es But with the wicked what can well succeed, Whil'st fondly they proud weaknesse did bewray, In whom perswasions obstinacy breed.” (Who can the deeps of his high judgements sound?) By making their owne tongues their hearts betray, Whil'st sin ore-Aow'd the world, God swrath ore- The thund'rer straight those Titans did confound : flam'd, (pours, Here divers tongues the worke of men did stay, Which when rais’d high, downe flouds of vengeance which afterwards the worke of God did ground. As Noah's preaching oft times had proclaim'd, “ One meanes made Christians joyne, and Ethnicks (Heavens threatning straight to drown the highest jarre, towers.) (stream'd, Did belpe th' apostles, Babel's builders marre." Clouds clustred darkenesse, lightnings terrour And rumbling thunders usher'd agly shoures; When purpos'd to dissolve quicke clouds of dust, Whil'st ravenous tempests swallow'd up the light, God's wrath (as stubble) sinners doth devoure; Day (dead for feare) brought forth abortive night. That towne to sacke, which had not ten men just, He brimstone rain'd (O most prodigious shoure!) From guests prophane that th' Earth might be re- Their bodies burn'd, whose soulcs were burn'd with deem'd, lust, The lights of Heaven quench'd in their lanternes lay, What fayre was, ugly, what was sweet, grew sowre, The cloudy conduits but one cisterne seem'd, Yet of that fire, Lot scap'd the great deluge, “ God's holy mountaine is a sure refuge." The fire drown'd out, Heavens all dissolv'd were I thinke not of the ruine of those states, deem'd, Which since but strangers to the ground of grace, Ayre water grew, the earth as wash'd away : By monstrous storms, whil'st all things were ore Were carried head-long with their owne conceits, turn'd, (burn'd. And even (though brightly) blindely ran their race: Then (save God's wrath) in all the world nought Did bound their glory in a little space. God's firme decrees, which fondly they call's fates, (mindes, Men to the mountaines did for helpe repaire, Whilst tempests huge toss'd their tumultuous Whence them the waves did violently chase; Like reeds by rivers wav'ring with all windes. In nature's scorne, came scaly squadrons there, Such rais'd not for their good, but for God's ends, The forrest's guests inheriting their place: When bent his owne to punish, or support, By too much water, no, for lacke of ayre, Doe (as his arrowes) hit but where he tends, All were confounded in a little space. Else of themselves their power doth not import; “ One creature needs all th'elements to live, His spotted flocke, when he to purge intends, But death to all one element can give." They are but tooles us'd in a servile sort, That moving masse against the storme did strive, To fanne or cleanse, such fapnes or besomes are, Which afterwards he not in wrath doth spare. Which all the creatures of the world contayn'd; As through the deepes it through theclouds did drive, Proud Ashur first did daunt all other soiles, Not by the compasse, nor the rudder rayn’d: Till barbarous Persia did become her head ; No port, no land was, where it could arrive, The Greekes did glory in the Persian's spoiles, Whil'st th' earth with waters levell all remain'd. Whose prince at last, Rome did in triumph leade; The waves (the world all else as hush'd) at once, Rome (ravishing the earth) bred bloudy broiles, Roard forth a consort with men's dying grones. Yet was by whom she scorn'd a widdow made. But when ore all God's breath did ruine blow, “ The world a tennis-court, the rackets fates, The arke with others sinne from death did save: Great kings are balls, when God will tosse their Him whom the raging Aouds did not orethrow, Who (of God's judgements judge) did all perceive to them whom God to doe great things doth chuse, A little liquor did at last o'rethrow, He gerrerous mindes, and noble thoughts imparts, Which to his sonne to mocke occasion gave. And doth in them all qualities iofuse, “ Thus drunkennesse disdainefull scorne doth breed, That are requir’d to act heroicke parts ; A fertile vice which others still succeed." Of matters base, then making others muse, As the first world did first by pride offend, He breaks their sprites, and vilifies their hearts. Whose burning rage to such a height did runne, “ As greatnesse still a gallant minde preceeds, That it to quench, God did the waters bend : A staggering courage ruine still succeeds.” O drunkennesse, the second world's first sinne, Of Greece and Rome, the glory mounting high, The course of vice that element must end, Did minds amaze, (made all the Muses song) Which is oppos'd to that which did begin. On both the wings of worth, whil'st it did flye, In every thing God's justice we may spy, [dry.” By valour rais'd, borne up on learning long; “ As floudsdrown's pride, flames drunkennesse must But (loe) both base in abject bondage lye, (strong. Whose brood proves now as faint, as once thought The peopled