The glasse of time, in the two first ages. Diuinely handled, by Thomas Peyton, of Lincolnes Inne, Gent

THE GLASSE OF TIME, IN THE two firſt Ages.

Diuinely handled, By Thomas Peyton, of Lincolnes Inne, Gent.

LONDON, Printed by Bernard Alſop, and are to be had at Laurence Chapmans ſhop ouer-againſt Staple Inne. 1620.

TO THE ILLVSTRIOVS PRINCE Charles, Prince of Wales. MOſt hopefull Prince, Europaes richeſt Iem, Succeſſor to theſe famous weſterne Iles, Chaſt Oliue Branch, deſcended of that Stem, Whoſe, what he hath, all on thy fortune ſmiles: Inheritor to ſuch a Potent King▪ As no Age yet, his Like could euer bring. Braue Pearle of men, within whoſe louely Face, The ſacred Muſes learned Arts combine, And all Heauens gifts from great Apollos Race, Apparant ſeeme within thy Browes to ſhine, Thy Fathers Doran, kingly workes of State, This more then needs, as borne but out of date. Yet Royall Prince, let but thine eyes behold, This lofty Subiect in theſe Rurall Rimes, T'will more encourage then Earths pureſt gold, To make my Muſe to all ſucceeding times, Blaze forth thy parts and high deſerued Fame, That thy rare worth may all the World inflame. As in a Garden of ſweete fragrant flowers, Where each man takes what to his mind ſeemes beſt, Then ſits him downe within their pleaſant Bowers, Peruſeth all, and for a Time doth Reſt, Contented, Ioy'd (Admiring) to haue found; So great a change, in one ſmall piece of Ground. So deereſt Prince, within thy Fathers workes, What Poeſies ſweete, Graue ſentences diuine, Sad morrall matter in each Subiect lurkes? To draw thy youth to trace him line by line, Whilſt this may chance to recreate thy mind, As glimmering Luna in Sols abſence ſhin'd. Perſiſt go on, and as thy Vertues won, The Loyall Loue of euery faithfull heart, So to the end, thy courſe (directly) run, And winged Fame ſhall from thee neuer ſtart, But ſcale the Cloudes and mount the lofty Skyes, To ſound thy worth as farre as India lyes. Your Highneſſe in all humbleneſſe, Thomas Peyton.

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, FRANCIS Lord Verulam, Lord Chancelor of England. MOſt Honor'd Lord, within whoſe reuerend face, Truth, Mercy, Iuſtice, Loue and all combine, Heauens deereſt Daughters of Iehouahs Race, Seeme all at full within thy Browes to ſhine, The King himſelefe (T'immortalize thy fame) Hath in thy Name Foretiped out the ſame. Great Verulam, my Soule hath much admirde, Thy Courtly carriage in each comely part, Worth, Merrit, Grace, when what the land deſirde, Is powr'd vpon thee as thy iuſt deſart, Graue liberall mind contending with the reſt, To ſeate them all in thy Iuditious breſt. Thrice noble Lord, how doſt thou prize of gold, Wealth, Treaſures Mony and ſuch Earthly caſh? For none of them thou haſt thy Iuſtice ſold, But held them all as baſe (infected) traſh To ſnare, allure, out from a dunghill wrought, The ſeared conſcience of each muddy thought. Weigh but my cauſe, referre me not to thoſe, That from the firſt were partiall in my right, Ah this is more then once thine Honour knowes, Thou ſeeſt mine owne hath now vndone me quight, Whilſt by a trick they got me in their paw, Againſt the Order of thy Court and Law. If I were ſuch as ſome would haue thee thinke, I meane my Foes which vtterly defame, Mine Innocence and all together linke To wound my ſtate, and blemiſh much my name: Yet Iuſtice wils, what in their hands hath laine, Thus to my loſſe ſhould be reſtord againe. Ah, deereſt Lord, hold but the Scales vpright, Let Court nor fauour ouerſway my cauſe, To preſſe me more then is beyond my might, Is but their Reach to croſſe thy former Lawes, Let me have Peace, or that which is mine owne, And thy iuſt worth ſhall o're the World be blowne. Your Lordſhips in all humbleneſſe, Thomas Peyton.

TO THE READER, The Title deſcribed. VNto the Wiſe, Religious, Learned, Graue, Iudicious Reader, out this Worke I ſend, The tender ſighted that ſmall knowledge haue, Can litle looſe, but much their weakneſſe mend: And generous ſpirits which from heauen are ſent, May Solace here, and finde all true content. A Paradiſe (preſented) to ech eye, Within the Vinnet of the Title page, Where Iustice, Mercie, Nature, Loue, do lye, Beforeth' Almightie in the firſt found Age. Time ſtands betwixt, and Truth his daughter beares His traine behind, a world of Aged yeares. Fierce Nemeſis ſhe mounts (within the Ayre) On Pegaſus, that winged Horſe of Fame, And by her ſide a Sword all naked bare, Graue Iuſtice ſits, a (ſable) lowring Dame, Vnder her feete the worlds moſt ſpatious Globe, And weighs mens Actions in a ſcarlet Robe. This may denote the goodly glorious worth, The pretious Value, Maieſtie and Grace, Of all the Siſters (Glory of this Earth) Gods deereſt daughters in their ſeuerall place, Aboue the world, heauens crowne their browes adorne, To ſhew (at full) how they do (bribing) ſcorne. Peruſe it well for in the ſame may lurke, More (obſcure) matter in a deeper ſence, To ſet the beſt and learned wits on worke, Then hath as yet in many Ages ſince, Within ſo ſmall a little Ʋolumne beene, Or on the ſudden can be found and ſeene, Ʋrania (deere) attired in her ſilke, To draw thee on with more attentiue heede, The weaker ſort ſhe ſometime feedes with milke, All guiltie mens damn'd vices vp to weede: Th'enuious Momes that her chaſte Muſe doth tuch, She hopes to mend, but cares not for them much. Thine to his power, Tho. Peyton.

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

Beati Pacifici.

THE GLASSE OF TIME, IN THE FIRST AGE. The Argument. The Author firſt, doth Gods aſſiſtance craue, Throughout the worke that he his helpe may haue; The ſacred Sabbaoth, Sathans enuious gall, The Woman fram'd, and Mans moſt diſmall fall; The Tree of Life protected from the Brute, The Tree of Knowledge with her fatall Fruit: For feare the World ſhould finally be ended, Gods deereſt Daughters downe in hast deſcended, The flaming Sword the Tree of Life which garded, The Cherubins vpon the walls that warded. The Land of Eden is diſcrib'd at large, Heauens iudgement iuſt to all men's future charge. SInce true examples in Gods holy Booke, Are found of thoſe that in it loue to looke, Of men whoſe Image, portraiture and ſoule, Haue beene transform'd to monſtrous ſhapes and foule. According as their liues haue pleaſing beene,Gen. 19, 26 To him whoſe ſight their ſecret thoughts hath ſeene, And as his goodneſſe ſacred is that ſome,Dan. 4. 30 Should be examples for theſe times to come: His Church to comfort, Pagans to appall, To teach to vs what did to them befall; Within the ſtories of the new and old,Rom. 15 4 Of many more then can by me be told. And ſince that Ouid in a pleaſing verſe, Doth pretty Tales and Metaphors rehearſe, Of men to birds, and then againe to beaſts, To make you parly at your welcome feaſts: Whoſe fabled fictions warbled in that age, The infancy and ſacred pupill-age Of the Religion which we heare maintaine, Vnder our Soueraignes thrice moſt happy raigne; May ſeeme from Moſes and the reſt diuine, In's Metaphors to trace them line by line; In ſome I meane, and not in all his worke, For pleaſant folly couch't, therein may lurke, Yet the alluſion, and the meaning ſure, May reference haue vnto the Scripture pure, And though it ſhines as Tytans weſterne rayes, By ſome 'tis held but wanton in our dayes. But moſt of all the ripeneſſe of theſe times, The heauenly works vp to the clouds that climes: The enuious eye which ouerlookes our deeds, When each mans taſte on ſundry diſhes feedes: The ſnarling cur at euery thing that bites: The ſlandring Mome which no good worke endites: The monſter curſt with his vile forked tongue, That from Hels vault vp to the earth firſt ſprung, With Hidra heads, and Ianus double face, To fawne before, then wound to our diſgrace: Hath made my Muſe vnwilling heere to ſing, As loath her ſelfe vpon the ſtage to bring To each mans view, and her owne painefull toyle, But that the ſight may many vices ſpoyle. When ſin we ſee vnmasked brought to light, And damn'd offences naked to our ſight: Like lezabel that did the Clouds aſpire,1. Kin. 4. 18, 19 Chap. 19. 2 Cha. 21. 10, 23 In ruſling ſilks and glorious braue atire, Vnder a holy outward forme and rite, Gods choſen flock are fleec't and murthered quite, But once vnmask't, the Minions of her court Hurle heri'th durt, paſh out her braines in ſport: And as a foule miſhapen painted monſter,2. Kin 9. 30, 33 35, 37. Conceit of her as all the world doth conſter: Then is ſhe ſeene diſrob'd, diſrank't of all, The map of folly in her ſudden fall, Her cup with poyſon, damned Enuy fills, Her curſed eyes haue ſeene thoſe ſeuen built hills, Where all the Saints, Apoſtles, Martyrs ſtood, With crimſon colours all imbru'd in bloud. O glorious God inſpiror of my Muſe, Grant that thy Word my ſoule may dayly vſe, And that what learning painefully it got, Still from the truth may neuer ſwerue a iot. That in her ſpring, beginning, and her bud, May ſing thy glory to the Churches good, And in foule folly none aſleepe I rock, Nor giue offence to any of thy flock: But that my ſpeech as generall to all, May like a Sermon in the Pulpit fall: And not to wade in curious queſtions deepe, But feede thy flock, and edifie thy ſheepe, That none at all may haue a iuſt excuſe, By ſuch examples as I ſhall produce- And all that ſee their faults, their liues may mend, That to thy glory I this Worke may end. Then ſhall the world with admiration ſee, Her face vnmask't to all eternitee; The famous actions heeretofore lay dead, Shall then be rouz'd out from obliuions bed. And all the nobleſt kingdoms euer knowne, Will be reuiu'd, within my verſe be ſhowne, Their manners, cuſtomes, nature and their ſtate, Their end, beginning, fortune and their fate, From Adam firſt throughout in euery age, Shall heere be muſtred on this publike Stage, In Rurall Robes to giue the earth content, How heeretofore the ages paſt weee ſpent. O that my Muſe might once but reſt in peace, Then would ſhe ſing diuinely, neuer ceaſe, But worke out Truth within her holy Rimes, Glyding along deſcending to our times, And deare Vrania Soueraigne of my verſe, Should heere the glory of this world rehearſe, Vnfoulding ſtill to Gods immortall glory, The heauenly ſweeteneſſe of a ſacred ſtory. What may we thinke of all the iudgements iuſt, Of great Iehouah buried in the duſt; Beſide all thoſe in holy Scriptures pend, Which humane wit as yet could neuer mend, Nor all the Rabbies in their learned fame; Could euer tell how to correct the ſame: Shall we go on, and ſtill be bold to thinke, Hee'le puniſh them, and on vs alwayes winke; For ſome of them the earth it ſelfe did gape, How can we know that we are ſure to ſcape, The Angels which againſt the Lord did ſwell, He quite caſheer'd, and caſt them downe to hell: Where being bound eternally in chaines, They feele the torments of ten thouſand paines, Farre more then can expreſſed be in inke, And all the world, and ſinfull man can thinke. Adam what made thee, wilfully at firſt, To leaue thy of-ſpring, to this day accurſt; So wicked, foule, and ouer growne with Sinne; And in thy perſon all of it beginne? That hadſt thou ſtood in Innocenie fram'd, Death, Sin, and Hell, the world and all thou hadſt tam'd. Then hadſt thou beene a Monarch from thy birth; Gods onely Darling both in heauen and earth: The world and all at thy command to bend, And all heauens creatures on thee t'attend. The ſweeteſt life that euer man could liue; What couldſt thou aske but God to thee did giue? Protected kept thee like a faithfull Warden, As thy companion in that pleaſant Garden▪ No canckred mallice once thy heart did moue: Free-will thou hadſt endude from him aboue: What couldſt thou wiſh, all worlds content and more? The beſt Diuine that ere the Earth yet bore, Gods onely Sonne, the Prince of Peace except, For thy ſad fall how oft mine eyes haue wept. Alas weakeman, hadſt thou in honour ſtood How heauenly bleſt, thrice happy beene thy blood? And all thy aged iſſue to this day Had liu'd ſecure, as in the Month of May. What need had we, that any ſhould haue dy'd Vpon the Croſſe, our ſinfull ſoules reuiu'd? And that Meſſias, God himſelfe the Son, Should here deſcend to put our nature on, To liue deiected, poore, contemn'd, forlorn'd, Derided, beate, toſt vpſide downe and ſcorn'd. And more, to beare for this thy wofull fall, Then euer man which liu'd vpon this ball. Curſt be that Diuell that firſt thy ſence bely'd; If thou hadſt liu'd, then we had neuer dy'd. Oh God! to purchaſe with that bloody coſt, Our ſoules redeem'd when they were fully loſt. Here is a loue which farre ſurmounts the skies, My ſences rapts, and dazles both mine eyes. But tell me Adam, what might be the cauſe That thou ſhouldſt breake thy holy Makers lawes. When of a thouſand which might make vs weepe, In all the world thou hadſt but one to keepe, And that but light? Alas couldſt thou not ſee, But touch and taſte that one forbidden tree, Which in the midſt of all the garden grew, An ill knowne tree to make thy ofspring rew? What pleaſant taſt or reliſh had the ſame? How were thy ſenſes dim'd and much to blame, That had the Garden ſole at thy command, And all the fruits within thy ſight to ſtand: Farre better, pure, more daintier euery way, Then ſuch an Apple painted like a gay: Fit for a woman, or ſome lickoriſh foole, A ſilly child, or one that goes to ſchoole. Thy wilfull, foule, abſurd, and groſſe abuſe, Againſt thy God, admits no iuſt excuſe, Tis not the loſſe of one poore Apple miſt, That thou didſt grapple in thy ſinfull fiſt, Could be the cauſe his anger to procure, Fierce heauy wrath eternall to endure. It was not that he did ſo much reſpect, But thy foule error, wilfull, bad neglect: Contempt of Him, rebellion, treaſon, pride; And all the ſinnes within the world beſide, That linked were within thy fault at firſt, Chain'd to thy Act, and in thy folly nurſt. What may we thinke of that ambitious Pope, Which dar'd to ſcoffe vnder heauens glorious Cope, Againſt that God, that in his ſacred frowne Turns vp his heeles, and hurles his pride ſoone downe? When hauing miſt a ſimple childiſh toy, A Peacocke bird which ſeem'd his onely ioy. Diſtempered much began in heate to chide, That few men could his holy preſence bide. And afterward aſham'd of what was paſt, To ſhew his choller not long time did laſt; Excuſde himſelfe, that he might angry be, As well for that, as was the Trinitie. When diſcontented for an Apple loſt, Both Eue and Adam to their paine and coſt, From Paradiſe were thruſt quite out and beaten, And much diſgrac't for one poore Apple eaten. Now tell me Rome, that thinkſt thy ſelfe the minion, Chriſts onely Vicar in thine owne opinion? And ſhouldſt his ſheepe ſtill to this day haue fed: Where was thy Church when Iulius was thy head? Thy Papacy I may not here diſpute, As yet my tongue muſt of that thing be mute. And backe to Adam whence I laſt digreſt, Too fortunate my Muſe had beene and bleſt, Had it but ſung thy firſt eſtate and all, And neuer knowne the horror of thy fall. A greater loue on man was neuer ſhowne, Nor on the earth as yet was euer knowne, Then all the world to be at thy command, Still to this day to ſerue thy turne and ſtand: All that againe, for this he did require, To keepe the Garden that was his deſire. At other times to his immortall fame, That thou ſhouldſt praiſe his glorious holy Name. Here was thy calling (Adam) naught; beſide, His owne example muſt thy actions guide. Sixe dayes to worke, to till that holy ground; And in the ſeuenth, thy Makers prayſes ſound. For as at firſt, thou waſt a body framde; So time and place himſelfe he hath ordainde, Deſign'd, appointed for his ſeruice pure, Not for a day, but euer to endure. By this thou know'ſt that he thy perſon bleſt, To giue thee then his holy ſacred Reſt, And ſanctifie the Sabaoth to thy good; Aye to be kept in all thy future blood. Thoſe that refuſe to keepe his Sabaoth holy, Gods owne example may conuince of folly. But ſoft, I heare ſome Laodicean make,Reu. 3. sinon inuenter of the horſe of Troy. Euen Sinon like, the ground of all to ſhake. To ſtay my pen with ſuch a queſtion ſtrange, As firſt from Rome, now ore the world doth range. How God could Reſt, which neuer wrought as yet, For he that workes, his labour muſt be great To frame a matter of ſo huge a worth, As is the Fabrike of the ſpatious Earth, The Sea and Heauens, the Firmaments and all, Which euer yet within thy ſight could fall. Oh righteous God that ſinfull man ſhould make, Within his mouth thy holy word to take: And by the ſame thy ſacred actions taxe, To wring them now like to a Noſe of Waxe.simile. Too make a doubt and queſtion of that Reſt, Which to the world for euer thou haſt bleſt. Tis true, I know when God firſt fram'd the world, The waters all within their limits curl'd, The firmaments and euery liuing thing, Out from the duſt he then did Adam bring: Made him a man, a demi-God in byrth, Plac't him his Vice-roy here vpon the earth. And by his power all ſacred and diuine, So fram'd the world as if he had wrought by line, Set all in order working in their time, Like to the wheeles within a clocke or chime, To ſerue the turne of Adam and his race, And all theſe made but full in ſixe dayes ſpace. Then did he reſt and ſate him downe to view, And to the heauens vp againe he flew: And from the worke which by his word he wrought, In ſixe dayes ſpace, and ſeeing none▪ was nought, But from creating any further matter, He onely ceaſt, and leaſt the ſame might ſcatter, And ſo returne to what it was at firſt, His prouidence his works hath euer nurſt: Aye by his power, his wiſedome, and his might, The heauens and earth are gouerned aright. He worketh ſtill preſeruing what was made, Far more then can by any man be ſayd: His armes ſupporting all this weighty ball, Elſe would the ſame diſſolue againe and fall. O God, thy Reſt hath euer bin admired, Seene of thy Saints, and of my ſoule deſired! The Pagan people to this day that ſlept In ignorance, haue yet a Sabaoth kept.Exod. 16. 23. 26. Num. 15. 32. Eze. 20. 13. 20. 24. The Iew at firſt with Manna wondrous fed, His Sabaoth kept by thy example led: Though now in error great he ſnores and ſleeps, The Saterday his Sabaoth ſtill he keepes. No Chriſtian ſtate is ſo vnciuill rude, But keeps thy Reſt as thou haſt him endude: With grace and goodneſſe from the Prince of peace, The Sunday he from all worlds works doth ceaſe, Lead thereunto by that all riſing Son, On Eaſter day, that roſe againe and won The eternall crowne in Paradiſe firſt loſt, A bloody prize to his great paine and coſt. Beſides the examples of thy deereſt Saints, Thine inſtitution and the holy plaints, Of all th' Apoſtles, famous men and Martyrs, In all the world within her vtmoſt quarters: Which euer vſde to preach thy word and pray, And ſanctifie the ſacred Sabaoth day. The Ethiopian, leaſt he ſhould offend To breake thy Reſt in ſuperſtition pend, The Saterday and Sunday both he keeps, And in thoſe dayes he often prayes and weeps, That thou wouldſt pardon all his former ſins, There is his Reſt, his happineſſe begins: In childiſh toyes, in gaming, ſports and playes, He ſpends ſmall time but keeps his Sabaoths dayes. Their royall Queene which came ſo many miles, (With cunning queſtions, witty ſpeeches, wiles)1. Kin. 10. 1. to the 11. 2. Chr. 9. 1. To tempt, to heare and ſee the courtly guiſe, The wit and words of Solomon the wiſe, May riſe in iudgement at that dradfull hower, When Chriſt may alſo on our faces lower, That more reſpect our pleaſures worke and play, Then him to ſerue vpon his ſacred day. What ſhall we thinke when Chriſt the Lord of life,Luk. 11. 31. Which ſhed his bloud to end our mortall ſtrife? Shall ſpeake theſe words out of his holy lips, And not a word as yet that euer ſlips: But ſtill hath beene moſt weighty powerfull round, One iot thereof hath neuer fell to th'ground. When he himſelfe ſhall thus picke out their Prince, To warne vs all our follyes to conuince, May we not thinke aſwell he meant her land, Now at this day as it is knowne to ſtand, Shall like wiſe riſe at his laſt trumpe and call, To ſtaine our liues and ſhame our actions all.

