Hebdomada sacra: A weekes deuotion: or, Seuen poeticall meditations vpon the second chapter of St. Matthewes gospell. Written, by Roger Cocks.

A WEEKES DEVOTION.

Sundaies Meditation, or the firſt Canto for the firſt day. The Argument. Christs obſcure Birth deſcrib'd, the Place, To which he did vouchſafe ſuch Grace. The Time when he was borne is nam'd: The Iew for vnbeliefe is blam'd. WHen Caeſar famous for his Gallian warre, Had ended that vnnaturall ciuill jarre, Twixt him and Pompey, and by his defeat, Got him a greater name thē that of great, Perpetuall Dictator, Enuie roſe To ioyne with coward Murder, and depoſe Vertue from bearing rule, the Senate made A bloudy ſhambles, and a couert ſhade. For horrid treaſon, was the fatall place, Where his blacke tragedie was wrought, in baſe Vnmanly manner, falling by the hand, Of an vnthankefull Brutus: the command, Of Romes faire Empire then in three did lie, Augustus, Lepidus, and Anthonie: Lepidus ſoone gaue o're, whether in doubt, Had he held ſtill, he could not long hold out, Or for ſome other reaſon, t'other twaine, Shar'd equally Romes glorie, and the gaine Of forraine kingdomes, till at length there paſt, (For great mens freindſhip doth not alwaies laſt) Vnkindneſſe twixt them, Anthonie had wed Auguſtus Siſter, but forſooke her bed, For Aegypts Cleopatra, This gaue fire To new diſſention, his vniuſt deſire Muſt be made good by Armes, for gentle words Turne him to furie, our impartiall Swords Shall ſoone decide this difference ſaid he, And ſoone they did indeed, fate did agree To ſecond his proud ſaying, for his forces, Broke by Augustus powers, he life diuorces, From her weake hold, and being thus o'recome, Caeſar went backe triumphant vnto Rome. Augustus now hauing ſole rule, ſoone brought His Prouinces in awe, all humblie ſought To haue his friendſhip, ſome few▪ did rebell, But with vndaunted courage he did quell Their vaine attempts, and to his fames encreaſe, Eſtabliſht through the world a welcome peace. While Ianus Temple was ſhut vp and warre, Chas'd backe to Plutoes kingdome, while no iarre Kept out ſoule-ioyning concord, whoſe ſweete art Did Speares to Mattockes, Swords to Plowes conuert, While Noahs Doue brought in her mouth (the Marke Of generall peace) and Oliue Branch toth' Arke, Chriſt the celeſtiall Salomon was borne, That King of peace, whoſe Amalthaean horne, Powr'd peace and plenty on vs; ſo they ſay, That when the Eagle flies abroad to prey, The pratling birds are ſilent, ſhould not then Warres tongue be ſilent, when the beſt of men Like to a Royall Eagle from his neſt, Came from the Virgins wombe in manhood dreſt. When Halcyons build their neſt, & breed their yong, The Seas are quiet, the winde findes no tongue, 'Twas fit the world ſhould haue the like behauiour, When the pure Virgin did bring forth our Sauiour. Philoſophers obſerue the dewes deſcent, Is in a cleare night, when the winde is pentAriſtotle. In Aeols priſon: and the Prophet told Chriſt ſhould come downe like dew, and ſuch, behold, Was his ſweet entrance, neuer was the earth So much refreſht by dew, as by his birth, Fit was it then for warres loud noiſe to ceaſe, That this dew might come in a calme of peace. If in two Kingdomes, ſuppoſe Spaine and France, Which long in hoſtile manner did aduance. Armes againſt armes, one Kings eldeſt ſonne Marries the others daughter, warres are done, And they which earſt contended eagerly, Now meet in loue, and feaſt in royalty, So ſtood the caſe with vs, by faire pretence, Malicious Satan made man to commence A warre with God, a warre that would haue wrought His endleſſe ruine, had not mercie ſought A meanes to ſettle peace, the onely ſon Of the Almightie, when he did put on That veile of fleſh, did by it faſt combine Our humane nature to his owne diuine, And made a reconcilement, which no power Can breake or time weare out, though euery houre Satan attempt new practiſes, and Hell Spit out her rankeſt venome, to expell Man from his Makers fauour, but her ſpite Falls on her head redoubled, while delight Crownes our deſires, ſuch happy vnion gan The bleſt Meſſias make 'twixt God and man. No ſooner had Augustus brought each landLuke 2. Into ſubiection, but by his command A generall Taxe was laid on euery nation, Iudea 'mongſt the reſt, by Proclamation, Each perſon to his natiue city went There to be taxed: O that men were bent With ready minde, and prompt alacrity, To yeeld obedience vnto Gods decree, As well as Caeſars, in the ranke of thoſe Who with ſubmiſſiue dutie did diſpoſe Their wills to this edict, a bleſſed paire: Ioſeph the iuſt, Mary the chaſt and faire, Both Abrahams iſſue, both of Dauids ſtemme, Came vnto Dauids City, Bethlehem, There to be taxed, as the Law requir'd, She being neere her time, which ſoone expir'd, While they were there the dayes accompliſhed, That the pure Virgin ſhould be brought to bed, And yet that phraſe ist but improper heere, Becauſe the Inne, though full of gueſts, yet cleare, Of Grace and goodneſſe, would afford no roome, Where ſhe might child her iſſue, her ripe wombe, Found, ſaue a ſtable, no conuenient place, To reſt it ſelfe, hard hearts whom ſuch a caſe, Mou'd to no pitty, heere ſhe forth did bring The Worlds Redeemer, heauens eternall King. A King, where were the nobles of his Court? Where all his followers? Where the full reſort Of honourable Matrons? to attend Vpon his mother, was there neere a Friend To giue ſoft muſique? by whoſe gentle touch Her ſorrowes might be ſwagde, did all hearts grutch To lend aſſiſtance? at a Princes birth The voice of ioy ſpeakes high, and from the earth, Vnnumbred fires to ſuch perfection grow, As they would make another heauen below, Heere all was huſht and ſilent, to his owne Chriſt came vnentertaind, becauſe vnknowne. But why, O Lord, wert thou thus poorely borne? Why didſt thou make thy ſelfe to be a ſcorne To after Ages? Was it to conceale Thy Deity from Satan? or reueale Thy vnexampled goodneſſe vnto man? The like whereof, ſince time and place began To circumſcribe our actions, was not knowne, Nor ſhall vnto ſucceeding age be ſhowne. As Iſraels King did once his habite change,1. King. 22. When he wagde warre 'gainſt Syria and did range The field in ſtrange diſguiſe: So Chriſt our King Whom an vnbounded loue from heauen did bring, To fight gainſt helliſh Syrians, and by armes To giue vs freedome from death-threatning harmes, Exchang'd his habite for bright Maieſtie, Clothing himſelfe with baſe infirmity: If ſome great King put on his royall Crowne, And regall ornaments, he may be knowne, But if his Kingly dignity he hide In vile aray, he may paſſe vndiſcried. So had our kingly Sauiour cloth'd with light As with a garment, come at firſt in ſight, He would haue then beene knowne vnto his foe, And none haue dar'd once to exchange a blow That he might therefore come vnto the fight Vnknowne, this King of Iſrael had him dight In ſtrange aray: A Stable was his Throne, A Cratch his Cradle, His attendance none, With hunger, thirſt, diſgrace, and pouerty, Our Sauiour couered his diuinity. Loe here full low he in a Cratch doth lie, Who ſometimes on the winged wind doth flie,Eſai. 66. 1▪ And he whoſe throne is heau'n, whoſe footſtoole earth Hath but a ſordid Stable at his Birth: O had not man layne miſerably defil'd In ſinnes polluted Stable, this faire Child Had found a better lodging, but 'twas fit That he which is our food, the ſweeteſt bit That euer mortall taſted, ſhould be laid In a poore Manger, ſince it may be ſaid, Men were turn'd worſe then beaſts, and therefore theyBernard. To be refreſht as beaſts that feede on Hay. The ancient Prophets had foretold of yore That Bethlehem was the place whereas ybore, Should the Meſſias been: the learned read The word to ſignifie the houſe of bread: Whether becauſe for fruitefulneſſe and food, It as a ſtore-houſe to the countrey ſtood, So 'mongſt the ancient Romans SicilyHorreum Italiae. Tully. Was ſometimes called the barne of Italy: Or becauſe Chriſt true heauenly bread indeed, Whereon our ſoules, and not our mouthes doe feed, Was there brought forth, ſo fathers moralize,Hierom. Gregory. Indeed from him all bread that doth ſuffice Our ſoules and bodies is deriu'd: he giues Corporall bread, by which the body liues: Doctrinall bread he alſo doth affoord, And this we call his holy heauenly Word, Bread Sacramentall, in which we receiue Spiritually the Giuer, and conceiue A bleſſed vnion made in a ſtrange faſhion, By Faith, and not by tranſubſtantiation: In fine, celeſtiall bread he doth diſpoſe At his eternall Table, vnto thoſe Which are his Seruants whoſe delicious taſting Shall giue our bodies an immortall laſting. In Ioſephs time the come of Aegypt land,Geneſ. 41. Was without number, like the Ocean ſand, Bethlem had greater plenty at Chriſts Birth, For heere was bread to nouriſh all the earth, And of more bleſt continuance: thoſe full cares In Pharaohs countrey laſted but ſeuen yeares, Leane famine then tooke place: our Bethlehems ſtore (As inexhauſted) laſts for euermore: There the Aegyptians when they wanted Cates, Were faine to buy them at exceſſiue rates. Heere Bread like to the Prophets Milke and Wine,Eſai. 55. 1. A man may purchaſe without price or coyne: And therefore as all nations in their neede, To Ioſeph came for corne, whereon to feede: So let all people vnto Bethlehem haſte, And ſeeke out the true Ioſeph which is plac'd By the celeſtiall Pharaoh o're the earth, To furniſh men with corne, againſt the dearth Threatning the ſoules deſtruction, who will giue If they but aske, enough for them to liue Heere, and heereafter, where they ſhall be fed, In an eternall houſe of liuing bread. Thrice happy Bethlehem, thou bleſt houſe of bread On whom the Sunne of glorie firſt did ſpread: The comfortable beames of his man God Vnited nature, and there made abode: But O more happy they, within whoſe heart Faith giues him ſecond birth, and will not part With this bleſt ſtore, I would our ſoules might be The Bethlehem of his Natiuity: But ere this can be ſo, we muſt put on Myſtically ſuch a condition, As that place had: firſt Bethlehem did ſeeme But little in extent, leſſe in eſteeme, The leaſt of Iudahs thouſands: So muſt we, If we expect a bleſt renaſcencyMicah. 5. 3. Of Chriſt within our ſoules, or would inherit The purchaſe of his all-ſufficient merit. Be meane, and little in our owne eſteeme, How great, how good ſoeuer we may ſeeme: In others iudgement: euery Chriſtian knowes That Chriſt a Lilly is, but ſuch as growes In the low valley of an humble minde,Cant. 2. 1. Not on proud mountaine tops, and as we finde Flouds run not vp ſteep cliffs, but through low groūds Conueigh their current: So his Grace ſurrounds With a ſweet ſtreame of goodneſſe, only thoſe, Which like low bottomes humbly doe diſpoſe Themſelues to that bleſt moiſture, we muſt then If we would haue our Chriſt the beſt of men Spiritually borne in vs, all agree To be a Bethlehem in humility. Againe we muſt be ſtorehouſes of bread, To feed the hungry, he that doth not ſpread A wing of mercy on the poore ſhall finde, Chriſt will not houſe them there, the ſupple minde Like pliant waxe, loues gentle fire muſt ſoften Ere he imprint his ſeale, and we muſt oftenEccles. 11. 1. Caſt our bread on the waters, if we looke That he which humane nature on him tooke, To ſaue the world, while here we liue on earth, Should haue within our hearts a ſecond birth. Now was the Scepter tane from Iudahs hand, Nor 'twixt his feete ſate he, who did command The Lawes coerciue power: an argumentGen. 49. 10. The promis'd Shilo was already ſent Blind Iew, which dazeled with abundant light, Sit'ſt like a dull Aegyptian, in the night Of ſoule-deluding error, could record Of ancient Prophets, make thee giue thy Lord No better welcome, wilt thou yet denie This firme vnqueſtion'd truth obſtinate eye Shut vp in wilfull blindneſſe, let the place Where Chriſt was borne, the time when, from ye chaſe This cloud of darkeneſſe, looke not ſtill in vaine For thy Meſſias, who till all againe Turne into Chaos, ſhall no more be ſent What time for want of faith thou ſhalt be ſhent And ſentenc'd to deſtruction, if in time, Thy teares like Iordan waſh not out thy crime. But as when Moſes was in Aegypt borne,Exod. 2. He was of his owne mother as forlorne Caſt out into the riuer, and there found By Pharaohs daughter, who from being dround Preſeru'd the Infant, and with tender care Brought vp this foundling, as her wombe had bare, That goodly Hebrew: So was Chriſt bereau'd Of a glad welcome by the Iewes, receiu'd By the now happier Gentiles, happier farre Then Abrahams iſſue, whom ſo bright a Starre Cannot enlighten, but his word deſpiſe, And 'gainſt the Sun of glory ſhut their eyes.

