The blessed birth-day celebrated in some pious meditations, on the angels anthem. Luke 2. 14. Also holy raptures in contemplating of the most obserueable adjuncts about our Saviours nativitie. By Charles Fitz-Geffry.

THE BLESSED BIRTH-DAY CELEBRATED IN Some Pious Meditations , on the ANGELS ANTHEM . Luke 2.14 .

ALSO HOLY RAPTVRES In contemplating of the most obserueable Adjuncts about our Saviours NATIVITIE .

By CHARLES FITZ-GEFFRY .

Maxim . Taurinensis in Nat: Dom : h o . 1.

Hodiè Christus natum est , nos renati .

OXFORD , Printed by IOHN LICHFIELD Printer to the University , and are to be sold by Ed. Forrest An. Dom . 1634.

To the Reverend Author on his severall workes . SIR , I not praise your witt , for that ( all know ) Praises it selfe : each line that thence doth flow Like to some pearle , or ray , or streame , well showes The Mine , Sunne , Fountaine , whence it first arose . But that which ravishes iust praise from me , Is the choice method of your Poetrie ; And that you could with such due equipage Sute seuerall poems to your severall age : So that in this your exemplary art Acts both the Poets , and the Preachers part . Your younger wit , ( as taking a delight In bold endeavours ) ventur'd to recite The deeds of valiant Drake who by your skill , And strong descriptions , goes that voiage still Which once he did , and with full blasts of fame Yet sailes , ( securely ) round the earth againe . Then , as experience taught you to survay The Worlds conditions , your free Muse would play In various Epigramms , where both for tongue , Conceit , and choise of verse , you seeme to runne With foremost Martiall , and so thriue therein ; That you come nearest to the Goale next him . But having now retreated from the fome Of surging youth , and safe at length come home To quiet age , diviner thoughts inspire Your pregnant fancy , and with holier fire In flame you to the sweet discovery Of Heavenly mysteries : where the most high Must exercise your soaring braine , to tell The Natalls of our Saviour , which so well You haue perform'd with each nice circumstance Of time , and place , and persons , to advance Such lofty wonders , that you make to vs Those miracles seeme more miraculous . This is your praise : but will you heare me noise The shame of others that grow old in toies , Write plaies with spectacles , and spend an age Past threescore yeares on sonnets , and the stage : That chafe their palsied fancies , and molest With a forc't flame those embers that would rest : That bald , and dry , and sere , and wither'd , yet Yeild blossoms still , and chilblaines of their wit : As if ( like Hesiod's infants ) they still were But children at their almost hundreth yeare : That thinke their wild inventions too much pent In sacred taskes , and not their element To be in heavenly things , as if such stuff Were not conceited , rich , and fine enough For their loose numbers , or could not yeeld straines Of matter high enough to fill their veines With raptures ; but o ! how is this made vaine By noble Bartas ! whose Heroicke braine Adorn'd Gods works , and like another light , Pictur'd the whole creation to our sight . Nay how is this made lye by those Saint-men , ( Those spheares of witt ) Tertullian , Nazianzen , Nissen , Lactantius , and more of that crue , That could be Fathers , and yet Poets too ; And when they could not their rude enemies pierce With gentle prose , they batter'd them with verse , But let them passe , and sucke the empty shout Of lewd applauses , which will shortly out In stench , and rottennesse , and then commit Their Authors to the Iudgement of their wit . But surely who would dye ( as they should doe ) Good Poets , must first learne to be like you . HEN . BEESLEY A.A.A.M.

THE BLESSED BIRTH-DAY CELEBRATED IN SOME PIOUS MEDITATIONS , ON THE ANGELS ANTHEM . LVKE 2.14 .

Glory to God in the highest , and on Earth Peace , Good will towards Men .