Father of Lights, which dwelleſt in a Light, That farre exceeds our Owely bleared ſight: What will become of all our learned wit, When Ieſus Chriſt at thy right hand ſhall ſit, To make our peace and ſtep twixt thee and vs, And we in Vice to run our courſe on thus, To anger thee ſo good and iuſt a God, Not once afrayd of thy reuenging Rod: But in the day that thou didſt early riſe, Of death and hell to get th'immortall prize, In which we were partakers of thy blood And body both vnto our ſoueraigne good. And when we ſhould repent vs of our ſins, By true contrition, which thy mercy wins: Engrafted made the members of that head, Whoſe precious bloud our ſoules but then hath fed, Relieue the poore, examine well our fall, In meditation ſpend the day and all, And when we ſhould thy ſacred prayſes ſing, To make thy people all the while to ring, Whilſt we at Bowles ſhall ſometimes curſe and fret, And all for threepence which we cannot get, And ſhall maintaine our ſinfull deedes in Churches, And run our ſelues to gather vp the Lurches: Thoſe that behold vs with repentant eyes, We call them fooles and Puritants preciſe; And when the beſt our companie do ſhun, Home to their houſe we ſend for them and run. Pardon vs Lord, forgiue our great miſdeedes, Cull out thy Wheate, and pluck out all the weedes, Which wrong thy people by their ill example, The truth neglectin vgly vice to trample: Though our Religion we may ſeeme to halue, Like to the Iewes which made the golden calue:simile. Exod. 32. 4. 5, 6, 10. In Aarons time, and on their holy day, Did eate and drinke, and roſe againe to play, If theſe men by their rude vnciuill ſport, Thy Maieſty did anger in ſuch ſort, That had not Moſes knowing of their fall, In zeale beſought them they had periſh't all, His great deſire thy fury could not ſtay, But that three thouſand fell within one day, Their guerdon iuſt no liuing man can tell, But very like they had gone downe to hell, All quick aliue amongſt the damned bad, The puniſhment which after Korah had,Num. 16. 32. We ſee (alas) both grace and goodneſſe lurkes,scal. & li. 5. Within the hearts of fierce and crewell Turkes, Of Sarazens and Pagan people rude, Which with thy truth were neuer yet indude, Before ſuch time as their ſeducer nurſt, By Sergius helpe moſt dangerouſly at firſt, A banefull poyſon to infect their bloud, O'reflowes the earth much like to Noahs floud: Yet theſe alone by thy example led, Or by the light of Nature in them bred, Haue euer kept the Fryday in that worth, Long time before the moſt vntimely birth, Of Mahomet that Antechriſt indeede, Who found it ſo and left it to their ſeede. Beſides a world of other people more, That heere I could produce in ample ſtore, Which euer kept a holy reſting day, Abſtayning then from all rude workes and play, The Indian people haue a reſt alow'd,Ind. Hiſt. gaſp. Balb. guin. diſ. 〈◊〉 • d. • cot. And thoſe of Iaua that to Idols bowd, The Negro black and rich Peguan left, Haue each of them a ſeuerall Sabaoth kept, The ſacred Sibils, with their frantike mother, Haue ſtill prefer'd one day before another. We haue great God that which theſe neuer knew, Thine owne example and the ſcriptures true, Thy all diuine and holy morrall law,Ex. 20. 8, 9. 10 Cha. 31. 14, 15 Cha. 34. 1. 21. Which theſe as yet haue neuer heard or ſaw, Ingroſt in Sinah writ twice by thy hand, To ſhew the ſame for euermore ſhould ſtand▪ Both in the Law and in the Goſpells light, To come to Church and praiſe thy name aright, Els how ſhould we thy glorious worth extoll, But like to Swine liue all at home and loll: And neuer thinke how thou at firſt didſt take, A little earth and ſo our bodyes make, Our ſoules infuſe in Paradiſe vs plaſte Till for our ſins we ſoone from thence were caſt, 'Gau'ſt vs this world Chriſt Ieſus ſent beſides, Which wrought our life out from his bleeding ſides. But ſoft I heere that ſome vpon this clauſe, Haue ventur'd farre to abbrogate the lawes, The holy reſt a Iewiſh Sabaoth call, Haue vs liue free, tide to no law at all: But then (alas) what would become of vs, That ſift Gods actions, tempt his highneſſe thus, Of all the lawes that to the Iewes he gaue, But ten of them in all the world we haue, And thoſe reduc'ſt for feare they may be loſt, May be compil'd but into two at moſt: Theſe farre more weighty ponderous then the reſt, Were by his glorious ſacred mouth expreſt, And Chriſt himſelfe that death and hell did tame, Hath not aboliſh't but confirm'd the ſame; Elſe what meant he when oftentimes he ſaid, The heauens and earth, the ſea and all ſhall fade, Before ſuch time that Gods eternall Word, One iot or tittle ſhall thereof be ſtird, Did this his coming breede a doubt and flaw, Still to deſtroy, and not fullfill the law? Haue not the Prophets told long ſince before, Of this our Sabaoth which we now adore? Tis true that ſome euen in our chriſtian Law, Which haue the arts and learned Muſes ſaw, Yet haue alledg'd as their aſſertion, Vpon this place anticipation, Affirming Moſes when thoſe words were writ, In Geneſis and ſtill are extant yet,Gen. 2. 3. Then knew the reſt and Sabaoth of the Iewes, But this to me ſeemes rather vncouth newes: For can we thinke that Moſes did intend, When firſt of all that Geneſis was pend, Theſe ſhould forgoe and be incerted beſt, As an introduction to the Sabaoths reſt, That the command cannot be firme and ſtrong, Vnleſſe theſe words did guide it all along, Vpon this place ſtill trained vp and nurſt, As grounding it on Gods example firſt. What can they ſay to all the ancient men, The Patriarkes and holy fathers then, Before the law which liued long and bleſt, Yet euer kept a ſacred ſeemely reſt, To ſerue their God to giue him thanks and pray, That late preſeru'd them from that lowring day, In which the world and all therein was found, Beſides the Arke were waſht away and droun'd. And to the Iewes that were with Manna fed, Ouer the mountaines forty yeeres were led: Which in the Arabian vaſty deſarts weare, Tipe of our Church that God himſelfe did reare, Out of affliction, hunger, heate and cold, O're hils and dales and higheſt mountaines rold, Vntill at length with wandring hither, thither, Like ſheepe diſpearſt fould all at laſt together. When oft they murmur'd, much repin'd and grieu'd, Vntill their God their bodies had releeu'd, By ſending Quailes more thick then any haile, Vpon their fields quite ouer hill and dale: And ſhowring downe a pearely dew at neede, In ſhew much like to Coriander ſeede, Sixe dayes together did this Manna fall, And in the ſeauenth was ſent them none at all: But in the day before the Sabaoths Reſt, Full twice ſo much as other dayes at leaſt, They gathred vp, and till the morrow kept, In which they eat, and prayd to God (and wept) To pardon thoſe which on that ſacred day Durſt ſeeke the fields to finde the ſame and play. But yet admit the holy Law be paſt, And that in Chriſt the ſame away be waſht: Yet the Apoſtles inſtituted ſure, A ſacred day, a holy Reſt and pure: The Church of God they planted well and watred, And but the day they onely chang'd and altred, In which the flocke they traind along and fed them, As God aboue in's holy Spirit led them. And euer ſince the Chriſtians kept that day, To heare the word, to come to Church and pray: For God is good, and wilbe mockt of none, His glorious face the Saints behold alone. Paul the Apoſtle that was after cald, When Ieſus Chriſt was in th' heauens inſtald:1. Cor. 16. 13. Heb. 4. 9. Both with the word and holy Spirit annointed, The Chriſtian Sabaoth in Gods Church appointed: To meete together, heare his voyce diuine, The Scriptures ſearch, to trace them line by line; To preach and pray, to lay vp for the poore, For all the Saints to open wide the doore. That ſweete Diſciple whom the Lord of lifeIoh. 21. 7. 20. 33. More dearely loued, then any faithfull wife (Which euer yet vpon the earth was bred) Could ſeeme to ſhew vnto her ſpouſe and head. The laſt of all more louing then the reſt, Which lean'd at ſuppervpon Chriſt his breſt, And ſtayd behind his holy Church to guide: His fellowes thought he ſhould haue neuer dide. When by Domitians ſpightfull cruell word,Vit. Sanct. Ore all the world hot perſecution ſtir'd: Though often times before he had ſcap'd the pawes, Of barbarous Tyrants, and their curſed Lawes. Liu'd ſtill ſecure, as not afraid of fire, Sword, famine, murder, in their diuelliſh ire. Yet at the length, at his moſt damn'd command, Againe he's caught, ſubiected to their hand; And in a Tun of hot and ſcalding Oyle, He hurles his body ore the fire to boyle. But ſeeing that could do no good at all, Worſe then a Diuell, moſt treacherouſly doth fall To ſtratagems, inhumane actions vile, To baniſh him in Pathmos wandring Ile, Mongſt ſauage beaſts which lurke in euery bowre, With open mouth his body to deuoure. Where ſolitary in that vnked place, Chriſt Ieſus ſhewd his glorious burniſht face,Reu. 1. 9. 10. 11. 13. 14. Whoſe feete like Braſſe, and eyes as flames of fire; Rauiſht Iohns ſpirit, made his ſoule admire To ſee the Lord, which for our ſins late dy'd. His Chriſtian Sabaoth from the Iewes diuide, By that all powerfull ſharpe two edged ſword, His glorious holy milde Maieſticke word: His owne example to th' Apoſtles all, That on this day was euer ſeene to call, To come amongſt them, and to ſhew his face, To diſtribute his goodnes and his grace. This great Apoſtle to heauens potent Prince, The Lords day he hath cald it euer ſince. Tis writ i' th' Hebrews if the law be ceaſt, That to Gods people there remaines a Reſt,Heb. 4 9. From ſin to ceaſe his holy name to praiſe, Together flocke, our meditations raiſe Aboue the clouds, to that commanding king, Which out of darknes did our ſences bring. Diſperſt the Truth, and by his ſacred might Plac'd all our thoughts w'thin the Goſpels light. O let it neuer ſinke within my breſt, That to Gods people ſhould remaine no Reſt: But toyle and trauell painfull worke alway, And Hoddy Loddy, Topſie Turuy play. Tis true they ſay, that Conſtantine the Great, Firſt Emperour of all the Chriſtian Seate: A learned, wiſe, religious Councell cald,Firſt Nicene Counſell. Himſelfe amongſt them in his Robes inſtald, An Order ſet, abuſes foule corrected: Reform'd the Church which Arrians infected, Eſtabliſht Peace, ador'd the Royall Law; Made Penalties to keepe them more in awe.Iam. 2. 8. And by his power as head of all the Earth, Chriſts gouernment was now but in her birth: According to the word and Scriptures pure, Confirm'd our Sabaoth euer to endure. In euery Age ſince firſt the world was made, God ſhew'd his iudgements on thoſe men which wade Beyond the Truth, prophanely ſtill deuiſe To breake his Reſt, and publiſh wicked lies. As for example, though I could produce A multitude, that none might plead excuſe (Before his Iuſtice) at that dreadfull barre, For leading others in a maze ſo farre. And yet of them, but three in all Ile cite, As fitting to the times wherein I write: To ſhew how God hath euer hated, curſt, The very place that Sabaoth breakers nurſt. The ancient Iewes which in Arabia walkedExod. 13. 16. Before the Law, when God with Moſes talked, And bad him warne the people all, that none Should dare to gather (euery one alone) More then a Omer of that bleſſed food Which fell from heauen vnto their ſoueraigne good. And in the day before the Sabaoths reſt, Two Omers full (as is before expreſt) Should then be gathered, roſted, bak'd and ſod, But in the reſt minde nothing elſe but God. How hath that food releeu'd the lingring mind, Of thoſe his people, whom true loue did bind In awfull feare, diuinely wondrous fed, And onely in the light of nature led? Thoſe which abuſde his ſacred Reſt and grace, How did it then infect the aire and place With putrifaction, loathſome, deadly, ranke, In noy ſome manner ore the earth it ſtanke, Vntill ſuch time that God aboue did pleaſe, To cleare the aire and ſend them better eaſe: Cauſde all that was ſo lewd prophanely got, To waſt, diſſolue, conſume away and rot. The next example, of his iudgements great, Was in thoſe daies that Babylon did beate The choſen people, and the holy Nation,Ier. 17: 21. to the laſt. With ſuch a ſcourge, as ſince the worlds foundation, Was neuer heard as yet in any land; To feele the weight of his moſt heauy hand: For prophanation of his ſacred Day, In carrying burdens, toyling worke, and play In reuell rout, and ſuch phantaſticke ſport; Eu'n from the greater to the meaner ſort. All run from Church to damn'd offences foule, Neglecting ſtill the danger of their ſoule. But God aboue although he often mand, Their choſen Hoaſt by his victorious hand, Brought them from Aegypt through the red ſeas waue▪ When mighty Neptune fomes aloft and raues: And in deſpight of enuious Fortunes fate, Great powerfull riuals and their deadly hate, Led them at length with al their ventrous hoaſt, And plaſt their feete vpon the promiſt coaſt. Yet for their foule abuſing of his reſt, In all thoſe things which are aboue expreſt, He ſends the Plague, pale Famine, Sword and Fire,Ier. 52. 67 Fowre furious foes to execute his Ire, Raz'd downe their walls their temple deſolated, Their City ſack't and Land depopulated: That for the ſpace of threeſcore yeeres and ten, It lay vntild, and had her reſt as then. O holy God, was euer thing more plaine Then theſe thy iudgements on thy flock againe,2. Chr. 36. 21 Vpon thy land? what ſtony heart but feares, To giue them now a Sabbaoth iuſt of yeares, For all their foule abuſes, wicked, lewd, As in my worke ſhall more at large be ſhew'd. The third example of his wrathfull frowne, Was lately ſhew'd vpon Geneua towne: The Imperiall goodly Chriſtian City chaſt,R▪ Iohnſon Within the Duke of Sauoyes country plaſt, Whoſe people wiſe, religious, ſober, true, Not giuen to wine with drunken Bacchus crue: Nor to thoſe foule abuſes which abounds, Within our land, and ore the earth now ſounds; But euer beene of ciuill chaſt behauiour▪ Neate in attire, and of a comely fauour: Soe decent in the actions which they wrought, That euery man which ſaw their citty thought, Ieruſalem before it was abated, Had beene deuinely to that place tranſlated. And yet theſe men which haue the reſt outſtript, In one thing ſtill themſelues haue ouerſlipt, Vpon Gods reſt, his ſacred Sabbaoth Day, To ſhoote in Guns about the fields and play; Vntill a cuſtome in a lawfull pleaſure, Vpon that day grew far beyond all meaſure: So that their Churchmen, reuerent Preachers graue, Let them alone careleſſe their ſoules to ſaue. But God aboue to ſhew his anger iuſt, Vpon theſe people for their lawleſſe luſt, In violating of his ſacred reſt, A fury ſent their country to moieſt: Fierce horrid warre now thunders on their land, The Pope, the Spaniard, and the French King ſtand, All link't alike, to vndermine her wall, Expecting thus a conqueſt by her fall. Alas (Geneua) how art thou beſet, With three ſuch foes as in Europa yèt, Were neuer knowne ſo ſtrongly to combine, To ſack a towne, extracted from their line? What can thy ſhooting in thoſe Guns auaile, If God for ſakes thee, how thy foes preuaile? Weakens thy ſtrength, abateth much thy ſtore, Mewes vp thy Campe, and makes thee extreame poore, Ranſackes thy Country all thy land belurches, And brings thee now to be relieu'd in Churches. Theſe eyes of ours haue ſeene the worſt and beſt, And iudgement paſt for breaking of his reſt. That Antechriſt which in the ſcriptures pure, Is propheci'd to come amongſt vs ſure, Began to ſhew his curſed face on earth, Sixe hundred yeeres after the glorious birth, Of that ſweete Babe the Man, God, Chriſt and King, Which came on earth, our ſoules to Heauen to bring, By the Alcoran on his Sabbaoth day: Diſcardeth quite all gaming, ſports and play, Denounceth Iudgement on the heads of all; Which on that day in thoſe offences fall: And brands the Diuell an actor in all games, Voyd of Religion yet ſuch ſports he blames, As good for litle but to ſweare, and cup, Fit Inſtruments to bring new quarrels vp. The parrable of Chriſt vpon the earth, Is of ſuch weight, and glorious heauenly worth,Mat▪ 13▪ 3. to 44. Which by the ſea to multitudes he ſpake, What liuing man but at the ſame muſt wake, To ſee how God like to a husbandman, Works vp his ground as well as e're he can, Winnowes the ſeede, and ſifteth euery graine, In hope at harueſt by the ſame to gaine, But that the Diuelli'th inſtant followes hard, Whoſe curſed ſeede the goodly field hath mard; Throwes round about as much as in him dares, In euery place to ſowe his wicked tares. How can we thinke to ſcape Gods Iudgementiuſt, Fond men (alas) that are but earthly duſt: Weake ſilly wormes when he ſhall on vs lowre, Then are we but a Winters withered flowre, That ſuch conceits within our hearts ſhould lurke, To tempt his loue, examine thus his worke, And what himſelfe from heauen aboue hath taught, To ſleight it ore, and hold it idle naught. Although moſt true in Paradiſe at firſt, His owne example hath the Sabaoth nurſt, The Patriarcks and all the holy men, Before the law obſeru'd their Reſtas then: And his command to keepe vs more from ſinning, Hath a Memento in the firſt beginning, The heathen men euen from the worſt to beſt, In euery age ſtill kept a ſeemely Reſt, And all the Saints, Apoſtles, men, and Martyrs, Throughout the world, in all her vtmoſt quarters, The generall counſells, learned fathers graue, Thoſe God aboue elected hath to ſaue, The greateſt Kings, and nobleſt perſonages, Throughout the world, in all her former ages, The fearefull iudgements, on that holy Land, Which he did plant againſt all foes to ſtand, The Lord of life, Chriſt Ieſus on the earth, (Then all before we prize him better worth,) Ordain'd himſelfe our Reſt vpon this day, To come to Church, to heare the Word and pray, Yet we contemne and not reſpect the leaſt, But others leade to breake the Sabaoths reſt. Grant heauenly God that euer more my heart, May vpright be, and from thee neuer ſtart, But that my ſoule the pureſt of my thought, May be with loue, like to an Anuill wrought, To make a conſcience of thy ſacred day, To reade thy word, within the Church to pray, That all my life vntill my glaſſe be run: Be not offenſiue to thy deereſt Son, Which ſits triumphant farre aboue the skies, Grant that I may behold him with mine eyes, And when I ſhall appeare before thy face, Then may I find thy mercy goodnes, grace, And not thy Iuſtice for offenſes paſt, But let thy Loue be euer on me caſt: Euen in the day that ſome men dreame of leaſt, Place him betwixr vs, giue my ſoule her Reſt. And yet great God, thou haſt not ſo reſtraind Our liberty, but that thou haſt ordaind,1▪ Cor. 10. 31. 1. Pet▪ 4. 11. At vacant times from ſerious meditations, To eaſe our ſelues in honeſt recreations, Such that all others to no vice allure, Nor in our minds ſhall adde a thought impure: But that our ſports, our actions, and our playes, May prayſe thy name the Reſt of all our dayes. The Puritant, he is againe as nice As theſe vnciuill in their clamorous vice,1. Cor. 6. 12. 2. Cor. 3. 13. 17 Gal. 3. 11. Gal. 2. 14. 16. 17. That all the weeke with ſuperſtition fed, To good conceits of others ſcarce are led: Adopted ſons, elected brethren wiſe, To thinke all damn'd beſide their ſect preciſe: Pure hypocrite vnder a formall cloke, That on Gods Reſt muſt draw the Iewiſh yoke, And walke to Church as if his ſteps he told, To make no fire but ſup his broath vp cold: And many things which if I here ſhould tell: I might too long vpon the matter dwell. But whither is my Muſe tranſported now, Beyond her compaſſe farre away▪ and how Comes it to paſſe that ſhe hath rambled thus About the earth theſe queſtions to diſcuſſe, In euery Age her ſacred holy Rimes, To walke along deſcending to our times, And taxe the world of vnbeſeeming playes, To reprehend the abuſes of theſe dayes. And all this while is Adam ſtill alone In Paradiſe, and company hath none, Vnleſſe ſomtimes God comes himſelfe, and ſallies? Before his eyes within thoſe pleaſant Allies.Simile. Then is he glad, his heart doth leape for ioy, He runs and skips much like a little boy That goes to ſchoole, al weary at his booke, Is glad to peeke in euery buſh and looke (With thoſe his fellowes) for ſome bird or neſt, Their company his mind ſtill pleaſeth beſt. So art thou Adam when thou art all alone, Then doſt thou grieue, complaine, and make thy mone Vnto the Earth, the Aire, the Winds and trees, But God aboue thy preſent want that ſees, Comes downe himſelfe to giue thee all content, One of thy ribs out of thy body rent, And made a creature of ſuch wondrous fame, That heauen and earth haue ſince admird the ſame. To be thy ſollace in his abſence pure, And glad thy heart, binding thy loue more ſure, To him at firſt without thine owne direction, Gaue thee a Phenix of ſuch rare perfection.Simile. So ſweete an eye, and pretty pleaſing looke, Like Adamant and glittring ſugred hooke. She drawes thy loue to mind her ſpeeches more, Then God himſelfe that gaue thee her in ſtore. Now art thou compleat (Adam) all beſide May not compare to this thy louely bride, Whoſe radiant treſſe in ſiluer rayes to waue, Before thy face ſo ſweet a choyce to haue, Of ſo diuine and admirable mould, More daintier farre then is the pureſt gold, And all the Iewels on the earth are borne, With thoſe rich treaſures which this world adorne. Though God at firſt this earth for thee hath made, The creatures all at thy command to trade: The Sunne and Moone ordaind to be thy light, The Stars and all vnto their vtmoſt might, The world it ſelfe and Paradiſe the place, Where ſtill his loue hath euer giuen thee grace: Yet all of them compar'd in euery part, Cannot content and ſatisfie thy heart, Vntill thy God euen with his ſacred Reſt, Had giuen thee this to make thee perfect bleſt. For preſuppoſe as then thou ſtoodſt before, Though all the world thou hadſt in ample ſtore, Plenty of wealth and gold at thy command, And all the creatures in the earth to ſtand, Before thy face ſubiected to thy will, And thou the Lord of Paradiſe yet ſtill. No man beſides which dare oppoſe thy power, Hem'd in with Angels in that ſacred tower, And God himſelfe within that holy place, Vnmaskt his browes to ſhew his glorious face: Yet at the beſt that euer wit can ſcan, Thou leadſt thy life but like a ſingle man. But now thy God hath perfect made thy ſtate, Linck't thee in marriage with ſo choyce a mate, Himſelfe the Prieſt which brought her to thy hand, And knit the knot that euer more muſt ſtand, Ring'd her with vertue, glorious beauty chaſte, Vpon thy ſelfe and no man elſe to waſte, Made her the Tipe our ſences all to rouſe, Of Chriſt himſelfe, and of the Church his Spouſe: And charg'd the Angels for thy fence and guard, Of nothing now, but one thing thou art bard. As the two lights within the Firmament,simile. So hath thy God his glory to thee lent, Compoz'd thy body exquiſite and rare, That all his works cannot to thee compare, Like his owne Image, drawne thy ſhape diuine, With curious Pencill ſhadowed forth thy line: Within thy Noſthrils blowne his holy breath, Impal'd thy head with that inſpiring wreath, Which binds thy front, and eleuates thine eyes, To mount his throne aboue the lofty skyes, Summons his Angels in their winged order, About thy browes to be a ſacred border: Giues them in charge to honour this his frame, All to admire, and wonder at the ſame. But Lucifer that ſoard aboue the skye, And thought himſelfe to equall God on high, Enuies thy fortune, and thy glorious birth,Wiſ. 2. 24. In being fram'd but of the baſeſt earth, Himſelfe compacted of peſteferous fire, Aſſumes a Snake to execute his ire, Windes him within that winding crawling beaſt, And enters firſt whereas thy ſtrength was leaſt. Damn'd wicked Diuell what made thee thus to ſpight, Our grandame Eue and holy Adams Right, What hurt haue they or either of them ſaid, That thou a trap and ſecret ſnare haſt laid? To bane their youth and vndermine their wall, To gaine a curſe vpon their wofull fall: Thy falſe proceedings in thy actions beſt, How doth the world thy cunning ſleights deteſt? Which ſince that time in many ages paſt, In euery corner of the earth are caſt, How haſt thou malliſt one that hurt thee not? When all thy enuy vpon Iob was ſhot, Transforming thus thy curſed ſcourge and rod,Iob. 16. Into the ſhape iuſt of the child of God. At other times thy nimbleneſſe and ſlight,Ephe. 2. 2. Rom. 12. 7. 9. Aboue the clouds will be an Angell bright, And through the aire cloſe in a fiery Waggon, Thoul't ſometimes mount as monſtrous as a Dragon, And when thou liſt thou any ſhape canſt take, Euen from an Angell to an vgly Snake. The fowre maine wheeles on which thy cart doth moue, Are Rauin, Luſt, and want of grace and loue, The ſable horſes which thy charriot led, Haue beene at Rome or elſe neere Tiber bred, For firſt Ambition with a lofty pace, Then curſed Enuy with a pale leane face, And Cruelty that tramples beſt in bloud, The next is Guile which neuer yet did good, Appoſtacy that will his faith renounce, A ſtony heart by all of theſe will bounce, The Coachmen which do driue them with their rod, Are treaſon oft and want of feare of God. In theſe and ſuch like ſhapes thou lyeſt in waight,Mat. 4. 1 to the 12. To gull the world as with a poyſoned baight, That being tane mans vitall life ſtraight baines, Infects his bloud, and runs through all his vaines, And as thou art, doſt cozen lye and lurch, Transform'd ſometimes into a man i'th Church,Mar. 8. 33. Vnder that holy habit, maske, and guiſe, Thou ſetſt abroach thy cancred venom'd lyes.

