Divine Poems In seuen seuerall Classes, Written To his most Excellent Maiestie, Charles, By the Grace of God King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith &c. By Sr Iohn Stradling |
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The seuenth Classis.
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263
The seuenth Classis.
THE ARGVMENT.
Iewes Priests decyphred by a short digressing.The storie of Christs glorious Resurrection,
Each circumstance the veritie expressing,
'Gainst Sadduces and Epicures suggestion.
Th' Ascension prou'd: Doomes-day laid ope to view
The Blisse of Saints; Woes of the damned crew.
1
Mvse, stop the source of thy diuine narration,Whilst that our Lord within his Tombe lyes sleeping:
Betake thee to some holy Meditation,
Spend one whole Sabbath in laments, and weeping.
A solemne Iewish feast, and Sabbath day,
In which that Sacred Body sprightlesse lay.
2
A Sabbath, yet in truth no day of rest:A day in name, more properly a night:
Dispaire and feare the faithfull hearts possest,
Their Sunne eclipst, imparts to them no light.
Blinde Iewish Rulers, of their damn'd deed vaunted,
When Christs Disciples wofully were daunted.
3
Me thinkes I see, as pictur'd in a Table,(That day in which the Lord of Life lay dead.)
A crue of Rabbins seeming venerable,
Walke arme in arme, each one the other led:
Ioyous they seem'd, for what they late had done,
In killing Christ the Carpenters poore Sonne.
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4
How did the man (quoth one) our state abuse,So poore in port, so meane in his condition:
To claime this Royall Stile, King of the Iewes,
A testimonie of his vaine ambition!
Well are wee now from that poore King set free,
For our Messias must a Conqueror bee.
5
The famous Prophet Moses long agoe,Foretold our Fathers, such a one as hee
God would raise vp, to saue vs from our foe,
And crowne vs with perpetuall victorie.
As for this Christ, he had no heart to fight,
But rather suffer wrong and lose his right.
6
The simple people thickly to him flockt,To see some workes of his, and heare him preach:
Their ignorance he much abus'd, and mockt,
The depth of his deceits they could not reach:
Our learned Priests, and Rulers found him out,
None claue to him, but of the vulgar rout.
7
With Publicanes and Sinners he conuerst,Did many workes vpon the Sabbath dayes:
The Law of Moses he would haue reuerst,
And led our Tribes into his crooked wayes:
Though thus he did, yet some so sottish were,
As to his new-found doctrine lend their eare.
8
It's true, he wrought some wonders now and then,That might be wrought by fauour of the Deuill:
As curing lunatikes, and such like men
Possest by spirits wicked, foule and euill.
A holy man of God he could not bee,
Whom he prouokt with open blasphemie,
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9
Vaunting himselfe to be Gods onely Sonne,A fellow-partner in the Deitie,
Equall with God: None since the world begun,
Assum'd it to himselfe, but onely hee.
Say, was not this a cursed childe of Cham,
That lift himselfe 'boue father Abraham?
10
We saw him gasping yeild his latest breath,Others he holpe, himselfe he could not saue:
His God-head like a man endured death,
Now lyes his body senselesse in the graue.
Then let vs see if he will rise to morrow,
And rid his poore Disciples from their sorrow.
11
They mought (perhaps) by night haue stolne him thence,So drawne the people to a further error:
But we haue set a watch for our defence,
A guard to vs, and vnto them a terror.
Let others talke their pleasure for a spurt,
Dead men (say I) will neuer doe vs hurt.
12
Did we not well in dooming him to die,Who being poore, aspir'd vnto the Crowne?
A mortall man, challeng'd diuinitie?
'Twas more then time to pull this fellow downe.
Thus in the Temple as they walke, and jet,
Each one the others saying doth abet.
13
These and such like discourses there they held,In triumph sang before the victorie:
In malice swim'd, in pride lift-vp they swell'd,
The end turn'd to their shame, and infamie.
“So men that in their neighbours fall doe glorie,
“Shall see him glad, when they themselues be sorie.
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14
Meanewhile, the sad Disciples of our Lord,And holie Women, such as lou'd him liuing,
Assembling in one place with ioynt accord,
Consume their eyes with teares, their hearts with grieuing:
They hang their heads, sighing one with another,
As tender children robbed of their mother.
15
A Sabbath day 'twas, and a solemne feast,But all their mirth was turned into mourning:
Their restlesse sorrowes yeilded them no rest,
Cold feare seaz'd some, with zeale some harts were burning.
All comfortlesse, none comforted his mate,
Like men aston'd by Basiliskes they sate.
16
Some, first their owne faint-heartednesse accuse,Some, Pilat and the Romanes doe condemne:
All ioyntly blame the Rulers of the Iewes,
For murthring him who did no hurt to them.
Not one remembred what Christ oft had said,
To comfort them when they were most dismaid.
17
How hee was borne to suffer griefe and paine,As in the Psalmes and Prophets it is writ:
To suffer death, yet soone to rise againe,
Then mount to heau'n, and their in glorie sit.