Mondaies Meditation, or the ſecond Canto. The Argument. The Magi come out of the Eaſt, Vnto Ieruſalem, in queſt Of the Meſſias, and enquire, But meet not there their full deſire. BEhold while Gideons fleece, the Iuyce is dry,Iugd. 6. His floore (the Gentiles) doth it ſelfe apply To drinke the heauenly dew: From Hebers land A countrey farre in the eaſt parts did ſtand, But in what place vncertaine, whether Perſia, Neerer Chaldea, or the fartheſt India, (Each haue their ſeuerall authors) did ſend forthPrimitiae Gentium. Auguſtin. Theſe firſt fruits of the Gentile (whoſe high worth Makes them thought kings by ſome) I dare not ſay Only from thence they came, from whence the day Breakes, and Aurora chaſes thence blacke night, Where Sol firſt riſing ſhewes his glorious light, And guilds the lofty mountaines, whence his beames Reflect a brightneſſe on the eaſterne ſtreames. Whether theſe wiſe men came from Abrahams line, Yet not of Sarahs off-ſpring, ſome aſſigne Keturah their grand-mother, or begot By Baalams ſucceſſor, or tis not Materiall to examine, ſo to lay For firme poſition, were to much to ſay: Whether they were Magicians as ſome thinke, And ſuch who for deepe ſcience choſe to linke Their Soules to Satan, or Philoſophers Morall and naturall, or Aſtronomers, (To which opinion I aſſent thus farre, Becauſe we finde God call'd them by a ſtarre I liſt not to examine may't ſuffice, They haue this only title they were wiſe. Wiſe men indeed, it is true wiſedomes lore, To ſeeke for Chriſt, and neuer to giue ore Till we haue found him, ſo did theſe that came Out from the Eaſt, would we could doe the ſame. It is a rare thing to be skil'd in arts Abſtruſeſt cunning▪ and to haue all parts That better humane knowledge, but to know Chriſt, is more worth, then all that art can ſhow: And therefore as when Phoebus 'gins to riſe, The ſtarres ecclipſed luſtre hidden lies From eye of mortall; So when as diuine Soule-quickning wiſedome, as the Sun doth ſhine, Each humane ſcience like a petty ſtarre, Muſt vaile vnto it: as a ſhip from farre Spying the Kings ride on the narrow ſeas, When ſhe comes neere (though little for her eaſe) Bends her proud head, and doth withouten faile, In moſt ſubmiſſiue manner ſtrike her Sai • e. See here the (ne're enough to be admir'd) Attractiue power of Chriſt, by which enſp • rd To finde their Sauiour out, with ioyfull hearts Theſe Magi come from the remoteſt parts: The Sun doth not exhale more forcibly The pureſt vapours vp, the Loadſtone nigh The Sympathetique ſteele, makes it not cling, More cloſe vnto it, then this heauenly King, (His innate vertue did ſuch loue diſtill) Made their affections cleaue vnto his will.2. King. 10. That Sheba's Queene drawne by the bare report Of Salomons faire vertue, left her Court, For Iudah's countrey may full ſtrange appeare, But ſee then Salomon a greater heere.Luke 11. 31. More ſtrange to Chriſt the comming of thoſe wiſe, Then hers to Salomon we muſt agnize: She was but one alone, they many were, She but a woman, they men, ſhe came there Led by the tongue of Fame, but they from farre Were guided by the leading of a ſtarre: She came to one whoſe riper yeeres did ſpeake Him growne to mans eſtate: they to a weake And tender Infant: She to one that ſwaid A royall Scepter; They to one was laid In a poore Manger; She came but to trie The truth of Fame, and curiouſly to ſpie His ſtate and knowledge, in effect meere vanity: They to adore their God in his humanity: In fine we finde her comming is expreſt From forth the South: but theirs is from the eaſt. Like as the Sun when he doth firſt diſplay His radiant luſtre, and with lightſome day Breake from the Eaſt, and getting in his throne Fixt in the middle of the heauenly Zone, Makes his diurnall progreſſe to the Weſt, And then returnes againe into the Eaſt: So thoſe wiſe men doe firſt their iourney gin, From out the Eaſt nor did they euer lin; Till to Ieruſalem the Weſt they came, And fitly may this occidentall name Be giuen to it, ſince the glorious Sun Of righteouſneſſe hauing his courſe runne, Did there ſit red and bloudy, there he died, Who for the ſinne of man was crucified, From thence they Eaſtward paſſe, and neuer ceaſe Till to their countrey they come backe in peace. Of all the parts in the worlds continent The Eaſt hath aye beene held moſt excellent. Whether becauſe that fruitfull Paradice, Was planted Eaſtward or that Sol doth riſe There in his glory, or that the day ſpring Is made an attribute to heauens great King:Luke 1. 78. Hence is it that in Churches (when addreſt In Prayer to God) we looke vnto the Eaſt. Either becauſe the earths moſt honoured partIustin Martyr. To the Almighties worſhip we conuert: Or becauſe Paradice, which Eaſtward ſtood, Loſt firſt by Adam's fall, and ſince made goodGreg. Nyſſe. By Chriſt our Sauiour, we by looke deſire: Or cauſe the Lambe of God, which did expire Vpon the Croſſe, extended to the Weſt,Damaſcen. We to behold him looke into the Eaſt; For many cauſes which might be aſſign'd, This quarter of the World, the Eaſt, we find In high repute, of which the leaſt in worth Is not, that ſuch wiſe men it did bring forth. Well doth the title with the place accord, Wiſe from the Eaſt, for eaſterne parts affoord Beſt intellectuals: ſo when holy writ Would Salomon commend for rareſt wit, This Elogie it giues, he did exceede,1. King. 4. 30. The beſt of thoſe, which the Eaſt parts did breede: As if the men which did inhabite there, Then all the reſt of mortals wiſer were, Which commonly is ſo, either becauſe Of Phoebus neere vicinity, which drawes Groſſe vapours thence, and by his quickning ray, Refines the fluent bloud, whoſe pure allay Giues vigour to the Spirits: So we ſee That Plants by Gardners carefull induſtry Set, that the morning Sun may on them glow, Doe ſooneſt ripe, and to perfection grow: So natures well red ſecretaries ſay, That in the morne of all times, of the day, The faireſt Pearles are generate, and moſt bright Then ſhines the gold Excelling Chryſolite▪ Or happely in wiſedome they excell, Cauſe our firſt Parents in the Eaſt did dwell, And might to their Succeſſors, more confin'd Some monuments of knowledge leaue behind, How fitly come they from the Eaſt, t'expreſſe The riſing of the Sun of righteouſneſſe: And with the glad report of this bright morrowBernard. To chaſe from humane hearts the night of ſorrow, From thence they come, frō whence the day is borne▪ And Phoebus hides the bluſhes of the morne, That from the place where the day gins to cleare,Chryſost. Faith the ſoules day-light alſo might appeare Where after Adam was create of earth, Gan humane bodies firſt to haue their birth, After our bleſſed Sauiours Incarnation, The ſoule did 〈◊〉 receiue Regeneration, Where ſinne and nature firſt beginning had, There G 〈…〉 and truth ariſe, where miſchiefe clad In mercies habite did firſt •• ine man His bleſſed reparation there began Indeede 'twas fit that part which did begin To poiſon humane nature with foule ſin, Should ſend forth thoſe that did in Grace excell, And of a generall Antidote foretell. Within the heart of Iudahs fertile land, Salem the ſoiles Metropolis did ſtand, Builded by Shem, the Magi to this place, Arriue, in hope to ſee their Sauiours face; And where indeed on humane ſtate to ground, Was the Meſſias likelier to be found, To ſee the King where could they haue opinion, If not in the chiefe ſeate of his Dominion: To finde the heart, they that body the enter, Seeke out the midſt, becauſe there lies the Center. Chriſt was our head, and where could men expect Him, but in Shem's faire Citty, which erect Aboue the reſt in Iudah, did ſo ſtand As doth the head the body to commandIoſephus. Ieruſalem the viſion of peace Imports, as Learned ſay, ſterne warre did ceaſe, When Chriſt was borne, where thē could make abode Better then in Ieruſalem the God Of Peace and Mercie? Was not there the Court? Why ſhould the King be abſent? the reſort Of Prieſts was thither; there the Altar ſtood, Why ſhould not Chriſt the Sacrifice, whoſe bloud Did expiate our ſinnes, be alſo there? There was the Temple, whoſe faire frame vpreare Did Salomon the wiſe, but ſince deſpoyld Herod in greater beauty did rebuild: Why ſhould not then the Temples God abide In ſuch a place, ſo highly beautified? To queſtion this no more, 'twas Gods beheſt, Nor are the greateſt places ſtill the beſt: Experience tells vs, Chriſt is ſometimes found In a poore ſmoakie cottage, when the ground Of goodly Palaces, pau'd with faireſt ſtone, And Roomes of choiſeſt beauty ſtand alone Vnuiſited by him, he may receiue Birth in a petty cottage, while him reaue Of life a city doth: So was it here, As plaine in ſacred Story doth appeare: Bethlehem at firſt into the world him ſent, Ieruſalem out of the world him hent, I'th firſt of theſe a cradle he did ſinde, But in the laſt a Graue was him aſſign'd, Borne, though obſcurely borne, at Bethlehem, And crucified at Ieruſalem: The wiſe men then at Salem may enquire, But ſhall not there find out their Soules deſire. But why, O Lord, ſince there thou waſt not then, Didſt thou permit thoſe well deuoted men To wander from their way, and goe about, Protracting time in ſeeking of thee out: Did their owne error leade them from the way? And thou in iuſtice ſuffer them to ſtray? Subtracting from them thy ſtarres glorious light,Bernard. Becauſe they truſted more to humane might, Then thy aſſiſting power: into my thought It cannot ſinke, that ignorance then brought But their all carefull prouidence, whoſe hand Makes all our actions waite on thy command: Perhaps it was thy will theſe men ſhould come Firſt, to Ieruſalem, leſt they ſhould rome Vncertainely about, for their records Of ancient Prophets, kept, could ſhew the Lords Moſt certaine place of birth and as one ſaith Informe their knowledge and confirme their Faith:Chryſost. Or it may be as Legates thou didſt ſend Theſe Magi vnto Salem, to the end The Iewes might their Meſſias Birth diſcerne, And theſe teach others, while they ſeeke to learne, Or was it not to ſtirre vp Iſaacs Line, To ſeeke their Sauiour out, when thus combineChryſoſt. They ſaw the Gentiles: or as ſome conclude To argue them of foule ingratitude, Who would not their Meſſias entertaineAuguſtine. Whom they ſaw ſtrangers ſeeke with ſo much paine? O let not vs like theſe hard-hearted Iewes Out of a wilfull blindneſſe thus refuſe Grace freely offred, let theſe wiſer men Leade vs by their example, how and when To ſeeke out Chriſt, but yet take heed their faſhion Be not abus'd by apiſh imitation: As 'tis by Ieſuited Rome, which drawes From hence her pilgrimage to Saints, becauſe The Magi come to Salem, who indeed Their action giues no countenance, nor our Creed Warrant to this deuice, for but compare The Romaniſts with them, and they will ſhare No correſpondencie at all, vnleſſe A kinde of poore reſemblance they expreſſe, In their long iourneys, and their larger gifts, They offer at their ſhrines, impotent ſhifts For their groſſe Idoll worſhip; firſt we know The wiſe men taught by God to Salem goe, He bleſt that iourney which they had begun, And ſent a Starre to leade them to a Sun: Theſe haue no ſtarre at all, the heauenly Word, That light vnto our feet, doth them afford No helpe in all their iourney, ne haue they The ſtarre of Faith to guide them in the way: Blind zeale may hale them forward, or perchance Humane tradition may it ſelfe aduance But as a wandring Plannet, no true guide, Or elſe the like doth vnto them betide, Which doth to thoſe, who iourneying in the night Eſpie an Ignis fatuus, whoſe falſe light Leads them ore ditch and hedge, though dirt & mire, His maine inuention is iuſt ſuch a fire, Deluding thoſe that follow it, let me ſay Romes Pilgrimes are thus guided in their way: Againe the Magi ſeeke for Chriſt alone,Mat. 2. 2. Where's Judahs King? O ſhew vs him or none▪ Whereas the Romiſh Pilgrimes Chriſt forſake, And for their Sauiour vnto Saints them take: The wiſe men came Chriſt liuing to behold; Theſe but dead rotten reliques to vnfold: They came to worſhip God; theſe idle drones Come but to worſhip ſenceleſſe ſtocks and ſtones: Shall we then ſay, theſe imitate the wiſe? Alas, I cannot, no we muſt deuiſe To follow them a better way then this, Or finde we ſhall not, cauſe we ſeeke amiſſe: And would ye know, wherein to imitate Theſe bleſſed Magi? Let it be in that Which is praiſe-worthy, as their care and paine, To finde out Chriſt, for as the learned ſaine, They tooke their iourney when the colder ayre, Chang'd dewes to froſts, when winters ſiluer haire Stucke full of Snow, and Boreas bitter breath Blew numbneſſe on their limbs: yet did pale death Stand, as the Angell ſtood in Balaams wayNumb. 22. With a drawne Sword, their bodies he might ſtay, Not their affections, they went forward ſtill, Chooſing to die, rather then want their will, Like them, ſo vs no rub, no barre ſhould hold From Iudahs King: As couetous for gold, Ambitious after honour: So muſt we Seeke Chriſt, with feruour and alacrity: Religion is not bred in ſloth and eaſe, The ſweat of labour, ere ſhe God can pleaſe, Muſt ſit vpon her brow: yet ſee we are Happy in this, we need not iourney farre To finde Chriſt out, our lot ſo faire doth ſtand, That we may ſtill keepe in our natiue land, And meet our wiſhes, Chriſt is to be found Within our Kingdome, in the hallowed ground, Whereon our Temples ſtand, each Sacrament, May euery good ſoule is his continent: Yet we to finde him out (ſo meane our care) More ſlow then Snailes, more lame then Cripples ar • : O how ſhall the great care and diligence Of thoſe, condemne our ſloth and negligence? How ſhould we feare, ſince in offence we ſtand Equall with Iudah, Gods all-powerfull hand Should throw downe vengeance on vs, and our eyes • eſt that faire light which now they doe deſpiſe. The countrey of theſe Magi was the Eaſt, And commonly men loue their owne ſoile beſt, Yet ready preſt they in obedience ſtand, To leaue (as Abraham did) their natiue land: When that bleſt Maid and Mother loſt her ſonne, At her returne from Salem, as vndone Without him (who can haue ſo great a loſſe And not goe home againe by weeping croſſe?) She ſought him ſorrowing 'mongſt her friends & kin,Luke 2. But could not finde him, ſhe might there begin Her ſearch anew, Chriſt is not alwayes found 'Mongſt kindred and acquaintance, if the ground That gaue vs birth, will not our Lord receiue, For him we muſt our natiue countrey leaue, Our Friends, our home, and ſtranger places greet, Though our owne Jthaca be nere ſo ſweet. Thrice happy is that man, which can with theſe Forſake his ſoile, banniſh neglect and eaſe, Goe from the Eaſt of pleaſure, till he finde Ieruſalem, that is, the peace of minde. Now had the Magi found this City out, Where Sion ſtood, and walking round about, (Not to ſuruay the building or behold The ſtately Temple, richly deckt with gold) Enquire for Iudahs King, her new borne King, This ſeem'd to Jſaacs Line an vncouth thing, They knew the Scepter was from Iudah gone, And Herod who was now their King, was one Inaugur'd by the Romanes, therefore they Pos'd by this queſtion, knew not what to ſay: But the wiſe men the more they found them ſlow, To anſwer, were the more inflam'd to know: Tell vs we pray (for we deſire to learne) Where liues this Infant King? we can diſcerne No ſigne of ioy, to make vs thinke him heere: O then where is he? we account not deare Our trauell or expence, ſo we may gaine The long-wiſht ſight of Iudahs Soueraigne: That he is borne, we doe true tidings bring, Borne yours, your promis'd, your expected King, Borne in your Countrey, what we ſpeake we know, What we haue ſeene we willingly will ſhow, We haue his ſtarre ſeene, whoſe vnuſuall light, Shone in our eaſterne climate, and made night Excell the day in beauty: There's no cauſe You ſhould ſuſpect we come to breake your Lawes, Or to inuade your Kingdome, for we bring No armed troupes to ſet vpon your King, VVe doe not come as ſpies, to vnderſtand The fruitfulneſſe and ſtrength of this your land, Our trauell is not to encreaſe our wealth, By traffique with you, or by priuate ſtealth To get your treaſure, ſee, we bring great ſtore Of coſtly ſpices, and rich Indian Ore, Vnto this royall Infant to preſent, Which with ſubmiſſiue reuerence our intent Is to lay downe before him, and fallow Our ſelues before his footeſtoole, for we know That more then man is in him, and are come Thus farre to worſhip him: This is the ſumme Of all our wiſhes, let but your report Be our direction, to this Princes Court: This ſaid they ceaſt, but none can them reſolue In their demand, which doth their ſoules inuolue VVith a new cloud of ſorrow, in which plight A while I leaue them, till a clearer light • nfuſe more knowledge, time ere long will bring The deuout Magi, to this new borne King.

