A true description of the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ as it was acted by the bloodie Iewes: and registred by the blessed Euangelists. In English meetre by Iohn Bullokar, Calend. Nouemb. 1618.

A true DESCRIPTION of our Sauiours PASSION . WRapt in our sinfull flesh , yet free from sinne , The louing-worlds Redeemer long had sought , Vnto himselfe the stubborne Iewes to winne , With mighty signes & wonders daily wrought : But wished fruit his zeale could neuer gaine : He plowd the sands , and reapt but losse of paine . And when he had full thirty three yeeres space , For men , and with men dwelt on earth below , Lending rich treasures of his heauenly grace , To pay those countlesse debts that Sinne did owe . The time was come , that should our God restore To heauen aboue , from whence he came before . Whose passage must by Death prepared be , ( As erst the holy Prophets had foretold ) That so his death from death might set vs free , Whom sinne from life , as slaues to death had sold . So deadly was the diuellish Serpents sting , That nought but Gods death , life to man could bring . Which to assure vs , ere he parted hence , He leaues behind for our immortall good , A full release of Adams first offence , Scaling the Charter with his dearest blood : That man might see his loue , and learne thereby , To loath the sinne that made a God to die . Yet neuer could the powerfull stroke of death , Nor Fate , nor Chance , nor Satans secret blow , Nor humane force enforce him yeeld his breath , Vntill his Will gaue leaue it should be so : The Iewes might rage , yet heauen had fore decreed , He chose to die , though they did act the deed . But lest the sudden storme , if vnforetold , Should drowne the seeds of Faith so lately sowne , Or make new kindled loue of him grow cold , In weak conceits not to perfection growne : He shewes them euery thing must come to passe , That of him in the Scripture written was . And knowing that the houre approched now , To his small number of Disciples , he Plamely foretels his death ▪ and manner how : Withall , the time when as his death should be , To strength their doubtfull thoughts , & make thé know , He could foresee , though would not shun the blow . Two dayes there are ( saith he ) and then the Feast Of Easter comes , when Moses did command , In memory that Israel was releast From hard oppression of proud Egypt land , The Paschall lambe should yeerely eaten be , Of all their seed , whom God had Io set free . But now the old Lawes end approcheth nie , These shadowing Figures shortly must away : The Sonne of man shall be betraid to die , And on the Crosse the worlds great ransome pay , To free it from infernall Charons power , Whose tyrant rage would life and soule deuoure . Thus hauing warn'd , whilst at Bethania he , Receiu'd in Simons house , doth there remaine , A woman by him late from sinne set free , Doth come her louing Lord to entertaine ; Bringing a boxe of Alabaster faire , Fill'd with an oyntment , costly , sweet , and rare , O Loue ! sole life of Peace , and death of Strife : Strong knot to tye : sweet vnion of consent : Thoughts purity : faire Mappe of Angels life : Heauens new-made Liuery : Nurce of all content : How true it is the world of thee doth say ? That whoso loues , can brooke no long delay . The curious Boxe she breaks , and quickly powres This precious liquor on her Sauiours head ; Whose sweet distilling drops full mainly showres Adowne his necke , and on his garments shed , Refining all the ayre neere which they fell , With fragrant odour of their pleasing smell . But enuious Malice soone occasion finds , This womans godly meaning to reproue : Some standers by do murmure in their minds , As discontent to see such zealous loue . His owne Disciples too that sate at bord , Do grudge such cost bestowd vpon their Lord . Why need this needlesse waste be made ( say they ) Of what was worth three hundred pence at least ? It better had bin sold , and giuen away To poore for almes , against this holy Feast : 'T is pitie such sweet oyle so dearely bought , With idle vaine expence should come to nought . Thus they : But Christ that sought to saue his foes , Forgets not now to helpe a friend at need : He soone perceiues the grudging thoughts of those , That were mislikers of this womans deed , And mildly doth rebuke them for their sinne , With praise of her that did the worke begin . O why should you , whom I haue chose for mine , Against your louing Lord