This lesson often taught them, they forgot,
Or scarce belieu'd, or vnderstood it not.
18
Thus that whole day, and all the night they spent,As mourners vse, for dearest friends departed:
The men their clothes, their hayre the women rent,
Sad in their faces, yet more sable-hearted.
Early next morne before the breake of day,
Some holy women hye themselues away.
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19
Their errand was, the Sepulchre to see,The place, for loue of him that in it lay:
To doe on Christ a worke of pietie,
Their latest dutie to the dead to pay.
Of sweet and costly spices they brought store,
To doe't well once, which could be done no more.
20
Here was that blessed Mary Magdalen,Which in his life time did on him such cost:
As made the Traitor Iudas to repine,
And wretchedly complaine, that all was lost.
Once more this holy Woman doth her best,
To shew her zeale to Christ among the rest.
21
This was indeed a holy Pilgrimage,A pious Christian worke of pure deuotion:
If all the Pilgrimes in this later age,
Did ground their iournies on so good a motion:
With slender errours men might well dispence,
Nor at the ciuill custome take offence.
22
Here my deuotions, Lord I humbly tender,Vpon the Altar of a contrite heart:
A sacrifice I offer, poore and slender,
Yet such as thou acceptest in good part:
The calues of lips prepared thee to praise,
For thy great Grace, and mercies many waies.
23
But chiefly for thy precious Death and Passion,The meanes that frees vs from the Diuells thrall:
Consummate by thy strange Resuscitation,
The root of liuely hope in Christians all.
So make vs die to sinne, and liue to thee,
That to good workes disposed we may bee.
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24
Now marke the storie of the Resurrection,Each circumstance deserueth deepe attention:
Let eares, and hearts with reuerent subiection,
Yeild full assent. (it is no feyn'd inuention.)
The truth in euery point appeares so plaine,
To amplifie vpon it, were but vaine.
25
When first the women came vnto the place,What formerly befell, the Text doth showe:
A glorious Angell with bright-shining face,
His garments whiter then the driuen snowe,
Descending strangely made the earth to quake,
For feare of whom, the armed watch-men shake.
26
A band of Romane souldiers well prouided,Were set to keepe the bodie from surprising:
Their pollicies the Lord of Hosts derided,
This guard confirmes our Sauiours powr'full rising.
In their owne craft Iew-Statists were 'ore-reach't,
Christs godhead more consum'd, which they impeacht.
27
“Ther's no disaster like i'th' warres to that,“As when a Chiefetaine, trusting by his wit,
“To cheat his foe-man with a cunning plat,
“Is catch't himselfe, and fowlely foyl'd in it.
So here this subtle Iewish stratagem,
Made more for Christ, and quite confounded them.
28
The watch amazed with that glorious vision,Dead stricken in a swound vpon the place,
Reuiuing with some little intermission,
Aduisedly bethinke them on the case:
The fact was cleere, and not to be conceal'd,
By vs (said they) 'twere best to be reueal'd.
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29
It's like enough, as lately at the Passion,The miracles there done, conuerted some:
So, things here hap'ning in so strange a fashion,
Caus'd many to the Christian Faith to come.
Onely some of them posted to the Iewes,
And freely op'ned to them all the newes.
30
Perhaps they told it to a fayre intent,Prick't in their hearts with such an heau'nly sight,
Not well fore-casting what might be th' euent,
Nor that the Priests informed of the right,
Would offer to oppose a truth so cleere,
But feele remorse when they thereof did heare.
31
Yet who could hope for any true compunction,I'th' hearts of Iewish Priests, in whom Christs warkes,
When 'mongst them he discharg'd his holy function,
Could not beget the smallest firie sparkes
Of burning zeale to Truth, by him affirm'd,
And fully out of holy writ confirm'd.
32
No, no: Those ghostly fathers soone assemble,With Elders, Scribes, and others of that rable:
Against their knowledge falsely they dissemble,
To blurre the truth, deuise an idle fable,
That Christs Disciples closely thither crept,
And stole him thence, the whilst the watchmen slept.
33
To gaine some credit to this truthlesse tale,The souldiers were entic't, and wonne with bribes,
To set their faith and honestie at sale:
(A shamelesse pranke of Priests, and learned Scribes)
Those men of warre with large rewards thus hir'd,
Consent to say as th' Elders had conspir'd.
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34
“Oh what a cursed crime is Auarice?“The root from whence springs many a damned deed:
“A couetous man hath share in euery vice,
“His money he adoreth in Gods stead.
“His soule for money he consents to sell,
“His Counting-house, is heau'n: the Church, his hell.
35
Twas money first made Iudas to deuize,Against his Lord, that plot of treacherie:
Twas money made the Souldiers bolster lyes,
Against the truth, and knowen veritie:
The Deuill taught those Iewish Priests the skill,
For crossing Christ, to worke their wretched will.
36
Strange was the cancred malice of these Iewes,Who rather then confesse their fault, and mend:
Would yeild, themselues thus grossely to abuse,
With all their race, eu'n to the later end.
For as the Fathers taught the watch to say,
So doe their children prattle at this day.
