The Church Militant Historically Continued from the Yeare of Our Saviours Incarnation 33. untill this present, 1640: By William Vaughan |
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 | The Church Militant |  |
Now to glance on the Churches Darken'd wane,
Who can deny but Rome became profane?
When Satan was let loose a Thousand Yeares
After St. Iohns Prediction, as appeares
Even till these Times with Curses, Fire, and Sword,
And secret Slights to martyrize Gods Word?
Both Sun and Moone stood then eclips'd of Light,
And Starre-like Men from Grace declined quite.
The Heav'ns were mov'd, Strange Meteors scar'd the East,
But Earth-quakes most appall'd the troubled West.
Mens Consciences o're-clouded were with Mists,
When Satan rang'd from his Confined Lists,
With leave to prey upon those Romanists,
Who had forsooke Christs Word for Antichrists,
In giving heed unto Erroneous Spirits,
Cashiering Marriage, and their Saviours Merits:
Yoaking their Flockes, not of Necessity,
But to subvert true Christian Liberty,
(I meane the Spirits Freedome, and Gods Word,
Not that which Fooles do to the Flesh afford)
By Pilgrimage to Saints, Idolatry,
With wonders wrought by Fiends their Faith to try,
By Lies and Dreames bred in Scholastick Braine
For Belly-work, Ambitious Ends, or Gaine:
With Carnall Sence advancing Superstitions,
And spotting Faith with needlesse Mens Traditions.
With such Flim-Flams, since Satan was let loose,
And since Romes Clergy Christ his Rivall chose,
Were there False Church possest; and to this day
Some goe in those strange Labyrinths astray,
Not willing to be won; nor to decide
By Scriptures Light the Quarrells of their Side.
Who can deny but Rome became profane?
When Satan was let loose a Thousand Yeares
After St. Iohns Prediction, as appeares
184
And secret Slights to martyrize Gods Word?
Both Sun and Moone stood then eclips'd of Light,
And Starre-like Men from Grace declined quite.
The Heav'ns were mov'd, Strange Meteors scar'd the East,
But Earth-quakes most appall'd the troubled West.
Mens Consciences o're-clouded were with Mists,
When Satan rang'd from his Confined Lists,
With leave to prey upon those Romanists,
Who had forsooke Christs Word for Antichrists,
In giving heed unto Erroneous Spirits,
Cashiering Marriage, and their Saviours Merits:
Yoaking their Flockes, not of Necessity,
But to subvert true Christian Liberty,
(I meane the Spirits Freedome, and Gods Word,
Not that which Fooles do to the Flesh afford)
By Pilgrimage to Saints, Idolatry,
With wonders wrought by Fiends their Faith to try,
By Lies and Dreames bred in Scholastick Braine
For Belly-work, Ambitious Ends, or Gaine:
185
And spotting Faith with needlesse Mens Traditions.
With such Flim-Flams, since Satan was let loose,
And since Romes Clergy Christ his Rivall chose,
Were there False Church possest; and to this day
Some goe in those strange Labyrinths astray,
Not willing to be won; nor to decide
By Scriptures Light the Quarrells of their Side.
About this Time the Cardinalls arose
Unto their Sway, till then a Secret Close,
For though the Name were knowne of Cardinalls,
Yet were they rankt but Deacons, Principalls,
Or Parsons of Romes Parishes to serve
The severall Cures, not Prelates to conserve
The Papacies Resplendent Majesty,
As since they grew by Satans Subtilty.
On each of these his Holinesse conferres
A Scarlet Hat, to Higher Place preferres,
And amplifies with Bishopricks their State,
Whereby they might live eminent, from Hate
And Envy safe, the better to support
Their Princely Pompe, and his Magnifique Port.
At their Install he so much scarlet shares
To cloth their Mules, that by those Scarlet Wares
Saints may divine where Babels Whore abides,
Which on a Beast of scarlet Colour rides.
Unto their Sway, till then a Secret Close,
For though the Name were knowne of Cardinalls,
Yet were they rankt but Deacons, Principalls,
Or Parsons of Romes Parishes to serve
The severall Cures, not Prelates to conserve
The Papacies Resplendent Majesty,
As since they grew by Satans Subtilty.