And thus thou camſtvnto our grandame Eue, Gen. 3. 1. And as a Diuell into her thoughts doſt diue, Seeming a Serpent crawling on thy breſt, Much like a ſimple foule miſhapen beaſt,simile. Iuſt in the midſt of all the garden faire, Thou ſingleſt forth, the happy bleſſed paire. And watching Time, when Adam ſtept aſide, Euen but a little from his louely Bride, To pluck perhaps a Nut vpon the Trees, Or get a combe amongſt the hony Bees: Or ſome ſuch thing to giue his welcome Spouſe, Euen iuſt to Eue thou doſtthy body rouſe, And queſtions with her, of much idle prattle, As women they delight to talke and tattle, What they may not, and what it is they eate, And what is beſt, within that pleaſing ſeate, What Tree it is that was to them forbidden, They dare not eate, for feare they may be chidden. Then Eue againe, which thought no hurt at all, Or once ſuſpect the venome of thy gall, As a kind woman full of pleaſing loue, Told thee indeede that God in heauen aboue, Had licenſt them to eate of euery Tree, Beaſt fiſh and foule, with all that they can ſee, Within the compaſſe of the ſpacious aire, And that were liuing in the garden faire: Only the tree that was before their eyes, They might not touch and taſte in any wiſe, For in the day that they thereof ſhould eate, Their God in Heauen would both their bodies beate, Plague them with paine, and puniſhment extreame, Subiect to Sickneſſe, Choller, Pangs, and Phleame, Caſheire them both out of that louely place, To dye a deathin miſerable caſe. But thou againe that euer didſt deuiſe, In nothing elſe but execrable lies, Straight told the woman that they need not feare, To eate the fruite that pleaſant tree did beare: For in the day that they ſhould thereof eate, The Gods themſelues they would indeed defeate. Attaine much knowledge, farre aboue mans reach, And all the Gods in many things would teach. To thinke of death they need not feare at all, For why, their eyes ſhould opened be withall: The goodly fruite would breed this wondrous ods, Neuer to die, but euer liue as Gods. O curſed, damned, execrable Diuell, Delighting beſt in that thing which is euill! What made thee now thy banefull ſpeech to blow, Out of that canckred venom'd mouth below? Thus to entice by thy allurements working, Within ſo ſlie an vgly creature lurking. That Eue muſt reach, and in her hand to grapple So faire a fatall curſt bewitching Apple: And not content herſelfe thereof to eate, But reacht another as a daintie meate; And in her ſweet delightfull louely hands, Runs to her Lord, where all alone he ſtands Plaining and grieuing that he her had miſt, Takes her in's armes, and both together kiſt. Then ſhe began (in ſmiling wanton ſort) To ſhew that Apple, which before in ſport She late had taken from that fatall tree, The better now to make her eyes to ſee▪ And in the hands of her beloued Lord▪ The ſame ſhe put, according to her word, And milde perſwaſions, gentle ſpeeches plaine, In hope much knowledge by the ſame to gaine. The gawdy lookes and curious pleaſing ſight, She takes the ſame and ſo of it doth bite. Oh curſt, oh cruell, wofull, fearefull deed, What haſt thou done now Adam to thy ſeed? Baind all thy of-ſpring in thy folly nurſt, And left them all ſtill to this day accurſt. What canſt thou be euen at thy very beſt, But little better then the vileſt beaſt? How is thy ſight (which thought to pierce the skies) Dazl'd and dimd oft times in both thine eyes, Before thou canſt to fiftie yeares attaine, Diſeaſes, Rhumes, do in the ſame remaine? Out of thy head ſuch ſlimy ſtuffe doth fall, That oftentimes thou canſt not ſee at all. What hath thy knowledge purchaſt to thy race? Thy nakedneſſe thou feeſt before thy face. The thorny Brambles all thy skin beſchratches, Now thou canſt tell to make a woman breaches. How hath the fruite yet to this day amaz'd The wandring minds of curious men that gaz'd, So farre aboue the top of that ſame tree, That ſtill the wood for trees they cannot ſee? In euery corner of this ſpatious ball, To name the tree that thus made Adam fall. Alas, weakeman; what can it do thee good To know the tree that thus hath baind thy blood? What can the ſight of that all diſmall fruite, But diſcontent, and make thee much more bruite? Thou feeſt the world in wandring ſtrange opinions, And euery land within her owne dominions, Still to this day maintaining errours plaine, To tell the fruite that thus themſelues did baine. The Iewes this day, that Cabaliſts are cald,Rich Epit. de Talmud. The higheſt Rabbies in their art inſtald: They ſtill affirme, and for a truth do tell, That Adams ſinne (when firſt from God he fell) Was nothing but the ſweet delicious wine, Extracted from the ſprawling crawling Vine, That all Eues faults and foule offenſiue skapes, Was nothing but the wringing forth of grapes: Within her hand vnto her husband deere, That ſupt it vp in ſtead of wholeſome beere, The which no ſooner had the braines aſſaild, But that his wit and memory both faild: His ſenſes drown'd with ſuch a ſottiſh feaſt, God comes himſelfe and finds him like a beaſt. The Sarazens, and all the Turkes this day,Bosk▪ ara coeli▪ lib. 5. c. 4. & Alcar • n. From Mahomet in euery age do ſay, The fruite that Eue and Adam both did eate, Was but an Eare of perfect Indian Wheate, Which Adam pluckt and rubd it in his hand, Smiling on Euah that hard by did ſtand. Two graines whereof he did vnto her giue, Eate two himſelfe to make him euer liue. And that remaind which was but one in all, Away he tooke out of the garden wall, And farre in India where he rambled long, The deſert fields and ſauage beaſts among: This as the cauſe (mayn obiect) of his ſhame, He hid i'th'ground, and that brought forth the ſame. The Southerne people, and the Indian Bold, Do ſtill affirme and oftentimes haue told, That neere to Indus and braue Ganges ſtreame, Which yeeld all ſorts of excellent fiſh and breame: Is to be ſeene a gallant tree this day, Vnder whoſe ſhade a thouſand men may play. The fruite thereof not very pleaſant pure, But as it is, it will long time endure, Much like to Oliues both in ſhape and taſte: The Indian birds this famous figge doth waſte, That on this tree doth grow the very meate, And onely foode which Eue and Adam eate. The antient Iew and Arabian borne, They ſtill do thinke that Adam well might ſcorne To taſte the fruite that growes on Ganges ſhore, The which but late I told you of before, And that more like and probable it is: If that their iudgements do not erre amis, The dainty tree that in their country growes, And twice a yeare his pleaſant fruite that ſhowes, Yeelding a fragrant and a louely ſent, If but the ſame be either cruſht or rent: A Cucumber much like it is in ſhew, Of pleaſing taſt, and ſweet delightfull hew. If with a knife the fruite in two you reaue, A perfect croſſe you ſhall therein perceaue: The ſpatious leaues are full a fadome long▪ In breadth three ſpans, that I may do it wrong, If in this place their errour I ſhould blame, But much admire and wonder at the ſame, By which the Chriſtians in thoſe parts that dwell, Perſwaded are, and for a truth it tell: That this indeed was that delitious fruite Which Eue brought Adam: whoſe inticing ſuite, The Opall colour and perfumed ſent, Made him do that which all of vs repent. And other countryes in their rouing ſits, Their lofty, prowd, and high aſpiring wits, Haue labourd much vpon this point to write, To ſhew the fruite that Adam ill did bite. As though themſelues in Paradiſe had beene, And at the firſt the very tree had ſeene, That bare this curſed euer diſmall fruite, Which make our ſoules ſtill to this day to ruite: Let them ſeeke ſtill to find the ſame and mone, Ile ſit me downe and let them all alone. And yet the place I muſt not thus forget, Wherein at firſt our parents both were ſet: Whoſe glorious worth and euer during fame,Gen. 28. Theſe rurall lines can but obſcure the ſame. Oh Paradiſe, where is thy louely ſeate? Whilome ſo famous, wondrous, rich, and neate; That all the ſtately buildings, curious things, And goodly proſpects, of the greateſt kings: The pompe and pleaſures various decking rare, In all the world cannot to thee compare. The Lords of theſe haue ſtill in euery age, As carryed in their holy furious rage, Aduentured forth with admiration, grace, But to behold thy ancient ſacred face, And none of them as yet haue euer found, Or came in ſight of thy moſt heauenly ground: Which farre in Eden in the orient lies, Vnfit for man to ſee with ſinfull eyes. Some men there be which are perſwaded plaine,Papiſtes Bellermine: and others. That reall place doth to this day remaine: Where holy Enoch, deare Elias pure, And Iohn the Saint, ſhall till doomes day endure, In far more pleaſures then can be expreſt, Their bodies liuing with their ſoules at reſt, Tranſported ſafe within that ſacred wall, But in what climate of this ſpacious Ball, The ſame ſhould be, far in the aire haue gaz'd, Their learning, knowledge, wits, and all amaz'd, The goodly Region in the Sirian land,Eſay. 7 3. Iulian Tzet ad • uo pag. 100 Hier • com. in Eze. lib. 8 Is thought the place wherein the ſame did ſtand, Where rich Damaſcus at this day is built, And Habels bloud by Caine was after ſpilt: The wondrous beauty of whoſe fruitfull ground, The great content which ſome therein haue found, The ſweete encreaſe of that delightfull ſoile, Yeelding a world with little care and toile, The dammaske Roſes, and the fragrant flowers, The louely fields, and pleaſant arbour'd bowers, And euery thing that in aboundance breede, Haue made ſome thinke this was the place indeede, Where God at firſt did on the earth abide, With holy Adam and his louely Bride. And ſome there be that in the Orient waded,Barbaſa▪ Which to this day are certainely perſwaded, The goodly land that farre in India lies, Whoſe rich renowne through all the world now flyes, Vnder the Line and famous Zeilan call'd, On euery ſide with mighty Neptune wal'd, May be the place where firſt our Parents ſtai'd, The earth it ſelfe with all heauens gifts arai'd. Beſides the treaſures of that pleaſant land,Linſchotten An Corſali▪ The fruitfull regions in the ſame which ſtand, The goodly riuers and braue mounting hills, Sweete temperate aire on euery ſide that fills, The downy plaines with ſuch a fragrant ſmell, As winged fame vnto our eares doth tell: The ſpicy Trees, and braue delightfull flowers, The dainty walkes, and guilt aſpiring towers, And all things elſe that man can well deſire, Or diſcontent of nature may require: Long life of dayes, plenty of cates and cheere, All which ſhe powers as on her daling deere, Within her lap hath plaſte a wonder ſtrange, For euery man which to that place ſhall range; Perſwading all that euer ſaw the ſame, That Eue and Adam forth from thence firſt came. Iuſt the midſt of this delicious land, Within the center of the ſame doth ſtand A lofty mount, whoſe top doth pierce the skies, And round about on euery ſide there lies The goodlieſt plaine which euer man beheld▪ That foure foote deepe with water freſh is fild, And eighteene miles in bredth the ſame is ouer,Simile. Much like the Sea, from Calis ſtrand to Douer. Vpon the top of this admired hill,Maffrus. lib. 5. Stands yet a Table fixed firmely ſtill, Of ſollid ſtone that long time there hath beene, In which the forme of Adams foote is ſeene, The Mores beleeuing, that that ſtamp and print Was firſt by him indented on the flint, The mount it ſelfe Piramid like is built; Vpon whoſe top are ſtately buildings guilt: Plenty of wealth, of rareſt iewels ſtore, The height thereof full twenty miles and more, The people all on euery ſide which dwell, Haue ſtill affirm'd, and for a truth doe tell, That this indeede was Paradiſe at firſt, Whoſe fatall fruit made all of vs accurſt. And to this day hath ſuperſtition led,Vertoman▪ lib. 3. Chap. 4 A world of Pilgrims, with blind errour fed, By Mahomet, that antechriſtian beaſt, Which Paradiſe plaſte in the radiant eaſt, Whoſe fond conceits of this religious place, Made ſome men come three thouſand miles apace: With great deuotion, extreme labour, paine, To waſh their ſins within this miry plaine, Thinking the water in this vally lies, Diſtil'd at firſt from Eue and Adams eyes; When great with griefe, and far ſurcharg'd with teares, They ſhed ſo much as all the ground heere beares: In woe bewayling of their wilfull ſins, The ioyfull end where true content begins. From ſin firſt waſh't, then vp the hill they clime, With labours great, in prayers ſpend their time, And ſacrifize to Mauors God their fill, Which plaſte their feete vpon this holy hill, Though their miſtakings may be wail'd and blam'd, Yet Adams hill, the lofty mount is nam'd. And that which better may confirme their hope, That this indeede vnder heauens ſtarry cope, Of all the earth may be the likelieſt place, Where Adam firſt receiu'd his great diſgrace: Not farre from hence is ſeene a flaming hill, Of euery man cald Balananus ſtill, Which ſends forth ſmoake and hideous brands of fire, Threatning the clowds and elements to tire: Much like the ſword the tree of life did guard, As if with heauen the earth and all it ward. This makes them thinke confirmes their fancies more Then all the reſt I told you of before. But if in India on this famous mount, Adam at firſt receiued his ſacred count, And ſo from thence his fruitfull ſpawne at laſt, Vpon the face of all the earth are caſt. What may we thinke of that renowned hill, Whoſe matchleſſe fame full all the world doth fill: Within the midſt of Ethiopia fram'd, In Africa and Amara ſtill man'd, Where all the Gods may ſit them downe and dine, Iuſt in the Eaſt, and vnderneath the line. Pomona, Ceres, Ʋenus, Iuno, chaſt, And all the reſt their eyes haue euer caſt Vpon this place ſo beautifull and neate, Of all the earth to make it ſtill their ſeate: A chriſtall riuer downe to Nilus purl'd, Wonder of Nature, Glory of this world. Deere Amara, thy amorous name doth cite My lowly pen thy lofty prayſe to write. If all the world and all therein were mine, All were to weake to match themſelues with thine. In all the earth, and all the reſt to looſe, Thy ſeat to loue inſtead of all Ide chooſe. There are the Temples couered all with guilt, The Pallaces, and glorious buildings built, A Library ſo famous rich and round, As that the like on earth was neuer found. There are the Muſes and the learned Nymphes, The royall iſſue, and the beſt borne Imppes: The ſeed of kings vpon thy body nurſt, The Preet himſelfe kept long within the firſt. Admired mount, how haſt thou in all ages Beene ſtill renownde for rareſt perſonages, Thy treaſures rich beyond compare that lyes, Within thy wals may dazle both mine eyes. Two famous Queenes in Maieſty and grace, With Lawrell boughs haue much adornd thy face, As if themſelues with Nature did combine, To wreath thy browes with ſacred worke diuine. The firſt of thoſe was faire Magueda cald, Braue gallant Queene within thy towre inſtald:1. King. 10. to 11. That let the reſt and wenther ſelfe to ſee,2. Chro. 9. 1. If Salomon could well compare with thee. But when ſhe ſaw, and glutted had her eye, With ſight of that which farre and wide did flye: Alone ſhe leaues his glorious Temple guilt, His ſtately Court, and all that ere he built. His pleaſant land, and curious deckings fine, As all not worth for to compare with thine. And ſo returnes within ſhort ſpace againe, Within thy wals a royall Queene to raigne: Gods true Religion in thoſe dayes profeſt, Away ſhe brought and plac't it in thy breſt. The other Queene that hath adornd thy browes, With Lawrell crowne of ſacred Chriſtian bowes,Act, 8. 27. Was Candace great Empreſſe of ſuch fame, As Enuy ſtill cannot obſcure her name, When Indica her loyall Eunuch went To Iewry land vpon Ambaſſage ſent: Homewards returning on his weary way, In Pilgrymage ſtraight forced was to ſtay By God himſelfe, which by the faithfull bide, And Philip ſent to be his onely guide. O matchleſſe Queene, braue pearle of women kind, Renowned fame ſhall thy chaſt temples bind, Which by thy meanes as old Records yet ſayth, Conuerted all vnto the Chriſtian faith: Baptized thy ſelfe within that ſacred fount, Which ſtands ſtill firme vpon thy holy mount: And in that Church whereas the God of loue Deſcended downe in ſhape of flaming Doue. All ſacred hill, how can I chooſe but wonder, To ſee the God of lightning flames, and thunder, That rends the rockes, and all to powder paſhes The ſturdy mounts with ſudden ſulphery flaſhes! Deſcend himſelfe vpon thy glorious head, When all thy Princes were baptiz'd and fed. With that true Manna that from heauen was ſhowred, When Chriſt his bloud vpon thy browes was powred: Within that Temple of immortall fame, That till doomes dayes ſhall euer beare his name, And which before his deareſt bloud was ſpilt. Vnto the Son was conſecrate and built. O Amara which thus haſt beene beloued, Still to this day thy foote was neuer moued: But in the heat of moſt tempeſtuous warres, God hem'd thee in with ſtrong vnconquered barres. Protected ſafe, and kept thy feet vpright, Againſt the world, the fleſh, and all to fight. No maruell then ſince man at firſt was humbled Vpon thy head hath falne himſelfe and ſtumbled, In admiration of thy gifts diuine, When Nature, Arts the Gods and all combine, To cull thee out in farre aboundant meaſure; And on thy browes to ſhowre their deareſt treaſure. If in thy walls as ſome this day haue thought, Adam and Eue by God himſelfe were brought, And plaſt ſecure in pleaſures wondrous well, Till from thy top for wilfull ſinne they fell. Some men againe more farre then theſe are wide, Whoſe large conceits in Eden cannot bide: Fond, franticke men the ſacred truth to reach, And Paradiſe ore all the world to ſtreach.Wolfangus. Wiſſenburg. Soropius. Vadianus. The land of Eden of that ſpatious worth, To thinke it went quite ouer all the earth. The lofty wals which hem'd the ſame in round, To be the Spheres that in their vtmoſt bound. On euery ſide about the world do paſſe, And ſeeme to vs much like a wall of Braſſe. The flaming Sword that guards the tree of life From ſinfull Adam and his likoriſh wife, Haue preſuppoſd in all the world alone, To be the hot and horrid burning Zoane, That mans exile by curſed enuious fate, Was nothing but the changing of his ſtate; When at the firſt from God aboue he fell, To be entombd within the graue and hell. In ancient times when people were beſotted,Patricius van 10, lib. 20. Not in that vice which ſome of vs vs call potted, But in blind errour of the heauenly light, Till God by Chriſt enlightned had their ſight, Perſwaded were that Paradiſe at firſt, In which old Eue and Adam both were nurſt, A reall place vpon this earth was ſet, Vntill for ſin the world it ſelfe was wet: With ſuch a ſhower on euery ſide and round, That all therein were quite conſum'd and drownd. Then Paradiſe his owne peculiar ſeate,Gen. 7. 1. To Thelaſte. A pleaſant place, delightfull, ſweete, and neate, For feare the floud which o're the earth did flow, When Noahs Arke did on the waters row, Should ruinate the goodly ſacred place, And bring the walls iuſt in the ſelfe ſame eaſe, That Henoch City in thoſe dayes was found, When all the world, and all therein was drown'd: Tranſported it within a inſtant quite, Far from the earth, and reach of this our ſight, And plaſte the ſame euen in a moment ſoone, Within the circle of the lofty Moone. And ſome there be as far as Rome haue rambled,The Manichees origen. Rom. famileſtes ad Renegaoes. Which back againe, for want of meanes haue ambled, Like vgly Bat the monſter of his kind, That vice can ſee, but yet to goodneſſe blind; Happy were we when firſt they ran from hence, Caſting a miſt vpon the Scriptures ſence, To thinke the place where Adam firſt did fall, Was but a tale, and no ſuch place at all, That holy Moſes in his ſacred worke, Hath little true but only fictions lurke. Damn'd wicked man, the child of vnbeliefe,Eſa. 33. 15, 16, 17. The Word diſtruſt, and thus to play the thiefe, Gods Church to rob, his choſen flock to fleece, The truth to blur, and heere to pick a peece; Wringing the ſame▪ or as we vſe to ſqueeſe, A Sponge with water or ſuch kind of Leeſe:Simile. The Scriptures true, and heauenly Hebrew Story, Conuerting all into an allegory. Thou ſoareſt high, heere is thy lofty flight,Gen. 2. 8. 2. King▪ 19. 12▪ Falſe hearted Rome, which canſt not ſee the light That ſhineth cleere, within the Scripture lyes, The truth it ſelfe hath bleared both thine eyes: Like to the Bird thou beareth in thy creſt, That ſeldome times vpon the earth can reſt, But mounts aloft with proud aſpiring wings.Simile. The Eagle. Till baſe deſires downe to the ground him brings, As if the light he could no more endure, But falls and ſtoopes vnto a carrion lure. The Sodomites which in the dayes of Lot, About the walls where groaping very hot,Gen. 19. 11. To find the Angels that his houſe poſſeſt, Till fearefull blindneſſe ſtayd their courſe to reſt, Were beaten downe with horrid ſulphery ſmoke, That inſtantly their curſed breath did choke: Transform'd their townes in leſſe then halfe an houre, When God but once vpon their vice did lowre; With fire and brimſtone ſtrange vnwonted thunder, Of all the world the ſad and fearefull wonder, Amazing all which at this day behold it: To ſee how God hath vp to nothing rold it. Made it a puddle and infectious ſinke, Not fir for man once of her ſource to drinke. Euen ſo thy wilfull curſed vnbeliefe, Prophane abuſing of the ſcriptures chiefe, Thy Sabaoth breaking, couetuouſneſſe and pride, With all the ſins within the world beſide, Haue made thee blind to find that louely place, Where Adam firſt was in his greateſt grace: About the walls thou canſt not find the dore, To come withinland view the plenteous ſtore; Thy braines confuz'd as in a maze are led, Darke vnbeliefe thy cloudy ſence hath fed, The heauenly light thou canſt not well diſcerne, From Sodome firſt to looſe thy ſelfe doſt learne, In all the earth that euer eye did ſee, How well theſe men we may compare to thee. But ſtay; whilſt they about the world are ſeeking,Paradiſe diſcribed. To find the Garden Adam had in keeping, My ſacred Muſe with lofty nimble flight, On Paradiſe the place it ſelfe doth light: From Rome tranſported tyrant of the weſt: To Nimrods Tower within the orient eaſt, Neere Eden plaſte within Aſſiria land, On Euphrates and Tygris goodly ſtrand, By Babilon firſt Empreſſe of the earth, Mother of Arts moſt glorious in her birth, Whoſe towring fame as Monarch of the world, Where golden flouds in ſiluer ſtreames haue purld; My ſences wrapt in admirations wonder, To thinke how ſhe hath all the world brought vnder, Making her ſeate the glory of her time,Franciſcus. Iunius. Curtius. Plinui. Solinus. Braue ſtar of Fortune, ſubiect of my Rime. Heere was the ſeate the likelieſt place indeede, Where Ene at firſt did of the Apple feede, By learned iudgement of thoſe worthy men, Whoſe high deſart, fames lofty quill doth pen, Which far and neere about the world haue ventred, And but at laſt within her walls haue entred. O Paradiſe, that firſt our Parents ſtai'd,Ptol Geor. lib 65. chap. 20 strabo lib. 16 Vntill ſuch time Gods will they diſobay'd; How far my pen doth of thy worth come vnder, Mirrour of earth, of all the world the wonder. Where ſacred Thetis from her louely lap, Hath power'd her treaſures, much inrich't thy hap, Which Euphrates and Tigris hath combin'd, Their Source deuided in foure parts, to winde About thy borders, as heauens deareſt worke, Within thy bowels glide along and lurke; Venting ſuch Iewels as were neuer found, A welcome tribute to thy holy ground. Nature her ſelfe hath much impald thy head,plin. lib. 2 Chap. 1 • 6 And wreath'd thy browes as fortune hath her led, With ſuch a ridge of rocky mountaines ſmall, To hemme thee in as with a ſacred wall, Vpon the top toward the eaſt ſtill there ſtands, A ſmoky hill which ſends forth fiery brands, Gfburning oyle, from hels infernall deepe, Much like the ſword the tree of life did keepe. Deuineſt land the ſunne hath euer ſeene, How fortunate thrice happy haſt thou beene, To haue that God which fram'd the world and all, Frequent thy walkes before thy fearefull fall: Yet as thou art and as thou doſt remaine, The totall earth on on euery ſide doſt ſtaine: Where can a man in all this world below, Find Bdelium that pleaſant tree to grow, Whoſe fragrant branches, ſweet delightfull fruite, And lofty height hath made my ſences mute, The Onix ſtone and other things to bide, In all the earth ſcarce in one place beſide. How is thy ground exceeding rich and faire▪ A region ſeaſoned with a temperate aire, Thy channels crawling full of golden Ore, The fruitful'ſt ſoile that e're the earth yet bore: Neptune himſelfe with foure great riuers greeing, To deck the boſome which gaue Adam being, Vpon thy temples all their treaſures powr'd, And all their wealth at once vpon thee ſhowr'd. After the floud when all the world was kild, In Noahs time there man began to build, When hauing rambled in the ſacred keele, About the world, on euery ſide did feele Thy fragrant ſcent ſo pleaſing rich and neate, Of all the earth, to make thy Throne their ſeate. Heere was religion planted in her prime, The golden age and infancy of time, When mans worſt actions like the Turtle Doue, In all the world was little elſe but loue: Deere Paradiſe, how famous was thy name? When God himſelfe crected firſt thy frame, Endude thy Land with ſuch things in it ſet, As time for euer neuer can forget. The fabling Prayſes of Elizium fields, The Turkes, Eutopia nothing to it yeelds, The Paradiſe of Romes fantaſtike braine, Is but a ieſt a little wealth to gaine, And Aladeules with his place of pleaſure, Comes far behind and ſtill is ſhort of meaſure, Worth honor, grace, when brought into compar • With this ſo rich and glorious garden rare. The perſian fancies of their heauenly land, In ſight of this not able is to ſtand, The world it ſelfe and all that is therein, I could forſake that very place to win, And all the greateſt Kingdomes euer found, But dung and traſh to that moſt holy ground. The lofty walls were all of laſper built, Lin'd thick with gould, and couered rich with gui Like a quadrangle ſeated on a hill, With twelue braue gates the curious eye to fill, The ſacred luſter as the gliſtring Zoane, And euery gate fram'd of a ſeuerall ſtone: On ſtately columes reared by that hand, Which grau'd, the world and all that in it ſtand; The Chalſedony, and the Iacinth pure, The Emrald greene, which euer will endure, The Sardonix, and purple Amethiſt, The Azurd burniſh't Saphire is not miſt, The Chriſolite, moſt glorious to behold, And Tophaze ſtone, which ſhines as beaten gold, The Chriſophraſus of admired worth, The Sardius, Berill ſeldome found on earth, The dores thereof of ſiluer'd Pearle moſt white, Do ſhew that none by wrong oppreſſion might Be croſt, by cunning, wringing, wreſting guile, By wicked plodding in all actions vile, By foule offences like baſe enuy faſte, Can paſſe the dores but thoſe are pure and chaſte. That ſweete Diſciple which the Goſpell wrate,Reu. 21. 10. to ihe 6. verſe of the 22. chap. And lent at ſupper, (when Chriſt leſus ſate) Vpon the boſome of his Lord and King, He from the heauens this Paradiſe did bring, Perus'd the walls, and view'd the ſame within, Deſcrib'd it largely all our loues to win. The chriſtall riuer with the Tree of Life, Gods deereſt lamb, and ſacred Spouſe his wife, The various fruits that in the garden growes, And all things elſe which in aboundance flowes: Hath rapt my ſence to thinke how God at firſt, Fram'd all for Adam and his of-ſpring curſt. To come within how can we but admire, Why ſhould our minds to view the ſame a ſpire, It being ſacred tipe of heauen it ſelfe, Our ſinfull thoughts worſe then the vileſt pelfe, That all diuine by God himſelfe firſt wrought, Aboue the Cloudes, and then by Angels brought,Simile. Like to an Infant in his timely birth, Into the Church, and plaſte vpon this earth: The midwife there which did attend the ſame, Was deare Vrania that braue noble Dame, Whoſe glorious worth my weakeneſſe can't rehearſe, Queene of the Muſes, Soueraigne of my verſe. But yet Vrania be not bold to pry, Into the ſecrets of this treaſury, Lock't vp from vs and bard from all to enter, Where none but thee may without danger venter, Leaſt thy great God thou traceſt in thy ſtep, Should from the Heauens downe on a ſudden leap, As if from ſleepe he had beene rowz'd and waked, And find thy ſelfe like Eue and Adam naked. Adam, what made thee fearefully to hide? Entangled in the allurement of thy bride, Thy ſelfe from God, who by his ſacred voyce, Amongſt the Trees within the garden choyſe; Repayred now as oftentimes before, To recreate and view the various ſtore, Euen in the coole and dawning of the day, The winds before him vſhering of his way, Thinking to find as heeretofore he found, Thine innocency vpright, perfect, ſound; But contrary, thou lurkeſt in a buſh, Vntill thy God did neere vnto thee ruſh, And ſtarting of thee as thou then waſt loth, He takes thy ſpouſe and thee all naked both. Adam (quoth God) why doſt thou hide thy face? What is the cauſe thou art ſo poore and baſe? That thou ſhouldſt thus with ſimple ſhifts begin, Aſham'd of me to couer now thy skin, How haſt thou knowne in leſſe then halfe an howre, To lurke ſo cloſe within this ſecret bower, And ſew thoſe leaues to patch them ſo together, To hide thy ſhame and keepe thee from the weather? The Tree of Knowledge in this pleaſant ſeate, I do beleeue that thou thereof didſt eate, Which▪I commanded on deaths diſmall paine, Thou ſhouldſt not touch the iewce thereof to gaine, Haſt thou now eate of that delicious fruite. I am afraid thy of-ſpring all will rue it. O heauenly God (then Adam anſwered ſtraite)Gen▪ 3. 12. I was intrapt with ſuch a pleaſing baite, That made my reaſon, ſenſe, and all to yeeld; My ſtrength but weake within ſo ſtrong a field: For why, the woman which thou gaueſt me, A helpe moſt meete and comfort ſweet to be. Shee of that tree did plucke but one in all, And brought it to me as a ſacred ball: The ſight whereof by her perſwaſion moued, Whom more then gold and all the world I loued. Straight in my armes began for to embrace, And ſhe intreating with her ſmiling face, Gaue me that Apple in her louely hand, Which makes me thus before thy ſight to ſtand, All naked, poore, lamenting of my fall, As loath to ſpeake when thou at firſt didſt call. She, ſhe it was which gaue me of that meate, By her intiſements onely I did eate. If I haue broke thy holy heauenly lawes, Blame her (not me) for being firſt the cauſe? Then God (againe) vnto the woman ſayd, Why haſt thou thus moſt treacherouſly betrayd Thy louing husband and thy darling deare, Whom to diſpleaſe thou oughtſt in conſcience feare? He is thy head, thy Soueraigne, Lord, and King, Why doſt thou thus his feete in bondage bring, Inſnaring him, thy ſelfe and Iſſue all, In wofull danger of your ſoules to fall? Sweet God (quoth ſhe) a foule miſhapen beaſt, The vgly Serpent crawling on his breaſt, When but a little that I ſtept a ſide, From my deare husbands beſt beloued ſide: A goodly fruite preſented to my view, That in the midſt of all the garden grew: Perſwaded much the onely taſte of it, Would farre increaſe my ſimple womans wit: The touch thereof would ſight and knowledge giue, Neuer to die, but ſtill as Gods to liue▪ By which inticements ſnared in his trap, He ſhakt the tree, and vp I held my lap: That Plumme alone which fell into the ſame, I kept it ſafe, and to my husband came. But yet before his preſence well I ſaw, Not thinking once of thine eternall Law. By freſh allurement of that Snaky wite, I viewd the ſame, and ſo of it did bite. The which when as that I the deed had done, Away he crawles, and leaues me all alone: Mine eyes i'th'inſtant wofully did ſee The murraine Elfe had firſt beguiled me. Like to a Mouſe not farre off from her muſe, So is a woman ſild without exſcuſe.Simile▪ When on a ſudden God himſelfe deſcends, The winged clowds on euery ſide he rends: All foggy miſts of darkeſome errours quite, He doth diſperſe and brings the Truth to light. That all the world his Wiſedome may admire, To ſee how ſoone he finds the diuell a lyer. Iuſtice her ſelfe with grim and frowning eyes,Iuſtitiae deſcriptio. Deſcendeth downe beneath the lofty skyes: That euer lowres and holdeth in her hand A paire of Scales to weigh both ſea and land▪ The ſecret actions infinite to name, Which euer yet were hatcht vpon the ſame. But at her backe there oftentimes attends,Miſericordiae diſcriptio▪ A noble Dame to many a one that bends: Of ſmiling cheere and ſweet delightfull face, Borne of the Muſes in their royall Race. Whoſe ſiluer treſſes as heauens glorious Queene, The goodlieſt creature euer eye hath ſeene: In all her robes ſhe ſits at Gods right hand, Deſcends to ſome, but by his ſide doth ſtand. In ſecret corners of the heart ſhe lurkes, Gods Mercies great are farre beyond his Workes: In heauen and earth, and all that in them are, None may come neere, much leſſe to her compare. Alone ſhe ſits, and ſendeth Iuſtice downe To God himſelfe, that in a ſacred frowne Summons the Serpent to appeare in place, Whoſe accuſation layd before his face, Without demurre and wreſting of the Law, His heinous crime before his eyes he ſaw, And ſtandeth mute without exſcuſe at all, When God aboue to iudgement once doth fall. Accurſed diuell, thriſe damn'd is all thy race, Thy wicked plots and ſecret actions baſe:Gen. 3. 