Hebdomada sacra: A weekes deuotion: or, Seuen poeticall meditations vpon the second chapter of St. Matthewes gospell. Written, by Roger Cocks.

A WEEKES DEVOTION .

Sundaies Meditation , or the first Canto for the first day . The Argument . Christs obscure Birth describ'd , the Place , To which he did vouchsafe such Grace . The Time when he was borne is nam'd : The Iew for vnbeliefe is blam'd . WHen Caesar famous for his Gallian warre , Had ended that vnnaturall ciuill jarre , Twixt him and Pompey , and by his defeat , Got him a greater name than that of great , Perpetuall Dictator , Enuie rose To ioyne with coward Murder , and depose Vertue from bearing rule , the Senate made A bloudy shambles , and a couert shade . For horrid treason , was the fatall place , Where his blacke tragedie was wrought , in base Vnmanly manner , falling by the hand , Of an vnthankefull Brutus : the command , Of Romes faire Empire then in three did lie , Augustus , Lepidus , and Anthonie : Lepidus soone gaue o're , whether in doubt , Had he held still , he could not long hold out , Or for some other reason , t'other twaine , Shar'd equally Romes glorie , and the gaine Of forraine kingdomes , till at length there past , ( For great mens freindship doth not alwaies last ) Vnkindnesse twixt them , Anthonie had wed Augustus Sister , but forsooke her bed , For Aegypts Cleopatra , This gaue fire To new dissention , his vniust desire Must be made good by Armes , for gentle words Turne him to furie , our impartiall Swords Shall soone decide this difference said he , And soone they did indeed , fate did agree To second his proud saying , for his forces , Broke by Augustus powers , he life diuorces , From her weake hold , and being thus o'recome , Caesar went backe triumphant vnto Rome . Augustus now hauing sole rule , soone brought His Prouinces in awe , all humblie sought To haue his friendship , some few ▪ did rebell , But with vndaunted courage he did quell Their vaine attempts , and to his fames encrease , Establisht through the world a welcome peace . While Ianus Temple was shut vp and warre , Chas'd backe to Plutoes kingdome , while no iarre Kept out soule-ioyning concord , whose sweete art Did Speares to Mattockes , Swords to Plowes conuert , While Noahs Doue brought in her mouth ( the Marke Of generall peace ) and Oliue Branch to th' Arke , Christ the celestiall Salomon was borne , That King of peace , whose Amalthaean horne , Powr'd peace and plenty on vs ; so they say , That when the Eagle flies abroad to prey , The pratling birds are silent , should not then Warres tongue be silent , when the best of men Like to a Royall Eagle from his nest , Came from the Virgins wombe in manhood drest . When Halcyons build their nest , & breed their yong , The Seas are quiet , the winde findes no tongue , 'T was fit the world should haue the like behauiour , When the pure Virgin did bring forth our Sauiour . Philosophers obserue the dewes descent , Is in a cleare night , when the winde is pent Aristotle . In Aeols prison : and the Prophet told Christ should come downe like dew , and such , behold , Was his sweet entrance , neuer was the earth So much refresht by dew , as by his birth , Fit was it then for warres loud noise to cease , That this dew might come in a calme of peace . If in two Kingdomes , suppose Spaine and France , Which long in hostile manner did aduance . Armes against armes , one Kings eldest sonne Marries the others daughter , warres are done , And they which earst contended eagerly , Now meet in loue , and feast in royalty , So stood the case with vs , by faire pretence , Malicious Satan made man to commence A warre with God , a warre that would haue wrought His endlesse ruine , had not mercie sought A meanes to settle peace , the onely son Of the Almightie , when he did put on That veile of flesh , did by it fast combine Our humane nature to his owne diuine , And made a reconcilement , which no power Can breake or time weare out , though euery houre Satan attempt new practises , and Hell Spit out her rankest venome , to expell Man from his Makers fauour , but her spite Falls on her head redoubled , while delight Crownes our desires , such happy vnion gan The blest Messias make 'twixt God and man . No sooner had Augustus brought each land Luke 2. Into subiection , but by his command A generall Taxe was laid on euery nation , Iudea 'mongst the rest , by Proclamation , Each person to his natiue city went There to be taxed : O that men were bent With ready minde , and prompt alacrity , To yeeld obedience vnto Gods decree , As well as Caesars , in the ranke of those Who with submissiue dutie did dispose Their wills to this edict , a blessed paire : Ioseph the iust , Mary the chast and faire , Both Abrahams issue , both of Dauids stemme , Came vnto Dauids City , Bethlehem , There to be taxed , as the Law requir'd , She being neere her time , which soone expir'd , While they were there the dayes accomplished , That the pure Virgin should be brought to bed , And yet that phrase ist but improper heere , Because the Inne , though full of guests , yet cleare , Of Grace and goodnesse , would afford no roome , Where she might child her issue , her ripe wombe , Found , saue a stable , no conuenient place , To rest it selfe , hard hearts whom such a case , Mou'd to no pitty , heere she forth did bring The Worlds Redeemer , heauens eternall King . A King , where were the nobles of his Court ? Where all his followers ? Where the full resort Of honourable Matrons ? to attend Vpon his mother , was there neere a Friend To giue soft musique ? by whose gentle touch Her sorrowes might be swagde , did all hearts grutch To lend assistance ? at a Princes birth The voice of ioy speakes high , and from the earth , Vnnumbred fires to such perfection grow , As they would make another heauen below , Heere all was husht and silent , to his owne Christ came vnentertaind , because vnknowne . But why , O Lord , wert thou thus poorely borne ? Why didst thou make thy selfe to be a scorne To after Ages ? Was it to conceale Thy Deity from Satan ? or reueale Thy vnexampled goodnesse vnto man ? The like whereof , since time and place began To circumscribe our actions , was not knowne , Nor shall vnto succeeding age be showne . As Israels King did once his habite change , 1. King . 22. When he wagde warre 'gainst Syria and did range The field in strange disguise : So Christ our King Whom an vnbounded loue from heauen did bring , To fight gainst hellish Syrians , and by armes To giue vs freedome from death-threatning harmes , Exchang'd his habite for bright Maiestie , Clothing himselfe with base infirmity : If some great King put on his royall Crowne , And regall ornaments , he may be knowne , But if his Kingly dignity he hide In vile aray , he may passe vndiscried . So had our kingly Sauiour cloth'd with light As with a garment , come at first in sight , He would haue then beene knowne vnto his foe , And none haue dar'd once to exchange a blow That he might therefore come vnto the fight Vnknowne , this King of Israel had him dight In strange aray : A Stable was his Throne , A Cratch his Cradle , His attendance none , With hunger , thirst , disgrace , and pouerty , Our Sauiour couered his diuinity . Loe here full low he in a Cratch doth lie , Who sometimes on the winged wind doth flie , Esai . 66. 1 ▪ And he whose throne is heau'n , whose footstoole earth Hath but a sordid Stable at his Birth : O had not man layne miserably defil'd In sinnes polluted Stable , this faire Child Had found a better lodging , but 't was fit That he which is our food , the sweetest bit That euer mortall tasted , should be laid In a poore Manger , since it may be said , Men were turn'd worse then beasts , and therefore they Bernard . To be refresht as beasts that feede on Hay . The ancient Prophets had foretold of yore That Bethlehem was the place whereas ybore , Should the Messias been : the learned read The word to signifie the house of bread : Whether because for fruitefulnesse and food , It as a store-house to the countrey stood , So 'mongst the ancient Romans Sicily Horreum Italiae . Tully . Was sometimes called the barne of Italy : Or because Christ true heauenly bread indeed , Whereon our soules , and not our mouthes doe feed , Was there brought forth , so fathers moralize , Hierom. Gregory . Indeed from him all bread that doth suffice Our soules and bodies is deriu'd : he giues Corporall bread , by which the body liues : Doctrinall bread he also doth affoord , And this we call his holy heauenly Word , Bread Sacramentall , in which we receiue Spiritually the Giuer , and conceiue A blessed vnion made in a strange fashion , By Faith , and not by transubstantiation : In fine , celestiall bread he doth dispose At his eternall Table , vnto those Which are his Seruants whose delicious tasting Shall giue our bodies an immortall lasting . In Iosephs time the come of Aegypt land , Genes. 41. Was without number , like the Ocean sand , Bethlem had greater plenty at Christs Birth , For heere was bread to nourish all the earth , And of more blest continuance : those full cares In Pharaohs countrey lasted but seuen yeares , Leane famine then tooke place : our Bethlehems store ( As inexhausted ) lasts for euermore : There the Aegyptians when they wanted Cates , Were faine to buy them at excessiue rates . Heere Bread like to the Prophets Milke and Wine , Esai . 55. 1. A man may purchase without price or coyne : And therefore as all nations in their neede , To Ioseph came for corne , whereon to feede : So let all people vnto Bethlehem haste , And seeke out the true Ioseph which is plac'd By the celestiall Pharaoh o're the earth , To furnish men with corne , against the dearth Threatning the soules destruction , who will giue If they but aske , enough for them to liue Heere , and heereafter , where they shall be fed , In an eternall house of liuing bread . Thrice happy Bethlehem , thou blest house of bread On whom the Sunne of glorie first did spread : The comfortable beames of his man God Vnited nature , and there made abode : But O more happy they , within whose heart Faith giues him second birth , and will not part With this blest store , I would our soules might be The Bethlehem of his Natiuity : But ere this can be so , we must put on Mystically such a condition , As that place had : first Bethlehem did seeme But little in extent , lesse in esteeme , The least of Iudahs thousands : So must we , If we expect a blest renascency Micah . 