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Two Hebrews crown'd, he kill'd one heathuish king, | His thousands Saul, ten thousands David kill'd;

A reverent iudge who purchas'd true respect;
He all the people did together bring,
And boldly ask'd what person could object,
Whose oxe or asse he tooke, or any thing
For doing wrong, or justice to neglect;
A glorious challenge, and a vaunt not vaine,
To brave a state, as free from any staine.

Now marke I one, th' Earth bred no other such,
For temperance, patience, charitie, and love,
Whom God did praise, till Satan envied much,
And thus did tempt, that he this gold might prove;
Thou kept'st him so that none his state could touch,
This hireling's heart thy gifts doe onely move;
Let him but taste of ruine and disgrace,
And he will straight blaspheme thee to thy face.
His children feasting whil'st he pensive stands,
What strange ill newes straight all at once arrived?
Whilst th' asses fed, the oxen plow'd thy lands,
Sabæans hence them violently drived;
Rob'd are thy camels by Chaldean bands, [prived;
Thy sheepe of life flames (sent from Heaven) de-
Thy sonnes are smothered by a house's fall,
Save wee who speake, kill'd are thy servants all.

When passion first prevail'd (as one forlorne)
Their course impetuous did him so confound,
With head all spoil'd of haires, and garments torne,
He worship'd God (fall'n groveling on the ground)
Then said, "As by my dame first naked borne,
So naked last, dust must my body bound;
The Lord did give, the Lord doth take againe,
Blest be his name; I grieve, but not complaine."
With soares growne loathsome, of all wretches chiefe,
By friends quite left, by servants not obey'd,
"Curse God and die" (as desperate of reliefe)
His wife first cri'd, that had from duty strai'd;
Who came to comfort, did augment his griefe,
And thought those plagues his wickednesse bewrai'd,
Till charg'd with anguish grudging at the rod,
He (to debate his cause) durst chalenge God.
By golden speeches (with much power) express'd,
How short a time man wrapt in woes did live;
Last humbling him till he his fault confess'd,
The Lord did speake, as cited there to strive,
Who check'd his friends for having truth trans-
gress'd,

And for his cause would only them forgive;
His riches doubled, multipli'd his race,
Both old, and happie, Iob did die in peace.

What stately troope doth dazell so my sight,
As for their worth, so in their number rare ?
Those all are kings, as walking in God's light,
Who kept his law with a religious care,
And brave lieutenants did his battels fight,
Yea, highly griev'd, when falne in any snare;
They now have gain'd (all weakenesses laid downe)
A boundlesse kingdome, an eternall crowne.
He whome the Lord to be a king design'd,
A shepheard boy (whilst reckning all his brood)
Whom his owne father scarce could call to mind,
Us'd (as a drudge) to beare his brother's food,
He (whilst at his high sprite the rest repin'd)
Did seale his valour with a giant's blood:
And for his love expòs'd to dangerous toiles,
In dowry gave two hundred Pagans' spoiles.

This envi'd praise with honour bred him harme:
Saul's troubled brest such jealous fancies fill'd,
That man whose musick did his dæmon charme,
His blood (oft ventred) greedie to have spill'd,
As for some conquest did great numbers arme:
And thought his state could in no safety prove,
Whilst such a gallant kept his people's love.

By madnesse fain'd forc'd to delude his foes,
He whom his merits onely did betray,

In

wildernesses farre from all repose,
Yet twice to him God did his king expose,
Was like a partridge hunted for a prey:
And he discharg'd that any him should slay;
Thus of his raigne bent to abide the time,
He for a crowne would not commit a crime.
Yea, when the tyrant (tumbled from his seat)
By his owne hand (defrauding foes) was slaine,
He caus'd him dye who did the news relate,
His death to haste though vaunting but in vaine;
And having heard the ruine of his state,