WHY should not we with Ioy resound and sing The blessed Natals of our heauenly King ? Why should not we with mirth salute the morne Of his Birth-day by whom we are new borne ? See how each Creature in his kinde rejoyces , And shall not we lift vp melodious voyces ? Harke how the Angels sing , shall we be sad ? The greatest good is ours , be we most glad . Harke how the Star-enameld Heauens rebound With Eccho's of Angellike Anthems sound . It is for Vs that they such ioyes expresse : And shall not we sing forth some thankfullnesse ? Ioyne we in consort these sweet Quires among , In sundry voyces sing we all one song , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Lasciuious songs , vaine Carols hence avaunt , And whatsoe're prophane throats vse to chaunt , Which through the Eares powre poison to the heart , A better subject doth this Day impart . To sacred songs is Sions Muse inclin'd : Some holy matter fits an holy mind . The King of Kings is subject of our verse , Whose praise all tongues are too few to rehearse . Sing we high myst'ries in an humble straine , And lofty matters in a lowly vaine . The sacred subiect ( which we sing ) affords Strong lines , but strong in matter not in words . For things so high they cannot be exprest By any words , the plainest are the best . He who was borne so humbly , doth refuse To haue his Birth sung by a swelling Muse . Ill doth a flaunting Phrase devotion fitt , We sing to shew our zeale , and not our witt . Let Gentils striue to be prophanely witty ; This holy Day cals for an holy Ditty . Then let our Ditty answer to the Day , And with Heauens Quiristers let 's sing and say , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . O God , ô Man , ô God and Man in one , Th' eternall Fathers co-eternall Sonne ; Who for Mans sake did'st Sonne of Man become , Disdaining not thine humble Handmaids wombe : Nor of thy Creature to be made did'st scorne , Ere time begotten , in times fulnesse borne : Who by thy Power did'st every day create , And by thy Birth did'st this day consecrate . O thou who a a Revel . 22 . 1● Alpha and Omega art , Be th' Alpha and Omega of my heart ! And while my Muse thy Birth-day doth rehearse , Be th' Alpha and Omega of my verse ! Thou who so lowlie did'st descend to me , Mount vp my mind aloft , Lord , vnto thee ! And from my foule errors dark fogs expell , Who doest in light inaccessible dwell : b b 1. Tim . 6.16 And let that neuer-erring star , thy word , Vnto thy Birth-place me conduct ô Lord ! Shew me thy Cradle , let my soule behold The swathing cloathes that did thee once infold . Be thou the subject and the Author too Of what I muse , I say , I thinke , I doe : * * Vtinam praed● cando Verbum tuum aut laudande nomen tuum tantummodo l●querer . Augustini . O might my tongue b' imployed all my dayes Thy word to Preach , or to sing forth thy Praise ! Thou who doest lend me matter , send me might , For none without thee can thee sing aright . And thou who art the word without beginning , Fit me with words , while I of thee am singing : My words with waight , and what I speak of thee ( Who else am speechlesse ) speak thou first in me : c c Psal . 8.2 . Who out of sucklings mouthes doest strength ordaine , Loose thou the strings that doe my tongue restraine ; And let that d d Mark . 7.34 . Ephphatha to me be spoken , Whereby the strings of stammering tongues are broken . O tune my harsh voice to thine heauenly Kay , That for thy Birth with Angels sing I may , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . e e Gen 3 16. THE WOMANS SEED In Eden promised Is come to crush the cursed Serpents head ; Whose comming all the Prophets haue foretold , The complement of Prophecies of old , f f Col 1.19 . The fulnesse of the Figures true intent , The truth of what the Types did represent , The substance which the Ceremonies veil'd , g g Reuel . 1.16 . The Morning-star which seem'd to be conceal'd , h h Gen. 49.10 . Old Iacobs shilo , and the glorious Flowre i i Esay . 10.11 . Of Iesses root . The Rod that did devour The Magick rods turn'd serpents . Euen he k k Iohn . 5.58 . Whose Day old Abraham desir'd to see . l l Numb . 21.9 . ●ohn . 3.14 . The salving Serpent for their cure erected Who by th' infernall Serpent were infected : † † Quicquid ●st veteris Testamenti Christum sonat . what euer in th' old Covenant is found , Did him whose comming now we sing resound : m m Gen. 49.9 . The Tribe of Iudahs Lyon , n n Reuel . 5.5 . who prevailes T' vnclaspe the booke , & loose the seauen shut seales , All these are come to be by Vs possest , One o o Gen. 12.3.18.18.22.18 . Act. 5.25 . Gal. 3 8. who all generations maketh blest . What others did expect , we doe enjoy : p p Isai 9.6 . To vs that Sonne is borne , that blessed Boy To vs is giuen which promised was to them , The ioy and glorie of Ierusalem : Shall we not then with blessed Angels sing An holy Anthem to our heauenly King ? Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Glory to God on high who this hath wrought , And mans saluation thus about hath brought By wondrous wayes which none could doe , but One , q q Psal . 77.14.72 18. Who wondrous is in all his wayes alone . Well might his name be called r r Isa . 9.6 . Wonderfull , Whose Birth , Life , Death , whose rising were so full Of glorious wonders ; and of wondrous glories ; Such as the world nere found in all their stories . O with what wonders doe his Heauens abound , Sith sundry wonders in each worme is found ! What thing so little is which he hath wrought , Which with a world of wonders is not fraught ? And yet of all the wonders he hath done , Himselfe the greatest wonder is alone : s s Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis . Psal 68. v. vlt . Wondrous in all his blessed Saints is he , † † Si in sanctis suis mirabilis Deus , quomod non inseipso ●●rabilis M●x . Taurin . ho . 1. in Nat. Do● Shall he not in himselfe more wondrous be ? Who in his Baptists Birth was wondrous knowne , Shall he not be more wondrous in his owne ? O sacred Riddles which no ingenie Or Art of man or Angels can vntie ! Which who so ere would haue to be disclos'd Must with his Heyfer plough who them compos'd , And being once disclos'd who can refraine His tongue from tuning this Angellike straine , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . † † Magn●que aequaeu● paren● Progenies Sannaz . de part virg . l. 1. Behold a Sonne as ancient as his Father Being without beginning both together . Twixt whom and him this difference is alone , That he the Father is , and this the Sonne . The one begets , the other is begot , Yet th' one in time from th' other differs not . For both a Co-eternall being had , Christ the e●ernall Sonne of God and God equall with his Fa●her . Ere time or any Creature else was made . God alway was a Father , and was neuer Whithout his Sonne who with him was for euer . So , of himselfe the glorious Eye of heauen Begets a Beame , which with himselfe is euen In time , in being : For the Beame begun In the same instant with his sire the Sunne . So from the spring a springing streame doth flow , Which in it is , and yet doth from it goe : So yeelds the Incense a sweet smell , and this Both of and with and in the Incense is . So doth the pregnant minde a word beget , Twixt whom and it Time doth no distance set . The Sun , the spring , the Incense , the minde afford At once the beame , the streame , the Smel , the word . Cannot the Father doe that in his Sonne , Which in the Creature we see daily done ? What they by him in time performe , could he Not in himselfe doe from Eternitie ? But this eternall Son-ship scorns compare , t t Esay . 53.8 . Who can his generation declare ? Before thou canst thy makers ofspring show , Presumptuous man , first learn thine owne to know . Peace † † Arrius who said that there was a time when the Son was not . damned Heretike , blaspheme no more , Say not , the Father was in time before The Sonne : and that there was a time wherein The Sonne was not , who did in time begin To be : For here is no prioritie In time , in Deitie , in dignitie . No time before the Father euer was , No time before the Sonne could euer passe . What threed of time before him could be spinning , u u Iohn . 1.1 . In the begining was the word . Who is the word which was ere times beginning ? x x And that word was with God . That word which euer was with God : y y And that word was God . That word which euer was , is , shall be God the Lord : What time could be before him , who did frame z z All things were made by him . Both time , and all that man can Creature name ? Same God , same Essence , same Eternitie , And all the same seeme Personalitie . * * Non quia qui summus Pater est & Filius hic est , Sed quia quod summu● Pater est & Filius hoc est . Sedulius . The Sonne we say , and doe not say amisse , The same , not who , but what the Father is . Same , not the same , the Father and the Sonne , Not same in person are in substance one . One , yet not one . Father , and Sonne ( we say ) One God indeed , but not one person they . The Sonne of God both Sonne and God must be , God of himselfe , Sonne of his Father He : So nor the father is the Sonne , nor yet The Sonne the Father , who did him beget . But both the Father , and the Sonne , the word , One God we doe acknowledge and one Lord . What time , what distance could then be betweene Who both are one and euer so hath beene ? If God had once no Sonne , then once must he , Without z the brightnesse of his glorie be . a a Heb . 13. If he be God o're all , blessed for euer , What time could then him from his Father seuer ? b b Rom. 9.5 . If that the word in time from God did come , There was a time , when God himselfe was dumbe : If God did his c c Esai . 53.1 . where by the arme of the Lord the Fathers some of them doe vnderstand Christ . Arme in time attaine , A time there was when God did maim'd remaine . So must they say of God , and so blaspheme , Who of a time before the Sonne doe dreame . Shew then the time proud Heretike , wherein He was not , who for euer God hath beene . Shew when the Sonne was not , who , though the Sonne * * Isa . 9.6 . Yet th' euerlasting Fathers name hath wonne . Shew when he did begin to be , who seeing He is God , with God had euerlasting being . Assigne a time beyond Eternitie : If not , recant thy cursed Heresie . Consid'ring such a wondrous glorious birth , Shall we not say , and sing with heauenly Myrth , Glory to God on high , on earth be peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . The humane ●ature of Christ as he ●s the sonne of the Virgin . Behold a Sonne who Father hath and mother , Yet may be said , to haue nor one nor other . In heauen a Father without mother knowne , A Mother here he had but Father none . e e Heb . 7.3 . The true Melchizedec from heauen descending , Who nor beginning hath of dayes nor ending : f f Reuel . 22.3 . The first , the last : King , Priest and Prophet true , To teach , to sacrifice and to subdue . Who only worthy was to haue none other , Father then God , nor then a Virgin Mother , Reasons why the Messias was to be borne of a pure Virgine . For t was not comely that one Sonne should know Two Fathers ; one aboue , one here below . And how could he man without sinne be made If to his Father he some sinner had ? g g Iohn . 3.6 . That which is borne of flesh flesh needes must be , And how could sinfull flesh from sinne flesh free ? Had any Adams sonne his Father bin , He had receau'd with Adams seed his sinne . And had he ought of Adams sinne possessed , Then how could Adams seed in him be blessed ? h h Heb . 7 . 2● Th' high Priest by whom we should be reconcil'd Must holy , harmelesse be , and vndefil'd , Sep'rate from sinners ( though i i Isai . 53.13 mong them reputed ) For had he beene himselfe with sinne polluted How could he from vs our pollutions take ! He must be pure who others pure shall make . * * De imm●● conceptum 〈◇〉 mine nullu● cere mundu● potest nisi i● per semet i● mundus est 〈◇〉 Gregor . M●● in Iob . Who could them clense . who were of sinfull seed Conceau'd , saue he who did no clensing need ? † † Quis eni●● peccata m●● tolleret , nisi quem pecca● non cadit ? Who can the worlds sinne take away , but He Who from all spot and blot of sinne is free ? The beame out of mine eye he plucks alone , Who hath nor beame nor blemish in his owne . Thus did the heauenly Providence dispose That euen his Birth should what he is disclose : True Man , because of Woman borne , but not Meere Man , because no Father him begot . * * Secundu● conditionem ●turae natus 〈◇〉 faemina , sup●● conditionem ●curae natus 〈◇〉 Virgine T●● as Part 3 . 〈◇〉 Quaest. 31 . ●●tic . 5 Thus by his naturall Birth true man we know him , His supernaturall more then man doth shew him . And thus the heauenly wisedome did ordaine , That they who by a † † It is prob●● that Eue 〈◇〉 a Virgine 〈◇〉 when she● transgress●● Polanus Virgins sinne were slaine , Should by a Virgins seed be sau'd : * * Vt vnde 〈◇〉 dedit paena●● etas daret 〈◇〉 salutem . Se●lius And whence Sin came , God would saluation draw from thence . Let all the world shew such a sonne againe Whose Birth so many wonders doth containe . A Lambe new falne , i slaine ere the world begun , His Mothers Father , and his Daughters Sonne : A Doue hatcht in the nest himselfe did build : A flowre in winter sprung that fram'd the field From whence it sprung . k k Reuel . 