The Holy Calendar.
Janus ad Lectores.
COme sinful Christians look and learn of me,
To draw Religion out of Poesie.
Who knows, but what the clearer beams of day
Could not informe you, Ethnick darkness may.
My face you see a double aspect bears,
At once surveying past and future years,
The things long hence to come, my searching eyes,
And those rak'd up in silent dust, descryes.
Times winged self that flyes all sight beside,
From me his subtile footsteps cannot hide.
Be this your rule, so shall your heedful care,
Shun future crimes, the past, your tears repair.
The Feasts of January. 2.
ON Janus first the Lord they circumcise:
The Magi's Star upon the sixth doth rise;
The five and twentieth Saul converted, 's made
A tiller of that field he wast had laid;
Upon the thirtieth day the Rebel Crew,
At his own Door the Royal Martyr slew.
New years day. Epig. 1.
'TIs custome Lord this day to send
A gift to every vulgar freind,
And shall I find no gift for thee,
That art the best of freinds to me?
There's nothing which my thoughts survey,
My life, my soul, the light, the day;
But they are all by gifts to me,
And shall I find no gift for thee?
Yea Lord, behold I hear conferr
My life, my soul, and whatso me're
Thy liberal hand hath given to me,
Back as a New-years gift on thee.
Say'd I gift? ah! 't is not so,
Alas both Men and Angels know,
That all these things thy Christ hath bought,
And therefore I can give thee naught.
Circumcision. Epig. 2.
TIs not a partial cleanness pleaseth thee,
Thou Lord requir'st a total puritie,
Yet circumcision the primordive signe
And badg of this renewing grace of thine,
Notes the subjection of some sins alone,
With others it holds no proportion:
What means this Lord, it cannot be that thou
Shouldst an imperfect righteousness alow?
That so men slay their lusts, thy zealous eyes
Will winck at all their other vanities.
Only thou wouldst informe us that this sin
More then the rest is rooted deep within;
Runs in the veins, and cannot be withstood
With lesser grief, then we can lose our blood.
'Tis a mother sin, from whose hell-gendring wombe
Thousands of horrid wickednesses come.
And hence it is that thy unerring Writ
Them sinners stiles, that these foul crimes commit;
As though however other men may stray,
Yet none indeed did sin but only they.
'Tis the root of all sins else, kill this they dy,
But nourish this, th' encrease and multiply.
And this is it, indeed thy wisdom meant
To note unto us by this Sacrament,
That those that have but this one sin represt,
Are in effect got free from all the rest.
Cleanse my foul heart, O Lord, from every sin,
In pledg whereof, O circumclse my skin.
De eadem ad Christum. Epig. 3.
VVHy circumcis'd they Lord thy skin?
On which there was no soyle of sin.
It was we that did the crime commit,
And must thy Body smart for it?
Was ever such a Method found,
By Proxy for to cure a wound.
Was ever such a Surgeon known,
For others health, would lose his own?
'Twas thus twixt thee and us indeed,
We sinn'd, and thou alas didst bleed,
Thou bled'st for us. O! who can hear
Thou didst so, and not shed a tear?
A tear! ingrateful, could we weep
Oceans of tears, as vast and deep
As those great Seas, whose flouds are roul'd
Betwixt the new found world and old:
They would not all suffice to pay
On drop of what thou bledst to day.
Epiphany. Epig. 1.
A Star this day my Saviour preacheth thee,
To show what lights thy Preachers ought to be
Hereafter all would shine like Stars, but oh!
How few endeavour here so bright to show?
De eadem. Epig. 2.
IN great Eclipses Stars are seen to shine,
Such an Eclipse (my God) was never as thine.
No wonder if a Star did rule the day,
The Sun disrob'd of all his splendor lay.
Such shades of night his beams had over-run,
That men did need a Star to find the Sun.
De eadem. Epig. 3.
VVHat's this my God these Magi say,
That they have seen thy Star to day?
Have all men then their proper Stars,
On which in secret characters,
Discern'd alone by skilful eyes,
Are writ all humane destinies.
Or was there some peculiar sign
Engrav'd upon this Star of thine?
On sight whereof these men could tell,
The birth of Judah's King so well?
Or was't a more celestial, beam,
From whence this radiant lustre came?
Was it thy Spirit, and not their skill,
That did this heavenly light enstill?
Thy Spirit was present Lord we know,
But doubt whither Art concurr'd or no,
However if such Arts there be
That lead their followers unto thee.
And of thy Birth and Kingdom show,
Happy are they that use them so:
And happy Arts, if such there be,
That lead their followers unto thee.
Let self-wise Zealots all contemn,
And vainly fear to practise them,
Yet if I may learn thee thereby,
Lord teach me such Astrology.
St. Pauls Conversion. Epig. 1.
SEe here my soul what power thy Saviour hath,
He who so late destroy'd, now builds the Faith.
Who would dispair that this example see,
Thy God, my soul, may do as much for thee.
De eadem. Epig. 2.
GOd hath forgiven thy sins, blest Paul, we know,
Yet he with thine own rod will scourg thee though,
None did pursue the Name of Jesus more,
And for that Name, none is pursu'd so sore;
A fruitful soyle thy rage did light upon,
Thou gav'st some death's, and suffredst many a one.
Thus God at once a pattern made in thee,
Both of his Justice, and his Clemencie.
Ʋpon the light that shone round about St. Paul, as he was travelling to Damascus.
Act. 9. 3.
Epig. 3.
I Thought sweet Saviour, thou hadst sent this light
Not to deprive, but to restore the sight
Of this rash Zealot, whose offence, alas!
Not malice to thy truth, but blindness was;
Yet Lord, no sooner he these beams descries,
But 'stead of being cur'd, he lost his eyes.
What Paradox is this my God? may then
Thy rayes be look'd on by no mortal men?
Must we have eyes from thee as well as light?
Else midst of day shall we be wrapp'd in night?
Or is't thy way of cure? unless we be
First stricken blind, canst thou not make us see?
If so, our selves, Lord, at thy feet we cast,
Do what thou wilt, so we may see at last.
Decollatio Caroli.
Ʋpon the Scotch Insurrection, and the black consequences thereof.
Epig. 1.
SCotos in Greek black darkness doth import
With us a Scotchman; and theres reason for't,
For those black deeds that Hell would hardly own,
The Scotchmen first began to set upon.
England indeed matur'd the horrid Plot,
But the first rise thereof was from the Scot.
Ʋpon Mat. 18. 8, 9. If thine hand or thy foot offend thee, &c.
Epig. 2.
OUr Lords mild counsels only did extend,
To th' eye, and hand, and foot, that did offend.
But our new Doctors more profoundly read,
To save the Body, lopp'd away the Head.
Blest Artists, may their trembling hearts be sure
At their worst throwes, to meet with such a cure.
Ʋpon the Proverb that stiles the King of England, King of Devils.
Epig. 3.
DEvils I believe when they rebell'd, had spight
Enought' have thrown th' Eternal Godhead quite
Both from his throne and being. But their sin
Met with a Power, that curb'd those suries in,
And so abridg'd their guilt. But our black brood
Found none to Heavens unfathom'd counsel stood
That dur [...]t oppose their crimes, but curst have done
That which those Devils but only thought upon.
And therefore their foul sin, as far exceeds
The others, as intents come short of deeds.
Februarius.
TO Princely Numa's gift my name I owe,
Who by Egeria taught, that men below
By their continued trespasses incense,
The heavenly Powers to hurle their judgments thence.
Chose this my Month to be a time, wherein
With annual purgings they might cleanse their sin.
And from those Rites which in that language cary
The name of Februa' call'd me February.
Christians yet stile me so, but oh the shame!
Th' have lost the practice, though they keep the name.
The Feasts of February. 2.
MAry on Februs second's purify'd. guide.
The fourteenth day young Valentine doth
The four and twentieth is Matthias guift,
All but Leap-years, and then the twenty-fifth.
Purification of the blessed Virgin.
Epig. 1.
BLest Mother of the Blessedst Seed, that are
The pregnant womb of teeming flesh did bear.
What new black staines be these thy soul have dy'd,
That thou hast need now to be purify'd?
Art not thou she, bright Virgin, whom ere while,
The tongue of Angels full of Grace did stile?
Art not thou she, who lately from above
Ore shadowed was't by that all-hallowing Dove?
Art not thou she, from whose thrice happy womb
Repleat with mercies, all our cleansings come?
And can there yet, blest Mayd, such reasons be
Why these vain Rites should be apply'd to thee?
I know not, Lord, what these thwart runnings mean,
Can fulness want, or grace be stil'd unclean?
Can other terrene brutish Pigeons do
That which thy Dove could not attain unto?
Or he that freed the guiltful world from blame,
Could he not cleanse the womb from whence he came
Far be such impious thoughts, these Rites infer
No want of power in them, nor grace in her.
They were apt springs, rich streams of grace to yeeld,
And she a Vessel easy to be fill'd.
Only th'unnurtur'd World, that could not see,
(Blind that they were) this hidden Energie.
Must be convinc'd by formes, we're often fain
With outward showes rash censures to restrain.
'Tis to be pure that most availes indeed,
Yet to be thought so, is no more then need.