He (straight made tender) could not teares restraine:
But us'd such griefe that it no pen can paint,
As witnesse may his passionate complaint.
A king, a prophet, valorous, devout,
That man to God's owne heart, choice of a land,
(None perfect here) him faults, even foule, did blot,
And where he fell, let no man bragge to stand,
By tempting beauty fondly made to dote,
He act'd adultery, murther did command:
And all his subjects caus'd to count (though dust)
As proud of numbers in his strength to trust.
Though these his faults repentance had defrai'd,
The plague for them troupes did from breath se-
clude,

His concubines deflowr'd, his force decay'd,
Chas'd by his soune, he in great danger stood;
And was from building of the temple stai'd,
As one whose hands polluted were with bloud:
Last (fail'd, ere old) he left a bloudy will,
That who himselfe had spar'd, his sonne should kill.
There walks with him one link'd in love below,
From which not syre, nor state, his thoughts could
bring,

A friendship such what fabulous penne can show?
In him save God it weigh'd downe every thing:
He with one man an army did ore-throw,
Both borne, and worthy, to have beene a king:
But farre more great, he (never faulty tri'd)
Whil'st bravely fighting, for his countrey dy'd.
He, when his wish was offred from above,
Who not (like Midas) basely gap'd for gold,
Nor yet (like Paris) urg'd a ladies love,
But wish'd for wisedome, judgement's height to bold,
Which first two dames about one childe did prove,
Whil'st who was mother kindnesse did unfold;
Of plants each vertue whether good or naught,
He from the cedar to the thistle taught.

But whil'st by riches riotously led,
And lull'd asleep with pleasures of this life,
He Pharoah's faults did with his daughter wed,
And entertain❜d the idoll of each wife;
But last he was (when fuluesse loathing bred)
With all the world (as vanity) at strife,
And of all states he did the height attaine,
A foole, a wise man, holy, and prophane,

There one who idols highly still abhorr'd,
And their confusion in such manner wrought,
That he his mother when she one ador'd,

Of state depriv'd, and to live private brought;
And yet (afraid) he Aram's help implor'd,
And (when diseas'd) not God, but physick sought;
Yet bravely broke the Ethiopian bands,
And here by God rank'd with good princes stands.
His sonne succeeds, a king by goodnesse great,
As just, religious, generally belov'd,

Yet joyn'd with Achab, one whom God did hate,
And by the prophet had his fault reprov'd,
But when huge armies came to raze his state,
His ardent zeale the Lord of hosts so mov'd:
That (as spectatour) he in safety stood,
Till all his enemies were ore-flow'd with bloud.

Now happie he who did all ill detest,
And godly, vertuous, singular, excell'd,
Not like his father, striving to be priest,
Who from the temple leprous was expell'd,
But building towns, and stately works, at rest,
To pay him tribute strangers were compell'd,
"Thus prosper they who do what God directs;
No danger dare approach where he protects."

When Ashur's captaine swolne with pride blasphem'd,

And durst our God with Gentiles' gods compare,
He who (that scorne then ruine worse esteem'd)
(When thus distress'd) did to his strength repaire;
Who oft from anguish bath his owne redeem'd,
And then himselfe a party did declare:
The Jews miraculously were freed from toils,
An angell fought, they came to take the spoiles.

By sicknesse charg'd to leave this lodge of clay,
(This life so sweet, death is so bitter thought)
With teares and sighs he humbly begg'd to stay,
And had a lease of yeares too dearly bought:
Sinne took advantage of this long delay,
And where not tax'd before, he folly wrought:
By vaunted treasures foolishly spread forth,
To make a prince enamour'd of their worth.

The last of those who fortunately raign'd,
Is he for first whom many would preferre,
The law restor'd, all read what it contain'd,
Who by his teares God's judgement did deferre,
By dead men's bones the heathenish altar stain'd,
He still liv'd well, did onely (dying) erre:
Whil'st without cause he needs would go to fight,
And by his losse did cloud all Iuda's light.

By God anointed comes another sort,
His great familiars, trusted with his will,
When sent to promise, threaten, or exhort,
Whom heavenly thoughts with sacred rage did fill;
One David's doome did from himselfe extort,
Who, even when doing, yet was damning ill:
Whil'st to a king, from God, he (wisely bold)
His stormy message figuratively told.