On each of these his Holinesse conferres
A Scarlet Hat, to Higher Place preferres,
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Whereby they might live eminent, from Hate
And Envy safe, the better to support
Their Princely Pompe, and his Magnifique Port.
At their Install he so much scarlet shares
To cloth their Mules, that by those Scarlet Wares
Saints may divine where Babels Whore abides,
Which on a Beast of scarlet Colour rides.
These Men shut up within the Conclave close,
And having by most Suffrages him chose,
Who stands for Pope, they then his usuall weare
Pluck off, and in their stead bring glorious Geare:
A Scarlet suit, Red stockings, and Red shooes,
On which, because he claimes that he can loose
Or bind mens Sinnes, a Golden Crosse they place,
That some might kisse the same whom he would grace
A Girdle red then they about him clap
With Buckles all of Gold, and a Red Cap
Present to him with Band of Gold and Pearle,
Wrought and engirt fit for a King or Earle.
Thus trimm'd, they put him on a Scarlet Cloak;
And to puffe up him more with Glories Smoak,
Upon his Head the Triple Crowne they set
With Carbuncles and Diamonds beset.
At last they mount him, though a mortall Clod,
And on an Altar Throne him, like a God,
The Holy Place, where their Masse-God remaines:
There none of them to kisse his Foot disdaines.
His Chaplaines now turne Politick Divines,
More prone to spoile then prop up Sions Vines.
And having by most Suffrages him chose,
Who stands for Pope, they then his usuall weare
Pluck off, and in their stead bring glorious Geare:
A Scarlet suit, Red stockings, and Red shooes,
On which, because he claimes that he can loose
Or bind mens Sinnes, a Golden Crosse they place,
That some might kisse the same whom he would grace
A Girdle red then they about him clap
With Buckles all of Gold, and a Red Cap
187
Wrought and engirt fit for a King or Earle.
Thus trimm'd, they put him on a Scarlet Cloak;
And to puffe up him more with Glories Smoak,
Upon his Head the Triple Crowne they set
With Carbuncles and Diamonds beset.
At last they mount him, though a mortall Clod,
And on an Altar Throne him, like a God,
The Holy Place, where their Masse-God remaines:
There none of them to kisse his Foot disdaines.
His Chaplaines now turne Politick Divines,
More prone to spoile then prop up Sions Vines.
Thus every Age hath added Royalties,
Since first the Pope affected Soveraignties
In Ghostly things above his Ghostly Mates,
To scandalize the Church. This animates
The Turks and Moores to counterpoize his Crowne
With the like Tares by their Arabian sowne.
For when they saw Religion mixt with Theames
Of Humane stampe, they forged idler Dreames,
That by such Carnall Baites their Sect like those
Of Christian Name, might with such Wordlings gloze
As loved Pompe, and by their Muffty hope
The like Soule-blisse as Christians from the Pope,
Whereby both Sects make up the Antichrist,
Turkes openly, Popes slily crossing Christ.
The Former rav'd, and quickly were reveal'd,
The Latter grew by stealth, so lay conceal'd
In Mystick sort from Carnall Drowzie Braines,
Because Gods Word was hid, none took the Paines,
Or durst indeed proclaime with open Lippes
The Pope Christs Foe, or by th' Apocalipse
Depaint him out in Coulours, least that Hire,
Which Saints reapt since, they should have felt by Fire.
Since first the Pope affected Soveraignties
In Ghostly things above his Ghostly Mates,
To scandalize the Church. This animates
The Turks and Moores to counterpoize his Crowne
With the like Tares by their Arabian sowne.
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Of Humane stampe, they forged idler Dreames,
That by such Carnall Baites their Sect like those
Of Christian Name, might with such Wordlings gloze
As loved Pompe, and by their Muffty hope
The like Soule-blisse as Christians from the Pope,
Whereby both Sects make up the Antichrist,
Turkes openly, Popes slily crossing Christ.
The Former rav'd, and quickly were reveal'd,
The Latter grew by stealth, so lay conceal'd
In Mystick sort from Carnall Drowzie Braines,
Because Gods Word was hid, none took the Paines,
Or durst indeed proclaime with open Lippes
The Pope Christs Foe, or by th' Apocalipse
Depaint him out in Coulours, least that Hire,
Which Saints reapt since, they should have felt by Fire.
