University of Virginia Library

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THE MOST MEMORABLE OCCVRRENCES, WHICH hapned in Our Christian Church, from the Thirtieth Three yeere of Our Saviours Incarnation;

and from the Eighteenth yeere of Tiberius Cæsars Raigne the Roman Emperour, untill the yeere of Our Lord 100. at which time Trajan the Emperour began his Raigne.

VVhat better Fruit can a New Sparkling Muse
Produce then Holy Odes for Christians use?
Then by th' Apostles Glasse of Peace to chime?
Or from late Iarres to scare the World with Rime?

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O would I could, like Roman Arato,
In English Tune such Labours undergoe,
As might display th' Apostles Acts and Lives,
Gladding our Age with their Pure Honey-Hives!
Which spite of Drones, False Brethren, stormy Blast
And tortures stood through watchings, vows & Fast
Forear'd against the Foemen of the Crosse,
As to prevent from Hell ensuing Losse.
Although our Latter be not built as well,
Nor may that Church in Glory paralell,
Yet our Good Will availes in stead of Spice,
And our New man helps us to Sacrifice;
For we have had our Martys, like the First,
Yea, and the Living Rocke to quench our Thirst;
We have beheld the Spirits Lightning Sword;
Onely, I feare, we want the Flames of Love,
Which Primer Saints with mutuall Heate did move.
This want Some may with their Ambrosian Food
Supply, sound forth, and publish for our good,
If, as they have begunne, they warble out

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What I to bring about do stand in doubt.
This Taske Pauls Faithfull Mate in Physicke skill'd,
Though more for Soules then Bodies Cure, fulfill'd
Sacring two Workes to Greeke Theophilus,
As Monuments, and by his Lamps to us;
He left them us to shew what Legacies
The Heavens lent for Christian Sacrifice.
Thence, as his Ape, by Imitations straine
I hope some Light for Brittaines Church to gaine,
At least to serve as Sparkes, Babes to revive,
Who faile for want of Torches store to thrive.

When that our New-mans Sire, the Holy Ghost,
With Cloven Tongues, like Fire, at Pentecost
Hurl lighted on th' Apostles visible,
As he some times inspir'd invisible
Gods Prophets: then Faith, Love, and Christian Ioyes
Waighd Delphick Dreames, and Babelsiarring Noise;

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Then, Men that learnd no language save their own
Amid 'strange Folkes rung forth the Lords Renowne
And blaz'd his deedes in every Forraigne Tongue,
Like Angels Quire, with sweet harmonious song
As perfectly, as they their Natives were,
So that those Aliens stood entranc'd with Feare,
For how could they but be agast to heare
Iewes speake with Tongs peculiar to their Eare.
Some Others deem'd them Mad, or Drunk with Wine
Till Peter prov'd them rapt with Joyes Divine.
He prov'd them rapt by Gods immediate Rayes,
With Ectasies above all Humane wayes,
And not alone the gifts of Tongues, but Zeale
To Preach they had, and without Drugs to heale
Some Prophesi'd, some Sung, whil'st others told
What wondrous Acts the Lord performd of Old.
Those Mystick sparkes, which by Degrees we learne
God then infus'd, as of more Blessings Earne,
To paralell Iob, Abraham, Salomon,
For Patience, Faith, and Wisedome thereupon.

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O who can blaze the Wonders of that Day?
The more I muse on them, the more Dismay
Suspend my Sence, Lord, rayse up my desires,
To sing th' Event of that Dayes Glorious Fires,
Which comforted the Gentile as the Iew,
Enrich'd the Barren Will, made Old things New.
By such rare Signes came first the Mystery
Of Three in One, the sacred Trinity
To be more knowne unto the Church on Earth,
And since Old Rites were past at our New Birth,
That she might name at her solemnities
The Holy Ghost Colleaged to Baptize.
His working we agnize, feele, and admire,
For who but He could stony Hearts inspire?