offended be ? Why should your murmuring hearts with spite repine At her , whose faith wrought this good worke on me ? Take heed , this lesson first was learnt at Hell , To grudge at grace , and enuie doing well . The poore may be relieued when you will , No want of them the earth doth euer find : But me you shall not haue amongst you still : The work 's now done that heauen had erst assign'd , And she that knew I shortly hence must go , Against my buriall did this cost bestow . Of truth therefore I say , in each place where The worlds Redemption shal be preacht or taught , This womans zeale shall be related there , In memory of what she now hath wrought . Great loue shall surely reape a great reward : Heauen do's the hart , not outward shews regard . By this , the Priests and Scribes , whose hearts were set A fire with burning spite , and deadly hate , At Caiaphas palace are together met , In councell closely to deliberate , How they might Iesus take by subtill traine , And with some shew of Iustice haue him slaine . Yet must we not ( say they ) in any wise , At this great Feast , in such a course proceed , Left the rude people should against vs rise , Or stir rebellion to withstand the deed : His words , his workes , and doctrine haue bin such , That him as now we cannot safely touch . But Sathan fearing , lest by this delay , His long-desired worke should rest vnwrought , Presents them with an vnexpected way , Wherby their mischiefe might to passe be brought , Iudas one of the Twelue , whom Christ had chose , ( Vnhappy wretch ) to this assembly goes . There doth the Traitour set his Lord to sale , Mongst those he knew long sought to sucke his blood : Whose precious worth this caitiffe counts so small , He bids them make the price as they thought good : What will you giue me , ( thus doth Iudas say ) And I into your hands will him betray ? O blessed Lady ! hadst thou present beene , When thus thy Sonne by theeuish hands was sold To bloody Merchants , it had soone beene seene , How deare true owners wel-got pearles do hold : Thy tender loue had pitcht the price so hie , That Iewish wealth one haire should neuer buy . But thou true picture of pure piety , Resignst to heauens decree thy proper right , Suffering a damned wretch contemptuously , To make a market of thy dearst delight : Then hie thee , hie thee , since the case so stands , Come buy thine own from these Priests murthring hands . And Iudas , O if greedy hope of gaine Entice thee thus thy Sauiour to forgo , Why dost thou shew thy selfe so fondly vaine , As offer him to those that hate him so ? His friends ( I wis ) would giue more mony for him , Then scornfull foes , whose pride and spite abhor him . O what would Lazarus , new brought to liue From graue , haue payd to keep his Lord from death ? What price would Magdalen refuse to giue , That lou'd her Master dearer then her breath ? Or Martha , and his Virgin-mother too , That lou'd him more then all the world can do Yea leaue the earth , and aske of Angels bright , What they would giue thee for their King diuine ? ( Doubtlesse to get him home ) their chiefe delight , They would exchange their heauenly state for thine : O hadst thou thus made sale of Christ before , Thy guilt had beene the lesse , and gaine the more . But Sin with self conceit it selfe still blinds , Daring , without respect of what it may : Witnesse false Iudas , who with desperate mind , Tels proudly to the Priests , he will betray : As if the Maker of heauen , earth , and seas , Were in his power to vse him as he please . They glad with others blame t' effect the deed ; Whereto their proper malice would aspire , Resolue to prosecute it now with speed , And thirty pence appoint him for his hire . He straight accepts the wages they assign'd : Slight gaine soone sets to work a willing mind . Ah Iudas , sinke of sinne , and earthly shame , First lucklesse lambe that straid from Christs deare fold , Monster of mankind , vile reproach of fame ; Sequestred from all grace , most impious bold : Blind reprobate ( alas ) what hast thou done , To buy hel fire with sale of Gods deere Sonne ? O did thy wretched eyes so grieue to see , Three hundred peniworth of oyle bestowd , Whose costly value should aduantag'd thee , If thy false hand had sold the same abroad : That now to make amends for such shrewd losse , Thou must betray thy Sauiour to the Crosse . Did this bad crop spring vp from heauenly seed ? Did Christs example such vile thrift maintaine ? Ah no , he