14. What made thee winde within this winding Snake, The ſhape of Serpent in thy mind to take? Why haſt thou ſat on Adams ſacred skirt, To harme a man which neuer did thee hurt: And wrong a woman with miſchieuous guile, By enuious plodding in a deed ſo vile? Could it not ſerue that firſt thou wenteſt about To ſcale my throane, from heauen to ſhut me out? But this my worke▪ which more I did admire Then all the Angels fram'd of burniſht fire: The heauenly lights and all that euer were, Within the compaſſe of the ſpatious aire. The man himſelfe in whom I tooke delight; Plac't him in Eden by my powerfull might. That thou ſhoulſt thus with all the diuels combine, In ſpight to me his perſon vndermine. To creepe to Eue as if ſhe were thy Ant, And fawne on others like a Puritant. What haſt thou got for all thy villany? A beaſt thou liu'ſt, worſe then a beaſt thou'lt dye. And yet not die, for euerduring paine, (For this thy treaſon) ſhalt be ſure to gaine. The fire of my iuſt wrath will make thee gurne, As burning Braſſe thy bowels ſcorcht ſhall burne.Simile. The worme of Conſcience ſhall torment thee euer, And like a Vulture▪ feed vpon thy Liuer.Simile▪ That ſtill in death, a horrid fearefull ſmart, Shalt dying liue, to ouerloade thy heart. Grinde all to powder thy damn'd wicked rout, With coales of fire, which neuer ſhall go out. Thy tongue ſhall be a ſure and certaine token, How falſe to woman thy curſt mouth hath ſpoken; For in the ſame a forked ſting ſhall be, That after times may ſtill thy enuy ſee: And all her race ſhall thee torment and vexe, And thou againe ſhalt skare her fearefull Sexe, Lurking in dens and ſecret holes obſcure, To trap the iuſt with banefull breath impure. Thy hide bepainted with a peckled varniſh, Thy venom'd carkaſſe in thy pride ſhall barniſh: An vgly creature ſhalt thou be vncouth, Thy teeth all blacke within thy lying mouth. Out of that hollow irkeſome vaſt abiſſe, Vpon thy belly ſhalt thou crawle and hiſſe. Duſt ſhalt thou eate, and canckred be thy skin, Thy body ſwolne with poyſon all within. Thy viperous ſeed in vgly enuy borne, To all the world ſhall be the hatefull ſcorne. In euery path, and out of euery hedge, Their poyſon fell in humane fleſh ſhall wedge: That when they time and place to purpoſe feele, Their venom'd tongue ſhall bite them by the heele. Thus till the earth ſhall mould away and fall, Where men leaſt thinke there ſhall they lie and crawle. The Womans ſeed in iuſt reuenge againe, Thy head ſhall breake, and curſed actions baine, When that ſweet Babe ſhall to the world be borne, That heauen and earth with glory ſhall adorne. Then ſhall he trample on thy curſed hide, And on the clowds▪ with winged fame ſhall ride. Before his face ſhall ratling cracks of thunder, Amaze thy ſenſe, and reaſons falſe bring vnder. To ſee when he ſhall on the earth deſcend, How thou in chaines and fetters ſhalt be pend: Tormented in thoſe paines no tongue can tell, Scorcht all to cinders with dam'd diuels in hell. Curſt is thy life, thrice curſed is thy race, Voyde of all goodnes, mercy, loue, and grace: Here is thy doome vpon thy Snakie head▪ That others with thee haſt to ſinne miſſe-lead. Scarſe theſe laſt words were ſpake by God himſelfe, Of his ſad iudgement gainſt this curſed Elfe: And but beginning of Eues diſmall ſpeech, When ſuddenly ſhe gan to cry and ſcreech: When in the inſtant from the lofty skyes,Miſcricordia. Mercy comes downe and into Eden hies; Proſtrated falls vpon her bended knees, But God himſelfe his daughter deare that ſees, With weeping eyes before his face to craue, That but on Eue he would compaſſion haue: Began to ſtay his minde, to alter cleane, And to the woman now began to leane: But that hard by ſtood Iuſtice in the place, And vrg'd him much to proſecute the caſe: When all the reaſon Mercy well could render, Was that her ſelfe was of the female gender. Whileſt both of theſe each other do oppoſe,Iuſtitia & Miſericordia. Loath each of them their humble ſuite to loſe: Contending ſtill as aduocates at Barre, Or combatants in furious fearefull Warre: And altogether iudgement ſpeedy feares,Natura. Gods eldeſt daughter in the place appeares. Nature diuine, like to Aurora fac't, A noble Lady, beautifull and chaſt:Simile. Naturae deſcriptio. Braue famous Queene, a royall perſon borne, Whom heauen and earth and all therein adorne. Her haire diſheueld, trailing to the ground, And in the ſame the rareſt ſecrets bound, Without all art in curious manner curld, And in her hand the Globe of all the world: Ten thouſand colours in her gowne are ſeene, Wrought by her ſelfe vpon a ground of greene. In all her iewels of admired gaine, With fower braue Ladies bearing vp her traine:The Elements She ſober enters in that ſacred place, And downe ſhe fals before the Almighties face. Father, ſayd ſhe, deare Father here behold,Oratio. Giue me but leaue to be a little bold, Finding my ſiſters iarring neuer ceaſe, To reconcile and ſet them both at Peace: A holy worke which thou haſt euer loued, My ſelfe thereto by charity firſt moued. One of my deare affected ſiſters ſweete, That from this place to heauen did lately fleete, Brought me ſuch newes when at the firſt we met, Till all diſſolue I neuer ſhall forget. And like it is this maſſie weighty ball Which hangs ſo euen iuſt in the midſt of all: Would ſoone returne to what it was at firſt, If all thereon for this one fault were curſt. Behold this Fabricke here within my hand, The mighty Gloabe of all the world doth ſtand: What will become of all thy Noble workes, This goodly frame, and all that euer lurkes Within the compaſſe of the heauen and earth, If now deſtroyd within their prime and birth, All will conſume and vnterly decay, If Iuſtice once thy Mercy ouerſway. Iuſtice I know doth vrge thy ſacred word, Which from the Truth as yet hath neuer ſtird: Thy penalty on Adam and his Race, For foule offending in this holy place. The execution of thy Law diuine, In the leaſt tittle of each Statute line: Which hath ordaind that in that diſmall day, In which the woman did the diuell obay; To taſte the fruite and ſucke it with her breath, That both of them ſhould die a fearefull death. Mercy againe as being full of Loue, Pittie, compaſſion from thy throane aboue Preſents her ſelfe before thy ſacred face, Imploring Goodnes, Maieſtie, and Grace: To be a meanes to mediate a peace, And that for once all further iudgement ceaſe, When by the Enuie of a viperous tong, Hatcht by the diuell this curſed malice ſprung: And their offence to take it at the worſt, By Iuſtice weigh'd will yet be found the firſt. O then deare Father let me ſpeake my minde, Be luſt and Louing, Mercifull and Kinde: Puniſh all ſinne according to thy word, The Truth preſerue, that none at Iuſtice gird: But yet let Mercy at thy right hand ſit, Thy noble workes in ſacred holy writ, Shall then be blaz'd vnto their vtmoſt worth, And thou be knowne a God vpon this earth. Then ſhall large volumes with thy prayſes ſwell. Thy Mercy drop to infant ſoules in hell, Which neuer haue offended much thy minde, But borne in ſinne and neuer knowne vnkinde, Whoſe curſed parents croſt thy heauenly will, The ſperme of thoſe that liue in errour ſtill. Thy ſentence paſt cannot againe be call'd, And truth muſt ſtand before thy face inſtal'd, That very day according to thy word, In which the tree of Knowledge firſt was ſtird, By Eue and Adams wilfull treachery, Both of them then a cruell death ſhould dye: If mercy now had not come downe in haſt, And at thy feete her humble ſute had caſt; Before this time that iudgement had beene giuen, Both of their liues might well haue beene beriuen. O then what would become of all this frame, And all thereon, too infinite to name, The famous actions by thy ſpirit nurſt, All muſt returne to what it was at firſt. One day with thee is as a thouſand yeeres, The hower of death Incertaine full of feares. Firſt ſaue the ſeede and let them liue in awe, Then dye a death for breaking of thy Law; So is thy word confirm'd, my ſiſters pleaz'd, The world remaine and iudgement ſomewhat eaz'd, Then ſhall thy creatures in all ages ſtand, The worke diuine of thy all powerfull hand, And euery thing that on the earth is bred, Shall ſhew thy glory both aliue and dead: That all may ſtand to all eternity, Thy only Son offers himſelfe to dye. But ſilenc'ſt once by Gods commanding Word, The iarring ſiſters neuer after ſtird, But ſatisfied, and reſting well content, They ſpent the time in hapleſſe merriment, And God aboue to iudgement doth proceede, With fearefull Evah and her timerous ſeede, Her naked husband that himſelfe excuz'd, And ſaid his wife his loue had much abuz'd. O ſilly woman to be thus beguil'd,Gods iudgement on Euah. In ſorrow now that ſhalt bring forth thy child, A hard conception with an extreme paine, Sick loathſome vomits at my hands ſhall gaine, Thy husband now ſhall ouerrule thee ſtill, Thy fond deſires bee ſubiect to his will: A conſtant loue ſhall▪ hardly once be found, Within the breſt of any on this ground, And from this day the moſt of all vnkind, Fickle, vncertaine as the wauering wind; Toſt too and fro with euery blaſt that blowes, Entangled ſtraight with gawdy curious ſhewes, That moſt of you your husbands will forſake, A golden bribe or licoriſh thing to take. Heauens glorious iudge to Adam alſo ſaid,Gods iudgement on Adam Becauſe thy wife thou haſt an I doll made, To trace her ſteps which leade to deadly ſin, Thou doſt but now to feele thy woe begin, Curſt is the earth, and curſt is for thy ſake, The fruite thereof accurſed will I make; In great vexation, extreme labour paine, Toyle, ſweate and duſt, thou ſhalt much ſorrow gaine, The earth henceforth ſhall now no more endure, Vnleſſe thou till, and much her ſides manure, And when thou think'ſt thy barnes top full to fill, Thy Vintage ſtor'd with plenty at thy will, In monſtrous Mows to pile a wondrous heape, Then thiſtles, thornes inſtead thereof thou'lt reape, Much like the beaſt which on his belly feedes, Soe ſhalt thou liue by hearbs and garden ſeedes, Till thou returne vnto the earth againe, And that therein thy limbs all cold be laine, This is the mother that thy body nurſt, Out from the ſame thou taken waſt at firſt, Sorrow and ſickneſſe ſhall thy body burne, For duſt thou art, to duſt thou ſhalt returne. O heauenly God, heere is a iudgement paſt, Throughout this world eternally to laſt, No writ of errour can the ſame reuoke, When as the words by thine owne mouth are ſpoke: Heere is a ſentence with a ſacred ſeale, No inhibition can thy law repeale, Nor all the tricks, deuiſes ſubtill ſhifts, Of greedy Lawyers with their bribes and gifts, Can once diſſolue a knot ſo ſurely knit, With all their braines and cunning peeuiſh wit▪ But that the ſame for euermore muſt ſtand, A iuſt decree by heauens diuineſt hand, Drawne vp aboue in Eden ratified, With all the Angels in the world beſide, And all the powers of firmament and all, To this decree conſented at thy call; Heauens deereſt Babe whoſe fame ſhall periſh neuer, Hath with his bloud confirm'd the ſame for euer. The Regiſter that vp this order drew,Tempus & veritas ear▪ deſcriptio. Was Time it ſelfe clad all in Azure blew, Wing'd like an Angel, ſhadowed with a vaile, And Truth his Daughter bearing vp his traile, Nobly attended with a Lady kind, More quick and nimble then the ſwift foote hinde. Within his mouth a lofty Trumpe doth ſtand, And a ſharpe ſith or ſickle in his hand. A glaſſe of ſand continually that runs, Within his way no liuing thing he ſhuns, Lock't long before his head, behind all bald, To ſhew whats paſt can neuer be recal'd. O Time, preſeruer of all ages paſt, How are mens eyes on all thy actions caſt, Thou ſhouldſt be true and conſtant in thy courſe, Why ſhould baſe gold thy mind to ill inforce, Allure thy ſence and reaſons temporize, Alter an order daube vp both thine eyes, When God the King and all the Lords decree, A Iudgement iuſt to all eternitee, In open court pronounce the ſame at large, Commit it ſafe to thy ſole care and charge; Yet for a bribe within thy griping fiſt, Thoul't ad, ſubſtract and ſet downe what thou liſt. Princes and peeres, graue Iudges of the Land, Let euer Iuſtice in your actions ſtand, Looke well to time, for time it ſelfe doth call, It may deceiue and goe beyond you all: Diſpatch the poore▪ and heare the widdowes cauſe, Let not the Orphant periſh by your lawes, The Innocent is oftentimes vndone, But in defending of a ſute begun: By mighty foes that ouer dares his youth, And lies ſuggeſt inſtead of naked truth, Then is he poſted too and froin haſt, His life, lands, liuing, all he hath to waſt: And neuer left ſo long as worth a groate, His weary limbs oft times in priſon rot, All by delayes when golden angels houer, Within the fiſt of euery ſeruile louer, That but attends and comes before your face, By bribing liues vnto your foule diſgrace, O to be ſway'd with euery gliſtring fee: This is iniuſtice in the worſt degree. But you are wiſe, to you a word is more, Then all the workes to this day kept in ſtore, Can be to thoſe that little vnderſtand, And more reſpect, ſome feeling in their hand. Trace that great God in all your actions out, Let him be ſtill to bring the day about: Your only ſtarre ſole leuell and your ſquare, The ſeuerall frames of all your works to reare, But you are men your memories may faile, Let not your ſeruants ſet your worth to ſaile; Iuſtice and Mercy, Time and all for gold, 'Gainſt Natures lawes outright are bought and ſold, And why ſhould man thus to baſe bribing fall, There is a God which takes account of all? And oftentimes what by the diuill is got, Vnder his feete he treades it till it rot. And yet what reaſon haue we to complaine, When England thou haſt got the richeſt gaine,Iacobus Rex▪ The deereſt treaſure and the welcom'ſt fee, That euer any land attain'd but thee, A royall King deriued from the race, Of Edens Monarch in her greateſt grace, Within whoſe face true Maieſty doth ſhine, Iuſtice and Mercy in his browes combine, His temples chaſt with lawrell boughes are wreathed, The ſacred Muſes in his breſt haue breathed, Vpon his head three famous crownes do ſtand, Gods deereſt booke is euer in his hand. Whoſe Angels ſtill his perſon hath protected, And all his daughters him for King elected, Too weake (alas) I muſt my ſelfe confeſſe, O that my Muſe could but his worth expreſſe, Though in this place I doe but giue a glance, Of that which after in my worke may chance, His fame renowne ſhall euer flouriſh greene, Sire to a Prince, and father to a Queene. So ſhall the fame of his illuſtrious ſonne,Carolus Princeps. Mount vp the aire, in Phoebus chariot run, About the earth on euery ſide ſhall ſound, As far as Eden and the Indian ground, And ſtill his Glory all the world ſhall paſſe, And be ingrauen in monuments of braſſe, That Time for euer ſhall his worth adorne, The greateſt prince that euer yet was borne. Braue Prince of peace from heauen it ſelfe deſcended, How hath this land beene by thy birth befriended, To haue a ſpirit of ſuch noble wit, heereafter ſway within her lap to ſit, When England thou maiſt ioy, delight and court thee, Vnder his wings maiſt ſit thee downe and ſport thee, Sollace thy labours with a glad content, And giue God thankes that him to thee hath lent: Whilſt other lands haue not ſo rich a pawne, About ſucceeſſion out their ſword is drawne, Nothing but bloud, confuſion, ſhreikes and skars, As late was ſeene within thy ciuill wars. Heere could I ſtay and ſit me downe and pauſe,Nobilitas. And view thy court and all thy reuerent lawes, Admiring all the nobles of thy Lands, How with deuotion all their ſeruice ſtands, Prone euer preſt to reattend thy will, To run and goe as thou command'ſt them ſtill, Whoſe worth and merrit, euery one in order, Should all be ranck't within this ſacred border: But that to Adam I muſt poſt apace, And tell what fell vpon his fowle diſgrace, Meane while when Time ſhall worke vnto my mind, Then ſhall my Muſe their ſeuerall vertues find. Adam no ſooner had his Iudgement paſt, But God his Mercy on his darlings caſt, As one that neuer both of them forſakes, For one ſole fault but mild compaſſion takes, Pitties their want, and wailes their fowle abuſe, Tenders their good admits a weake excuſe: Like to a father of a louing heart,Simile. Loath with his ſon and daughter both to part, Though much prouoked by their folly meere, Still cloathes them well & makes them of't good cheere: So God aboue whoſe loue doth farre ſurpaſſe, The greateſt loue as yet that euer was, For all their faults and fowle enormious ſins, Yet cloathes them warme, in well furd coates of skins.Gen. 3. 2. 1. And thus attir'd as in a mantle curld,Simile: From Eden now they come into this world, For Iuſtice vrg'd vnto their ſinfull face, They might not ſtay within that ſacred place, For feare that Adam and his longing wife, Should take and eate but of the tree of Life, And ſo for euer both of them ſhould liue, To thinke the fruit did life vnto them giue: Like to a man when publikly detected,Simile. But for one fault is ſtill of more ſuſpected. O Holy God, heere is a miſtery, The Tree of life what it doth ſignifie, But that deare Lambe out of whoſe bleeding heart, Our ſoules were held much to his paine and ſmart. The time indeede when Eue the fruite did gripe, The tree of Life was not then fully ripe, But long time after in his glorious birth, Iuſt in the midſt and center of the earth, It flowriſht greene on ſacred Sion ſate, Till twas cut downe by curſed enuious fate. Now winged Time Gods ſpeedy meſſenger,Tempus. A nimble haſty poſting paſſenger, That hard by ſtood recording what was paſt, Vp to the skyes his eyes i'th inſtant caſt, Spide Eue and Adam ſtanding in the place, Thus cloathed both before the almighties face: When but commiſſion from that ſacred lip, He had obteyn'd, lets no aduantage ſlip, But mild and gently takes them by the hand, Shewes them the gate that to the eaſt doth ſtand, Leades them along lamenting of their fall, For all their cryes, ſets them without the wall; Bars vp the dore with ſuch an iron leuer, As none aliue that once can enter euer. (Alas poore Adam) now thou feel'ſt thy hurt, The aire all cold doth make thy body ſmart, Weakenes thy limbs, benummeth much thy ſtrength, And makes thee glad to fall to worke at length. Thy wandring firſt, and loſing of thy wife, Thy pennance then and toyling weary life, With all the reſt that did to thee befall, Before thy ſad and ſacred funerall: Within this place I muſt forbeare to tell, For feare my booke would to a volume ſwell, And proue more bigge then any of the reſt, Like one great diſh mongſt many at a feaſt. And yet a word (though Time againe do call) To anſwer that which in my way doth fall: Amongſt ſome men there is a queſtion made, Of thoſe that loue before their time to wade, How long it was in innocency firſt. That Adam liu'd before he grew accurſt, How many weeks, yeares, months, or count of dayes Were paſt before Eue fell to fooliſh gayes: And how long after that they were detected, They ſtayd in Eden all with ſin infected. Some men there be which are of this opinion, Euen in our dayes within our owne Dominion: That in the day when Adam was created, The diuelli'th inſtant ſtraight his fortune hated: Enuyde his glory, ſought his ruine more, As in my worke I told you of before. Tis very like that when Aurora bluſht, The morning cleare, and all were calme and huſht: That Adam then and his ſweet ſpouſe were made, But ere that Titan farre from home did wade, In weſterne Seas his weary courſers duckt, And heauens wide curtaine ore the earth was pluckt. It may be true that he might fall againe, And be expulſt out of that ſacred plaine: For ſome there be that heretofore did ſay, Man neuer ſtayd in honor yet a day. Others there be that cannot thinke it true, Their puniſhment did inſtantly inſue: But that long time they liued in the place, Enioying fauour, countenance and grace. That God himſelfe did oftentimes deſcend To Eden land, like to a louing friend. After the man had liued long alone, He fram'd the woman of his left ſide bone: Brought them together, as before you heard, Whoſe foule offence the godly Garden mard. O heauenly God! why ſhould we heere below Trouble our ſelues thy ſecrets paſt to know: When thy drad word which thou from heauen haſt ſent, The world and all can giue vs ſcarce content, But ſtill we ſtriue, and at thy ſecrets ayme, Till thou our Reaſon in our Senſe doſt maime. Here is the glory of th'eternall Crowne, Mans earthly wiſedome vtterly throwne downe: Though in Gods booke we loue to pry and peeke, In things diuine ſometimes we are to ſeeke. But Time againe to God himſelfe retiring,Tempus. Where all his daughters were with ioy admiring, To ſee the diuell damn'd to the loweſt hell, Adam expulſt, themſelues contented well▪ After a gentle kinde reſpectfull awe, Before his eyes that all mens actions ſaw, Takes ſacred Iuſtice by her reuerent hand, That nobly, graue, within that place did ſtand, Leads her along in milde maieſticke ſtate,Iuſtitia deſcrip. Plac't both her feete vpon the Eaſterne gate. In Scarlet roabes downe to her Anckles trayling, A Crowne of gold her browes all chaſt impaling. Her hands are cleane, not carryed with a tale, Her modeſt eyes are couered with availe. Out from her mouth as heauens eternall cryer, There ſtreames a blade of pureſt burniſht fire, A Sword (which ſhakes) that vp wards down wards curld, Like blazing ſtars amazing all the world.Simile. Iuſt by her ſide (at her right hand) Time places The goodlieſt Dame mongſt all the Nymphs and Graces The ſweet borne Mayd, and nobleſt Cherubim, That euer Nature at her beſt could lim: Braue peereleſſe Queene, moſt Angel▪ like thy face,Miſericordia. The Saints in heauen thy very name imbrace. There thou doſt ſtand by Iuſtice reuerent ſide, Till all be ended thou by her muſt bide, And ſhe againe at Gods diuineſt word, Doth guard thy perſon with her flaming ſword. Not long before (if you remember well) When Adam firſt with Eue his darling fell,Charitas. And both all naked iuſtly for it blam'd, Loues baſhfull Lady was thereof aſham'd: And as offended in that ſacred place, Mounts vp the clowds with diſcontented face, Bewailes mans fall with teares, bedewes her cheeeks, Moſt louely looks, and round about ſhe ſeekes, If ſhe can find with all her toyle a friend, To ſet all right, and paſt offences mend. When ſhe had paſt to ſiluer Cinthia fayre, Through the cold Region of the liquid Aire, And croſt the way that Phaeton begun, With his prowd Teame about the world to run, Aboue the ſtars and fiery regions hot, With extreame labour paine and trauell got. On euery ſide through danges great had ventred, Yet at the laſt within heauens wals ſhe entred, Where ſhe beheld a goodly glorious ſight, Ten thouſand candles all the world to light, Carryed in courſe about the earth to reele, And Nature nobly turning of their wheele. After thoſe kind imbraces euer vſde Twixt Ladies faire, dame Nature ſmiling, muſde To ſee her ſiſter with her louely face Thus rapt alone within that ſacred place, To paſſe the clowds and firy frozen Ayre, The earth to leaue, vnto her to repayre: Euen in an inſtant at that happy time, What heauen ſo high but loue diuine will clime? Scale vp the throane of God himſelfe aboue, Thriſe noble Lady full of grace and loue. Nature amaz'd as wondring what it ment, To ſee thy lookes bewray a diſcontent. Enquires the cauſe that makes thy face ſo ſad, The newes below ſhe thinks is worſe then bad. But when ſhe heard and vnderſtood the cauſe, That Eue and Adam brake their Makers lawes, Incurr'd a curſe on all their future ſeed, She thought the world and all therein would bleed, And that Gods anger for ſo foule offence, Would not be pleaſde vnleſſe ſhe went from thence. Not ſtaying now to heare the matter ſcand, She takes her ſiſter by her louely hand, Deſcending both in all their rich attire, Downe the hot region of heauens burniſht fire, Through the cold Aire beneath the Moone they diued, And at the laſt in Paradiſe arriued. Here ſhe ſtood by and ſaw Gods iudgement paſt, And oftentimes forth from her eyes ſhe caſt A Sea of ſalt and driery briny teares. Her loue (alas) was euer full of feares, To make her venter in the heate and cold, And mount the skies, as euen but late I told: Bring Nature downe in ſpeedy poſtapace, To appeaſe Gods Iuſtice in that ſacred place. Time ſpies her forth, and takes her by the hand, Which louely there within that place did ſtand: And as before he vſde each other Siſter, So now this Lady firſt of all he kiſt her. Then leades her foorth much like a louely Queene, Spangled in Iewels, wrought with gold in greene: Brings her to Iuſtice, plac't her by her ſide, In future ages euermore to bide. That till this world by power diuine ſhall ſtand, Theſe ſiſters both ſhould be on either hand, To guide the earth and keepe her feete vpright, And gouerne all vnder the Prince of might: When Mercy, Iuſtice both from Loue do flow, The Scarlet garment ſeemes as white as Snow. Time backe retires as heretofore he did, When now the place was of the Ladyesrid, And on a Dame of Noble birth doth light, Cald Truth his daughter cloathed all in white:Veritas. He takes her gently by her lilly hand, Wherein Gods booke did at that inſtant ſtand. Brought her along (as all the reſt before) Ouer the gate vpon the ſacred dore, In all her roabes with comely pompe and grace, And plac't her right before dame Iuſtice face, O heauenly God, may I not well reſembleIuſticia. The flaming Sword which made the earth to tremble, When all the world thy ſacred Iuſtice ſaw, To deare Elias liuing in the Law, Rapt vp a liue within a flaming Cart, His coate imblazde might be a bleeding heart.2. Kin. 18. 40. 2. King. 1. 10. 2. Kiug. 2. 11. When Ieſabel the monſter of her ſexe, His harmeleſſe ſoule vpon the earth did vexe: Her Prophets falſe to Babylon that ran, He quite conſum'd, and ſcarcely left a man To carry newes of that vn wonted fire, Which fell vpon them at his iuſt deſire. That Cherubin vpon the right hand plac't,Miſericordia Which time himſelfe hath with his fauour grac't, In all the world how well I may compare, To aged Henoch walking in the Ayre, Within whoſe dayes when God his body rapt Aboue the clouds in innocency lapt, Before ſuch time as Moſes Law was gaued, By Mercy onely all the world was ſaued The other damſell which my pen doth lim,Charitas. The ſweeteſt faſt and louelyeſt Cherubim, That Time himſelfe vpon the left hand ſet, And which my Muſe can neuer well forget. If that we reade the holy ſacred Booke, How neare her perſon (all diuine) doth looke, To that Diſciple which the reſt ſuruiu'd, In Pathmos Ile into the heauens a riu'd: Rauiſht in ſpirit on a ſacred day, Within a coffin did his body lay, And round about a light there ſhined bright, The coffin caught quite out of all their ſight. The leſſon ſtill that he did euer preach, Both in his life, and by example teach, In all his workes like to the Turtle doue, Throughout his bookes was little elſe but loue. That Cherubin which ſtood before the faceVeritas. Ofſacred Iuſtice in that reuerent place: Like to an infant that his Nurſe doth weane, Whoſe face is ſmiling, fingers ends are cleane. All full of Truth, not knowing how to faine, Diſſemble falſly all the world to gaine. How well I may compare her ſetled looke, To Gods eternall euer bleſſed booke. Theſe Cherubins all glorious to behold, Surpaſſing farre the pureſt burniſht gold: The radiant ſplendor of whoſe ſacred rayes, Reſemble thoſe ador'd within our dayes, Iuſtice diuine, much like to God himſelfe,Iuſtitia. That ſcorneth bribing and all ill got pelfe, And ſhewes by iudgements fearefull paſt examples, How all the world vnder his feete he tramples, Mercy againe much like to Chriſt his ſon,Miſerecordia. That hath the crowne of glory for vs won, And from the heauens deſcended to the earth, To make vs happy in his welcome birth, Whoſe panting ſoule had neuer minutes reſt, Suffring thoſe torments not to be expreſt, Surpaſſing farre the greateſt learned wits, To ſee how he at Gods right hand now ſits, Triumphing ouer ſin, world, death and hell, In ioyes eternall which no tongue can tell, Thrice euer bleſſed be his glorious name, It was his mercy made him do the ſame. Then Charity much like the God of loue,Charitas. I meane no Cupids which to folly moue, But that great ſpirit ere the world was made, Vpon the waters through the deepe did wade,Gen. 1. 2 Mat. 1. 13. 20. By whom the Virgin happily conceiued, To bring forth him that luſtice wrath appeaſed, When afterwards by Iordans ſiluer ſides, From Libanon to Sodoms lake that glides, Along the plaines where Ieſus was baptiz'd, The holy Ghoſt in ſhape of Doue diſguiz'd,Mat. 3. 15, 16, 17. Heauens windowes ope, thus ſpeaketh in their ſight, This is my Sonne in whom I take delight. When all was finiſh't, and to Heauen Chriſt went, Then downe came he to giue vs all content: As Iuſtice, Mercy, both with Loue are linck't,Simile. So God is one, the Perſons three diſtinck't. Theſe altogether as the heauens decree'd,Iuſtitia. Miſrecordia. Charitas. Veritas. The Tree of Life protect from Adams ſeede, The World it ſelfe with wonderment they fill, Their meate is knowne to do their fathers will, Who all this while is with their ſiſter ſweete,Natura. His eldeſt daughter as 'twas euer meete. When Time had done, diſcharged full his due, Aboue the clouds vp to the Heauens God flew, Where he remaines leauing the world and all, Which euer yet was knowne vpon this ball; To the protection of that noble Dame, That to the earth with loue her ſiſter came, So well affected, labouring what ſhe can, That all her care is but for ſinfull man, Let him his mind to goodneſſe alwayes bend, And Nature euer is his louing friend. Great God of Heauen, now is thy Iuſtice ſhowne, Thy Loue and Mercy with thy Nature knowne, Time hath thy Face and glorious browes vnmask't, And thus at firſt my Rurall Muſe hath task't, Heere brought forth Truth from her hath neuer ſturd: Reueal'd the ſame wrapt in thy holy Word, Of Paradiſe the ſacred curtaine drawne, The Sabaoth ſhew'd, on no mans vice doth fawne, Of all the world hath ſung the firſt beginning, Told Adams faults, and Eues offenſiue ſinning, Their ſeede defac't in breaking of thy lawes, And heere Ile ſtay, and ſit me downe and pauſe. The end of the firſt Age.