world soone left the Lord to feare, That with their empires (made their enemies' spoiles) And Sathan in their soules did raise his throne; Their sprites seeme too transferr'd to forraine soiles. O what a burden, Nature, do'st thou beare, Since that to sinne and live seeme both but one! For, nations once which strangers were to fame, Men Babel's towers against the starres did reare, On whom (as monsters) civill land did gaze; Since like deserving, fearing what was gone, Those who in scorge did them barbarians name, As though that God could but one plague command; Doe now farre passe in all which merits praise : (Ab, fooles) what strength against his strength can Thus glorie's throne is made the seate of shame, stand ? Who were obscure, doe honour highest raise. states." “ Nought constant is below, no, not true worth, The word was flesh, the God-head dwelt with mez, It melted south, and freezes in the north.” Invisible, yet subject to the sight, Whilst th'earthlydarkenesse clouded heavenlylight: What heart not quakes to thinke what scroules re Birds had their nests, and every beast a den, The vengeance huge inflicted oft below? [cord, Not onely Gentiles thus as then abhorr'd, Yet had he nought who did owe all of right. No kinde of thing the wicked world could move, High indignation justly did orethrow; Not wonders done below, words from above. Those wonders then which sacred writs record, God's minion still, or slave to strangers prov'd. Did some couvert, a multitude amaze, What did not God's owne word doe by a word? By monstrous plagues, God did his power expresse Lame ranne, deafe heard, dumb spake, divels fled, dead raise, In Nilus' bonnds, which yet admir'd remaines, The subtile sorcerers forcing to confesse, Of servants servant, whil'st of lords the Lord, That his owne finger pointed out their paines; Did seeke but his owne paine, man's good, God's The seas retir'd would not his will transgresse, praise. Till squadrons march'd upon their virgin playnes. To marry Heaven with Earth whil'st he began, God without mother, without father man. Who never did begin, he would begin, That life's chiefe fountaine might of life be rear'd; The innocent would beare the weight of sinne, When their great journey boldly was begun, That by his sufferings, sinners might be sav'd, Over them a cloud by day, by night fire stood, Yet that which God must give, and none can winne, A guide, a guard, a shadow, and a sunne, Rockes vomited a foud, Heavens rain’d down food, Whil'st on a tree Christ gain’d (when tortar'd most) (Though offred freely) many not receiv'd. Canaan was miraculously wonne. Their armes did armies spoile, huge gyants kill, What by a tree for pleasure Adam lost. Weake blasts breach'd walls, the Sun (as charm’d) stood still. The world's great ludge was judg’d, and worldlings stood, But who can thinke and trust, trust, not admire, Even glorie's glory, glorying to disgrace; That those ingrate to such a God could prove; They damn'd as evill the author of all good, Who oft had seen (above their owne desire) (Though death of death) who unto death gave place: His power by wonders, and by gifts his love? Ah, for our ransome offering up his bloud, Yet they provok'd the holy one to ire, Great was the warre he had to make our peace! And did the mightie's indignation move. The heire of Heaven daiga'd to descend to Hell, Tisí as abhorr'd, the land did spue them forth, That in the Heaven, hell-worthy men might dwell. And Euphrates did swallow Iordan's worth. The Father saw the Sonne surcharg'd with woe, That realme, the world's first froth, and now the lees, For man could not repay, vor God forgoe, Yet would to calme his griefe, no favour show; Of which for Israel, angels hosts had slaine; That debt which the first man did justly owe: The Lord transplanting men (as men doe trees) Christ (as a God) could not have suffered so, Nor have as man prevail'd, but both below. He mep most grac'd, when men bim most disgrac'd: Iustice and mercy mutually imbrac'd. Yet (when repenting) all turn'd backe by faith: “ Sole mortal's teares doe quench th’immortals When God confirm'd with many fearefull wonder, wrath." The great worke which was wrought for them he lov'd, Of all the workes, which God for us hath wrought, Heaven (clad with darknesse moum'd) th' Earth None more to stray opinion's course permits, sob'd asunder: Then our salvation, offred, urg'd, not sought, Thus creatures wanting sense, where highly mov'd, And curious nature's course the truth worst hits : Who should have had, bad none, nor could not What was contemn'd, a pretious treasure bought, ponder, A mystery surmounting vulgar wits. What did import the anguish that he provid. “ The worker, not the worke, must move our mindes: But of his torments strange which did abound, Celestiall secrets, faith (not reason) findes." Ah, man's ingratitude did deepest wound. O! who could looke for glory from the dust? 