37
But note what to those holy Women fell.The watchmen maz'd, halfe frighted of their wits:
The Angell cheer'd, and vs'd the women well,
Vpon the Tombe dore-stone he sweetly sits:
Plucke vp your hearts, (saith he) be not afraid,
Come see the place whereas the Lord was laid.
38
Hee's risen from the dead, as oft he told you,With speed to his Disciples make it knowne:
Be strong in Faith, let no suspition hold you,
Himselfe ere long in person will be showne:
Him, you and they in Galile shall see,
Loe what I speake, will sure fulfilled bee.
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39
In feare and ioy they parted thence apace,To make relation of the Angels errant:
Ere farre they were remoued from the place,
(Their faith to strengthen by a further warrant)
Vpon the way, their Lord directly meetes them,
And with a gratious salutation greetes them.
40
Assoone as they beheld him with their eyes,Amazed at the strangenesse of the thing:
To free their hearts from doubt of phantasies,
Straight with their hands to feele him they begin:
Yet humbly as for such a Lord was meet,
Pressing to touch him onely by the feet.
41
Those feet, for which a Bath as salt as bryne,Blest Magdalen prepared at a dinner,
With teares distilling from her blubbred eyne:
(Now holy Woman, Once a noted sinner.)
Kissing them with her lips incessantly,
And wip't them with her haire, till they were dry.
42
Those feete, which lately nayled to the tree,Gaue drops of bloud, all pretious baulmes excelling
To cure the wounded soules of thee and mee,
And purchase pardon for our foule rebelling
Against heau'ns King: which none else could haue done.
But onely hee, Gods sole begotten Sonne.
43
With reuerence they coupled adoration,Now well assur'd of his diuinitie:
On him they fixe the hope of their saluation,
Who ouer death and hell, gat victorie.
Blest Women-Saints, selected first to see
Their Sauiour, in his state of Maiestie.
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44
Hath not God chosen things of small esteeme,And foolish in appearance, to confound
Such as in th' eyes of worldlings glorious seeme?
Examples daily prouing this, abound.
Christs birth to simple shepheards first made knowne,
His Resurrection first to women showne.
45
He comforts them, as th' Angell late had done:Take courage now, there is no cause of feare:
Vnto my brethren (O sweet words!) goe runne,
Tell them the truth of all that's hap'ned here.
Command them hasten into Galilee,
For there my selfe in person shall they see.
46
Next witnesses are Peter, and Saint Iohn,Who prickt with zeale vpon the first relation,
With all their might vnto the place they ran.
To testifie their holy emulation.
Shrowd-clothes within the Sepulchre they find,
The bodie gone, those onely left behind.
47
The sight whereof begets in them beliefe,Remembring then what Scriptures did containe:
That he must suffer death, opprest with griefe,
Yet triumph ouer death, and rise againe.
Thus setled in their faith, home they returne
Repleat with ioy, and cease thenceforth to mourne.
48
Twice more he shew'd himselfe that very day,Desirous soone to put them out of feare.
As two of them to Emaus held their way,
In shape (at first) vnknowne he did appeare.
By Scriptures prouing how it ought to bee,
And breaking bread, They saw that it was hee.
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49
Whereas before they rested in dispaire,(Their wordes to Christ himselfe imply no lesse)
Ere he was dead (forsooth) their hopes were faire
He should haue saued them: (so they confesse)
Inferring thus, since he was dead and slaine,
That now their further hope in him was vaine.
50
“An error deeply rooted in the heart,“Requires great paine and skill to moue it thence.
Christ to his Schollers often did impart,
A doctrine whereat still they tooke offence:
He preacht of suffrings, persecutions, crosses,
Yet they corrupt the Text with carnall glosses.
51
Their Christ must be a pow'rfull earthly King,The Priests and Scribes therein at first misse-led them:
We find them alwayes harping on that string,
With such grosse food their fleshly motions fed them:
But when he rose from death, and shew'd his glorie,
Then they beleeu'd aright the sacred storie.
52
Thus yeildeth he to their infirmities,Nor leaues them till in faith he makes them sound:
To all their senses he himselfe applyes,
That in the end with him they might be crown'd,
And of their precious faith receaue the pay,
Their soules saluation at the later day.
53
That euening when they altogether met,For feare of Iewes within a priuate place:
Eu'n in the midst of them where they were set,
When doores were shut, he stands before their face:
Salutes them, shewes his hands, and pierced side,
Wherewith all present there were satisfi'de.
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54
That day, three times, at Morning, Noone, and Euen,Himselfe he offred to be seene, and felt.
Could any fairer proofe then this be giuen?
For our behoofe the Lord thus freely dealt.
And so he made his deare Disciples glad,
Who euer since his Passion had beene sad.
55
Th' Apostle Thomas absent in that season,Informed by his fellowes of the troth,
Would not beleeue a thing so farre past reason,
Vnlesse by seeing, and by feeling both
The nayled hands, and gored feet and side,
With fingers thrust therein, it might be tride.