Soone as with Gifts this Holy Flame appear'd,
Souls Chaos melt, and their dull wits had clear'd,
Gods Word then from Melchisedechs choice Towne,
As from the Earths fixt Meditullium blowne,

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Pierst Egypt, Greece, Damascus, Babilon,
The Temperate, yea, and the Torrid Zone,
Where Negroes, though of Circumcised Race,
Converted by an Eunuch looke for Grace.
The Gospell pierc'd each Countrey and each Towne,
Truths Sound went forth to all the world then know,
Whereby no Nation might excuses pleade,
But that they might be linkt with Christ their Head.

With like successe the Christian Faith did bloome,
And flourish there where brave Triumphant Rome
Prepard the way by Morall Arts and Aw,
That Grace Mens Hearts might so the sooner draw.
While tatling Newes fond Athens itch'd to tell,
The Romans dri'd her Aristotles Well.
These Second Meanes for Planting Christian Rites,
In those dayes much avayld Romes Proselites.
Arts usher Faith. Faith quick by Hearing growes,
But most of all when the Good Spirit blowes.

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There wanted none of these in Ancient Rome,
Where vowes & teares for Grace had purchas'd roome.
Rome was the Empires Head, Great Cæsars Seat,
The Westernes Mother Church, where then complete
From Salem shone the Crosses radiant Starre,
Which in Pauls time enlightning neere and farre
Transferr'd on Linus, Clemens, Anaclete,
The Martyrs Crowne with Flaming stones beset,
And thence bespred Truthes universall Course,
For then all Men to Tiber had recourse.
But though I much commend Old Christian Rome,
I should forget my selfe and Christendome,
If that faire Towne of memorized Fame
Which first profest to beare the Christian Name,
I chance to passe by vnsaluted now,
Not doing Homage which all Christians ow.
Had I rich Tassoes veine to set her forth,
Or Godfreyes strength to vindicate her worth,
I would possesse all Christians Catholicke,
That Antioch was S. Peters Bishopricke.

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And that it well becomes a Christian Knight,
Who first bore Christian Badge to doe her Right.
I would redeeme her from proud Ottoman
From Muffties sway, and Mechaes Alcoran.
In Iewry Land arose the Gentiles Light,
From Antioch came the Name, which Fiends doth fright
And shall out last all Names, untill our Head,
As God and Man shall judge both Quick and Dead,
Till Christ resignes to the Supremest Mace,
To All in All, his Intercessors Place.

This Light and Name the Sire of Antichrist,
In Envie unto Man, and spite to Christ:
With his Blacke-Guard that were depriv'd of Light,
And for their Pride enwrapt in Errours Night:
They all conspir'd, and strove to prejudice
With all their Might, the New-mans Sacrifice.
For this designe, their Malice to effect,
They seiz'd the wits of Annas and his sect.

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They first plaid on the soules of Saducees,
And gull'd such Braines as idolld Golden Fees:
Christ in his Limmes to Crucifie againe;
And all for Pomps support and worldly Gaine.

The Creeple rais'd in Iesus Christ his Name,
By Fishermen, that wonder put to shame
The Iewish Scribes, so that they burn'd for Ire,
And fear'd least Christ might dim their Levites Fire,
Or quite abate their Old Traditions Gaine,
Which holpe their present Glory to maintaine.
At first they silenc'd them, and then with Gall
They thundred out big words sesquipedall:
That if thenceforth they acted Miracles
In Iesus Name, they would as Spectacles
Of Infamy their Bodies publickely
Afflict, or make them in Iaile-Shackles ly.
But since th' Apostles them regarded not,
Nor car'd for Threats, nor scourging, then they shot

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Their Church-Darts out of Excommunications,
Till a Law Doctour calm'd their Combinations.
By this Advice, that no Devise of Man
Might stop the Will of God, do what they can.