Tueſdaies Meditation, or the third Canto. The Argument. Herod and his the Newes appalls, The King in haste a counſell calls: Next to conferre in ſecret wiſe, He with the Magi doth deuiſe. BY this time ſame hauing new impt her wings, Flies from the City to the Court, and brings Newes of theſe mens arriuall, and the end Of their intended iourney: to commend Their diligence Court-Paraſites will ſtriue, Like Ahimaaz and Cuſhi, who ſhall thriue • . Sam. 18. Beſt in their expedition: Princes eares Doe like their hands reach farre, and tyrants feares Place Spies in euery corner, whoſe cloſe art Sliely inſinuates into the Heart, Of the abuſed Subiect, and from thence Drawes danger on his head, vnder pretence Of more then common kindeneſſe, what he find • Sincerely ſpoken from plaine meaning minds, He poyſons in report, when he it beares To his Kings greedy, all-ſuſpecting eares. After this tatling goddeſſe once had ſpread This Newes abroad▪ and buz'd into the head Of fawning Sycophants, a pick-thanke tale, Looke how a ſhip driuen with a fore-right gale Cuts through the Ocean: they hie faſt to court, And to ſterne Herod make a loud report. No ſooner had fame toucht the tyrants eare, But that his coward bloud gaue way to feare, To take poſſeſſion of him, that he ſtood Aſtoniſht at the newes: the raging floud VVhen the fierce winds impetuouſly doe blow, And in their vnreſiſted fury throw The angry billowes, 'gainſt the ſandy ſhore Spits not out ſome, or doth more loudly roare, Then vexed Herod, who did inly burne, VVhen ycie feare to fiery rage did turne. Like as a ſiluer Current, whoſe cleare ſtrea •• VVhen ſweetly guilded by the lightſome beame Of gold-lockt Phoebus, it reflects a light, Becomes a pleaſant obiect to the ſight, But if ſome ruder Swaine diſturbe the floud By taking in it, fetching dirt and mud The water thickens, and begins to looke More like a foule ſinke, then a chriſt all b • ooke: So while the riuer of man's life runs cleare, And Sun-like reaſon, from his lofty ſpheare Guilds it with beauty, 'tis a precious thing, Surpaſſing Thames and Iſis, or that ſpring VVhich fond N • rciſſus in his iourney found, In which the ſelfe-admiring Boy was drown'd, But if that paſſion eaſie paſſage finde, It ſoone diſturbs the quiet of the minde, Then the Conceit growes muddy to the brinke, Like puddle, bad to view, but worſe to drinke. So ſtood the caſe with Herod, and indeed Suſpicious Tirants ſeldome better ſpeed: A panicke • er • out takes them oftentimes, VVhen none ſeeke to offend them, but their crimes: And reaſon good, for this truth hath beene ſaid, He whom all feare, of all muſt be afraid:Seneca. O heauy burthen of a Monarches crowne, O Pillow ſtuft with thornes, and not with dowlne, O glorious bondage ſeldome bleſt with age, O lofty building ſubiect to the rage Of ſtorme and tempeſt, O faire guilded Cup Containing poiſon, who would take thee vp, (So once a Macedonianking did ſay,)Antigonus Though he ſhould ſtumble on thee in the way. As a faire roome at ſome great nuptiall feaſt Hung with rich Arras, and each corner dreſt With coſtly furniture, heere goodly plate, There curious glaſſes, all ſet out in ſtate, Tables well wrought, with perfum'd damaske couer'd, Embroder'd ſtooles, nothing amiſſe or ſlubber'd, By ſome rude fray of the diſtemper'd gueſt (As with the Centaures at the Lapythes Feaſt)O 〈…〉 Becomes diſordered, ſo that all the frame Nought but a Chaos you can iuſtly name: Such a confuſed heape was Iudah's King, When fame humming about his eares, did ſting His very heart and ſoule, with the report Of a new riuall, to his Crowne and Court. Now gan remembrance of his Tyrant raigne • o torture him with an vnwonted paine, • he ſtormie rage which on his ſubiects fell He thinkes they will reuenge, and now rebell, Diſmaid at this, he doth begin to moane him, As if they came already to dethrone him: F 〈…〉 e is an ill Interpreter of things, Eſpecially within the hearts of kings: He thinkes that ſtrangers will inuade his land In hoſtile manner, and with powe • full hand, Expell him thence, and in his ſeate aduance The new borne Infant: then he ſees a glance Of a great Perſian Hoſte, that hard at hand, Haue got already at their full command The bulwarke of his kingdome, Salems towne, Or elſe the Magi durſt not vp and downe Make ſuch enquiry, quite againſt his will, Who with a very frowne was wont to kill: Mou'd with the wind of different thoughts he raues, Like the barke, beaten by the furious waues Of the enchafed floud: the Deuill too Exagitates his minde, yet doubtfull who The new-borne Infant was: he knew decreedGen. 3. 15. A time in fate, wherein the womans ſeed Should break the Serpents head: As when the queene Of heauen, fiercely enrag'd with iealous ſpleene Againſt Alcmena, and her Ioue-borne ſonne From Affricke brought two Snakes to ſeaze vpon His infant body, that their gripe ſo fierce Might cauſe his cradle to become his Herſe, But young Alcides made his tender hands About the Serpents ſuch death-threatning bands, They could not hurt him, ſqueeſing them ſo ſore, That 'twixt his fingers a foule purple gore Iſſued apace, in which their life was drown'd, Then let them drop quite ſenceleſſe to the ground: So ſtood the caſe, when as diſſention roſe Bet • ixt this royall Infant and his foes: H • rod and Satan two foule Serpens were, Whom this new Hercules did ſqueeſe with feare Of his all-powerfull hand, they both did dread Their kingdomes ruine, and by this were led Into vnwonted troubles, Satan thought▪ That this was he, by whom was to be wrought (As a new Moſes) Iſraels Redemption From Hels proud Pharaoh, and a full exemption From all Aegyptian bondage, which oppreſſion Lay heauie vpon man for his tranſgreſſion: This troubled Satan in infernall ſhade, And with new horrour did his thoughts inuade: Like as the greedy wolfe, when as he ſpies The carefull Shepheard neere, or heares the cries Of the fierce Maſtife troubled therewithall, A chilling feare his ſences doth apall: So woluiſh Satan when he ſaw ſo neere, The Shepheard of our ſoule, a deadly feare Tooke hold vpon him, and diſturb'd him ſo, As doth the preſence of a powerfull Foe A weake opponent: rob'd of his content, He vexes Herod his fit inſtrument, Knowing that feare of ſuch a danger will Stirre vp a care, how to preuent his ill, Regardleſſe ſo he may ſecurely raigne Though deepe in blood he doe his hand ingraine, VVell hoping this diſtraction would him bring To ſeeke the ruine of the new borne King. That ſuch a Tyrant ſhould ſo farre giue way To his perplexed thoughts, and ſo diſmay With feare of future troubles his weake minde, Is not to be admir'd: But when I finde That all Ieruſalem was rent in ſunder With him in this ſtrange Paſſion, then I wonder She, that as one or'eioy'd at this new birth Should haue expreſt a triumph and with mirth Haue crownd her browes, ſhe that doth repreſent A peacefull city, and with full content Should the great King of peace haue entertain'd, Was at Chriſts birth, as in her trauell, paind. But wonder not, a Princes faſhion Is ſoone obſeru'd by Subiects imitation: Cameleons cannot into colours turne Faſter then Courtiers: if their Soueraigne mourne Blacke clouds of ſorrow couer all their face, If ſmile, they change their copie; 'tis a grace: Clyſophus thinkes to be without an eye, If Philip be but blind: to goe awry If Alexander doe ſo: Paraſites Are iuſt like glaſſes to their Princes ſights, Fitly reſembling euery looke they haue, Merry or ſad, ridiculous or graue: And as the Eccho anſwereth the voiceIuuenal. Satyr. 3. In the ſame tone it ſpeakes, if it reioyce Sending forth ioyfull accents, if it ſorrow Vtter, as ſad a language it doth borrow. So Herods Courtiers Eccho-like, but ſound What they receiue from him by a rebound: Thus with him theſe (true royalties worſt bane) Sea-like, or like the moone doe waxe and wane. Another ſort of Courtiers, Herods friends Did ſympathize with him, but in their ends Much differing from the former, ſome did doubt A new commenced warre, others more ſtout, Expected alteration, for the Theame It is beſt fiſhing in the troubled ſtreame, Did whet deſire, onely they did not know Which part to ſide on, when the ſtorme ſhould grow And this perplext them: A third ſort there were Of grauer Citizens; much diſmaid with feare, That Herod vexed at this ſtrange report Would wreake his ſpleene on them: or if the court Should change her King they fear'd a heauier yoake, For ſeldome comes the better when the ſtroake Falls from a farre-fetcht hand, it heauier lights To haue an vnknowne Prince it euen affrights Their vnderſtanding: As that vlcerous man, Stucke full of flies, when ſome in pitty 'gan To chace them thence, cryed out in piteous wiſe, O doe not wrong me ſo, theſe full fed flies Now ſated with my bloud, I well can beare, But if you driue them thence, I much doe feare New ones will fill their places, and the eaſe You thinke to doe me, me farre more diſpleaſe: So theſe thought better, with the ruſticke ſwaine Once to digge vp Antigonus againe, And to endu • e thoſe flies that had their fill, Rather then new ones, which more bloud might ſwill. The common ſort ſeeing their ſoueraigne ſad, Thought it their dutie alſo to be clad In the minds mourning habite: Princes are Like the firſt mouer to the lower ſtarre, Vnto the Subiects, by their ſwifter motion They draw them ſtrongly to their owne deuotion: And as a Horſe though full of force and ſpirit Backt by a skilfull Rider ſeemes • i • herite His will and iudgement, one while ſtanding ſtill, Then paci • g, running, bounding at his will, So fares it twixt the Subiect and the King, Backt by the Prince Rules ſnaffle doth him bring To what his ſou • raigne pleaſe: the King's th' head, The • ubiect are the members, which doe ſpread And grow from thence, now when the head's diſeaſ'd How • hould the members but be much diſplea'd? But here a doubt is mou'd, Muſt Subiects ſtill Conforme their manners to their ſoueraignes will? May not Ieruſalem with faire intent, In this, or like perplexitie diſſent, From troubled Herod, muſt the Princes faſhion Still leade the Subiect to an imitation? Not ſo, Kings are but men, and ſo may erre, The King of Kigs Edict we muſt preferre Before a mortals: though Auguſtus ſay, Doe this, if God forbide it, to obey Is to become a traytor? Gods Command Compar'd with mans, muſt like an Ocean ſtand, To ſwallow vp that drop, to quench that ſparke, As Idoll Dagon fell before the Arke; As ſtarres are hidden when the Sun doth ſhine: So humane lawes muſt ſtoope vnto diuine. The tyrant thus with feare perturb'd, at laſt Summons his wits together, and doth caſt How to preuent all danger, and in minde Reuoluing many things, at length doth finde No better courſe can with his ſafety ſtand, Then by an Edict ſent throughout his land, To call a counſell, and leſt by delay He might incurre a hazzard, men that day With ſpeciall writs to further his intent Goe out, and ſummon ſtraight a Parlaiment: In this, though elſe full of impietie, Herod to Kings a Preſident may be, Not on their owne ſole iudgement to relie, But to conſult with their graue counſels eie, Which can ſee farre into high points of ſtate, And deepeſt matters learnedly debate. Well knew the cunning Tyrant how to make A fit Election, and ſuch men to take As his deſigne might further: for which cauſe He conuocates the wiſeſt in the Lawes, And thoſe whom he knew fitteſt to expound Old Propheſies, and miſteries profound, For Prieſts and Elders, with the learned Scribe, He picks the beſt for • ame from euery Tribe: Had warre the ſubiect beene to be diſcuſt, He wo • ld haue cal'd Commanders for the truſt Of mar • iall matters, fits them beſt that are Well ſeene and practiz'd in the feats of warre, But this was no ſuch thing: Herods deſire Was by all meanes he could deuiſe, t'exquire Where he to whom ſo many ages paſt Iudah's Dominion was aſſign'd at laſt Should take his birth: the true Meſſias place Was the maine queſtion that they had in chaſe. They had not ſate in conſultation long, But they were ſoone agreed, and yet among So many▪ ſcarce there cou • d be one found out To be their ſpeaker, and reſolue the doubt At laſt an aged Prieſt did vndertake To be the tongue for all the reſt, and make A full relation of Prophetique truth, So vp he ro • e, and ſpake what next enſueth. Great Ki • g led ſure by ſome diuiner light. From the blacke darkeneſſe and Cymmerian night Of the Worlds error ſince ſtate pollicies Thou leaueſt to ſearch out heauens high myſteries: Happy are we thy ſubiects to behold Such goodneſſe in ſuch greatneſſe, keepe thy hold, Goe on in Grace and vertue though alone, And thou 〈◊◊〉 th • ſe prop •• , hold thy throne: Know thou brig • t 〈◊〉 Bethlehem is the place, Which our M • ſſias c • o • en hath, to grace With his maieſtqu • preſence, when he ſhall Firſt ſee the light o • 〈◊◊〉 Ball: So write our ancient Prophets, 'mongſt the reſt, Mi • ah, whoſe Oracles are thus expreſt: And thou, O Bethlehem, in Iudahs Land, Shalt not for leaſt among the Princes ſtand, For out of thee ſhall come a King▪ which well Shall know to guide my people Iſrael: Thus in few words I doe my ſoueraigne ſhow, What he with ſo much care deſir'd to know; Herod well pleaſed with this▪ beſtowed a nod, And they their adoration, as ſome god Had ſent them a rich fauour: then they kiſt His hand, and ſo th' aſſembly was di • miſt. But I (though Herod) not diſmiſſe you ſo, Something I haue to ſay before ye goe, O can ye be ſo light, yet ſeeme ſo graue, Profeſſe ſo much zeale, yet ſo little haue▪ Can you to Herod truely point the place Where your Meſſias is, yet want th • grace To viſite him you ſelues? As larger ſtones Erected in ſome high way for the nounce, Dir • ct the Paſſenger, but doe not moue A i • t from thence, where they were fixt in loue: Or as the Bels loud repercuſſiue ſound Cals vnto Church, neighbours that heare it round, But in it ſelfe doth not leaſt motion feele, To make it leaue it ſemicircled wheele: So theſe could ſhew where Chriſt was to be found, Yet neuer ſeeke him, all was ſhew and ſound, No ſolid ſubſtance: They muſt needes be ill, Who rich in knowledge, are ſo poore in will. By this time Herod who in thought reuolu'd, Many a Plot, and Plat-forme, was reſolu'd To fixe on one for all: ſliely he ſent For the wiſe men to court, with whom he ſpent Some time in free diſcourſe, the maine thus farre Did reach, to know what time the eaſterne ſtarre, Made his firſt appariſion, this once told Herod his minde did in theſe words vnfold. With how great care my ſelfe haue ſought to know This Infant Prince ye come to, well doth ſhow The counſell call'd of late, call'd for your good For now we know the place of his aboad: That he is more then humane I beleeue, Though clouded in obſcurity, and grieue Time and occaſion will not giue me leaue To goe this progreſſe with you, and receiue That ſoule ſecuring comfort, and delight Which you will • eet with in the gracious ſight Of ſuch an Obiect: but doe you goe on, And ſearch with Linceus eyes, to light vpon The houſe that holds him, and if once you fortune (For which I will the higher powers importune) But bring you to him, after you haue done That you are led to by Deuotion, Doe but ſo much of happy time afford, As may returne you backe, to bring me word, And I my ſelfe ſubmitting ſtate and glory, Although to aftertimes I make a ſtory, Will wing'd in my deſire approach before him, And falling proſtrate on the ground adore him. O ſubtile Fox, that with ſo faire pretence Couldſt ſuch a deed of cruelty commence, As the ſweete Infants murder, for we finde Such Lambe-like ſe • blance hid a woluiſh minde: Of Chriſt the Lambe he ſpake, as if he meant To worſhip, when to worry he was bent: Hypocriſie with a fine thred is ſpunne, And ſeemes an Eagle that dares face the Sunne, But once expos'd vnto that glor • ous light, Shrinkes backe amaz'd, and canopies her ſight. Herod by craft thought he might quickely gaine What by plaine dealing he could not obtaine: So Generalls in their exploits of warre, Seeing the Lyons caſe will not reach farre, That they may bring their Stratagem about Peece on the Foxes skinne, to eke it out. So the ſlie Fox as dead himſelfe doth lay, When he intends to make the largeſt prey: So Ioab hugs him whom he meanes to ſlay, So Iudas kiſſes whom he doth betray: But Herods cunning doth himſelfe beguile, The Wolfe delayes, the Lambe eſcapes the while: The wiſe men lend an eare vnto the King, But that we finde anſweare not any thing, Yet ſince by ſilence they doe ſhew conſent, They are diſmiſt, and Herod ſeems content.

Wedneſdaies Meditation, or the fourth Canto. The Argument. By the ſtarres helpe the wiſe men finde Our Sauiour out, their gifts defind, Admoniſhed from God before In Herods ſight they come no more. THe Magi finding not what they doe lacke, Vpon Ieruſalem ſoone turne their backe, They had not trauail'd from the citty farre, When the thrice welcome luſtre of their ſtarre Did reappeare vnto them: God withdrawes His b • eſſings from vs, that a little pauſe Of abſence may endeare them: ſo the light To one immur'd in priſon ſeemes more bright When his enlargement comes: ſo when the blaſt Of ſome impetuous wind rends vp the Maſt Of the Sea-toſſed-Hulke, ready as food To ſtop the mouth of the deuouring flood, A ſudden Calme is ſweeteſt: A diſeaſe Makes health in the repurchaſt better pleaſe: Viciſſitude delights, and breedes reſpect, Where long enioying generates neglect. Ha • the wiſe men in all their iourney kept The Starre a daily guide, they had not lept For ioy, as they did now: indeed content Might then haue kept pace with them, but as pent Within too ſtrait a priſon, their vaſt ioy Breakes forth into expreſſion, no annoy Able to counter-check it, 'twas more greatGauiſi ſunt gaud • o magno valde. Then text could well deſcribe, or I repeat. Like as a mother of a ſonne belou'd As her eye ſight, from her eye-ſight remou'd By a long abſence, and no newes arriuing, Whether he doe conſort the dead or liuing, Grieues at her hap, while heart-diſmaying feares V • nt out her ſorrow, not in words, but teares; Which when paſt hope ſhe ſees him home returne, Ceaſt any longer his deceaſe to mourne, And rauiſht in her ioy, her ſpirits drownd In ſuch a deluge, falls into a ſwound: But hauing once thoſe powers recollected, Seeing the obiect by her ſo affected, Kiſſes, e • braces, hugs her deareſt Boy, Ready to skip out of her skin for ioy: So fared it with the Magi; when the Starre Firſt diſappear'd, it made no doubt a warre Within them, ſundry paſſions did conteſt, But gri • fe ſoone gets the maſtery of the reſt; Yet • ong the • rabbed tyrant doth not reigue, Ere he be clean • depos'd, the Starre againe By new appearing a • ters quite the ſtate; So ioy ſucceeds, and doth pr • dominate; Tun'd to a holy key, their tongues doth ſound Lauo • taes, while their heart • oth dance a Round. This Star •• , • hether a • 〈◊〉 in that faſhion, Or elſe ſome radiant holy inſpiration,Chryſoſt. Whether an errant P • a • et among the ſeuen, Or one of thoſe faire bodies • ixt in heauen, Sent downe to ſerue the turne or elſe created For this ſole vſe, and then anihilated, I will not ſtand to queſtion: on it went As a ſure conuoy, for the courſe it hent Was not orbicular, but ſo direct As they could wiſh a guide, whoſe beſt reſpect Might leade them on; the motion of it ſlow, And as it may be well concluded, low, Elſe could it not haue kept an equall pace, Nor yet hauefully pointed to the place. Come to the houſe, as if it had no will For any further motion, it ſtood ſtill, And ouer the poore cottage long did houer, Or like ſome golden Canopie, did couer The place of Chriſts abode: which once deſcride By the wiſe men, its luſter it did hide, And ne'er was ſeene againe, although ſome tell, Gliding from thence, it fell into a Well. Interpreters doe by this Starre expreſſe, Such as turne men to faith and righteouſneſſe. Thrice happy are thoſe Starre • , which ſoules do guid • To Chriſt, and alſo there themſelues abide. Enter'd they find the Infant with his Mother; She puts not out her Child vnto another: Me thinkes it is an error againſt kind, That Mothers which haue ſtore of milke aſſign'd, Should dry thoſe fountaines, to preſerue their beauty, From whence their infants ſhould ſuck loue and duty Or that for ſtate, for trouble, or for pleaſure, They ſhould expoſe ſuch an vnualew'd treaſure As children are, vnto another, care, While they themſelues thereof will beare no ſhare. The bleſſed Virgin bare a better mind, To her owne iſſue then to proue vnkind, Milke ſhe a bleſſing knew, dry breaſts a curſe, Therefore ſhe dain'd her ſelfe to be a nurſe: The wiſe men when they come, the Infant ſee Hang at her breaſts, or dandled on her knee. Now did the Magi meet their full deſire, And might with Simeon wiſh they might expire: Great was their ioy, when they beheld the Starre. To ſee the Sun muſt needs tranſcend it farre: Abraham reioyc'd to ſee Chriſts day in ſpirit;Ioh. 8. 46. Your ioy muſt needs be greater, which inherit A larger bleſſing, you in fleſh behold him, And haue that fauour in your armes to fold him: Prophets and Kings haue long deſir'd in vaine, To ſee what you ſee, Judahs Soueraigne;Luk. 10. 24. Therefore (to him who beſt can cenſure things) Happier you are then Prophets, or then Kings. Yet let me ſay, 'twas not the ſight alone That made theſe wiſe men happy, had they gone No further, they had ne'er arriu'd at bliſſe, Many eyes ſaw him which of that ſhall miſſe: But theſe wiſe men when once they come before him, Fall proſtrate on the ground, and doe adore him: Well might good Bernard this ſtrange act admire, That wiſe men, great men, who to ſenſe were higher Then what they fell ſo low to, ſhould afford Such worſhip to an Infant, poorely ſtord With what ſhould fit a Royall birth, the place, Attendants dreſſing, cradle had no grace To moue ſuch vaſſalage; ſure God inſpir'd (A thing which well deſerues to be admir'd) Such Faith into their minds, as made them ſee A God head clothed with humanity. Being to come fore one of more commandAthanaſius. Then Perſiaes Monarke, with an empty hand They dare not make approach, but ope their treaſure, And giue their owne in an abundant meaſure: The gifts they dedicate to Chriſt are three,Auguſtine. To note they did adore the Trinitie: Or elſe to ſhew, the perſon they ador'd, Although but one, was with three Natures ſtor'd, Deity, Soule and Body; or to bring His threefold Office of Prieſt, Prophet, King, To our remembrance; therefore ſome doe call Theſe, ſacramentall gifts; PropheticallCyp • tian. Rupertus. Baſfil. Others entitle them; the firſt was Gold, Which with a King doth correſpondence hold; Or elſe they offer plenty of their Ore, That to ſupply their wants they might haue ſtore When Chriſt ſhould f • ie to Egypt: they beſtow Mirrhe, that a mortall man we might him know: The Frankinſence they offer doth define, As God he muſt haue ſacrifice Diuine. Againe, pure Gold, cleare Mirrhe, ſweet Frankinſence, Doe each of them afford a morall ſence; Gold ſignifies pure doctrine, Faith ſincere, A charity refin'd, which God holds deare: Myrrhe repreſents the teares of penitence Shed for our ſinnes a mortified ſence To worldly matters: Frankinſence doth ſhew Perfum'd deuotion, where we muſt beſtow The Incenſe of our prayers: theſe well preſented, Are offerings wherewith God is much contented. The wiſe men hauing their oblat • on ended, And ſeene, and known what might be comprehended, Take leaue, and doe betake them to their reſt, Deeming themſelues to be not meanely bleſt In ſuch a happy iſſue, now their mind At quiet, a ſweet ſleepe their ſence doth bind. About the dead time of the ſilent night, They ſaw, or thought they ſaw a glorious light; In it a ſhape more bright, an Angel • ſtood, Who came from heauen to warne thē for their good, And hauing gently wak'd them, with a voice Able to charme attention, and reioyce The very heart to heare it, thus he ſaid; Let not your minds with terror be diſmaid, Almighty God, whoſe I reioyce to be, Hath ſent me to you on this embaſie: The honour which you lately did his Sonne, Hath ſo much fauour from his goodneſſe wonne, That knowing you are bent to vndertake A dangerous iourney, he deſires to make The hazzard knowne vnto you: Iuda's King, Herod I meane, is rather any thing, Then wha • he ſeem'd vnto you: his pretence Of worſhip, when in that cloſe conference He brake about the Infant, was a wile, Both you and him the better to beguile; For in his heart he plotted long before, To waſh his hands within the purple gore Of his l • e blood, and choſe for this intent Your ſimplen • ſſe to be his inſtrument; Meaning when he had ſeru'd his turne, to reaue You of your deareſt liues, ſtriuing to leaue A preſident vnto poſterity, Of an vnmat ••• , vnheard of tyranny: Be mindfull of • . • words, and take good heed How you returne to Herod, rather ſpeed Into your Country b • ſome other way, For no •• al • danger waits vpon delay. This ſaid, he quickly vaniſht out of ſight, And they fell to their reſt that reſt of night. No ſooner did the grav-eyed Morne appeare, And by her bluſhi • g • hew the Sunne was neare, But to their • ourney they themſelues addreſſe, And mindfull of the viſion, which did preſſe Their memories afreſh, they leaue the rode Which leades to S •• em, though the tract were broad, And ride through la • es, and by-waies, till at laſt The confines of • udea they are paſt. Secure from danger, their poſt-haſte they ſtay, And trauaile on at leaſure, by the way Diſcourſing with ioy not to be expreſt, How highly they were in that iourney bleſt: Ere many daies their Country ſmoke appeares, And they in peace at ho • e liue many yeeres. I cannot leaue this part of hiſtory, Till I haue ſhewed a vſefull myſtery: Herod by the vnanimous aſſent Of Fathers, doth the diuell repreſent, They then which by Gods mercy are ſet free From bondage, worſe then Egypts ſlauery, Satans oppreſſion, muſt abhorre ſuch bands, And take good heed they fall not in his hands. The ſilly Bird hauing eſcap'd the net, Farre from the fatall place herſelfe will get. The Lambe which from the Wolfe hath got away, Will no more venture from the flocke to ſtray. If by the Goſpels Starre we once are brought To Chriſt, let vs by no temptation wrought, Turne backe to Herod; but forſaking quite The workes of darkneſſe, in Gods Word delight. Indeed I know we are to trauaile farre To our owne Country, in this world we are1. Pet. 2. 