5. 3. Of Christ within our soules , or would inherit The purchase of his all-sufficient merit . Be meane , and little in our owne esteeme , How great , how good soeuer we may seeme : In others iudgement : euery Christian knowes That Christ a Lilly is , but such as growes In the low valley of an humble minde , Cant. 2. 1. Not on proud mountaine tops , and as we finde Flouds run not vp steep cliffs , but through low grounds Conueigh their current : So his Grace surrounds With a sweet streame of goodnesse , only those , Which like low bottomes humbly doe dispose Themselues to that blest moisture , we must then If we would haue our Christ the best of men Spiritually borne in vs , all agree To be a Bethlehem in humility . Againe we must be storehouses of bread , To feed the hungry , he that doth not spread A wing of mercy on the poore shall finde , Christ will not house them there , the supple minde Like pliant waxe , loues gentle fire must soften Ere he imprint his seale , and we must often Eccles. 11. 1. Cast our bread on the waters , if we looke That he which humane nature on him tooke , To saue the world , while here we liue on earth , Should haue within our hearts a second birth . Now was the Scepter tane from Iudahs hand , Nor 'twixt his feete sate he , who did command The Lawes coerciue power : an argument Gen. 49. 10. The promis'd Shilo was already sent Blind Iew , which dazeled with abundant light , Sit'st like a dull Aegyptian , in the night Of soule-deluding error , could record Of ancient Prophets , make thee giue thy Lord No better welcome , wilt thou yet denie This firme vnquestion'd truth obstinate eye Shut vp in wilfull blindnesse , let the place Where Christ was borne , the time when , from the chase This cloud of darkenesse , looke not still in vaine For thy Messias , who till all againe Turne into Chaos , shall no more be sent What time for want of faith thou shalt be shent And sentenc'd to destruction , if in time , Thy teares like Iordan wash not out thy crime . But as when Moses was in Aegypt borne , Exod. 2. He was of his owne mother as forlorne Cast out into the riuer , and there found By Pharaohs daughter , who from being dround Preseru'd the Infant , and with tender care Brought vp this foundling , as her wombe had bare , That goodly Hebrew : So was Christ bereau'd Of a glad welcome by the Iewes , receiu'd By the now happier Gentiles , happier farre Then Abrahams issue , whom so bright a Starre Cannot enlighten , but his word despise , And 'gainst the Sun of glory shut their eyes .

Mondaies Meditation , or the second Canto . The Argument . The Magi come out of the East , Vnto Ierusalem , in quest Of the Messias , and enquire , But meet not there their full desire . BEhold while Gideons fleece , the Iuyce is dry , Iugd. 6. His floore ( the Gentiles ) doth it selfe apply To drinke the heauenly dew : From Hebers land A countrey farre in the east parts did stand , But in what place vncertaine , whether Persia , Neerer Chaldea , or the farthest India , ( Each haue their seuerall authors ) did send forth Primitiae Gentium . Augustin . These first fruits of the Gentile ( whose high worth Makes them thought kings by some ) I dare not say Only from thence they came , from whence the day Breakes , and Aurora chases thence blacke night , Where Sol first rising shewes his glorious light , And guilds the lofty mountaines , whence his beames Reflect a brightnesse on the easterne streames . Whether these wise men came from Abrahams line , Yet not of Sarahs off-spring , some assigne Keturah their grand-mother , or begot By Baalams successor , or t is not Materiall to examine , so to lay For firme position , were to much to say : Whether they were Magicians as some thinke , And such who for deepe science chose to linke Their Soules to Satan , or Philosophers Morall and naturall , or Astronomers , ( To which opinion I assent thus farre , Because we finde God call'd them by a starre I list not to examine may 't suffice , They haue this only title they were wise . Wise men indeed , it is true wisedomes lore , To seeke for Christ , and neuer to giue ore Till we haue found him , so did these that came Out from the East , would we could doe the same . It is a rare thing to be skil'd in arts Abstrusest cunning ▪ and to haue all parts That better humane knowledge , but to know Christ , is more worth , then all that art can show : And therefore as when Phoebus 'gins to rise , The starres ecclipsed lustre hidden lies From eye of mortall ; So when as diuine Soule-quickning wisedome , as the Sun doth shine , Each humane science like a petty starre , Must vaile vnto it : as a ship from farre Spying the Kings ride on the narrow seas , When she comes neere ( though little for her ease ) Bends her proud head , and doth withouten faile , In most submissiue manner strike her Sai●e . See here the ( ne're enough to be admir'd ) Attractiue power of Christ , by which ensp●rd To finde their Sauiour out , with ioyfull hearts These Magi come from the remotest parts : The Sun doth not exhale more forcibly The purest vapours vp , the Loadstone nigh The Sympathetique steele , makes it not cling , More close vnto it , then this heauenly King , ( His innate vertue did such loue distill ) Made their affections cleaue vnto his will . 2. King . 10. That Sheba's Queene drawne by the bare report Of Salomons faire vertue , left her Court , For Iudah's countrey may full strange appeare , But see then Salomon a greater heere . Luke 11. 31. More strange to Christ the comming of those wise , Then hers to Salomon we must agnize : She was but one alone , they many were , She but a woman , they men , she came there Led by the tongue of Fame , but they from farre Were guided by the leading of a starre : She came to one whose riper yeeres did speake Him growne to mans estate : they to a weake And tender Infant : She to one that swaid A royall Scepter ; They to one was laid In a poore Manger ; She came but to trie The truth of Fame , and curiously to spie His state and knowledge , in effect meere vanity : They to adore their God in his humanity : In fine we finde her comming is exprest From forth the South : but theirs is from the east . Like as the Sun when he doth first display His radiant lustre , and with lightsome day Breake from the East , and getting in his throne Fixt in the middle of the heauenly Zone , Makes his diurnall progresse to the West , And then returnes againe into the East : So those wise men doe first their iourney gin , From out the East nor did they euer lin ; Till to Ierusalem the West they came , And fitly may this occidentall name Be giuen to it , since the glorious Sun Of righteousnesse hauing his course runne , Did there sit red and bloudy , there he died , Who for the sinne of man was crucified , From thence they Eastward passe , and neuer cease Till to their countrey they come backe in peace . Of all the parts in the worlds continent The East hath aye beene held most excellent . Whether because that fruitfull Paradice , Was planted Eastward or that Sol doth rise There in his glory , or that the day spring Is made an attribute to heauens great King : Luke 1. 78. Hence is it that in Churches ( when addrest In Prayer to God ) we looke vnto the East . Either because the earths most honoured part Iustin Martyr . To the Almighties worship we conuert : Or because Paradice , which Eastward stood , Lost first by Adam's fall , and since made good Greg. Nysse . By Christ our Sauiour , we by looke desire : Or cause the Lambe of God , which did expire Vpon the Crosse , extended to the West , Damascen . We to behold him looke into the East ; For many causes which might be assign'd , This quarter of the World , the East , we find In high repute , of which the least in worth Is not , that such wise men it did bring forth . Well doth the title with the place accord , Wise from the East , for easterne parts affoord Best intellectuals : so when holy writ Would Salomon commend for rarest wit , This Elogie it giues , he did exceede , 1. King . 4. 30. The best of those , which the East parts did breede : As if the men which did inhabite there , Then all the rest of mortals wiser were , Which commonly is so , either because Of Phoebus neere vicinity , which drawes Grosse vapours thence , and by his quickning ray , Refines the fluent bloud , whose pure allay Giues vigour to the Spirits : So we see That Plants by Gardners carefull industry Set , that the morning Sun may on them glow , Doe soonest ripe , and to perfection grow : So natures well red secretaries say , That in the morne of all times , of the day , The fairest Pearles are generate , and most bright Then shines the gold Excelling Chrysolite ▪ Or happely in wisedome they excell , Cause our first Parents in the East did dwell , And might to their Successors , more confin'd Some monuments of knowledge leaue behind , How fitly come they from the East , t' expresse The rising of the Sun of righteousnesse : And with the glad report of this bright morrow Bernard . To chase from humane hearts the night of sorrow , From thence they come , from whence the day is borne ▪ And Phoebus hides the blushes of the morne , That from the place where the day gins to cleare , Chrysost. Faith the soules day-light also might appeare Where after Adam was create of earth , Gan humane bodies first to haue their birth , After our blessed Sauiours Incarnation , The soule did 〈◊〉 receiue Regeneration , Where sinne and nature first beginning had , There G 〈…〉 and truth arise , where mischiefe clad In mercies habite did first ●●ine man His blessed reparation there began Indeede 't was fit that part which did begin To poison humane nature