But who would once suspect within the Church
A Grave Divine to live so by the lurch,
As to deprave the Holy Spirits Gifts?
And in a Saint-like shape with Satans shifts,
Wherewith he tempted in the Desart Christ,
To take the place of a Monarchique Priest?
And by the Keyes pretence for Gold to sell
Mens Soules? and to dispose of Realmes, aswell
As to encroach upon the Churches Ark,
That None should preach of Christ without his Mark?
Not onely in the Westerne Empery,
But o're the World he claimed Soveraignety;
And not alone he clam'd this Massy Round,
But Other Worlds, and the Abisse profound,
To order there, like Heathens Rhadamant,
Soules Torment due for Deedes extravagant.
How on the Psalmists Clause have School-men gloss'd?
Thou hast all things under his Feet dispos'd?
As Cattell Living men, as Fish pain'd Soules,
As Aiery Foule High Saints the Pope controules.
A Grave Divine to live so by the lurch,
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And in a Saint-like shape with Satans shifts,
Wherewith he tempted in the Desart Christ,
To take the place of a Monarchique Priest?
And by the Keyes pretence for Gold to sell
Mens Soules? and to dispose of Realmes, aswell
As to encroach upon the Churches Ark,
That None should preach of Christ without his Mark?
Not onely in the Westerne Empery,
But o're the World he claimed Soveraignety;
And not alone he clam'd this Massy Round,
But Other Worlds, and the Abisse profound,
To order there, like Heathens Rhadamant,
Soules Torment due for Deedes extravagant.
How on the Psalmists Clause have School-men gloss'd?
Thou hast all things under his Feet dispos'd?
As Cattell Living men, as Fish pain'd Soules,
As Aiery Foule High Saints the Pope controules.
190
Among the rest of Antichristian Blots,
I may not overpasse Romes damned Plots
About th' inhibiting of Nuptiall Rites
Unto the Clergies Ranke by Romish Kites;
That Divellish Doctrine of the Latter Dayes
By Paul fore-warn'd now Babels Strumpet waighes
In a false Ballance by Hells Oracle,
Slighting the Type of Canaes Miracle;
And, as from Christ by Revelations New
Authentick firm'd, she doth the same renew,
Although that Plea Three Hundred Yeares before,
Had ordred been against the Romaine Whore
By the Sixth Councell in Bizantium held,
And by th' Apostles Canons there upheld:
That Deacons, Priests, or Clergy-men might marry,
And if they should from this Position vary,
The Priest not with his Wife cohabiting,
They censur'd him with Deprivations sting;
And if he should his Wife repudiate,
They then judg'd him for Excommunicate.
But notwithstanding all the Councells Three
At Gangren, Nice, and This, they would decree
Suborn'd by peevish Monks to lay that Yoak,
Which they in Younger Yeares could hardly brook.
For quenching of this Sodomiticque Flame,
We finde two Workes under Volusians Name,
To prove the Weaknesse of that Canons worth,
By Ausburgs Bishop Huld erick set forth.
Pope Nicholas the Second of that Name
By this and other Acts quite out of frame
Set Romes weake Church. Ev'n he by Hildebrands
Lewd Counsel scorcht the Church with burning Brāds
And coram nobis brought good Berengare,
That Babels Masse might prove as Market Ware.
I may not overpasse Romes damned Plots
About th' inhibiting of Nuptiall Rites
Unto the Clergies Ranke by Romish Kites;
That Divellish Doctrine of the Latter Dayes
By Paul fore-warn'd now Babels Strumpet waighes
In a false Ballance by Hells Oracle,
Slighting the Type of Canaes Miracle;
And, as from Christ by Revelations New
Authentick firm'd, she doth the same renew,
Although that Plea Three Hundred Yeares before,
Had ordred been against the Romaine Whore
By the Sixth Councell in Bizantium held,
And by th' Apostles Canons there upheld:
That Deacons, Priests, or Clergy-men might marry,
And if they should from this Position vary,
The Priest not with his Wife cohabiting,
They censur'd him with Deprivations sting;
191
They then judg'd him for Excommunicate.