Ad Mariam. Epigr. 2.
I Cannot tell, the Substance self, being by
Why these vain shadowes should be priz'd so high
'Tis that blest Babe, whom thy glad armes enclose,
From whence both thine, and all our cleansing flows.
This Ritual Law no other use pretends,
But to adumbrate what from him descends.
And is superfluous now, unlesse it be
To shew how well the type and thing agree.
Or that the Worlds weak eyes were yet too dim,
Unless 'twere through a veyle to look on him.
Blest Mayd, thou no such medium's want'st indeed,
Whose eyes undazeled, on his beams do feed.
But we whose weakness cannot brook the Sun,
By shadowes best discern his motion.
Epigr. 3.
I Apprehend, Bright Maid, no reason for't,
So God-like pure, as we believe thou wert,
Why thou shouldst these mysterious Rites apply
Thy spotless self, yet more to purify.
Unless perhaps, as some affirm, there be
A new found Acme in Divinitie,
Like unto that, which in another sense,
Grammarians call the more then perfect tense:
I know not how their dreams they can assure,
But this I know, thou'rt either more then pure,
Or these Mysterious Rites, Bright Mayd, to thee,
That wert so pure before, superflous be.
Valentine. a Valendo. Epig. 1.
THy name imports a Power, and justly too,
For no Power else can work, what thine can do.
Kings rule the earth, fire, sword, and torturing racks
The body with a thousand death's distracts;
But can proceed no further, only thine,
Thy power commands the soul, great Valentine.
Epigr. 2.
THere's no resisting, I must serve thee too,
Great Saint, as well as all the Creatures do.
Feirce untam'd Beasts, and winged Foules betray
A sense of Love, and feel thy power to day.
And so do I, but in a lawful fire
Whose heat, oh may it never more expire!
Epigr. 3.
NO more vayne men, to Cupids Altars sue,
We have a better Saint to go unto:
A Saint that breaths chast flames, whose hand doth hold
Arrowes compacted all of purest gold.
No leaden mixtures, no blew wounds that show
The venom'd point from whence their rancors flow.
If then to blesse your amorous hopes, you need
Some favoring Powers; let Valentine succeed
The Cyprian fondling. Pious souls may seek
The sweets of Love, without a blushing cheek.
Matthias de seipso. Epigr. 1.
ACcurst Iscariots vacant roome I fill,
See's make their Bishops neither good nor ill.
All are not rocks that sit in Peters chaire,
Nor Divels, that Judas his successors are.
Judas ad Romanos. Epigr. 2.
FOnd Romans, Peters dubious chaire resigne,
'Tis for your honor more to sit in mine.
None of the twelve themselves will not deny,
Left an Apostle in his seat, but I.
Their meaner followers, meaner titles bare,
Mine with th' eleven assum'd an equal chaire.
If you would needs aspire, my name had bin,
Apter t' have mask'd your vast ambition in
Then Peter's claime, of whom 'tis hard to know,
Whe'r ere indeed he were at Rome, or no.
But my opprobrious death is that alone,
Which your else shameless cheeks do blush to own.
As for the rest, the conscious world doth see
That you recede from Cephas, more then me.
In outward show, I seem'd for Jesus's sake
To quit the world, and his sharp cross to take,
But play'd the thief the while, and made no spare,
So I might fill the cursed bagge I bare.
To rob the poor, and as if that were small,
To set to sale, even Christ himself and all.
Yet mask'd my treasons still with sacred guile,
And cry'd, hail Lord, and kiss'd him too the while.
And is not this your guise, I pray you tell,
Can any actions be more parallel.
Did ever any to one chaire succeed,
Whose lives exactly view'd, so well agreed?
But go to, since you think it yet a shame
Though you approve my works, to own my name,
Know this, your Seat's not so asham'd of me,
As my Successor of your seat would be.
Ʋpon Joseph sirnamed Justus, that was passed by; and Matthias that was chosen by lot into the roome of Judas. Act. 1. 24, 26.
Epigr. 3.
JOseph (the Just) refus'd Heavens righteous doom,
Lots out Matthias unto Judas's room.
God looks not with mans eyes, the thing and name,
His wisdome oft finds, not to be the same.
The Just one, could not but the Just approve:
Conformity's the surest ground of love.
But his discerning eyes, no doubt, did see
One not so stil'd, to be more Just then he.
March. 1.
CHange but the names, the Heathen Fables are
Our Christian Gospels; what's their God of war
But our dread Lord of Hoasts, their vestal Nun,
And great Quirinus her immortal Son,
Romes God-like Founder, by his Patriots slayn,
But from the eating grave reviv'd again,
And in his Fathers Chariot, mounted high
Above Heavens star-enamel'd canopy.
If you will note it, what doth this proclaime,
But Jesus, and his Virgin-Mothers name?
Give things this sense, and you shall nothing erre,
Though you this Month to Mars his name referr.
Though Rhea Syluia have her Festal day,
And Romulus his Quirinalia.
All, if you thus interpret, things will be,
Who ere gain-saies it, good Divinitie.
The Feasts of March. 2.
WAles for her David, March his first doth claime.
The sixteenth bears the Irish Patricks name.
Bright Gabriel on the twenty fifth doth bear
Glad tidings to the Virgin-Mothers eare.
Saint David. Epigr. 1.
BRutes Sons shall never say, great Saint, that I
Have thrust thy name out of our Liturgy.
Let others doubt thy History, to me
It is enough that Cambrians honor thee.
Epigr. 2.
BIshop, or Champion, whether name be due,
Or whether both, great Saint, and thou like to
That other David, in one person bear
Prophet and Souldiers equal character.
I cannot tell, but this I am assur'd
Under thy auspice, Wales hath long endur'd.
Epigr. 3.
WHen my observing thoughts revolv how long
Brutes warlike Sons have kept their name and tongue:
With what stout hands, they their own fields have held,
Maugre the rage of those feirce stormes which swell'd
From the rough Saxons, Danes, and Nonmans hate,
Which like the none-excepting doom of fate
Fell upon all this Isle, and rouled with
An irresisted stream from Thames to Frith.
Yet Brutes stern children kept their own, and stood
Colossi like athwart those Seas of blood
Unshaken with the tempest. When I weigh
These things, great David, I am forc'd to say,
That either thou their Champion dost excell,
Or they no Champion need, they fight so well.
S. Patrick. Epig. 1.
VEnice sometimes chose Theodore to be
Her guardian Saint, but when she found that he
Gave no success to her designs, she laid
Him by, and call'd in Mark unto her aid,
Which course unless the ruin'd Ireland run
And change her Saint too, she is quite undone;
For either her Patrick cannot ease her needs,
Or which is worse, he cares not how she speeds.
Epig. 2.
PAtrick his prayers they say to pass did bring,
That in the Irish soil no venom'd thing
May breed, no Toads, no Serpents, Spiders there,
Nor other poisonous creatures do appear:
A blessed gift! if what in them is lost,
The men have not within their brests ingrost.
Epig. 3.
VVIse Romans when they first commenced wars,
Against a Town call'd out her Tutelars,
And gave them worship least perhaps they might,
In favour of the place against them fight:
Which course whether England took when long ago,
Sh' assail'd the Irish Kings I do not know.
But this I'me sure their Patricks hand since then
Was ne're lift up against the English-men.
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. Epig. 1.
HAd Adam known his wife before the fall,
The blessing doubtless had been virtual
To propagation, and her first-born Son,
Had been conceiv'd without corruption:
But 'twas not so, the guilt which she convei'd
To all her Issue, proves she sinn'd a Maid
Before coition, the Impostor knew
Too well accursed, what he had to do,
When he the fountain did infect, that all
The lower streams might suck from thence their gall,
Which yet least it might bring a blot upon
That glorious state, the Angels portion,
The lot of Spirits, the life of heaven, and we
For her crimes sake might loath virginity,
His Grace our all-wise Saviour did dispense,
In such an answering method, that th' offence
And cure at one same gate might enter in,
And the salvation parallel the sin:
Thus what a Maiden lost, a Maid restores,
A Virgin caus'd, a Virgin heal'd our sores.
Evah transgres'd, but you revers'd may read,
In Maries Ave both her name and deed:
Ʋpon Luke 1. 45. Blessed is she that beleeved, &c. Epig. 2.
SUch news blest maid as this bright Angel brings
Of such unheard of inconsistent things,
'Tis as much wonder that thou couldst beleeve,
As 'tis that God could those strange works atchieve:
What hand could interweave but his alone,
A Moment and Eternity in one,
Th' incomprehended essence and a span,
The creature and Creator, God and Man.
Or which is lesse, yet hard enough to do,
Comprise in one a Maid and Mother too;
'Twas only God this work to pass could bring,
And onely thou that couldst beleeve the thing.
Epig. 3.
VVHen in our flesh thou deign'st to lodge no room,
My God would serve thee, but a Virgins womb:
But in our hearts being pleas'd by faith to dwell,
It is not now thy lot to speed so well;
For such, oh horrid, is our sinful state,
Thou canst find none thats not adulterate.
To find Easter for ever.
THe change in Februs if there any be,
Or that which first ensues note carefully,
And the next Tuesday doubt it not all,
That doth succeed Shrove Tuesday you may call.