THE GLASSE OF TIME, IN THE ſecond Age.

Diuinely handled, By Thomas Peyton, of Lincolnes Inne, Gent.

Seene and allowed.

LONDON, Printed by Bernard Alſop, for Lawrence Chapman, and are to be ſold at his ſhop ouer againſt Staple Inne. 1620.

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

Beati Pacifici.

THE GLASSE OF TIME, IN THE SECOND AGE. The Argument. The ſacred Muſe by envious Foes is crost, Adam and Eue how each from other loſt, Their firſt borne ſonne by curſed malice led, Ʋnkindly wounds his dearest Brother dead, Apoſtacy the cauſe of all this ill, The totall World on euery ſide doth fill; With Bloud, Oppreſſion, Cruelty and Hate, To waſte, conſume, and winde each others state, The Church deriued from the third borne child, Is ſtaind, polluted, with Caines Race defilde, So that the World and all there in was found, Beſides the Arke were waſh't away and drown'd. VRania Soueraigne of the Muſes nine, Inſpire my thoughts with ſacred worke diuine, Come down from Heauen, within my Temples Reſt, Inflame my heart and lodge within my Breſt. Grant me the ſtory of this World to ſing, The Glaſſe of Time, vpon the Stage to bring, Be Aye within me by thy powerfull might, Gouerne my Pen, direct my ſpeech aright, Euen in the birth and infancy of Time, To the laſt Age, ſeaſon my holy Rime: Oh leade me on, into my Soule infuſe, Diuineſt Worke, and ſtill be thou my Muſe, That all the World may wonder and behold, To ſee Times paſſe in Ages manifold, And that their wonder may produce this end, To liue in loue their future liues to mend. Then ſhall thy lookes with ſacred luſter ſhine, The Muſes all within thy Browes combine, Richly adorn'd with all the Nimphes and Graces, Shall ſound thy prayſe with louely pleaſing faces, Ioying to ſee thy glorious heauenly hap, The golden Ball caſt downe into thy lap; To thy delight and great contentment more, Then if the World were only thine in ſtore. Though curſed Enuy on thy Fortune frowne, Yet thy chaſt Browes ſhall weare heau'ns lawrel crowne, In future Ages as the Muſes Queene, Thy Temples wreath'd, ſhall euer flowriſh greene. And what if Hymen ſomething doe annoy Thy tender Fruit, yet ſhalt thou liue in ioy: And when pale death ſhall cloſe vp both thine eyes, Thy fame ſhall mount aboue the lofty skyes. And yet Vrania how canſt thou be glad, To ſee this Age wherein we liue ſo bad, All ouergrowne far worſe then at the firſt, Bemir'd in ſin as if it were accurſt, Nothing but bloud, contention, Brides and braules, The Serpent ſtill vpon his belly crawles, And round about on enery ſide doth winde, With cunning ſleights the Infants face to grinde. Nay thouthy ſelfe, noble Vrania deere, Since firſt thy landing and ariuall heere, Haſt thou not beene on euery ſide turmoyl'd, Toſt too and fro, by Enuy ouertoyl'd? Whoſe viprous tongue within a ſacred place, Hath belcht her venome, aim'd at thy diſgrace; Like to the Diuell in Paradiſe at firſt,Simile. That banefull poyſon in his Breſt hath nurſt, To wrong thy perſon, weaken much thy ſtate, Enrich himſelfe to ſatiſfie his hate, Tooke all aduantage working on thy youth, Suggeſted lies inſtead of naked truth: Lock't thee vp cloſe (Immur'd) within a Wall, When not a Groate was due to him at all; But by the order of this noble Land, He in that place for debt to-thee ſhould ſtand. Great God of Heauen it makes▪ me weepe and waile, To ſee Iuiuſtice oftentimes preuaile; To domineere and catch into her hand, When Innocence muſt at her mercy ſtand, Then doth ſhe ſqueeſe, wring▪ wreſt, extort and lurch, When ſeldome times oppreſſion comes at Church, Deare friends perſwaſion once can ne're preuaile, To worke a peace till all be ſet to ſaile, Then ſwallowes all into a griping purſe, Not ſatiſfied, continues ten times worſe, Vowing to waſt and Ruine all thy ſtate. Oh curſed malice hatcht by enuious fate, When thy falſe heart hath made the act thy worſt, What art thou then more then a beaſt accurſt: Nay farre more worſe, for thou muſt count at large, For euery ſoule committed to thy charge, If by thy fault the leaſt of them be loſt, Thy ſoule in hell the price of it will coſt. But yet my Muſe, vnfold to me the cauſe, Why thou didſt fall into the trecherous pawes Of hatefull foes, deuouring Tigers fierce, Falſe hearted friends which in thy ſtate did pierce, That thou ſhouldſt thus be toſt on euery ſide, Compeld oft times to be from home and ride, To ſee if Enuy with her viperous face, Hath foyſted lies in ſacred Iuſtice place. I know no cauſe, nor could I euer tell, Why ſhe ſhould thus againſt thee alwayes ſwell, Winding her ſelfe, her mallice beſt to ſmother,Ier. 23. 12. 10. 11. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Into the habit of thine elder brother. One thou haſt lou'd, inough to make me doate, To ſee vice lurke vnder a formall coate. And thou thy ſelfe that yet didſt neuer hurt, To harme a childe, or throw a worme i'th'durt, Or take delight to glory in the fall Of any one, much leſle thy tongue to gall. Bite, ſcandall, blurre, to Iniury, defame, The worth of any in their goods or name: By wicked wayes the Infants face to grinde, Nor in thy hands thy neighbors liuing wind, But to thy power haſt ſhewd thy beſt endeauour, To loue the Saints withall thy heart for euer. Vrania (deere) thy very caſe is mine, How did my Foes ſtill to this day combine, Backe ſliding friends (much like to ſlippery Eles) Haue vndermind, to turne vp both mine heeles: With fawning tearmes my company haue ſought, Inuerted that (which yet) I neuer thought; Reported words, the which were neuer ſpake: Let euery man by this a warning take, And carefull be whom they conuerſe withall, The Bird oft times in Fowlers nets doth fall: Euen when (Alas) not any hurt ſhe thinkes, Then is ſhe caught, vnder their burthen Sinkes. How oftentimes haue I bin toſt and tir'd, Plung'd in the deepe and all with durt bemir'd, Toſt too and fro by thoſe in Ambuſh lay, With ſecret Gins to trap me in my way, Vow'd my destruction, all my ſtate to baine: Much to my Trouble, Iniury, and paine, Swallow'd my goods within a griping purſe, Haue I not cauſe all Romaine wolues to curſe, When all I haue can ſcarcely giue content, Vnleſſe my life and liuing both be ſpent. Were it for debt or title of my Land, That thus my foes did in their furie ſtand: If poſſibly they could me more abuſe, Yet in ſome ſort I would then here excuſe. Deere Muſe, the cauſe why I am thus perplext, Turmoyld about on euery ſide and vext, To waſte my ſtate, and paſſe through dangers many, Is not for wrong that I haue done to any: But by fel Enuy hatcht in hell below, In Eden nurc't, now ore the Earth doth flow. When Adam leaſt ſuſpected her intent, Then was her mind on miſchiefe fully bent, And euer ſince hath labour'd what ſhe may, Eues ſeede to baine her ſecret traps to lay: But all the ſpight againſt me ſhe can vſe, May waſte my State, and hinder thee my Muſe. For this alone, by her I am miſuſed, Hurried about▪ by ſlandrous tongues abuſed, Kept long from home, vnto my great expence, Weakened my Lands and liuing euer ſince, On all ſides croſt (by Greatneſſe) ouer ſway'd, By guile and cunning (treacherouſly) betray'd, Of ſmooth fac't friends abandon'd and forſaken, And all God knowes, but for a Word miſtaken. Nay had I beene ſole Author of that thing, Which ſome vntimely to my hands did bring, And blaz'd it forth, why ſhould I thus be blam'd, When no man (liuing) in the ſame is nam'd, Nor any ſcandall in thoſe words alone, Intended are but by a man i'th Mooue, Yet I turmoyl'd againſt all right and reaſon, Am vs'd by ſome, as if it were High Treaſon. Sacred Religion brought from Heau'n aboue, Thou ſhouldſt be conſtant, full of Grace and Loue, From God (himſelfe) thou haſt a holy taske, O let not vice (vnder a Surpliſſe) maske, By this alone Chriſts Flock are ſcattred all, O're all the Earth, in euery place do fall, Some runne to Rome and ſome renounce their Creede, Simile. And come againe, like to a ſtinking Weede▪ That beares a Flower a womans Loue to win, But yet the ſeed contagious all within. All powerfull God, when both by Night and Day, Inceſſantly my Heart to thee did pray, To eaſe my Griefe, and if it were thy will, To ſend me Peace to walke vp Sion hill, That in thy Houſe where all thy Saints do meet, My Soule might ſing and offer Odours ſweet, To heare thy Word come purling from the Rocke, Feeding thy Sheepe and building vp thy Flocke, Where none at all ſhould haue a cauſe to fall,Simile. Chriſts Coate was wouen without a Seame at all: In ſtead of Peace which I deſird in haſte, Thou ſentſt me downe a louely Ʋirgin chaſte, Noble Vrania ſoberly attired, Which when I ſaw, (with Ioy) I much admired, Finding a Friend (copartner) thus to be, A fit Companion in my miſerie, Great God of Heauen vpon my bended knees, Before that Face which euery actions ſees, Let me but know what good I euer wrought, That thou in Mercy thus on me haſt thought? Or haue I not offended much thy will, That thou my Br • ſt doſt with Vrania fill, Sending her Downe as thou didſt ſend thy Son, To ſaue thoſe ſheepe which from thy Fould did run. Eternall God, what ſhall I giue to thee, For thy great Loue and Fauour ſhewd to me? If all the World within my power did ſtand, And all therein were ſole at my command: If all the waues within the Seas which boyle, And all the Riuers on this Earth were oyle: With all thoſe things that ere I did behold Vnder Heauens Cope were fram'd of beaten gold, In Thankefulneſſe for all thy Mercies ſweet, Ide all Surrender, lay them at thy feet. But ſoft my Muſe, whilſt thee and I am playning, Ech others griefes, and ſtill but little gaining: Time poſts away, as if it had forgot What Adam did (after the Gates were ſhut) In Paradiſe, I meane that ſacred dore, Which in my Worke I told you of before. Adam and Eue about the gliſtring walls Of Paradiſe, with mournfull cryes and calls, Repenting ſore, lamenting much their Sin, Longing but once to come againe within, In vaine long time about the wals did grope, Not in Diſpaire as thoſe are out of hope: But all about, in euery place did feele, His louing Wife ſtill following at his heele, To find the Dore with all their care and paine, To come within, their former ſtate to gaine. Like to a man that in a Pallace builtSimile. Of Iaſper ſtone, and couered rich with guilt, One euery ſide lin'd with a golden wall, And no Towne neare, nor any houſe at all, In ſuch a place ſuppoſe one ſhould abide, Be entertaind like to a louely bride. Yet in the night for ſome abuſe abſurd, Perchance for drinke or ſome diſtaſtefull word. If he ſhould be faſt by the ſhoulders caught, Lead forth a dores and ſet by all at naught, Haild all along (euen in the Euening late) Betweene his foes, and thruſt quite out of gate, In no place neere, hearing a Dog to barke, All comfortleſſe wanders about i' th' darke: Gropes euery where, if he can find a dore And enter in, he will offend no more. Or like a man that venters for a prize,Simile. Hoodwinckt, and made ſtarke blind in both his eyes, Wheeles round about, in euery place doth reele, At euery poſt and corner houſe doth feele, To find the dore where he ſhould enter in, With all his toyle his Wager for to win. Euen ſo is Adam in that vncked place, The flaming Sword ſtill blazing in his face; On euery ſide the gliſtering walls to ſhine, The Sun himſelfe iuſt vnderneath the line. The radiant Splendor of thoſe Cherubims, Dazles, amates, his tender eye ſight dims.Simile. Like to a man that gazeth at the Sun, Is then vnfit, farre any way to run, Leaſt whileſt his lookes aboue the Clowds he pitch, He chance to fall and tumble in a ditch, Such is the ſtate of Adam and his Wife, And euery Man within this mortall life, To wander, Grope, as in the darke be loſt, And fartheſt off from that they ayme at moſt: The ſacred luſter of Gods Word diuine, The Goſpels truth which ore the Earth doth ſhine, The Son of Peace (Christ Ieſus) being borne, Whoſe glorious Light doth all the World adorne: Haue made Man blind and dazled both his eyes, To ſee that Ioy which in the Scripture lies. When many dayes were paſt away and ſpent, Finding at laſt they miſt of their intent: And that their toyle and trauell to their paine, Was fruſtrate quite, their labour ſtill in vaine: Much diſcontented for their ſad miſhap, Yet once againe vpon the walls they rap, Then weepe and howle, lament, yearne, cry, and call, But ſtill no helpe, nor anſwer had at all. Perplext in mind, and dazled with the light, With griefe and care, diſtempered in their ſight, Amazed both iuſt as the wind them blew, To Paradiſe they bad their laſt adew: Like thoſe are Moapt with wandring hither, thither,Simile. From thence they went, thēſelues they knew not whither The Croſſes, griefes, vexations, troubles, care, Befell them after, with their hungry fare, Stragling about, abiding in no place, And Diſcontent, vpon their late diſgrace, The angry Heauens, for many dayes that lowred, The ſable clouds which ſulphury ſhowres downe powred: The very Earth combining with them both, Strange hideous ſights, of irkeſome Lights vncouth, The Elements, as all together bent, Againſt mans Sin, themſelues in ſunderrent. The Sunne aſham'd, the inconſtant angry Moone Began to wane, ſending a Night at Noone, Surcharg'd with Sorrowes, no where now to reſt: Their griefes more great, then can be well expreſt. The diſcontent ſome ſay which Adam found,Comment. in Cabaliſt vidi Reuch. lib. 1. Being expulſt out of that holy Ground, By Eues foule error to be thus diſgra'ſte, Made Him, the World, his Wife, and all diſtaſte: And like a Hermit in his wandring weedes,Simile. On little elſe but griefe and ſorrow feedes, Repentant thoughts are harbour'd in his brest, His Mind impatient, finds no place to reſt, But to the Eaſt from Paradiſe doth run, Towards the riſing of the morning Sun. Heere, heere (Alas) his tender dazled ſight, With the great ſplendor of that glorious light, Whoſe matchleſſe grace when vp to Heauen it enters,Simile. Much like a Queene forth from her Chamber venters, Climes vp the Skies, and tramples on the Aire, With cheerefull lookes in glittring Robes moſt faire, Prances about, in no place long it bides, Viewes all the World on euery ſide it rides, The radiant Rayes which ſparkled in his face, Made Adam thinke that God was in that place. With this conceit, he tarries in no coaſt, But on he goes, and all in haſt doth poaſt, Ore Hill, and Dale, with toyle, vexation, paine, Like Siciphus, that labours ſtill in vaine,Simile. To roule a ſtone againſt a monſtrous Mount, His griefe more great then any man can count, Finds to his coſt his trauell to no end, His weary works all to no purpoſe tend: So on he runs, on nothing elſe doth dreame, Vntill he came at Ganges watry ſtreame, And as before, ore many a little Riuer, He made a way vp to his Heart and Liuer, So in this ſtreame, hoping the ſame to win, He enters bold, and wades vp to his chin. Heere is a Barre in ſuperſtions way, Too deepe a rubbe to make his fury ſtay, For all his haſt he can no further paſſe, By Ganges coaſt, like to a Wall of braſſe,simile. Where he is forſt, to try his vtmoſt skill, Againſt the ſtreame, he ſtriues and labours ſtill: Vntill by Practiſe with his actiue limbs, A Mile or two vpon the waues he ſwims, But yet too farre in abſence of his Wife, May breede a skarre and hazard ſo his life. Thus diſcontented, with that watry wall, The griefe conceiued of his diſmall fall; The loſſe of her that late before he loſt, When as he thought to paſſe to God in poſt, Himſelfe alone bewayling of his ſins, To true Repentance faithfully begins: And as ſome ſay did Circumcize himſelfe, Waſht all his Skin, (bemir'd) in durty pelfe, Forſakes the World, for certaine dayes did ſtand, Within the ſtreame, and neuer came at land, Vntill his fleſh from top to toe was ſeene, With cold and froath, all ouergrowne with greene. Then God which late vpon his fault did frowne, Now ſmiles againe, and ſendeth Raziel downe, One of the three in ſacred Roabes of Light, That euer ſtand before the moſt of might, Since Sathiel one of their number fell, From higheſt Heauens vnto the loweſt Hell, Michael, Gabriel, this Raziel ſtood, Still to this day the ſole Archangels good. This noble Angell brings thoſe tidings glad, And cheeres the Man to be no more ſo ſad, Tells him that God is not with him offended, But with the Diuell which firſt his Reaſon blinded, That his Repentance purchaſt hath his peace, From further Pennance wil'd him to ſurceaſe, Although of Sin he hath beene once detected, Yet his good will was in the Heauens accepted, Bad him goe ſeeke and comfort vp his Wife, People the World and liue a ioyfull Life. The Meſſenger that from the Heauens deſcended, To bring theſe tidings vp againe Aſcended,simile. Like to a flame of pure celeſtiall light, So vaniſht he from earthly Adams ſight, Yet ſome do thinke he tarried in thoſe parts, And taught the man the liberall learned Arts: Was his Companion as a friendly guide,Iewes and Turkes. That euer kept by Adams fearefull ſide, When he went ſeeking to his care and paine, With extreme toyle to find his Wife againe, For many yeeres within the ſtreame did ſtand, Whilſt Eue was wandring in the Nubian Land, His faithfull Angell, in all ſtormes and weather, Vntill ſuch time he brought them both together. At Araffe hill within Arabia ground, This was the place where Eue her husband found, Heere at this Mount they both together met, And each with (Ioy) their louely eyes did wet, With ſuch a ſhower of pearely chriſtall teares, Diſtil'd in Loues pure Limbeck, full of feares, That one the other finally had miſt, Heere once againe they ſmile, imbrace and kist. Still to this day the reuerent feare and awe, Of thoſe which yet the Mount haue euer ſaw, The great reſpect that Superſtition wins, 'Mongſt men denout in pardon of their ſins; The Worlds conceit by Mahomet late nurſt, That Eue and Adam heere repenting firſt, Found Peace with God vnto their ſoules content, Built them a Houſe in which their liues they ſpent, Hath made the Hill admired to this day, For Turkiſh Pilgrims euer more to pray, The ſacred Skirtes with goodly plaines are wal'd, And at this day the Mount of Pardons cal'd. No leſſe admir'd is that Renowned ſtreame, By Bengala which makes all Aſia dreame, And fills the World with ſuperſtious guile, From Eaſterne India to th' Atlantike Ile Braue Ganges floud how dooſt thou draw together? Fierce warlike Nations muſtring hether thether, Captiu'ſt them all fettred within thy bankes, To wade within thee, yeeld thee humble thankes, For ſtaying Adam in thy ſiluerd floud, When he neglected all his future bloud, Loſt wilfully his neereſt deereſt wife, Careleſſe of all endangring much his life. This may be true, and yet I cannot thinke,Confutation of the former opinion. That thoſe whom God in Paradiſe did linke, Brought them together by his powerfull might, Should thus be parted each from others ſight, Eue in the South, by fearefull Negro Land, Adam i'th Eaſt, on Ganges goodly ſtrand, Betweene both theſe a wondrous weary ſpace, For two to trauell in ſo poore a caſe: Vnſhod, all bare, mongſt horrid thunder dints, Through woods to walkevpon the thornes and flints: He in a maze, not knowing where to find His louing Wife: like to a man ſtarke blind,Simile. Toyles out himſelfe for that he neuer ſaw, To find a needle in a heape of ſtraw; She all alone wandring ſhe knew not whether, Blowne euery where much like vnto a Feather,simile. Inconſtant light (and wauering) apt to vexe, As is the Nature of her timerous ſexe. It is not like in all mens Iudgement ſound, They rambled farre from Edens fruitfull ground, Or that but two ſo kind and tender hearted, In all their liues ſhould for a yeare be parted: Beſides the opinion of the learned wits, Graue ancient fathers euermore that ſits, Reuoluing of the higheſt deepeſt works, That in Gods Booke diuinely lies and lutkes: The ſacred ſtories of all Ages paſt, Which euermore eternally ſhall laſt, Haue made it cleere for euery man to tell, That in this place our Parents both did dwell, Liu'd long ſecure, about the Garden kept, Ioy'd with the ſight, yet for their fall they wept, Though they were bard to come againe within, By reaſon of their fowle contagious ſin, Yet they deſir'd for all their paſt diſgrace, But for to liue neere to that louely place. Heere firſt with boughs, and ſuch like broken ſtuffe, They built a Houſe, vnder a ſimple Ruffe, Then like a couple that but late did wed, With Pelts and leaues, they make a homely Bed, Where they enioy'd more pleaſure, true content, Then in the Courts of greateſt Kings are ſpent: Himſelfe all naked in a Sheepes skin curl'd, The ſole Commander of this totall World, Is glad to worke to paſſe his time in peace, To ſerue his God from further ſin to ceaſe. Thus ouer-ioyd, vpon a time it fell, The circumſtance I muſt forbeare to tell, Playing with 〈◊〉 within that ſhady bowre, And in his armes his louelieſt ſweeteſt flowre, Embracing, toying, ſmiling, kiſſing ſweete, The ſports moſt chaſte vnto a Spouſe bed meete, Thinking the time he had with her beguil'd, Forgets himſelfe, and ſhe conceiues with child. Strange is the change ſhe in her ſelfe doth find, An extreme Paſſion working in her mind, Longing oft▪ times ſome ſops in Tarre to lick, Her bodies altred, and her ſtomack ſick, Black vgly Berries, fulſome vnripe Plums, And euery thing that in her way next comes, The goodly fruits which are within the walls, Of Paradiſe, ſhe to her husband calls, Deſires, intreates him, as he loues his Wife, Forth with to haſt, and fetch to ſaue her life. Full forty weekes ſhe liued in this caſe, Feeding on toyes and greeneſt drugs moſt baſe, On Durt and Traſh, on Aſhes, Hips and Hawes, She finds ſhees ill, and yet ſhe knowes no cauſe, At length it fell whilſt he was forth of dores, Chaſing the Deere, hunting the furious Bores, To get ſome Veniſon, or ſuch dainty diſh, To ſatisfie his Wiues deſired wiſh: Like Hercules that in a ſtrange diſguize,Simile. Retired home with ſuch a welcome prize, Findes his deare Darling full of mirth and ioy,Caine borne. And in her armes a goodly infant Boy. Th' Admiration, wondrous great content, To ſee a Child thus fortunately ſent, Sweete liuing Picture module of himſelfe, The World and all he now eſteemes as pelfe, With Ioy o're cloyd, vpon the face doth gaze: Like to a man aſtoniſht in amaze,Simile. All mute he ſtands not knowing what to thinke, No Reaſon yet, into his head can ſinke, How it can be conceiued in the breſt, Of Eue (ſweete woman) whom he loued beſt. When once reuiu'd out of that pleaſing trance, The tender Babe he in his armes doth dance, Smiles on his face and queſtions with his Wife, How firſt was ſent thus to prolong his life; The Child ſhe ſaid, to her immortall fame, She knew not well how firſt to her it came, But that ſhe thought although her ſence was weake, This was the Seed the Serpents head ſhould breake, Tould him in words and gentle ſpeeches mild, That by the Lord ſhe had conceiu'd that Child. Gen. 4, 1. True are thy words deere Eue, moſt true thy heart, Why ſhould a Man thy meaning pure I nuert, It cannot ſinke into thy ſacred thought, How of thy ſelfe an Infant thou haſt brought, As well might Adam in thy ſences ſeeme, To beare a Child, for ought that thou canſt deeme, When of the World twas in the early morne, And the firſt Babe that euer yet was borne, How damn'd prophane are thoſe accurſed lips, Renegado proſelites. Which in Gods Church ſhall make ſuch dangerous ſlips, Within the ſame to belch to thy diſgrace, Euen in a ſacred and moſt publike place, Behinde thy back when thou art dead and paſt, And canſt not anſwere what their mouth out caſt, Thus to be lye mens ſoules to ſin allure, Wreſting thy ſpeech with banefull breath impure: Not terrifide with Heauens all threatning Rod, But dares to teach (that thou didſt ſweare by God Gen. 4. 1. Thou hadſt a Child) and oftentimes to ſpeake it, If it were true, vnto the world to breake it, Is worſe then was that Serpent damn'd accurſt, In Paradiſe which wrong'd thy Perſon firſt. Ah thus we ſee the curſed enuious Snake, Simile. That ſleepes to goodneſſe, but to euill doth wake, To lurke all cloſe vnder the ſweeteſt flowre, When Goddeſſe Flora all her pride doth powre, Vpon the Earth within the midſt of May, To ſuck fell poyſon from the holeſom'ſt gay, When the deere painefull wiſe laborious Bee, Ten thouſand wayes about heauens bloſſoms flee, On euery flower within the Garden ſits, And out from them the wax and honey gets, Conueys it ſafely to her well wrought Hiue, To pleaſure Friends, and keepe her ſelfe aliue. Let Serpent ſnake, and all the viperous ſeede That euer Enuy in her wombe did breede, Hacht in the Bowells of th'infernall vault, Where none but Diuels and damned Atheists hault: Twixt God and Belial ſtill thy ſpeech oppoſe, Yet ſhall thy words ſmell as the fragrant Roſe▪ Or like thoſe Flowers in Paradiſe were plauntedSimile. By God himſelfe, when he the Garden haunted. Deare Eue, thy worth I euer muſt admire, Thou ſitſt aboue within the Angels Quire, Tuning thy voyce vnto their ſacred layes, To ſound forth Glory to the Prince of prayſe.Simile. Like Gods owne Daughter (whom he loues moſt deare) Warbling ſweet Muſicke in th' Almighties eare, Or that pale Virgin with her glimmering lampe, That lights the world vnder heauens ſtarry Campe, The Vertues which within thy breſt were bred, Shall neare be ſtained by any viperous head, So long as Fame can ſound thy glorious worth, Chaſt Paragon, the richeſt Iem on Earth. Take all the Ladies breathing on this Ball, The ſweeteſt fac't, the nobleſt borne, and all The famous Queenes and Monarchs of the World, Which on the wheele of Fortnne haue beene hurld, That euer liu'd vpon this earthly frame: Now gone and paſt too infinite to name, The ſaints themſelues and all the bleſſed troope, Thoſe that now liue within heauens burniſht hoope▪ Though thou art blam'd as Author of their fall, Yet art thou ſtill the mother to them all. Like to the Ʋine ſo is thy fruitfull Wombe, Pſal. 128. 3. Simile▪ Thy ſpeech more ſweet then is the honey combe: Thy Breath all pure, which from thy lips comes out, Thy Browes impalde with Chaſtneſſe round about: From thee at firſt were peopled euery land, Like O liue Plants thy tender Infants ſtandsimile. About thy Table, in a ſeemely ſort, To ouer-ioy and make thee gladſome ſport. But why ſhould I runne farther in thy praiſe, Vpon Fames wings thy liuing name to raiſe, Blazing thy parts, maintaining of thee ſtill, And fowle▪ detraction aymes to worke thy ill. Aye to deface thy modeſt ſpeeches pure, With ſcandals vile, for euer to endure: When as thy worth exceeds the learnedſt thought, That by thy meanes into the world is brought, And ſtill the Truth conuinceth brings to light, The actions falſe, obſcurd, in enuyes night,1. Cor. 3. 12. Diſſolues to naught the morter made of clay, The buildings fram'd of ſtubble, traſh, and hay, The good from bad, the ſheepe from wolues doth ſeuer, And brands the diuell in his falſe tongue for euer. And yet we ſee, the ſacred Truth not free From viperous tongues, gnawne in the worſt degree,simile. Taxt oftentimes, and ſqueeſed like a Spunge, By Romiſh Tygers at her ſides that hunge, Inuerting, ſtretching, conſtruing all her words, With error, falſhood, damned wayes and girds. Chaſte vertuous Eue, now ſhe is paſt and dead, The Serpents ſeed muſt breake the Womans ſeed. But in the heauens th' eternall God of powre, At Iustice barre will on their faces lowre▪ And on their heads thunder his iudgements downe, When Eue ſhall ſtand adorned with a Crowne: Then ſhall their actions in his dradfull ire, Be purged all, and tride as gold i'th fire. The wickeds words their enuious tong hath ſpake, To her diſgrace, ſhall make them yearne and quake: And in the end the ſword ſhall iuſt diuide, The good from thoſe which haue her worth belide, Whoſe feet ſhall totter on hels fatall wheele, And headlong downe to damned diuels ſhall reele: Whilſt Eue ſhall ſit triumphant on the skies, Viewing their fall, hearing their moanes and cryes, Ioying to ſee the ſacred Truth preuaile, Her meaning clear'd, her foes to weepe and waile. And yet deare Eue I muſt not leaue thee there, But bring thee downe, more children for to beare: If but with one thou hadſt begun and ended, Yet had the World beene by thy meanes befriended. But to repleniſh with thy fruitfull ſpawne, From Sols firſt riſing where his teame doth dawne, The totall earth on euery ſide and round, Here is a loue the like was neuer found, Within the breſt of any woman kind, Our thoughts, hearts, actions, all our zeale to bind, In true deuotion to thy reuerent name, Much to admire ſo ſweet a noble Dame▪ When thy firſt child into the world was borne, Straight he began to take delight in Corne, In large poſſeſſions working vp the ſoyle, Neare Paradiſe with painfull labour toyle, Tilling the ground, and planting of the graine, His name thereby was fitly, called Cain. Whilſt thou againe conceiu'ſt a ſecond child, A ſweet borne babe of countenance more mild: And after that, about ſome threeſcore more Of ſons and daughters which thy body bore, All nurſt by thee after their timely birth, To fill the world, and people all the earth. Thus with thy husband (in that arbour'd Tent) Thou ſpentſt thy dayes in wondrous great content, In true Religion, Sacrifices, Rites, Such as thy heart vnto thy God indites, Ioying in him, and he againe in thee, The ſweeteſt life that euer eye could ſee, When as together in your children ſmall, You trayne them vp on Edens God to call: And teach them yong by your owne ſteps allure, Them to all good, chaſte, honeſt actions, pure, The golden ground, the heauenly ſtarre, and guide, From which but few do euer after ſlide. Happy, thrice happy are thoſe children borne, A crowne of Glory ſhall their browes adorne, Whoſe infant yeares are by their parents firſt, With the pure milke of true Religion nurſt: In riper dayes when bluſtring blaſts aſſaile, The mountaines high, that ouertops the dale, Their Faith ſtands firme as fixt, vpon a Rocke, Not eaſly ſtird by euery wauing ſhocke: But conſtant bides, moſt permanent and ſure, The aſſaults of Sathan ſtrongly to endure. In Elder Time when Age doth threaten death At lateſt gaſpe, euen when our vitall breath Begins to faile, in haſtning on our end; And kinsfolks, friends, vpon vs all attend, With ſad lamenting, diſcontented eyes, To ſee our Soule how vp to heauen it flies, Forſakes the Earth, willing the world to loſe, Incombred with a thouſand cares and woes, That in this life dayly attend the ſheepe, Vntill with Christ aboue the clouds they keepe. O then the comfort▪ ſweet delight and ioyes, When all things elſe ſeems to their ſenſe but toyes. There the good ſhepheard in his armes embraceth, All thoſe that loue him, wondrouſly he graceth, With this kinde welcome, Come ye bleſſed Soules, Come drinke the Nectar kept in Chriſtall bowles, Eate this Ambroſia as a ſacred token, That for thy ſin my body once was broken: Receiue heauens crowne th' eternall kingdome kept, For all thoſe (Saints) which from the world haue ſlept. But ſoft my Muſe, what makſt thou now aboue Out of this world, thus on a ſudden moue Adam to leaue his fruitfull wife, and all His pleaſures, ioyes, and both his children ſmall, Euen in the ſpring and glory of their birth, Weary of all, thus to forſake the Earth, As if thou tookſt more pleaſure, true delight Within the heauens, then in their ſinfull ſight. Stay yet a while, and as thou haſt begun, So to the end thy courſe directly run: Leaue them not thus; O do not now ſurceaſe, Till thou haſt brought them to their graues in Peace: Shew all their liues, the chiefe of euery thing, Their Croſſes, Griefes, do thou (diuinely) ſing, But yet (at firſt) tell how in louing ſort, The Brothers liu'd, and made their Parents ſport. Thoſe that long time without a childe haue beene, And neuer iſſue of their owne haue ſeene, But without kindred, friends, and thoſe which may With ſome content ſucceed at latter day. If theſe (I ſay) when leaſt of all they thought, Should children haue ſo fortunately brought, To prittle, prattle euery word by chance, And vp and downe about the houſe to dance: With many toyes that in their minor yeares Giues great content, the Parents loue endeares. Let theſe men ſpeake, but with a Iudgement ſound, What high content themſelues haue often found, In the like sports of tender Infants ſweet, That hardly▪ yet can crawle vpon their feet; The fame we may of Eue and Adam thinke, And ten times more then in our heads can ſinke, How in their Babes they ioyd and tooke delight, And neuer well when they were out of ſight. Caine in the bloſſoms of his blooming youth, As tis recorded in the ſacred truth, Takes much delight in planting of the ſeeds, The fruitfull Vine, and all that Nature breeds, The choyceſt, rareſt, daintieſt, and the beſt That euer yet ſhe bare vpon her breſt. Walkes all about, and viewes the richeſt ground, By Paradiſe on euery ſide and round, With ſhou'ls and ſpades he tumbles vp the earth, His chiefeſt ayme to be a man of worth, And Lord it ore his other brethren all, That they may bowe, within his preſence fall: To that intent he labours, workes and toyles, In ſweate and duſt, i'th'durt (oft times) he moyles, Like a meere worldling ſpends his youthfull dayes, His minde (oft runs) a thouſand kinde of wayes: If he can finde ſome new contriued tricke, To eaſe himſelfe, the ſoyle vp cleane to ſtricke, And bring the ſame in temper for the graine, That he may play and yet poſſeſſe the gaine. Induſtry, Reaſon, all the Arts conſpire, To frame an Engin fierceſt horſe to tire; The Oxen, Cattle, and the ſtrongeſt Waines That euer wrought vpon the fertill plaines: Himſelfe and all (in labouring with) this plough, His Ioynts grow stiffe, and brawny hands all rough, Yet in the ſame he finds ſo much content, That his beſt dayes in this hard worke are spent. His brother Habell doth not idly liue, But to ſome Art his toward mind doth giue, Whoſe chiefe delight is in the harmeleſſe ſheepe, The bleating flockes vpon the downes to keepe, To follow them when oftentimes his eyes Are vpwards fixt towards the lofty skies, Obſeruing thus a thouſand ſeuerall things, That heauenly matter to his ſences brings, Their number, Order with their great encreaſe, And quiet life, ſpending their dayes in peace, By faith perceiuing hidden mysteries, The ſum of that which in the Scripture lies:Eſa▪ 53. 67. How from the fould a Lambe ſhall forth be taken, Which would be one day of the reſt forſaken, That he ſhould be the ſacrifice and guide, Sole Ranſome full for all the world beſide. Thus theſe two brothers liu'd, and ſpent their dayes Oft times in worke, ſometimes in sport and playes: In as much loue, delight, content and all, As euer two that breath'd vpon this Ball. If you ſhould ramble ore the totall Earth, Youle hardly finde two brethren from their birth, Throughout the world in all the Ages ſpent, In true bred Loue an euener courſe that went, At Bed, at Boord, at Home, abrode i'th' weather, They ſeldome part but alwayes keepe together: Walke, talke, diſcourſe, euen all the day and night, They are not well but one i'th' others ſight. All the weeke long delightfully they paſſe The time away in browzing vp the graſſe, In husbandrie and ſuch as I haue told, But on Gods Rest pins them within a fold, Or ground well fenc't on euery ſide about, That they may feed, but yet not wander out▪ Vpon which Day, when once out of their bed, By the example of their Parents led, They altogether meete, to Reſt and Pray, To ſanctifie the ſacred Sabaoth day, To thinke on God, craue pardon for their ſins, Where Adam then to teach them all begins, Inſtructs them well in true Religion firſt, Tels them the cauſe which made them thus accurſt, To vſe their wits, to labour worke and toyle, In the wide fields to ſpend their dayes and moyle, To keepe the ſheepe and by their cunning ſleight, To frame an Engine of ſuch wondrous weight, Whereas God knowes before their fearefull fall, In Paradiſe they needed none at all, Wils them to loue intirely, void of ſtrife, The Heauenly way vnto the Tree of Life. This is their worke and holy practiſe pure, Sweete exerciſe for euer to endure, Thus they continue running of their race, Whilſt ſhearing day and Harueſt comes apace, Then they beſtir them; toyle it out all day, Inning their corne making the new Mowne Hay, And in the end they altogether feaſt, So giue God thanks, and from their labour Reſt: When the next Sabaoth clad in ſeemely ſuites, They Sacrifice the firſt of both their fruits, In ſhew of thanks for all the plenteous ſtore, That flocks and fields to their content hath bore. Habell begins to ſhew his gratefull mind, Seekes all the flock the chiefeſt Lambs to find, The firſt falne fruits, the goodlieſt fat and faire, That all the World cannot with them compare, The golden prize that Iaſon brought to Greece, From C •• ch • s Ile was not ſo fine a fleece, As each of theſe vpon their backs did bring, To fleede and cloath in Earth the greateſt King. He brings them freely with a willing heart, Euen glad with them and all the reſt to part, And layes them downe before the God of might, Both in his fathers and his brothers ſight, Offring them vp a ſacrifice moſt pure, Vnſpotted cleane his ſinfull ſoule to cure, Implores th' eternall praying euer ſtill, For to be pleas'd thus to accept his will, As a meere figure and a (ſacred) Tipe, Of that deare Lamb whoſe bloud away ſhall wipe, The ſcarlet ſinnes that in the Earth ſhall flowe, With Iſop waſh, clenſe them as white as Snow. The Prayers, ſpeeches, heauenly gratefull words, The inward heart and meaning all accords, The aſcending ſauour, ſweete perfuming ſcent, With that pure Lambe which in the ſame is meant: Climes vp the Aire and mounts to God aboue, An Offring free, (accepted) full of Loue, Which thing to ſhew that he was partly pleaz'd, His anger paſt, and all his wrath appeaz'd, Iuſt at that inſtant downe from Heauen did ſhine, A burning fire and ſacred light (diuine) Which in their ſight conuey'd the Sacriſice, Of from the Earth, vp to the lofty skyes, "When preſently a voyce was downeward caſt, "This I accept for thine offences paſt. Caine more for ſhew then either Loue or zeale, To God, Religion or his owne ſoules weale, Stands by beholding of the ſacred light, And voyce (diuine) downe from the Prince of might, Expecting that his formall ſacrifice, Stuft with all Guile, Hippocriſie and Lyes, Ambition, Pride, baſe Couetouſneſſe accurſt, Yet thought his gift ſhould he accepted firſt, As comming from the eldeſt firſt borne Peere, The Son and Heire, whom Adam loued deere.