But notwithstanding all the Councells Three
At Gangren, Nice, and This, they would decree
Suborn'd by peevish Monks to lay that Yoak,
Which they in Younger Yeares could hardly brook.
For quenching of this Sodomiticque Flame,
We finde two Workes under Volusians Name,
To prove the Weaknesse of that Canons worth,
By Ausburgs Bishop Huld erick set forth.
Pope Nicholas the Second of that Name
By this and other Acts quite out of frame
Set Romes weake Church. Ev'n he by Hildebrands
Lewd Counsel scorcht the Church with burning Brāds
And coram nobis brought good Berengare,
That Babels Masse might prove as Market Ware.
About that Time Rome fram'd a God of Bread
Turn'd into Flesh, like Him, whom she had read
In Genesis Created of Red Earth,
Unto which Wight she Motion gave and Birth.
To this New God with supercilious Brow
She strictly charg'd her Subjects all to bow.
Her Courtiers, and the Multitude confus'd
Obey'd the Charge, but Gods Elect refus'd.
Good Men refus'd, and Berengarius sought
With Monkes support and Prelates underwrought,
To contradict the Transubstantiate Masse,
Or not to leave it unreformed passe.
But Factious Wits with Worldly Policie,
Tooke that to clinch and pinch Romes Primacie.
Yet this Good Soule, though since for feare of death
Enforced to recant, consum'd his Breath
With Reasons sound, and Arguments profound,
Till Tyranny his Patience did confound,
In opposition to their Sacrament,
Which derogates from the Man Christs Ascent;
And left behind what Hell can never blot,
The Sence of that, which seemes to Some a knot.
Nor wanted he Applauses in that Age
Of Abbots, Monkes, and Prelates wise and sage;
And Hildebert a Norman Bishop wrot
His praise at large, which Time shall never rot.
Turn'd into Flesh, like Him, whom she had read
192
Unto which Wight she Motion gave and Birth.
To this New God with supercilious Brow
She strictly charg'd her Subjects all to bow.
Her Courtiers, and the Multitude confus'd
Obey'd the Charge, but Gods Elect refus'd.
Good Men refus'd, and Berengarius sought
With Monkes support and Prelates underwrought,
To contradict the Transubstantiate Masse,
Or not to leave it unreformed passe.
But Factious Wits with Worldly Policie,
Tooke that to clinch and pinch Romes Primacie.
Yet this Good Soule, though since for feare of death
Enforced to recant, consum'd his Breath
With Reasons sound, and Arguments profound,
Till Tyranny his Patience did confound,
In opposition to their Sacrament,
Which derogates from the Man Christs Ascent;
And left behind what Hell can never blot,
The Sence of that, which seemes to Some a knot.
193
Of Abbots, Monkes, and Prelates wise and sage;
And Hildebert a Norman Bishop wrot
His praise at large, which Time shall never rot.
Tis strange to me how Faction then prevail'd,
That they had not in Disputations quail'd,
Ashamed of their Ghostly Mans relapse,
Having been nurst upon the Churches Paps,
As they suppos'd, and of the Spirit borne,
Yet they the Sence did Intellectuall scorne
Of that Blest Food, which Christ himselfe fed on
Before his Death, and gave thereof Construction
Spirituall plaine, as all the Fathers did,
That Saints might finde with ease the Treasure hid.
But what they spake by Oratories Trope
Rome wrested since her Masse to underprop.
Sometimes the Fathers by Synecdoche,
By Metonymy, or Hyperbole
Spake to advance the Sacred Mystery,
Thereby to print in ravisht Memory
Soules healthfull Cure 'gainst Passions Insurrection
Typ'd by Our Saviours Crosse and Resurrection.
That they had not in Disputations quail'd,
Ashamed of their Ghostly Mans relapse,
Having been nurst upon the Churches Paps,
As they suppos'd, and of the Spirit borne,
Yet they the Sence did Intellectuall scorne
Of that Blest Food, which Christ himselfe fed on
Before his Death, and gave thereof Construction
Spirituall plaine, as all the Fathers did,
That Saints might finde with ease the Treasure hid.
But what they spake by Oratories Trope
Rome wrested since her Masse to underprop.