On this the Levites rested for a while,
And ceas'd their hands with Murther to defile.
The which Advise if Romes late Catholikes,
Had waigh'd for them whom they call'd Heretickes,
Rome might have held a Reverend Mothers Sway,
She had ere this turn'd Easterne Nights to Day:
Where ministring now scandall to the Turkes,
Both they and we detest their Bloudy workes.
For Ten Yeares space, till Claudius Cæsar raignd,
The Scribes lay still, their spleene a while restrain'd,
And seem'd to winke at the Apostles Fame,
Whilst in that breathing-Truce the Christian Name,
The Church encreas'd, had all her wants reliev'd,
Antioch receiv'd, Samaritans Believ'd,

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Yoppa rejoyc'd, Cæsærea gained Grace,
And many Iewes joyd of the Christian Race;
Aswell the Gentiles, as the Circumciz'd;
Ioyn'd in One League for Christ to be Baptiz'd.

In that Good Time Saints gaped not for Gold,
But liv'd in Common, their Possessions sold,
And without Guile the Price did distribute,
Whereby they barr'd the Cause of wrangling suite,
Of Mine and Thine. Their Care was Bread and Wine
For sacred use, and for the Heavenly Vine;
To build Christs Church upon the New-Mans Rock,
Not on the Sand, False Keyes, or stumbling Block.
What Wonders wrought they of stupendious sort
Above fraile Sence? Or Carnall wits Report?
By Words they made the Cripled wight to walke,
The Dead to Rise, Blinde see, the Dumbe to talke.
By Words they strooke a Lying Couple Dead,
And Blinded One, who men by Charmes misseled.

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Through Iesus Name they wrought such Miracles,
And freed themselves from Tyrants Manacles.
The Fame of such faire deedes in Salem rung,
As Nettle prickes the Envious Clergy stung.
That Gentiles should partake with Israels Tribes
Of Gods good Grace, they brookt not without Tibes.
They flouted that the New-mans Troupes aswell,
As their Old Scribes should tame the Fiends of Hell.
And the most part, like unto snarling Curres
In Manger lay'd, found fault with Others Cures.
Repining thus at Progresse of the Word,
Since that no Trickes could stop it, by the Sword
Zebedees sonne they caus'd to lose his breath,
As theyby stoning wrought the Deacons death;
By Cæsars Minion King they weav'd their Plot,
Who would have cast on Peter the like Lot,
But that an Angel came to free his Chaines,
To Plague with wormes the Tyrant for his Paines.

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Vnwearied they in their Vocation went,
And acted Deedes to Arts astonishment.
No by-respects to Glory, Wealth, or Ease,
No Emulations Sting could make them cease

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From the Pursuit of the Immortall Prize;
No servile Feares, Detraction, nor surmize,
Could let their maine intent, and Ghostly Race,
From setting forth Gods Charter of free Grace.
No Chollers Heate, Debate, nor Casuall Brawle,
As fell betwixt Saint Peter and Saint Paule
For Iewish Rites, as likewise came to passe
For Chusing Mark twixt Paule and Barnabas;
Or as it chanc'd to Abraham and Lot:
Their Passions sway'd not so, that they forgot
The Progresse of the Word, the worke in hand,
But that they ranne, and toil'd by Sea and Land.
In Accidentalles, though as Men they err'd;
Yet, as Divines, the substance they preferr'd.
Their Elder Man they stoupt in spite of vice,
And their New-Man went on to Sacrifice.
Here Paule and Silas Preach, Apollos there,
While Barnabas and Marke, doe teach else where.
Mathias, Iude, and Simon burn'd alike
To execute their Charge Apostolicke.

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With the like zeale all the Apostles rapt
Transformed soules for Mysticke Trances apt.

They Catechiz'd, and sought their Saviours Praise,
Their Soveraigne Ioyes were to reclaime some Straye
With Constant Faith the Gospel they did blaze,
And daily wrought great wonders of amaze;
Till by Romes Mace the Type of Antichrist,
Which slue their Master Christ, they di'd for Christ.
In all their Deeds they were so farre from Pride,
That when some Gentiles would have Deified
Good Barnabas and Paul with glorious shout
In stead of yeelding thankes they ranne about
With cloathes all rent among the wondring throng,
And beg'd of them the Deity not to wrong,
Nor by detracting from their Makers Grace
With Sacrifice his servants to disgrace,
They vilified themselves, tooke up the Crosse,
Contemning Pompe and Gold, like seumme or drosse.

