Abel redevivus or, The dead yet speaking. The Lives and Deaths of the Moderne Divines. Written by severall able and learned Men (whose names ye shall finde in the Epistle to the Reader.) And now digested into one Volumne, for the benefit and satisfaction of all those that desire to be acquainted with the Paths of Piety and Virtve [by Thomas Fuller] |
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46
The Life and Death of Luther.
[Eate what is sodden well]
Eate what is sodden well;
Drinke what is pure and cleare:
That thou the truth doth tell,
To all let it appeare.
Drinke what is pure and cleare:
That thou the truth doth tell,
To all let it appeare.
Speake not to all, what ever thou doest know:
If thou be well, keepe wisely were thou art:
Conserve with care, what ever is thine owne,
Mischance sure footed comes like th'nimbling Hart.
If thou be well, keepe wisely were thou art:
Conserve with care, what ever is thine owne,
Mischance sure footed comes like th'nimbling Hart.
Be silent in due time, abstaine, sustaine,
Hold up thy head. Of need to none complaine;
Dispaire not of Gods helpe, thy state to stay,
Who sends assistance to us every day.
Hold up thy head. Of need to none complaine;
Dispaire not of Gods helpe, thy state to stay,
Who sends assistance to us every day.
53
[Here, in this Vrne doth Martin Luther rest]
Here , in this Vrne doth Martin Luther rest,And sweetly sleep in hope to rise most blest.
By whose rare pains, firme faith and Christs free Grace,
Which formerly thick Fogs of Error base,
And Duskie Clouds of Works desert hid quite,
Were well reduced to their ancient Light.
For, when blind Superstition ruled All,
And did fair Truth, long time, suppresse and thrall;
He, by Gods Word and Spirits inspiration,
The Gospels Light re-spred, for every Nation.
And well-instructed by Pauls sacred voyce,
(Scorning Romes Cheats,) to teach pure Truth, made choyce.
54
Did Gods Lamp, who heals Sin Preach and expresse:
So (O Sweet Christ) did Luther cleare thy booke,
When all the World was caught with Errors booke.
And what the difference was betwixt the Law
(Whose tables Moses brake, though God he saw
Vpon Mount-Sinai) and the Gospell sweet,
Which heales Sin-conscious hearts, which Gods wrath meet,
This difference lost to th'World he did restore,
That so Christs gifts of Grace might shine the more;
He stoutly did oppose Romes Cheats and Charmes,
And Papall rule, which wrought Gods Saints great harmes.
Exhorting all, Romes idols for to flye,
He many souls wan to true piety.
And, mauger all Romes threats and snares most slie,
Finisht in Faith, his Course most valiantly.
Dying in peace, his Soule with Christ doth rest,
Crown'd with immortall Glory, truely blest.
For which rare Doctor, let both high and low
Blesse God, that they so clear Christs truth doe know.
And pray the Lord that these his Gospels rayes
May to the World shine-forth for datelesse dayes.
[Dead is grave Luther, worthy all due praise]
Dead is grave Luther, worthy all due praise,Who set forth Christ, in Faiths illustrious rayes.
His Death the Church laments, with sighs sincere,
Who was her Pastour, nay, her Patron deare,
Our Israels Chariots and Horsemen rare;
Is dead, with me let All sad Sables weare;
Let them their griefe in groaning verses sing,
For such sad Knells, such Orphans best may ring.
Philip Melancthon.
[Rome tam'd the World, the Pope tam'd Rome, so great]
Rome tam'd the World, the Pope tam'd Rome, so great;Rome rul'd by power, the Pope by deep Deceit.
55
Who, with One Pen, both Pope and Rome doth tame?
Goe, fictious Greece, goe tell Alcides, then,
His Club is nothing to great Luthers Pen.
Theodore Beza.
[By Luthers labours Leo the tenth is slaine]
By Luthers labours Leo the tenth is slaine;Not Hercles Club, but Luthers Pen's his bane.
John Major.
[When Luther dy'd, then with him dy'd most sure]
When Luther dy'd, then with him dy'd most sureA Crown, and credit of Religion pure.
His Soul soar'd up to heaven, on Concords day,
Which tended Luther thither, on his way:
Deare Christ, since Discord followed with Coats rent,
Give to thy Spouse Elijahs ornament.
Joachim a Beust.
56
[Welfare those gentle Quils (whose ere they be)]
Welfare those gentle Quils (whose ere they be)Whose meritorious labours shall set free
The Urne imprisoned Dust of that renown'd
Thrice famous Luther: Let his head be crown'd
With sacred Immortality, and rais'd
Much rather to be wondred at then prais'd.
Let Babes unborn, like fruitfull plants bring forth
To after dayes new Monuments of his worth,
And time-out lasting Name: that Babels Whore
And all his bald-pate panders may ev'n rore
For very anguish, and then gnaw and bite
Their tongues for malice, and their nailes for spite;
Whilst men made perfect in his well know story
May all turne Patrons, and protect his Glory.
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