0! wicked off-spring of a godly sire, Who mercy mock'd, prepare your selves for ire. He gave his best belov'd his foes to save. He lives, he lives, whose death you did devise. And even to suffer, suffer did his Sonnc, His bloud (not spent in vaine) must wash, or drowne: “ The victory over Hell is hardly wonne." Those whom it doth not save, it sball sinke downe. To rest on them and theirs, lewes who did cry, So are all those of this which I proclaime, beares; Whilist for their cause, God every thing had curst, Exhausted courage, horrour shall confound, Rome's mildest emperour prov'd for them the worst. Till Hope's high towers rest alloreflow'd with feares: All shall together fall, as by one wound, Ierusalem the faire, Iehovah's love, Not having time to fiye, no, not for teares. Repudiated by disdainefull wrath, On day as night (as on the wearied sleepe) A bastard race did beare, whom nought could move; Death steales ou life, and judgement's way doth A vile adultresse violating faith; sweep. Then did the world's delight her terrour prove, And harmes perform'd fore-told by sacred breath: All clearely see who life's short race doe riune, Nought rested where the stately city stood, Though this last judgement they would not admit, Save heapes of horrour rais'd of dust and bloud. That fatall doome inflicted first for sinne, Which (whil'st not look'd for) doth most certaine hit, But (murd'ring saints) in wickednesse grown bold, and of all soules the processe doth beginne ; That town which long was drunk, last drown'd with For straight when death arrests, the ludge doth sit. bloud; To beare this charge, all fortifie the minde, That town by which who bought the world was sold, “ As death us leaves, so judgement shall us finde." Sold with disgrace, beheld her scorned brood : Them lov'd by God, men did in honour hold, Death each man daily sees, but none fore-sees, And loath'd by God, with them in horrour stood. The wage of sinne, the iubilee of cares, Then Iewes whom God high rais'd, and low doth bow, First judgement threatned base corruption's lees, What name more glorious once, more odious now? Inheritance that serves all Adam's heires, And marshalling (not partiall) all degrees, When of salvation, joyfull newes were spread, The charge enjoyn'd for no respect that spares ; With sprituall grace, all nations to bedew, What agues, wounds, thoughts, pains, all breaching Whil'st famish'd soules that sacred nectar fed, breath, The Lord strange judgements, millious made to view, Are heraulds, serjeants, vshers, posts of Death. and those who first fierce persecutions bred, A jealous God with vengeance did pursue. Death dores to enter at, and darts to wound, The wrath that he against his servants beares, Hath as the Heaven hath starres, or sea hath sands; Is kindled by their sinne, quench'd by their teares. What though not sicke, not stab’d, not choak:d, burnt, drown'd, By him who first 'gainst Christ dia ensignes pitch, Age, matchlesse enemy, all at last commands? His brother, mother, wife, and selfe was slaine; O what designes the emperour pale doth bound, The great apostate wounded in a ditch, Built of bare bones, whose arch triumphall stands! Did grant with griefe the Galileans raigne; Ah, for one's errour, all the world hath wept, Of him whose errours did whole realmes bewitcb, The golden fruit, a leaden dragon kept. The death most vile, did viler doctrine staine. « A monstrous death doth monstrous lives attend, Then since Sinne's hang-man, nature's utter fue, And what all is, is judged by the end." By whom true life is found, life's shadow lost, He who made Himen's torch drop bloud, and teares, When least expected, doth importune most : A thousand fancies interrupting so, (The nation most humane, growne inhumane) Did bloud (when dead) at mouth, nose, eyes, and Guests of the world, poore passengers that post, Haste, haste your reck’nings, all must pay, and goe, As vomiting his surfet so agaie: [eares, In crime, and crowne like charge his brother beares; To dye alive, that we may live when dead.”-, “ And let us strive (a change thus wisely made) The bloudy band by mutuall blowes was slaine. The king, the duke, the fryer, devis'd that ill, All thinke whil'st sound, what sicknesse may succeed, The king, the duke, the fryer, the king did kill. How in the bed imprison'd ye may be, Whose sight is so eclips'd which now not sees, When every object loathsomnesse doth breed, In every kingdome, province, towne, and race, Within, without, that soule, or eyes can see, On princes, subjects, men of all degrees, (trace? To trembling nature, which still death doth dread, What weighty judgements, sinners' steppes doe Whilst griefe paints horrour in a high degree, Which not the crowne, more then the cottage frees? The body in the bed, thoughts in it coule, The wicked man (sayes God) shall have no peace. The conscience casting up a bitter scroule. ** Acountenance