The Times' Whistle Or A Newe Daunce of Seuen Satires, and other Poems: Compiled by R. C., Gent. [i.e. Richard Corbett]. Now First Edited from Ms. Y. 8. 3. in the Library of Canterbury Cathedral: With introduction, notes, and glossary, By J. M. Cowper |
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Christianus Agnus. |
 | The Times' Whistle |  |
Christianus Agnus.
Like a young tender lambe that man must beWhich doth professe true Christianity
With sincere heart, in imitation
First of that spotlesse Lambe, whose Passion
Brought sinfull man from endlesse misery
To the true center of felicity.
Next, as a lambe is harmlesse, innocent,
Meek, gentle, humble, quiet, patient,
So must a Christian be; his harmlesse life
Must be devoide of all malicious strife.
Revilde, he must not once revile againe,
But must doe good for ill, must suffer paine
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And patient minde; yea, though it doe impart
The bodies death; such martirdome shalbe
A glorious crowne of immortality.
Lastly, in this respect (if I not erre)
A lamb is a true Christians charecter:
The infant lambe among a thousand sheep,
Whose frequent bleatings a loude murmere keepe,
Knowes his owne damme when he but heares her voice,
And to sucke her milke onlie doth reioyce:
So must a Christian know the Church his mother
By her owne voice, the word of God, from other
Which are but stepdames:—Popish congregations,
Brownisme, & Puritannicke invocation[s],
Which bleat false doctrine & damnd heresies,
He must distinguish from true misteries;
And like an infant lambe, the childe of grace,
Sucke only from her breastes, which flow apace
With the sincere milke of Godes holie word,
His soules nutrition. Thus ther is accord
In these respectes & more, which I'le not trace,
Twixt lambes of nature & the lambes of grace.
| The Times' Whistle | |