taught thee by his Word and Deed , T' abhorre the muddie mind of worldly gaine , T' embrace pure thoughts , whose safety feares no fall , To hurt no man , and to do good to all . But thou ( vnchang'd ) a gracelesse Impe of hell , With Iacobs spitefull sonnes , in sin art growne ; Whose malice did their brother Ioseph sell For twenty pence , to Merchant-men vnknowne : Yet Ioseph was preferd to honour hie , And call'd the Sauiour of the world thereby . So Christ thy Lord , by thee sold to be slaine , Though death and hell striue both to presse him downe , Shall Phoenix-like with glory rise againe , And win by death an euerlasting Crowne : That in his Name , eterniz'd without end , All knees in heauen , in earth , in hell may bend . The Feast of sweet bread now was hard at hand , And spotlesse pascall lambes were markt to die : When Christs Disciples came to vnderstand Their Masters will in this Solemnitie : Where wilt thou ( say they ) we prepare for thee The Passeouer , that now must eaten be ? Straight blessed Peter readiest to obay , And Iohn , whom Iesus alwaies held most deare , Are called for , and sent without delay , To make prouision for this heauenly cheare : Receiuing by their Lords directing care , A signe that shewd them where they should prepare . You two ( saith Christ ) shall now this taske begin At yonder towne , where you shall surely meet A man , assoone as you are entred in , Bearing a pot of water through the street ; Him follow , wheresoeuer he doth go , What house he enters , enter you also . Aske of the owner for some place , where I , With my Disciples , may this Supper eate ; And he ( I know ) will shew you by and by , A parler roome , well paued , faire and great , Which will be fit : make ready there for me , For there shall this last Supper eaten be . O happy Feast held by a heauenly King , Where bread of life with bounty was bestowd : No more a Type , but now a figured thing , True Rocke , whence pure sin-cleansing waters flowd : Sweet antidote , whose vertue sets man free , From deadly surfet of forbidden tree . When thou wert made , each ceremonious Rite , ●hat had prefigur'd better things to come , ●y Gods appointment was abolisht quite ; ●ew Sacraments succeeding in their roome : Whose worth in Christ who worthily embrace , Adopted are new heires of heauenly grace . Cleare light was then in place of shadowes brought : ●igures for better Truth exchang'd away : ●he ioyfull Gospel for the Law was taught ; ●nd Mercy crownd , where Iustice earst bare sway : New Life was borne , and Death began to die , In this great Suppers heauenly mysterie . ●here did the King of Glory thinke no scorne , Leauing behind a patterne for vs meet ) ●ith girded loynes addrest in seruile forme , ●o stoope and wash his owne Disciples feet : That those which after should the Gospel preach , Might by himselfe be cleans'd , ere they did teach . ●●t this is not yet all that then was done : ●or the new-spoused Church redeemd so deere , ●he precious Body of Gods only Sonne , ●as instituted to be eaten heere : That blessed Body borne for sinners good , True Manna , farre exceeding Angels food . Such wisedome did th' Almighty workman show , In altering shadowes into substance true : Such humble seruice did a God bestow , Pure humbled thoughts in proud man to renue : Such precious cates were by our dying Lord , Bequeath'd for euer to this heauenly boord . The bright Sunne now with Westerne clouds was hid : Dim darknesse on the errth began to grow ; Nor day , nor night it was , when Iesus did With his Disciples to this Supper go . And as they ate , he spake : Of truth I say , That one amongst you here shall me betray : They straight with dead pale lookes bewray their feare , And gaze together , doubtfull to suspect : As mazed persons wonted are , that heare A sudden presage of some dire effect : And willing there their innocence to trie , Each after other said : Lord , is it I ? Iudas that felt himselfe neere toucht herein , Wondring to heare his guilt so soone made knowne ; And fearing , silence might disclose the sinne : ( For Craft and Treason still are linkt in one ) Askt last of all , faining himselfe dismaid , Lord , is it I ? Christ answered , Thou hast said . But wo be vnto him that makes this match ; Selling the Sonne of man to sinners spite : Farre better had it bin for that vile wretch , ●f he , vnborne , had neuer seene the light . O ten times happy life , that liueth well ! But curst is he that liues , to liue in