56
Hereby the Truth receau'd more confirmation,Christ yeilding to our imbecilitie:
Some eight dayes after in the selfe same fashion,
(Thomas then sitting in their companie)
Comes in among them, bids him see, and feele him:
Who forthwith for his Lord and God doth style him.
57
No sooner had Saint Thomas so confest,The Lord his faiths confession did accept:
Yet with more emphasis pronounc't them blest,
In whom true faith should worke as full effect,
Though him in person they had neuer seene,
Nor euer with him conuersant had beene.
58
A gracious, sweet, and heau'nly consolation,To all who firmely with a stedfast faith,
Embrace The Word which guides vs to saluation,
And freely yeild assent to what Christ saith.
Our faith by hearing comes, and not by sight;
Is fruitfull in good workes, if it be right.
275
59
More signes and tokens yet then these, were wrought,For full assurance of the Resurrection:
To write them all, it was not needfull thought,
Th' Euangelists had not their owne election,
But wholly guided by the holy Sprite,
As much as was expedient, did write.
60
It's written, how he asked of them meate,They gaue him honey-combe, and broyled fish:
Then in their presence he thereof did eate,
And forthwith quits them with a better dish;
A heauenly food, their hungrie soules to cherish;
Who soundly feedes thereon, shall neuer perish.
61
The wordes which he before his Passion told them,He freshly calls vnto their memorie:
That fast in minde they afterwards might hold them,
The substance of the sacred Historie
Concerning Him, his Passion, and his Rising,
To cause them stand on Faith, not on surmizing.
62
Their wits were dull, and slow of apprehension,Which he vouchsaft by grace so to enlighten,
As that to th' holy Text they gaue attention,
And so their former errors all, doe righten;
Fully confirm'd in this point of their Creed,
Their mindes from doubts and scruples wholly freed,
63
Most grosse had been their incredulitie,If seeing proofes farre cleerer then the Sunne,
All jumping with the sacred Historie,
With vnbeleeuing Rabbins they had runne,
Shutting their eyes through malice, or of spite,
And louing darknesse rather then the light.
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64
Yet for their better satisfaction,Fiue hundred men and more in open viewe,
All at one time were witnesse to the action:
What needed more to proue the storie true?
Where two or three confirme a thing by oath,
'Mongst honest men it's taken for a troth.
65
Let Infidels blasphemously deride,And scorne this doctrine of the Resurrection;
The storie here so cleerly iustifi'de,
Affoords to all, but Atheists, satisfaction:
“Yet faith, though furthred by such helps as these,
“Is Gods free gift, bestow'd where he doth please.
66
The Sadduces, in sooth meere Epicures,Who in this life plac't all felicitie,
Deuoted wholly to their worldly pleasures,
Suppos'd the soule did with the body die:
They prest our Sauiour with a weake obiection,
Intending to confute the Resurrection.
67
Of all the cauills vs'd against our Lord,By Iewes or Gentiles to oppose the Truth,
(Whereof the sacred Writers make record)
There's none so fond as this which here ensu'th:
By grosse conceiting in that blessed life,
A carnall coupling of the Man, and Wife.
68
In Socrates, or Platoes heathen schooles,Had these men such a sottish question mou'd,
I ghesse they had beene hissed out for fooles,
No answere to so fond a iest behou'd.
Yet he by Scriptures doth them so confute,
That others wonder, and themselues stand mute.
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69
You erre (saith he) through Scriptures ignorance:(Of errors all in faith, the chiefest ground.)
For, Saints possessing heauens inheritance,
To marriage Rites and duties are not bound:
But Angell-like doe liue in full perfection,
To carnall Lawes no longer in subiection.
70
Of Abr'ham, Isak, and of IsraelI am the God. (Saith God who liues for aye.)
Is he a God of dead, or liuing? Tell.
The men were dumbe, and had no more to say.
A shallow question answer'd most profoundly,
The Resurrection thence confirmed soundly.
71
By sundrie places of the elder Writ,The Resurrection plainly taught wee see:
Dauid the King directly points at it,
So doe some Prophets else aswell as hee.
These properly relate to Christ our Head,
Whom Scriptures call, the first fruits of the dead.
72
As hee is first, and sanctifies the rest,So shall the members with their head partake:
If Christ his resurrection bee confest,
For rising of our bodies, it doth make.
We must acknowledge both, or both denie:
For Scriptures both alike doe iustifie.
73
Good Iob, a righteous man of speciall note,Most cleerly of this point did prophecie:
His Creed in this behalfe he plainly wrote,
That in his flesh, and with that very eye,
He should see God, through his Almightie powre,
Though wormes his earthly carkasse did deuowre.
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74
Such was the hope of those renowned Iewes,Whose constancie deserueth admiration,
Whom shamefully Antiochus did vse,
And vrge them to haue done abomination:
With ioy they suffred death in bitter paine,
Assur'd that God would rayse them vp againe.
75
What giues men courage in a cause that's good,Expose their persons freely to all dangers:
For King and Countries sake to spend their bloud,
Vpon this earth accompt themselues as strangers:
But full assurance of those future ioyes,
Whereto all earths delights compar'd, are toyes?