7 A Lillie risen new That made the bed and garden where it grew . l l Cant . 2. A stone cut without hands which with one dash The Iron , Clay , Brasse , Siluer , Gold did quash Of which that dreadfull Image was compos'd Which to the great * * Dan . 2.34 : Nebuchad●ezzar . Caldean was disclos'd . In visions of the night . * * Psal . 118.22 . ●at . 21.47 . Act. 4.11 . The corner stone That built , and beares the Fabrick built thereon : Who though the foolish builders him rejected , Now in the Corner is chiefe stone erected . Let all the world now shew vs such a Child Of Adams seed , not with his sinne defil'd . A Child who nere by man begotten was , Who doth his Mother farre in age surpasse , And match his Father in antiquitie , Elder then th' eldest of his Pedigree . A Child who made all Children and the Place And Time wherein and when himselfe borne was . A Child that 's God , and * * Isai . 63.1 . God mighty to saue , All those * * Ioh . 17.12 . whom vnto him his Father gaue . * * Dan . 7.4 . Th' ancient of dayes borne in an houre : The light Of both the Worlds arising in the night . A Child who had he not to Vs beene borne , All generations had beene quite forelorne . Should not the strangest Child who came to saue The world , the strangest Mother likewise haue ? And so he had : We truely may averre , No Sonne like him , no Mother like to her . * * Nec primam 〈◇〉 visa est ●●s ●abere secundam . Bern . in ●●gil . Nat. ser . 3 For such a Mother neuer was before , And such another neuer shall be more . Let all the world now shew vs such a Mother , And say which is more wondrous one or other . She for a Mother , or he for a Sonne , It must be say'd , when all is say'd and done , O wondrous Mother , but more wondrous Sonne . For such a saving Sonne , both Mother may With Angels sing , and we with them may say Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Behold a Mother , yet a Virgin still , † † Mariam no●● libido impregnauitsed fides . Whose Wombe not lust , but liuely Faith did fill : Before , and in , and after Birth a Mayd , Of whom 'mong all her sex it may be said . Sh' enioy'd by bringing forth that heauenly Boy , * * Gaudia Matris habens cum Virginitatis honore . Bern . A Virgins honour , with a Mothers joy : Behold a field which nere by man was tild , Wheat whence is made , the bread of life doth yeild . Thus ere the Heauens r r Gen. 2.5.6 . did showers on Earth distill , Amy'st her pregnant wombe with fruit did fill . s s Iudg . 6.37.38 . Thus Gedeons fleece was moist when all was drie , And dry when all about it moist did lie . t t Exod . 3.2 . Thus Moses bush sent forth a flaming fume , And burning did not with the fire consume . Thus did Faiths fire the Virgins heart inflame , And yet abolisht not her Virgin-name : Her swelling bellie nothing did abate The entirenesse of her Maydenhead , state . u u Numb . 17.8 . And thus on Aarons Rod ripe Almonds grew , Not set in earth nor moist'ned with the dew . † † Vt virga ●lo●uit absque germine , sic Virgo concepit non ex homine Bern . Sup Missus est hom . 2. And thus from Maries Wombe x x Isai . 53.2 . a Plant proceeded , Which neither setting , neither plantage needed . Neuer till now two Phoenixes were seene At once ; For this the vsuall course hath beene ( If all be true , that Naturallists haue told , ) The young ones birth brings death vnto the old : One Phoenix here another forth doth bring , And yet her selfe is sau'd from perishing : The Mother there dies to produce an other , But here the Child must die to saue the Mother , The young one must himselfe of life depriue , Or else the Mother Phoenix cannot liue . If thou ô man doest aske how this may be , The same that answer'd her must answer thee . When of the Messenger she did demand How this with possibility might stand . That she should haue a Man-child of her owne , Who neuer Man in all her life had knowne ? All things are possible with God , whose skill And power to worke are equall with his will . Least we should doubt of this he first would doe Things all as strange as this , and stranger too . * * ●●nnon putas e●m novum pue●n̄ in aluo Vir●nis potuisse for●are qui quum ●rimum conde●et heminem , nec 〈◇〉 P●t●i● nec ●iscera materna ●ae fiuit ? Max. ●●m . 3. de Nat. He who at first to frame a Man did need Neither a Mothers wombe nor Fathers seed , Could he not now forme in a Virgins Womb A Child , who from no Fathers seed should come ? Could not the same who first made man of Earth Procure a Mayden to bring forth a Birth ? He , who a Woman of a Man could frame Without a Womans help , could not the same A perfect Man now of a Woman make , One who no man should for his Father take ? Let this suffice : * * Ratio facti est ●otentia fo●ientis ; Considera authorum & telle dubitationem . Tertullian de resurrect Carnis . The reason of the deed , Doth from the doers will and powre proceed . Consider who it is that wrought the fact , Once know the Author , doubt not of the Act. But for the Act the Author magnifie , Ioyning with th' Angels in their melodie , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Astronomers of the Zodiac cease to talke , And the twelue signes through which the Sun doth walke Say what you will you cannot well avow , The Sun in Virgo truely was till now . You neuer did vntill this day espie , Heauen low as Earth , and Earth as Heauen made high . In all your houses such a match was neuer , Heauen comes and woes and weddeth Earth for euer . You neuer saw what now you see is done , A Pregnant Moone , a Sublunary Sunne . You neuer saw that light which shines so farre , Veil'd in a Stall , revealed by a Starre . Alter the Motto in your Almanakes , For now your anciently-said saw mistakes . † † Sapiens dominabitur ●stris A wiseman ruler ore the Stars shall be , The wisemen now rul'd by a Starre we see : Who from the rising of the Sunne are prest To see the Sunne arising in the West . Come noble * * The wise men held two Persians . The Persians of old worshipped the Sunne . Persians now learne to adore A greater Sunne , then that you did before : A Sunne which th' other made , and to him lends That light which he vnto the world extends . y y Iosh . 10.12 . A Sunne which once commanded yours to stay His restlesse race , and to produce the day . z z Isai . 38.8 . And at another time enforc'd his shade To turne full ten degrees quite retrograde : a a Luk . 23.44.45 . And who shall shortly so ecclips his light , That all the world at noone shall put on night . When Earths vast globe in sable darknesse shall Attend as Mourners at his Funerall : Then shall the learned † † Dionysius areopagita , cuius illa vox celebra tur , aut Deus naturae patitur aut mundi machina dissoluttur . Areopagite Crie out , amazed at the vncouth sight , Either the God of Natures suffers wrong , Or the worlds frame shall be dissolu'd ere long . Boue all your Stars adore this rising Sun , And if the Spheres make musicke as they run , Be sure no better straine then this can be The sweet Faburthen to their Melodie , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Behold the Lambe of God , the Lambe and God , Who maketh those things euen which earst were odd . * * The substance ●f the soule , of ●●e Bodie and ●he diuine ●ubstance . Three Substances , two Natures , Person one , The sacred Godhead chiefe expression . As in the euer blessed Trinitie , One holy Nature is in Persons three , So in one Sonne who flesh for vs did take , Two Natures , Gods and ours , one Person make . Three Persons there one substance doe possesse , One Person here enioies three substances . O blessed bloud ! O sacred Vnion , The Perso●all Vnion . That joineth three in two , and two in one ! Three substances in Natures two agree , These two in one , This One , one , two , and three . * * Vnio Perso●alis sed non : ●er sonarum ●nio natura●um sed non ●aturalis quiae ●●pernaturalis . ●ommunicatie ●diomatum . By vertue of an Vnion Personall , But not of Persons : Neither naturall , Although of Natures , but substantiall Because of substances , vnited so That neither their owne properties foregoe : But such a freindlie enterchange they make , That each with other doth in speech partake , And what is said of God , the same of man ( Sith God and man are one ) affirme we can : And what of man said properly may be , The same likewise of God affirme may we . Thus doe we say ( and what we say is true ) That God did die and man did death subdue . God died , because the Person who did die Was not meere man , but God eternallie : And man subdued death , because the same Christ God and man both died and ouercame . b b Act 20.28 . So by his bloud a Church God purchased Vnto himselfe : what bloud hath God to shed ? c c 1. Cor . 2.8 . So was the Lord of glory Crucifide , When Christ the Lord of glory for vs dy'de . d d Mark . 9.6 . So sins of men the Sonne of man forgiues , e e Mark . 2.11 . Which who can doe , saue God who sin-lesse liues . These speeches in the Abstract disagree , In sense compounded well accorded be . Lord what is man that only for his sake Th' Almighty should such strange exchanges make ? * * Videatur D. Bernard In vigil . Nat. Ser . 1. What higher is then God , then Earth more base ? Yet so farre God vouchsafeth Earth to grace , So humbly God doth vnto Earth descend , So largelie God doth cause Earth to extend , So neerly God , Earth to himselfe vniteth , So firme a league t'wixt him and it he plighteth That what God doth that Earth is said to doe , And what Earth suffers God doth suffer too . † † aduerte o homo quia limus es & ne sis superbus , quia Deo coniunctus es , & ne sis ingratus . Bern . v●i supr . Man know thou art but earth , Pride therefore hate : Man , thou art join'd to God , be not ingrate : But sing to him by whom advanc'd thou art With lofty voice but with an humble Heart , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Christ his great humiliation in becomming man . Lord what is man that only for his sake , Th' Almighty should such strange exchanges make ? Eternity an Infant is become , The strength of Israel weak , that word is dumb . He whom the Heauen of Heauens cannot containe In narrow bowels doth impent remaine : Borne is he in a base vnworthy stall , Who vs advanceth to Heauens glorious Hall : He who doth all things fit , fits not a Crach , Heauen vnto Earth , God vnto man doth match . He who doth sillie man like Angels make An homely lodging with poore Beasts doth take : The worlds Creator and Commaunder great An Inne for loue or mony cannot get , But from fit lodging they doe him expell , Who with a word can lodge them all in hell . He cries to whom all hearts for help doe call , He cannot help himselfe who helpeth all . Euen He from whom th' Angels their knowledge learn , His right hand from his left cannot discerne : f f Heb . 1.3 . who all things by his word vpholds , euen he By Womans feeble hand vpheld must be For feare of falling . And th' Almighty one Without his Creature cannot stand alone . The Way as yet the way to none can shew , The Truth not yet can truth from falshood know . Th' Immortall putteth on Mortalitie The euerlasting Life begins to die , That by his Birth he may that debt defray , Which Man did owe , but none saue God could pay . The souls Physitian is to Death giuen ouer , That so the Sin-sick Patient may recouer . A desp'rate cure for desp'rate maladie : The head must off or the whole body die . Who is mans head but God ? But ö ! How can God die ? God may , if he become a Man . God is become a man subject to death , A subject which the Conquerour conquereth . g g Heb . 2.14 . Because the Children were of flesh compos'd ; h h Christ ca●●ed the eu●●lasting Fath● Isai . 9.6 . Heb . 2.26 . Their Father would be in that flesh inclos'd , That so by Death he might o'recome that euill , Which had the power of Death , that is the Diuell . The Angels Nature he refus'd to take , But man of Abrahams seed himselfe would make . That in our Nature he might him subdue , Who first our feeble Nature ouerthrew : That man on Sathan might avenge mans wrong , And them redeeme whom he held Captiue long : Christ by hi● humiliation loseth nothi●● of his Glory For greater is the glory and the merit , When feeble flesh o'recomes a potent spirit . God is become a Man . The ioyful'st newes That euer was or shal be : Yet ensues No alteration neither diminution , No losse , no mixture here , much lesse confusion . † † Ille mā●● q●● semper erat , quod non era● esse Incipiens Prudentius P●chomach . Becomming what he was not , he remaines That which he euer was . The manhood gaines , The Godhead looseth not . * * mihi contul● & sibi mansi● Prudentius i● To me he giues Himselfe , and yet his owne he euer liues . That which he was he is , yet once was not That which he is . A Nature he hath got More then he had , and yet he still retaines That which he had . † † Hinc illud crum Aenig●● Sum quod er●● nec eram quo● sum nunc , d● cor vtrumq● Ignoras nisi me parts ab traque tenes . And having both , remaines But one : And though he take one Nature more , Yet is he but one Person as before . God he was still , not Man vntill this tide , Hence forth both God and Man he doth abide : A time there was when man he was not showne , But when he was not God no time was knowne . * * Ante vllum ●pus Deus in tempo● Christus . ●erbum ●●pe caro ●●um non ●●itit esse ●d fuerat ●bum carnis 〈◇〉 glutinat ●●m . Pruden●● vbi supr . God before time , and in times fulnesse Christ , Remaineth still the greatest and the high'st . * * ●on alter ex ●re , alter ex ●tre , sed a●●r ex patre , ●●er ex ma● Eucherius . 