University of Virginia Library

A worthie Bishop. 10.

All worthie Bishops, Ambass'dours they are,
To plot, and preach Peace, in the midst of Warre:
From th'Almightie to miserable Man,
Most worthily worthy these Worthies are Than.
They make th'Attonement, take vp the Trews,
From th'Heaven, to th'Earth, they bring the best newes.
Where mercies Patience, doth practise, and prease,
Nature corrupted, to call vnto Grace.
They are the sweet sounding Trumpets of loue,
That Fighters of Fayth, to fight it out moue.
And Heralds of wrath, that thunder-lyke threates,
For sinfull Trespasses, all manner of States.
Praying, imploring, with folded vp Hands,
Before the Holiest, humblie Hee stands.
Charie of their charge, and war'lie they watch,
From forcing their Flockes, and stands in the breach.
Th'are Pastors compleat, that None can reproue,
Full of a faythfull, and fatherly Loue.
Yet dreadfull, and deadlie Denuncers of Woe,
To sinfull Secure, in their Sermons they show.
These vigilant, wyse, and worthie Divines,
Are Sunnes to our Soules, but setting that shines.
In the Night of Nature, before vs they pace,
To leade vs to Goshen, to light vs with Grace.
Hee's vnreprooueable, whole of his Lyfe,
The Houseband and Head, of an only Wyfe.
Hee's prudentlie prompe, and apt for to preach,
To confirme, confute, instruct, and to teach.
Hee's harbrous, hee is helpfull, hee is holie,
To Wisdome woo'd, to Vertue wedded wholie.
Hee doth direct, by his workes and his word.
And squares his lyfe, by the Law of the LORD.
Hee's a Physician, and vseth (Therefore,
For the loue of the Soule) to search everie Sore:
Lansing what Leprose, or Festred Hee finds,
And so He remeads the Mallad' of Minds.
Searing some-times, and Corrosiues in cure,
Hee vseth for Putrids, till they bee pure.
Hee is fore-pacer, in the path-gate to Grace,
And worthie of Honour, respect of his Place.
For preaching of Lyfe, hee's worthie of Loue;
And hee for his Paines Prayse-worthie doth proue.