76
Yea some, in life and manners most prophane,Who seeme to care for neither God, nor Deuils:
With sodaine terrors often-times are tane,
Their conscience them accusing of their euils:
Confounded in their hearts, are forc't to tremble,
Vnable longer closely to dissemble.
77
Marke how an heape of bones dry'de-vp, and withred,With flesh and sinewes clothed were of new:
In troupe like armed men on sodaine gathred,
To shadow-out what lastly shall ensue,
When as th' Arch-Angels trumpet shrill will sound,
The Sea yeild vp her dead, and so the ground.
78
A noble Iewish Scribe, a man of fame,Belou'd of God, of Kings a fauorite:
Reueal'd to him in vision sawe the same;
And for our comfort in his Booke doth write,
The Resurrection full of state, and glorie,
Obserue that parcell of his worthy storie.
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79
A people numberlesse stood on Mount Sion,Praysing the Lord of heau'n in Psalmes, and Hymnes:
One taller then the rest (as 'twere a Lion
'Mong lesser beasts) much fairer in his limmes,
Put crownes vpon their heads, palmes in their hands,
Whereat this holy man amazed stands.
80
An Angell tells him, these men mortall were,Now are they cloth'd with immortalitie:
The Sonne of God is he whom thou seest there,
Which giues them crownes, and palmes for victorie:
Sith they his name once manfully confest,
Now in his Kingdome he esteemes them blest.
81
So in another place he giues vs warning,Our hearts and vnderstanding to reforme:
(A godly lesson, short, and worth the learning)
That after death we may escape the storme,
Which downe to hell all wicked men will driue:
For good and bad, must after death reuiue.
82
The Sonne of Amos, Prophet most diuine,None spake of things to come more plaine then hee.
As if they had beene set before his eyne:
Hee sayes, that dead to life restor'd shall bee.
Awake yee that in dust now lye, and sing:
For as the watred herb, so shall you spring.
83
To thee sweet louely Daniel was reueal'dThis mysterie, most needfull to be knowne:
Thou laidst ope that, when others close were seal'd,
This doctrine in our eares by thee is blowne:
That such as sleepe in dust, shall yet awake,
Some in great glorie, some in shame partake.
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84
Well doth the wise King, wicked men vpbrayd,Their sottishnesse and foolerie deride:
Who with the shortnesse of this life dismayd,
And thinking on none other like beside;
Exhort each other here whilst they haue leasure,
To spend their dayes in vanitie, and pleasure.
85
Our time (say they) is short, and full of care,There's no returning backward from the graue:
Our breath is as a smoake, or subtle aire,
A small assurance of our life we haue:
Our bodies breathlesse made, will soone be rotten,
We and our names be sodenly forgotten.
86
Come on, let vs enioy the present time,Let's frolike freely in our ages spring:
Anoint our selues with costly oile, quaffe wine,
Refresh our hearts with each delightfull thing.
Let's leaue some tokens to posteritie,
Of our voluptuous sports, and jollitie.
87
Let's grinde the poore, the widdow, and the iust,Our will (when we haue pow'r) esteeme for Law:
Looze all the reynes of libertie t'our lust:
What need we of our Elders stand in awe?
From mirth and pleasures they seeke to restraine vs,
In crabbed wayes of vertue they would traine vs.
88
Their ends to ours are meerly opposite,The wayes which we walke in, to them are grieuous:
They thinke we all run wrong, themselues goe right,
Of youthfull sports they studie to bereaue vs:
They call themselues Gods children: let vs proue,
What good in fine betides them by his loue.
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89
These be the doctrines of the damned crew,Whom scornefully the Wise-man reprehendeth:
From Epicures those principles they drew,
Their life and precepts hereto solely tendeth,
The Resurrection flatly to denie,
Thinke soules and bodies both together die.
90
But when in Hell these wretches feele their torment,Feare and amazement will their soules oppresse:
Then all too late they shall begin repent,
Their former error, vrg'd with griefe, confesse.
Beholding blessed Saints, whom once they scorn'd,
Sitting on seates, with glorious crownes adorn'd.
91
Loe, these be they whom whilom we derided,Their vertuous life, we reck'ned to be madnesse:
Now God for them hath graciously prouided,
Conuerted all their mourning into gladnesse.
Woe worth the time, when we so grossely err'd,
And our amendment totally deferr'd.
92
Would cursed Atheists, and loose Libertines(Of whom so many in these dayes abound)
Oft ruminate and thinke on this by times,
If in this point of Creed, their faith were sound,
That soules and bodies in the Iudgement day,
Shall both be ioyn'd, and ioyntly haue their pay:
93
(As friends or linked mates that mischiefe plot,In felonie, or treason doe conspire;
Conuicted of the crime, haue both one lot,
Offending both alike, receaue like hire:
Like fault, like forfeit Iustice doth decree,
Shee's blinde, and neuer can the parties see.)