〈◇〉 . 2. de Nat. 〈◇〉 homo sic ●●us es vt 〈◇〉 fis alter 〈◇〉 alter . The word made Flesh , the word remaineth still , Nor is it emptied though the Flesh it fill . Nor doth he of his highnesse ought abate , Though humbly he descend to our estate : But stooping to advance vs who before Were low , himselfe is nothing yet the lower . And though for Man made Sonne of Man he be , Yet still the Sonne of God remaineth he . The Godhead so the Manhood doth possesse , That for the Man God nothing is the lesse . A lower state of Son-ship he doth choose , And yet his former Son-ship doth not loose . * * ●●osper de ●ouident . In ●risto est 〈◇〉 ●●ud & ali● , non alius 〈◇〉 alias . Bu●us . And thus two sundry wayes he is a Sonne , As God , as Man , yet not two Sonnes but one . One way the Sonne of God , Sonne of his Mother Another way : Both wayes one , not another . * * Venit in ●undum , non ●posita sed ●posita ma●●state . As●●mpta est ●umanitas , ●on consump●● diuinitas : - ●ucherius v●i supr . His glory not cast off but lay'd aside , To Earth he come , yet doth in Heauen abide . Euen so some Prince or Lord of great repute , Leaues off his owne , puts on a Servants sute , Who though a servile habite him invest , Yet is not of his honour dispossest . That golden Eye which gilds the world with day , Reaching to Earth yet still in Heauen doth stay : So doth the Sonne of God to Vs arriue On Earth , and yet with God in Heauen doth liue . And as my speech arriveth vnto thee , Whose Eare receaues it , yet remaines with me : So did the Fathers Word to me attaine , And with the Father vnremou'd remaine . Or as mine Arme extended doth abide , With ioynts and sinnews to my shoulder tide : So reacht the Lord his h h Isai . 53.1 . Vid . Supr . Pag . Arme to me in loue , Yet from himselfe he did it not remoue . What honour should we yeeld to him who thus , Was pleas'd t' embase himselfe to honour vs ? Can we doe lesse then in our best tun'd layes With blessed Angels sing vnto his praise ? Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Thus Greatnesse little to become was pleas'd , Yet to continue Great he neuer ceas'd : Thus Heauens high King swath'd in a Cratch doth lie , Yet looseth nothing of his Majestie . He who the glorious Angels did create , Becomes a i i Psal . 22.6 . Worme yet keeps his owne estate . God had his lowlinesse enough commended , Had he but to an Angels state descended . For twixt an Angel and a Worme , more ods Is not , then twixt an Angels state and Gods . * * Nihil profuisset sublimitas nisi ad fuisset humilitas Heinsiu● hom . in Theophan . Had he not dain'd himselfe to humble thus , What good had all his greatnesse done to Vs ? † † Christ his humiliation should teach vs humilitie . Great cause haue we t' embrace humility , Sith God himselfe embraced vs thereby . When Greatnesse vengeance for our sinns did craue , Humilitie it was that did vs saue . When Majestie and Iustice 'gainst vs stood , Then Mercy sought , Humilitie wrought our good . When we to Hell were falne , then God did daine To stoope to Earth to raise vs vp againe . Neuer had man from Earth to Heauen attain'd , Had God to stoop to Earth from Heauen disdain'd . * * Vide ô homo ●uid pro te actus est De●● : Doctrinam ●umilitatis ●gnosce nondum ●oquente Do●tore . August . ●le Temp . ser . 2. Learne of thy Lord , proud man , humble to be , Who read this humble Lecture vnto thee . Ere he could read or speake : His Incarnation Was his first Lecture of Humiliation . When being God he stooped to be Man , Whence greater Glory at the last he wan : When as his Father did him so advance , And so his name aboue all names enhance . k k Phil . 2.8 . That at the name of Iesus every knee In Heauen , on Earth , in Hell should bended be . What can man loose by his Humility , Sith ●od himselfe advanced was thereby ? That meeknesse which at first his Birth did preach His words , his deeds throughout his Life did teach . l l Mat . 11.21 . The commemdation of humilitie with exhortation therevnto . Learne yee of Me ( saith He ) for I am meeke : What better thing then Learning can we seeke ? Then Christ , what better teacher can there be ? What better lesson then Humilitie ? Who would not , that can good from ill discerne , Of the best Teacher the best lesson learne ! By the same Paces we to God must tend , By which his Sonne did vnto Vs descend . m m Mat . 21.5 . Behold thy King comes meeke to thee , wilt thou Come proud vnto thy King ? will he allow In thee who art with mortall Clay invested , What in his glorious Angels he detested ? Pride them from Heauen and glory did eject , Humilitie to Heauen must vs erect . With God , who highnesse is it selfe , more high Nothing is held then low Humilitie . † In Gods esteeme much rather is allow'd , * * Melior est peccator humilis quàm ●ustus superbus . Augustin de Temp : Ser . 44. An humble sinner then a iust man proud . Is not God high ? yet he who will attaine Vnto his highnesse , lowly must remaine . Erect thy selfe , he doth from thee retire : Deject thy selfe , thou doest to him aspire . For when he sees thy stooping to deject thee , Himselfe stoopes downe more highly to erect thee . The Proud a farre off he beholds to scorne them , The Humble he regards with grace t' adorne them . Sweet Sauiour by thy lowlinesse thou showest , The best Ambition is who shall be lowest . What more becomes a Christian , then the same To be to Christ , which Christ for him became ? What griues the blessed Spirits ●●o seek our blisse , What more doth glad the Fiends our foes , then this To see a lowly God , a lof● Man , An humble Christ , and a proud Christian ? Thus God is one become ô man , with thee , That thou againe at one with God might'st be . Thus is th' Abyssus fild , the Chasma clos'd , Which twixt our God and Vs sinne interpos'd . This he n n Col. 1.9 . in whom all fulnesse dwels , hath done , Who being both himselfe o o Ephes . 2.14 . hath made both one . We could not come to him , to vs he came , Euen what we are that he himselfe became ; Saue only sinne , which he came to abolish , p p Ephes . Vt supr . And that partition-wall quite to demolish , Which severed God and Vs. Now ioyne we may , Man vnto God by man hath found away . The Patient could not to the Physitian goe , The kind Physitian comes to him : And so Vpon himselfe he our disease deriues , That from himselfe and vs both he it driues . Lord what is man , that only for his sake , Th' Almighty should such strange exchanges make ? Th' Angels themselues such loue considering , In ioyfull admiration doe sing , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Once God of Adam in derision said , * * Gen. 3.21 . Behold the man like one of vs is made ; The sonnes of Adam now of God may say , Behold he 's made like one of vs to day , Not only like to vs but euen the same : All that belongs to this our mortall frame He tooke , saue that which made it mortall , sinne , Wer 't not for which , man had immortall beene . Yea sinne it selfe he tooke ( * * Isai . 53.4 . as truth doth say ) But tooke it only to take it away . * * Rom. 8.3.4 . Similitude of sinfull flesh araies His Godhead , so sinne in the flesh he slaies . Similitude of sinfull flesh he takes , But yet in taking it this diffrence makes , * * Accepit car●is veritatem ●on similitudi●em , accepit ●eccati simi●itudinem non ●eritatem . The Flesh he takes in truth , with flesh indu'de , The sinne he takes but in Similitude . The flesh he takes is ours , but so he takes it As that his owne , and cleane from sinne he makes it . The sinne he takes is ours , and not his owne , For sinne in him saue ours was neuer knowne : The flesh he takes for euer to enioy it , The sinne he takes but onlie to destroy it . t t 2. Cor . 5.21 . He knew no sinne , yet sinne was made , that we , The righteousnesse of God in him might be . Both what he made and made not he did take , Flesh , which he made : sin which he nere did make : That which he neuer made and doth detest , He would be made for vs to make vs blest . Lord what is man that only for his sake , Th' Almighty should such strange exchanges make ? The royallest exchange for vs was this , When God chang'd his for ours , we ours for his . When that man might be freed , God would be sold , When for our brasse he gaue in change his gold : When with his royall robes vs to adorne , To take on him our rags he did not scorne . O royall change for vs , ô blessed Burse , Where man the blessing gaines , God takes the curse ! Cease we not then with blessed spirits to sing An holy Anthem to our heauenly King , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Proud Carnall reason , strike the swelling sailes Of humane wisedome which here nought availes : Vnder the lee of true religion fall , In this aduenture † † These my●ries cannot comprehended by reas● they must b● apprehende● by Faith . Faith doth all in all . u u 1. Tim . 3.16 . Great is this Mysterie of Godlinesse , Transcending mans dwarf-wit . * * Hoc myste● um miraculi● plenum est , 〈◇〉 scitè & rite Bernard . Vni● idemque opus m● sericordia & iustitia : vna eademque Persona Deus & homo . Vna ea● demque faemin● mater & vi●go : Vnus idemque filius 〈◇〉 vnas idemque Christus nobi & iudex & advocatus . Who can expresse , Who can conceaue how Earth should heauen inuest , How God in flesh should be made manifest ? How Iustice should in sweet coniunction With Mercie meet in the same action : How the same Person God and man should be , Yet neither Nature loose his propertie : How the same Sonne should Father haue & mother , And yet be said to haue nor one nor other : How the same woman trulie may be said At once to be a mother and a maid : How mothers milk into her brests should come , Who nere receau'd mans seed within her womb : How God from heauen should come to joine with clay , Yet God with God in heauen should euer stay . The heathen wisards , though they did avow Men to be Gods , yet neuer would allow God to be man , supposing God would scorne In a poore mortall vessell to be borne ; ( And reason sure will say : As eas'lie can Man become God as God become a man ) Yea they who best iudg'd of the Deitie Would soon'st of all deride this mysterie : That he who immortalitie possesses Would become mortall : He who others blesses And is most blest himselfe , would be a * * Gal. 3.13 . Curse , ( For who would change a good estate for worse ) That he who Thunders in the Clouds on high , Become an Infant , in a Cratch should crie : That Heauens Lord Paramount should thus become A subject , and possesse a servants roome : That the Law-giuer , who from Law is free , x x made vnder the Law . Gal. 4.4 . An vnderling vnto the Law should be : And this not for his friends but euen for those , Who of his friends became his mortall foes , That so they might for euer friends remaine , Though by their friendship he can neuer gaine The least of that it cost him to procure it , And in such fraile ones firmely to ensure it . ( Sith 't is against the rules of Policie To trust a reconciled Enemie ) Yet all this , wretched man to blisse to bring , He hath perform'd . Then cease we not to sing Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Come Faith and fathome the profundities Of these so secret sacred mysteries : The line of Reason is too short to sound This Sea , which neither bottome hath nor bound . † † Hîc human● cessat ratio , hîc flaccessit acies intellectus nostri : hîc docti pariter indoctique coniunguntur . Heiu sius ho . i● Theophan . All learning here is pos'd , all witt to seeke : Doctors and Dunces here are learn'd alike . The wisest here no wiser are then fooles : * Christ in a Stall was borne not in the Schooles : His Birth by th' Angel was not first made knowne , To Scribes and Rabbies , but to Shepheards showne ; People who in simplicitie did liue : Dispute they could not , but they could beleeue . Vnto this feast which was for all men fitted , † † Christus non in Academiâ natus est sed in stabulo . ibid . The Wisemen were the last that were admitted : Who humbly did fall downe when they were come Their humane wisdome they did leaue at home ; And this their great Inviter more contented , Then all the pretious presents they presented : For Wisdome doth her feast for none prepare , Saue those who of their owne first emptie are : Those she doth fill : but such as filled come With their owne Wisdome , she sends empty home . Come we with them , and let Faith come with vs , Which doth beleeue , adore , and not discusse . A better present to our heauenly King Then Gold , then Myrhe , then Frankinsence we bring : All which Faith offers when it doth beleeue The deed , and to the doer praise doth giue , For that whereof it can no reason render . The true beleeuer is the best commender Of Gods all wondrous works , most glory bringing , When with the blessed spirits he fals a singing . Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . † † Demus Deum aliquid posse , cuius nos rationem reddere non possumus . Augustin . Grant we that God can something doe , which man Can neuet reach with reasons narrow span : * * Si potest homo intelligere diuina , potest & facere . Nam intelligere est quasi è vestigio subsequi . Lactant . Institut . l. 7. c . 