That Shilonite who (as from Heaven advis'd)
To Ieroboam prophesy'd a crowne, [guis'd)
And told his wife, (soone knowne though com'd dis-
Since falne from God, (all dignity put downe)
That (all their off-spring plagued and despis'd)
Her sonne should die, straight when she touch'd the

towne:

By death made happie to prevent disgrace, None else should have a grave of all their race.

That man of God whom God did earst imploy,
To bragge the altar, for a signe all torne,
Who nam'd the man who should it quite destroy,
Though after that for many yeares not borne ;
And that old prophet would him still convoy,
Whose cosening kindnesse did his calling scorne:
He freely ly'd, truth did of force preferre,
His doome denouncing whom he made to erre.

When lying sprits had Achab's trust deceiv'd,
To tempt him forth for ruine and disgrace,
One truly told (as if at hand perceiv'd)
As shepheardlesse how Israel left their place,
The king enrag'd (as sure he should be sav'd)
Cri'd, "Keep him fast, till I returne in peace."
"If thou return'st in peace from mischiefe free,”
The prophet said, "then God speaks not by me."

Who clos'd the clouds, (of drought an ominous threat)

And (fed by ravens) wonderfully liv'd,
Who did (by spending) multiply her meat,
Whose breathlesse sonne he straight, when dead,
reviv'd;

Flames swallow'd floods to show what God was great,
Which Baal's priests to follow fondly striv'd;
But all by him were as abuses slaine,
Who for their idoll strugled had in vaine.

By angels fed, for forty dayes to fast,
He reach'd mount Horeb, held for sacred ground,
Where first windes roar'd, next gaping earthquakes
past,

Then flames of fire his daz'led sight did bound,
A murmur soft and quiet calme came last,
From which God spoke, as who his friend had found:
And straight he told in spite of tyrant's bosts,
How jealously he lov'd the Lord of hosts.

By bands of fiftie for his ruine sought,
Fire at his call from Heaven them twice did kill,
Till that to him unarm'd, who never fought,
A captaine with his troupes did yeeld, at will;
His cloake (as did the arke) a wonder wrought,
When parted Iordan, till he past, stood still;
He in his chariot did in state retire,
(As crown'd with glory) flashing flames of fire,

He who this great man's gift redoubled got,
A childe procur'd, and even when dead did cure,
Made leprous Naman free from any spot,
And, in his place, his greedy man impure;
Made weighty iron above the water flot,
And when Samaria famine did endure,
Did show that plenty should it soone releeve,
But he first dye, who would it not beleeve.

The Syrians counsell told to Israel's king,
That host in armes which bent to take him stood,
He (quite made blinde) amid'st their foes did bring,
Yet would not harme them, no, but gave them food;
Thus whil'st alive, well did he every thing,
And (even whil'st dying) alwayes doing good:
By homely signes he did to loash show,
How Aram's army he should thrice ore-throw.

That sonne of Amos here much grac'd I spie,
Whose princely birth all parts conforme approve,
His threatnings thunder, comforts flowing flie;
This may sinke downe, that ravish up above,
No Greeke, nor Romane penne, could soare so high;
His speech (all power) may admiration move:
Whil'st lifting up all them in God who trust,
And levelling proud nations with the dust.

When God in wrath abandon'd had his owne,
Who not prevented, no, did ruine haste,
This man hath oft by sacred vision showne,
That straying Gentiles should be call'd at last;
Of Christ to come as cleare a witnesse knowne,
As were apostles proving what was past:
Twixt him and them this sympathie is found,
That martyrdome(the Christian badge) both crown'd.

He who long mourn'd (as but to anguish borne,
Still passionate) with elegiack straines,
For Iuda's bondage, haughty Babel's scorne,
The which (whil'st free) he oft as captive plains;
For this by him upbraiding yokes were borne,
Still persecuted, yet despising paines:
He long was kept his prophesy to stay,
In dungeons darke, a stranger to the day.

When Abraham's off-spring were transported all,
And what they would not trust, did feeling see,
Their daunted courage labouring to recall,
He who them told what God did then decree,
And that they should but for a time be thrall,
As confident as if they had beene free,
Did build their temple, painting every part,
As it at first was drawn within his heart.