with foule sin , Should send forth those that did in Grace excell , And of a generall Antidote foretell . Within the heart of Iudahs fertile land , Salem the soiles Metropolis did stand , builded by Shem , the Magi to this place , Arriue , in hope to see their Sauiours face ; And where indeed on humane state to ground , Was the Messias likelier to be found , To see the King where could they haue opinion , If not in the chiefe seate of his Dominion : To finde the heart , they that body the enter , Seeke out the midst , because there lies the Center . Christ was our head , and where could men expect Him , but in Shem's faire Citty , which erect Aboue the rest in Iudah , did so stand As doth the head the body to command Iosephus . Ierusalem the vision of peace Imports , as Learned say , sterne warre did cease , When Christ was borne , where then could make abode Better then in Ierusalem the God Of Peace and Mercie ? Was not there the Court ? Why should the King be absent ? the resort Of Priests was thither ; there the Altar stood , Why should not Christ the Sacrifice , whose bloud Did expiate our sinnes , be also there ? There was the Temple , whose faire frame vpreare Did Salomon the wise , but since despoyld Herod in greater beauty did rebuild : Why should not then the Temples God abide In such a place , so highly beautified ? To question this no more , 't was Gods behest , Nor are the greatest places still the best : Experience tells vs , Christ is sometimes found In a poore smoakie cottage , when the ground Of goodly Palaces , pau'd with fairest stone , And Roomes of choisest beauty stand alone Vnuisited by him , he may receiue Birth in a petty cottage , while him reaue Of life a city doth : So was it here , As plaine in sacred Story doth appeare : Bethlehem at first into the world him sent , Ierusalem out of the world him hent , I' th first of these a cradle he did finde , But in the last a Graue was him assign'd , Borne , though obscurely borne , at Bethlehem , And crucified at Ierusalem : The wise men then at Salem may enquire , But shall not there find out their Soules desire . But why , O Lord , since there thou wast not then , Didst thou permit those well deuoted men To wander from their way , and goe about , Protracting time in seeking of thee out : Did their owne error leade them from the way ? And thou in iustice suffer them to stray ? Subtracting from them thy starres glorious light , Bernard . Because they trusted more to humane might , Then thy assisting power : into my thought It cannot sinke , that ignorance then brought But their all carefull prouidence , whose hand Makes all our actions waite on thy command : Perhaps it was thy will these men should come First , to Ierusalem , lest they should rome Vncertainely about , for their records Of ancient Prophets , kept , could shew the Lords Most certaine place of birth and as one saith Informe their knowledge and confirme their Faith : Chrysost. Or it may be as Legates thou didst send These Magi vnto Salem , to the end The Iewes might their Messias Birth discerne , And these teach others , while they seeke to learne , Or was it not to stirre vp Isaacs Line , To seeke their Sauiour out , when thus combine Chrysost. They saw the Gentiles : or as some conclude To argue them of foule ingratitude , Who would not their Messias entertaine Augustine . Whom they saw strangers seeke with so much paine ? O let not vs like these hard-hearted Iewes Out of a wilfull blindnesse thus refuse Grace freely offred , let these wiser men Leade vs by their example , how and when To seeke out Christ , but yet take heed their fashion Be not abus'd by apish imitation : As 't is by Iesuited Rome , which drawes From hence her pilgrimage to Saints , because The Magi come to Salem , who indeed Their action giues no countenance , nor our Creed Warrant to this deuice , for but compare The Romanists with them , and they will share No correspondencie at all , vnlesse A kinde of poore resemblance they expresse , In their long iourneys , and their larger gifts , They offer at their shrines , impotent shifts For their grosse Idoll worship ; first we know The wise men taught by God to Salem goe , He blest that iourney which they had begun , And sent a Starre to leade them to a Sun : These haue no starre at all , the heauenly Word , That light vnto our feet , doth them afford No helpe in all their iourney , ne haue they The starre of Faith to guide them in the way : Blind zeale may hale them forward , or perchance Humane tradition may it selfe aduance But as a wandring Plannet , no true guide , Or else the like doth vnto them betide , Which doth to those , who iourneying in the night Espie an Ignis fatuus , whose false light Leads them ore ditch and hedge , though dirt & mire , His maine inuention is iust such a fire , Deluding those that follow it , let me say Romes Pilgrimes are thus guided in their way : Againe the Magi seeke for Christ alone , Mat. 2. 2. Where 's Judahs King ? O shew vs him or none ▪ Whereas the Romish Pilgrimes Christ forsake , And for their Sauiour vnto Saints them take : The wise men came Christ liuing to behold ; These but dead rotten reliques to vnfold : They came to worship God ; these idle drones Come but to worship sencelesse stocks and stones : Shall we then say , these imitate the wise ? Alas , I cannot , no we must deuise To follow them a better way then this , Or finde we shall not , cause we seeke amisse : And would ye know , wherein to imitate These blessed Magi ? Let it be in that Which is praise-worthy , as their care and paine , To finde out Christ , for as the learned saine , They tooke their iourney when the colder ayre , Chang'd dewes to frosts , when winters siluer haire Stucke full of Snow , and Boreas bitter breath Blew numbnesse on their limbs : yet did pale death Stand , as the Angell stood in Balaams way Numb . 22. With a drawne Sword , their bodies he might stay , Not their affections , they went forward still , Choosing to die , rather then want their will , Like them , so vs no rub , no barre should hold From Iudahs King : As couetous for gold , Ambitious after honour : So must we Seeke Christ , with feruour and alacrity : Religion is not bred in sloth and ease , The sweat of labour , ere she God can please , Must sit vpon her brow : yet see we are Happy in this , we need not iourney farre To finde Christ out , our lot so faire doth stand , That we may still keepe in our natiue land , And meet our wishes , Christ is to be found Within our Kingdome , in the hallowed ground , Whereon our Temples stand , each Sacrament , May euery good soule is his continent : Yet we to finde him out ( so meane our care ) More slow then Snailes , more lame then Cripples ar● : O how shall the great care and diligence Of those , condemne our sloth and negligence ? How should we feare , since in offence we stand Equall with Iudah , Gods all-powerfull hand Should throw downe vengeance on vs , and our eyes ●est that faire light which now they doe despise . The countrey of these Magi was the East , And commonly men loue their owne soile best , Yet ready prest they in obedience stand , To leaue ( as Abraham did ) their natiue land : When that blest Maid and Mother lost her sonne , At her returne from Salem , as vndone Without him ( who can haue so great a losse And not goe home againe by weeping crosse ? ) She sought him sorrowing 'mongst her friends & kin , Luke 2. But could not finde him , she might there begin Her search anew , Christ is not alwayes found 'Mongst kindred and acquaintance , if the ground That gaue vs birth , will not our Lord receiue , For him we must our natiue countrey leaue , Our Friends , our home , and stranger places greet , Though our owne Jthaca be nere so sweet . Thrice happy is that man , which can with these Forsake his soile , bannish neglect and ease , Goe from the East of pleasure , till he finde Ierusalem , that is , the peace of minde . Now had the Magi found this City out , Where Sion stood , and walking round about , ( Not to suruay the building or behold The stately Temple , richly deckt with gold ) Enquire for Iudahs King , her new borne King , This seem'd to Jsaacs Line an vncouth thing , They knew the Scepter was from Iudah gone , And Herod who was now their King , was one Inaugur'd by the Romanes , therefore they Pos'd by this question , knew not what to say : But the wise men the more they found them slow , To answer , were the more inflam'd to know : Tell vs we pray ( for we desire to learne ) Where liues this Infant King ? we can discerne No signe of ioy , to make vs thinke him heere : O then where is he ? we account not deare Our trauell or expence , so we may gaine The long-wisht sight of Iudahs Soueraigne : That he is borne , we doe true tidings bring , Borne yours , your promis'd , your expected King , Borne in your Countrey , what we speake we know , What we haue seene we willingly will show , We haue his starre seene , whose vnusuall light , Shone in our easterne climate , and made night Excell the day in beauty : There 's no cause You should suspect we come to breake your Lawes , Or to inuade your Kingdome , for we bring No armed troupes to set vpon your King , We doe not come as spies , to vnderstand The fruitfulnesse and strength of this your land , Our trauell is not to encrease our wealth , By traffique with you , or by priuate stealth To get your treasure , see , we bring great store Of costly spices , and rich Indian Ore , Vnto this royall Infant to present , Which with submissiue reuerence our intent Is to lay downe before him , and fallow Our selues before his footestoole , for we know That more then man is in him , and are come Thus farre to worship him : This is the summe Of all our wishes , let but your report Be our direction , to this Princes Court : This said they ceast , but none can them resolue In their demand , which doth their soules inuolue With a new cloud of sorrow , in which plight A while I leaue them , till a clearer light ●nfuse more knowledge , time ere long will bring The deuout Magi , to this new borne King .