11. But ſtrangers: he that liues the longeſt age, Doth waſte his life in tedious pilgrimage: Heauen is our happy home, and we muſt ſtriue, Though cloſe by hell we paſſe, how to arriue Vnto that bleſſed Harbor, by the way Remouing all ſuch rubs as would vs ſtay. But let me tell you, leſt we chance to ſtray, Our iourney thither lyes another way: 'Tis not the too-too common road of vice, Which is the paſſage vnto Paradice; Ah no, the path which vnto bliſſe doth leadMatth. 7. 13. Is ſtraight, and few they are that doe it tread: Then, onely then, another way we take,Immutatio viae emendatio vitae: Euſebius Emiſſenus. 1. King. 13. When of our vicious life a change we make. Like as the Prophet which was ſent to cry Againſt that Altar of impiety, Set vp by Ieroboam, had command Not to goe backe vnto his natiue Land By the ſame way he came: the like haue we, VVe muſt our old waies leaue, and ſpeedily As we new creatures are, new wayes enquire, Such as may bring vs whither we deſire. He that by ſinne hath left heauens vſuall track, Muſt by repentance a new way come back. Haſt thou walkt on in luſts impurity? Returne another way, by chaſtety. Didſt thou with pride a ſtately march maintaine? Another way humility regaine. In auarice didſt thou delight to moue? Returne another way, and walke in loue. Did ſharpe contention make thee trudge to Law? From that miſleading path thy feet withdraw, And ſtriue to liue in peace. Did thy heart range In vſuries wilde maze? O let it change (Though much againſt thy natiue conſtitution) With good Zacheus to a reſtitution. In fine if we wander from truth, or ſtray Neuer ſo little from the narrow way, We • iſſe our path, and ſo abberring rome From the right way, ſhould leade vs to our home. And therefore as the trauailer in doubt Which way to take, with heed doth looke about To ſpie ſome houſe, or perſon, which may be A helpe to him in his perplexitie, And neuer leaue enquiring, till he know Which way he muſt decline, and which way goe: So if yee be in doubt which path to hold, With Salomons faire Spouſe get to the fold, Where ſhepheards keepe their flock, of them enquire,Cant. 1. 8. And they will ſatisfie your iuſt deſire; Then hauing found it, keepe it with delight, And neither turne to the left hand, nor right: So ſhall ye find what euer may betide In your way thither, 'twill you ſafely guide To your owne Country, where you ſhall poſſeſſe More good then heart can thinke, or tongue expreſſe.

Thurſdaies Meditation, or the fifth Canto. The Argument. An Angell is to Ioſeph ſent, To tell him Hérods foule intent: He with his charge to Egypt flies, And there remaines ti • l Herod dies. NO ſooner had the Magi left the Land Of Paleſtine, but He which hath command Of all that know a beeing, and can ſee Things plotted with the greateſt ſecrecy, And eaſily elude them, di • intend To Herods proiect a vaine▪ fruitleſſe end: God can (though man be crafty to deuiſe) Infatuate the Counſels of the wiſe, And free his children from what may annoy them, Though malice ioyne with cunning to deſtroy them So Pharaoh, who from Iſrael will not part, Wants of his will, yet for it feeles the ſmart:Conſilium diuinum dum deuitatur, impletur, humana ſapientia dum reluctat • r, comprehenditur. Greg. So Saul, who practiz'd Dauid •• confound, Did himſelfe fall, and Jſh 〈…〉 s ſonne was croun'd: So Herod who did ſeeke •• haue depriu'd Chriſt of his life, did find • imſelfe ſhort liu'd. Thus Gods decree while hund, doth take effect, And humane wiſedome w • ile it ſtriues, is checkt. Now were all humane eyes ſhut vp in ſleepe, But ſuch whom care, or paine did open keepe, When a bleſt Angell (Angels are prepar'd To be to Gods Elect a ſurer guard Then mortals can be) vnto Ioſeph came, Sent to that iuſt man in Iehouahs Name, Whoſe Sun-like preſence had ſo bright aray, That it made mid-night to excell mid-day: Yet the good man feareleſſe, becauſe vntainted, And with ſuch apparitions pre-acquainted, Expected the euent; when thus made bold, The Angell did his Embaſy vnfold: O thou which from the Lord ſuch grace haſt won, To be the Foſter-father of his Sonne, And husband (though thou liueſt more like a brother) Vnto that euer bleſſed Virgin Mother, Looke well vnto thy charge, the Wolfe doth warch With bloody mind, both Lamb and Eue to catch, That he may prey vpon them, therefore take The tender Infant, and his Mother make Co-partner in thy flight, to Egypt flee, There's roome and ſafety for thy Charge and Thee: There plant thy habitation, and remaine, Till thou mayſt ſafely venture backe againe, Which ſafety when the time ſhall once afford, Ile be a Meſſenger to bring thee word. This meſſage ended, backe the Angell goes, When preſently good Joſeph doth diſpoſe Himſelfe to Gods command, that very night With his deare charge he 'gins to take his flight. But though ſuch haſte Ioſeph made to be gone, Wee'll ſtay a while, and meditate hereon. That woman in the vncouth Wilderneſſe,Reuel. 12. Whom neere her time the Dragon did diſtreſſe, One thinkes, doth repreſent the Church; another (Not much amiſſe) the bleſſed Virgin Mother: Indeed the Dragon ſuits with Herod well, And Mary is the womans paralell: The ſtory tells vs, that the woman fled The Dragons furie, when deliuered: So was the bleſſed Virgin glad to flie With her young Babe from Herods cruelty: The Dragon there ſtood ready to deuoure The Child, when he was borne; and euery houre Herod did gape for newes, that he might ſlay The bleſſedſt Infant euer yet ſaw day: Yet Child and Mother both eſcaped there: So Chriſt and Mary both preſerued were: As Moſes guarded by Gods mighty hand, Came ſafely of from the vniuſt command Of perſecuting Pharoah, and became A mighty Captaine in Iehouahs Name To quell the pride of Pharoah, and ſet free The Hebrewes from Egyptian ſlauery: So by Gods prouidence did Chriſt eſcape From Dragon Herods mouth which wide did gape, To ſwallow him aliue, that he might be Vnto his people in captiuity A mighty leader, and the power quell Of Sinne, and Sathan, of the Graue, and Hell, And ſo in fine his Iſrael ſafely bring From bondage worſe then vnder Egypts King: Finally when the Dragon did perceiue Hi • force againſt the woman vaine, did leaue To perſecute her, yet did i • ly burne In indignation, and his fury t •• ne To warre vpon the remnant of her ſeed, Hoping to meet ther • with ſuccesfull ſpeed: So Herod fruſtrated of his deſire, Suffers his heart to burne in flaming fire Of furious rage, and will needes wreake his ſpleene On ſilly infants, but this ſhalbe ſeene More largely, in the progreſſe of this ſtory, Chriſts flight a while keeps back the Infants glory. Like as a gardner when he ſpies a plant, Full of faire hope fit elbow roome to want, As nigh ſome ouerſpreading tree, bereauen Of the Suns heat, and the fat dew of heauen, With care remoues it to another place, Where it thriues mainly, in a little ſpace: So when the Lord his Sonne that plant did ſee Plac'd to neare Herod that farre ſpreading tree, Yet fruitleſſe, therefore worthy to be feld Leſt the vnholſome ſhadow death ſhould peld To the neare neighbouring plant, his powerfull hand Doth now tranſplant him to another land. He that in flight our refuge is heere flies, He that aſſiſts vs • gainſt our enemies, Auoids the furie of his mortall foes, And like an exile into Egypt goes: That in ſuch kind of dire calamities He might with vs the better ſympathize: Our Sauiour Chriſt without a Gyges ring Could haue obſcur'd his perſon from the King. Or had he pleaſ'd what euer was intended Gainſt Herods malice haue himſelfe defended: He that by fire did his Eliah guard He that an hoſt of Angels had prepar'd Eliſha to ſecure, he that did ſaue Daniel from Lyons, Lazarus from the graue, Had it ſeem'd good could heere haue gon as farre And quail'd the force of Herods men of warre: But he choſe rather to ſepoſe his might, And to expoſe his perſon vnto flight: Either to ſhew what he himſelfe doth ſay, He came no worldly Scepter here to ſway:Ioh. 18. Or elſe by his example to declare, The Church for perſecution muſt prepare: Or it may be to teach vs, that the Lord No extraordinary will afford, When we haue ordinary meanes at hand, By which we may withdraw, and quit the Land, To worke our ſafety: or to teach in fine Vs perſonall perſecution to decline: So Moſes fled from Pharaohs cruelty: So Dauid from his ſonnes impiety: So Paul, no ſafety being in the Towne, Was in a basket by the wall let downe, That he might ſcape the danger; ſo againe He fled from Salem, fearing to be ſlaine: So Polycarpe in perſecutions heat, Did by aduice, for a while change his ſeate:Euſebius. So Athanaſius did often flie From that blood thirſting Arrian tyranny: So when Iuſtina, Valentimans Mother,Socrates ſcholaſlicus. Her rage againſt S Ambroſe could not ſmother, He fled from Millaine: Chryſoſtome like fate Drew from Bizantium, to ſhun the hate Eud • xia bare vnto him: Chriſt our Sauiour, When paſt an Infant, had the like behauiour: So when the Phariſes a counſell tooke Againſt his life, their preſence he forſooke:Mat. 12. 15. Luk. 4. Iohn. 8. So when the Nazarens malicious will Would throw him headlong from the City hill, He left the place: ſo when with fell deſpite The Iewes did ſeeke to ſtone him, from their ſight He hid himſelfe: to make this truth more plaine, He giues this as a precept, to remaine To all ſucceeding times, when tyrants hate, Shall rather ſeeke your liues, then your eſtate, Out of one City to another flie,Mat. 10. 23. And ſaue your ſelues from their ſt • rne cruelty: This is to be like cunning Serpents wiſe,Mat. 10. 16. When innocence of Doues will not ſuffice. But we muſt know our Sauiour • led not death,Mortem diſtulit non fugit: Chriſoſt: Out of a feare to leeſe his vicall breath: Onely for this cauſe he did now foreſlow it, That afterwards he better might beſtow it: He meant to lay it downe, as a rare gift Of his owne bounty, not by Herods drift, By his freewill he did intend to die,Morietur non vinculo neceſſitatis, ſed propoſito voluntatis: Fulgen. And not out of a fore'd neceſſity. But ſeeing thou wouldſt haue thy Sonne, O Lord, To flie, wherefore to Egypt ſo abhord? Can that to thy belou'd ſafe harbor giue, In which thy Iſrael did in bondage liue. Haue the Egyptians thoſe plagues forgot Thou didſt impoſe vpon them? Will they not Study reuenge? Or may not Ioſeph feare, If Egypts King of his arriuall heare, He ſhall be taken for an Hebrew Spie, And by ſome vncouth torment forc'd to die. O let not fleſh and blood expoſtulate With Gods determination, or debate The matter any further, God who drawes Honey from He • lock with the Bee, can cauſe Each place that is to ſerue vnto his will, And ſafety raiſe euen from thoſe would kill. The time was once when his almighty Hand Threw plagues apace on the Egyptian Land, The worſt of which wherewith they were annoi'd Was, when their firſt borne iſſue was deſtroi'd; To recompence this loſſe he ſends his owne And by his bounty his great loue makes knowne. Once making Moſes his fit inſtrument,Exod. 10. Cymmerian darkneſſe on their Land he ſent. And which was worſe, groping for light as blind Suffred them liue in darkneſſe of their mind. Therfore his ſonne, that Sun ſhall now ariſe To giue them light, which doe not ſhut their eyes Againſt his ſplendour, for as ſtories tell, When he came thither all their Idolls fell. And as we read that Joſeph beſt belou'd Of Iacob, from his Fathers eye remou'd By enuie of his bretheren, was conuayed To Egypt where by Gods direction ſtay'd; He was a kind of Sauiour to the land, In keeping famine out which did command After a ſeuen yeares plenty: ſo more want Threatning to ruine Egypt which grew ſcant Of grace and goodneſſe, Chriſt a Sauiour came, And in great mercy did preſerue the ſame. For he the