Shrove-Tuesday past you may be bold to say,
That Sunday six weeks after's Easter Day.
The other Moveable Feasts. 2.
TWo days Good Friday Easter doth precede,
Fourty from thence to Holy Thursday lead;
Ten more unto Whitsunday numbred be,
And one week after that to Trinity.
Good-Friday, Passio Domini. Epig. 1.
HEe's dead: Insult the Infernal Powers, the dread
Messias, Jesus whom you fear'd is dead;
But stay, rejoyce not neither, it is from
His death, that your great Empires fall doth come.
'Twas a strange combat this, wherein to slay,
The foe you fought with, was to lose the day;
Yet thus it was, the Field had been your own,
Had you not our great Champion overthrown:
But through his sides your selves accurst you slew,
And he being ruin'd by you, ruin'd you.
Ʋpon Luke 22. 44. And his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.
SEe here my soul what weight in sin remains
When he whose shoulder all things else sustains,
Bow'd underneath the load: if he that stood
In equall poize with God, sweat clods of blood,
And the Almighty groan'd to undergo
The burthen, what must finite creatures do?
Ʋpon Matth. 27. 52, 53. And the graves were opened, and many bodies of Saints which slept arose. Epig. 3.
THe Prince of life was slain and nothing now
Remain'd on earth, whose greatnes did not bow
To Death's all conquering power, you would have thought
The world it self would quickly have bin brought
To its last gaspe, and all the creatures have
Been buried with their maker in the grave,
When lo midst all these spoils appal'd with fear,
From his own holds the enfeebled Conquerour
Flies with distracted steps, and leaves his prey,
Free and unguarded to escape away,
From their close dungeons the enfranchis'd dead
Are sent again the sacred streets to tread.
But wonder not, it was but time to flie,
When he beheld his Kingdome seized by
So strange a wile. Death found, alas! too late,
That he had brought a prey within his gate
That would destroy his rights; and that 'twas vayne
To think to stay where Jesus was, though slayne
So sure it was that he, a wondrous thing,
Who came in Captaine, would go out a King.
Easter-Day. Resurrectio Domini. Epig. 1.
I Know not where the greater wonder lies,
That God should dy, or man from death should rise.
But this I know, th' are both enough to make
The Angels faith, if not upheld, to shake.
God is immortal, and for him to dy,
Were to be stripped of his Deity.
And for fraile man, being dead, to rise again,
Is in effect to cease to be humane.
Neither, if you consider them alone,
Can be without a contradiction.
And when all tongues have argu'd what they can,
God must be God, and man can be but man.
But start not at it, 'tis not thus that we
Must measure this transcendent Mysterie.
If you would view these Natures rightly, 'tis
As they concurre in our Hypostasis;
And thus considered they no more oppose,
Man-God did die, God-Man from death arose.
'Twas one same Person both these mazes trod,
Yet rose he not as Man, nor dy'd as God.
Epigr. 2.
CHrist all the Sabbath bound in Grave did ly;
The Sabbath types out vast Eternity.
And 'twas Eternal death, indeed our sin
Infinite that it was, had wrapp'd us in.
But he by carrying brake those bonds, and quit
Us from Eternal death, by suffering it;
Happy exchange, now though we die, yet shall
Our death not stretch to that great Festival:
Death may our Corps indeed a while surprize,
But we on that great Sabbaths Eve shall rise.
Epigr. 3.
THe Phoenix birth no more admire, nor what
Old Bardes of her renewed age have wrote;
The Fables which of that strange Bird you read,
Are in our Jesus verified indeed;
He's the true Phoenix, uncompell'd that flies
Into the Mountains forked tops and dies.
His Tombe like hers, with sweet perfumes is fill'd,
The gums whereof such fragrant smells do yeeld,
As Heaven it self delights to sent; and those
Blest Spirits above rejoyce therewith to close.
Dead from his Grave, as from a second Wombe
New-borne, like her he back again doth come
Into th' astonished world, more faire to see,
And bright, then ere before he us'd to be.
Only in this our Phoenix comes before
The other, that once rays'd, he dies no more.
Ascension. Epigr. 1.
COme down blest Saviour, 'tis no sin to pray
Thee down; I hope upon Ascension day
So to descend, as I would have thee do,
Is not indeed to fall, but mount unto
A Zenith, which thou ne're before couldst gain
Even my proud heart which rebel lusts have ta'ne,
And mann'd against thee: this my God is it
That I would have thee come and see and get;
Get this strong hold into thy hands, and make
Her high-rays'd bulwarks at thy storming shake,
And droop their heads; make my stout thoughts to fall
Prostrate before thy glorious feet, and all
The powers within me to ly low, and be
Subject henceforth unto no King but thee.
Do this, dear Lord, and my glad soul shall say
To me thou ne're ascendedst till to day.
Epigr. 2.
Look in what sense the Son of man was said
To be in Heaven, whil'st yet on Earth he stayd.
In the same sense we grant his body, though
In Heaven, may still be say'd to be below.
He is ascended all agree, that same
Material flesh and blood of his that came
From the pure Virgins Womb, Heavens now retain,
And until all things be restor'd again,
Must still retain it; yet it is confest,
That when the holy Elements are blest
By the Priests powerful lips, though nothing there
To outward sense, but Bread and Wine appear;
Yet doth there under those dark formes reside
The body of the Son of Man that dy'd.
This, what bold tongue soever doth deny,
Gives in effect even Christ himself the ly.
Yet this whoe're too grosly doth maintain,
Pulls his ascended Lord from Heaven again.
A middle course 'twixt those two rocks to steer,
Is that becomes the Christian Mariner.
So to beleeve the Ascension as to grant
His real Presence in the Sacrament;
Yet so his Real Presence there to own
As not to make void his Ascension.
Epig. 3.
THe grave and hell were both subdu'd, & nought
In those dark coasts was further to be wrought;
Heaven yet barr'd up her Azure gates to win
An entrance there, and bring his ransom'd in,
Our Lord ascends, and with a powerful hand,
Throws ope those clasped doors that did withstand
Our dear acquir'd admission: Happy day
Wherein we by a new and living way,
His flesh the vail have found a means into
The holy-holy place assur'd to go.
What shall our joys henceforth retard, when Hell
And death and heaven are all atton'd so well.
Whitsunday, Epig. 1.
LOrd I would fain thy bounteous grace admire,
Which gav'st thy Spirit this day in flames of fire,
But cannot do't if that same fire of thine,
Which fill'd their glowing bosoms fill not mine.
Fain I would of those cloven tongues relate
Which this day on thy dear Apostles sate,
But cannot speak, alas, as I should do,
Unless one of those tongues be given me too.
None Lord can love, nor praise thee well, but those
On whom thy self both fire and tongue bestows.
Epig. 2.
YOu that despise all humane helps whereby
Men are prepared for the Ministry,
And boast you have the Spirit enabling you,
Better then all their Books and Arts can do;
Be not deceiv'd fond men, 'tis more to be
Fitted for such a work, then you can see,
Those whom the Holy Ghost doth thus inspire,
He comes to them in tongues as well as fire;
Show us but them, and wee'l allow your call,
If not, we heed not your vain brags at all.
Epig. 3.
DIvided tongues made Babels building cease,
But now thy Zions buildings do encrease.
That was a curse, the fruit of sin, but this
One of the Churches greatest blessings is:
Had not that gone before, no need had been,
T'have had this other mercy given in.
But such was now our state, that onely that,
Could cure the plague, which first the plague begat.
Trinity Sunday, Epig. 1.
THree and but one, and one yet branch'd in three
I know not Lord, how this strange thing can be;
But 'tis no matter what blind worm I know,
So I can but beleeve that it is so.
Epig. 2.
TAke heed ye bold enquirers how ye pry
Too much into this sacred mystery,
'Tis safer to beleev then search too far,
Into those truths that so transcendent are;
The eyes that gaze too long upon the Sun,
Are often stricken blind ere they have done.
Epig. 3.
TEll me ye Atheists that beleeve no more
Then what your reason fathoms, that vast store
Of rouling waters that doth daily flow
Into the Ocean, whither doth it go?
What Cisterns do those big swoln streams maintain,
That every tide are emptied in the main?
What dark instinct compels the churlish steel,
The loadstones undiscerned force to feel?
Or if you will ever vulgar things survey,
Those which you taste and handle every day:
Take me the seeds of every plant and tree,
Of every herb and flower that grows, and see
If when you have ript them open you can find,
A reason why they bring forth such a kind,
And not another; where that virtue lyes,
That such a form and taste, and smell supplies,
So proper to it self, that nothing well
The same, except it self can parallel.
Hence let your serious thoughts reflect agen,
On the strange Fabrick both of Beasts and men,
Their bones, their veins, their arteries and all,
Th' essential stamps they bear and casual,
The colour of their hair, their eyes and skin,
The extent, their age, and stature's bounded in;
And tell me whether your quick-sight can read
The ground of all these wonders in the seed.
Poor Skepticks, in these common things below,
The furthest that your utmost skill can go,
Is only to discern that thus they be,
But why they're thus, alas, you cannot see:
Yet with th' Almighty you are grown so bold,
That though you in his Holy Word be told;
That that one ever blessed Essence is
Distinguish'd into three Hypostasies.