Tuesdaies Meditation , or the third Canto . The Argument . Herod and his the Newes appalls , The King in haste a counsell calls : Next to conferre in secret wise , He with the Magi doth deuise . BY this time same hauing new impt her wings , Flies from the City to the Court , and brings Newes of these mens arriuall , and the end Of their intended iourney : to commend Their diligence Court-Parasites will striue , Like Ahimaaz and Cushi , who shall thriue ● . Sam. 18. Best in their expedition : Princes eares Doe like their hands reach farre , and tyrants feares Place Spies in euery corner , whose close art Sliely insinuates into the Heart , Of the abused Subiect , and from thence Drawes danger on his head , vnder pretence Of more then common kindenesse , what he find● Sincerely spoken from plaine meaning minds , He poysons in report , when he it beares To his Kings greedy , all-suspecting eares . After this tatling goddesse once had spread This Newes abroad ▪ and buz'd into the head Of fawning Sycophants , a pick-thanke tale , Looke how a ship driuen with a fore-right gale Cuts through the Ocean : they hie fast to court , And to sterne Herod make a loud report . No sooner had fame toucht the tyrants eare , But that his coward bloud gaue way to feare , To take possession of him , that he stood Astonisht at the newes : the raging floud When the fierce winds impetuously doe blow , And in their vnresisted fury throw The angry billowes , 'gainst the sandy shore Spits not out some , or doth more loudly roare , Then vexed Herod , who did inly burne , When ycie feare to fiery rage did turne . Like as a siluer Current , whose cleare strea●● When sweetly guilded by the lightsome beame Of gold-lockt Phoebus , it reflects a light , Becomes a pleasant obiect to the sight , But if some ruder Swaine disturbe the floud By taking in it , fetching dirt and mud The water thickens , and begins to looke More like a foule sinke , then a christ all b●ooke : So while the riuer of man's life runs cleare , And Sun-like reason , from his lofty spheare Guilds it with beauty , 't is a precious thing , Surpassing Thames and Isis , or that spring Which fond N●rcissus in his iourney found , In which the selfe-admiring Boy was drown'd , But if that passion easie passage finde , It soone disturbs the quiet of the minde , Then the Conceit growes muddy to the brinke , Like puddle , bad to view , but worse to drinke . So stood the case with Herod , and indeed Suspicious Tirants seldome better speed : A panicke ●er●out takes them oftentimes , When none seeke to offend them , but their crimes : And reason good , for this truth hath beene said , He whom all feare , of all must be afraid : Seneca . O heauy burthen of a Monarches crowne , O Pillow stuft with thornes , and not with dowlne , O glorious bondage seldome blest with age , O lofty building subiect to the rage Of storme and tempest , O faire guilded Cup Containing poison , who would take thee vp , ( So once a Macedonianking did say , ) Antigonus Though he should stumble on thee in the way . As a faire roome at some great nuptiall feast Hung with rich Arras , and each corner drest With costly furniture , heere goodly plate , There curious glasses , all set out in state , Tables well wrought , with perfum'd damaske couer'd , Embroder'd stooles , nothing amisse or slubber'd , By some rude fray of the distemper'd guest ( As with the Centaures at the Lapythes Feast ) O 〈…〉 Becomes disordered , so that all the frame Nought but a Chaos you can iustly name : Such a confused heape was Iudah's King , When fame humming about his eares , did sting His very heart and soule , with the report Of a new riuall , to his Crowne and Court . Now gan remembrance of his Tyrant raigne ●o torture him with an vnwonted paine , ●he stormie rage which on his subiects fell He thinkes they will reuenge , and now rebell , Dismaid at this , he doth begin to moane him , As if they came already to dethrone him : F 〈…〉 e is an ill Interpreter of things , Especially within the hearts of kings : He thinkes that strangers will inuade his land In hostile manner , and with powe●full hand , Expell him thence , and in his seate aduance The new borne Infant : then he sees a glance Of a great Persian Hoste , that hard at hand , Haue got already at their full command The bulwarke of his kingdome , Salems towne , Or else the Magi durst not vp and downe Make such enquiry , quite against his will , Who with a very frowne was wont to kill : Mou'd with the wind of different thoughts he raues , Like the barke , beaten by the furious waues Of the enchafed floud : the Deuill too Exagitates his minde , yet doubtfull who The new-borne Infant was : he knew decreed Gen. 3. 15. A time in fate , wherein the womans seed Should break the Serpents head : As when the queene Of heauen , fiercely enrag'd with iealous spleene Against Alcmena , and her Ioue-borne sonne From Affricke brought two Snakes to seaze vpon His infant body , that their gripe so fierce Might cause his cradle to become his Herse , But young Alcides made his tender hands About the Serpents such death-threatning bands , They could not hurt him , squeesing them so sore , That 'twixt his fingers a foule purple gore Issued apace , in which their life was drown'd , Then let them drop quite sencelesse to the ground : So stood the case , when as dissention rose Bet●ixt this royall Infant and his foes : H●rod and Satan two foule Serpens were , Whom this new Hercules did squeese with feare Of his all-powerfull hand , they both did dread Their kingdomes ruine , and by this were led Into vnwonted troubles , Satan thought ▪ That this was he , by whom was to be wrought ( As a new Moses ) Israels Redemption From Hels proud Pharaoh , and a full exemption From all Aegyptian bondage , which oppression Lay heauie vpon man for his transgression : This troubled Satan in infernall shade , And with new horrour did his thoughts inuade : Like as the greedy wolfe , when as he spies The carefull Shepheard neere , or heares the cries Of the fierce Mastife troubled therewithall , A chilling feare his sences doth apall : So woluish Satan when he saw so neere , The Shepheard of our soule , a deadly feare Tooke hold vpon him , and disturb'd him so , As doth the presence of a powerfull Foe A weake opponent : rob'd of his content , He vexes Herod his fit instrument , Knowing that feare of such a danger will Stirre vp a care , how to preuent his ill , Regardlesse so he may securely raigne Though deepe in blood he doe his hand ingraine , Well hoping this distraction would him bring To seeke the ruine of the new borne King . That such a Tyrant should so farre giue way To his perplexed thoughts , and so dismay With feare of future troubles his weake minde , Is not to be admir'd : But when I finde That all Ierusalem was rent in sunder With him in this strange Passion , then I wonder She , that as one or'eioy'd at this new birth Should haue exprest a triumph and with mirth Haue crownd her browes , she that doth represent A peacefull city , and with full content Should the great King of peace haue entertain'd , Was at Christs birth , as in her trauell , paind . But wonder not , a Princes fashion Is soone obseru'd by Subiects imitation : Cameleons cannot into colours turne Faster then Courtiers : if their Soueraigne mourne Blacke clouds of sorrow couer all their face , If smile , they change their copie ; 't is a grace : Clysophus thinkes to be without an eye , If Philip be but blind : to goe awry If Alexander doe so : Parasites Are iust like glasses to their Princes sights , Fitly resembling euery looke they haue , Merry or sad , ridiculous or graue : And as the Eccho answereth the voice Iuuenal . Satyr . 