true bread is where he doth dwell All fa • ine from the ſoule he doth expell. By this time Ioſeph whom much care did preſſe, Had gotten all thing • in a readineſſe, And in the couert of the ſhady night Begins his iourney, darkneſſe could not frightNon attendit verus obediens quale ſit quod praecipitur: hoc ſolo contentus quia pracipitur. Bernard. Him or his charge: obedience doth contend How to pleaſe God although it ſenſe offend. Not into what commanded is, it pries, But that it is commanded doth ſuffice: Good Ioſeph murmures not at the great paine Or the long iourney he muſt entertaine, He ſtaggers not in faith, that he doth flie Which muſt ſaue others from their miſery: But as he came from Abraham, behaues Himſelfe like Abraham, in his mind he graues How ready the glad father was to goe When God commanded, and ſhould I be ſlow, To execute ſaid he what God enioynes, I ſhould want worth, to iſſue from ſuch loynes Mans heart muſt be like paper, cleane, and white, Wheron the Lord what he ſhall pleaſe may write: Or like to waxe well ſuppled by the hand, Be ſoft and pliant to his iuſt command We muſt in all things, ſeeme they good or ill, Conforme our wiſhes to out ſoueraignes will: Faith and obedience ſtand not to diſpute, But are ſtill ready preſt to execute: Our God, obedience doth ſo highly prize, That he prefers it before ſacrifice.1. Sam. 15. And worthily, fot they who with conſent A legall ſacrifice to God preſent, But other fleſh, the fleſh of beaſts doe till,In victimis allena caro obedientia vero voluntas propria mactatur • Greg. Where we obeying ſacrifice our will. Thus did good Joſeph, whom no let could ſtay No not ſo long as for the lightſome day: And well in the black night did they begin Their trauaile from a place more black in ſinne. Now gan the day from out the eaſt appeare, Whoſe comfortable light their hearts did cheare, And ere the Sun had fully ſhone an hower They found themſelues got ſafe from Herods power: At length in Egypt they arriue what towne Did giue them harbour, the text ſets not downe Nor will I ſeeke to know, there they remaine, Till Herods death did call them back againe. All this ſaith the Euangeliſt was done, To firme that prophecie which ſaid, My Sonne From Egypt haue I call'd: the literall ſence I know, concerneth Iſrael, who from thence Was brought by mighty hand, yet hath reſpect To Chriſt, as types doe vpon truths reflect: And as Gods people, Iſrael, did ſtay A time in Egypt, till the Lord made way For their departure; ſo his bleſſed Sonne Had for a while his habitation In the ſame Egypt, till the Lord did call him, Whom there I leaue to that which did befall him.

Fridaies Meditation, or the ſixth Canto. The Argument. The Kings fierce rage, his men of warre The innocents doe maſſacre: Rachel doth mourne her heauy loſſe, And will no comfort in her croſſe. TIme now (which erſt did vnto Iudabs King Seeme to moue forward with a lazy wing) Made him ſuſpect, or rather plainely ſee The wiſe men did delude his ſubtilty: And th • re was reaſon for it, he that thought To mocke, is mockt, and rakes but what he brought; The law of taliation did require He ſhould meet this euent: the ſitteſt hireNequc enim lex luſtior vila: Ouid. For fraud is ſlic deceit, and they that cheriſh Diſſembling, in their art doe iuſtly periſh: God on theſe men his iudgements doth expreſſe,Iob 5. 13. And takes the wiſe in their owne craftineſſe. Now this deluſion in the King begets An indignation, and in rage him ſets. When Tyrants cannot by their craft preuaile, In a red Sea of cruelty they ſaile. But why, O Herod, wert thou thus perplext? Why doeſt thou rage? or wherefore art thou vext? Didſt thou not know that Chriſts birth was diuine? Or wert thou blind, becauſe the Sunne did ſhine? Didſt thou not conuocate from euery Tribe Many chiefe Prieſts, many a learned Scribe? And did not they by ancient Prophecy Reſolue the truth of this deepe myſtery? Didſt thou not know the wiſe men came thus farre To worſhip Chriſt. led by a glorious Starre? Thy cheeke ſhould rather bluſh, then thy heart flame, And looke red, not with anger, but with ſhame, That ſuch Barbarians, which were farre below thee, Should in their zeale to God ſo much outgoe thee: The loue and faith wherewith they were inſpir'd Thou ſhouldſt haue imitated, and admir'd: For vnleſſe thou didſt altogether ſhun Prophetique truth, ſo much it might haue won Vpon thy iudgement, that by iuſt compare Of paſſed things with ſuch as preſent are, Thou mightſt conclude, this was' not a deluſion Of the wiſe men, but a confuſion, Which God, who ſometimes counterchecks a King, Vpon thy wicked purpoſe meant to bring. But ſay thou hadſt ſome iniury receiu'd, And by the cunning Magi wert deceiu'd, How had the ſilly Innocents offended, That ſo much miſciefe is 'gainſt them intended: O why is their vniuſt deſtruction ſought? which nere ſo much as wrong'd thee in a thought, Surely, ſhould Iordan lend thee all her ſtore, It could not waſh away the purple gore That hangs vpon thee, with thee ſtill ſhall bide The title of a bloudy Homicide. Thou ſought'ſt for Chriſt, but went'ſt too far about, Tis faith, not furie, which muſt finde him out; O fooliſh Herod which doſt thinke t' expell Him that will ſtill be King of Iſraell, Yea King of Heauen and Earth, in ſpite of thee Out of thy poore, and petty liberty: O wicked Herod, and of lewd behauiour Who fearing thy ſucceſſor, hat'ſt thy Sauiour: O bloudy Herod, which by the fell death Of harmeleſſe children, wouldſt prolo • , thy breath: But little admiration it requires, That Tyrants ſeeke to compaſſe their deſires, Or found their thrones on ſlaughtered innocence, Pharaoh long ſince had taught him to diſpence With murders of that ranke, who to ſecure His crowne, made Abrahams yſſue to endure A heauy burden, while he did command To drowne their yſſue male throughout the land.Exod. 1. So did Abimelec the baſe borne ſonne Of that couragious warriour, Gedeon, Who through the bloud of 70. brothers waded, Vnto the Crowne moſt wrongfully inuaded, Herod was more vnnaturall then theſe, 'Gainſt his owne ſonne he could not rage appeaſe, But fearing he ſhould the Meſſias be, Among the reſt he wrought his tragedy: Therefore Auguſtus did this ſaying vſe, If I were bound to liue among the Iewes, With greater willingneſſe I would be ſwine Then ſonne to Herod: for by law deuineMalo Herodis porcum quam filium eſſe: Macrobius. Swines fleſh forbid the Hebrewes they did giue A kinde of priuiledge the beaſts might liue, Whereas King Herod a worſe beaſt did grutch Vnto his owne childe to afford ſo much. The Lyon will not tender Infants ſlay, Vnleſſe meere hunger force him to ſuch prey, O With what hunger then was Herod wag'd, When he againſt ſo many Infants rag'd, With hunger of ambition, which of all The greateſt hunger we may iuſtly call: Hunger of raigning ſure muſt needes be great, Which to appeaſe it, muſt haue ſo much meate; So many Infants fleſh, that thirſt is ſore Which nought can ſatisfie but crimſin gore, Enioy bloud thirſting Herod, re-inioy Thy kingdome ſafely, free from all annoy, He that aboue doth Heauenly crownes beſtow, Gapes not for earthly ſcepters here belowe, Such earth-bred honor Chriſt doth much deſpiſe, Elephants take no mice, nor Eagles flies: Though he of power be for to caſt thee downe, Yet feare no depriuation of thy crowne, For though two Kings can in one kingdome raigne, No more, then Heauen can two bright Suns ſuſtaine, Yet euery King may with him, in him daigne His kingly Lord, his true Meſſias raigne, As the faire Heauen with many Starres is dight, And with the Sun, from whom they take their light: Only learne mercy from this potent one, And heape not bloud ſo long vpon thy Throne, Till it become ſo ſlippery, as to threat Each ſtep thou tak'ſt, to caſt thee from thy ſeat. But rage, like to the belly, hath no eares, To reaſon deafe, it onely paſſion heares, Aduice is vaine, ſay what I can or will, Herod will be himſelfe, a tyrant ſtill. They ſay, that Bee who of the reſt is King, Either hath none, or doth not vſe a ſting: Surely this man, whom wretched Bethlehem ſees Reeke in the blood of Infants, not of Bees, But Waſpes was King, for waſplike full of ſpleene,2. King. • . He thruſts his poyſonous ſting (ſo great his teene) Into the fleſh of children, and doth kill Thoſe, who to hurt him had nor power, nor will. Indeed two Beares did certaine children ſley, But cauſe they mockt Gods Prophet: thou then they More fierce deſtroyſt the guiltleſſe: fearefull man, Do'ſt thou dread ſilly childrens force? or can Faint cowardize with thee preuaile ſo farre, Thou ſhouldſt gainſt Infants wage ſuch bloody warre. Great praiſe no doubt, and many a worthy ſpoile Thou ſhalt enioy, by giuing them the foile. The noble Elephants will not inuade The weaker ſort of beaſts: thou ſhakſt thy blade At ſucking children, and ſendſt men of might, To challenge thoſe that know not how to ſight. There is a ſtory of great Conſtantine, How true, the Authors credit, and not mine, Muſt anſwer: but the matter • le relate, And leaue the queſtion further to debate: Before he came to Chriſtianity, The Prince was troubled with a Leproſie; To cure this ſickneſſe the aduice and care Of his Phiſicians would haue him prepare A Bath of Infants blood: ſure here the Diuill Prompted his Doctors to ſo great an euill: But being by Gods prouidence conuerted, He from ſo foule a ſlaughter was diuerted By ſoules Phiſicians, who doe well aſſure him, Baptiſme a Bath more powerfull is to cure him. He hearkens to them, is baptiz'd, and free Both from the bodies, and ſoules leproſie. Behold, ambition Herods ſoule inuades, Like a foule Leproſie; • atan perſwades (Such is hells phiſicke) naught will doe him good, Vnleſſe he bathe himſelfe in Infants blood; And not the opening of a ve • e or two, No, but their life blood this great cure muſt doe: Therefore to ſatisfie the ſoule-ſicke King, Each tender Babe muſt empty all his Spring; And now God lets the Wolfe the Lambes deuoure, Without reſtraining of his rage, or power, He puts no bridle into Herods noſe, But lets him take full ſwinge in his diſpoſe, Becauſe he knew how to draw good from ill, And make this wicked action ſerue his will: From Lyons mouth ſweet honey he can take, And Marahs bitter waters wholeſome make. Herod in this his rage doth type out thoſe Of the malignant Church, who ſtill are foes To the Church Militant, and by their will Religion in it infant age would kill: Herod like malice, and impiety, Egyptian, Babylonian cruelty. It is (though tyrants hold theſe termes in ſcorne) To ſmother piety as ſoone as borne, To quench Religion while it is a ſparke, And drowne poore ſoules by keeping from the Arke▪ Againe, in Herods foule deſigne of blood, Satans condition may be vnderſtood, Who ſeekes not only by malicious will, Chriſt while an Infant in our heart to kill, But many children more, euery good thought, Though it be neuer into action brought, To make thoſe babes good motions in vs die, Though they want ſtrength to goe in act, and lie In meditations cradle, is his glory, But I leaue types to proſecute the ſtory: While Herod inly vext, became thus wilde, With furious rage, the Deuill rockt his childe, But would not let him ſleepe: like ſome mad beaſt, By nature feirce, if wounded will not reſt, But doubling his fell fury and euen blinde With rage, regards no longer how to finde His foe that hurt him, but with head and feete Fiercely aſſailes the next that he doth meete: So Herod, who conceiu'd himſelfe much wrong'd By the wiſe men, for whoſe returne he long'd, His hope deluded like one robd of ſence Wreakes his reuengefull ſpleene on Innocence: For full of doubtfull thoughts as well as ſinnes, To reaſon with himſelfe he thus begins: What childe is this? that hath from Heauen his birth Foretold, ere it be perfected on earth: Vnto the World himſelfe he hath not ſhowne, Yet is to thoſe that neuer ſaw him knowne: Ouer no people yet he hath command, And wiſe men, great men, leaue their natiue land To waite vpon him: o who is the wight That ouercomes me, and yet does not fight: That like a tyrant ouer me doth raigne, Ere he the kingdome (I poſſeſſe) obtaine: If he already me of ſtate beguile, What will he doe if he encreaſe a while? Poore as he is, he is more fear'd, then I With all my riches, and authority: Or elſe theſe wiſe men or impoſtors rather, (For by their dealing leſſe I cannot gather) Whom my intelligence is I did make, Would not haue faltered with me for his ſake, But here I vow, who euer doe be friend him Nor heauen, nor hel ſhall from my power defend him: No I will make (if my vnhappy fate Croſſe not my will) Bethlem as deſolate Of Infants, as this Infant hath made me Of comfort, ſince his new nan • 'd ſoueraignty. Thus