2. Could man of all the actions God can doe , The reason render , he might doe them too . ( For none Omniscient can be but one , Who also is Omnipotent alone . ) And could man doe Gods actions , man should be Omnipotent , and God , as well as he . Gods works to vs apparent are , the way Whereby he works , clos'd in himselfe doth stay : So doth some skilfull Artizan reveale His Maister-peece , but doth his skill conceale : So God his works doth vnto mortals show , But how he works , he doth not let them know : Least if they knew both Art and worke , they might The Art , the worke , the worker basely slight . Those works doe quickly starue their estimation , Which are not fed and fil'd with admiration . Praise is but cold which from a tongue is sent , Not warm'd with wonder and astonishment : But when we stand amazed at the deed , Best praise vnto the doer doth proceed From wondring silence . Then at last we straine Our tongues to sing out some Angellike vaine . Glory to God on high , on earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Avaunt then saucie Curiositie , Dangerous it is into this Arke to prie . Against Curiosity . God soonest doth his mysteries impart , Vnto the humble and beleeuing heart . * * Inueniet pius pulsator quod curiosus indagator no● poterit . Bern . in Cant . ser . 26. The humble suter soonest shall obtaine , That which the curious searcher seeks in vaine : † † Qui scrutator est Maiestatis , opprimetur à gloriâ Let him who diues into Gods secresie , Dread overwhelming by his Majestie . Here nothing doth sound knowledg more advance , Nor is more learn'd then humble Ignorance . Will Adams Imps nere from this itch be quitted , Of craving to know more then is permitted ? What fool'd their Father out of all his store Of wisdome , but this lusting after more ? While he would wiser be then he was made , He lost the substance catching at the shade ; Yet will not his bold issue warned be , But still are tasting the forbidden Tree . As if a blind man sought his sight to finde , By the same meanes which made his Father blind : Cease then to argue , or if you dispute , Let Faith be moderator , reason mute . 'T were hard for me , and many a silly man , Wer 't Art , and Witt that made a Christian , Not Faith , and Hope , and Charity . Those three As well in simple , as in wise may be . * * Benedicta sit diuina sapientia , quae in negotio salutis humanam penitus excludit . Heiusius vbi supr . Blest be Gods wisdome who doth mans exclude In heauenly matters . Here the raw and rude May with the wisest walke . The wisest man Can but beleeue , and so the simplest can . Yea sometimes sooner then the wiser doe , Who carnall wisdome trusting too much to , Runne mad with reason , and then furiously , Doe cut the knott they know not to vntie . T is well that God this wondrous worke hath done , Whereby to Vs is brought Saluation : Sufficeth that the matter is reveal'd , Although the manner be from vs conceal'd : T is well the benefit doth ours remaine , Though to the secret we can not attaine : T is faire our King into his Court doth take vs , Hall . B. ●on . Medi● Though of his Counsell he refuse to make vs. Each Saint may say , such honour is for me Too high . Yet all his Saints so honoured be . Then let his praise still in their mouthes be found , And let them with his royall Guard resound . Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . ●●e Powre ●●d praise of ●●th . O blest be God who giues Faith to supply , That which for Reasons reach is farre too high : Which man aboue himselfe to mount doth teach , Reaching to what surmounteth humane reach . Whereby a Christian doth excell the rest Of Men , as farre as Man excels a beast . Saies God the word ? Faith doubts not of the deed , ●ai . 53.19 ●●atres gene●tio Christi 〈◇〉 arrari non ●test Credi ●test , & vbi ●●gua deficit , ●ides proficit . ●aximus ubi ●p● . How farre so ere it doth mans sence exceed : Christs generation cannot be declar'd , Beleeu'd it can be . Nothing is too hard For Faith . Where witt and language both doe faile , To thinke , to speake , Faith coms and doth prevaile . What Art by arguing cannot comprehend , Faith by beleeuing soone doth apprehend . Things whereof t' is impossible to giue A reason , Faith doth easily beleeue . Faith made the Man-vntouched Virgins wombe , Ipsa corusca● t is monitis s●cra virgo m●nistri Credidit , atque ideo concepit credula Christum : credente● nam Christu● adit , dubitabile pectus si●titubante fid●● vacuo contennit honore Prudentius Apotheos : Compendium salutis est fides , Fidei obstaculum sap●entia . Heiu sius . 1. Cor . 1.26 . Omnia in D●● supra ration● nihil supra ●dem . Quicquid ●●lus Deus pot● facere , sola ●des potest cr●dere . He ius●● vt supr . To swell , and milke vnto her breasts to come . Had she not first by Faith the word receau'd Into her soule , her wombe had beene bereau'd , Of that preferment to conceaue the Word , Which to the world Saluation doth afford . Faith made the Virgin pregnant , Faith must make , The Christian Christ into his soule to take : As she by Faith conceaued him , so He By Faith in Christians still conceau'd must be . Faith to Saluation's a compendious way , Wisdome to Faith an obstacle and stay . Not many 〈◇〉 nor mighty God doth chuse , Nor any that hath Faith he doth refuse . O let me wise vnto Saluation be ! Lord , giue me Faith , take Witt who will for me ! All things in God doe humane witt transcend , But nothing Faith . Where humane Witt doth end , Let Faith supply . What only God can doe , Faith only can beleeue and reach vnto . The things which God hath done for vs today , Conceaue we cannot , but beleeue we may . And if we doe beleeue , let 's not dispute , But speake our Faith in accents which doe sute Vnto the message which one Angel bringing , Immediately a multitude are singing . Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . 1. Pet . 1.12 Into this myst'rie they to looke desire , And looking doe not argue but admire . Solemnizing the Day whose like before They neuer saw , they neuer shall see more . An holy , happy day , a day of dayes , Greater then any day , whose radiant rayes Had they not shin'd and brought this blessed light , The world had laine drown'd in eternall night . Better for vs , vile Wretches , it had beene , T' haue seene no daies , thē this day not t' haue seene . O Day of dayes which in due estimation , ●●iores sunt 〈◇〉 in quibus ●eternam ●am renasci● quam illi ●uibus ad 〈◇〉 tempora creamur : fidem maiosunt bona ●tiae quam ●urae . Eu●rius ho . 2. paschate ●●n . 12.46 . Excels the first dayes of the worlds Creation ! Not all the works which those six daies brought forth Can equallize this one daies works for worth . Then , out of darknesse God did light disclose Now he himselfe is come a light that those Who sate in darknesse and death's dreery shade , Might find the way that vnto life is made . Then did he o're the Earth the Heauens extend : Now Heauen it selfe vouchsafeth to descend , And kisse the Earth and kindly to embrace it , And with it selfe ' boue highest heigth to place it . Then after his owne Image God did frame The last of Creatures whom he Man did name : Now after mans owne Image he doth make Himselfe , and our Similitude doth take . Himselfe is made that which he made , that he Might what he made from finall marring free . All things of nothing then he made , but here We are new made who worse then nothing were . He spake the Word , and all things were made then , ●●hn . 1.14 . Now is the word made flesh and dwels with men . That men made spirit who were but flesh before , ● Cor . 6.7 . With him one spirit might be for evermore : The Angels shouted at the worlds Creation , Iob . 38.7 . More joyfully they sing for th' Incarnation . Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . The Diuine Nature our fraile Nature takes , 2. Pet . 1.4 . And of his Nature vs partakers makes . God of a Virgin pure is borne , thereby To purge mans foule impure nativitie . The Bread of Life is in a Manger lay'd , That Man ( become a beast because he stray'd From his Creator , now by grace restor'd T' a better state then nature could afford ) Might with this heauenly Provender be fed : Come Man and eat of this most blessed Bread ; ( Bread , which did more then all the worlds worth cost , And gather vp the crums that none be lost : One crum of this doth farre that Feast surpasse , Which by th' Assyrian Monarch once made was : Hest . 1.3 . Come nere so many none shall hungrie rise , This only loafe all commers shall suffice . The Manna of Eternall mercie fals In full abundance , and for gatherers cals : That man with food of Angels may be fed , And vnto life Eternall nourished : Come yee that hunger , gather vp this Man , Which who so eates againe nere hunger can , Yet hungers still . More hunger doth arise From this sweet food the more it satisfies . And let not him that feedeth feare or think , That to his bread and food he shall want drink : He who is food our hunger to expell , Is against thirst an euer-springing well : There goes & flowes from this celestiall Mountaine , Bread against hunger and against thirst a Fountaine . Drink of this Fountaine which who so once tasteth ●ohn . 4. Shall neuer thirst . This Fountaine neuer wasteth : But is to them who drink a water springing To life Eternall , and them thither bringing . A double vertue this one Fountaine hath , Zacchar . 13.1 It quencheth thirst , and also is a Bath To wash and clense vs from our sins pollution , That so our filth may not be our confusion . Come , euerie Naaman , and here bath , thereby To wash away thy soules foule leprosie : And being made cleane beware thou sinne no more , Least worse ensue then that which went before : But with the thankfull leaper turne againe , And with thy clenser euer more remaine : Rendring him thanks and singing forth his praise , Ioyning with th' Angels in their heauenly layes , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . Christ our ●eace . Ephes . 2.14 . The way . The truth . The life . ●ohn . 14.16 . To day wars end , and Peace begins : To day Wandring doth cease ; for we haue found the way : Falshood's remou'd ; for Truth to light is brought , Death perisheth , for life to day is wrought . Now life begins to liue . To liue said I , Nay rather now life doth begin to die : God who is life , mans life did therefore take , That he a way to his owne death might make . Vnlesse he man become he cannot die , Unlesse he die , we die Eternally . Rather then we should suffer endlesse paine , He would be borne of purpose to be slaine . Think not that Christ did then begin to suffer When Iudas sold him , Christs pa●●on began 〈◇〉 his incarna●●on . Isai . 53.10 and the Iewes did offer To apprehend him . He did then begin To make his soule a sacrifice for sinne When he took bodie . He began to die Then , when assuming our mortalitie He made himselfe one able to be slaine . To put on man is but to put on paine . His death was at his Birth , he then began To die , when he begun to put on man : This flowre ere it sprang forth began to fade , Thus was his Crosse before his cradle made : The drops of bloud which at his death he shed Were but his Infant-drops of teares dy'd red . His swathing cloathes did with that linnen meet , Whereof good Ioseph made his winding sheet . His bloud was as a Salue bespred thereon , This Plaister cures our soules corruption . Behold how he a tender Infant cries , Who wipes all teares from true repentant eyes ! O let vs of this Infant learne to weepe , That from Eternall teares he may vs keepe ! Restore o man the groneing which he lent , Restore the teares which he for thee hath spent . Consider how much thou to him doest owe , Who would for thee a double suffring know , Suffring for thee who wert a wretch forelorne Worst at his death , but first in being borne . What should not we suffer for him , who thus Hath from Eternall suffrings freed vs ? Who therefore wept for vs that we might sing , With holy Angels to our heauenly King . Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . What is for mans saluation left vndone , Sith God to vs hath sent his only Sonne ? That euer deerelie loued Sonne of his , In whom alone the Father pleased is . A Sonne who by his comming doth restore All that our Father Adam lost , and more . This Sonne of God made Sonne of man we see , That Sonnes of men made Sonnes of God might be . High is made low , and honour is embas'de That so the base to honour may be rais'd : Fulnesse growes emptie emptinesse to fill , And wisedome childish to giue children skill . Freedome it selfe doth bondage vndertake T'enfranchize those whom sin did bondslaues make : The Roabe of righteousnesse is naked borne , The naked with his righteous Roabes t' adorne : Strength is made low , & weaknesse strength hath found , The richest poore , that beggars might abound In the best riches , and life learnes to die That so the dead may liue Eternallie : Lord what is man that only for his sake , Th' Almighty should such strange exchanges make ? What can poore mortals in requitall bring ? Nothing . Yet with Heauens Quiristers wee 'l sing , Glory to God on high , on Earth be Peace , And let good will t'wards Christians neuer cease . FINIS .