hell . These threats in Iudas could breed no remorce , That blacke detested action to abiure . Obdurat harts , though warn'd , yet stil wax worse : Like rotten vlcers mastring Physickes cure . So hard it is , except Gods grace be strong , To saue that soule where sin hath harbord long . Peter , whose daunted thoughts could take no rest , Vntill the author of this ill were knowne , Makes signes to Iohn , who lean'd on Iesus brest , To aske his name , whose sin should cause their mone . Resoluing boldly , if in him it lay , To kill the wretch did plot his Lords decay . But Peters purpose could not come to passe : The hatefull traitor closely sits conceal'd : In secret Iohn demandeth who it was , And Christ in secret thus to him reueal'd : Who next receiues a dipped sop of me , Shall do the deed , the rest hereof are free . O Iohn , dearst darling of thy dying Lord ! Earths flower , heauens starre , pure virgin , foe to lust : What pen can worthily thy praise record , Or blaze thy blessed name with titles iust , That foundst such grace to aske and vnderstand , When none of all thy fellowes durst demand ? Soone after in the dish Christ dips a sop , And gaue it mildly to his murthering foe ; Who vnrelenting takes and eates it vp : But straight the diuell entred in him tho ; Vrging his traiterous heart still more and more , To execute what he had vowd before . That which thou dost ( saith Christ ) with speed fulfill : Not animating him to do the deed : But shewing by these words , the great good will He had , that mans saluation should proceed : For which absented from his Fathers sight , His loue thinkes long till it be finisht quite . Whereto these words were spoke , none then did know , Onely ( perhaps ) false Iudas vnderstood : They thought Christ bade him buy , and to bestow Some thing in almes , to do poore people good , Or for the Feast prouide : thus Error too Helpes forward what this Traitor meanes to do . But see how apt mans frailty is to sinne , When humbled thoughts with pride are ouerthrowne ? These late-amaz'd Disciples now begin , ( Forgetting quite Christs last example showne ) To reason hard in words , and disagree , Who should among themselues the greatest be . Ah fondlings ! is your Master cumbred now With humane error of his dying day ? Hath one amongst your selues conspired how , By trecherie , to take his life away ? And can you , warnd hereof , mis-spend your time , In idle folly of ambitious crime ? O plucke vp sinne whilst yet the root is young : Surcease this variance , breeding but offence : Weepe your owne losse , waile your Redeemers wrong , And wish to die with him in innocence : Rather then striue to be exalted hier , As pamperd worldlings , in their pride , desire . But Christ orecome with that exceeding loue , Which from the world had chose them for his owne , Surprest with griefe , forbearing to reproue This folly , and defect of duty showne : Yet to make knowne their faults , and strife appease , He gently warnes them in like words to these : Supremacie and honour is embrac't Of profane Potentates , and earthly kings ; Not worthy those desires whose thoughts are plac't On better loue of God , and heauenly things : For such , though greatest , must inferiour be , And minister to those of low degree . The master who doth sit at meat alone , Exceeds the seruant that attends his will : Yet you to me this duty haue not showne , For I do minister among you still : And by humility example giue , How such as are my followers ought to liue . But you for my sake haue abandon'd cleane The late-lou'd world , renounc't your selues and all , And in my greatst temptations alwayes been , Abiding with me since I did you call : And therefore I appointed haue for ye , As God my Father doth appoint for me : I meane a Kingdome , not of earthly blisse , Such as mortality aspires to get : But one in heauen that perpetuall is ; Where , at my table you shall drinke and eate : Where you shall sit on seates , as is decreed , Iudging the twelue great Tribes of Israels seed . So spake our Lord , when from the table rose Iudas , full fraught with hel-nurc't desperate sinne , And hastily out of the house he goes , Leauing his Master and the rest within , True type of heauenly blisse at latter day , When no bad bides , nor good doth go away . And now doth Christ in sweetest speech commend His loue , and mutuall concord to the rest , With promise , that he would from heauen send Another Comforter to make them blest : Whose