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They varnish'd not Gods Word with Glosse of schooles
But sought the wholsome spring, not Muddy Pooles,
And spar'd their New built Church to interrupt,
With knotty doubts of Phantasies Corrupt.
Now for a Type of their essentiall Care,
I will produce this One Example rare,
When Proselites of Pharisaicall sort,
Would Gentiles to strict Moses Lawes exhort:
In Salems Councell the Apostles sate,
And in few lines resolv'd their Questions state:
Whereas by some ye were perplext with Feare
About Old Rites, we warne you to forbeare
From Meates Prophane at Idolles Sacrifice.
From beastly Lust, or Wives Pluralities,
From strangled Flesh, and shedding Humane Blood,
If as your owne, yee Carke anothers Good:
And do abstaine from the said sinnes withall,
Yee shall doe well. By Barnabas and Paul,

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And two of the Chiefe Brethren moe they sent
These Pithy Actes the Gentiles to Content.
Whereby I note on Weaklings they impose
No heavier Yoake then what the New-man chose.
They combred not the Church with Needlesse Lawes,
Nor with Traditions Superstitious Flawes.
They could not brooke Food drest with Satans sauce
Nor at Christs Feasts to glut their hungry Mawes.
Thus we observe how easie is Christs Yoak,
That to cleare doubts Faith beares the Sovereign strok
Faith linkt with Love requires us to forbeare,
And not for Toyes Christs seamelesse Coate to teare.

How wondrously did the Good Spirit breathe
The New-Mans Gifts, from darkenesse & from death
To raise up soules? and Heathen Clouds to cleare?
Dispersing Christs Disciples heere and there?
By visions He Immediate lighted on
Cornelius and Saint Peter, both for One

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Affect, to let the wavering Gentiles know,
That God tooke care within their Hearts to sow
His seed of Grace, which stubborne Iewes abus'd,
And Christ their Head, Gods husbandman refus'd:
And that without respect of high or low,
He loves all them, who to his Service bow.

What Travels did good Peter undergoe?
By Sea and Land he did undaunted goe,
Though wanting meanes, unfurnished of Money,
Not for himselfe to gaine a Patrimony
Of corruptible mould, or brittle Masse,
Which like fond dreames in time away doe passe?
But for his Master Christ soules wrapt with mists,
Of Ignorance he made good Catechists,
Good Catholicks Apostolickes he made,
Instructing them in his Soule-fishing Trade.
And as some write, when Simon with his Whore.
Silene brag'd, hee like a God would soare

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Above the Clouds, by Peters vowes he fell,
And brake his Necke, left by his Guard of Hell.

To Iewes and Gentiles He the Gospel taught,
But chiefly he the Iewes conversion sought;
Deputed for the Circumcisions Charge,
Unto the Elect disperst hee shew'd at large
The Patent of his seald Apostleship;
Yea, and, if Fame belies him not, his Ship
And Fishing-nets hee left at Tibers streame,
Where some then sojourn'd of Ierusalem,
As in the Acts wee read; there he baptiz'd,
(If there he was) till Nero tyranniz'd.
Now whether Rome hath cause of him to boast,
As for his seate more then the Holy Ghost,
Which living Peter gave to men of Faith,
Some since have strove, not following Peters path:
'Tis certaine, that he wore no Triple Crowne:
None kist his Foot, nor trod he Princes downe.

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'Tis knowne, that Gold and silver he had none:
A Tanners house was of his Lodgings One.
Tis credited, that to the Crosse he bow'd,
A kind of Death which onely Rome allow'd,
Till: Constantine in love to Christ forbad
This cruell paine and spectacle most sad;
That being Old against fraile Natures will,
Others did Peter lead his Bloud to spill,
As Christ foretold; but his Crosse-fixed place
(Romes Empire lay so large) I dare not trace.