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Then would not vice and lewdnesse be so rife,Nor plaine and honest dealing laid aside:
More faith and loue would be t'wixt man and wife,
Lesse surfetting in riot, and lesse pride.
For either hope of heau'n, or feare of hell,
Would force such as beleeue them, to liue well.
95
This Article ought not so strange to seeme,If former things with future we compare:
Wee reade, some dead restor'd to life haue beene,
Admit examples in this case be rare;
Yet if some haue beene so, why may not more?
And all in th' end, as well as few before?
96
If good men in this life alone haue hope,Aboue all else most wretched were their state:
Gods Iustice therefore seemes to haue this scope,
Both good and bad, once to remunerate.
Some here, with all delights haue full refection,
Some others find it in the resurrection.
97
No man confessing God, doubts of his pow're.As all things by his Word, of nought were made;
So all againe in minute of an hou're,
At will he can consume, and cause them fade:
That thing which once was, he can soone restore,
As well as make it, when 'twas not afore.
98
The seed which plow'men burie in the earth,As doe our bodies in the graue, so dyes it:
But dying, it receiues an other birth,
Which death adornes it more, and dignifies it.
So shall our bodies rise the very same,
But much more glorious, and with greater fame.
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Not as at first, their substance corruptible,But in a perfect state of incorruption:
Not as at first, vile, base, and contemptible,
But qualifi'de to honour, and promotion:
Not weake, nor outward helpes (as lately) needing,
But sprit-like, wanting neither clothes, nor feeding.
100
Had Adam in his innocence remain'd,He should haue lacked much of that perfection,
Which God out of his goodnesse hath ordain'd,
For Saints made glorious in the Resurrection:
Though Epicures and damned Atheists scoffe it.
Men fearing God, are most assured of it.
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The members shall be like vnto their head,Our bodies chang'd, and fashion'd like to his:
Not to returne againe where they were bred,
But ioyn'd vnto their soules, to liue in blisse.
As he vp to the heauens did ascend,
All that be his, with him must thither wend.
102
What bootes it him, who combats for a crowne,His Riuall slaine, himselfe to lie in durance?
If hauing wonne the field, hee's still kept downe,
Of state and life enioying small assurance?
Our Combatant o'recomming, takes the Crowne:
Enioyes the Kingdome solely as his owne.
103
By rising from the dead, he death subdude,Else by his Passion nothing could we gaine:
Yf still in graue his body had beene mew'd,
Our faith and hope in him, had all beene vaine.
But death he swallow'd vp in victorie,
As was foreshew'd vs by sure prophecie.
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His resurrection prou'd so many wayes,By signes and tokens not to be denide,
He liu'd among th' Apostles fortie dayes,
Then taking them to Bethanie aside,
He there bestow'd his blessing on th' eleuen,
And in their sight was carried vp to heauen.
105
As when a father tendring in his heart,His children bred-vp euer in his sight:
Enforc't from them in th' instant to depart,
Bequeathes them for a farewell all his right
In what he hath, which may be for their good;
Iust so the case with Christs Apostles stood.
106
So they like Orphanes of a louing Sire,By some surprisall sodenly bereft.
To manifest their loue and hearts desire,
Stand gazing all amaz'd, as if by theft
They had beene robd: Their eyes full fixt are bent,
The way through which that pretious bootie went.
107
Two holy Angels sodenly appeareAttir'd in white; (a badge of innocence)
Ye men (quoth they) why stand you gazing here?
This Iesus who from you is taken hence,
In sort as you haue seene him vp ascend,
So shall he come againe in the worlds end.
108
And thus triumphant mounting vp on hie,(As long before the sacred Psalmist chaunted)
Captiue with him he led Captiuitie,
His foe men all were put to flight, and daunted.
The Deuill, Death and Hell with all their traines,
Like captiues fettred fast in Iron chaines.
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No Romane in the highest of their state,So iustly triumpht on their conqu'red foes.
They eftsoones lost, what formerly they gate,
What Christ once wonne, he neuer more can lose.
His seruants from those Tyrants he set free,
Restor'd them to perpetuall libertie.
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Now sits he seated in his heauenly Throne,Millions of Angells waiting at his becke:
His foes to punish, to protect his owne,
To cherish these, but giue to those a checke.
All pow're is his in earth, and so in heauen,
Both in his right, and by his father giuen.
111
By lawfull conquest he this honour wonne,His life a warfare was, so should ours bee:
His souldiers must go on, as he begonne,
Perseuer to the death, and neuer flee.
For those a Crowne of glorie he prepar'd:
Such seruitors are sure of their reward.
112
Christ as a King sits on a high Theater.His men of Warre march alwayes in his sight:
To know their valours he needs no Relater,
But sees who turnes his backe, and who doth fight.
Perseuerance makes men with him accepted,
Back-sliders from his presence are reiected.
113
Who can behold his Sou'raigne without blushing,That placed at a breach to make defence:
When th' enemie runs fiercely thither rushing,
Then he for feare of danger flyeth thence?
No place shall he haue in the Church Triumphant,
That proues false hearted in the Militant.
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Hath not our Chiefetaine brauely led the way?His sole example may suffice to moue vs.