presence should abide for euermore , And teach them all the truth they heard before . His peace likewise he doth among them leaue , Exhorting perfect vnity in one , A growing : branches from the Vine receiue Their fruit , and beare not of themselues alone . Forewarning too , that troubles , hate , and spite , Should shortly for his Name vpon them light . Which to indure , without grudge or despaire , He cheares them vp by his examples still : Concluding lastly with a feruent prayer , That God would blesse and keepe them from all ill . As that together they in one might grow , As he himselfe was with the Father , so . The night is now farre spent , the Supper done ; The Grace is said , the Table tooke away : The Ghests are risen , and the worke begun , For which the Sonne of God on earth did stay : Iudas is comming with a kisse to greet him , And with the Eleuen , Christ goes forth to meet him . A place there is , where ( raisd from lower ground ) A goodly fruitfull Mountaine threats the skie ; Whose top with Oliue branches shadowed round , Forbids the heat of heauens bright burning Eye , And ouerlookes a garden faire and sweet , Close situated to Gethseman street . Hither , as was his often former guise , When he in priuate for his Church would pray , Or did his owne Disciples catechise , This last night our Redeemer tooke his way : That so he in a Garden might restore , What Adam in a Garden lost before . And by the way thus warnes : All you this night Shall run in scandall great because of me : For it is written , I will surely smite The Shepheard , and his sheepe shall scattered be : But when I risen am from Death below , To Galilee before you will I go . Ah poore Disciples , weake and miserable , Now is at hand the comfort-killing houre ; The houre of feare and darknesse palpable , Whose foggie dampe shall in your hearts obscure Bright beames of Faith , and yet lend light to see , How fraile and feeble of your selues you be . In one way now together all do go : In diuers ( shortly ) all shall scattered slie ▪ True faithfull followers now your selues you show , As ready with your Lord to liue and die . Yet danted with base feare , you shortly shall Renounce your truth , your faith , your Lord & all . Thus still fresh cause of sorrow Christ doth find , His ouer-burdened sences to dismay : Ere-while he troubled was , to thinke in mind , That one of his owne Twelue should him betray : And now not one alone , but all the rest , Shall false their faith , & leaue their Lord distrest . Alas , sweet Sauiour , who shall comfort now , The dreadfull terror of this sad nights feare ? Thy Father threats the sword with angry brow , Against thee , for our sins , which thou must beare . Thy mother wails , thy friends shal all forsake thee , Whilst death deuising foes conspire to take thee . O might the merit of thy bitter paines , Endur'd for all alike , alike redound To all of Adams sonnes , whom death detaines , Some consolation herein would be found : But ( O deare God! ) thou knowst how few indeed , For all these torments shall the better speed . And to th' increasing of thy griefes , dost see Millions of mis-beleeuing Soules mis-led With sinnes sweet bait , or infidelitie , Shall run into perdition void of dread : Scorning thy Crosse and Passion suffred here , Or valuing light what thou hast bought so deare . But Peter hearing what his Master told , And cleare in conscience from so blacke a sinne , Presuming of his strength with courage bold , To promise for himselfe , doth thus begin : Though all the world offended were in thee , Yet herewith spotted Peter would not be . O Simon , Simon , ( thus doth Christ reply ) The subtill Fiend your setled thoughts to quaile , Hath sought to sift you all as wheat , but I Haue prayd for thee , that thy faith might not faile . Thou therefore once turn'd to the perfect way , Confirme thy weaker brethren what thou may . To whom th' Apostle , ( growne more confident , ) Lord , I am ready with resolued heart , Not onely to endure imprisonment , Or in such slight affliction take thy part , But with thee lose my life , if need require , To shew my loue , and further thy desire . The wakefull Cocke ( saith Christ ) twice shall not crow This night , till thou hast three times me denide : Yet Peter cannot be perswaded so , But plights his faith most constant to abide : At which , the rest , seeing his courage such , By solemne vow , protest to do as much . O what high taskes can rashnesse vndertake , Ere