On this present worke . WHen every common writer that but dares Preferre his pen to waite on the affaires Of vertues Clients , gets himselfe a name . And reputation by that courteous fame He giues to others : and what he bestowes On their iust merits , thankefully ore-flowes To his owne praise ; Then , what may you expect ? ( Graue oracle of witt ) that doe select No lesse a Theame then Gods nativity , To be the subiect of your History : Baies is too meane a garland to empale Such sacred temples : mortall praise too fraile To sound such worth : Earth nothing hath to even Such merits , but must owe your paye to Heaven . Where for a Lawrell , you shall haue a Crowne , And everlasting glory for renowne .

Advertisement to the Readers . HEnce all prophane ! ther 's nothing here , That can delight a wicked eare : No wanton flashes , to make sin Seeme sweet to him that ioyes therein : No loose conceits , to flatter vice , And make Hell thought a Paradise : All that is here , is pure and high , And locked vp in mystery ; Nor can be rightly vnderstood , But of such only as be good . H. B. ex A.A. A.M.

HOLY RAPTVRES IN CONTEMPLATING SOME OF THE MOST OBSERVABLE ADIVNCTS ABOVT OVR SAVIOVRS NATIVITIE .

I. The season of the Yeare wherein our Sauiour was Borne , namely in the Winter-solstice or Sun-steade . NOw seemes the Sunnes vnwearied Waggonere , A discripti●● of the Win● solstice . Who every day surrounds the Earthly Sphere , To Make a stand , and breath his restlesse teames , Which through the World convey his golden beames . Nor doth the Day to our appearance seeme As yet his captiue-minutes to redeeme From the prevailing Night , but doth begin To steale thereon and some advantage win . Henceforth the night shall loose , the day shall gaine , Nor will the Sister long in debt remaine Unto her Brother , but will surely pay Some part of what she borrowed every day ; Till both be euen . This season of the Yeare , Did our Eternall Sunne chuse to appeare In our Horizon , our Day to restore , Which sinnes incroaching Night abridg'd before In Summers Aequinoctial conceau'd , ●●ceptu●e●● est in ●●inoc● verno , na● in Solstitio ●erno . Et in ●ceptione e● & in Natate dies ●pit incre●●tum , & scente vera 〈◇〉 lucis & augmen●●r officium . ●●gust . de ●ap . Ser . 22 . ●e noctis ●●na in dici seunt lu● . Eucher . 2. De Na● In Winter-sun-stead borne ; We were bereau'd Of gladsome Day invellop'd in sad Night , Till this bright Starre arose and brought vs Light . Thus did our Day at his Conception , And at his Birth take augmentation . When such a Light into the world is sent , How can the Night but shrink , the Day augment ? All-haile ô holy , happy , heauenly Day , That turn'st our Winter into joyfull May . And springing makest an eternall Spring , Where earst sins Autumne a sad fall did bring : A Day that makest euerlasting Summer , By the approaching of this heauenly commer : Who did from Heauen to Earth so kindly come , That Earth in Heauen by Him might haue a roome : O were it Winter-solstice once with me , That this sins night no more increas'd might be ! But that the blessed Day of Reformation , In me might find a joyfull augmentation . O Sunne of righteousnesse who would'st appeare , In shortest , saddest season of the yeare . Who * * ●eb . 1.3 . being Brightnes would'st in Black-mon'th come , That by thy comming all might bright become . Come vnto me , come into me , that I To righteousnesse may liue , to sinne may die . 'T is Black-mon'th still with me because of sinne : O come that I might bright become within : Come , that the Night of sinne may shrinke in me , And that the Day of grace encreas'd may be .

II . The time of his Birth . By Night . b b Iohn 1. ● THE Light which shines in darknesse coms by Night , Those that did sit in darknesse to enlight . What meanes the Day-star in the Night to rise ? To shew that he giues light to blindest eyes . To shew that he the Worlds Light is , who may Turne the most gloomy Night to gladsome Day . But why doth Truth that neuer shuns the light , Come like a Theefe in darknesse of the Night ? To make both commings , first and last , t' agree , That they ( who him expect ) should watchfull be .

Aliter de eodem argumento . WHAT ? Is it Night with our Antipodes , That thus by Night the Sunne to vs doth rise ? It should be so . The Sunne though bright he be , Neuer at once doth the Worlds both sides see : But our pure Sunne aboue shines and below , And no Antipodes at all doth know . This Sunne which now at Night doth rise , is he Who neuer sets , but rising still doth see . Come glorious Sunne , spread thine illustrious light On me , who wholy darknesse am , and Night ! My darknesse turne to light , my night to day , That so eternall darknesse shun I may ! And of that blessed Light with thee partake , Whose luster everlasting Day doth make .