Sometimes the Fathers by Synecdoche,
By Metonymy, or Hyperbole
194
Thereby to print in ravisht Memory
Soules healthfull Cure 'gainst Passions Insurrection
Typ'd by Our Saviours Crosse and Resurrection.
Towards this Ages End Pope Hildebrand
Attempted by maine Force and armed Hand,
To wrest from Cæsars Gift the Papacies
Elections Grant, and Paramounting Sway,
Which Popes receiv'd from them untill that Day.
At least they tooke their Confirmations Weale
Not sure without the High Imperiall Seale,
And so did other Bishops in his Land,
Assume their Worldly States from Cæsars Hand,
But now the Pope by Romes New Cardinalls
More pow'refull growne into his Party calls
Aswell the Lay, as Clergy-men to ayde
Him in his Warres, which Cæsar sore dismay'd;
For by his Bulls he gave his Realmes away,
And blockt from him and his the Heavens way.
Thus he that tooke himselfe to be the Head
Of Christ his Flocke claim'd Rule unlimited
Aboue all Kings, and Earthly Potentates,
And by the Keyes would alter worldly States.
The Emperour accurst, he sends a Crowne
To Rodolfe with this Posie written downe:
The Rock to Peter gave the Rule Supreme,
And he to Rodolfe gives the Diademe.
Upon this Warrant of his Ghostly Sire
Against his Lord proud Rodolfe did conspire.
The Members rav'd, and turn'd irregulare,
As if they felt the Cramp or Riding Mare.
Then, Thousands rag'd with Frenzies Calentures,
Till Thousands let them Bloud, or tooke their Cures.
This Quarrell made all Germany to quake;
With Rodolfe Some, with Henry more partake.
The Crosse and Eagle rear'd for Bloudy Signes,
Yet Cæsar foil'd Saint Peters false Assignes;
And Rodolfe in the last great Battell fought,
Lost his Right Hand, which to him dying brought
He shew'd it to the Bishops standing by,
Lo, here the Guerdon of disloyalty,
That Hand, quoth he, which did to Cæsar vow,
I lost by your Advise. Behold it now.
But notwithstanding all these cruell Broiles,
Proud Hildebrand, late Gregoriz'd, embroiles
Himselfe againe, will hazard Soule and Body,
But he will prove the Emperour a Noddy,
His Soveraigne Selfe comparing to the Sun,
And Cæsars Person to his Vassall Moone.
So long he play'd, till Cæsar sacked Rome,
Doom'd him, and set another in his roome:
As Others his Successours Herods Sword
Drew out so oft crosse to their Masters Word,
That now of late Popes odious in their place,
Twice Burbon did and Alva Rome deface.
Attempted by maine Force and armed Hand,
To wrest from Cæsars Gift the Papacies
Elections Grant, and Paramounting Sway,
Which Popes receiv'd from them untill that Day.
At least they tooke their Confirmations Weale
Not sure without the High Imperiall Seale,
And so did other Bishops in his Land,
Assume their Worldly States from Cæsars Hand,
But now the Pope by Romes New Cardinalls
More pow'refull growne into his Party calls
Aswell the Lay, as Clergy-men to ayde
Him in his Warres, which Cæsar sore dismay'd;
For by his Bulls he gave his Realmes away,
And blockt from him and his the Heavens way.
195
Of Christ his Flocke claim'd Rule unlimited
Aboue all Kings, and Earthly Potentates,
And by the Keyes would alter worldly States.
The Emperour accurst, he sends a Crowne
To Rodolfe with this Posie written downe:
The Rock to Peter gave the Rule Supreme,
And he to Rodolfe gives the Diademe.
Upon this Warrant of his Ghostly Sire
Against his Lord proud Rodolfe did conspire.
The Members rav'd, and turn'd irregulare,
As if they felt the Cramp or Riding Mare.
Then, Thousands rag'd with Frenzies Calentures,
Till Thousands let them Bloud, or tooke their Cures.
This Quarrell made all Germany to quake;
With Rodolfe Some, with Henry more partake.