3. In the same tone it speakes , if it reioyce Sending forth ioyfull accents , if it sorrow Vtter , as sad a language it doth borrow . So Herods Courtiers Eccho-like , but sound What they receiue from him by a rebound : Thus with him these ( true royalties worst bane ) Sea-like , or like the moone doe waxe and wane . Another sort of Courtiers , Herods friends Did sympathize with him , but in their ends Much differing from the former , some did doubt A new commenced warre , others more stout , Expected alteration , for the Theame It is best fishing in the troubled streame , Did whet desire , onely they did not know Which part to side on , when the storme should grow And this perplext them : A third sort there were Of grauer Citizens ; much dismaid with feare , That Herod vexed at this strange report Would wreake his spleene on them : or if the court Should change her King they fear'd a heauier yoake , For seldome comes the better when the stroake Falls from a farre-fetcht hand , it heauier lights To haue an vnknowne Prince it euen affrights Their vnderstanding : As that vlcerous man , Stucke full of flies , when some in pitty 'gan To chace them thence , cryed out in piteous wise , O doe not wrong me so , these full fed flies Now sated with my bloud , I well can beare , But if you driue them thence , I much doe feare New ones will fill their places , and the ease You thinke to doe me , me farre more displease : So these thought better , with the rusticke swaine Once to digge vp Antigonus againe , And to endu●e those flies that had their fill , Rather then new ones , which more bloud might swill . The common sort seeing their soueraigne sad , Thought it their dutie also to be clad In the minds mourning habite : Princes are Like the first mouer to the lower starre , Vnto the Subiects , by their swifter motion They draw them strongly to their owne deuotion : And as a Horse though full of force and spirit Backt by a skilfull Rider seemes ●i●herite His will and iudgement , one while standing still , Then paci●g , running , bounding at his will , So fares it twixt the Subiect and the King , Backt by the Prince Rules snaffle doth him bring To what his sou●raigne please : the King 's th' head , The ●ubiect are the members , which doe spread And grow from thence , now when the head 's diseas'd How ●hould the members but be much displea'd ? But here a doubt is mou'd , Must Subiects still Conforme their manners to their soueraignes will ? May not Ierusalem with faire intent , In this , or like perplexitie dissent , From troubled Herod , must the Princes fashion Still leade the Subiect to an imitation ? Not so , Kings are but men , and so may erre , The King of Kigs Edict we must preferre Before a mortals : though Augustus say , Doe this , if God forbide it , to obey Is to become a traytor ? Gods Command Compar'd with mans , must like an Ocean stand , To swallow vp that drop , to quench that sparke , As Idoll Dagon fell before the Arke ; As starres are hidden when the Sun doth shine : So humane lawes must stoope vnto diuine . The tyrant thus with feare perturb'd , at last Summons his wits together , and doth cast How to preuent all danger , and in minde Reuoluing many things , at length doth finde No better course can with his safety stand , Then by an Edict sent throughout his land , To call a counsell , and lest by delay He might incurre a hazzard , men that day With speciall writs to further his intent Goe out , and summon straight a Parlaiment : In this , though else full of impietie , Herod to Kings a President may be , Not on their owne sole iudgement to relie , But to consult with their graue counsels eie , Which can see farre into high points of state , And deepest matters learnedly debate . Well knew the cunning Tyrant how to make A fit Election , and such men to take As his designe might further : for which cause He conuocates the wisest in the Lawes , And those whom he knew fittest to expound Old Prophesies , and misteries profound , For Priests and Elders , with the learned Scribe , He picks the best for ●ame from euery Tribe : Had warre the subiect beene to be discust , He wo●ld haue cal'd Commanders for the trust Of mar●iall matters , fits them best that are Well seene and practiz'd in the feats of warre , But this was no such thing : Herods desire Was by all meanes he could deuise , t'exquire Where he to whom so many ages past Iudah's Dominion was assign'd at last Should take his birth : the true Messias place Was the maine question that they had in chase . They had not sate in consultation long , But they were soone agreed , and yet among So many ▪ scarce there cou●d be one found out To be their speaker , and resolue the doubt At last an aged Priest did vndertake To be the tongue for all the rest , and make A full relation of Prophetique truth , So vp he ro●e , and spake what next ensueth . Great Ki●g led sure by some diuiner light . From the blacke darkenesse and Cymmerian night Of the Worlds error since state pollicies Thou leauest to search out heauens high mysteries : Happy are we thy subiects to behold Such goodnesse in such greatnesse , keepe thy hold , Goe on in Grace and vertue though alone , And thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 th●se prop●● , hold thy throne : Know thou brig●t 〈◊〉 Bethlehem is the place , Which our M●ssias c●o●en hath , to grace With his maiestqu● presence , when he shall First see the light o● 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ball : So write our ancient Prophets , 'mongst the rest , Mi●ah , whose Oracles are thus exprest : And thou , O Bethlehem , in Iudahs Land , Shalt not for least among the Princes stand , For out of thee shall come a King ▪ which well Shall know to guide my people Israel : Thus in few words I doe my soueraigne show , What he with so much care desir'd to know ; Herod well pleased with this ▪ bestowed a nod , And they their adoration , as some god Had sent them a rich fauour : then they kist His hand , and so th' assembly was di●mist . But I ( though Herod ) not dismisse you so , Something I haue to say before ye goe , O can ye be so light , yet seeme so graue , Professe so much zeale , yet so little haue ▪ Can you to Herod truely point the place Where your Messias is , yet want th● grace To visite him you selues ? As larger stones Erected in some high way for the nounce , Dir●ct the Passenger , but doe not moue A i●t from thence , where they were fixt in loue : Or as the Bels loud repercussiue sound Cals vnto Church , neighbours that heare it round , But in it selfe doth not least motion feele , To make it leaue it semicircled wheele : So these could shew where Christ was to be found , Yet neuer seeke him , all was shew and sound , No solid substance : They must needes be ill , Who rich in knowledge , are so poore in will . By this time Herod who in thought reuolu'd , Many a Plot , and Plat-forme , was resolu'd To fixe on one for all : sliely he sent For the wise men to court , with whom he spent Some time in free discourse , the maine thus farre Did reach , to know what time the easterne starre , Made his first apparision , this once told Herod his minde did in these words vnfold . With how great care my selfe haue sought to know This Infant Prince ye come to , well doth show The counsell call'd of late , call'd for your good For now we know the place of his aboad : That he is more then humane I beleeue , Though clouded in obscurity , and grieue Time and occasion will not giue me leaue To goe this progresse with you , and receiue That soule securing comfort , and delight Which you will ●eet with in the gracious sight Of such an Obiect : but doe you goe on , And search with Linceus eyes , to light vpon The house that holds him , and if once you fortune ( For which I will the higher powers importune ) But bring you to him , after you haue done That you are led to by Deuotion , Doe but so much of happy time afford , As may returne you backe , to bring me word , And I my selfe submitting state and glory , Although to aftertimes I make a story , Will wing'd in my desire approach before him , And falling prostrate on the ground adore him . O subtile Fox , that with so faire pretence Couldst such a deed of cruelty commence , As the sweete Infants murder , for we finde Such Lambe-like se● blance hid a woluish minde : Of Christ the Lambe he spake , as if he meant To worship , when to worry he was bent : Hypocrisie with a fine thred is spunne , And seemes an Eagle that dares face the Sunne , But once expos'd vnto that glor●ous light , Shrinkes backe amaz'd , and canopies her sight . Herod by craft thought he might quickely gaine What by plaine dealing he could not obtaine : So Generalls in their exploits of warre , Seeing the Lyons case will not reach farre , That they may bring their Stratagem about Peece on the Foxes skinne , to eke it out . So the slie Fox as dead himselfe doth lay , When he intends to make the largest prey : So Ioab hugs him whom he meanes to slay , So Iudas kisses whom he doth betray : But Herods cunning doth himselfe beguile , The Wolfe delayes , the Lambe escapes the while : The wise men lend an eare vnto the King , But that we finde answeare not any thing , Yet since by silence they doe shew consent , They are dismist , and Herod seems content .