But sure I am Saint Paul in bloudy Rome,
When Nero raign'd, endured Martyrdome.
There, having twice before that Tyrant stood,
His Faiths Defence he sealed with his Bloud
About the time when that mad Boutefeu,
Had fir'd the City with his wanton Crew,
Because he long'd to sing the sacke of Troy,
And by such Types would execute his Toy,

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To cloake the Fact, and stop the Mutiny,
Yet not repenting of his villainy,
He authour'd Christians of those dismall cryes,
And butcher'd them to bleare the Peoples eyes.
Among that guiltlesse Troupe then suffered Paul,
Who had fore-wrote what should him there befall.
This chosen Saint hath left brave Monuments
Unto the Church, which Satans Ambushments
Can never trap, nor Canker-fretting Age
Consume, but they stand firme in spight of Rage.

In Albions Orbe an arched stately Roome,
The chiefest Pile, I thinke, in Christendome,
Of Pauls sole Name, revives his memory,
Till Doomes-dayes blast the River Thames shall dry;
In the meane time grave Saint-like Ministers,
Accompanied with Asaphs Quiristers,
Sing praise to God for gracing of Saint Paul,
Who once had beene a bloody-minded Saul.

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Of late repair'd it shines with zealous Fire,
As erst with flames rag'd the stupendious spite.
Blest be their Zeale, their Cares, and good Intent,
Which have re-built this famous Monument,
Resembling that of Salems Second one,
Renew'd by Iewes, first built by Salomon.

Like these, so did all Christs Apostles, Fish,
And on some Coast or other never misse
To catch for Christ some choise and dainty Prey,
Bartholomew and Thomas knew the way
Into the East, and there engrav'd their Names.
Saint Mathewes Paines sev'n flouded Nilus fames;
And pretious Iohn the Belull Abissine,
From him and Philip claimes Christs Faith Divine.
Achaia vaunts of good Saint Andrewes Cares,
With whom he pawn'd his Bones, till those rich wares,
Some Scottish Saints by a Greeke Monke redeem'd,
Them and their worth, like precious Gems, esteem'd.

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While Mark from Peters mouth Gods Word compile,
To leave it her, Niles Alexandria smiles,
Sea-spousing Venice too did sacrifice
Unto Saint Mark a goodly Edifice.

The latter James, Christs kinsman by the flesh,
In Salem liv'd, disorders to redresse,
Where hee, though stiled just, as spectacle
Of shame, was throwne downe from the Pinnacle,
Which Satan mov'd to Christ. There he expir'd,
And Roman Force the place soone after fir'd,
Yet hath his Fame to after-Ages spred,
His Bishops Seat with Christians flourished,
By Princes grac'd, and for Antiquity
Puts Antioch downe, and Rome's Priority.
At the First Councell Iames sat President.
There, Saint cloz'd up the Circumcised Rene.
In Salem sate the High Commission Court,
Where they decided doubts of most import.

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Galicians since built up a sacred Fane
At Compostell, which later Wits profane,
Adoring Iames, as if Humanity
Should offer Vowes due to the Trinity.

So stood the Church with them, who flourish'd first,
Next Christs Ascent most pure, untill accurst,
The Iewish Nation for their Crying sinne,
And hardned Hearts deep woes were plunged in,

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And then God pleas'd for Iewries unbeliefe,
The Gentiles to adopt to Iewries griefe,
And our Church seemes to them a stumbling sinne,
Till all th'Elected Gentiles be come in:
As unto them of Antichristian Race
She seemes, till Babel feeles her last disgrace.
But why were Saints, like Christ, so foulely slaine
Because the more they suff'red here, more Gaine
They reape, the Nobler Crowne in Heav'n they gaine;
And shall judge those, who put them here to paine.

If you would know by Times Gradation mre,
Domitius and Domitian yeelds you store;
Read Tacitus, when Rome lay wast with fire,
How Christians felt the Formers Franticke Ire:
Some crucifi'd, some burnt, and some were cas'd
In wild beasts skins, by Mastives torne and chasd
So cruelly, that who did them contemne,
In hate to Neroes spleene then pittied them.

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Though Christians were to manifolded paine,
Throughout the twelfe yeere put of Neroes Raigne,
Yet like to Palme supprest, the more they grew;
The Church the more by Martyrs did renew.