he reſolu • s in rage, an • what that ſtill To raſh attempts a Counſellor full ill, Suggeſts vnto him, he in action brings, So ſoone men execute the will of Kings: And now come other actors on the ſtage, The blo • dy inſtruments of Herod rage Made ready to preſent vnto our eye A tragicke • ceane of horrid cruelty. Not to examine who they were, we ſee Subiect and King full well, and ill agree, Tyrants doe neuer want fit Inſtruments, To execute their very worſt intents: Would wicked Saul haue the Lords Prieſts be ſlaine▪ Doeg the motion ſoone will entertaine: Doth Dauid plot to ſtop Vr • ahs breath? Joab will ſet him in the face of death: Doth Iezabell 'gainſt Naboths life conſpire? The elders will effect her lewde deſire: The world yet neuer knew a Prince ſo vicious, But that he ſhould haue men to be officious, Such as account it an eſpeciall grace To doe their Lords will be it nere ſo baſe: The officers of Herod bare this mind, Ready to goe when he their warrant ſign'd. And now ſuppoſe them vnto Bethlehem come, Ready to act the tyrants fatall doome, While the Sunne hides his head at ſuch a ſight, As if a Noone he meant to make it night, And with blacke clouds did couer his ſad face, Grieuing that men ſhould haue ſo little grace: The melting heauens doe alſo ſhowre downe raine, As if they wept for the poore Infants paine; Euen the walles there in a cold dew ſtood, As ſtruck with horror, to ſee ſo much blood: Yet theſe feele no remorce, nor once deſiſt From the commanded murther, but perſiſt In that abhorred worke of cruelty, Which ſhall them brand with laſting infamy: With their ſwords drawne, that none this courſe may ſtay, Into mens houſes they do force their way. Here they an Infant from the cradle ſnatch, There from the fathers armes another catch, And the poore childrens ſad deſtruction wrought, Ere the amazed parents had a thought Of any danger neere: ſome they tranſpierce With their blood thirſting ſword, others in fierce And ſauage manner, they deuide aſunder, While they that own them ſtand ſtone ſtill in wonder: Me thinkes in one place I ſome father heare (At his deare Infants danger ſtruck with feare) Like Niſus in the Poet, or more milde, Crie out vnto the Butcher of his childe; O ſpare my ſonne! or if you blood muſt ſpill, Here turne your ſwords, the grieued father kill? I might, he durſt not could not entertaine A thought of wrong vnto his So • eraigne. Me thinkes I in another place behold An Infant ſtab'd, whoſe pretty armes lay hold About his mothers breaſt, whence he doth draine Milke, that in blood runs out as faſt againe, While the affrighted mother, with her hands Heau'd vp, like Niobe, turn'd Marble, ſtands. In euery place that doth afford an age Markt out for ſlaughter, death and fury rage, While ye poore ſoules, ſome for their mothers crying▪ Some ſmiling on their murderers, are dying. O here a while your ſpeedy haſte forbeare Compaſſionate parents, and vouchſafe a teare! Thinke but what ſad, what ſoule affrighting ſight Theſe ſaw, when they were rob'd of their delight. Suppoſe your Infants whom you highly prize, Snatcht from your armes, and ſlaine before your eyes, What would you doe in ſuch a caſe as this? Nay, what would you not doe? ſurely amiſſe I doe conceiue, or elſe your ſorrow would Be greater farre, then all their ſuffering could; While from their pretty eyes ſalt teares did trill, Your pierced hearts would liquid blood diſtill; And euery wound their bodies ſhould receiue Frō murderers hands, your very ſoules would cleaue. And yet behold ſuch was the wofull ſtate Of that late happy Citie, fortunate Erſt in her Sauiour, who there firſt drew breath, But now moſt wretched in her childrens death, Whileſt by this fearefull act of ſinne and ſhame, Of Bethlehem a Bethauen it became. But not this bloody act could yet aſſwage Either their cruelty, or Herods rage, No, the neare Villages in her hard fate The wofull City muſt aſſociate: Not one poore cottage can keepe out pale death, Wherein a child ſucks in an infant breath. They paſſe through all the coaſts about, and ſtriue, That not one Infant may be left aliue: Their charge ſo ready are they to fulfill, And ſatisfie the Tyrant in his will. O mercileſſe and matchleſſe murderers. How can you thinke wh • n iuſtice once preferres A bill againſt your liues, and death you brings Fore the Tribunall of the King of Kings To anſwer this foule act? when their blood cries To Heauen for vengeance, it will not ſuffice That you had Herods Warrant, Gods Command Did you knew well 'gainſt murder firmely ſtand. But how haue I forgot you all this while, Poore Innocents, delay muſt not beguile You of your worthy ſuffering, ample glory, The which alone deſerues to make a ſtory. The Church on blood, and the not doing wrong, But ſuffering for it, hath foundation ſtrong, By perſecution ſhe receiues renowne, And martyrdome giues her a glorious Crowne. The blood of Abel at the Worlds creation Of this truth giues a pregnant demonſtration: So lik • wiſe in the Goſpels pupi • lage, The blood of Infants, ſlaine by Herods rage. There be two colours which God much delight, And they are white and red: firſt, the pure white Of innocence, then martyrdomes blood red, And b • th theſe in the Infants largely ſpread: Not all the coates, though quartered nere ſo faire, W •• re men th • ir armes emblazon, to repaire Th 〈…〉 ••• try of their Family, Which time would weare out but for Heraldry, Are halfe ſo glorious, as thoſe faire Armes were, Theſe Innocents did in their Scutcheon beare, For, croſſe of Gules in Argent field they carry,Verſus eſt vagitus in ga • dium luctus in iubilum. Cyprian. O paruuli beati nunquam tentati, multum luctati, • am coronati. Auguſtine. Well may their Creſt be a rich Crowne of glory. Some doubt, but ſuch either doe iudgement want, Or elſe of charitie are wondrous ſcant, Whether theſe Infants here depriu'd of breath, Were ſau'd or no from an eternall death: But what ſhould this ſtrange dubitation breed? Is not Gods promiſe made vnto the ſeed Of faithfull parents? Were not theſe receiu'd Into the couenant ere of life bereau'd? They were, they were, therefore their cry did turne To ioy, and they now laugh, who then did mourne: O bleſſed Infants, whom the cunning Diuell By his temptation neuer led to euill, With death you ſtruggled hard, and for that ſtrife, You are now crowned with immortall life. Sure Herods flattery could nere haue wrought you So great a bleſſing as his fury brought you. O bleſſed age, which could not ſpeake Chriſts Name, Yet was thought worthy to die for the ſame: Sure you were borne in a thrice happy time, Felicities high toy ſo ſoone to clime. You are ſcarce paſt the threſhold of your birth, When life comes forth to meet you, and from earth Takes you to heauen; you doe no ſooner leaue Your infant cradles, but a Throne receiue: In ſtead of hanging at your mothers breaſt In Abrahams boſome you ſecurely reſt: Faire Infants whom the ancient Church did hold The Flowers of Martyrs, ſprung vp in the cold Of vnbeliefe, whoſe buds were • pt to death,Flores martyrum. Aug. By froſt like perſecutions bitter breath, O how your death due prayſe to Chriſt affords,Sanguine non lingua paſſione non Sermone. Chryſoſt. By blood, not tongue; in wounds, and not in words. When greedy Wolfe the Lambe doth beare away, The tender fleſh torne by his teeth, ſome ſay, In taſte, if eaten, men ſhall ſweeter finde, Then others killed whole of the ſame kind: This obſeruation whether true or no, Is not materiall any way to know: Certaine it is, the fleſh of theſe brought vnder The fangs of woluiſh Herod, torne aſunder, Was ſweet vnto the Lord, and gaue delight: For death of Saints is pretious in his ſight. That children ſhould teach men, may ſeeme 'gainſt ſence, Yet we may learne frō them, faire innocence In all our ſufferings muſt companion be: For if we ſuffer ought deſeruedly, With theſe we can expect no Crowne to take; The cauſe, not croſſe, doth a true mart • r make:Cauſa non poenafacit Martyrem. Auguſt. If that be good, though Herods doe conſpire Againſt our liues, and threaten ſword or fire, They may our bodies, not our ſoules diſtreſſe, And their hate ſhall but worke our happineſſe, Our croſſe ſhall crowne vs, and the death they giue, Shall be a meanes to make vs euer liue. Now was fulfill'd that fatall Prophecy, Which was foretold of yore by Jeremy; Ier. 30. 15. A voice was heard in Rama, whoſe dire ſound In woe and lamentation did abound. Among thoſe mothers which were childleſſe made, Rachel was one, whom griefe did ſo inuade, That ſhunning company, ſhe ſeem'd to liue, As ſhe were borne for nothing but to grieue. A ſhady Groue neare her now hated-home A neighbour ſtood, there did ſhe often rome In that thicke Couert, which made day like night, She ſought to hide her from all humane ſight: Sometime ſhe ſets her downe cloſe by the foote Of a faire ſpreading tree, vpon whoſe roote With nimble hand ſhe 'gins to carue her woes, But ere ſhe halfe haue done, her paſſion growes To ſuch a height, ſhe marres what ſhe hath made; Then with ſterne rage the barke ſhe doth inuade, Stabbing, and mangling of it without ſtint, As if her Infants wounds ſhe there could print. Starting at this, as if feare wings did borrow, She fled, as if ſhe would out-run her ſorrow: At laſt a burbling Brooke ſhe doth eſpie, Whoſe noiſe, ſhe thought, did hold fit ſympathy With her in mourning, there ſhe ſtayes her pace, And ſeated neare it, doth extend her face Ouer the current: hauing fixt her looke A while vpon the Streame, ſhe chides the Brooke For his to ſpeedy paſſage: Stay, O ſtay Thy courſe, relentleſſe Torrent, did ſhe ſay, And carry my complaints with thee along, My words, although my woes, ſhall not be long: Say that a Mother of two hopefull twinnes Rob'd of that ha • leſſe iſſue, for her ſinnes, Will neuer ceaſe to mourne their bloody death, Till the iuſt heauens in pitty ſtop her breath; And for this kindneſſe, I to thee will pay My teares, as a due tribute euery day. This ſaid, her eyes a liquid ſhewre diſtill, As they the Fountaine were, the Streame to fill. All that was done, which ſhe thought vndeſcried, By a neere Kinſman of hers was eſpied, Who now approacht, and ſitting downe beſide her, In this milde manner did begin to chide her. For ſhame at laſt leaue to be thus alone, And vnto ſenceleſſe things to vent your mone; Your faith and patience I once thought more ſtrong: Griefes that recureleſſe are ſhould not be long: By your immoderate ſorrow you offend The higheſt Powers, and haſten on your end. Beſide ſuch griefe is vaine, whether the dead, Or elſe the liuing be conſidered: The firſt, if they die well, are bleſt; if faile Of a good end, our teares will nought auaile: Your Infants death in innocency found, This ſhould you rather comfort, then confound. The body the ſoules priſon's ſaid to be, Now it is death which ſets this priſoner free, Who mournes for the enlargement of his child? But 'tis the bodies death that makes you wild. If it be ſo, O be no longer ſory, That falls to riſe againe in greater glory. Who grieues to ſee a houſe puld to the ground, Which ſhall he knowes be better built? Some bound Set to your ſorrow then, God will reſtore The body farre more glorious then before. Looke on your ſelfe, and you will find it vaine, So great a griefe ſo long to entertaine: For ſhoul • your teares in as great plenty fall. As blood did from your Infants, could they call Your children backe to life, no, though you mourne, And pine to nothing, they ſhall nere returne. Take comfort then, leſt if you ſorrow ſtill, You ſeeme to ſpurne againſt Iehouahs will. The gri • ued Mother, who had all this while In much impatience heard him, with a ſmile Borrowed from ſcorne, thus anſwered, that they liue In health can eaſily good counſell giue To ſuch as languiſh in diſeaſe and paine, And they as hardly doe it entertaine: Words are but words, I neuer yet could heare, That the grieu'd heart was cured by the eare. Aſwell may he which hath deſire to eate, Be ſatisfied by ſeeing painted meat: Or he that is through cold like to expire, Warme his numbe limbes at the Apes Gloworme fire: As I from cold and painted comfort finde A medicine, to recure my thought ſicke minde, Withall that I can from poore patience borrow, I cannot pay ſo great a debt of ſorrow: In vaine you waſte your words, my woes are more Then time can weare away; therefore giue ore Your fruitleſſe counſell, ſince my children are not, Though I conſume my ſelfe in griefe, I care not; Sorrow hath tane poſſeſſion in my breſt, And onely can by death be diſpoſſeſt. When ſhe had ſpoken thus, in haſty mood She runnes, and hides her in the thickeſt Wood: But while to trees ſhe doth her woes rehearſe, To other matters I muſt turne my Verſe.