He who declar'd (interpreting his dreame)
To Ashur's monarch, monarchs aim'd for great;
Whom straight for this he did a prince proclaime,
Yet in short space, what height of partiall hate!
A burning fornace (roaring forth a flame)
Of him and his two friends became the seat,
Till them an angel freed from fire's vast pow'r,
And who attended them did soone devoure.

Thus highly grac'd, and by this wonder knowne,
(Base envy onely mischiefe can asswage)
To lyons fierce he for a prey was throwne
Which touch'd not him, yet rent his foes in rage;
By strange descriptions mystically showne,
He figur'd forth the state of every age,
Yet did not know what he himselfe did teach,
No wonder then though it no other reach.

A number more fill up this happy band,
Who did their message faithfully performe,
And scorning danger, resolutely stand,
When raging tyrants at the truth would storme;
They as if signets in their master's hand,
Gave true impressions, keeping still one forme:
Not fearing paine, nor prizing pleasure ought,
Since onely God, and not themselves they sought.

When captiv'd lews confus'dly forth did presse,
Though once for state distinguish'd all in ranks,
By bondage equall'd, fellows in distresse,
A rigorous marshall meriting no thanks,
Whil'st swelling breasts did strugling words represse,
Teares turn'd to flouds, they melted on the banks:

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DOOMES-DAY;

OR,

THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD'S IVDGEMENT.

THE NINTH HOURE.

THE ARGUMENT.

Christ's great fore-runner by him pris'd so much,
And those who his familiars were below,
Th' evangelists, apostles, and all such
As did him in the flesh when mortall know:
Then those who freely did their faith avouch,
And for the truth true constancy did show:
The churche's fathers, and the martyrs all,

This great ambassadour whom God did send,
Still taxing sinne, with wickednesse at strife,
A tyrant fierce admonish'd to amend,
Who slept in incest with his brother's wife;
What bloody gift to gratifie a friend?
(Too prodigall of such a pretious life)
He with his head vaine foolery did defray,
A wanton's wage, a doting dancer's prey.

Those three judg'd wise whom nought from Christ
could barre,

Though strangely guided, yet to trauell bold,
When having found him whom they sought so farre,
Did frankely offer incense, myrrhe, and gold;
His birth (enrich'd with raies) a flaming starre,
His death the Suune (all wrapt in darkenesse) told:
But Sunne and Moone bare ciphers (reckning right)
And starres turn'd figures cannot count his light.
He who by him, whom nought save faith confines,

Glad stand they here, who for Christ's cause did fall. Had beene secur'd ere death his Lord to see,

THE world at first against all good obdur'd,
That sacred statutes might men's judgements sway,
By wonders mov'd, by benefits allur'd,
Their temporall treasures prosp'ring every way;
By covenant who followed God secur'd,
He, even whil'st here, their service did defray,
As by the ancients evident appeares,
With plenty, peace, posterity, and yeares.

But when glad tidings went divulging grace,
And show the ground where soules should reape
their good,

Those who the truth with ardour did imbrace,
And (it defending) resolutely stood,

Still toss'd with toiles, and in the world's disgrace,
Scarce having rest, till purchas'd by their blood:
They were so oft expos'd to scorne, and losse,
That Christians long were knowne but by their crosse.

Such (whilst transported with a sprituall ioy)
Contemplating their happinesse above,
(What Earth could give, all but esteem'd a toy)
Were ravish'd up to court their Maker's love,
Those paines which oft this mortall masse annoy,
Contentment gave, by hasting their remove:
And here by them no pleasure was imbrac'd,
Save when for God by some great suff'ring grac'd.

Loe, he whose voice vaste desarts made rebound,
In sprite Elias, and in like estate;

All cloth'd with haire, his loines a girdle bound;
With locusts joyn'd wilde hony serv'd for meat,
He (as Christ's trumpet) ere he came did sound,
"Repent, prepare, of men no man more great;"
Yet did he judge himselfe (farre short indeed)
Too base to serve who after should succeed.