Meduſa (damn'd) in foule black vgly cloathes, That all the world moſt deadly hates and loathes, Swolne (like a Toade) her lookes caſt downe to hell, Where none but fiends, and hatefull monſters dwell, Whoſe curſed haire about her ſhoulders falls, Powdred with Serpents full of poyſoned Galls, Hiſſing and crawling round about her head, Hatcht by a Viper in her wombe that bred, Rends vp the Earth aſcendeth like a Ghoſt, Conueyes her ſelfe into the promiſt coaſt, By Paradiſe where Caine was ſacrificing, Some of his corne his double heart diſguiſing, Watches the Time when as ſhe thought moſt beſt, And windes her cloſe in his diſſembling breſt. No ſooner ſhe was in his heart acquainted, But his beſt bloud was with her venome tainted, His vaines ſwolne vp and all his body puft, His Head, Heart, Lungs (infectuouſly) were ſtuft, With Enuy, Malice, Wrath and deadly Rage, Nothing could now his ſtomack fell aſſwage, Finding no eaſe, his countenance falls downe, His cankred mind diſcerned by his frowne, Now Father, Mother, Brother, none he brookes, That Heauen it ſelfe takes notice of his lookes. Since firſt the light from darkeneſſe was diſcouered, Or that the Clouds within the Aire haue houered, The Heauens and Earth, the Sea and all begun, And Phaeton his endleſſe Race hath run, About the World in twice twelue howers right, Or ſiluer Cinthia ſhew'd her pale fac't light, Neuer was ſeene a more delightfull day, The glittring Sunne in burniſh't bright aray, Nor Heauen (it ſelfe) more pleaſing euer ſmil'de, Then when the brothers on Loues Alter pilde, The Sacrifice before their Fathers face, To God aboue within that holy place. But when Meduſa from Hells deepeſt vaults, Began but once to ſpy mans ſecret faults, And from her Den in darke Obliuion pent, The bowels of her Mother Earth had rent, To come aloft into the open Ayre, With her foule breath, infectious poyſoned haire, And Rags (moſt baſe) as late before I told, To ſeate her ſelfe in Caines ſecureſt hold. Then Heauen and Earth, and all began to change, The winged clouds about this Ball to range, The burning lampes within the firmament, Seem'd for to winke as if their oyle were ſpent, The glorious Sun to hide his gliſtring face, Aſham'd of Enuy in a ſacred place: And all at once moſt fearefully to lowre, To threaten tempeſts or ſome ſudden ſhowre, When inſtantly on Caines diſſembling head, A ſable cloud from all the reſt out ſhed, Began to ſtand himſelfe and all iuſt vnder, Hearing this voyce out from a dreadfull thunder. "Falſe Hippocrite, how canſt thou ſimulize, "Before my face thy actions fowle diſguize,Gen. 4. 6. 7. "To thinke that I which all the World adorne, "Would thus be fed with riffe raffe of thy Corne, "Or yet in bloud to ſatiate my ſelfe, "To liue as thou by baſe and Earthly pelfe, "And not conceiue that Holy thing is ment, "Within the ſame which giues me full content? "Why is thy Soule thus peſtred with a ſore, "Ranckled, beſpaked, like a rotten core,Simile. "Thy conſcience, deedes, falſe enuious mind ſo bad, "Thy lookes caſt downe, and countenance ſo ſad? "Doſt thou not know that if thy heart be right, "Thy actions good and pleaſing in my ſight, "That thou ſhalt be accepted beſt and more, "That other wiſe ſin lyeth at thy dore? "Think on my Words, halt not within my ſight, "I am that God which brings the Truth to light "Amend thy life, at curſed Enuy hiſſe, "Repent thy ſelfe of what is done amiſſe, "Let her not once be harbourd in thy breſt, "Nor in thy Heart her banefull poyſon reſt, "Redeeme the Time, behold the lofty skyes, "Where Loue and Mercy for offences lyes. "One comfort more then thou deſeru'ſt I giue, "Thy Brother yet ſhall at thy ſeruice liue: "Thou like a Lord ſhalt ouer-rule him ſtill, "And his deſire according to thy will, "Shall ſubiect be, deuoted euer ſtand, "To run and goe with (Ioy) at thy command, "But yet take heede, do not too high aſpire, "Goe (ſinne no more) and adde no coles to fire. Caueat. The Heauenly voyce down from the Clouds deſcending, In theſe ſad words ſweetely diuinely ending, The day cleer'd vp, and Sol began againe, To ſhew his face vpon the ſacred Plaine: The Aire all ſtill, the lofty Winds quight calme, Adam and Abell ſinging of a Pſalme; Caines ſacrifize alone vpon the ground, Vntouch't at all ſtill to their view they found, Whereat (with Ioy) to ſee the God of powre, To ſmile on one, and on the other lowre: To vaile his face vnto their ſinfull ſight, Hearing his voyce out from the dradfull light, Home they depart in wonderment and peace, Minding a while from further worke to ceaſe▪ Whilſt Caine alone retireth diſcontent, Forſakes his God, and to the field he went, His enuious mind ſtill runs on his diſgrace,Firſt Apoſtasy in Caine. Falſe to be found before his fathers face, All working Power, deepe ſearcher of the Reines, Diſcerner of the in ward heart and Veines, What ſecret Art can from thy ſight be hid? Thine Eye ſtill ſaw what either Brother did, How iuſt art thou and full of mercies ſweete, The eyes of all are caſt downe at thy feete; The greateſt men and Monarches of the earth, The firſt borne ſeede, and nobleſt in their birth, The proud Commanders in their formall coates, The homebred Sheepe thou doſt deuide from Goates: The eldeſt Brother, yongeſt in thy ſight, Are both alike, ſo that their hearts be right, No outward forme can make thee partialize, Thou look'ſt vpon the inward ſacrifize, Beholding Habels willing gtatefull gift, Which thou art pleas'd vp to the Clouds to lift; When Caine falſe hearted, though he was firſt borne, Him thou forſakſt, leauing his Gift forlorne. O wofull, fearefull, is the dangerous ſtate, Of euery man ſo ouerſwolne with Hate, Whom God by this cannot to good conuert, But giues quight ouer to a ſtorry Heart, Apoſtacy making a man to quake, God, Father, friends all vtterly forſake: Prince, Country, Kingdome, all the Land in hope, To run perhaps vnto the Turke or Pope, In diſcontent, for conſcience, gaine or pelfe, To ſell their ſoules vnto the Diuell himſelfe▪ Some to their ſhame haue had ſmall cauſe to boaſt,Mat. 12. 31. Luke 12. 9. 10. Mar. 3. 29. Pro. 26. 11. Of this foule ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, Accurſt and damn'd of all that euer fell, But few I know, but quick went downe to hell, Amongſt the Diuels in euerlaſting paines, Loaden with Boults of heauy burning chaines; Whilſt thoſe return'd like to a Dog that gurnes,Simile. That back againe vnto his vomit turnes, Or beaſtly Sow bemir'd in dirty tilth,simile. Cleere water ſhuns to ſcoure away her filth, But in a ditch with ſome vnſauory Bore, She layes her downe far worſe then ere before. How can we thinke or well conceiue in heart, That thoſe which once do from their country ſtart, And ſhall diſtaſt the grounds wherein at firſt, With Paſtors pure they were train'd vp and nurſt,Heb. 6 4, 5, 6. That do renounce their Faith and euery thing, Their Oath Alegiance to the State and King, And in this ſinne without Repentance fall? How of that man can there be hope at all, When as his caſe what ſhew ſo ere he gaine, Is but the ſame with curſed enuious Caine? I muſt confeſſe Repentance is a worke,Repentance Of Gods great loue, which caunot lye and lurke, Within the Heart, but that it forth muſt ſhine, Like to a Light vpon a Hill diuine, Simile. Kindled by faith, a conſcience cleane and pure, That cannot once her former wayes indure; But by good works doth blaze the ſame abroad, Without all Guile, Hipocricy or Fraud, Full of true Loue, auoyding babbling ſuites, A Tree that's good is euer knownebi'th fruits. Mat. 12. 33 But yet for him that from the Church is ſold, And in his Heart is neither hot nor cold,Reuel. 3. 16. With God and Mammon can with both indent, Whoſe mind on miſchiefe is full ſet and bent, That what he can into his hands doth get, And all is Fiſh which commeth to his net. That doth forſake his owne Religion firſt, The ſame I meane wherein he hath bin nurſt, Inconſtantly another ſhall imbrace, What ere he thinke he is in wofull caſe. Well may one iudge his conſcience may be pang'd, For that one thing how many haue bin hang'd: And he againe that in his ripeſt yeares, Forſakes the ſame, as plaine by Caine appeares, And both of them he hath diſtaſted quite, May be in's Age demned Pagan right. Beſides examples in the Scriptures pure, Which aye ſhall laſt, eternally endure, Of curſed Athieſts in their bitter gall, That Iulian like from God and Chriſt did fall, The Monſter vile within the Goſpell curſt, Which hang'd himſelfe, when all his bowels burſt: And diuers others tedious here to name, Whoſe ends haue ſhewd iuſt iudgements to their ſhame:Act▪ 1. 14. Hath not Experience in this Age of ours, Branded Apostates of the heauenly powers, With fearefull Vengeance wofull to behold, Vpon the earth for being (impious) bold: As amongſt many, infinite to write, But one neere vs in ſteade of all Ile cite, Whoſe ſcandall foule about the world is blowne, His Story rife amongſt vs all well knowne. Fauſtus by name, by birth a Germaine bred,The ſtory of D. Fauſtus. Whoſe minor yeares were with Religion fed, In liberall Arts his minde but yong did wade, A ſchoole Diuine and Doctor after made, Traind vp as well as euer man could be, In learnings Lore, and ſweet Diuinitie: So was this Caine, the like was Iudas fell, All three no doubt with damned diuels in hell. The foremoſt two with bolld their hands defilde, But this a man, which neuer hurt a childe. How with a knife made he his veines to bleed, Then with his blood to write the diuell a deed, Conuaying Soule and Body by the ſame, To be tormented in eternall flame, Neuer repenting till it was too late, Damn'd, wofull, fearefull, in a deſperate ſtate: Curſing the howre of his vntimely birth, By God for ſaken, taken from the Earth, With exclamations, hideous fearefull cries, Sprites, Ghoſts, and diuels about the houſe there flyes: His braines thraſht out on euery poſt and wall, Sad ſpectacle, dire, mournfull, fearfull fall, When ſoule, life, learning, all at once he loſt, A wofull purchaſe to his painefull coſt: His bowels mangled carrion like (and tore) Imbrude in filth, and ſtinking poyſoned gore: Next day tormented in this caſe, was found (By diuels) caſt out vpon a dunghill ground. When once the Prince of darkneſſe in the deep, By power diuine, enioyned was to keep, And that the Serpent hatefull and accurſt, Was in the center of the Earth downe thruſt: Their vgly ſpawne then hacht the vileſt Elfe That euer crawld, beſides the diuell himſelfe, Foule furious Enuy, as but late I told, With viperous ſnakes about her head all rold: And ſhe againe outfrom their banefull breath, Hath brought an Impe like gaſtly fearefull Death▪ Limbe of the diuell ſtill worſe then all the reſt, Miſhapen, vile, baſe Antichriſtian beaſt, Monſter of Nature, falſe in euery part, Apostacie with crablike crawling heart:simile. Contagious, fell, moſt dangerous in her tong, From whom all treaſons in this world firſt ſprung: The hatefull deeds which ſome haue pacht together, Vnder Religion, may be brought all hither; The ſecret actions infinite that lurke, Which in mans heart and gall together worke: The poyſonings, murders, euery curſed rape, For whom this Earth doth yawne her mouth, and gape, Seeking to ſwallow, in her Iawes deuowre Within the midſt of her darke wombe, to powre The actors damn'd vnder obliuions night, Not fit to breath, or to behold heauens light: Baſe ſcum and dregs, the works of darkeneſſe firſt, Proceeding from Apoſtacie at firſt. But what make I with damned Atheiſts vile, My ſacred verſe with Antechriſt defile, To rowze from hell tormented hideous ſprites, Foule gaſtly Ghosts which all the world afrights: That my deare Muſe ſhould thus by freinds be croſt▪ From heauen of late within the deepe be toſt. Hels vglieſt Monſter to vnmaske, and lay All open thus, falling within my way, That little taſte to euery Palate yeelds. And all this while Caine wanders in the fields With paſſions working in his hatefull breſt, Sad, diſcontent, may in his face be gueſt: Reuenge all bloody, with a poyſoned dart,Reuenge. Starts vp from hell, enters within his hart: Baſe curſed Furie hacht by Enuie firſt▪ Apoſtacie this damned heil hound nurſt: The masked traine that all her life befriend her, Are Guile, Deceit, and Falſhood to attend her. This monſter, Caine cloſe in his breſt did hide, With all the reſt of that damn'd rout beſide: And home returns as if he had forgot, The diſcontent of his diſcouered blot: The blurre late made in his Religious cote, As out of minde he ſeemes not now to note, But full of forme and outward complement, As if his minde was all to goodneſſe bent; With much reſpect vnto his father firſt, And duty ſhewd to her his body nurſt: Vpon his brother (fawningly) he lookes, And learns him then to make the ſhepheard hookes, To catch a ſheepe running with all her ſpeed, And he againe helps him his land to weed. Thus Caine continues for a certaine ſpace, Before his fathers and his mothers face, In outward guiſe, formality and ſpeach, As if his heart had had no further reach: Vntill that Act▪ foule barbarous deed befell, Which makes me mute, almoſt afraid to tell: But that from God the ſame at firſt I heard, Deſcribed plaine in his drad ſacred Word.Gen. 4. 3. Caine but few nights in this bad meaning ſlept, For Fire in Flaxe can but a while be kept: And not long after as may well be gueſt, When father, friends, and all ſuſpected leaſt, Euen then he takes Occaſion by her lock, Singles forth Habel from his harmeleſſe flock, With flattring wordes traines him along to walke, The fragrant fields, holds him on ſtill with talke, Vntill at laſt (Inhumane wretch) vnkind, Baſe Villaine curſt he ſtaid a while behind, To find a Leauer that he late had laid, Within the corne which wondrous heauy waid.