Wednesdaies Meditation , or the fourth Canto . The Argument . By the starres helpe the wise men finde Our Sauiour out , their gifts defind , Admonished from God before In Herods sight they come no more . THe Magi finding not what they doe lacke , Vpon Ierusalem soone turne their backe , They had not trauail'd from the citty farre , When the thrice welcome lustre of their starre Did reappeare vnto them : God withdrawes His b●essings from vs , that a little pause Of absence may endeare them : so the light To one immur'd in prison seemes more bright When his enlargement comes : so when the blast Of some impetuous wind rends vp the Mast Of the Sea-tossed-Hulke , ready as food To stop the mouth of the deuouring flood , A sudden Calme is sweetest : A disease Makes health in the repurchast better please : Vicissitude delights , and breedes respect , Where long enioying generates neglect . Ha● the wise men in all their iourney kept The Starre a daily guide , they had not lept For ioy , as they did now : indeed content Might then haue kept pace with them , but as pent Within too strait a prison , their vast ioy Breakes forth into expression , no annoy Able to counter-check it , 't was more great Gauisi sunt gaud●o magno valde . Then text could well describe , or I repeat . Like as a mother of a sonne belou'd As her eye sight , from her eye-sight remou'd By a long absence , and no newes arriuing , Whether he doe consort the dead or liuing , Grieues at her hap , while heart-dismaying feares V●nt out her sorrow , not in words , but teares ; Which when past hope she sees him home returne , Ceast any longer his decease to mourne , And rauisht in her ioy , her spirits drownd In such a deluge , falls into a swound : But hauing once those powers recollected , Seeing the obiect by her so affected , Kisses , e●braces , hugs her dearest Boy , Ready to skip out of her skin for ioy : So fared it with the Magi ; when the Starre First disappear'd , it made no doubt a warre Within them , sundry passions did contest , But gri●fe soone gets the mastery of the rest ; Yet ●ong the ●rabbed tyrant doth not reigue , Ere he be clean● depos'd , the Starre againe By new appearing a●ters quite the state ; So ioy succeeds , and doth pr●dominate ; Tun'd to a holy key , their tongues doth sound Lauo●taes , while their heart ●oth dance a Round . This Star●● , ●hether a● 〈◊〉 in that fashion , Or else some radiant holy inspiration , Chrysost. Whether an errant P●a●et among the seuen , Or one of those faire bodies ●ixt in heauen , Sent downe to serue the turne or else created For this sole vse , and then anihilated , I will not stand to question : on it went As a sure conuoy , for the course it hent Was not orbicular , but so direct As they could wish a guide , whose best respect Might leade them on ; the motion of it slow , And as it may be well concluded , low , Else could it not haue kept an equall pace , Nor yet hauefully pointed to the place . Come to the house , as if it had no will For any further motion , it stood still , And ouer the poore cottage long did houer , Or like some golden Canopie , did couer The place of Christs abode : which once descride By the wise men , its luster it did hide , And ne'er was seene againe , although some tell , Gliding from thence , it fell into a Well . Interpreters doe by this Starre expresse , Such as turne men to faith and righteousnesse . Thrice happy are those Starre● , which soules do guid● To Christ , and also there themselues abide . Enter'd they find the Infant with his Mother ; She puts not out her Child vnto another : Me thinkes it is an error against kind , That Mothers which haue store of milke assign'd , Should dry those fountaines , to preserue their beauty , From whence their infants should suck loue and duty Or that for state , for trouble , or for pleasure , They should expose such an vnualew'd treasure As children are , vnto another , care , While they themselues thereof will beare no share . The blessed Virgin bare a better mind , To her owne issue then to proue vnkind , Milke she a blessing knew , dry breasts a curse , Therefore she dain'd her selfe to be a nurse : The wise men when they come , the Infant see Hang at her breasts , or dandled on her knee . Now did the Magi meet their full desire , And might with Simeon wish they might expire : Great was their ioy , when they beheld the Starre . To see the Sun must needs transcend it farre : Abraham reioyc'd to see Christs day in spirit ; Ioh. 8. 46. Your ioy must needs be greater , which inherit A larger blessing , you in flesh behold him , And haue that fauour in your armes to fold him : Prophets and Kings haue long desir'd in vaine , To see what you see , Judahs Soueraigne ; Luk. 10. 24. Therefore ( to him who best can censure things ) Happier you are then Prophets , or then Kings . Yet let me say , 't was not the sight alone That made these wise men happy , had they gone No further , they had ne'er arriu'd at blisse , Many eyes saw him which of that shall misse : But these wise men when once they come before him , Fall prostrate on the ground , and doe adore him : Well might good Bernard this strange act admire , That wise men , great men , who to sense were higher Then what they fell so low to , should afford Such worship to an Infant , poorely stord With what should fit a Royall birth , the place , Attendants dressing , cradle had no grace To moue such vassalage ; sure God inspir'd ( A thing which well deserues to be admir'd ) Such Faith into their minds , as made them see A God head clothed with humanity . Being to come fore one of more command Athanasius . Then Persiaes Monarke , with an empty hand They dare not make approach , but ope their treasure , And giue their owne in an abundant measure : The gifts they dedicate to Christ are three , Augustine . To note they did adore the Trinitie : Or else to shew , the person they ador'd , Although but one , was with three Natures stor'd , Deity , Soule and Body ; or to bring His threefold Office of Priest , Prophet , King , To our remembrance ; therefore some doe call These , sacramentall gifts ; Propheticall Cyp●tian . Rupertus . Basfil . Others entitle them ; the first was Gold , Which with a King doth correspondence hold ; Or else they offer plenty of their Ore , That to supply their wants they might haue store When Christ should f●ie to Egypt : they bestow Mirrhe , that a mortall man we might him know : The Frankinsence they offer doth define , As God he must haue sacrifice Diuine . Againe , pure Gold , cleare Mirrhe , sweet Frankinsence , Doe each of them afford a morall sence ; Gold signifies pure doctrine , Faith sincere , A charity refin'd , which God holds deare : Myrrhe represents the teares of penitence Shed for our sinnes a mortified sence To worldly matters : Frankinsence doth shew Perfum'd deuotion , where we must bestow The Incense of our prayers : these well presented , Are offerings wherewith God is much contented . The wise men hauing their oblat●on ended , And seene , and known what might be comprehended , Take leaue , and doe betake them to their rest , Deeming themselues to be not meanely blest In such a happy issue , now their mind At quiet , a sweet sleepe their sence doth bind . About the dead time of the silent night , They saw , or thought they saw a glorious light ; In it a shape more bright , an Angel● stood , Who came from heauen to warne them for their good , And hauing gently wak'd them , with a voice Able to charme attention , and reioyce The very heart to heare it , thus he said ; Let not your minds with terror be dismaid , Almighty God , whose I reioyce to be , Hath sent me to you on this embasie : The honour which you lately did his Sonne , Hath so much fauour from his goodnesse wonne , That knowing you are bent to vndertake A dangerous iourney , he desires to make The hazzard knowne vnto you : Iuda's King , Herod I meane , is rather any thing , Then wha● he seem'd vnto you : his pretence Of worship , when in that close conference He brake about the Infant , was a wile , Both you and him the better to beguile ; For in his heart he plotted long before , To wash his hands within the purple gore Of his l●e blood , and chose for this intent Your simplen●sse to be his instrument ; Meaning when he had seru'd his turne , to reaue You of your dearest liues , striuing to leaue A president vnto posterity , Of an vnmat●●● , vnheard of tyranny : Be mindfull of ● . ● words , and take good heed How you returne to Herod , rather speed Into your Country b● some other way , For no ●●al● danger waits vpon delay . This said , he quickly vanisht out of sight , And they fell to their rest that rest of night . No sooner did the grav-eyed Morne appeare , And by her blushi●g ●hew the Sunne was neare , But to their ●ourney they themselues addresse , And mindfull of the vision , which did presse Their memories afresh , they leaue the rode Which leades to S●●em , though the tract were broad , And ride through la●es , and by-waies , till at last The confines of ●udea they are past . Secure from danger , their post-haste they stay , And trauaile on at leasure , by the way Discoursing with ioy not to be exprest , How highly they were in that iourney blest : Ere many daies their Country smoke appeares , And they in peace at ho●e liue many yeeres . I cannot leaue this part of history , Till I haue shewed a vsefull mystery : Herod by the vnanimous assent Of Fathers , doth the diuell represent , They then which by Gods mercy are set free From bondage , worse then Egypts slauery , Satans oppression , must abhorre such bands , And take good heed they fall not in his hands . The silly Bird hauing escap'd the net , Farre from the fatall place herselfe will get . The Lambe which from the Wolfe hath got away , Will no more venture from the flocke to stray . If by the Gospels Starre we once are brought To Christ , let vs by no temptation wrought , Turne backe to Herod ; but forsaking quite The workes of darknesse , in Gods Word delight . Indeed I know we are to trauaile farre To our owne Country , in this world we are 1. Pet. 2. 