III . The Place of his Birth . A Stall . * * Psal . 49.20 . MAN being in honour had not vnderstanding , But turned Beast from his Creator wandring : Him to restore and to make man againe , God to be borne 'mongst Beasts doth not disdaine . His Mothers Child-bed Chamber is a Stall , A Cratch his Cradle , and the Lord of all For his poore Parent ready to lie downe , * * There was ●o roome for ●●●m in the ●nne . Luk . ● 7. Cannot Command an Inne in all the Towne . Vncivile Cittizens , and People vild , Thus to exclude a Woman great with Child So neere her time ! Had you humanitie , You would haue shew'd to such more courtesie . You would for such a one haue found a place , Thinking it might haue beene your Mothers case : Rather then she should in a Stall remaine , Your selues vpon the cold ground should haue laine . Are there not still such Innes , to whom no Ghuest , Lesse welcome is then Christ , who is the best ? Sweet Sauiour , I an Inne-keeper will be , The signe shall be my Heart ; Come lodge with me . The damned crue I entertain'd before , ( My roaring sinnes ) I 'le all turne out of dore : I 'le not afford them lodging in a Stall , Thou shalt haue Parlor , Chamber , Hall and all . The best cheere that I can I will prepare For thee . And this shall be my cheifest care , ( Because I know 't is that which likes thee best ) That all be neat and cleane for such a Ghuest . Thou , who when first thou cam'st would'st in no bed Saue a pure Virgins wombe repose thy head ; Thou who in all thy life lou'd'st puritie , And being dead would'st in pure linnen lie . Thou who compared Art vnto a Doue , The Bird who neatnesse doth and cleanenesse loue . I know that he who shall thee entertaine , Must cheifly care that all be neat and cleane . Then how can I hope thou wilt lodge with me , In whom all things so foule and sordid be ? Yet come and lodge . For why ? I know 't is true , That where thou com'st e e Reuel . 21. 2. Cor . 5 . 1● thou makest ' all things new O thou whose Birth a Stall could stellifie , With Heauen within , and a bright starre on high , That not the best Star-chamber of them all , For glory could compare with this Star-stall . O grace me with thy Presence who art able , To make a Pallace of th' Augaean Stable . O thou who had'st things of no better worth , Then Straw and Hay to set thy Chamber forth . Where thou wert borne . Be borne in me this Day , In me poore wretch who with'red am like Hay . Be borne in me : so shall this Hay be made , Fresh as the Rose and neuer after fade .

Aliter . ART thou so humble Lord , thou doest not scorne , To be 'mong Oxen , and 'mong Asses borne ? O scorne not me , who am become ( alasse ! ) More brutish , foolish then the Oxe or Asse . For they , ( poore Beasts ! ) their owner know , we see , But farre more brutish I haue not knowne thee . Thou mad'st me first a man , a noble Creature , Little inferiour to th' Angellike Nature : But I through sinne into a state did throwe My selfe then brutish Creatures farre below . Be borne in me , that being borne againe In thee , a new borne Creature may remaine .

IIII . The Publishing of his Birth . First vnto Shepheards . * * Luk . 2.8 ● . 10 . TO Shepheards is his Birth first signified , Who by their flocks night watching did abide . To shew that the great Shepheard now is borne , Who no base office for his Sheepe will scorne : But watching o're his flock doth still remaine , And they must watch who will him entertaine . Come let vs with these joyfull Shepheards hie Vnto the Cratch , where this sweet Babe doth lie ; That is , his Church : This place doth still afford , This heauenly Infant swathed in his Word : Let vs when there he doth his words impart , Lay them vp all with Marie in our heart . More blest by bearing them she did become , Then by her bearing him within her wombe . O blessed Man who in his heart doth swathe , And bind vp sure his Word . For he that hath His word hath him . The word it selfe is He , Then where his word is , needs himselfe must be .

V. The Publisher of his Birth . A blessed Angel . g g Luk . 2.9 . A Glorious Angel is the Referendarie , Who first these tidings vnto men doth carrie . An heauenly Herald fittest was to bring , Newes of the comming of the heauenly King . That Gospel by an Angel first was brought To Man , which now by Man to men is taught . That Gospel which God now by vs doth teach . No glorious Angel is too good to Preach . O let Gods Ministers as they are stil'd , Angels , be like the Angels vndefil'd ! Let them not with an earthly life defame , The reputation of an heauenly name : But striue they others to excell so farre , As Angels vnto them superior are : That whereas others are but men at best , They may like Angels shine aboue the rest . What is heauens greatest greife , earths greatest euill ? An Angels place possessed by a Divel . O let not an vnholy conversation , Fowly belie an holy appellation ! Holy the function we may well repute , Which holy Angels joy to execute : Holy he is , the holiest of all , Who doth vs to the holy function call . Holy the message is which we must doe , O let the Messengers bee holy too .

Aliter . HOW glorious is the newes , how full of joy , In which God none but Angels will imploy ? How gladly doe these fierie Posts attend , When for mans good their Maker will them send ? No message they more willingly goe on , Then that which tends to mans saluation . An Angel first is vnto Marie sent , T' acquaint her with his heauenly Lords intent : Who of all Maids made choyce of her , that she Should both a Maiden and a Mother be . And that of all her sex God had decreed , This woman should bring forth the womans seed . Who promis'd was that cursed Head to bruise , Which first the sillie woman did seduce . An Angel settles Iosephs doubting thought , Tels him , the Holy Ghost this worke had wrought , He need not feare her for his Wife to take , Whom God not man , did thus a mother make . An Angel bids him into Egypt goe , To saue his life who first his Birth did shew : And when the Infant-slayer had breath'd his last , An Angel wils him home againe to hast . An Angel first this gladsome Gospell preaches , A few poore Shepheards th' Audience whom hee teaches , Nere was such distance in regard of glory , Betweene a * * Preacher ●o was only ●reature . Preacher and his Auditorie . Why should the greatest Doctor now disdaine , To be a Preacher to the simplest Swaine ? If he who sends vs no respecter be , Of Persons ( * * ●ct . 10.34 . as he saith ) then why should we ? Looke we , when on our message we are bent , Not vnto whom , but from whom we are sent . As welcome vnto heauen is he , that brings A Shepheards soule , as he that doth a Kings .

VI . i i Luk . 131.14 . The Celebration of his Birth , by a multitude of Angels . THE Sermon ended is , the Psalme ensues , A Psalme that suteth with the joyfull newes . The subject of the Sermon Preacht by one : A multitude begins when one hath done . An Hoast of Heauenly Quiristers doe sing A joyfull Birth-song to Heauens late-borne King : And in their song his Prayses doe recount , Whose Prayse all songs of Angels doth furmount . There needed but one Angel to impart , Such nwes to any vnbeleeuing heart . Good newes doth spread it selfe , flies vnrestrain'd , And wished tydings soone are entertain'd . How quickly did this heauenly Sermon sound , Throughout the world ? How many hath it found To entertaine it with such constancie , That all Hels rage could not them terrifie ? This long expected newes desir'd so much , And by so many , when it came was such , As that one Angel was enough to bring it , But all the Angels few enough to sing it .

VII . The Starre conducting the Wise-men . YOV Which seeke Christ remoue your gazing eyes , ●uicunque ●●istum ●eritis , Ocu●ad alta tol●● ; Jllic lice● visere son●● perennis ●●riae ●●udentius ●●themer : ●●iphan . From the dull Earth , advance them to the skies . He who from Heauen did come will not be found , By such as seeke him poaring on the ground : But while their feet doe tread as in disdaine , On Earth , their eyes must fixt on heauen remaine . Euen while he was in bodie here below , No low thing could the way vnto him show : They who so long a iourny to him took Walking on Earth yet still to heauen did look : Who by no Earthly thing conducted are To him on Earth but by an heauenly Starre : A Starre which to the night no seruice lends , Nor on the euer-changing Moone attends . But with the Sunne corriualling in light Shines more by day then other Stars by night . The Poles though in the seas they be not drencht Yet is their luster oft by clowds neere quencht . This Starre still shining through the heauens doth glide , And to that Sunne which neuer sets doth guide ; While the Astronomers amazed are Musing which is the Sunne , which is the Starre . But this amazement soone remou'd shall be , When they no more this radiant Starre shall see : Which so long shall before the wisemen runne Till he hath brought them to their far-sought sun , Then no lesse musing shall possesse mens minde That he is vanisht , then that first he shin'de . Still doth a starrre to thee , o Lord , conduct And thy wise-hearted seekers doth instruct Thee so to seeke as that they shall not misse To finde thee , and with thee eternall blisse . A Starre , which though his Orbe be Earth , and here Doth to thy seekers for a time appeare , Yet doth from heauen deriue his splendant light And vnto heauen his followers lead aright . A Starre which doth the Sunne excell so farre As doth the Sunne the smallest twinkling Starre . That Starre the while it did in heauen abide A few ( but three ) to thee on Earth did guide : This Starre , although it shineth here below Yet Millions vnto heauen the way doth show : And as that Starre appeared not againe When it had brought thē where thou didst remaine , No more shall this , whose office then is done , When once they haue attaind vnto the Sunne ; Lord , let this Starre , thy word , still be my guide , And let my foote-steps neuer from it slide , Vntill it shall me to that Citty bring ( The glorious Court of our more glorious King ) Where needs nor Sun nor Moone their light display , God and the Lamb giues it Eternall Day . Reuel . 21. In this lifes darknesse we doe need this light : For here we walke by Faith , and not by sight ; 2. Cor . 5. ●● But when we come to that celestiall Cittie Then shall we take vp that most joyfull Dittie , As we haue heard so now , ô Lord , we see How thou in heauen doest walke and we with thee . Psal . 48.8 .

VIII . k k Mat . 21.2.3 . The Wisemen conducted by a starre , and bringing their Presents . FOLLOW your guide , you wise men of the East , ( Though last invited to this heauenly Feast . ) The new created Starre , which shewes the way Vnto the blessed Babe , and will not stay Till he hath brought you where he doth abide , But shortly after out of sight will slide : For when the Sunne with beames the World once graces , The Stars ashamed are to shew their faces . Think not that you are gul'd so farre to come , To seeke a King , and find so base a roome : Thinke not that roome is base where there is seene , A Starre without , a glorious Sunne within . Here shall you find the Child you farre haue sought , Present to him the Presents you haue brought : Giue Gold to him as Tribute to your King , As God , ●urum , ●hus , Myrrhā Regique homi●ique Deoque Do●●a ferunt . Iu●encus Pres●iter . Author 〈◇〉 Da Hiero●ym . non semel ●audatus . for seruice , Incence to him bring : Bring Myrrhe t' embalme the Man who once must die , Least all mankind doe die eternally .