This on his ſhoulders vp from thence he takes, His fatall way to his deare brother makes, Who all this while lay in a ſlumber ſweete, Vpon the graſſe reſting his weary feete, Thinking no hurt, full of all Peace and Loue, His mind in Heauen walking with God abouc; Which when the Caitife (varletvile) had ſpide, No longer then he could his Enuy hide, But with a blow on Habels head downe right, With both his hands, and all his maine and might, The Leauer laid him in that wofull caſe, That Bloud and Braines flew round about the place: And leaſt his deede might afterwards be found, He takes his body, rakes it vp i'th ground. Damn'd Miſcreant, vnworthy that thine eyes, Should once behold the cleereneſſe of the skyes, What haſt thou done vnto thy brother deare? That thou ſhouldſt thus about the corne fields leere, And watch a time to worke that fearefull fact, For which twere pitty but thy neck were crack't. What art now the better to haue ſeene, His crimſon bloud bedew'e the ground all greene, His Body mangled, Skull to pieces beate? How canſt thou (Vengeance) from the Heauens defeate? Doſt thou not ſee that all begins to lowre, The Clouds to wrack, vpon thy head to powre Downe ſulphery flames of hot conſuming fiers, The Sunne for ſhame his glorious face retires; All to grow darke, the ſinging birds to weepe, To ſee man brought thus to his lateſt ſleepe, The Furies looſe the Diuels from Hell to roule, Aboue the Earth gaping for this thy Soule? How canſt thou thinke to hide thy curſed deede, When as the Foules within the Aire which breede, The creatures all preſented to thy ſight, Will murthers ſhew and bring the truth to light.Nemeſis the Goddeſſe of Reuenge. Acts 28. 4. Great Nemeſis the Lady of the skyes, Without a Maske before her nimble eyes, On Pegaſus the Horſe of Fame doth ride, With Iuſtice Sword cloſe to her valliant ſide, Scowres through the Aire iuſt at that inſtant time, When as the ſteame of Habels bloud did clime, Vp to the Heauens like to a ſmoke aſcending,simile. The Clouds in ſunder all betearing, rending, Caſts downe her lookes vpon his crimſon bloud, Beholds the gore like to a ſtreaming floud: No longer ſtayes but mounteth vp the Throne,Simile. Of God aboue making a fearefull mone, Tells all the cauſe diſcouereth this thy deede, Deſires iuſt Iudgement on thy ſelfe and ſeede, Imploreth all the ſacred powers diuine, That they would now but with her ſelfe combine, And grant her leaue to take Reuenge on this, So foule a murther as thy fact now is. Behold a voyce downe from the God of might, Reuenger of the poore mans cauſe and right,Rom. 12. 19. That ſeldome ſleepes but in the Heauens he heares, The wrongs, oppreſſions, mournefull cryes and teares, Of Innocents by greatneſſe ouerſway'd, By Guile and Treaſon oftentimes betray'd, Brought to their ends by the malicious guilt, Of Enuious men that others bloud haue ſpilt, Waſted their State, conſum'd their lands and life, Swallow'd their goods, contending ſtill in ſtrife. The ſacred voyce out from a thunder-clap, Of dradfull lightnings at that hard miſhap, Thus ſpake to Caine hard by that fat all place, Where Habels bloud lay couered in that caſe, With clods and moulds as euen but late I told, By that vile Wretch ouer his body rold, "Come tell me Caine the thing I ſhall demand, "Seeke not to hunt, on no excuſes ſtand, "Halt not before me as of late thou didſt, "When a falſe heart vnder thy coate thou hidſt, "What mad'ſt thou heere thus wandring all alone, "Where is thy brother, whither is he gone? "What is become of Habel▪ lou'd thee deare, "That next thy Parents was to thee more neare, "Then all the World, and all that therein moued, "Whoſe faithfull mind thy preſence euer loued. The graceleſſe Villaine impudently bold, As if he ſcorn'd of God to be controld, Or ask't a queſtion from that heauenly lip, This anſwere ſtraight out of his mouth let ſlip: I cannot tell, for what haue I to doe, To take account of Habell yea or no, Or in his preſence to be tyde to ſtay, Within the fields as heretofore to play, Tis like enough if that the Sun had ſhin'd, About the foulds you might him chance to find, It may be that hee's feeding of his ſheepe, Vpon the downes or fallen faſt aſleepe, Or elſe you may go looke a little deeper, How can I tell, am I my brothers keeper, "Blaſphemous Wretch, what haſt thou done, quoth God, "Art not afraid of my reuenging Rod, "But thus to ſpill thy deereſt brothers blood, "Vpon the ground in thy inhumane moode? "Why ( Ʋarlet) haſt thou to my face belide, "How canſt thou thinke thy fact from me to hide, "When as the bloud of this thy Brother ſhed, "For Vengeance iuſt vpon thy murdering head? "Cryde from the Earth making afearefull moane, "With pitteous ſhreeks aſcended vp my throne, "That downe I came from heauen aboue with ſpeed, To giue thee Iudgement for thy damned deed. "Curſt therefore art thou in thy chiefeſt worth, "Curſt from the heauens, and curſt from all the Earth, "That kindneſſe ſhewd her mouth hath opened wide, "Within her wombe thy brothers blood to hide, "Hereafter now when thou the ground ſhalt till, "It ſhall not yeeld not yet thy barnes ſhall fill: "With that encreaſe which heretofore it gaue, "To thy content that thou deſirdſt to haue. "A vacabond vpon the ſpatious face "Of all the earth, Roming from place to place "With euery Raſcall thou ſhalt now cologue, "Baſe Runnagate, no better then▪ a Rogue, "Thy dayes ſhall waſte, thy glaſſe ſhall hourely run, "Vntill the thread of this thy life be ſpun, "Content with peace, quiet, thou ſhalt haue neuer: "A Scared conſcience ſhall torment thee euer: "And in the end euen in thy fearefull ſight, "Hels Furies curſt before thy face ſhall light, "The damned diuels with all their hideous rout, "Shall wind thee in, hemming thy Soule about, "Attending on thee till thine eyes be ſhut, "And ſo deuoure thee in their greedy gut. The ſturdy villaine with theſe laſt words ſtroke, In woefull feare his heart is welnigh broke, Deſpairing quite of any helpe at all, To this ſad ſpeech doth (moſt prophanely) fall. O who ſhall rid me from theſe torments fell, Hacht in the Bowels of the deepeſt Hell, Nurc't in my breſt, harbourde within my hart, That now I feele much to my paine and ſmart, The Furies (damn'd) about my head I heare, My puniſhment is more then I can beare. A vacabond I am caſt out this day, Both from the earth, and from thy face for aye, I ſhall be hid from all the world beſide, Wretch that I am, which know not where to bide: My Father, friends, will euer after hate The foule diſaſter of my enuious fate, And whoſoeuer finds me one or other, Will murder me, as I haue done my brother. The voyce (Diuine) left him not thus alone In Desperation, making of his mone; But from the Clouds, yet once againe it ſpake, Perchance for Habel, or his Fathers ſake: Goe where thou wilt, for he that dares to lay Reuenging hands vpon thy head, for aye, Vpon the earth, to murder, ſlay or kill, Which in his wrath ſhall ſeeke thy blood to ſpill, That damned wreth both in his goods and fame, In life and death, and all that thou canſt name; Euen in his lands, his basket and his ſtore: That man (I ſay) Ile puniſh ſeuen times more. Becauſe thou ſhalt not need that thing to feare, My badge (diuine) for euer thou ſhalt weare, A fearefull Signe, which whoſoere ſhall eye But in thy face, my dradfull Iudgements ſpye, Shall ſee and know that I haue markt thy hide, And branded thee from all the world beſide. Great (powerfull God) Creator of this Ball, The heauens and earth the firmaments and all, How good art thou, in euery action iuſt? Thou Habels blood beholdeſt in the duſt; Com'ſt downe below, examinſt firſt the deed, To Iudgement then thou doſt at large proceed; And leſt the ſame might chance neglected bee, Thou doſt thy ſelfe the execution ſee: Searing Cains conſcience, body, heart and liuer And marking him (as now I tolde) for euer. Yet (holy Father) let vs know the pith, The Badge and Signe that thou didſt brand him with. Some men there be which thinke the marke of Caine, Was that foule, horrid▪ irkeſome, fearefull paine, Scabd Leproſie, or wofull falling Euill, As if poſſeſſed with ſome spirit or Diuell: Or ſhiuering, ſhaking of his ſturdy ioynts, That euery way his body reels and poynts, Feares, quauers, trembles in that dradfull caſe, As moſt of vs haue ſeene before our face: Or ſome ſuch thing apparant to ech eye, That euery man may his foule fact eſpye, Yet what it was, who ſound this vaſte abbiſſe, When Reaſon blinde leades euery man amiſſe. Tis true, the▪ world in euery States Dominion, Is now of this, and then of that opinion; For none aliue (which on the Earth do well)▪ Can ſhew what 'twas, or yet for certaine tell, But by coniecture (likelyeſt) to be gueſt, The ground and ſum of all mens Iudgements beſt, Reueald by ſtudie in the Arts diuine, To all the Siſters, learned Muſes nine, That Cains moſt fearefull puniſhment and marke, For raking vp his brother in the darke▪ Was that his skin was all to blackenſſe turn'd, Like to a Coale within the fire halfe burnd.simile. Ah curſed Caine the ſcourge of all thy Race, Now thou haſt got a blacke and murdring face, For God aboue (in Iuſtice) hath ordaind, Thy ofspring all ſhould to this day be ſtaynd, Vnto the griefe and terror of their Soules. For laying Habel in could duſty mouldes: No other cauſe the world could euer tell, To make them looke as if they came from hell, Amongſt the diuels at euery ſtep to ſtart, The fatall place where thou (vile wretch) now art. Some haue alledg'd out of their brains and wit,Alex Prob. Celius Rhod. The Sun himſelfe to be the cauſe of it, That in the hot and torrid burning Zone, Vnder the line there Phaeton alone Muſt driue his Cart and teame a little hire, Or elſe againe the world would be on fire, The heate extreame their bodyes doth enflame, Their fleſh it parches, and their ſtomackes tame, Their blood it dries, their humors all aduſt, As if their skin were ouergrowne with ruſt: If this be true, how is it that there bee In Africa, America, to ſee Vnder the line both people white and faire, As many men that now in Europe are, There borne and bred by courteous Natures lawes, A pregnant Signe that cannot be cauſe. Againe, the Sun with labour great and paine, If that the line but once he doth attaine, Though to the Earth he ſeemeth ſomewhat nigher, Yet in his Spheare he mounted farre more higher, More temperate there, the people liue and well, Then do the men vnder the Tropicks dwell, And twice a yeere he vſeth there to burne, When once a yeere (i'th Tropicks) ſerues his turne. And other men haue other Reaſons found, To ſhew the cauſe which to like purpoſe ſound: There be that ſay, the dryneſſe of the Soile, May be the cauſe that doth their bodies foyle, To make them looke worſe then a Colliers Elfe,simile. Much like the Diuell and curſed Cuine himſelfe, From top to toe, from heade vnto the foote, As if▪ with greaſe they were beſmeard and ſoote. Vnto ſuch men I would but know and try, If the Libian deſarts be not far more dry, Whoſe people parch't, the very Sun doth roſt, Yet are they white or tawny at the moſt, The want of water with the Sun and Sand, May be the cauſe that they ſo much are tand: But yet in Negro land the people haue, Of water ſtore in euery ditch and Caue: For Niger great, euen from his very ſource, Iuſt through the midſt hath euer kept his courſe, And all the land on euery ſide and round, Euen like to Nilus ouerflowes the ground, The drineſſe of their Reaſon we may waue, Becauſe tis knowne they water plenty haue. Thoſe that aſcribe it proper to the Earth, And ſee vs there euen from our very birth, How we and they are borne within one place, And we are white, and they are black and baſe, May ſit them downe and well may take a pauſe, To thinke with vs that cannot be the cauſe. And ſome there be which to this day affirme, That tis the blackneſſe of the Parents ſperme, To be the cauſe and for a ground it take, But how came they ſo cloſe a ſearch to make? If it be black, which ſome men haue denide, How came it ſo Imprinted on their hide, That in their youth iuſt in their prime and bud, Then is their skin as red as any bloud▪ And in their age when periſht is their ſight, From top to toe they are all yellow quight, And if you try to throw one in a ditch, To waſh him white, hee'le be as black as pitch. Others there be aboue the clouds do fly, To ſearch the ſecrets of their deſtiny, Whoſe wits and learning ſure muſt wander farre, To a Conſtellation or ſome fixed Starre, I would the cauſe they would vnto vs teach, And not to flye to farre aboue our reach, Vntill which time I ſhall be well content, To thinke it was Gods righteous puniſhment, On curſed Caine, and all his of-ſpring lewd, For doing that which I before haue ſhew'd. I muſt confeſſe vpon the vpper face, Of this wide Ball almoſt in euery place, Variety we ſee in ſtrange attire, Complexion, Colour, Nature and Deſire, Shape, geſture, face, the belly, limbs and back, But none more differ then the white from black, The Indian borne there where the Sun doth riſe, Is palefaſt (Aſhey) with red flaming eyes, The American which we but late haue ſeene, Is Oliue coloured of a ſad french greene, The Libian dusky in his parched skin, The More all tawny both without and in, The Southerne man, a black deformed Elfe, The Northerne white like vnto God himſelfe: And thus we ſee, euen ſtill vpon the earth, God ſhewes his workes both in our liues and birth. The fatall place where Habels bloud waſhed,Eſay. 7. 8. Is call'd Damaſcus, Arams chiefeſt head, Iem of the Earth, the eye of all the Eaſt, Pearle of the World, where Iupiter did reſt, In Siria Land, the goodlieſt Citty ſeene, And ſiſter to (Ieruſalem) the Queene,Eze. 23. 4 Sweete Parragon, a royall Empreſſe borne, That all the World with glory didſt adorne, Vntill the ſecond Habels deereſt bloud, Ran downe thy ſtreetes like to a crimſon floud,Simile. Titus in Ioſep. & Adri. Aelius. Then was thy fields with bloud and ſlaughter dide, And made the Stage to all the World beſide, Whereon fierce Tyrants in their barbarous hearts, With murdring minds haue acted all their parts. So hath Damaſcus ſeldome beene at reſt, Whoſe fatall name bewrayes her bloudy breſt, When Benhadad, Hazael, Rezin, fierce,2. King 16 9. The ſcarlet ſinewes of her Heart did pierce, There were the Titans murthered by the Blade, Of Iupiter, that all their army laid, In ſuch a ſleepe as till the Earth be ſhak't, By powre diuine will neuer more be wak't, Great Babilon, the Tyrant of the East, The Sarazens and Aegypt in her pierſt, Braue Pompey wan it in ſad mournefull ſort, And Tamberlaine, he made them all amort; Ieruſalem, which lou'd her deerely well, Euen in her ſtreetes hath tol'd her paſſing Bell. Haalon, the Tartar in his lowring warre,Ch. Adricom. Theatrum • ter sanct. Within her bowels made a fearefull skarre: The Perſian, Grecian, Chriſtian, Romane laſt, The cruell Turkes haue all their fortunes caſt, And fill'd the Ayre with pitteous ſhreikes and grones, Piling vp heapes of dead mens Skuls and bones, As if the place where Habels bloud was laid, The buriall ground of all the World were made. Euen as the bloud of deere Adonis ſlaine,Simile. By cruell Mars, faire Venus loue to gaine, Stain'd all the ground, bedyde the crimſon graue, That powers diuine willing his worth to ſaue, From darke Obliuions black forgetfull night; Which ſmothers all in ſilence from the light, With Nature ioyn'd to bring forth ſuch a ſigne, As ſhall for euer to all Ages ſhine, In memory of that deteſted fact, Which murthering Mars did in his fury act: Vpon the body of that louely youth, Though ſome perhaps will hardly thinke it truth, But rarher by the ancient Poets fain'd, Yet they I ſay haue to this day ordain'd, That from the bloud of deere Adonis young, The Safron▪ flowers of all the Earth firſt ſprung▪ So may I ſay that from the ſcarlet blood Of Habel ſhed, like to▪ a crimſon flood Within the midſt of rich Damaſco plains, When Caine vnkindly paſht out all his braines. It pleaſed God to his immortall Fame, That ſtill the Soyle ſhould teſtifie the ſame With fragrant flowres, adorning all the ground, As no where elſe in all the world is found: That ſome haue thought by this vile deed accurſt, The Damaske Roſe ſprang from his graue at firſt. Ah deareſt Muſe, here in this world of woes, Mongſt Tigres fell, and cruell barbarous foes, Prodigeous men, (Inhumain) in their minds, Deuouring Beasts that all to powlder grinds The Infants face, the Innocent to hurt, The Lambe to teare, and throw him in the durt. How bleſt are we, which haue ſuch wholeſome lawes, To keepe vs ſafe out from the murdring pawes Of rancorous men, that in their deadly rage Would (elſe no doubt) ſtraight ſhorten all our age, By macerating blowes to wound and braine, And ſpill our blood, as did that damned Caine. But yet we cannot ſay, that we liue free From as fowle ſinnes, and hatefull treacherie: Now Murders, Treaſons, enuious deeds begun, Muſt cloſe be kept, and priuately be done. We diue to Hell and ſound the deepeſt pits, Ranſacke the Graues, and vſe our vtmoſt wits To find a Diuel, or ſome ſmall ſugred Gall▪ To witch a friend, or poyſon him withall: Or elſe perchance, if we do hap to faile▪ As ſome there be, will not ſet all to ſale▪ Yet that which curbes them from this damned vſe, I meane the Law, how do they it abuſe, Making the ſame the poore mans feet to tye, The inſtrument of all their villanie? How are ſome men by greatneſſe ouer ſwayd, Their Liues, Lands, Goods, and all they haue betrayd: The Foote-ball made, toſt vp and downe by foes, Turmoyld and vext, plung'd in a world of woes, Neuer at Peace, forc't all their state to ſell, Vnfortunate by enuious men to dwell: Clapt vp in Priſon, all their dayes to ſpend In wrangling, Iangling, brangling to noe end. There is the Law where Purſes well are linde, To wrong the weake to ſatisfie their minde, The louing Wiſe, the ſelfe ſame courſe muſt run, The Children ſmall all vtterly vndone. When once mans heart infected is with gall, How doth it then to all foule vices fall? Baines the whole houſe, leauing them all forlone, Much better farre if they were neuer borne: Then here to liue (ſubjected) toyld with paine, But neare the dore to ſome fell enuious Caine▪ Yet ſacred Muſe, euen in this mortall life, The Iudgement, iuſt of thoſe delight in ſtrife: Thou often ſeeſt vpon their heads to fall, Some breake their neckes off from their horſe and all, And ſome there be which wanting of their will, Haue ſought themſelues their owne heart blood to ſpill, With Poyſon ſtrong haſtned their way to death, Or with a Rope ſtrangled their cruell breath: Vſde all ill meanes to make away their liues To childrens griefe and terrour of their wiues, Rauing, inuoaking, all the Damned fiends, That all the world takes notice of their ends. Others there be that toucht before their death, With ſome remorſe lye languiſhing in breath: Out of this life cannot at all depart, Till they haue crau'd forgiueneſſe from their heart, To eaſe their ſoule their conſcience ouer pang'd, Haue ſent for thoſe whom they before haue wrong'd Confeſt the Truth deſirde them all to pray To God aboue for to be pleaſde to lay No further torments, (Iudgements) full of feare, Vpon their backes then they can welnigh beare. Thoſe that run on their current with the tide, And all their life in enuious courſes bide: Deare Muſe thou knowſt their lowring daye is neere, When pale fac't death ſhall to their eyes appeare. Then ſhall the diuell take them within his powre, With gaſtly lookes euen at that diſmall howre: Tortring their ſoules in euerlaſtling woes, Heauens iuſt Reward for all damn'd enuious foes. Meane while the Ioyes that are layd vp aboue, For thoſe delight in quiet Peace and Loue, Which haue bin wrongd with Patience much enurde Earths ſtormy brunts haue to their paine endurde, That yet do liue ſuffring the wofull ſmart, Vexation, griefe, trouble of mind and hart, And to their end like Chriſtian Martyrs bold, Holde on their Race, as I before haue told, How is there in the Heauens aboue the line, A ſacred Crowne of pureſt gold moſt fine, Inlayd with Iems and orient Pearles of worth, More richer farre then all vpon this Earth, Iam. 1. 12. Reu. 2. 10. Preſeru'd for thoſe, and layd vp ſafe in ſtore, When all theirfoes muſt ſtand without the dore, In endleſſe paines with all the Diuels of hell, And they with God aboue the clouds ſhall dwell, Poſſeſſing there this conquering crowne of life, Free from all care, vexation, trouble, ſtrife▪ To muſter here vpon a Sacred ſtage, The Murders, Treaſons, Plots in euery age, Iniurious dealings, treacherous actions, baſe, Sly cunning traps to grind the poore mans face, Vexations, wrongs, fell viperous proiects vile, As bad and worſe then thoſe which do defile, Their fowle blacke hands in Chriſtian crimſon blood, Waſte others State to do themſelues no good: The damned rout of hell ſpurd Furies curſt, That from Caines fact tooke all beginning firſt, Would tire my Muſe, and weary all your eares, Amaze your thoughts, and fill you full of feares: With Wonder ſtrike you as a man halfe dead, And ſet your haire vpright vpon your head, To ſee ſince firſt this world by God was fram'd, The enuious deeds not fitting to be nam'd: But Time diuider of ech day from night, Will all diſcloſe and bring the Truth to light, Succeſſiuely ſhall lay them open all, Iuſt as Occaſion in my way may fall. Meane while (deare Muſe) let vs retire againe, To ſhew the life of curſed enuious Caine: And tell what courſe after this deed he tooke, How round about on euery ſide his looke Was fearfull gazing, leaſt his fathers eye Might glance that way, and ſo the fact eſpye, And ſee Gods iudgement on his branded skin, His blacke foule face for this vile murdring ſin. Aſham'd, and ſhameleſſe barbarous wretch vnkind, From thence he goes, leaues Habel dead behind: Steales out away, and pryes in euery nooke, For feare his fact ſhould be bewraid by's looke: At length by chance as he was lingring late, He finds his ſiſter by his fathers gate, Takes her away, euen in the euening darke,simile. As doth a Kite a ſimple harmeleſſe Larke, And when (Alas) ſhe could not well deſcrye His foule blacke colour by her clowded eye. His ſpeech ſhe knew, which made her willing more To leaue her Iewels, kindred, and her ſtore, And go with him then all the reſt beſide: She little thought his hands with blood were dide.Simile. All night they walkt, talking of this and that, She louely fayre, he like an vgly Bat That ſhuns the light, is neither bird nor beaſt, Of both partakes, (a monſter) at the leaſt: Or like to thoſe that in our dayes do hie, From vs to Rome, from thence againe do flye, And little care ſo they may haue their will, Mens Soules, their Liues, their State and all to ſpill, As was the caſe of that damn'd murdring rout, Which from Hels bowels brought their treaſons out, Vntill at laſt with wandring weary growne, And want of ſleepe together both lay downe, Whilſt he euen then, layes open all his mind, Tels her his loue he mindes with hers to binde, That ſhe ſhall be the Obiect of his eye, His darling deare from her to neuer flye, By meanes of which adulterous flattring wilde, Inceſtuouſly he gets her there with childe. But when Aurora, glory of the World, Heauens candle bright about the Earth had purld, And but began to ſhew a burniſht face Vpon theſe two, in that polluted place: From ſlumbring ſleepe his Siſter ſodaine wakt, Starts vp and cryes, moſt fearefully ſhe quakt, So foule a ſight by her was neuer ſeene, Thinking the diuell in ſhape of Caine had beene: Vpright ſhe ſtands, her hayre vpon her head, Rowzd in the light from her adulterous bed, Faine would ſhe run (wiſhing her ſelfe at home) Curſing the Time when ſhe from thence did come, And glad would be no longer here to ſtay, But that from thence ſhe knew not well the way. Like to a Lady in an euening darke, 〈◊〉 . Walking alone within her pleaſant Parke, Thinking to meet her louing husband deere, Her father, brother, or ſome welcome Peere; Is by a villaine ſuddenly ſurpriſde, In ſhape, ſpeech, geſture all of them diſguiſde: Carryed away, traynd on a long to walke, Miſdoubts no hurt in all his trecherous talke, But freely ſpends the ſable lowring night, Her ioyes, toyes, pleaſures in her loues delight, Vntill the morning of the day appeares, Draws wide heauens Curtain, all the skies it cleares, And makes her ſee how ſhe hath bin miſled, By folly, guile, brought to an vnknowne bed: Weeps, mourns, laments, teareth her Amber hayres, Raues, frets, and grieues, as one diſtracted ſtares. That once her body louely chaste and pure, Should now be ſtaind thus by a wretch impure; And that her corpes when Heauens bright Candle winkt, Should be but found cloſe to a Monſter linkt. So may we iudge was this young Virgins caſe, Traynd (as I told you) from that louely place, Where father, friends, acquaintance all ſhe had, To caſt her fortunes on a Varlet bad: Damn'd homicide, dame Natures vglyeſt marke, To be betrayd thus trecherouſly i'thdarke: The vnblowne Roſe defended by the thorns, Vermillion bluſh that both her cheeks adorns, Chaſte, modeſt thoughts to giue the ſoule content, When theſe ſhall be all ech in ſunder rent, Deflowr'd, defac't, by treaſon cropt and ſtaind, To haue i'th'end none but a Mungrell gain'd. Thus in a maze aſtoniſht all the while, Caine looketh vp, and on her face doth ſmile, Gently entreats, perſwades her not to feare, The Sun burnt colour that his skin did beare: Tels her his face was nothing elſe but tan'd, With walking much about his new plow'd land: And that the colour on his face which lay, Would cleane be waſht and skowred all away. She him beleeues, and ſo from thence they went, Like Ʋagabonds without a paſport ſent:Simile▪ Roming about, vntill at laſt they found, A pleaſant, ſweet, delitious, dainty ground, Iuſt to the East, hard to the lowring face Of ſacred Iuſtice in that Orient place, Far from their Friends, their Country, Church, and God, To liue with eaſe within the Land of Nod, Heere firſt they ſtayd, and to ſecure their ſtate. They built a houſe of timber, ſtones and ſlate, Turfe; Morter, Durt, and euery thing they finde, They pile vp cloſe to keepe off ſhowers and winde, And at the length as if they were afraid, That after wards their liues might be betrayd, By ſauage beaſts, in humane monſters feil, Such as himſelfe hath hatch't below in Hell, Reuengefull Tyrants, murthering men and all, About his houſe he builds a ſpacious Wall, And in the ſame he liues for many yeares, His conſcience ſtuft with horrour, drad and feares, At length his Wife brings forth her firſt borne child, A bloudy Elfe, deformed fowle and wild, Like to the Sire, ſo is his picture drawne,Simile. Brought vp to ſweare, cheate, couzen lye and fawne, No God to know, his tongue to curſe and fret, With enuious face, for like doth like beget, And he againe his ſiſter rude doth take, Makes choyce of her to be his onely make, That ſhe and he and all the reſt beſide, Which in that place within the walls did bide: The curſed ſpawne of Caines adulterous race, Did in ſhort time ſoouerſwarme the place, With multitudes of that inceſtuous rout. Poligamy from this vile Race ſprangout, That in ſeuen hundred twenty yeares and ten, Their hatefull ſtocke grew to a world of men, This was this Age that Caine did liue ſome ſay,Genebrard • x Rab. sol. When then began his fatall lowring day, For Iuſtice alwayes in mans life or death, Will yet at length her flaming ſword, vnſheath, Lamech the fifth, from his own bloud deſcended, With one hard blow his vitall life ſtraight ended: Iuſt Iudgement of the Higheſt euer ſtill, To make the blind to execute his will, That though man runs vnpuniſht all his dayes, Yet in the end he payes him many wayes, And when the leaſt of all his time he thinkes, Then is he caught, vnder Gods vengeance ſinkes. For as the Rabbyes of the Iewes do tell, This monſter Caine about theſe parts did dwell, And was the firſt that euer City built, Led thereunto by his fowle murthering guilt, More to ſecure him in ſo ſtrong a Wall, And ſhun the curſe then any thing at all, Euen where ſinne moſt of all the earth was bred, He layes him downe and makes that place his bed, There wallowes, tumbles, ſpends his aged dayes, In wicked workes ten thouſand kind of wayes; When at the laſt he for a beaſt was ſlaine, By Heauens iuſt Act in treacherous Tubal-Caine, Guiding the hand of Lamech being blind, To murther Caine againſt his fathers mind, And Tubal-caine had his iuſt Guerdon paid, For Lamech ſtruck him that all dead he laid, His bleeding corps vpon the cold greene ground, What they wrought others, they themſelues haue found. The City Caine by Henocks name did call, His eldeſt Sonne whom moſt he lou'd of all, Some ſay the ſame by Libanus was fram'd, But afterwards by others (Oenus nam'd) And ſome affirme the building Ieſca leed, Great Iebab Mauly were his only deede, And Tehe, Celet, Cities ſixe in number, Were raiz'd by him with ſuch a world of lumber, As in our dayes thoſe that behold the place, May ſee their ruines in Caines wofull caſe. You Cities all, how were you fram'd at firſt? But in the ſin of wicked Caine accurſt, Was not your Morter tempered with the bloud, And ſlaughter vile of righteous Abel good? Is not the Earth her bowels rent and torne, Your walls to build and lofty towers adorne? Great Thetis lap is all beſlic't and cut, To bring forth treaſures in your wombs to put; The lofty Ceders, Timber Trees of worth, Are hack't downe flat, and leuel'd with the earth, Baſe gold and ſiluer that mans mind appals, Where doth it ruſt but in your cankred walls? How are your ſtreetes with Paracides bepeſtred, With noyſome Air (contagious) fowly feſtred, So baneſull growne, that from you, all or ſome, Hels Antechriſt the Prince of Diuels ſhall come. So Babilon the tyrant of the earth,Dan. 7. 8. And Rome Vſurper ſince her Popiſh birth, How were they built but in the crimſon gore, Of thrice ten millions of mens ſoules and more, Nimrod the hunter of Gods fearefull flock, Firſt raiz'd that Tower which ſeem'd the heauens to mock By tyranizing on the feeble weake, As in my worke heereafrer I ſhall ſpeake, And Romulus the monſter of his age How did he murther in his barbarous rage, His brother Remus, in whoſe ſcarlet bloud▪ Rome firſt was built by Tybers treacherous floud, And ſince the ſincke of ſuperſtition made, For euery wretch within her walls to trade, Idoll of Nature ſprang at firſt from hell, As afterwards I ſhall haue cauſe to tell, But what make we (deareMuſe) within the walls, Oftraiterous Townes and Citties full of braules, Where nothing ſauours wholeſome, ſweete and faire, But earthly bad to putrifie the Ayre, Let vs retire into the country coates, To heare Heauens birds to chirp ten thouſand noates, About the woods on euery ſide along, Sweete Nightingales to warble forth their ſong, The Lennet, Larke, the Blackbird, Thruſh and all, How night and day their ſmooth ſweete tunes do call, Melodiouſly vnto the God offame, To ſound forth prayſes to his glorions name, And where our Grandſire Adam laſt was left, When Caine his brother of his life bereft. Whether the Soule of Habels body ſlaine, By the curſt hand of treacherous damned Caine, His Genius ſpirit Angell, bloud, or Saint, Or God himſelfe did Adam firſt acquaint, With the ſad newes of this ſo vile a deede, Or that ſuſpicion in his brest might breede, Abroad he walkes, and findes the bleeding quarre, Of Habell ſlaine vnder a fatall ſtarre, Weepes and laments▪ grieues to haue loſt his ſonne, Caine, Daughter, Brother all of them vndone, He louing Father piles a wondrous heape, (Colloſſus like,) of maſſy ſtones not cheape,Simile. And with much care his dying name to ſaue, Builds a huge Mount vpon his crimſon graue, From thence as one diſtracted for the time, With deepe conceit of this ſo foule a crime, Surcharg'd with ſorrow, ouergrowne with griefe, He hates the place as Author of it chiefe, And with his Wife and all his children left, He bids adien vnto the ground and wept, Trauels along like to a Pilgrim poore, Or as a Hermit with ſmall litlle ſtore;Simile. Till at the laſt, it was their chance to ſtay, In Canaan, and there their bones to lay, As in this rugged, ragged, rurall verſe, I hope ere long (diuinely) to rehearſe. But ſacred Muſe, here we muſt ſtay awhile,seth borne. And with Sethes birth the poſting time beguile, That ſweete borne Babe of Heauen it ſelfe befriended, From whom the Church is lineally deſcended, Iuſt as a hundred twenty yeares and ten, Of Adams age into this world of men, He was begat, Tipe of that promiſt Lambe, To ſaue the World, into the World firſt came, Preaching Repentance all our liues to mend, Whoſe Gouernment ſhall neuer earthly end, Vntill the Trumpet in the skyes ſhall ſound, To ſummon ſoules from their dead ſleepe i'th ground: How did the Heauens euen in his infant birth, Reioyce and dance about the Ball i'th earth, Melodiouſly their ſacred Organs went, To ſee young Seth into the World thus ſent, In Minor yeeres their fortunes on him ſhowred, And on his head their deereſt bleſſings powred, Enduing him with towardnes and wit, That on his temples all the Arts did ſit; About his Browes the Lawrell wreath haue wound, As the firſt man that euer letters found, How did the Saints at this thy Fortune ſmile, "True Iſralite in whom there is no guile.Ioh. 1. 47. Thy manly▪ dayes they were not ouerſway'd,Gen. 4. 26. Chap. 5. 34. With fond conceits but in Religion ſtay'd, Enuy, Opreſſion, Lust, and Rauine baſe, Within thy heart could neuer find a place, Nor yet the thought of any deede vnkind, Could once be found to harbour in thy mind, But full of peace like to thy father deare, Or God himſelfe in all his workes moſt cleare;Simile. So art thou bleſt to bring forth ſuch a Sonne, From whom the Church ſucceſſiuely muſt runne, True Picture of thy Body Mind and Thought, Enoch the man to God himſelfe that brought,Enoch borne. Thee ſacred flock which wandring almoſt lame, And taught them firſt to call vpon his Name, By prayer, preaching, Heauen bleſt deareſt Muſe, Which on the Sabaoth they did dayly vſe. Yet ſome do ſay the Church againe did fall, In this mans dayes to wicked vices all,Brough. Mart. Luther. Caluin▪ Tremelius. Perecius vpon Gen. 4. 26. That Sethes great ſonne, and all his future Race, Did now begin (dumb Idols) to imbrace, And that their rites and ſacrifices ſlaine, Were all intended vnto Charles his waine, The Sunne and Moone▪ the Starres about this border, As blind Deuotion led them out of order. Yet Enoch deere, my Muſe can hardly thinke, Nor can it once within my Braines to ſinke, But that the Plant from whence roſe Chriſt his flock, Did yeeld forth fruit according to the ſtock, And that the line from whence the Church is ſprung, But that muſt be vnſpotted, chaſt and young, Cleane, vndefiled, pure in euery part, In Ages all according to the Hart: Euen in the time when Adam and Wife, Liu'd both in peace, deuoid of care and ſtrife, And Seth their Sonne though all the reſt were bad, Yet he the knowledge of the Godhead had, And taught it thee to leaue vnto thy ſeede, By which thy ſoule did hourely on it feede: Vntill the laſt of this thy Glaſſe was runne, Then didſt thou dye and leftſt it thy ſonne, And ſo from thence in euery Age it paſt, Till Noahs Arke was on the waters caſt, Succeſſiuely from whence it after went, Till Chriſt himſelfe vpon the Earth was ſent, And that the Croſſe (with crimſon bloud) was dide, To pay the ſinnes of all the world beſide; With ſuch a Ranſome of eternall fame, As euermore muſt alwayes blaze his Name, From whence the Church now in her lateſt night, In many a place yet hath her Candlelight. Full ninty yeares thou liuedſt at the leaſt, When Kenan was conceiued in the breſt,Kenan born • ▪ Of thy deare Spouſe and thou waſt all the while, Quight out of hope, not ſeene at once to ſmile, In diſperation as a man for lorne, Till thy firſt Babe into the World was borne, Thy name bewraying of thy diſcontent, When Kenan be to glad thy heart was ſent, And made thee Father of a thriuing ſonne, Whoſe actions all vnto thy mind did run. He at the age of threeſcore yeares and ten,Pſal. 90. 10, Mahalaieel. borne. (In Dauids dayes, the dying age of men) Did then beget great Mahalaleel young, A ſweete fac't Imp with nimble pleaſing tongue, Whoſe whole delight was working euer ſtill, To prayſe the Lord and execute his will: Whilſt by examples void of enuious guile, By ſmooth ſweete preaching in a goulden ſtile, And beating downe Oppreſſion, Pride and Hate, The Churches eyes he did illuminate. Iuſt at the age of threſcore yeares and fiue, Adam and Eue yet being both aliue, Great▪ Mahalaleel ſonne of Kenan paſt, He • ared brings into the world at laſt,Iared borne. Whoſe whole delights were all to goodneſſe bent, As if that he was from the clouds downe ſent, To cheere vp Eue and Adam in their Caues, And comfort them vnto their happy graues. He long time liues the chaſteſt man of all, Loues darts were throwne but at a brazen wall, Vntill at length it ſanke into his breſt, The Churches Line vpon his Race ſhould Reſt. Then doth he pauſe, and vnto marriage goe, Iuſt at a hundred threeſcore yeares and two, And in the ſtrength of this his body high, Begat a child which neuer liu'd to dye. Enoch the ſeuenth that euer yet was bred,Enoch borne. Gen. 6. 24. From whom the Church doth now deriue her head, But Enoch ſtay, I cannot but admire, The chaſt condition of thy reuerent Sire, To liue ſo long within ſo prime an Age, When euery obiect as a pleaſing Page, Might rauiſh ſence, allure the chaſteſt eye, With lookes more cleere then is the pureſt dye, And when the Angels if the Booke be true,Book of Enoch Came downe from Heauen their beauties all to view. Great powerfull God what can I thinke or ſpeake, When all my wits are for this point to weake, But to conceiue thy glorious Angels bright, How they can be intangled with the ſight, And pleaſing lookes of this fond ſinfull ſex, Though fram'd as twere out of the Virgins wax. Yet drawne (entiſte) to euery thing is ill, Euen as occaſion workes vnto their will. I know ſome thinke their weake opinions ſound,Viues Euſeb. Lactan. That in thoſe dayes few women chaſt were found, But that Pride, Enuy, Luſt, Diſſembling, Guile, Did their white hands with all foule things defile, And that the Diuels with Lucifer which fell, From Hell aroſe with woman kind to dwell: By which their ſeede againſt (dame) Natures lawes, Prodigiouſly thus mixed was the cauſe, To bring forth Monſters in that fearefull caſe, Huge Giants tall of Gog and Magogs Race,Eze. 38. 23. Reuel. 20. 8. Such as not now can any where be found, For whom the world was ſhortly after drown'd. Others there be that thinke the Angels bright,Tertullian. Sarazens l. 3. 5 Which then ſtood pure before the moſt of might, With twelue great Princes of their royall band, Came downe from Heauen, in lareds dayes did ſtand, Vpon the top of lofty Hermon Hill, There curſt and vowd for to obtaine their will, Vpon mens Daughters which their eyes had ſeene, Sweete louely faire, delightfull, young and greene, And that the Mount from that time forth was nam'd, The Hill of Hermon as not once aſham'd, That their foule plot to this vile Hidra growne, Should by the name ſtill to this day be knowne. Semixas great, which was their chiefeſt Prince,Book of Enoch Iude. 6. 9. 14. Diſſwaded firſt from this foule curſt offence, Fearing the tortures of the Angells all, Their ſins and ſhame vpon his head would fall, Till by Arachiell and the reſt all ten, That in this place my Muſe is loath to pen: He gaue conſent, and ſo from thence all went, Euen as their minds on Hermon hill were bent, But God aboue ſoone ſendeth (Michaell) downe, Who binds Semixa with a ſacred frowne,Reu. 12. 7. 8, 9. Chaines him in hell and all his of-ſcum Race, Ties to the hils as Fairy Goblins baſe, The reſt and all the ſelfe ſame cup do taſte, Heauens fowre Archangels theſe foule fiends ſo waſte, That all Earths monſters ſprong from hell at firſt, Muſt by the flood be waſht away and curſt. A third opinion that our Age doth yeeld, In this large, goodly, ample, ſpatious field, Amongſt the Arabian, Christian, Turke and Iew, Which ſounds to reaſon (likelyeſt) to be true. Is that Seths iſſue from the Church deriued, Though in the depth of learned Arts they diued, And ſeem'd Gods Sonnes (adopted) ſweet of face, Yet linck't themſelues in Caines adulterous Race, By which their Spawne from this vile mingle mangle, Began with Pride (contentiouſly) to brangle, With griping pawes to ſatiate their fill, The harmeleſſe childs poore weake mans state to ſpill: Moſt barbarouſly to trample on the head Of the chaſte Virgine to deflowre her bed: To feed on gore (inhumanly) to tare Mans fleſh in peeces, gnawe his bones all bare, And tyranize, the great to wrong the leſſe, To act thoſe things which all the world may geſſe. Out from this Medly ſprang thoſe Gyants firſt,Gen. 6. 4. 5. 12. 13. Monſters of men that made the Earth accurſt, Baſe diueliſh minds with big aſpiring lookes, When as a man his neighbour hardly brookes, But ſheds his bloud ſqueeſeth the fleſh and gall, Licks vp the gore worſe then a Canniball, Nature (prodigious) in their mungrell birth, Made them adord, yet demy Gods on earth: Whilſt feare reſtraind the weaker men in aw, To Idolize againſt her ſacred law, They ſpend their dayes to treade the ſelfe ſame trace, Or worſe if may be in this barbarous caſe, That in the end with Brazen cotes of maile, They tempt the heauens and ſeeke the clouds to ſcale, To pull downe God from his triumphant throne, By their damn'd Pride and helliſh power alone. Thus whilſt oppreſſion ouerflowes the world, The little men ſtill by the greater hurld, Their ſtates conſum'd, their lands and liues all ſpoyl'd, Their cauſe (though iuſt) by greatneſſe croſt and foyl'd, Themſelues by others (baſely) bought and ſold, And hardly vs'd as I before haue told: Adam he grieues at this accurſed Race, Eue ſhe laments with diſcontented face, Both proſtrate fall before the God of power, To take their ſoules and ſend them happy howre. So deereſt Muſe heere in this mortall life,The Author. That ſwarmes in troupes of thoſe delight in ſtrife, Which neuer reſt till all my ſtate be ſpent, But at my Ruine all their aime is bent, How could I wiſh that my laſt dayes were come, Or that my foes were Cardinals of Rome, Or that my Peace which (almoſt) coſt the beſt, Of Lands and Life, to liue in quiet reſt; Were granted me, I car'd not which of all, But in my way would (fortunately) fall, So ſhould I reſt, no liuing man annoy, Or to the Heauens tranſlate my ſoule with ioy. But why do I caſt ſtones againſt the wind, Thus to diſcloſe the ſecrets of my mind, To waile my woes, lay open all my griefe, My foes wiſh well as Authors of it chiefe, And all this while no comfort yet I haue, But ſtill fell Enuy more and more doth raue, To wound my Soule with ſuch inueterate hate, As murders all to ſwallow vp my State. O pardon me, God may an Angell ſend, To worke my Peace, or elſe ſome welcome friend, Conuert my Foes, their Conſcience touch with feares, Or bring my Cauſe vnto my Soueraignes eares. Oh then how ioyfull ſhall that happy howre Be to my Soule, more ſweet then ſweeteſt flowre: And glad me more then if I (treaſures) found, The greateſt Riches on this Earthly ground: My future life ſhall warble (ſacred) layes, To ſound my God, and then my Soueraignes prayſe. But Adam (yet according to thy minde) Thou doſt Gods loue and all his fauours finde, Though in thy youth thou waſtvntimely croft, When Paradiſe was by thy folly loſt. Thy firſt borne ſonnes before thine eyes both ſlaine, Thy daughter ſtole, thy dayes to end in paine: And worſt of all, that theſe vile Monſters baſe Should but deſcend and come from this thy Race: That thou ſhouldſt liue but to behold the ſinnes, The wrongs, Oppreſſions, in th •… •… nd begins, The Horrors, Griefes, Vexations howrely fall Vpon the heads of this thy of spring all: And laſt, theſe Gyants heauens blew vaile to rend▪ To treade in blood without all hope to mend, Made thee deſire that thou thy wiſh mighſt haue, To come (in Peace) to this thy welcome Graue. God heares thy cry, and ſends his Angels bright, Clad in white garments of heauens ſacred light, Attir'd like Nymphs of chaſte Dianaes traine, With gliſtring wings a Crowne of life to gaine, All to be ſpangled in rich coſtly Iems, From the crowns top, vnto their skirts and hems, With Lawrels wreathd cloſe to their Temples chaſte: And Trumpets dangling by ech louely waſte Theſe all came downe thy ſorrowes to aſwage, In thine nine hundreth thirtie yeares of Age, To guard the ſoules both of thy ſelfe and wife From this worlds care, vexation, griefe and ſtrife: Of from the earth, vp to the lofty skies, When they haue cheerd and clozd vp both thine eyes. Then all their Trumpets in the ayre doth ſound, From Heauens blew wall downe to the loweſt ground, Melodiouſly about the clouds reſounding, The hils and dales (with Eccho) all rebounding, Till at the laſt they brought both ſafe and ſure, Two welcome ſoules into Gods preſence pure. Seth yet ſuruiues, grieues for his parents loſſe, Mourns, weeps, laments, at this ſad heauy croſſe: So he conceiues the Loue of two ſuch friends, From this worlds poynt, vnto hervtmoſt ends: On euery ſide of all the Earth and Round, Can hardly well be parareld and found. He ſheds ſalt teares, downe from his cheeks diſtilling, Plaining his woes, ſhewing himſelfe vnwilling To part with both, ſtoops downe (oft times) and kiſſes Their dead pale lips, and from his ſoule he wiſhes That his liues blood (deare tender hearted Seth) Had gone before, and but excuſd their death. His friends (come in) and brothers, ſiſters all, Some cheare him vp, others to weeping fall; Euen as we ſee the caſe (oft times) our owne, The loſſe of friends to caſt our courage downe, Amate our minds, and makes vs vaile our face, Knowing that we muſt tread the ſelfe ſame trace. Then vp they take their withered bodyes dead, Imbalme them both, and wrap them cloſe in lead But firſt with Nitre Orient ſpices meet, And Mummia, Cedar, fragrant, rich and ſweet, They all perfume, and dreſſe their bodyes cold, Then winde them vp as I (before) haue told, And lay them (ſeemly) on a Sable Hearſe, Sad heauenly ſight, a bleeding heart to pierce, To ſee the Parents of the totall world (Before their eyes) thus vp to nothing curld.