11. But strangers : he that liues the longest age , Doth waste his life in tedious pilgrimage : Heauen is our happy home , and we must striue , Though close by hell we passe , how to arriue Vnto that blessed Harbor , by the way Remouing all such rubs as would vs stay . But let me tell you , lest we chance to stray , Our iourney thither lyes another way : 'T is not the too-too common road of vice , Which is the passage vnto Paradice ; Ah no , the path which vnto blisse doth lead Matth. 7. 13. Is straight , and few they are that doe it tread : Then , onely then , another way we take , Immutatio viae emendatio vitae : Eusebius Emissenus . 1. King . 13. When of our vicious life a change we make . Like as the Prophet which was sent to cry Against that Altar of impiety , Set vp by Ieroboam , had command Not to goe backe vnto his natiue Land By the same way he came : the like haue we , We must our old waies leaue , and speedily As we new creatures are , new wayes enquire , Such as may bring vs whither we desire . He that by sinne hath left heauens vsuall track , Must by repentance a new way come back . Hast thou walkt on in lusts impurity ? Returne another way , by chastety . Didst thou with pride a stately march maintaine ? Another way humility regaine . In auarice didst thou delight to moue ? Returne another way , and walke in loue . Did sharpe contention make thee trudge to Law ? From that misleading path thy feet withdraw , And striue to liue in peace . Did thy heart range In vsuries wilde maze ? O let it change ( Though much against thy natiue constitution ) With good Zacheus to a restitution . In fine if we wander from truth , or stray Neuer so little from the narrow way , We ●isse our path , and so abberring rome From the right way , should leade vs to our home . And therefore as the trauailer in doubt Which way to take , with heed doth looke about To spie some house , or person , which may be A helpe to him in his perplexitie , And neuer leaue enquiring , till he know Which way he must decline , and which way goe : So if yee be in doubt which path to hold , With Salomons faire Spouse get to the fold , Where shepheards keepe their flock , of them enquire , Cant. 1. 8. And they will satisfie your iust desire ; Then hauing found it , keepe it with delight , And neither turne to the left hand , nor right : So shall ye find what euer may betide In your way thither , 't will you safely guide To your owne Country , where you shall possesse More good then heart can thinke , or tongue expresse .

Thursdaies Meditation , or the fifth Canto . The Argument . An Angell is to Ioseph sent , To tell him Hérods foule intent : He with his charge to Egypt flies , And there remaines ti●l Herod dies . NO sooner had the Magi left the Land Of Palestine , but He which hath command Of all that know a beeing , and can see Things plotted with the greatest secrecy , And easily elude them , di● intend To Herods proiect a vaine ▪ fruitlesse end : God can ( though man be crafty to deuise ) Infatuate the Counsels of the wise , And free his children from what may annoy them , Though malice ioyne with cunning to destroy them So Pharaoh , who from Israel will not part , Wants of his will , yet for it feeles the smart : Consilium diuinum dum deuitatur , impletur , humana sapientia dum reluctat●r , comprehenditur . Greg. So Saul , who practiz'd Dauid ●● confound , Did himselfe fall , and Jsh 〈…〉 s sonne was croun'd : So Herod who did seeke ●● haue depriu'd Christ of his life , did find ●imselfe short liu'd . Thus Gods decree while hund , doth take effect , And humane wisedome w●ile it striues , is checkt . Now were all humane eyes shut vp in sleepe , But such whom care , or paine did open keepe , When a blest Angell ( Angels are prepar'd To be to Gods Elect a surer guard Then mortals can be ) vnto Ioseph came , Sent to that iust man in Iehouahs Name , Whose Sun-like presence had so bright aray , That it made mid-night to excell mid-day : Yet the good man fearelesse , because vntainted , And with such apparitions pre-acquainted , Expected the euent ; when thus made bold , The Angell did his Embasy vnfold : O thou which from the Lord such grace hast won , To be the Foster-father of his Sonne , And husband ( though thou liuest more like a brother ) Vnto that euer blessed Virgin Mother , Looke well vnto thy charge , the Wolfe doth warch With bloody mind , both Lamb and Eue to catch , That he may prey vpon them , therefore take The tender Infant , and his Mother make Co-partner in thy flight , to Egypt flee , There 's roome and safety for thy Charge and Thee : There plant thy habitation , and remaine , Till thou mayst safely venture backe againe , Which safety when the time shall once afford , I le be a Messenger to bring thee word . This message ended , backe the Angell goes , When presently good Joseph doth dispose Himselfe to Gods command , that very night With his deare charge he 'gins to take his flight . But though such haste Ioseph made to be gone , Wee 'll stay a while , and meditate hereon . That woman in the vncouth Wildernesse , Reuel . 12. Whom neere her time the Dragon did distresse , One thinkes , doth represent the Church ; another ( Not much amisse ) the blessed Virgin Mother : Indeed the Dragon suits with Herod well , And Mary is the womans paralell : The story tells vs , that the woman fled The Dragons furie , when deliuered : So was the blessed Virgin glad to flie With her young Babe from Herods cruelty : The Dragon there stood ready to deuoure The Child , when he was borne ; and euery houre Herod did gape for newes , that he might slay The blessedst Infant euer yet saw day : Yet Child and Mother both escaped there : So Christ and Mary both preserued were : As Moses guarded by Gods mighty hand , Came safely of from the vniust command Of persecuting Pharoah , and became A mighty Captaine in Iehouahs Name To quell the pride of Pharoah , and set free The Hebrewes from Egyptian slauery : So by Gods prouidence did Christ escape From Dragon Herods mouth which wide did gape , To swallow him aliue , that he might be Vnto his people in captiuity A mighty leader , and the power quell Of Sinne , and Sathan , of the Graue , and Hell , And so in fine his Israel safely bring From bondage worse then vnder Egypts King : Finally when the Dragon did perceiue Hi● force against the woman vaine , did leaue To persecute her , yet did i●ly burne In indignation , and his fury t●●ne To warre vpon the remnant of her seed , Hoping to meet ther● with succesfull speed : So Herod frustrated of his desire , Suffers his heart to burne in flaming fire Of furious rage , and will needes wreake his spleene On silly infants , but this shal be seene More largely , in the progresse of this story , Christs flight a while keeps back the Infants glory . Like as a gardner when he spies a plant , Full of faire hope fit elbow roome to want , As nigh some ouerspreading tree , bereauen Of the Suns heat , and the fat dew of heauen , With care remoues it to another place , Where it thriues mainly , in a little space : So when the Lord his Sonne that plant did see Plac'd to neare Herod that farre spreading tree , Yet fruitlesse , therefore worthy to be feld Lest the vnholsome shadow death should peld To the neare neighbouring plant , his powerfull hand Doth now transplant him to another land . He that in flight our refuge is heere flies , He that assists vs ●gainst our enemies , Auoids the furie of his mortall foes , And like an exile into Egypt goes : That in such kind of dire calamities He might with vs the better sympathize : Our Sauiour Christ without a Gyges ring Could haue obscur'd his person from the King . Or had he pleas'd what euer was intended Gainst Herods malice haue himselfe defended : He that by fire did his Eliah guard He that an host of Angels had prepar'd Elisha to secure , he that did saue Daniel from Lyons , Lazarus from the graue , Had it seem'd good could heere haue gon as farre And quail'd the force of Herods men of warre : But he chose rather to sepose his might , And to expose his person vnto flight : Either to shew what he himselfe doth say , He came no worldly Scepter here to sway : Ioh. 18. Or else by his example to declare , The Church for persecution must prepare : Or it may be to teach vs , that the Lord No extraordinary will afford , When we haue ordinary meanes at hand , By which we may withdraw , and quit the Land , To worke our safety : or to teach in fine Vs personall persecution to decline : So Moses fled from Pharaohs cruelty : So Dauid from his sonnes impiety : So Paul , no safety being in the Towne , Was in a basket by the wall let downe , That he might scape the danger ; so againe He fled from Salem , fearing to be slaine : So Polycarpe in persecutions heat , Did by aduice , for a while change his seate : Eusebius . So Athanasius did often flie From that blood thirsting Arrian tyranny : So when Iustina , Valentimans Mother , Socrates scholaslicus . Her rage against S Ambrose could not smother , He fled from Millaine : Chrysostome like fate Drew from Bizantium , to shun the hate Eud●xia bare vnto him : Christ our Sauiour , When past an Infant , had the like behauiour : So when the Pharises a counsell tooke Against his life , their presence he forsooke : Mat. 12. 