And that those three Hypostasies abide,
Still one same Essence undiversified;
Yet is it not enough for you to know,
That thus it is, unless we further show
You why, and how it can be thus, and bring
Some proofs besides his Dixit, of the thing.
But go to you, Blasphemers, if there be▪
No other way to clear this Mysterie,
Unto your staggering Faith, but sense; be sure
One day (though then 'twill be too late a cure)
Your very eyes shall see, and seeing pine,
The glory of the Trin-une, Ʋni-trine.
April 1.
ROmans this Month to Venus did assign,
From whom their Prince Aeneas drew his line.
Her Aphrodite from those white froths they call
Which gave their Goddess his original,
And the Month April: 'Tis a nobler wombe,
From whence our Princes high descent doth come,
Nor is't from spurious froaths, but Seas that we
May draw (we think) her Etymologie.
Put all together, froaths with Seas compare,
View what both Princes, what their mothers are;
And if the odds with Venus still remain,
Let her the guidance of this Month retain;
But if our Marie have a juster right,
Let her assume the place of Aphrodite.
The Feasts of April 2.
ON Aprils three and twentieth George bestrides,
His warlike steed and 'gainst the Dragon rides.
The twenty fift to raise our wonder more,
The winged Lyon's voice is heard to roar.
Saint George, Epig. 1.
SEe here in Georges Portraiture a true
Description of what Christians ought to do;
No civill warrs, no brothers blood imbrues
His righteous hands, he no such foes pursues;
The cross his Engsin is, his Faith his shield,
His sword the Scripture, his own heart the Field;
His enemy the Dragon, him alone
He thinks it worth his while to set upon;
O God that we who George our champion call,
Save such as these would fight no fights at all.
Epig. 2.
WOuldst thou a combat undertake wherein,
Thou might'st be sure the victory to win,
And with it gain a Kingdome too, then fight
Saint Georges duels, let thy opposite,
Be the red Dragon, and on him be sure,
Thou both the one and th'other shalt procure;
For none ere fought with him but won the day,
And none ere won, but bore a Crown away.
Epig. 3.
VVHether George a humane creature were indeed,
Or but an Embleme of that promised seed,
Whom God of old had set apart to tread
Upon the conquered Serpents wounded head;
Is not agreed: But this is sure, no hand,
Of men or Devils, is able to withstand
Those whom that Champion aides, let him but fight
On Englands side, and we will dare the spight
Of all the adverse world, no power can harm
Them who are guarded by so strong an arm:
Needs must his might all other force repell,
Before whose feet the Dragon conquered fell.
Saint Mark, Epig. 1.
CHrist is the Lambe so sacred Writs define,
To Mark a Lions Figure they assign;
Yet see what Miracles from grace can spring,
The Lamb is now become the Lyons King.
Epig. 2.
DRead not poor sheep, this roaring Lion here,
Goes not about your trembling flesh to tear,
The World is chang'd, those paws that us'd of old
To rend the flock, do now preserve the fold
But would you know by what means this is done,
Saturn was then in Leo, now the Sun.
Ʋpon the State of Venice, or S. Marks arrogating the dominion of the Adriatick Sea. Epig. 3.
I Wonder not if all the Earth doth fear
Venetia's power, her Patron Mark doth bear
A Lions figure, whose stern voice doth make
The neighboring desarts all about to shake;
Nor do I wonder when the Beast doth spread
His wings abroad, if all the air do dread.
Thus far there's reason for't, the Earth and Air
Are both th'amphibious Monsters thorow-fair;
And 'tis not to be wondred, if he fills
Both Tracts with terror of his voice and quills.
This only I admire, upon what right,
He Lords it over the blew Amphitrite;
Why Seas should fear him, whose curl'd waves are free
From his proud threats, and roar as loud as he
May 1.
SUch due respects wise Romans to their grave
And hoary Elders, though but Heathens, gave,
That next their guardian Deities they set,
Their Names upon this Months fair Frontelet;
Which it keeps still unraz'd, and to this day,
From those Grand Majors is sirnamed May.
Age crown'd with wisdome high regards doth claim
Ancient of days is Gods own glorious name:
Whose more especial stamp doth seem to be
Engrav'd upon their snowie gravitie;
Yet such is our foul sin, oh! wo the while,
We slight the duty, though we own the stile.
The Feasts in May 2.
PHilip and Jacob May the first doth own
The twenty ninth Charles re-ascends his Throne.
Philip and Jacob Epigr. 1.
GReat pair of Saints, when your two names I see
Coupled together in the Epigraphie,
Of this fair Feast, I'me ready strait to cry,
That surely Sol's in love with Gemini;
Before his time the horned Bull forsakes,
And with the beauteous Twins his lodging takes;
This certainly the glorious Saints, I know
That when your lovely souls were hous'd below
A brighter Sun in them did fix his rayes,
Not for a Month alone, but all your days:
And now (though rap'd from hence) he hath lodg'd you where,
Full of himself you ever may appear.
Epigr. 2.
VVHen I inscrib'd upon this day had read,
The name of Jacob, I straight fancied
Some supplantation, like to what of old,
Of the first Jacob Holy Writs have told.
But here is no such thing, our Jacob here,
Doth not with holy Phillip intervere;
Here are no such contentions, neither feels,
The others hand surprizing of his heels;
Here is no strife for birth-right mov'd, nor yet
Which shall the Fathers happy blessing get.
Both are content, and both indeed obtain
That which the other Brothers sought to gain,
From one another with so much ado,
Both have the birth-right, and the blessing too.
Ʋpon the two Phillips, the Apostle, and the Evangelist. Epig. 3.
THe Macedonian Philips glorious name,
His own, and Sons great actions do proclaim;
The World yet rings thereof, and will do still,
While men shall use their tongues, or hold a quill:
Yet 'tis not all the Fields that Warrier won,
Can match what our two Philips power hath done,
Small narrow bounds his conquests did confine,
Theirs stretch themselves on either side the line,
Even to the untrodden Poles: his power and sway
Is long ago expir'd and swept away
By Times rude hand, of all the sprouts that shot
From that rich stem, one sprig remaineth not
To shade the earth, but by a wondrous fall,
Are quite extinct, even root and branch and all.
But from our Philips verdant stock, there still
Spring such fresh boughs, as no keen frosts shal kill,
Nor pruning hooks lop down, whilst that bright pair
Of Lamps, with splendid beams shall guild the air,
Their fruit shall still increase, and day by day,
Wax still more fair, and further from decay.
So that hereafter when unerring Fame,
Shall set true value on the Philips name,
The other meaner acts she shall decline,
And t' ours alone, the names of Fair assign.
Regicipium, Or the Return of Charles the second, being also his Birth-day. Epig. 1.
TWelve years black night our Royal Sun had hid
'Twas long indeed the Stygian Nadir did
From our sad coasts, his cheerful rayes detain,
Whilst we poor creatures scarce e're look'd again,
To see the Morning dawn, or one bright beam
Of his, through our Horizons vaults to stream.
But heavens be blest the long-wish'd day at last
Is broke again, and those thick clouds that cast
Such dismal shades ore all this Islands frame,
Are thrust again to Hell from whence they came.
Go happy Brittains, you whose eyes have done
So long a pennance, greet your rising Sun
With more then Persian adorations, they
Wh'have felt such darkness, well may prize their day.
Epig. 2.
VVHat name great Charles shall this blest Isle assign,
To those propitious heavenly beams of thine:
Englands bright Sun shall we entitle thee,
That name indeed would best of all agree
To thine immense perfections, which suffice
Alone to glad so many kingdome eyes.
Only t'would make us fear that envious night,
For all this, yet would rob us of thy sight.
And who can think of losing such a Sun,
And not even mad with startling horror run:
Shall we then call thee our bright Arctick star,
She bears 'tis true thy name upon her carr,
And which to us sounds best, ne're sets at all,
But yet alas, her beams are weak and small;
Like an obscure Rush-candle's match'd with thine,
Which clearer then the mid-days Chariot shine.
What then remains, Dear Prince, but that we pray,
That since thy lustre, and our wishes may
By neither of these Lamps dis-joyn'd be shown,
Their married Powers in thee may meet in one;
That thou may'st shine like Sol when he displayes
'Twixt Cancer's claws at noon his brightest rays;
But like the Northern Bear may'st never sleep,
In Thetis watry covertures, but keep
In thy full strength, thy radiant Zenith still,
And with perpetual day these Kingdoms fill.
Epig. 3.
'TIs no small honor these three Realms do pay,
Of right great Prince, to this auspicious day,
Which brought thee first into the world, and gave
Us hopes of those rich fruits which now we have.
This crown'd it much indeed; but 'tis far more
Endear'd since that upon another score,
Thy glorious restitution, which was wrought
This day almost beyond all humane thought;
That was thy Birth, but this may well be sed
To be thy resurrection from the dead,
And ours indeed in thine, for all the while,
That thou wert banish'd, death possess'd this Isle,
And we lay buried in thy losse, but when
Thou once returnd'st, we all reviv'd agen
And breath'd new life, for which great mercies, we
Must ever pay our thanks to it, and thee.