Foure of Seths brothers on their ſhoulders take, The Sable trunke, and ſo from thence they make Proceſſion like, a ſolemne ſacred way To Caluerie, vpon our Lady day: For as the Church doth euermore begin. Since God heauens crowne for all our ſakes did win, Vpon that day to count the Christian yeare, So ſome ſtill ſay he did mans body reare, Out of the dust, iuſt at that inſtant howre, The day and time in which himſelfe did powre His holy Spirit in the Virgins wombe, And did therein the ſecond Adam tombe▪ And true it is that Adam (fram'd by God) Liu'd yeares compleate, no months nor dayes as od, By which we gather that that very day, They were both buryed wrapt vp cold in clay. The Ceremonies and the ſacred Rites, The forme and manner (all my Sences) cites; Which Seth then vſde and holy Henoch pure, Drawes on my Muſe (as with a golden lure) To ſing the ſame vnto all future times, In theſe rude, ragged, harſh, vnpoliſht rimes:: But that my courſe another way muſt bend, As one that trauells neare his iourneys end, And that my Muſe may chance for to be curſt, When this ſhall grow and ſwell beyond my firſt. But yet one thing I may not ouer-ſlip, And leaue the Vales, vp to the Mounts to skip: For certaine tis that euermore the Iew, Hath ſtedfaſt held his owne opinion true, And he affirmes the likelieſt place of all: This goodly ſpatious, wide, delitious Ball, Where Adams corpes was by his children laide, Was not ith' mount, as late before I ſayd, But in the ſweet and dainty pleaſant vale Of Hebron plaine, hemd in with ſuch a Rale, And lofty border of braue mounting Trees, With fragrant Flowers to feede the hony Bees: And all Heauens guifts vpon this holy ground, As ſearch the world the like was neuer found. Here afterwards was Sarahs body layd, Both Abraham and his ſonne Iſaacke ſtayd:Gen. 23. 12. 4. 7. 9. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Cha▪ 25. 9. 10. Cha. 35. 29. cha. 50. 13. Rebecca, Iacob, Patriarkes and all Were here inter'd (as in a Brazen wall) And many a Iew wrapt vp within this plaine, That till Doomes day ſhall neuer riſe againe. This is the place that Abraham admired, Which more then gold his very ſoule deſired, And made him purchaſe on his bended knee, That with his Fathers all his ſeed might bee. And there remaine vntill the trumpe ſhall ſound, Then riſe together from that holy ground, And ſo mount vp the throane of God aboue, And ſcale the Heauens vpon the wings of Loue. But yet deere Muſe amongſt the dead mens graues, With piles of ſculs in hollow vaults and caues, Ghaſt (fearefull) ſights, we muſt no longer ſtay, But poſt with ſpeed to ſome more pleaſing way, Though all the Earth be but the ſinke of ſin, For Adams Race to (tumble) wallowin: Yet is it better euery way beſide, With liuing men then with the dead to bide. Shew therefore now what afterwards befell, How moſt men liu'd, worſe then the diuels of hell: In blood, oppreſſion, feud and deadly hate, Baſe cruelty to waſt ech others ſtate, Making no conſcience of th' eternall Law, When Adam's dead, that kept yet ſome in awe: The Father, Mother, Siſter Friends and Brother, Like treacherous Wolues deuoure vp one th' other, Each▪ man cries out, the little ones as fiſhes, Can ſcarcely liue to ſerue the great mens diſhes, All ſinne abounds from poore to men of worth, Like to a Streame which ouerflowes the Earth, Simile. Or generall deluge from great Neptunes hand, That on a ſudden ouerflowes the Land, In ſuch aboundance with that powerfull ſway, That nothing now can this maine current ſtay: But Heauens great Maker of Earths totall frame, If he diſcend and but behold the ſame, When leaſt of all the World ſhall thereof dreame, Then may he Alter, turne their tide and ſtreame. Tis true as then they had no Law beſide, The Law of Nature in their Conſcience dide, Grauen in their hearts, and ſtamp't within their mind, By him whoſe Image in our Soules we find, The ſin the leſſe yet not to be excuz'd, When God himſelfe hath in our Breſts infuz'd, Both in our birth ſucceding infant youth, His holy Spirit to leade vs in all Truth. But yet if God ſo ſharpe a Iudgement tooke, As ſhall be ſhew'd heereafter in this Booke, Vpon theſe men the monſters of their time, Whoſe haiuous ſins vp to the Clouds did clime, What may we thinke of this laſt Age of ours: Wherein we liue not many dayes nor howres, Yet we exceede the former Ages all, And God to Iudgement ready is to call, The Glaſſe neere run mans dated Time expired, Doomes fearefull day when all things muſt befired, Drawes neere at hand Earths candle light doth blinke, When all the World muſt vnder Iuſtice ſinke; And giue account of euery action paſt, This Age of ours it cannot long time laſt. For now Oppreſſion ouerflowes the Earth, Farre more and worſe then in her Infant birth, Fowle Cruelty, Extortion, Enuious Pride, Hypocriſie and ſmooth fac't ſinnes beſide, I etting and masking vnder formall Coates, That hard it is to know the Sheepe from Goates, The Puritant which hates the name of Mammon, Act. 2. 44. Is yet content to hold mens goods in common, And all the reſt in this my tedious taske, When Time ſhall ſerue I hope for to vnmaske, Meane while Romes Wolfe hath entred in our Ile, Deuoured ſome by Craft, Diſſembling, Guile, Baſe Couetouſneſſe the monſter of our Age, How doth ſhe creepe vpon the Graue and Sage, When Mony ſwayes, and Charity is cold, What is it not, but ſome will do for gold? O Plague, O Poyſon, hatcht in Hell below, Thy banefull Breath o're all the World doth flow, The Earth it ſelfe within her bowels pent, Her proper wombe is ript for thee and rent, The (ſacred) lap of Thetis cut and ſlic'ſt, Aboue the clouds with Belzabub thou fly'ſt, Thou gnawſt the minds of holy men like Mice, Ier. 6. 13 Chap. 3. 10. 2. Pet. 2. 3. Ecluſ 40, 12. Thy ſight doth ſting worſe then the Cockatrice, How haſt thou ſpoyl'de corrupted in all Ages, The pureſt minds of greateſt Perſonages? Whoſe Seruants painted with foule leperous Kibes, Now ſell their ſoules and all they haue for bribes. Like curſt Gehazies baſe polluted pawes,simile▪ 2. King. 5. 22. 26▪ 27. Which wrong'd his God, and holy Maſters lawes, And runs apace to catch into his hands, A little gold to purchaſe Nabaoths lands, Perchance to hang vpon his gawdy back, When Wife and Children ſtaru'd at home may lack, Or elſe to ſpend in drinking drunke and play, 'Mongſt beaſtly Wbores to caſt the ſame away. But God aboue that ſpyes the inmoſt thought, Diſcernes the fact which is in ſecret wrought, Vpon the top of damn'd Gehazies head, Showres downe his Iudgements as Eliſha ſaid, And in an inſtant all his body o're, From top to toe is peſtred with a ſore, An Irkeſome Scab vpon his skin doth grow, A Leproſie as white as any ſnow, Nor this alone vnto his body ſticks, A mates his mind and ſeared conſcience pricks, But all his kindred beſt acquainted friends, Forſake him quight and none vnto him ſends, And to this day his of-ſpring and his Race, Are leperous tainted in that curſed caſe. Father of Lights, and God of Spirits all, Power downe thy Iuſtice let thy Iudgements fall, Vpon the hairy Scalpes of thoſe that wrest, Diſhoneſtly their Friends or Neighbours beaſt, Their goods, their Lands, their liuing or their life, Not ſatisfied, continue ſtill in ſtrife▪ Great God that all the world may ſee thy good, Taint thou their Iſſue of-ſpring and their bloud, Theſe are the Cankars of the common wealth, Baſe Caterpillars powling beſt by ſtealth; That neuer care ſo they may haue their will, Mens bloud their liues their ſtate and all to ſpill: If thy good pleaſure ſayes my prayers nay, Thy Will be done, Lord fat them for thy day. But holy God, what will become of thoſe, Which in an open publike place ſhall choſe, To giue occaſion firſt to ſhew their gall, Do call a man both this and that and all, And afterwards ſhall lye vpon the catch, Their friends eſtate, into their hands to ſnatch, By Deedes, Conueyance, Obligations, Bonds, To wring and wreſt, to make them ſell their Lands, Before ſuch time as any thing is due, To clap vp ſuch with Cerberus his crue, In wofull priſon ſick to lye and rot, Not once to caſe, aſſawge their griefes a iot; And all the while in Equity and Right, There's nothing due but what is got by might, By Wrong, Oppreſſion diueliſh traps and guile, And wicked plodding in ſuch actions vile. Lord pardon them, forgiue their great offences, Call once againe, illuminate their ſences, Waken their careleſſe too ſecure a ſlumber, Forget their faults too infinite to number, Let them Restore what they haue wrongly got, Elſe will thoſe goods conſume away and rot, And aye the Infant yet vnborne will cry, For Ʋengeance iuſt on their posterity. But let not vs (good Lord) O let not vs, Trace out their ſteps to giue examples thus, Make vs auoyde to fall into the like, Leſt ſuddenly thy Iudgements do vs ſtrike, With farre more terror on our bodyes knowne, Then euer was vpon Gehezi ſhowne, Or all thy choſen people thou didſt make A warning ſad for vs (in Time) to take, Beſides the loſſe (eternall) of thy Grace, Where ſuch a one ſhall neuer ſee thy face. But chaſte Vrania, Soueraigne of my Muſe, In whom the Heauens do their beſt guifts infuſe, Why doſt thou now thy loue ſo farre ingage, As to deſcend downe to our times and Age, Leauing the world that at the firſt was drownd, To ramble out, beyond thy ſcope to ſound? Damn'd Vice, vnmaske with thoſe that wreſt and lurch, And all this while (thus) to forget the Church. Retire againe, and ſtay not with vs long, Thou maiſt be blam'd for this thy wholeſome ſong, For 'tis moſt true one harldly▪ ſcapes of▪ ten, That hunts the Foxe too neare the Lions den. Auoyde, begone, contend not much with theſe, For feare perhaps thou doſt ſome men diſpleaſe, And ſo incurre ſome danger on thy ſelfe, For taxing thoſe which are in loue with pelfe: Come to the Church deare Muſe, where laſt of all Thou Henoch leftſt vpon this goodly Ball. There thou art tide; O do not much abound. Take ſanctuary in their holy ground: And from theſe things till time ſhall ſerue ſurceaſe, Then ſhalt thou Reſt and liue in perfect Peace. Henoch the ſeuenth from Adams pupillage,Gen. 5. 21. Iud. 14. At ſixtie fiue yeares of his manly Age, Begat a childe whoſe like was neuer found, From this worlds birth in all her ſpatious Round, That liu'd to ſee ſo many weekes of dayes As this man did, and yet no ſtrength decayes: Methuſelah the wonder of his time, Whoſe age may claime of all the earth the prime, Which liu'd to ſee with Simeons heart inflam'd, The Arke of Noah before his death all fram'd;Luk. 2. 25. 26. 27. Tipe of that Church which from mount Sion purl'd, When Caeſars ſcepter ſwayd the Weſterne world. Methuſelah both ancient, graue and ſage, One hundred foureſcore and ſeauen yeares of Age, All chaſte doth liue, and then begets a Son, Vpon whoſe death the world was quite vndon, Lamech the father of that faithfull child, Which ſau'd ſeauens Soules, and all the reſt beguild, When that the Arke was by the waters heaued, O then they knew their wits were all deceiued. Great Noahs ſelfe from Lamechs loynes deſcended, When full one hundred eightie yeares were ended, And that the Sun had foure times croſt the line, Then is he borne, and in his birth did ſhine, Like to a glimpſe of that all ſacred light,Simile. Which in theſe dayes may dazle all our ſight: His name fore-tiping from his mothers breſt, That he was borne to be the Churches Reſt.Ioh 1. 19. Fiue hundred yeares (or neare vpon) he paſt His manly dayes both continent and chaſte, And then eſpowſed to his future Fame, A Noble, Faire, and courteous, louely Dame, Some thinke the ſiſter of great▪ Tubal-Caine, Genebrard. in Cron▪ Iew Rab. Sweete Naamah his loue at firſt did gaine. Though from the Line of curſed Caine deſcended, Yet of the Heauens ſhe was ſo highly friended, As that her Lot before the world was drown'd, Fell lucky forth within the Churches ground. Oh God thy workes are farre beyond our reach, The leaſt of them may all our Sences teach: Thou haſt thy ſheepe diſperſt in euery place, From Henochs, Seths and Caines proud enuious Race: It is thy pleaſure bad mens ſins to pay, To ſaue (ſome yet) and caſt not all away, The Flowres oft times which do mongſt Cockle grow, May ſmell more ſweet then any plant we ſow. And tender Seeds out from the Popiſh Seate, May yet at length proue Eares of perfect wheate, Chiefly when Noah Gods husbandman ſhall till, And worke the ground according to his will, With pruning, planting in that forme and manner, As was the Church once vnder Caeſars Banner. So Abraham was out from Chaldee cald,Gen. 12. 28. Chap. 12. 2. Cha▪ 41. 42. 43 44. Iob. 1. Exod. 2. 5. 6. 11. 13. 15. Heſt. 2. 17. cha. 7. 6. 10. And Ioſeph great in Egypts Court inſtald: Iob in the land of Vz amongſt thoſe men, Where ſo he liu'd that grieues my ſoule to pen: And Moſes milde amongſt the murdring ſort, Was nurſt, brought vp within king Pharohs Court. Heſter the Queene, that made her foes a ſcorne, Was marryed, (tide) vnto a Pagan borne. And Paul himſ:elfth' Apoſtle of vs all, Yet firſt was bred within prowd Tarſus wal: And diuers others which my Muſe could name, Were traind vp thus, and yet deſeru'd no blame. For he that builds vpon the ſlippery ſand, Yet Time may ſerue to make his fabricke ſtand, And theſe were ſuch as from the reſt reculde, The weaker ſexe are by the greater rulde, Though ſome (perhaps) haue tride the ſame and miſt, Yet wiſe men ſtill do winde them as they liſt. As by example, from Noahs happy choyce, This world of ours may euer iuſt reioyce, To haue a mother without blurre or ſtaine, When all were loſt to ſtore the Earth againe. But what make wee (deare Muſe) with Noahs wife, Chaſte Matron, graue preſeruer of our life? Whoſe Fame deſerues heauens azurd richeſt gowne, A garland deckt and Lawrell wreathed Crowne, And in her lap the Frame of all to hold, I fall were made of ſolid beaten gold, What if ſhe be deriued from the Race, Of curſed Caine, yet hath ſhe better face▪ A Conſcience cleane, Religion in her breſt, Within whoſe Soule Heauens deareſt guifts do reſt, Tipe of the Church now to perfection wrought, Which was at firſt but out of darkneſſe brought. Looke backe againe, and poſt not one too faſt, For feare thou beeſt beyond thy compaſſe caſt: Tell what befell to Adams iſſue left, What miſdemeanours all his ofspring kept, Ech man his neighbor deadly hates and wounds, Sin ouerflowes (in euery place) abounds, The greater ſtill deuouring vp the ſmall, That in the end th' oppreſſed blood doth call For vengeance iuſt vnto the God of Powre, Who doth deſcend, and on the world doth lowre, Repents himſelfe that ere he did begin, To frame the ſame thus poyſoned all with ſin, Whoſe true repentance from his eyes did draw, That ſtreame of teares which wofully they ſaw, When all the Earth could ſcarce ſupport, containe The Inundation of his furious raine; But ſunke, ſhranke in, vnder the water diues, As loath to ſaue the wicked treacherous liues, Of hatefull men that neuer liu'd at Reſt, But when they bloud ſpilt on her (crimſon) breſt. This was the cauſe which made the Clouds to drop, Sad ſudden ſhowres (downe) from Dame Natures ſhop, And all the fountaines of the greateſt deepe, To be broke vp o're all the Earth to creepe,Gen. 7. 11. Heauens Windowes ope, the ratling Aire to ſound, With fearefull ſtormes like to a Chaos drown'd,simile. Rumbling and tumbling, iumbling all together, As we haue ſeene in ſudden ſulphery Weather, Gods voyce to teare (Heauens Curtaine) to our wonder,Pſal. 29. 23 Out from a darke black horrid dreadfull thunder. But yet before God doth to Iudgement paſſe,Eſa. 40. 67 simile. 1. pet. 1. 24. pſal. 90 56 simile. He meditates, and ſees that mans but graſſe, Like to a flower that in the morning cut, Is yet ere night with their dead bodies put, Into the Graue, and ſo conſume together, Euen in a Moment changed hither thither, Dride vp to nothing by Heauens altring time, When (yeſterday) they flouriſht in their prime. God re-aſcends, and lets the world alone, Takes Enoch vp that liu'd therein to mone, Waile, grieue, lament, the abuſes which he ſaw, Committed were againſt the conſcience, law, Of noble Nature in that ſinfull age, Small hope to mend when all could not aſſwage, The furious current of their ſtreame and tide, Too good (ſweete Saint) with theſe foule men to bide. The Angels bright, and all the powers diuine,Enoch taken vp▪ Before thy face in glittring Robes do ſhine, Their number more then are the ſtars and ſands, With golden Cenſors in their pure white hands, Winged with Fame to mount the higheſt Heauens, Ranck 't all in order muſtring iuſt by ſeauens, Deſcending ſweetely on thy louely Breſt, To bring both ſoule and body to their Reſt, By ſafe conueyance in a Charriot fram'd, Of burniſht gold, the Horſe with loue inflam'd; Mount vp the Aire with ſtately ſtomack fierce, And at the laſt the brazen Wall doth pierce: Where like a Prince that Paradiſe had gain'd, Of Eue and Adam thou art entertain'd, With farre more loue within ſo braue a field, Then all the World and all therein can yeeld, There thou doſt liue when they are wrapt in duſt,Gen. 5. 24 Jude 14. The ſeuenth from them, Tipe of our Sabaoth iuſt. Now thou art gone what can be heere expected, But Enuy, Hate, with all good deedes neglected, Pride, Cruelty, Extortion, ouer-rules; Making the Earth Vermilion dyde with gules, And ſable ſhewes of foule inueterate ſpleene, Hatch 't in Hels vaults whoſe like was neuer ſeene, Before this time ſo ſtrongly to abound, And ouerflow the Vniuerſall Round, As that ſmall hope there is at all to mend, Till God to Iuſtice ſhall from Heauen deſcend, And view the world not as he made it firſt, But as it is poluted, ſtain'd accurſt, Contagious, vile in Caines adulterous race, And ouerſpred with all damn'd actions baſe, When what we ſhould not in our pawes we get, As bad and worſe as ere I told you yet. But ceaſe deare Muſe for thou at large haſt layd, Their ſins wide ope and all their ſpight betray'd, Vnmask 't the Browes of all that wicked Rout, Which diu'd to Hell to bring their plots about, The reſt preſeru'd I meane thoſe Children deare, That liue in Loue and worſhipt God in feare, Whoſe bloud aſcended, Mounted vp the skye, And for iuſt Vengeance at his Throne did cry. God heares their moane and re-deſcends againe, And ſees that Sin the totall Earth did ſtaine, In ſtead of Flowers and wholeſome pleaſing fruite, He finds but Weedes and barbarous actions bruite, The weake poore man ſtill by the greater caſt, In far worſe caſe then when he view'd it laſt; Now Cruelty doth grinde the Infants face, To ſwallow all with griping proiects baſe, Corruption, Bribes, the World it ſelfe doth fill, From Sodoms Vale to Sions ſacred Hill, Comes neere the Church to enter in her walls, To fill it full of deadly poyſoned galls. But one man liuing on this ſpacious Round, From Sols firſt ſight till where his teame is drown'd, In all the Earths large goodly plenteous ſcope, From Colmogro vnto the Cape of Hope, That God could find to haue an vpright heart, Which from his Loue could not be drawne to ſtart, By ill examples of that froward Race, Which ouerſwarm'd (the World) in euery place, With Guile, Oppreſſion, Cruelty and Hate, As in this Worke I told you of but late. Him God ſelects and (graciouſly) culs out, From the rude Rabble of that murdring Rout,Gen. 19. 16 24, 25 Pſal. 34▪ 6, 7 19. 22 Pſal. 83. 35. As in the dayes when Sodom was deſtroy'd, Iuſt righteous Lot was not at all annoy'd, But well brought forth by Angels ſafe and ſure, Preſerued was from their curſt hands impure, The harmeleſſe man may ſuffer extreme wrong, Amongſt thoſe men that are (perchance) too ſtrong, In Wealth, Friends, Kindred, Combination, Coate, To draw ſlye oathes to cut the poore mans throate: Yet this may be a comfort to his ſoule, For all their tricks and treacherous actions foule, Damn'd Pollicies vnto their vtmoſt might, Although he fall, he ſhall not periſh quight. So art thou iuſt in all thy works O God, When the World feeles the burden of thy rod, And heauy weight of thy all powerfull hands, The vpright man ſtill (at thy mercy) ſtands, Although ſometimes thou ſhewſt thy hinder part, To let him taſte that which his mind thinks tart,Exo. 33. 23 1. Pet. 4. 12, 13, 14. Theſ. 4. 6 Eſay 26. 16, 17, 18, 19 Yet as thy Word in many places ſaith, Thou doſt but try to proue his vtmoſt faith, And when (oft-times) his courage failes and ſinkes, As brought neere to their dangerous pits and brinkes, Then doſt thou keepe him from their murdring pawer, Baſe, cruell, curſt, deuouring, griping iawes, And full of Loue, compaſſion, pitty, grace, Vnuailſthy Browes to ſhew thy glorious Face, (Ah deareſt God) euen whilſt my Muſe was working Vpon this Place, how were my foes all lurking About my houſe, to vndermine my ſtate, With ſecret traines, cloſe to my dores and gate. But thou didſt wake when I was faſt aſleepe, To make me know that thou doſt alwayes keepe, Thy ſheepe from danger of a Wolfe moſt fierce, Which in my bloud (next to my ſtate) would pierce Then didſt thou giue me at that inſtant howre, A Viſion ſtrange to ſhew thy ſecret powre, That in a dreame when once my body wak't, My inward thoughts and all my ſences ſhak't; But Reaſon guides and ſwayes me downe her ſtreame, To make me prize it boue an vſuall dreame. Whereat I went, lockt vp my dores moſt ſure, To keepe me ſafe from treacherous pawes impure, Which neuer yet in all my life was done, The hatefull lawes of cruell foes to ſhun; But (Heauenly God) when leaſt I knew ofharme, How did they then about my houſe all ſwarme On euery ſide, with rauing ſpeeches hot, Like Sodomits about the walls of Lot, Gen. 19. 4, 5, 9, 10, 11. Till thou protectedſt broughtſt me ſafely out, From the curſt fury of that griping Rout; Stroke them with blindneſſe all like Tygers lay; While thou conueydſt my body ſure away, To ſound thy prayſe, and blaze thy glorious name, To end (this worke) to thy renowned fame. So doſt thou now to make vs all admire, Thy fauour ſhewde vnto our reuerent Sire, Deſcend to Noah the wonder of his Time, When Nemeſis vp to thy Throne did clime, To craue iuſt Vengeance at thy hands for all, The bloud ſhed, ſpilt, vpon this ſpacious Ball, Told him an end of all mens barbarous liues, With the ſad fall of their (inceſtuous) Wines, The cruell Race of monſtrous Giants great, That like to Wolues (the flock) did tare and beate, And wound them ſo, as now not one was left, Beſides himſelfe, that from his birth had kept: His mind vnſpotted (Conſcience) cleane and pure, Not tainted, ſtain'd with euery golden Lure, And euery beaſt which on the earth doth feede, The fowles of Heauen that in the Aire do breede, With all fleſh liuing on this goodly frame, The young and old too tedious heere to name, With thoſe hard hearted which the weake anoyd, Should (by a floud) be all of them deſtroyd, And that himſelf would (alter) turne their glaſſe, Before a hundred twenty yeeres ſhould paſſe, Thoſe which repented in that time and ſpace, Should reſpite haue to find his loue and grace, And all the reſt within this boundleſſe round, Should then be waſht, conſum'd away and drown'd. God wills him further to prouide in time, Againſt the Floud that higheſt Mounts will clime, And frame an Arke for to ſecure his life, His children deare and tender hearted wife, From the fell furious raging tide, and ſtreames, Of Neptune (proud) that vndermines her ſeames, To pierce her Ioynts and lay them open all, When bluſtring waues vpon her ſides do fall:▪ Maeſia in Aſia minor. Bids him go poaſt to Maeſia land with ſpeed, And fell thoſe Pines which now the world did need, whoſe wondrous height may dazle all our ſight, To ſee them grow two hundred foot vpright Firme from the ground, and to be parted plaine Into the three parts, and then vnite againe. Tipe of that Church, whoſe ground was layd by Paul, When three make one and one but all in all. So was the Arke diuided into parts, To amaze the minds of true Religious harts: Three stories high the ſame was fully fram'd, To hold the ſorts of creatures wild and tam'd, Made all of Pine, pitcht both without and in, To ſuckor none that periſht for their ſin: And that the reſt as God had iuſt decreed, The Male and Female in the ſame ſhould breed, To ſtore the world, repleniſh it againe With fruite more milde then firſt the earth did ſtaine. The Arke once fram'd according to the forme That God had layd before the furious ſtorme, Fell croſly forth contrary to the minde, Of thoſe great men, which did the weaker grind: They wondred all at this ſo huge a frame, Derided, ſcoft, too bitter here to name, And at the laſt attempted barbarous rude Their hands polluted all with bloud imbrude: To teare it downe and make it but the ſcorne To all thoſe men hereafter ſhould be borne▪ But God aboue perceiuing that their pride, The totall earth on euery ſide had dide, With crimſon gore and that they ment outright, To ſpoyle his Worke, deface it vtter quight, Powers down his Iudgements, ſends thoſe feareful ſhowers That all the Aire i'th inſtant thunders lowers, With ſable clouds, and ſulphery flames of fire. Tearing the Heauens, making the World admire: To ſee the Earth, the Aire, Fire, Waters all, Flock altogether round about this Ball, Ioyne all as one euen in an inſtant ſoone, To ſtop mans breath ſending a night at noone▪ Thatin a Moment all their liues are dround, Their pride much like the Aegyptian army found, That in the Sea vpon the crimſon ſands, Againſt Gods ſheepe heau'd vp their murdring hands, The Arke protected from their trecherous pawes, Damn'd Enuious fowle baſe curſt deuouring Iawes, Heau'd from the Earth, vpon the Water bides, Secure from hurt, when God her Pilot guides, Triumphant marches, in all ſtormes it ſtands, Their vnbeliefe bold impudency brands, With that iuſt ſcourge, which if they had repented, All had beene well, his Iudgements ſtaid and ſtented. Full ſixteene hundred complete yeares were ended, And fifty ſixe when God in ſunder rended, The ſable clouds, and made the Waters mount, To drowne the World according to the count, Of all the Hebrewes, glory of the Earth, Whoſe ſacred ſtories of admired worth, Haue purchaſt fame, and aye deſerued well, Before the reſt to beare away the Bell. Heere could I ſing th'afflictions, ſorrowes, griefe, Vexations, troubles, ſundry miſchiefes reife: That dayly hapned to Noahs ſacred Arke, Toſt too and fro as is a little Barke. Vpon the wings of (enuious) Eols rage. And ſome good men within this iron Age, The Surges, Waues, vpon her ſides all beate, The ſturdy Rocks to ſplit, her wombe do threate, The Sands to choake, the ſtormes to batter downe, As all the Rest ſo ſhe her ſelfe to drowne. But ſtill protected by Gods powerfull hands, Againſt the ſtreame of all theſe rubs ſhe ſtands, And on the Waters Waues, foule miſchiefes all, She paſſes through, and viewes this ſpacious Ball, Vntill at laſt ſhe chanſt her ſelfe to eaſe, From the fell fury of the enuious Seas, Vpon the top of that admired Hill, Ararat. Gen. 8. 4. Whoſe worthy fame the totall Earth doth fill, As more at large ſhall be deſcribed plaine, In my next Booke, when once (my peace) I gaine, Meane time deare Muſe, with Noahs ſacred Pile, Let vs but ſtay and reſt our ſelues a while. FINIS.