Aliud . WALKE on you Wisemen stay not till yee come Where wisdome hath tane vp an homely roome : Thinke not so long a journie little worth , Wiser you shall returne then yee came forth : Will you be wise indeed ? Drinke of this Well , Which Wisdome opens in a silly Cell : Drinke of this Well your thirst to satisfie , But ere you Drinke vse th' Addars policie . Your humane Wisdome Poyson first eject , So shall you find true Wisdomes sweete effect : Had you come fooles , you wiser should become , Then all the Wisards you haue left at home . Returne , and being return'd report and say To those Star-gazers that at home did stay . Not all the Stars they euer saw could shew , So much to them as one Starre did to you . Tell them , in all the Heauens they neuer shall A greater find , then you found in a Stall . O thou eternall Wisdome make me wise , That from my Heathen-country I may rise : My Fathers house and Kindred to forsake Cause me , that I to thee my way may take : And that I may not erre nor goe astray , Let that bright Starre , thy Word , lead me the way . Be that vnto my feet a light , and to My steps a safe-conducting Lamp , that so With these Wisemen I safely may attaine Vnto the Place , where thou , Lord , doest remaine . And finding thee who art my soules rich store , Let me fall downe and humbly thee adore ; Offring those guifts which cannot offred be By me , vnlesse I them receiue from thee . The Gold of true Obedience I will bring , A Tribute due to mine eternall King . My Frankinsence shall be my daily Prayers , ( A pleasing Perfume vnto thee ) My Teares Shed for thy Death , and for my sinne , shall be My mourning Myrrhe still dropping vnto thee . O let this Myrrhe still drop , till I arriue , Where thou and thine in lasting joyes doe liue , Where thou , from whom all comfort doth arise , Wipest all teares from true repentant eyes : Where they shall reape in Ioy who here below , The pretious seed of plenteous teares do sowe : Sorrow ( thou sayest ) may for a night remaine , But in the morning Ioy returnes againe . All this lifes Night I 'le be content with sorrow , That night once past , Ioy may giue me goodmorrow .

IX . The Infant sought by Herod to be destroyed . IS this into the World thy welcome , Lord ? Is this the entertainement men afford To thee , who com'st from heauen to blisse the earth , To handsell with thy blood thy blessed Birth ? No sooner Borne then forthwith sought to die , Enforc'd ere thou can'st goe , or creepe , to flie ! Will they assoone as thou to Earth art come , Needs send thee back vnto thy Heauenly home ? And must the Butcher and the Midwife striue , He how to kill , She how to keepe aliue ? Herod , what hast ? Adjourne thy crueltie , He had not come but that he meant to die ; But not so soone as to the World he 's showne , Nor yet at mans appointment , but his owne . Think'st thou to haue his life at thy command , Who hath both thine and all mens in his hand ? What King or Creature else can him depriue Of life , by whom all Kings , all Creatures liue ? m m Iohn . 10 17.18 . The Power of his owne life he doth retaine To lay it downe and take it vp againe . None takes it from him till it be his minde , And then t is not tane from him , but resign'd . But first much heauenly Doctrine must be taught , And to confirme it weighty wonders wrought . The dead must first be vnto life restor'd , To shew that he of life and death is Lord : Of all his Enemies malignant crew n n 1. Cor . 1● Death is the last he meaneth to subdue . But Herod who so soone would him destroy More hastie is then any Butchers boy . No Butcher is so fell but will allow The new falne Lambe some little time to grow : For well he knowes it is not fit for food While yet the milk is hardlie turn'd to blood . This Lamb is sought to render vp his life , While yet his throat is lesser then the knife . O Lambs an harmelesse , yet an haplesse Creature , Who haue so many Enemies in nature , So many that doe seeke on you to prey , And think you wrong them by a small delay ! While the poore Ewe is yet her Lamb-kin licking The Rauen thinks it long ere he be picking . T is still thy lot , ô Lord : No sooner brought To Birth art thou but straight thy death is sought . No sooner now in Bethlehem thou borne art ( The house of bread , the true beleeuers heart ) But Hells feirce Herod and his cursed Court Sore vext , and sore perplext at the report , Doe seeke thine infant-life away to take , Whose very name makes King and kingdome quake No maruell if he seeke to take away Thy life , who comst to saue whom he would slay , And knowes his Kingdome soone will be dejected When once thy righteous scepter is erected . In spite of Hell and Hellish Herod too , And maugre all their spite and spleene can doe , O let my soule a litle Bethlehem be , An house of bread and be thou borne in me , Thou who from heauen didst bring the bread of life : I le neuer dread the cruell Tirants knife : Christ once in Christians borne is neuer slaine , And saueth them in whom he doth remaine : Rage Hell , rage Herod and with enuie burst , Let all th' Infernall Furies doe their worst : Thou , who an Infant , saud'st thy selfe by flying Shalt by abiding saue my soule from dying , How can I perish ? life doth me preserue . I haue the Bread of life : How can I starue ? O let it be my care , Lord , to keepe thee , And then I shall be sure thou wilt keepe me !

X. The Infants slaine by Herod . INFANTS prepare your throats , Parents your eyes , Streame you forth teares for they must streame forth blood : Turne into sobs and sighs your Lullabies , And place the Coffin where the Cradlestood : If so much favour yet you may obtaine , To burie those you bare but to be slaine . The pleasing painfull burthen you did carrie , Some fortie weekes within your weary wombes , Must not with you at most past two yeares tarrie . Behold the irrelenting slayer comes ; Who will the name of Mothers you denie , Ere the poore Infant yet can Mamma crie . Weepe Rachel , weepe , and let thy teares abound Aboue the rest , because thy losse is double ,

It is prob● That Ra●● lost more ●dren then because th● Text spe●● of hers in plurall .

Locum mi●tis ictibus interempto inuenit Q● plaga des● dat patens guloque mai● pugio est . Prudentiu● Cathemer 〈◇〉 hymo . Epip●

More vnder two yeares old with thee are found : Thy ofter teeming breeds thee greater trouble . Thus only for the slaughter to giue life , To haue beene fertile only for the knife . Base Butchers who so prompt and readie are To execute the cursed Tyrants will , What instruments of Death will yee prepare Wherewith these Lambs that liu'd but now , to kill ? Scarse can you find a Knife so little , but T is greater then the Throats you come to cut . Pen-knifes the fittest tooles are yee can take , For of those members you meane to destroy , Their Saviour meanes so many Pens to make ; Wherewith their Names ( ere some doe names enjoy ) Shall in his booke of Life be registred , With their owne blood , which for his sake was shed . O Tygers into humane shape transchang'd , With more then Tygers thirst of blood possest ! Could men from manhood be so farre estrang'd , To snatch the suckling from the Mothers brest , And in her sight the Cradle-swathes defile With that new blood which was but milke ere while ? Peace , prettie Innocents , forbeare to crie , Receiue with willing sides the fatall blow , Best is that Death which comes in Infancie , The longer life is but prolonged woe . Who Yesterday was borne and dies to day , Comes to his Port as soone as sets to sea . Your journies end at setting forth you met , Your whole dayes taske you in the morning finisht : Your Sun no sooner did arise , but set , Yet was your day encreast , your night diminisht . You op'd your eyes , and seeing nought but paine , In this base World , you clos'd them vp againe . Death , to be priz'd ' boue any lifes best rate , Saue that best life which doth such Death ensue ! Your Saviours kindnesse you anticipate , Dying for him , ere he doe die for you : How soone are you of Martyrs Crownes possessors , Who Martyrs were ere you could be confessors ? Rachel , although thy cause of greife be great ; Yet to be comforted refuse no more As if thy Children were not ; They are yet : And thou and they more happie then before . Thou , who by bearing Martyrs get'st renowne , They , who exchange a Cradle for a Crowne . Why sai'st thou then , they are not ? Say thou rather , Thy Children neuer truely were till now : They 're not with thee , they 're with their heauenly Father : They are aboue , they are not here below , Why should'st thou then for them make such complaints , Who neuer were but Innocents and Saints ? O blessed Babes who from your Mothers wombe To Abrahams bosome fetch a speedy spring Ere you can goe . Who ere you speak ; are come Your Halleluiiahs vnto him to sing : Who did vnto your Parents only shew you But on his Sonne as rarest Iewels bestow you ! He , least you long with sinners should abide , From among Men you to himselfe doth take , Of your short swathing cloathes which red were dy'de With your owne bloud he long white Roabes doth make ; Dy'de in his owne which only hath this might , To die the deepest scarlet into white . O from how many blowes doth one blow free you ! How pure are they whom bloud doth thus Baptize ? Nere shal your parents hence forth weeping see you : These Teares doe wipe all others from your eyes . With Palmes in hands victorious ore your foes Follow you doe the Lamb where ere he goes . Why had not I of that blest Beauie beene Who from the shell so soone to Heauen did flee ? Death the ●fect and so Daughter 〈◇〉 sinne . Ripe for saluation sooner then for sinne , Whom few small wounds from many great did free : To whom an Antidote the Daughter lent , The Mothers poysoned Potions to preuent . Blinde superstition ! did no Day appeare On which thine inauspitious Crosse might rest To stampe it for vnluckie all the yeare But only this which made so many blest ? Why should that day to vs disastrous be , Which them from all disasters did set free ? If sins soule-clogging shackles off to shake , If nere to doe nor speak nor think amisse , If all t' enioy that man can happie make , If that a Crosse day be that brings all this , Then all my Dayes that Day awayt will I , To Crosse and cancell all my miserie .

FJNIS .