June 1.
YOung men this Month is yours, your Country shows,
What honor she to springing virtue owes.
When as a pledge thereof, she's proud to wear
Your name, inscrib'd upon her Calendar.
Goodness at any time acceptance wins,
But 'tis best priz'd when it in youth begins.
The Feasts of June 2.
THe 'leventh of June bright Barnabas obtains
The twenty fourth the new-born Baptist gains.
The nine and twentieth day apart is set,
To him that first for Christ forsook his net.
Barnabas Apostle, upon Acts 11. 22. &c. Epig. 1.
SSee what an humble soul can yeeld to do,
Barnabas by the Apostles sent into
An ample Province, to command and guide
The Church of Antioch, freely doth divide,
His charge with Saul the convert, and is glad
To have him share in all the power he had.
Good men for Christs behoof their interests wave,
And are content to part with all they have;
Let thy Church thrive (so they their prayers begin)
And 'tis no matter who doth lose or win.
Ʋpon Acts 11. 26. Epig. 2.
FRom Barnabas and Saul's advice, the Name
Of Christians first to Christs Disciples came.
They preach'd not for themselves, and could not brook
To see their hearers dote upon the look
Or garbe of any earthly Minister,
How great soever or polite he were.
'Twas Christ that own'd the building, and 'twas fit
They thought't should bear his Name that purchas'd it.
Christians rejoyce in your great stile, to bear
This title, is more glorious then to wear
Imperial Crowns. But pay your thanks withall
For this great grace to Barnabas and Saul.
'Twas Christ indeed from whom your honour sprung
But through those golden Pipes it pass'd along.
Ʋpon Acts 15. 39. Epig. 3.
WHo would have thought that there could ever fall
Such bitter strifes 'twixt Barnabas & Paul,
That they whose tongues so sweetly did accord,
In the confession of one God, one Lord,
One Spirit of grace, who one same hope enjoy'd,
One Faith, one Baptism, that were both emploi'd
In one same Function, and so long had stood,
Twin-like conjoyned in one Brotherhood.
That they should jarr, and jarr fo sharply too,
That they must part; oh this is sad to view,
Good Lord, how loose are mens affections tide,
Whom every trivial difference can divide;
Our comfort is when once w'are knit to thee.
That bond no time shall ever cancel'd see.
John the Baptist. Epig. 1.
JOhn was that voice that in the Desart cryed,
All Judah heard it, and was terrified;
And who will wonder if they shook with fear,
When they such shrill and dreadfull sounds did hear.
All I admire's how this to pass should come,
That he should get this Cryer that was dumbe.
Epigr. 2.
ENoch that walk'd with God, and Abraham,
His chosen friend, to whom the promise came;
Moses the Steward of his house, and he
That up to heaven on fiery Steeds did flee.
These doubtless had great visions, and descried
More of their God, then all those times beside,
Yet 'twas not all those Saints, nor any one
Before or after equaliz'd our John;
Who had the honour at one time to hear
The Father speak, and see the Spirit appear;
And with his hands unworthy to baptize,
The Son that in the Fathers bosome lies.
Great John well did thy Saviours tongue proclaim
That amongst all that out of women came,
Like thee there was no Prophet who alone,
Distinctly sav'st at once the three in one.
Epigr. 3.
BEhold here! how the great high Priest doth stand
To be baptized by his servants hand:
And fear oh man how thou those seals refuse,
Which Christ thy Lord himself rejoyc'd to use;
And whatsoe're the frail dispenser be,
Remember John had sins as well as he.
Peter Apostle. Epig. 1.
PEter the rock that whilome stood so sure,
That he (unmov'd) was able to endure
The blasts of Hell it self, now down is thrown
By a poor Damsels feeble breath alone:
Lord what is man? if thou withdraw thy hand,
When such firm rocks as Peter cannot stand.
Ʋpon Luke 22. 61. Epig. 2.
SAthan now thought that he had given so sore
A wound to Peter, that he never more,
Should raise again his bruised head, but lie
Weltering for ever in his blood, and die.
And who indeed that heard our Peter swear
And curse, if ere he knew who Jesus were,
Would think there could be any hope of cure,
For such a desperate deadly Calenture.
But see poor sinners what a power there lies,
In your relenting Saviours gracious eyes;
When he no sooner casts a pittying look,
On wretched Peter, whom all life forsook;
But he revives again, and with his tears
Gives proof, that yet some hope of grace appears.
Lord if thine eyes have such a power indeed,
Where-ere they look, repentant tears to breed;
Oh look on me, that I who have sin'd as deep,
As Peter did, may go with him and weep.
Ʋpon Mark 14. 72. Epig. 3.
T'Was thought of old, the Cocks shril voice did make,
The Princely Lions warlike heart to shake;
But this I'me sure not all the Fiends in Hell
Conspiring, could have rung so sad a knell
In Peters ears, as this Cocks voice did do,
When now the second time he loudly crew;
But fear not Peter, 'twas sweet Chanticleer,
No Screetch-Owl this thy troubled ears did hear;
Or rather indeed 'twas thy griev'd Lord that spake
By this Birds tongue, and cry'd awake, awake;
It is enough, thou'st thrice deny'd my name,
Peter awake, and sin no more for shame.
Return to him that loves thee so, that he
For all this yet is gone to die for thee:
Thus crow'd the Cock, thou heardst and strait didst rise,
And back return'dst, poor soul, with weeping eyes;
O God, that when we hear him crow, we knew
But how to take such hints, and do so too.
July I.
FRom five this Month sometimes deriv'd its name,
Which now great Julius doth more justly claim;
'Twas he indeed new form'd the year, and gave
The Months those measur'd portions which they have;
And 'twas but fit the Father of them all,
One child in twelve by his own name should call;
Heathens all yeeld, great Prince, it should be so,
Who to thy pains their perfect Aera's owe:
We Christians grant it too; who by thy aid
More punctual in our years of Christ are made.
The Feasts of July.
SAd Maudlin, July's two and twenti'th claims,
The twenty fift's assign'd to greater James.
Mary Magdalene Epig. I.
MAry when I thy former state recall,
What sins, what Devils thou here wert fill'd withall,
Yet see thee now all brightly cloathed sit,
At thy beloved Saviours glorious feet.
I cannot but admire that bounteous grace,
That takes such sinners to so sweet a place;
Yet when I think what floods of tears below
From thine even almost drowned eyes did flow,
How oft thou bath'dst thy Saviours feet and then
With thy torn locks didst wipe them dry agen;
I should have wondred if that place had bin
Too good for such a soul t'have lodged in▪
Tears mixt with faith such power in heaven do bear,
That they can place the greatest sinners there.
Ʋpon John 20. 13. Epig. 2.
MAry her buried Lord (she thought) had lost,
Yet see how dear this small adventure cost
Her tender heart; mark how she wept and prai'd
To know but where her breathless Christ was laid;
But thou my sencelesse soul: Oh dreadfull word!
Canst loose the presence of thy glorious Lord
Days without number; yet scarce find a tear
To witnesse that thou once didst hold him dear.
Ah my vile heart, if thou thy Christ didst prize,
As Mary did, thou wouldst have Maries eyes.
Ʋpon Mark 16. 9. and John 20. 17. Epig. 3.
SEe here what links of comfort meet to crown
Her drooping head, who but even now powr'd down
Such streams of tears, no mortall eye must see
Their raised Lord, till first his Mary be
Blest with the Vision, till those eyes that wept
So much for grief, as much for joy have leap'd;
Nor is't enough to feast her eyes alone
With this glad sight, hee'l use her lips upon
A glorious Message to his Brethren, she
Shall an Apostle to the Apostles be;
Themselves he means shall see the truth ere long,
But they shall owe it first unto her tongue;
So carefull is our gracious Lord that those,
That mourn for him shall not by mourning lose.
James Apostle, Ʋpon Acts 12. 2. cum Mat. 20. 21. Epig. 1.
GReat James the first of all the twelve I think,
Thou of thy Saviours bloody cup didst drink,
But grieve not at it: 'Twas the readiest way
To gain that room for which thou once didst pray,
Who holds it now, let bolder tongues report,
This onel' I know, thou didst bid fairly for't.
Ʋpon James and John the two sons of Zebedee. Epig. 2.
GOod God what odds 'twixt these two brethren lyes,
This first, that last of all the Apostles dies,
This an untimely bloody death abides,
That in a gentle quiet slumber glides
Out of the world (if he at all be gone
From hence, and must not rise again anon.)
Both sued indeed (mov'd with a like unfit
Ambition) on their Lords two hands to fit
And undertook in lieu thereof, to sup
Their parts with him of his unpleasant cup:
This had a share, but that for reasons best
Known to his Lord's reserv'd for longer rest:
How little is it, Lord, that we can know
Of men? by what betides them here below:
Some die for Christ, and those that do not so,
Are oft as dear to him as those that do;
To will to die for him, though't do not come
To pass, in his account is Martyrdome.
Ʋpon both the Jameses. Epigr. 2.