Sith he commandeth ought not we obey?
It's for our good that he is pleas'd to proue vs.
His seruants whom he tries, he keepes from falling,
His Grace confirmes them surer in their calling.
115
All suffrings in this life, and all oppressings,How great soe're they seeme to flesh and bloud:
Are but flea-bitings to those great rich blessings,
(If they by vs were rightly vnderstood)
Which he hoords vp, and keepes for vs in store,
So we walke on, as he hath done before.
116
Who would not gladly with his Prince partake,In deepest dangers of the sharpest warres:
Expose himselfe to perills for his sake,
His bodie load with wounds, his face with scarres:
Assur'd in fine the victorie to gaine,
And fellow-heire with him in state to raigne.
117
“Those Sonnes whom Fathers loue, they most correct:“And chastic'd children loue their parents best:
“Our sonnes whom least we loue, we most neglect,
“Best Souldiers to the hard'st assaults are prest.
“A Generall makes like account of dastards,
“As most reputed fathers doe of bastards.
118
In at heau'ns Gate no entrance can be found,But onely thorow many tribulations:
The Saints that now liue there in glorie crown'd,
Good men, and vertuous in their generations,
From trialls and afflictions were not free.
And if not they, then tell me why should wee?
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What man is he that combats for a Crowne,But bends his thoughts directly to the prize?
When in the lists he once hath set him downe,
No dangers doe appeare before his eyes:
All hazards seeme but strawes cast in his way,
He neuer lookes on them, but at the prey.
120
Looke to our Faiths first Author and Perfector:The hope of ioy, made him despise all shame,
Endure the Crosse: (therein hee's our director.)
Wee must, as he did, striue for that best game.
(What gaines the man who all the world should win,
And lose his soule to Satan by his sin?)
121
Examples each-wherein Gods booke abound,With precepts many thereunto exciting:
Among the ancient Hebrewes may be found
A Catalogue, against Afflictions fighting:
A cloud of Witnesses for imitation,
To make vs partners with them in saluation.
122
With sundry sorts of torments they were frighted,To change their Faith, and alter their Profession:
In midst thereof, it seemes they were delighted,
Refusing when 'twas offered them, remission:
Of bitter crosses making their election,
In hope to find a better resurrection.
123
With scornefull taunts and ieastings some were mock't,Made gazing-stocks for men at them to wonder:
Impris'ned, then their braines with stones out-knock't,
And others in their middles saw'd asunder:
With fire and sword were put to execution,
By cursed Caitiffes full of all pollution.
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Some walk't about in skins of goates and sheepe,Of worldly comfort wholly destitute:
In mountaines, dennes, and hollow caues did keepe,
Assur'd by faith, that God would retribute,
Rewarding those who wrongfully did suffer,
And plaguing them that iniuries doe offer.
125
Of Christian Martyrs stranger things are told,Whilst Romane heathnish Tyrants proudly swaid
That crushing Scepter: Each sort young and old,
The ancient Matrone, and the tender Maid,
Endured all that tyrants could inuent,
Yet taking comfort in their punishment.
126
They knew their Lord in glorie would returne,That th' heau'ns which are (like smoke) should passe away:
That th' earth with all the workes therein must burne,
At his appearance in the later day:
A better place for them was kept in store,
Where they should taste of paine and griefe no more.
127
That wicked men which did them vexe and trouble,Puft-vp in pride, against Gods people swelling:
In that great Day shall be consum'd like stubble,
And euermore in Hell to haue their dwelling:
To weepe and gnash their teeth through cold and heat:
To freeze, yet frying grieuously to sweat.
128
That Day at vnawares shall ouer-take them,As in the time when Noah built the Arke:
Then sodaine feare and dread shall sorely shake them,
They'll seeke to hide in caues, and corners darke;
Desire the rocks and mountaines them to couer.
There from the Iudges face vnseene to houer.
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But none out of his presence may abideAll eyes must needes behold, and on him looke,
Yea th' eyes of him who pierc't his pretious side:
Each one shall haue his iudgement by a booke,
His Conscience wherein his deeds are writ,
The same must him condemne, or else acquit.
130
How can a worldling wallowing in his vice,Addicted all to sensualitie,
Making this Earth his onely Paradise,
Who neuer did one deed of pietie
Thinke on that day, and not resolue t'amend,
Or in dispaire, his wretched life to end?
131
Their wicked workes in order shall be cited,What ill they did, what good they left vndone:
Thus standing of those crimes at barre indited,
The sentence of the Iudge they'll seeke to shunne:
But proofes against them pregnant will appeare,
So then their finall Iudgement they shall heare.
132
Goe hence ye cursed to eternall fire,For damned diuells, and their Angels kindled:
With them for euer to receaue your hyre.
Thus in a moment out they shall be singled,
Thrust downe into the pit of endlesse paine,
From whence all hope of comming out is vaine.
133
Who hath beene present at Assize or Sessions,With heed vpon the pris'ners cast his eyes:
Men charged with grosse crimes, and fowle oppressions,
With treasons, murthers, thefts, and robberies:
All capitall offences by iust rigour,
If countries lawes be left to haue their vigour.