calme may maske a stormy minde, But guiltinesse no perfect ease can finde." But when th' externall powers begin to faile, That neither tongue can give, nor eares receive, Those temporall plagues are but small smokes of ire, Friends (wretched comforters) retir'd to waile, To breach a breast which is not arm'd with faith, To agonize the sonle alone doe leave, And are when God due vengeance doth require, Which Sathan straight with squadrons doth assaile, Of indignation diops, weake sparkes of wrath ; Then bent to force whom first he did deceive; As lightning is to Hell's eternall fire, Who once entic'd, then to accuse beginnes, Or to a tempest huge, a little breath. To wakened soules upbraiding buried sinnes. a That fatall conflict which all Aesh doth feare, His calfe, God's lamb, were given the lost to gaine, By helpes from Heaven, which foughten out, and His best sonne griev'd, God's onely Sonne was slaine. wonne, Wbil'st soules to Heaven triumphing angels beare, Who can expresse, consider, or conceive, This mortall race magnanimously runne: Our Maker's mercy, our Redeemer's love, Of them that are to decke the highest sphere, Or of that sprite the power, which who receive, The soule shall shine more glorious then the Sunde. By sacred ardour ravish'd are above; Whil'st cloath'd with righteousnesse, a Priest, a 0! to create, to sanctifie, to save, King, Ingratitude to gratefulnesse may move: Must (if no more) be griev'd to be ingrate. First, ere by ends beginnings could be prov'd, Her faculties amidst fraile flesh diffus'd; Whilst time nor place, to limit nought attain'd, As judgement, reason, memory, and wit, All wholy holy, wholy to be lov'd, Then all refin'd, no more to be abus'd.. God in bimselfe, and all in him remain'd: And parts in triumph, free from earthly toiles, Whil'st both the Sunne, and spheare in which he Yet longs, perchance to gather up her spoiles. mov'd, That which contain'd, and that which was contain'd; Let those great plagues (smokes ofour Maker'sire) Truth lightned light, all in perfection stood, Make all in time their inward state reforme, More high then thoughts can reach,all God, all good. All was (of purpose) providently right. That they might it admire, bim serve, and praise. When God in us no kinde of good could see, Great was his favour, making us to be What? since in us affection must be free, bought. THE ARGUMENT. 'That threatned time which must the world appall, Though sometime some, inspir'd by God, we see, Is (that all may amend) by signes fore-showne, Warres rumour'd are, the gospell preach'd o're all, The fruit, not root of mercie's saving tree, (ceeds; Do gratefull, yea, not meritorious deeds ; Some lewes convert, the antichrist growes knowne: Which was Christ's crosse whence all our rest proDivels rage, vice raigaes, zeale cooles, faith failes, As owing most, they should most humble be, stars fall, To bim whose grace in them such motions breeds; All sorts of plagues have the last trumpet blowne: And by prodigious signes it may appeare, From whom so good a minde, and means, they had, Where others were abandon'd to be bad. That of the Sonne of man the signe drawes neare. The Lord to those whose souls produce his seale, Doth give good things, as who them justly owes, Though thundring down those who transgresse his Bound by his promise, pleaded with true zeale; And with disdaine his bounty do abuse : [lawes, Which all the arguments of wrath orethrowe, As adamants doe iron, repentance drawes Whilst they from it to mercy do appeale, The Lord to love them whom he first did chuse; Which fustifies all that repentance shows; A space retir'd from the tempestuous waves, God sinnes confess'd with griefe, with joy forgives, The port of mercy must refresh my Muse; That which faith humbly seeks, power freely gives. Whose ventrous fight all loftinesse must leave, And plainly sing what all men should conceive. He who (when pilgrims) all their trouble sees, The faithfull souls from danger doth secure; The Lord delights not in a sinner's death, And them from fetters of corruption frees, But sheepe which stray, toiles to recover still; As griev'd that mortals should such griefe endure; To please a sonne, who had deserv'd his wrath, But now for them (whom he to save decrees) His calfe (tong fed) the father straight did kill: He shall true rest perpetually assure, Not for the best whose thoughts(sway'd bybisbreath) At that great court which must determine all, Had squar'd his actions onely to his will; Even till Christ rise as Iudge, from Adam's fall. OR, THE SECOND HOURE. Their bloud, which tyrants (by evill angels led) Lo, as the sacred register records, Yet that portentuous warre which Christ's owne words Such was the warre which in each age was mov'd, But onely patient, willing all to winne; When by preposterous cares from rest restrain'd : Time's consummation quickly shall disclose Bent to be more then men, men