NEither of the Jameses ever was in Spain,
They had their tasks elsewhere, that did detain
Their pains and persons: Paul indeed we know
Had a design into those parts to go,
Which if he did not execute the blame
If any, from his troubles onely came,
Which kept him back, not from his changed mind,
Which firmly still to serve them was enclin'd,
Yet how it comes to passe I cannot tell,
But Paul that had deserv'd of them so well,
Is laid aside, and James receiv'd alone
To be the Patron of that Nation;
Yea not content with this, through blinded zeal,
In points of Faith; from Paul they do appeal
To James his doctrine, as if heaven's had made
Him to be judge of what the other said:
And that his purer Comments must give light,
To those more doubtful texts that Paul did write.
But fools they one day to their cost shall know,
That one same Spirit in both their pens did flow:
And that these wretches that dishonour Paul,
Shall that day find no friend of James at all.
August 1.
AƲgustus name, this Month inscrib'd doth bear,
A name that still is sweet to every ear;
Sweet for the peace he gave the world, for though
At his first entrance, Seas of Blood did flow
Ore all the earth, he stopp'd the deadly spring,
And golden rest into all lands did bring;
But that which made him most unparallel'd
Is that his reign, the Prince of peace beheld.
The Feasts of August 2.
AƲgust the twenty fourth to Bart'lemew,
The twenty ninth's the headless Baptists due.
Bartholomew Apostle, Epig. 1.
HOw is it Lord, that there's no mention made
In all thy book, of what was done or said
By this thy great Apostle? other men
Of meaner rank, and gifts, thy sacred Pen
Finds time to speak of, but of him alas!
There doth not one bare word distinctly passe,
Was it to teach us, that those Tapers are
Not ever of most worth, that brightest glare,
That deep-fraught souls lie always snug and low,
Whilst empty hulks loom big, and lofty show;
Or is't enough that thou hast let us see
A proof in some, of what the others be;
Men bring not all their wares to open test,
A few found right, give credit to the rest:
Lord we submit, and by the things we hear
Of Peter judge, what all his brethren were.
Ʋpon Luke 22. 29, 30. Epig. 2.
IT is not much great Bart'lemew indeed,
That of thy works and labours we do read,
But this we from thy Lords own mouth do find
That thou a Throne and Kingdom hadst assign'd,
As well as John and Peter had whose pains,
The holy Text so punctually explains;
And who will think that servants labors came
Short of his Mates, whose wages is the same.
Ʋpon Acts 5. 12. Epig. 3.
INto the Temples Porch the twelve withdrew,
And thou amongst the rest great Bart'lemew;
There you all preach, and work such mighty things
As no man else dare think of equalling;
What thou distinctly dost, I do not hear,
But of one stamp, 'tis sure your actions were
So great and glorious, as did justly strike,
A fear in all men to attempt the like;
Some souls thou winst, I doubt not too, for who
Can think such gracious words in vain did flow
From thy blest lips; as yet indeed they be
But like the windfall's to the loaden tree:
Thy work lies further off, where heavens intend,
Whole Nations to thy powerful voice shall bend.
The Circumcision's Peters charge, but thine
God knows how many Regions shall confine.
John Baptist beheaded. Epig. 1.
YOu that for love of outward peace or gain,
From preaching all the truths of Christ refrain,
That dare not touch the times, nor lance the sore,
Of States and Courts, which ranks more and more;
That see the great ones run themselves to Hell,
And damn their souls with sins too palpable:
Yet you stand dumb the while, and will not go
And tell them to their faces what they do.
Look on our John, if he this path had trod,
He might have kept his head, but wrong'd his God.
Ʋpon Mat. 14. 9. Epigr. 2.
HErod hath sworn, and John must lose his head,
A poor man would be loth to have it sed,
That he had broke his Oath, but Kings must stand,
Upon their honour here at any hand;
But who, blind Tyrant, bad thee swear at all?
Wise men would weigh what mischiefs may befall,
Before they ventur'd on so rash a vow,
Which if it must be kept, thy children now
And Mothers throats are not secure; nor ought
So vile, but if she lists, it must be wrought;
But plead not Conscience, he that daily lies
In lustful sheets, will swallow perjuries:
Revenge the Prophet first in prison threw,
Whom now vain-glory and indulgence slew.
Ʋpon Mar. 6. 2. Epig. 3.
BAte Herod but his incest, and there's none
Will be a greater follower of John;
He hears him gladly, and observes him too,
And many things accordingly doth do
But here he sticks; with this he cannot part,
Hypocrites will have something neer their heart;
Some lust or other which they prize before
Their souls, and him whom all good souls adore.
What profit is't, my Saviour, to have gone
Half way with Herod in Religion▪
To be near heaven, as that poor Lawyer was,
If I stay there, and do no further pass;
Oh root out every sin which I possess,
Or 'tis but vain to think of happiness.
September 1.
NAme not this Month, but let your thoughts withall
Those old Mosaick mysteries recall,
Which in this sacred number couched lie,
And chalenge from us a solemnity.
Seven in a Christians mouth should never come,
But his quick soul should run ore all the sum;
Rehearse a short couch'd Catalogue by rote
Of all the sevens which Holy Writ doth note.
Every small hint and word suggested, brings
A godly man in mind of heavenly things.
The Feasts of September 2.
SEptember's twenty first is Matthew's right,
Great Michael doth in twenty nine delight.
Matthew Apostle. Epig. 1.
YOu'l say Excise men seldome come to good,
Who by extortions gaine their lively-hood▪
Yet see what Christ can do, our Matthew here
Was such a one, yet's saved I do not fear.
Let none condemn th' employment, mercy can
Of such a Vermine make an honest man.
Epig. 2.
OF all the Gospels, Matthew's onely writ
In the Hebrew tongue, as if he purpos'd it
Meerely to save that Nation, whom before
With harsh exactions he had poll'd so sore.
And 'twas a large amends we grant indeed,
For Earthly chaff, to give them heavenly seed.
Epig. 3.
GOod God what change is here! our Matthew that
Erewhile at the receipt of Custome sate,
And was so vile a wretch, that none, except
The Divel himself, a worser Conscience kept;
Is now become a Saint, yea counted fit
In one of the Apostolick chaires to sit.
Nor stayes he at this height, but first of men
Is chose his Saviours life and death to pen:
Which he discharg'd so well, that now they fear
Not to affirme an Angels hand did bear
A part in the employment, as if none
Of humane race could write such things alone;
So soon he past through both extreams, of late
Almost a Devil, and now an Angels Mate.
Michael Archangel. Epig, 1.
AT Moses Barre if sinful men were try'd,
No flesh alive would ere be justified.
But him in mercy God hath lay'd so low,
That Devils themselves his burial do not know.
They strive indeed to find it out, and faine
Would bring him from his putrid Urne again
To judge the World; if they might have their will,
Moses should live, and Christ be buried still.
But our Archangels powerful hand alone
Nulls all their search, and keeps his grave unknown
Even so, great Prince, let him still buriedly,
For if he rise, the whole wide world must dy.
Epig. 2.
Ad Schismaticos, quod Michael non sit Christus.
TIs no created Angel this, you say,
But Christ the Lord, whom holy Church to day
Honors for that great combat which of old
He with the Divel 'bout Moses corps did hold:
But tell us then what were those men the while
That say he durst not that foul fiend revile?
What is't that great Messias durst not do,
Who made the Devils and shal condemn them too?
Or whom doth God with his blest Spirit infuse,
That such harsh words of Christ their Lord will use?
Choose which you'l hold, or 'twas a Creature this,
Or what th▪ Apostles wrote were Blasphemies.
Epig. 3. Ʋpon Revelat. cap. 12.
DIvels have their Prince, and so have Angels too,
Monarchick power all creatures yield unto:
These fought in heaven, this with desire to teare
The woman thence, but that to keep her there:
But rest poor Creature with thy Babe secure,
The Dragon is not able to endure
Thy Michaels strength, whom God hath arm'd to be
A Prince, and Guardian to thy seed and thee:
Rest happy Church, and though this Serpents tail
Over almost half the starres of heaven prevail
To throw them down, yet be not thou affright,
For whose defence such hosts of Angels fight.
October 1.
EIght is the Gospels number, on this day
Our buried Lord triumphing, broke away
From Death's strong holds, whom she suppos'd sh'had ty'd
There fast enough for ever to abide.
That day, till he ascended hence, he still
Met, and inform'd his Brethren with what skill,
They in and out before his Church should go.
That day his Spirit in streams of fire did flow
Into the Apostles bosomes, and between
Their knees, to sit like cloven tongues, was seen.
That day the Lord for all his Churches weal
To his belov'd Disciple did reveal,
In Pathmos Isle, a gracious sight of all
Those changes which hereafter must befall
His wearied Spouse, till She at last do come
To▪ feast it with him in the wedding room.
In memory of all which things, his will
Is, that this Eight day shall be honored still
Throughout the world, till he us all remove
To keep an everlasting Eight above.
The Feasts of October 2.
OCtober's eighteenth day on Luke doth wait:
Simon and Jude are pleas'd with twenty eight.
Luke Evangelist. Epigr. 1.
THat you may see that Galen's Pupills are
Not all such Atheists as reports declare;
Reade those two books that Luke's sweet hand did pen,
In this the Acts of God, in that of men:
And tell me whether the Church ere had a man
That wrote more truths then our Physitian:
To these, if you demand my Faith, I flie,
And say here's my Religio Medici.