He, humbly modest, (as too much esteem'd)
When baptisme's fountaine baptisme came to crave,
Since but a sinner, and to be redeem'd,

That which was sought, wish'd rather to receave;
Heavens (opening straight) to crave attendance
seem'd,

From whence a voice this testimony gave;
(Whilst like a dove the sprite vpon him seaz❜d)
"This is my Sonne, in whom I am well pleas'd."

When in the temple knowne by sprituall signes,
Did thus burst forth, glad in a high degree,
"The Gentiles' light, and Israel's glory shines,
Salvation comes to all who seeke it free:
Lord let thy servant now depart in peace.”
Since thus thou hast perform'd the promis'd grace,

There comes that captaine (marching with the rest)
Who did beleeve, ere granted, well assur'd,
(His house held base to lodge so great a guest)
That by Christ's words his servant should be cur'd;
Then she (when check'd) who did for crummes
contest,

And euen with dogs to be compar'd endur'd :
Thus some (though Gentiles) have so happie beene,
That with the lewes no faith like theirs was seene.

That Israelite in whom no guile was founde,
Whose minde still pure from stormy waves was free;
He (lest that thronging troupes his sight should
bound)

To looke on Christ who mounted on a tree;
The devills expell'd, who were diseas'd, made sound,
Earst wonder's objects, numbers happie be,
First from short paines, from endlesse last secur'd,
Whose soules and bodies both at once were cur'd,

Haile, happie Mary! virgin great in grace,
Thy sexe's glory, the Eternall's love!
Whom high affection freely did imbrace,
By sacred flames ore-shadow'd from above;
Not bodie's forme, nor colour of a face,
To make this match did the Almighty move:
Her portion was an humble modest minde,
For which the Lord a state in Heaven design'd.
But how the deity could be joyn'd with dust,
Some curious brains (weake reason's captives) scan:
Not like fain'd love in flames enflam'd with lust,
Nor in a dove, as he came in a swan;
Who would be sav'd must absolutely trust,
No male enjoy'd, a mayd brought forth a man:
If by God's word cold earth did life receive,
A woman by his sprite might soone conceive.
What wonders rare do now enrich my ryme!
Still mayd, though mother, free from mortall seed,
Wive's childe, not husband's, and yet not her cryme,
Bigge by himselfe, who did her Maker breed;
Eternity was limited by time;

[ceed: Small bounds did bound who doth all bounds ex

How highly, Mary, shouldst thou be esteem'd,
Since Evah's fault was by thy birth redeem'd ?
More then all women blessed in thy bloud,
Thou first for him, he for us all did smart,
Who borrow'd milk, but pay'd for it his bloud,
And what thou hadst was his, not thy desart,
Who with the rest of death in danger stood,
Whil'st from his crosse he did these words impart:
"Look, woman, on thy sonne:" then might'st thou
How he (a lambe) was offred up for thee. [see,

She who, long childiesse, last conceiv'd a sonne,
As first an angell did to her divine,

Still till the time that thrise three times were runne,
Whose husband's dumbenesse prov'd a certaine signe,
Her to salute when Mary had begun,

The babe for joy her wombe could scarce confine:
Whose mother prais'd the blessed virgin's state,
As by her birth who did indeed grow great.

I see those sisters shining in this ranke, [dead,
Whose brother Christ first wail'd, then rais'd when
But chiefly she who circumspectly franke,
A precious oyntment pour'd upon his head;
Though others grudg'd, Christ her for this did thank,
And it for ever memorable made:
Then unto her as one before held deare,
(Pale death dispatch'd) did at the first appeare.
Thrice glorious twelve whose parts no tongue can tell,
As his companions by our Lord imbrac❜d,
To binde, and loose, with power of Heaven and Hell,
(Still working wonders wonderfully grac'd) ›
With whom the Holy Ghost did come to dwell,
Who now with Christ to judge the world are plac'd:
You by your suffrings conquer'd have farre more,
Then all men else, by acts, since, or before.