Saturdaies Meditation, or the ſeuenth Canto. The Argument. An Angell doth to Ioſeph tell The death of Herod: Iſrael He longs to viſit once againe: Nazareth doth him entertaine. NOw was the time that the Lord meant to take Vengeance on Herod, therefore he did make By iuſt permiſſion, his owne iſſue ſtriue How he might him of Crowne and life depriue: Herod, while theſe foule treaſons were a breeding, Got notice of Antipaters proceeding, So was his baſe ſonne call'd: the yrkeſome thought Of this vnnaturall action, quickly brought Sickneſſe of minde vpon him: and that ſoare Encreaſing, God did yet afflict him more, And on his body lay a foule diſeaſe: A ſecret fire he had, whoſe heate appeaſe No courſe of Phyſicke could though much he tride,Ioſep. de Bello Iud. lib. 1. All was in vaine, the flame did quenchleſſe bide, His bowels full of paine did not within, And wormes to ſwarme about him did begin; The Crampe and Dropſie on his limbs did ceaze, And there was nothing which might giue him eaſe. Paſſing o're Iordan, neere Aſphaltis Lake, Calyrroes hot Bathes, he needes would make A meanes vnto his cure, there he did baine,Euſeb. Yet as he went in, came out full of paine. While Herod thus did in his torments broile, Phiſicians gaue aduice, that in hot oile His body ſhould be ſuppled, they prepare A veſſell for that purpoſe, and with care Put him therein; the fume perturbs his head So much, that he is taken out halfe dead. At laſt come to himſelfe, he knowes to ſure, That he this euill ſeekes in vaine to cure. Full of deſpaire, ſomewhat before his end, For Salome his ſiſter he doth ſend, (Together with her husband Alexander) And to performe this foule deſigne command her: Siſter, you ſee (ſaid the ſicke man), that fate Hath markt me out for death: the deadly hate My ſubiects beare me, will not let them mourne To ſee mine aſhes clos'd vp in their vrne: The meaneſt of them will ſcarce daigne let fall A teare, to h •• our my ſad funerall, Rather I feare they will exceed in mirth, To ſee my body turn'd into his earth: But I haue laid a plot their ioyes to croſſe, And make the mourne, not mine, but their own loſſe, Their ioyfull exclamations Ile ſtrike mute, If you but faithfull be to execute: All their young Nobles (ſo haue I diſpos'd) Within Hyppod • omus are faſt enclos'd, And a ſtrong guard about it, at my death, Aſſoone as euer you ſhall ſee my br • ath Forſake my body, giue a ſtrict command, That they may all be murder'd out of hand; So when my corps vnto the graue ſhall goe, The Iewes ſhall mourne whether they will or no: So ſhall I haue a glorious Epitaph, And though low vnder ground, ſhall highly laugh. This ſaid, his ill increaſing more and more, And his deſpaire growne greater then before, Taking an Apple (ſuch was then his meate) And being wont to pare, and ſo to eate, In haſty wiſe he called for a kntfe, And with that ſought to rid himſelfe of life: But either his weake arme this foule intent Could not performe, or others did preuent The fatall blow: and muſt I then ſtill liue? Cryed out the Tyrant? Will the iuſt Heauens giue No end vnto my ſufferings? Muſt I be The Ball of ſcorne, and Butt of miſery? Breake breake my heart! flie forth impriſon'd breath! And welcome, what I haue long lookt for, death. More he had ſaid, but that he ſcarce had ſpoke This, when with rage his very heart ſtrings broke. While Herod thus in horror breath'd his laſt, A bleſſed Angell doth to Egypt haſt, That Ioſeph may haue word of this euent, Which well he knew would giue no ſmall content To him, ſo long an exile: in the night, When dreames the fancy pleaſe, or elſe affright, The Angell makes approach, and thus begins: The Tyrant Herod, whoſe abhorred ſinnes Did crie ſo long for vengeance vnto Heauen, At laſt is iuſtly of his life bereauen: They that delight in blood not long endure, Though God be ſlow in ſtriking, he ſtrikes ſure; His hands be iron, though his feet be wooll, And Tyrants neuer leaue, vntill they pull Dire vengeance on their heads, which long delaid, Falls with the heauier waight. Be not afraid Of any future miſchiefe, he that ſought The Infants▪ hath his owne deſtruction wrought: Dead is the Wolfe, whoſe rage like fire did burne, Backe to his paſture may the Lambe returne: Therefore ariſe and take the bleſſed Childe, Nor let thy care forget the Mother milde, To Iſrael with them returne againe, In Egypt thou no longer maiſt remaine. This meſſage which the Lord did now direct To Joſeph, ſhewes that he doth his reſpect: Gods Saints in trouble muſt not alwaies liue, In time he will a ioyfull iſſue giue To all their ſorrowes: Ioſeph may be caſt Into a lothſome priſon, but at laſt He ſhall come forth with honour: for a • it Iob may in anguiſh on the dunghill ſit, Scraping his ſoares, ere long a happier fate Shall crowne his ioyes, and double his eſtate: Daniel through enuie of malicious men May cloſed be within the lyons denne, But he their vtmoſt furie ſhall withſtand, And after liue aduanced in the land: Babylons king may giue command to throw • uſt Sadruc, Meſſhac, and Abednego. Into the fornace, but he ſhall admire To ſee them walke vnhurt, vntoucht by fire, And afterward, their innocence to grace, Ouer the Kingdome ſeat them in high place. Ioſeph an exile may from Herod flie, But in this perſecution muſt not die, Now the time comes, when he by Gods command Muſt trauai • e back to his owne natiue land, And with a happy ſalutation greet, His Galile, whoſe ſmoke he held ſo ſweet: Like as a man for ſome long tedious time •• niſht from his deare Country, to a Clime • arſh and vnpleaſant, will, if he doe heare His baniſhment repeal'd, with greedy eare Receiue the happy newes, and in his mind A not to be expreſſed comfort find: So fared it with our Joſeph, when he knew The tidings of the Tyrants death were true, And that he might returne to Iſrael, From which in exile he ſo long did dwell, With a glad heart, and more then common care, He all things for his iourney doth prepare, And Phoebus ſcarce ſalutes the lightſome day, When he b • gins his trauaile, by the way Rendring due thankes to that Almighty power, Which had preſeru'd him to this bleſſed hower. Suppoſe by this time they are ſafe arriu'd There, where vnwearied labour had ſo ſtriu'd To bring them to the Land of Paleſtine, Here Ioſeph doth enquire about the line Of the deceaſed Tyrant, and being told That Archelaus did the Scepter hold After his father: ſuch mans weakeneſſe is, Though hitherto the Lord did neuer miſſe Safely to guard him a cold trembling feare Paſſing the maze of his offended eare, Tooke hold vpon his heart: the beſt of Saints While here they liue, liue not without their taints. So Lot, when Sodome was conſum'd with fire, Did doubt the Mountaines ſafety, and deſire A place of ſurer refuge: ſo the ſight Of Eſaus Band of men did much affright Perplexed Iacob, when he did repaire Backe to his natiue home: O can deſpaire Lay hold on ſuch as theſe? what then ſhall we Doe, when in danger and extremity? So great a power hath feare vpon our ſoules,Reseſt i • perioſa timor. Ouid. Saepius opinione quam re la • oramus. Soneca. That it checks vertue, and euen grace controules, And yet ſometimes (though feare ſo farre proceed,) We ſuffer in opinion, not indeed. But why, O Ioſeph wert thou thus afraid? Didſt thou miſdoubt the Lord would ſend thee aid, And propulſe danger from thee? Could thy mind Conceiue a thought of feare? Since thou didſt find Thy gracious God ſo ready ſtill to ſend An Angell for thy guard? Did he defend Thee and thy charge from Herods cruelty, To let you fall by his ſonnes tyranny? Was his arme ſhortned, or his loue growne leſſe, That now he could not as much care expreſſe In preſeruation of you, as before? Ah no, Gods loue encreaſeth more and more To ſuch as ſerue him, and his power extends Beyond all limitation to his friends. • grant thou mightſt, as not vnlikely gather, That Archelaus would be like his father, A bloody Tyrant, for a wicked SireMali coru • malum ouum. Prouerb. Leaues his ſonne like himſelfe: a ſtrong deſire To be thought apt for imitation, Leades children to obſerue their parents faſhion: But yet for all this thou maiſt reſt ſecure, He who hath vndertaken, will procure Safety for thee and thine, onely be bold, And on his goodneſſe by true faith lay hold: Danger may threaten, but it ſhall not harme Such as are guarded by th'Almighties arme. Now was the time, that Morpheus with his wand Did charme a ſilent ſleepe on all the Land, Only perplexed Ioſeph could not reſt, 〈…〉 any cares lay tumbling in his breaſt. • he while he thought he ſhould moſt ſafety find 〈◊〉 going back to Egypt: but his mind Did quickly alter, when the Lords command Which bad expreſſely he ſhould leaue the land To his remembrance came: then he thought beſt Where he now lodged to ſet vp his reſt: But that was daſht, when being come ſo neare He did conſider an vnmanly feare Should keepe him from his home: in maze of doubt An Angell came at laſt to lead him out, Giuing direction, he ſhould not abide Neare Archelaus eye▪ but turne aſide Into the parts of Galile, for there He might ſecurely liue, without all feare Ioſeph obeyes and now his courſe he bends To Nazareth, where all his trauaile ends: Forfully ſeated there he liues in peace With his ſoules comfort, and his ioyes encreaſe. And this ſaith the Euangeliſt was done, That there might be a conſummation Of what the Prophets told of Chriſt: for he A Nazarite ſay they ſhall called be. Expoſitors haue here been much perplext, Becauſe they can directly find this text In none of all the Prophets; ſome conceaue That time which doth of many things bereaue The world, hath in his reuolution loſt Thoſe ſacred books, where theſe things were engro'ſtChryſoſt. Another before this his ſence preferres. And doth for Prophets read int • rpre •• rs,Iſidor. For Prophets may be thought to ſay that thing, Which men from them by good deduction bring. But matter fetcht ſo farre wee need not vſe, Or ſeeke the ſacred writer to excuſe: For holy writ two waies a thing affords, Either according to the ſence or words: Now though we meet not the ſame words in ſound, Yet the ſame ſence in Scripture may be found. Nazaren ſignifies one flouriſhing, And doth not Eſay call this heauenly King A Rod of Ieſſes Stem, a branch that growes Out of his roote, each one that Scripture knowes,Iſal. 11. 1. Knowes this prophetique truth: Againe this name Is giuen him, that he may haue the ſame Which his type had before him: Sampſons facts Did but foreſignifie our Sauiours acts: Sampſon from barraine parents did proceed: And Chriſt alone was the pure Virgins ſeed: His killing of the lyon did foretell Chriſt ſhould that roaring lyons power quell: Slaughtering his foes euen when he loſt his breath ſhewed Chriſt ſhould ouercome his foes by death: Now of the firſt we read that he was ſtil'd A Nazarite to God: therefore this childIudg. 13. 15. That truth and type might fitly both agree, was call'd a Nazaren as well as he. But properly his name came from the place Hight Nazareth, which had the happy grace To giue him education as a bower Moſt fit to entertaine ſo ſweet a flower. Nazareth doth a flower ſignifie, And what place could he better dignifie With his abode, then that whoſe name expreſt His nature, who of all flowers was the beſt: Alcinous garden, or Adonis Bower, Was neuer deckt with halfe ſo rare a flower, Thoſe of the greateſt beauty are but ſilly 〈◊〉 Sharons Roſe, or to the Valleys Lilly. This is not like French Flowers, in out ſide braue, Which yet within nor ſent, nor vertue haue, No, from an outſide meane there doth diſtill Such vertue, as the Saints with grace doth fill. The Soule a Noſegay is, if this adorne it, The Lord will take the ſent, if not, hee'l ſcorne it. O may this bleſſed flower which now doth grow In Heauens high Nazareth, not here below, Make vs ſo ſweetly in Gods noſtrils ſmell, That we tranſplanted from the earth may dwell In Heauen for euer, and in ſuch a ioy, As time cannot weare out, or death deſtroy, Flouriſh with Chriſt, and blisfull Peans ſing, Vnto the praiſe of our eternall King.

FINIS.