Epigr. 2.
LƲke the belov'd Physitian's styl'd a name,
At which would God our Tribe did chiefly aime:
Let others scrape for wealth, but let us be
Deservedly belov'd as well as he:
Let us still wait upon our Patients side,
Take such account of all things that betide
Their sleeps, their wakings, coolings, heats, and all
Those very nauseous excrements that fall,
Bear all their wayward moods, speak still so fair,
Give such good words, as may remove despair
From their sad thoughts, which kills as much or more
Then all their sickness; cast in still such store
Of seasonable advice, as may dispose
Them for a better life then that they lose.
Yet ever be at hand to recommend
Such congruous medicines as through Grace may tend
To their recovery, that when all is done,
We may get love, though little else be wonne.
Epigr. 3.
ANd why great Luke did Ancient times assigne
An Oxes form to such a soul as thine;
A soul that breathes such heavenly streynes, as well
Might fit an Angell's glorious tongue to tell:
Was it because thy holy book begins
With a relation of those offerings;
Which in Abrah's course were now to be
Perform'd by old religious Zachary?
Or was 't because thou more then all the rest
Thy Saviours doleful Passion hast exprest,
Who like an Oxe was to the slaughter led,
And di'd to ransome sinners that were dead?
Or was't thy self and not thy books that were
Decipher'd by this Oxes character;
The Oxe we know doth fitly represent
The lab'ring Pastor in his government;
And this apt embleme truly could not be
Referr'd to any better then to thee;
Thy feet trod out much corn for us indeed,
On which God grant our souls may gladly feed.
Simon and Jude Apostles. Epigr. 1.
THe name imports not much, the good and bad
Have oftentimes the self same title had.
The Sorcerer and Cephas both did bear
The name of Simon, yet was Peter nere
The worser thought of for vile Magus sake,
Nor do accurst Iscariots treasons make
Thaddeus, James his Brother, lov'd the less
Because they both were called Judasses.
Good names do well indeed, and yet we see
That names and things do often disagree.
Eve call'd her first born Cain as hoping well
He might have prov'd that man that was to quell
The Serpent's rage, but he alas became
His Brother's Butcher, and his Parents shame.
Lord give me that new name, the which alone
'Tis sure was never given in vain to none.
Ʋpon Simon the Canaanite, Matt. 10. 4. & Mar. 3. 18. Epigr. 2.
FRom Canaan's cursed stock some good doth flow,
Even Christ himself to Rahab's loyns doth ow
The flesh he took, and she who begg'd a crum
Fallen from his board, from that vile race did come.
You need not therefore wonder at the sight
If 'mongst the twelve you find a Canaanite.
The gifts of Grace are free, bestow'd alike
Upon the Jew, and also on the Greek:
The Spirit breathes where 't list, that none may vaunt
Of too much plenty, nor despair for want.
Ʋpon Simon Zelotes, Epig. 3.
THe Canaanite receiv'd into the train
Of Christ, Zelotes name doth quickly gain,
From that great zeal no doubt which he express'd,
Unto his new chose Masters interest:
And to say truth, it is not seldome seen
That those strange branches, which are grafted in,
Bring forth more plenteous, and more lovely fruit,
Then those which nature thrusteth from the root,
'Tis sad indeed it should be thus, that they
Who came into Christs School but yesterday,
Should outstrip those, who many years before
Did put their sluggish feet within his dore.
Yet thus my God, with my poor Soul it stands,
Those that but now did put their labo'ring hands
Unto thy Plough, have rid more work away
Then I that here have pingled many a day.
I grudge not, Lord, at what these Zealots do,
May they still thrive in Grace, and adde unto
The fire they have for thee, all that I pray
Is that thou make me burne as well as they.
November. 1.
THe Muses here put in their claime, and cry,
That this of right is their Festivity.
That, I am bound this Month in every line
To Eccho forth the honor of the Nine.
But they must pardon me, these sacred Layes
Do own no influence but Ʋrania's.
They know no Nines, save such as couched be
In the Thrice-great, Thrice-holy Trinity.
Th' are all my Muses, from their bounteous Throne
My Artless quill derives her ayd alone.
November his Feasts.
ALL Saints unto Novembers first repair;
The fift, the Powder-Plots discovered are;
The thirtieth is to that blest Saint applyed,
Whom John first to the Lamb of God did guide.
All Saints. Epigr. 1.
THe Saints deceas'd, which now securely rest
In Abraham's bosome of rich joys possess'd.
Cry strongly yet, no doubt, to re-obtain
An union with their buried Corps again:
And being alike convinc'd that they, and we
Who still below in these dark Mansions be,
Make but one Body, they as strongly pray
That we may gain those joys as well as they.
We also here on Earth, having learn'd that those
Blest Spirits which now in blissful joys repose,
Are part of us, and have assum'd their Throne
In our behalf, as well as in their own.
Do praise thee, Lord, for them, whom thy good grace
Hath rapp'd from hence, into so sweet a place.
Thus whilst our praises, and their prayers do meet
Knit up together, at thy glorious feet.
Whilst they our wants, and we their joys partake:
And each the others state their own do make.
This is that true Communion indeed
Of Saints, that we are taught out of the Creed.
Epig. 2.
WE are not able, Lord, to comprehend
What numerous troopes of glorious Saints attend
About thy blessed Throne, and yet we know
That there's not one of them to whom we owe
Not a Religious reverence, for those shares
Which we are sure we have in all their prayers.
Which due regards, lest we should haply miss
In paying to their several Memori's.
Athenian-like, but in a juster way,
To th' unknown Saints we Dedicate this day.
Epigr. 3.
THe meanest of thy Saints, O God, we find
Have left such patterns of their lives behind;
And now such advantageous prayers do make
(At least in general) for their Brethren's sake,
That we can never pay thee what we owe
For what from one of these rich springs doth flow.
How much more then, when all their streams unite
Into one flood, must that be infinite?
Th' are thus indeed, being view'd by our weak eyes,
Which make alas but poor discoveries.
Although compar'd to what thy Christ hath done,
Th' are all but like a spark unto the Sun.
Gunpowder Treason. Epig. 1.
ROmes Mitred Shepherds rage like Wolves, and rend
With their fell teeth, the flocks they ought to tend.
But I admire not at it, for 'tis sed
Her founders with Wolves milk at first were fed.
And this approv'd experience daily showes,
That from the breasts men suck their nature flows.
Epig. 2.
VVHose Vicar Romes High Priest's most like to be,
This dayes curst fire-works teach sufficientlie.
The devil no doubt first taught this murthering skill.
And th' are his Impes alone that use it still.
Epig. 3.
'TWas thought that such grosse hereticks as we
Could scarce be sav'd, or Gods bright Presence see.
When lo, the tender Romanist being sorry
To have us damn'd, prepar'd a Purgatory,
A new-found blast of Sulph'rous flames, wherein
Cleans'd from the gross impurities of sin:
Prince, Peeres, and People, all at once might flie
(Like Manaoh's Angel) to those joyes on high.
Who'le now hereafter charge the Popish rabble
Of shaveling Priests to be uncharitable,
Who would at their own charge (kind soules) convey
Their Enemies to Heaven so near a way.
Andrew Apostle. Epig. 1.
ANdrew having found the Christ, brings Peter in;
True Converts still strive others souls to win.
Nor lose they by't, for grace is such a thing,
The more men spend, the more their waters spring.
Like Christ his loaves, whereof the more do share,
The fuller still the emptied baskets are.
Or like the widdows oyle, which never stayed
Till she an end of pouring out had made.
A sparing hand here makes the Owner poor,
They that do dole most out, have most in store,
Ʋpon John 1. 38, 39. Epig. 2.
ANdrew enquires where Jesus dwelleth, he
Answers him truly, he must come and see,
'Tis not the hearing of the eare, O man,
That is enough to make a Christian.
Unlesse thou come to Christ, and with thine eye
Of faith, survey the place where he doth lie.
Thousands have heard his own sweet mouth to tell
Where his abode, and yet are gone to Hell,
But none e're came to him that went away,
And perisht in his sins another day.
Epigr. 3. Ʋpon the Scots Arrogating Saint Andrew for their Patron.
SCotland, we grant, feels Andrews powerful hand,
But 'tis to punish, not to guard their land,
Their King, their God, their Souls, and all they'll sell
For a few pence, and run themselves to Hell,
But this sad curse their Saint on them hath laid,
That they shall still be poor, for all their Trade.
December 1.
MEthinks this Moneth to Sinai sadly leades,
And in our ears the ten Commandments reads,
Those ten sad words, which none e're kept, and none
E're broke, but 'twas to his own destruction.
Sad words indeed, but that this Month, before
It doth expire, brings in a Saviour.
One that doth keep them from us, and doth bear
That death himself, which our sad souls did fear.
O happy Advent! that hath power to make
This yoak so easie now to undertake,
That takes all dread from these ten words away,
And turns our Serpent to a helping stay.
Which way so e're we look, this Number now
Hath no more threatning wrinkles in its brow.
Look upon Christ, and this tenth Month will bring
Him clad in flesh, to be our offering.
Look on the Law, and all the thunder's gone
And it hath nothing in't, but light alone.