True grounds neglect'd, the doting vulgar throng,
To servile meanes do so ascribe events,
The gospell planting, that to scape such wrong,
God us'd none great in power, nor rich in rents,
But simple trades-men, neither learn'd, nor strong,
Brought up in fishing, or in making tents,
That thus all might their heavenly message know,
The which to earthly helps would nothing owe.

He who did first great faith in Christ display,
Which flesh nor bloud could not to him impart,
Commended thus, commanded straight away,
As turn'd a tempter taught by Satan's art,
Whose speech did tend salvation's course to stay,
Then Iudas worse in words, though true in heart:
His pitie cruell, milde the traitor's spite;
This hasted grace, that would have barr'd it quite.
Still of that minde to fight at last he aym'd,
And rashly did cut one of Malchus' eares;
But, loe, this lyon by a cock was tam'd; [feares,
This bragger straight a mayd ore-whelm'd with
So that remorsefull, angry, and asham'd,
He would have hid his face with flouds of teares:
Yet, even when weeping, with more strength was
stor'd,

Then when he walk'd on waves, or drew his sword.

Though shaken like a reed, at length a rocke,
In spite of tempests he was constant found,
Whom jealously Christ trusted with his flocke,
Who thrise deny'd him, thrise by promise bound;
Yet of the church (though once a stumbling block)
A speciall pillar, not the onely ground:

He girt himselfe when yong in freedome still,
But when grown old, was girt against his will.
That disciple stil'd by his master's love,
By speaking signes whom silent Peter pray'd,
As one whose credit more then his could move,
To learne by whom the Lord should be betray'd,
Whose bosome did so oft his pillow prove,
Who many thought till Christ return'd had stayd:
These words for him might great regard have wonne;
Man, see thy mother; woman, see thy Sonne."
Though Christ disprov'd their foolish strife for state,
If oddes there were, I this man chiefe would call,
Whose life so long, whose troubles were so great,
Two persecutions seene, and Sion's fall;
This eagle's flight no brightnesse could abate,
Whose ravish'd thoughts have comprehended all:
His gospell clearely showes things that were past,
His revelation what should come at last.

66

There he who first incredulous was found,
Else could not trust what he desir'd so much,
Still wanting faith till he had try'd the wound,
To see too curious, grosse when he did touch;
Yet last, the truth did to farre Indians sound,
This fault to helpe his fervent zeale was such :
Thus having seene and felt, beleeve he must,
But happy those who never saw, yet trust.
That eunuch who could reade, but not conceive,
Till Christ's apostle tanght to him a space,
Who as he strangely came, so did him leave,
In Nature lesse, made more then man by grace ;-
He whom his chariot then daign'd to receive,
Whil'st running by, as worthy of no place,
Rais'd now above himselfe with reverence seene,
Perchance shall judge his Ethiopian queene.
Those barbarous Iewes, O how they suffer must!
When seeing him exalted in their sight,
Whom (though as singular entitled just)
They hurl'd downe head-longs from a temple's
height,

Then crush'd his braines, when wallowing in the dust,
As so to quench their citie's second light,
Who of their church rul'd the converted state,
The first of bishops, both in time and seat.
He for whose cause two good men jarr'd in will,
Since falling once, not fit to suffer thought,
Yet (never after tax'd) stood constant still,
And was by Venice for her patron sought;
That rare physitian, whose celestiall skill
Cur'd wounded soules by balme from Iuda brought:
Those two, whose pennes seem'd drawne from angel's
Did write two registers of sacred things. [wings,

But what rare person doth pursue my sight,
Whom Christ of purpose came againe to call?
Who straight grew blinde whil'st looking on the light,
And rose more strong when bruised by a fall,
Though none of the first twelve each way as bright,
He travell'd, acted, suffred more then all :
This wondrous change, what weight of words can
A persecutor first, and then a saint.
[paint?

His speech, more powerfull then could flow from art,
Where eloquence the greatest glory had,
Caus'd learn'd philosophers, amaz'd, to start,
(Their God unknowne best knowne, the rest prov'd
Made Felix quake, Agrippa neere convert, [bad)
Till foolish Festus thought he had beene mad;

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