difficulty of the worke be knowne ? What vaunts can ouer-weening humors make , Which in an instant will he ouerthrowne ? Great oddes in what they 'l do , and what they speake : Their words are strong , their deeds will be but weake . Boldly they boast themselues , resolu'd to slay , And die with Christ in such a quarrell good : Yet one small storme shall blow them all away , And he for them must bide and shed his blood . So feeble are th' attempts by man begun , When heauenly grace is not relide vpon . But Christ in mercy doth not sue the debt , Which they by vow stand bound this night to pay : Knowing their weake estates vnable yet , He well is pleasd to grant a longer day ; When after his Ascension they shall , In vnknowne shores be wider scattered all . Then shall self-penance scourge the trothles blame Of this nights worke , that now their worke defaces : Then shall they boldly preach his healthfull Name ; Not recking danger , or the worlds disgraces : Then shall they go to prisons ioyfully , And for his Truths sake glorious Martyrs die . By this , the Lambe of God , who for mans sinne , With willing steps , went meeting to be slaine , And made a Sacrifice : is entred in The Garden with his yet-vnscattered traine ; To whom he sorrowing speakes , Here sit & stay , Whilst I withdraw my selfe awhile to pray . Then Peter , Iames , and Iohn he takes aside , When straight with an exceeding feare opprest , His stonisht sences could no longer hide The griefe , that had surcharg'd his guiltlesse brest . My soule is heauie to the death , saith he , Abide you here , and watch awhile with me . Accompany thy Sauiour , O my Soule , In outward signes of inward griping wo : Breake forth in sighs , and with true teares condole , The dreadfull horror that torments him so : Sith for thy sake this sorrow pierc't his heart , Good reason in his griefe thou beare some part . See how that heauenly face is altred quite , Scarce to be knowne by what it was euen now : Dead-pale vsurpes the seat of red and white : And Care sits figur'd in his wrinkled brow . Distressefull feare seemes drown'd in watery eyne , That ouerwash his cheekes with weeping brine : Like as the bright Sunne in a Welkin faire , With pitchie mist on sudden ouer-cast , Shoots forth his beames in vaine to cleare the ayer : Cloud vpon cloud still thickning wondrous fast : Blacke night doth ouer-hang the shadowed land , Threatning a cruell tempest out of hand . Or as the Sea tost by some boisterous wind , Doth mainly beat vpon the quiet shore , Swels in huge waues aboue due course of kind , And with selfe-motion laboureth more and more : Such is the troubled state , and deepe vnrest , Wherewith our Sauiours soule is now opprest . O heauens great'st strength , and Angels chiefest ioy , Earths hope , hels feare , true God omnipotent ! What griefe can vexe , or terror strange dismay Thy spotlesse soule with such sad languishment ? What terror can these pangs of passion breed , Which make thee seeme not as thou art indeed ? Is death , the entrance to felicity , The finall date of all terrestriall wo , The glorious triumph of thy victory , The way by which perforce all flesh must go , So dreadfull to affright thee , like as those , Which here on earth their highest blisse repose ? O wherefore didst thou leaue thy heauenly Throne , And shrowd a Godhead in our mortall frame ? Why hast thou here by signes thy might made knowne , And taken to thy selfe a Sauiours name ? If not to quell the rage of hellish powers , And lastly by thy death to redeeme ours . If now ( wo worth the while ) thou shouldst giue o're , And leaue thy worke so neere an happy end ; Who then ( ah who ) shall promisd health restore To vs , whose hopes on thee alone depend ? No Sonne , but thou , of earthly mother bred , Hath power to crush the cursed Serpents head . ●n outward shew thou didst pretend of late , An inward longing for this present time ; ●rging the Traitor to accelerate The issue of his il-conceiued crime : Yet now the houre and Iudas both are nie ; Thy courage failes , and thou art loth to die . But oh ! what haue I said ? can feare dismay , Whom , mou'd to wrath , the earth doth quake to see ? Can his thoughts change so soone , whose power doth stay All powers in stable order as they be ? Ah! no defects impaire not heauenly store ; And he is now the same he was before . This sad eclipsing feare , that seemes so dimme , The glorious Sun-shine of his Deity , Could neuer haue a rising cause from him , But from our natures imbecillity ; Which , though supported by celestiall grace , Yet faintly shrinkes , and shewes of what it was . In what he hath assum'd our feeble flesh , Therein he trembling faints , and stands dismaid : Like as that strength we haue in our distresse , Comes not of vs , but of his heauenly ayd : To right our cause , his Godhead suffers wrong : He weake by vs , and we by him are strong . When first made Adam ioylesse all alone , In Edens beauteous Garden did remaine , To fashion Eue he gaue his proper bone , And had with flesh the place fill'd vp againe : So Christs deare-loued Spouse the Church still weares His rib of strength , and he her frailty beares . Retir'd about a stones cast from the rest , Hem'd in with horror , such exceeding waight Of earth-committed sinnes his soule opprest , That on both knees he fals , and after straight , His paine increasing , prostrate lies to pray , That from him this sad houre might passe away . Ah , Abba , Father , which all things didst make , And do'st preserue them made , ( if so may be ) Bow downe thine eyes , and for thy mercy sake , Remoue this bitter cup of wrath from me . Yet let not my will be fulfill'd herein , But thine ( deare Father ) which hath euer bin . Full oft else-where good Christ did intercesse For vs , and neuer had one sute debar'd : And yet folliciting his owne distresse , Obtaines not of his Father to be heard : For God so lou'd the world , that now he gaue His onely Sonne from sinne the same to saue . Who Lambe-like mild in league with heau'ns decree , Folding earth-dwellers in as deare embrace , Would , pleading for himselfe , repulsed be , That for vs praying , he might still find grace . O rare obedience , perfect zeales true signe , How much owe we for this great loue of thine ! But now he riseth from the dewie ground , To visit his Disciples left distrest , And finds them all securely sleeping sound : When waking Peter , ( heauy as the rest ) O Simon , art thou now asleepe ? ( quoth he ) What ? couldst thou not watch one bare houre with me ? As he would say , Wert thou of selfe-accord , So prodigall of vowes , with timelesse speed , And do'st so soone neglect thy helplesse Lord , In drowsie slumber at his greatest need ? Ill canst thou in my safegard spend thy blood , That wilt not wake to do thine owne soule good . Not so false Iudas , who for pettie gaine , Sleepes not a winke this night , nor can forbeare : Postes round the waked streetes , cals vp his traine , Sollicits helpe , seekes armour euery where , Marshals his Band himselfe , and thinkes a yeere , Till he may come to apprehend me here . O shame ! that Satans slaues so forward are In acting mischiefe , that shall bring damnation ; And you , to saue your soules , deuoid of care : O watch and pray therefore , lest ill temptation Oppresse your faith : the spirit faine would do it , But that weake flesh is hardly brought vnto it . Not yet through-wak't , he leaues them slumbring stil , And fraught with feares , departs againe to pray , Impulst by weaknesse of his humane will : O Father , if this cup in no wise may Passe by , vnlesse the potion worke in me , Thy heauenly pleasure let performed be . Thus this good Shepheard , iealous of his sheepe , Whom rauening Wolues , he knowes , will soone molest , Watches with care , whilst they securely sleepe , And sighes alone , that they in peace may rest : Not sparing to ingage his proper life , To saue them all from slaughtring butchers knife . His prayer ended , he returnes againe , And finds like comfort , that he found before : They still slept hard , vnable to refraine One minutes rest ; and , which did grieue him more , So carelesse of the former words he spake , Quite vnprouided what excuse to make . O now what horror in this soule doth dwell ? ●aked of helpe , forsaken all alone , ●●ught by his bloodie foes , assail'd of hell , ●etraid , or else neglected of his owne : Giuen vp by heau'n to die with painfull shame , And bare the burden of all sinners blame . ●wake , my soule , run forth with ioy and dread , 〈◊〉 to this garden where thy Sauiour lies ; ●●ere shalt thou see the Booke of life wide spred , ●ith lessons stor'd of heauenly mysteries : There shalt thou see thy truth , thy strength , thy food , Thy way , thy life , thy light , and all thy good . ●here shalt thou see the way of patience , ●he Sun-bright lampe of burning charitie , ●he perfect patterne of obedience , ●he mirrour of profound humility , The root of loue , the goale of vertues race , The salue of sinne , and fulnesse of Gods grace . ●here shalt thou see the strength of Israels weale , ●●at valiant Dauid , thy most louing God ; ●●est to the fight , arm'd all in fiery zeale , ●●rning with hot desire to spend his blood , And wash away the foule opprobrious blot , That threats vile bondage , if he succour not . Emboldened with exceeding loue of thee , Here in these paled lists alone he stayes , Expecting till his foes arriued be : Meane while accumulating sundry wayes , With willing mind to his al-ready store , Such paines , as neuer flesh did feele before . O with what sorrow did the nobler part Of his pure soule , where Reason hath her seat , Pity th' inferiour , where weake Sense doth smart ? How faithfully for it did he intreat , Vntill at last , concorded both in one , They ioyntly cride , Father , thy will be done . Yet though this blessed Vnion did gain-say Detract of time , whereto faint flesh aspires , From the Disciples he departs away , And to his praying place againe ●et●es , And there the third time , doth with teares implore , Vsing like words as he had vsde before . When lo , an Angel gliding through the ayre , Appeares to him , from starrie Region sent , Which makes him for a while desist his prayer , To hearken what this heauenly Herald meant : Who nearer comes , with sweet speech comforteth His fainting Lord , against dismay of death . Sweet Iesu , how art thou deiected now , From sublime glory , to disgrace and feare ? Most true it is the Prophet spake , That thou Art somewhat lower made then Angels were , Since in thine agonizing languishment , To comfort thee , an Angel downe is sent . See , see , O Angel , how thy Maker lies Below , and here on earth , afflicted sore ; Whom , plac't in maiestie aboue the skies , With feare and reuerence you do all adore : Wonder of wonders , the like neuer done , How can thine eyes endure to looke thereon ? Can riuers adde vnto their fountaines slow , Through whose supply , those streames they haue , do runne ? Can branches helpe the quickning root to grow ? Or pale-fac't Moone lend light vnto the Sunne ? How canst thou , Angel , comfort then his mind , In whom thy selfe dost all thy comfore find ? But this , O man , must needs on thee be laid , Whose fleshes frailtie , and sinnes earned smart , Doth with surcharging horror so inuade : That euen almost forgetting his best part , ( His Godheads power ) be sdaines not in this dread , Of his owne creature to be comforted . And yet , alas , this comfort could not cure The death-sicke dolours of his wounded heart : But now the time grew on , his body pure , Vnto the dreadfull Crosse , must needes depart ; And rising vp , he thus to them did say , The man was neere , that should their Lord betray . No sooner had our Sauiour told this newes , But straight the traitorous Iudas with a kisse , Betraid his Lord and Master to the Iewes , A cruell act , which lost eternall blisse : The sands on shore in number are not told : His sundry faults passe number to vnfold . O let me breathe , before I do proceed : Surcharging loads will craue a little rest : The grants are small to them that stand in need , That will not bring some comfort to their brest : And he that writes what doth in wicked lurke , Shall breathe him twice before he end his worke . Looke how the Sea-fowles on a stormy day , Do flocke themselues about the Ocean shore ; As thicke as Leaues when Summer fleetes away , So throng these Iewes vnto him more and more : Cruell reward ! he ought to them good will , And they , like traitours , sought his blood to spill . ●●en from the Garden they their Master brought 〈◊〉 to the Priests and Elders of their crue : ●●ey bore false witnesse , there his life they sought . ●ch cride , that death should be his onely due : Labouring ( indeed ) as much as in them lay , To take the Life of liues , their Lord away . ●●d then from thence they drag'd him to his death : ●●en to the Crosse they nail'd his hands and feet : ●●en did they stop their blessed Sauiours breath : ●●en did they him with scornefull titles greet : And now the Scripture true is brought to passe : For he amongst the wicked counted was . 〈◊〉 now the houre of death being fully runne , ●●e heauens were darke , he to his Father cries ; 〈◊〉 God , my God , why dost thou leaue thy Sonne ? ●●d ending so , his soule from bodie flies . A happy death , since death doth make vs liue : And blest be He , that blessed life doth giue . FINIS .