Thus thou, my God, can'st make December snow
With more sweet joyes, then verdant May to flow.
December his Feasts. 2▪
DEcember's twenty first is Thomas Fee;
The twenty fift is Christ's Nativity;
Stephen upon the twenty sixt they stone;
The twenty seventh's assign'd to aged John;
The twenty eight by Herods cruelty
At Bethlehem, the poor Innocents did dy.
Thomas Apostle. Epig. 1.
THy faith was weak, it cannot be deny'd,
Such doubtings are not to be justifi'd,
When such a cloud of Witnesses do meet
To clear a truth, then (Thomas) not to see't
Is willful blindness, which doth not admit
Of any just excuse to cover it.
But yet, blest Saint, when by thy Lords consent
Thy hands had felt those holes the nails had rent,
And that the spear had made within his side,
Then never man with greater fervour cry'd,
My Lord, my God: O happy, happy tongue!
That feelingly so sweet an Anthem sung,
Thomas thy failings they were great indeed,
But thy great faith I'm sure did more exceed.
Epig. 2.
THomas had not thy failings been so sad
Our Faith had not so firm a footing had;
Thy weakness is our strength, and by thy fall
W'are now so setled, as no tempest shall
Unfix our holds, or make us doubt again:
O God, what cannot thy great power attain?
Who mak'st thy Saints miscarriages to be
An Antidote to all Posteritie.
Well may we by their graces look to win
That do become such gainers by their sin.
Epig. 3. Ʋpon John 20. 21.
THomas 'tis true, thy late dead Master stands
Before thy eyes, thou feel'st his side and hands,
(Such is his grace) and now beleev'st indeed,
But 'tis weak faith that such strong proofs doth need.
Blessed are they whom lesser means will draw,
To rest upon that Christ they never saw.
Thou dost not want thy wages, but their Faith
No doubt my God, a double portion hath.
Christmas Day, Epig. 1. Ʋpon Luke 2. 7.
STruck with a new Instinct me thinks I spy
The Beasts before thy manger prostrate lie,
And strait cry out, Lord, now 'tis true indeed,
That which we in thy Holy Book do read,
The Oxe, and th' Asse their Masters crib do know,
But Israel thine own people do not so.
Epig. 2. Vers. eod. There was no room for them in the Inne.
VVHo'd think that Davids heir, in Davids town
With child, should find no lodging to lay down,
Her precious burthen, but poor creature must
Into the stable with the Beasts be thrust.
But thus in common Inns t' hath always bin,
They thrust out Christ whilst Ruffians vaunt within.
Epigr. 3. Ʋpon Luke 2. 8, 9, 10, 11.
VVHy didst thou send thine Angel Lord to tell
Poor Shepherds first of this great Miracle,
The birth of thy Messias which had bin
News for the stateliest Courts to have gloried in:
Was it to show that in these heavenly things,
Poor Swains oft get the start of mighty Kings?
Or was't because that he whose birth was told,
Himself was the great Shepherd of the fold,
And 'twas but meet that such as Shepherds were,
The birth of the great Shepherd first should hear;
Or wouldst thou have these Shepherds know that Lambe
Of God was now brought forth, whom it became
Them to look after, more then all their own;
A Lamb that whosome're doth wait upon,
They are kept safe, by that same Lamb they keep,
The Shepherds are preserved by the Sheep;
Whether this or that induc'd thee Lord to show
This grace, to these poor men, I do not know.
But this I know, they've seen such things to day
As never men beheld before but they;
Go happy Shepherds, leave your flocks and hie,
To Beth'lem where your Infant Lord doth lie:
And when you have view'd his sacred person well,
Spare not aloud, what you have seen to tell;
Write volums of these things, and let them bear
The title of the Shepherds Calender.
This I assure you, never shepherds knew
With all their studies, half so much as you.
Saint Stephen. Epig. 1.
THy name, great Stephen, doth a Crown denote,
And thou indeed a goodly Crown has got.
The first rich Crown that ever Martyr ware,
That witness to his glorious Master bare.
Christ by his sufferings past into his Throne;
And thou the self same-way to thine art gone.
Where thou now reignest with him, O happy man!
That by one Combat, such a Kingdome wan.
Had I, great Saint, that learned Graecian's skill,
And could drop golden raptures from my quill,
I'de write whole books like his, and they should be
Πέρι στεφάνου of thy Crown and thee.
Ʋpon Act. 7. 56. Epig. 2.
THat Christ on Gods right hand enthron'd doth sit,
Our Creed, and all the Scriptures witness it.
Yet thou, great Martyr, seest him stand, a thing
Well worthy of our strict examining.
But I have found it. Thou being now to fight
This first pitch'd Combat in thy Masters right:
Christ leaves his seat, and upon tiptoe stands
To see how thou thereof wouldst quit thy hands,
And having seen thee, with much joy to win
The prize, he opes the Heavens to take thee in.
And will sit down no more, thou happy one,
Till he have plac'd thee first upon thy throne:
And ta'ne those stones, which when thou now didst dy
About thy head like stormes of hayl did fly:
And chang'd to Rubies, have enameld them
About thy well-wrought glorious Diadem.
Stephen, thy way indeed was hard and rough,
But thy reward at last was sweet enough.
Ʋpon Act. 7. 6. He fell asleep. Epig. 3.
THen when the furious stones in stormes did fall
About thy head, when blood and brains and all
Spatt'red from thy dissevered skull, and those
That gave them, have bemoan'd their dreadful blowes,
'Tis sayd thou fell'st asleep, O wondrous thing!
Was this a time for sleep to spred her wing
About thy peaceful temples? cou'd'st thou ly
So gently down, when such rough storms did fly?
But I admire not, thou hadst seen a sight
That ravish'd thy glad Soul with more delight
Then all those wounds could fright thee with, which were
Indeed an Exit, not a cause of fear.
Let me my God but such a vision see,
And I shall sleep in death as well as he.
John the Evangelist. Epig. 1.
'Twas not for naught, great John, that thou didst rest
Thy head upon thy Masters sacred Brest,
Thence thou deriv'st those heavenly gifts that none
Of all the twelve e're had but thou alone:
They mov'd in narrower Spheres, one's hand did pen,
Epistles to the scattered brethren:
Another fill'd with a celestial light,
The storie of his Saviours life did write:
But thou alone in one sweet knot didst twist,
Prophet, Apostle, and Evangelist.
Epig. 2. Ʋpon John 19. 26, 27.
THis povver to all beleevers is convey'd,
That they are Gods adopted children made,
And 'tis a grace indeed, to be alli'd
To Christ the Lord upon the better side:
But John to thee this further honour's done
That thou'rt adopted also Maries son;
On both sides novv unto thy Lord a kin,
His German-brother doubly grafted in;
O vvho can boast great Saint, as thou canst do?
The Son of God, and Son of Mary too!
No mortal man had e're that favour shovvn,
To be thus truly stil'd, but thou alone.
Epig. 3. Ʋpon the Effigies of an Eagle, ascrib'd to S. John.
T'Was not unmeet blest Saint that thou didst bear
The quick-y'd Eagles specious Character,
Who couldst with fixed looks so freely gaze,
Upon those beams which other eyes amaze;
Who hast thy Lords dread person so exprest,
As if thou dst lain, not on, but in his brest;
As though the other Writers all had seen
But his back-parts, and thou alone hadst been
Familiar with his face, which shone so bright,
That no mans eies but thine could brook the sight.
The Type was apt, but short, the Eagles eye
And towring wing indeed, that soars so high,
Something present thy Genius, but not well
For she wants tongue the things she sees to tell;
Thou with Seraphick skill at once didst see,
And warble out thy Saviours dignitie:
Well did the Church in one sweet Book of thine,
Ascribe to thee the Title of Divine.
Thou showd'st thy self so there, and to say true
In all the rest great Saint, thou didst so too.
Innocents day, Epig. 1.
VVEigh but the sins, and sorrows age doth bring,
And you'l conclude it is a happy thing
To die betimes, and so prevent those woes
Which he that long surviveth undergoes,
This was your case, sweet Babes, you early dy'd,
And so blest souls the fewer evils try'd
But that's not all, you dy'd for Jesus sake,
And that's a cause indeed enough to make
The saddest suffrings glorious; never man
For his behoof the smalest hazzard ran
And lo [...] [...]y the adventure, so to dy,
Is to live happy everlastingly.
Then weep not Rachell that thy Sons are slayne,
Nor reckon that thy loss, that was their gaine.
'Twas mercy that thy children dy'd so soon,
But that they thus did dy, 's a double Boon.
Epig. 2.
THe sting of death is sin, remove but that,
And death hath nothing to be trembled at.
What need then these sweet Infants fear; th' events
Of death, ne're hurt such harmless Innocents.
Lord, wash my Soul as clean as theirs, and I
When e're thou call'st, will be content to dy.
Epigr. 3.
YOu dy'd for Christ, sweet Babes, but grudge not though,
You gain'd a glorious Crown by doing so:
And 'twas no sorry bargain, that to lose
A moments breath, for such rich joys as those;
And yet that breath was none of yours, beside▪
'Twas bought before by him, for whom you dy'd
FINIS.