The History of Christ his Life and Death .

CHrist was borne in Bethelem a little Village in Iury , not farre from Ierusalem : Mary ( a Virgin ) was his Mother , and Ioseph ( a Carpenter ) his reputed Father . He liued in the raigne of Augustus Caesar , Emperor of Rome , and was put to death in the time of Tiberius . At twelue yeares of age hée disputed in the Temple , and put downe the Doctors . He was the best Master that euer was , for hée gaue ( and to this day still giues ) Heauen to his followers , yet had but bad Seruants , for Iudas betrayed him , Peter denied him , all forsooke him . Hée was the best Sea ▪ man that euer was , for he walked vpon the Waters , and at his bidding the Windes lay still . No man euer did such Cures as he did , for hée raised the dead to life , gaue sight to the Blind , made the Lame to walke , and cast out Diuels . No man euer made such Feasts as hée , his last Supper being one , where he and his twelue Disciples sate together ▪ At which time , rising from Table , he tyed a Towell about his middle , and then washing all their féet , hée dryed them with that Towell : Another Feast was , which hée fed fiue thousands with fiue Barly Loaues and two Fishes : At another time ( béeing at a wedding ) he turned Water into Wine .

His whole life was spent in labor , in Preaching , in fasting , praying , healing sicke People , and doing myracles , yet for all this the Iewes hated him ▪ Herod dispised him , Annas , Caiphas , Pilate , the Scribes & Pharisies , with all the Doctors of the Law sate in consultation together , how to intrap him , and put him to death , and for that cause hired many false witnesses , who came in against him , but they agréed not in their testimonies : yet he was betrayed by his owne Seruant Iudas , who for thirty Roman Penes sold his Master , came to him , cryed , All hayle , and with a kisse deliuered him into the hands of such , as with Bils and Staues in the night came to apprehend him as a Thiefe ; Hée was thus haled to Prison . Then the custome of the Iewes , being ( at euery Easter ) to haue a Prisoner deliuered to them to be put to death ; and Pilate asked the people if they would haue one Barrabas ( a Malefactor ) or Christ ▪ they cryed out to haue Christ crucified , and Barrabas to be made frée . Hereupon , Christ with strong Cords was tyed to a Pillar , and with Cords & Whips scourged . At his Arraignment , he was spet vpon , and strucke ouer the face : At his comming from the Hall of Iudgment , he was whooped at , reuiled , mocked , and miserably abused . That day then which we call good Friday , béeing set downe for his day of Death , he was forced on his sore shoulders to carry his owne heauy Crosse , on which he was to suffer , & to carry it through Ierusalem , to Mount Caluarie , his place of Execution : But before this , in the open Hall , the Iewes set a Crowne of sharpe pricking Thornes vpon his head , strucke him with a Réed , and Iéered at him : To that Crosse hée was nayl'd with his Thorny Crowne on ; his Hands and Féet bored through , hung betwéene two common Théeues : His side pierced with a Speare ; Vineger and Gall giuen him to drink as he hung : Close to the Crosse stood his mother , her Sister , and Mary Magdalen : Christ said to his Mother , Woman behold thy Sonne . In the end giuing vp the Ghost , the Body was taken downe ; He was buried , yet rose againe , and was amongst his Disciples vntill be went vp into Heauen .

O See! Mans Sauiour is in Bethlem borne , His lodging base , he himselfe held in scorne , The Cribbe at which the Oxe and Asse were fedde , Mary ( Christs Mother ) makes her young Sonnes bed ; Yet see how Shepherds fall downe flat before him , And how the Wise-men doe with guifts adore him , Harke , what a heauenly Qurre of Angells sing Sweet Carrols , at the birth of this new King ; O happy man ! when thus , ( thy Soule to saue , ) Christ comes from Heauen , and makes himselfe a Slaue . SEe else that Pillar , where being naked bound , Thy Christ had his flesh tore with many a wound ▪ When a Cocke crowes , let it this griefe afford , To thinke how Peter ( thrice ) denyed his Lord ; See Iudas Lanthorne , and see Iudas Pence , See the Dice throwne , to vncloath Innocence ; See Pincers , Nailes , and Hammers , how they meere , To naile to th' Crosse , Christs blessed Hands and Feet : O Wretched Man ! where Christ for thee thus dyed , Let him not still by thee be Crucified .

Christus Natus est

Quando ?

Hac Nocte

Vbi .

Bethlem

〈◊〉 in excelsis .

H 〈…〉

depiction of Nativity of Christ And for Debts which Men should Pay , Downe his Life at Stake did lay . ✚ Here 's a Wonder neuer knowne , A King a Manger makes his Throne .

An Epitaph vpon Christ , who was Buried in a new Tombe , cut out of a Rocke , in which no Man but he was euer inclosed . WIthin this Rocke the Rocke himselfe is layd , Who both the Tombe , and the Tomb-maker made , A Man he was , was no such man beside , None liu'd so iust , none so vniustly dyed : He was in debt for nothing , yet did pay The debts of all the World at a set day . Neuer of Woman could so much be said , When he was borne his Mother was a Mayd . He many wonders wrought ▪ and this a chiefe , A very bad Man , made he a Good Theife . It happened well , he so by Iewes was Cross'd , For all the Soules i' th World had els bin lost . Thirty-three yeares be liu'd : Had not he beene , No Christian vpon Earth had ere bin seene . He dyed a King , yet was a Begger borne , And wore ( which no Kings doe ) a Crowne of Thorne . First went he to his Graue , from thence , to Hell , Then vp to Heauen ▪ And there this King doth dwell .