Prison-Pietie or, Meditations Divine and Moral. Digested into Poetical Heads, On Mixt and Various Subjects. Whereunto is added A Panegyrick to The Right Reverend, and most Nobly descended, Henry, Lord Bishop of London. By Samuel Speed, Prisoner in Ludgate, London |
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On Persecution. |
 | Prison-Pietie |  |
On Persecution.
As the poor Sheep is to the slaughter ledIn all humility, and free from dread,
So all God's people may be said to be
As Sheep, the Emblems of Humility.
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Obedient to their Shepherd; in a crew
Led into Folds and Pastures, where, as strangers,
They are obnoxious to many dangers,
Wolves, Bryars, Thieves, Dogs, Plagues both great and small;
But God their Shepherd rids them out of all.
Many desire the number may increase
Of God's good Sheep; but 'tis a golden Fleece
Which they desire to wear: However, they
Most happy are that follow him their way.
Excellent things the Church of God hath won;
She's like a woman cloathed with the Sun,
Crowned with Stars, treading upon the Moon;
Yet travelling in Birth at night and noon:
The Dragon in pursuit of her and hers;
But, under God, they still ride Conquerers.
He that would be an Israelite indeed,
Must arm himself compleatly; taking heed
Of all assaults, all persons, places, times,
Guard his own vertue, resist others crimes.
Elias spoke against the craft of sin;
Then Ahab's hate against him did begin.
Isaiah, as we read, was sawn in two;
It was Manasses pleasure so to do.
And Jeremiah he was ston'd, to please
The cruel humour of Tahaphanes.
Stephen was stoned of the Jews; and John
Beheaded was, Herod would have him gone.
Ignatius to the Lions had his doom;
The Clergy likewise hated Chrysostom:
But Justin Martyr slights these things as dirt,
Says, Persecutors kill, but cannot hurt.
Tertullian well observ'd, the more they mow
The Christians down, they much the faster grow.
Large Volumes might be fill'd with the bright names
Of sufferers by swords, by stones, and flames.
True saith St. Paul, all that will shun the grave
Of hellish sin, shall persecution have.
Well may the Christian with his God comply
In persecution, Christ himself could die.
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