie, fie in time, before their griefe begin, Words which them first, and others after staine, Lest as their pleasures, so their plagues you taste; of Sathan's seed doe show a mighty growth.” "A filthy tongue, and a blasphemous mouth, When as the lambe the victory doth winne, He of fat things will make his flock a feast. [bright, This cloud dispers'd, the Sunne shall shine more That avarice which the apostle told, (sway, Whil'st darknesse past endeeres the present light. When as the world declines, men's mindes should Doth rage so now, that even their God for gold, Now in the dangerous dayes of this last age, Not onely men, men in our time betray ; When as be knowes Christ doth to come prepare, To Sathan some for gaine their soules have sold, The Divell shall like a roaring lyon rage, Whil'st what their hearts hold truth, their words Still catching soules with many a subtile snare, gaine-say. Whilst his fierce wrath no mischiefe can asswage, “By Ethnickes once those must condemn'd remaine, Some by presumption fall, some by despaire, Who change religion, worldly things to gaine." And if this time not shortened were, deceiv'd, God's chosen children hardly could be sav'd. What age ere this so many children saw, Some for a glorious use who once did serve, Who with their parents (O unhappy strife) As starres to th' eyes, cleare lights of soules es- Doe plead at law, though wronging nature's law, teemid, [swerve, And helpe to haste their death, who gave them life? Loe (stumbling blockes) from their first course did Now vertuous words to vitious deeds doe draw: Not what they were, else were not what they seem'd, The love of God is rare, of pleasure rife: [night, And jastly damn'd (light's foes) as they deserve, " This darknesse showes that it drawes neare the From darknesse more shall never be redeem'd: Sinne then must shortly fall, since at the height.” |