The Crosse and Eagle rear'd for Bloudy Signes,
Yet Cæsar foil'd Saint Peters false Assignes;
And Rodolfe in the last great Battell fought,
Lost his Right Hand, which to him dying brought
196
Lo, here the Guerdon of disloyalty,
That Hand, quoth he, which did to Cæsar vow,
I lost by your Advise. Behold it now.
But notwithstanding all these cruell Broiles,
Proud Hildebrand, late Gregoriz'd, embroiles
Himselfe againe, will hazard Soule and Body,
But he will prove the Emperour a Noddy,
His Soveraigne Selfe comparing to the Sun,
And Cæsars Person to his Vassall Moone.
So long he play'd, till Cæsar sacked Rome,
Doom'd him, and set another in his roome:
As Others his Successours Herods Sword
Drew out so oft crosse to their Masters Word,
That now of late Popes odious in their place,
Twice Burbon did and Alva Rome deface.
About this time our Rufus to enlarge
New Forrest, there to have a Chase more large,
Pull'd many Churches downe. But while he plies
The Game, into his Heart an Arrow flies.
New Forrest, there to have a Chase more large,
197
The Game, into his Heart an Arrow flies.
Ere I proceed to the Next Ages Stemme,
I must reflect upon Ierusalem.
Our Westernes now by Romes Croisadoes spurr'd
Made a brave League; and like good Brethren stirrd
With Christian Zeale, they having Antioch won
To Salem went, and took that Famous Towne,
Mauger the Forces of the Saracens,
Erected there the Crosse for Christian Mens
Encouragement then living in those dayes,
Wherewith the sight they might, as Star-like Rayes,
Behold a glimpse of some Pathetick Love
Home-frozen there renew'd, of force to move
Compunction in their hearts on Calvaries
And Olivets survey, a Sacrifice
Well pleasing unto Christ, while they with Teares
Mus'd on his Griefes, his Bloudy sweat, and Feares,
His Passion undergone for their Amisse,
His Fathers Wrath for Sinne appeas'd, and Blisse
Restor'd to them, and to the Penitent
By his Deserts alone and Punishment,
Who without help the Bloudy Wine-presse trod,
And seal'd for us a New Contract with God.
I must reflect upon Ierusalem.
Our Westernes now by Romes Croisadoes spurr'd
Made a brave League; and like good Brethren stirrd
With Christian Zeale, they having Antioch won
To Salem went, and took that Famous Towne,
Mauger the Forces of the Saracens,
Erected there the Crosse for Christian Mens
Encouragement then living in those dayes,
Wherewith the sight they might, as Star-like Rayes,
Behold a glimpse of some Pathetick Love
Home-frozen there renew'd, of force to move
Compunction in their hearts on Calvaries
And Olivets survey, a Sacrifice
Well pleasing unto Christ, while they with Teares
Mus'd on his Griefes, his Bloudy sweat, and Feares,
198
His Fathers Wrath for Sinne appeas'd, and Blisse
Restor'd to them, and to the Penitent
By his Deserts alone and Punishment,
Who without help the Bloudy Wine-presse trod,
And seal'd for us a New Contract with God.
This
Citty by victorious Godfrey gain'd,
When all his Host would have him there constrain'd
As King to weare a Golden Crowne: Shall I
Most Sinnefull Man, quoth he, unworthily
Yeeld to be Crown'd with Gold in that same Towne,
Where Christ was forc'd to weare a Thorny Crowne?
Farre be that Thought from me, weak Mortall Clod,
To slight his Crosse, my Duty unto God.
Such Carnall Pomp I utterly contemne:
Pitch we our Thoughts on New Ierusalem,
Where every Saint the Vassal as the King,
Shall Crown'd with Blisse Alleluiaes sing.
When all his Host would have him there constrain'd
As King to weare a Golden Crowne: Shall I
Most Sinnefull Man, quoth he, unworthily
Yeeld to be Crown'd with Gold in that same Towne,
Where Christ was forc'd to weare a Thorny Crowne?
Farre be that Thought from me, weak Mortall Clod,
To slight his Crosse, my Duty unto God.
Such Carnall Pomp I utterly contemne:
Pitch we our Thoughts on New Ierusalem,
Where every Saint the Vassal as the King,
Shall Crown'd with Blisse Alleluiaes sing.
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