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To one, the Prince himselfe a pardon brings,Leaues others to the Iustice of the Land:
Note how that one cheeres vp himselfe and sings,
The rest all heartlesse like dumbe Idols stand.
Yet much more horrour shall possesse their heart,
Who from that barre must downe to hell depart.
135
Ther Atheists with Idolaters shall meet.Loose Libertines and Epicures ioyne hands:
Arch-heretickes each other sowrly greet,
All linked fast in Iron chaines and bands:
The thought whereof would driue to desperation,
Men lacking helpes of ghostly consolation.
136
Ther's then no time of pardon, or of grace,'Twil be too late to thinke vpon repenting:
Mercie is fled, and Iustice come in place,
The Iudge implacable without relenting.
Fierce fiends, the Iaylers, 'pointed to torment,
On rigour with extremitie all bent.
137
A two-fold punishment augments their anguish,The sense of hellish paines, is but the least:
Losse of heau'ns ioyes constraines them fret and languish,
Hereby their torments chiefly are encreas't.
Their enuie at the others blessed state,
Makes them both God, and all his Saints to hate.
138
Then shall the godly triumph and reioyce,Beholding Christ their Lord in Maiestie:
Encourag'd with that comfortable voyce,
Wherewith lowd in their hearing he will cry,
Come blessed Children of my heauenly father,
All you into my Kingdome I will gather.
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For you it was prepared long agoe,A gift of God, no purchase of your owne:
Like gracious children you haue liued so,
Such workes of mercie on my members showne,
That now your vertuous deeds shalbe rewarded,
Your selues from Satans clawes securely guarded,
140
One cup of water for my sake bestow'd,(A gift of slender value in its kind.)
If that from faith and charitie it flow'd,
Shall neuer faile a recompence to find.
To clothe the naked, hungry folke to feed,
Are workes for which the donour hath his meed.
141
Come fellow-heires, the Crowne with me inherit:(For you with my heart-bloud I dearly bought it.)
Receaue it as my gift, not as your merit;
'Twas offred all, but godlesse men ne're sought it.
Come you my Sheepe, here by my right side stand,
Let Goates withdraw themselues to the left hand.
142
You good and faithfull seruants enter in,Be partners with your Master in his pleasures:
Sith you in smaller things haue trustie beene,
I set before you all my heauenly treasures:
Take euery one as much as may content you,
Your fulnesse onely, nothing else, shall stint you.
143
Though some haue had fiue talents, some but twaine,And like good Stewards frugally imploy'd them:
Sith either sort haue vs'd them to my gaine,
Not closely for their owne behoofe enioy'd them:
Both haue their hire, yet not in equall ranke,
Such as best doe, the better is their thanke.
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Kings, Princes, Prophets, Prelates, Magistrates,Who had your places high aboue the rest:
Chiefe men in Church, in Kingdomes, and in States,
Who in your seu'rall callings did your best.
More then the lesser Starres your light shall shine,
Your seates be placed neerer vnto mine.
145
You nursing Fathers to the Church my Spowse,Her childrens Patrones, and he Faiths Defenders:
You that (when Tyrants rag'd, and bent their browes)
Maintayn'd her Rights against all false Pretenders:
You must excell in her triumphant state,
As in her militant you did of late.
146
(Loe you (Great Prince) ioynt with your Royall Sire,Partaker in these heau'nly benedictions,
Ought boldly to goe on, and not retire:
Though passing thorough manifold afflictions,
Maintayne Gods Cause, then God will you defend,
And richly recompence you in the end.)
147
You painfull Pastors, Preachers of Gods Word,Who in my warfare stoutly did aduenter,
Still fighting with that sharpe-two-edged Sword,
Which through the soule and spright doth quickly enter,
Whose chiefe endeuour was, mens soules to winne,
To set vp vertue, and to beat downe sinne:
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Whose liues and doctrine fairely did agree,Who practis'd that your selues, which you taught others:
Whose faith brought forth good fruits aboundantly,
Who liu'd in loue and concord with your brothers:
Among the blessed Angels rest you heere,
Belou'd of mee, and vnto them most deere.
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Come all at once that did True Faith embrace,Whose shining workes redounded to my glorie:
Now in my heau'nly Kingdome take your place,
Where you shall ioy, and neuer more be sorie.
The battell's ended, all our foes cast downe,
Of euerlasting life enioy the Crowne.
150
Thus on a loftie Theame in lowly straine,A silly Shepherd countrie Carolls sings:
A subiect fitter for a purer braine,
Or for a Muse borne-vp with nimbler wings.
Ours waxen beene: so fearing they would frie,
Shee keepes below, and durst not soare too hie.
151
High mysteries (whereof this Theame hath store)With reuerence and silence shee omitteth:
Singing of what shee knowes, and of no more,
Her Rimes vnto her vnderstanding fitteth.
Affects to be perspicuous and plaine,
Shunning of purpose an heroike vaine.
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