monsters prov'd, The period of mortality and sinne, Who (lords of others) slaves themselves remain'd. And for the same his servants to dispose, For, whilest advancement vaine they fondly lov’d, Else charg'd by signes the processe doth begin, The Devill their souls, whilest they but bodies gain'd; Signes which each day upbraid us with the last, So with their owne disturbing every state, Few are to come, some present, many past. They bought Hell's horrors at too high a rate. What fatall warnings do that time presage, A due attendance in the world to breed : Christ came below, that souls might be releev'd, (Though oftner now) some us'd in every age, Not to breed peace, but worse then civill warres : And some more monstrous, straight the day preceed: Even twixt the sonne and syre engendring jarres. Broyls amongst brethen, scarce to be beleev’d; Ah! flie the flames of that encroaching rage, And arme against these terrours that succeed : “ God must be pleas'd who ever else be griev'd; For whom the first not frights, the last confounds, The gospel's growth no tyrant's malice marres. As whilst the lightning shines, the thunder wounds. The truth most mounts when men would presse it As Ægypt's burdens Israel's strength did crowne, Whilst threatning worldlings with the last deluge, downe." Old Noah scorne acquird, but never trust : Though building in their sight his owne refuge, Those warres that come before that fatall'day, So were the people blinde with pride and lust; End things begun, and endlesse things begin: And ere the coming of the generall Judge, Are not us'd broils which states with steele array, To damne the bad, and justifie the just, Whilest worldlings would but worldly treasures Even when the tokens come, which Christ advis'd, yinne. As Noah's then, Christ's words are now despis'd. No, even religion shall make peace decay : And godlinesse be made the ground of sinne. As life's last day hath unto none beene showne, Then let the world expect no peace againe, That still (attending death) all might live right: When sacred causes breed effects prophane. So that great judgement's day is kept unknowne, Such warres have beene, some such are yet to be, To make us watch, as Christ were still in sight; Like virgins wise with oyle still of our owne, What must not once plague Adam's cursed brood? That when the bridegroomecomes, we want not light. Which zeale had kindled to be quench'd with bloud, Ah, that the world so oft those flames did see, “Live still, as looking death should us surprise, Whilst disagreeing thoughts in deeds agree, And go to beds, and graves, as we would rise.' Some bent for sprituall, some for temporall good, “ Hell's fire-brands rage, whilst zeale doth weakly O what great wonder that so few are found, When policy puts on religion's cloke." [smoke, Whom those strange signes make griev'd, or glad, appeare! [found, All nations once the gospel's light shall see, Though that day haste which should their souls con- That ignorance no just excuse may breed, Or from corruption make them ever cleare. Truth spreads in spite of persecution free: If holy lerome thought he heard the sound The bloud of martyrs is the churche's seed, Of that great trumpet thundring in his eare, That it receiy'd, or they condemn'd may be, What jealous cares should in our brests be lodg’d, All on the word their soules may sometime feed, Since greater sinners, nearer to be judg'd? The word by which all help, or harme must have, When will to man, or rather man to will, “ Those knowledge damnes, whom conscience can not save.' Was freely given, straight discord did begin: Though brethren borne, th’ one did the other kill, When bent to mitigate his Father's wrath, Of those who first were made life's race to runne. Man's mortall veile the God-head did disguise, Thus striving (as it seem’d) who did most ill, The world's Redeemer was engag'd to death, The father fell, the sonne did sink in sinne. And rais'd himself to show how we sbould rise; Love Adam lost, but Cain did kindle wrath, Those twelve whose doctrine builded on his breathe The author breeding, th' actor bringing death. To beare his yoke all nations did advise, Thus at the first contentious worldlings jarr’d, They terrours first, and then did comfort sound, Of all the world when onely two were heires ; For, ere the gospell heale, the law must wound. And when that nations were, then nations warrd, In simple men who servile trades had us'de, Oft sowing hopes, and reaping but despaires ; (The wisest of the world are greatest fools) Base avarice, pride, and ambition marr’d The Holy Ghost one truth, all tongues infus'de, All concord first, and fram'd death divers snares: And made them teach who never knew the schools ; " Though as a winde soone vanish doth our breath; Yea, with more power the souls of men they brus'd, We furnish feathers for the wings of death." Then rhetorick could do with golden rules, : |