15. Luk. 4. Iohn . 8. So when the Nazarens malicious will Would throw him headlong from the City hill , He left the place : so when with fell despite The Iewes did seeke to stone him , from their sight He hid himselfe : to make this truth more plaine , He giues this as a precept , to remaine To all succeeding times , when tyrants hate , Shall rather seeke your liues , then your estate , Out of one City to another flie , Mat. 10. 23. And saue your selues from their st●rne cruelty : This is to be like cunning Serpents wise , Mat. 10. 16. When innocence of Doues will not suffice . But we must know our Sauiour ●led not death , Mortem distulit non fugit : Chrisost: Out of a feare to leese his vicall breath : Onely for this cause he did now foreslow it , That afterwards he better might bestow it : He meant to lay it downe , as a rare gift Of his owne bounty , not by Herods drift , By his freewill he did intend to die , Morietur non vinculo necessitatis , sed proposito voluntatis : Fulgen. And not out of a forc'd necessity . But seeing thou wouldst haue thy Sonne , O Lord , To flie , wherefore to Egypt so abhord ? Can that to thy belou'd safe harbor giue , In which thy Israel did in bondage liue . Haue the Egyptians those plagues forgot Thou didst impose vpon them ? Will they not Study reuenge ? Or may not Ioseph feare , If Egypts King of his arriuall heare , He shall be taken for an Hebrew Spie , And by some vncouth torment forc'd to die . O let not flesh and blood expostulate With Gods determination , or debate The matter any further , God who drawes Honey from He●lock with the Bee , can cause Each place that is to serue vnto his will , And safety raise euen from those would kill . The time was once when his almighty Hand Threw plagues apace on the Egyptian Land , The worst of which wherewith they were annoi'd Was , when their first borne issue was destroi'd ; To recompence this losse he sends his owne And by his bounty his great loue makes knowne . Once making Moses his fit instrument , Exod. 10. Cymmerian darknesse on their Land he sent . And which was worse , groping for light as blind Suffred them liue in darknesse of their mind . Therfore his sonne , that Sun shall now arise To giue them light , which doe not shut their eyes Against his splendour , for as stories tell , When he came thither all their Idolls fell . And as we read that Joseph best belou'd Of Iacob , from his Fathers eye remou'd By enuie of his bretheren , was conuayed To Egypt where by Gods direction stay'd ; He was a kind of Sauiour to the land , In keeping famine out which did command After a seuen yeares plenty : so more want Threatning to ruine Egypt which grew scant Of grace and goodnesse , Christ a Sauiour came , And in great mercy did preserue the same . For he the true bread is where he doth dwell All fa●ine from the soule he doth expell . By this time Ioseph whom much care did presse , Had gotten all thing● in a readinesse , And in the couert of the shady night Begins his iourney , darknesse could not fright Non attendit verus obediens quale sit quod praecipitur : hoc solo contentus quia pracipitur . Bernard . Him or his charge : obedience doth contend How to please God although it sense offend . Not into what commanded is , it pries , But that it is commanded doth suffice : Good Ioseph murmures not at the great paine Or the long iourney he must entertaine , He staggers not in faith , that he doth flie Which must saue others from their misery : But as he came from Abraham , behaues Himselfe like Abraham , in his mind he graues How ready the glad father was to goe When God commanded , and should I be slow , To execute said he what God enioynes , I should want worth , to issue from such loynes Mans heart must be like paper , cleane , and white , Wheron the Lord what he shall please may write : Or like to waxe well suppled by the hand , Be soft and pliant to his iust command We must in all things , seeme they good or ill , Conforme our wishes to out soueraignes will : Faith and obedience stand not to dispute , But are still ready prest to execute : Our God , obedience doth so highly prize , That he prefers it before sacrifice . 1. Sam. 15. And worthily , for they who with consent A legall sacrifice to God present , But other flesh , the flesh of beasts doe till , In victimis allena caro obedientia vero voluntas propria mactatur● Greg. Where we obeying sacrifice our will . Thus did good Joseph , whom no let could stay No not so long as for the lightsome day : And well in the black night did they begin Their trauaile from a place more black in sinne . Now gan the day from out the east appeare , Whose comfortable light their hearts did cheare , And ere the Sun had fully shone an hower They found themselues got safe from Herods power : At length in Egypt they arriue what towne Did giue them harbour , the text sets not downe Nor will I seeke to know , there they remaine , Till Herods death did call them back againe . All this saith the Euangelist was done , To firme that prophecie which said , My Sonne From Egypt haue I call'd : the literall sence I know , concerneth Israel , who from thence Was brought by mighty hand , yet hath respect To Christ , as types doe vpon truths reflect : And as Gods people , Israel , did stay A time in Egypt , till the Lord made way For their departure ; so his blessed Sonne Had for a while his habitation In the same Egypt , till the Lord did call him , Whom there I leaue to that which did befall him .

Fridaies Meditation , or the sixth Canto . The Argument . The Kings fierce rage , his men of warre The innocents doe massacre : Rachel doth mourne her heauy losse , And will no comfort in her crosse . TIme now ( which erst did vnto Iudabs King Seeme to moue forward with a lazy wing ) Made him suspect , or rather plainely see The wise men did delude his subtilty : And th●re was reason for it , he that thought To mocke , is mockt , and rakes but what he brought ; The law of taliation did require He should meet this euent : the sittest hire Nequc enim lex lustior vila : Ouid. For fraud is slic deceit , and they that cherish Dissembling , in their art doe iustly perish : God on these men his iudgements doth expresse , Iob 5. 13. And takes the wise in their owne craftinesse . Now this delusion in the King begets An indignation , and in rage him sets . When Tyrants cannot by their craft preuaile , In a red Sea of cruelty they saile . But why , O Herod , wert thou thus perplext ? Why doest thou rage ? or wherefore art thou vext ? Didst thou not know that Christs birth was diuine ? Or wert thou blind , because the Sunne did shine ? Didst thou not conuocate from euery Tribe Many chiefe Priests , many a learned Scribe ? And did not they by ancient Prophecy Resolue the truth of this deepe mystery ? Didst thou not know the wise men came thus farre To worship Christ . led by a glorious Starre ? Thy cheeke should rather blush , then thy heart flame , And looke red , not with anger , but with shame , That such Barbarians , which were farre below thee , Should in their zeale to God so much outgoe thee : The loue and faith wherewith they were inspir'd Thou shouldst haue imitated , and admir'd : For vnlesse thou didst altogether shun Prophetique truth , so much it might haue won Vpon thy iudgement , that by iust compare Of passed things with such as present are , Thou mightst conclude , this was ' not a delusion Of the wise men , but a confusion , Which God , who sometimes counterchecks a King , Vpon thy wicked purpose meant to bring . But say thou hadst some iniury receiu'd , And by the cunning Magi wert deceiu'd , How had the silly Innocents offended , That so much misciefe is 'gainst them intended : O why is their vniust destruction sought ? which nere so much as wrong'd thee in a thought , Surely , should Iordan lend thee all her store , It could not wash away the purple gore That hangs vpon thee , with thee still shall bide The title of a bloudy Homicide . Thou sought'st for Christ , but went'st too far about , T is faith , not furie , which must finde him out ; O foolish Herod which dost thinke t' expell Him that will still be King of Israell , Yea King of Heauen and Earth , in spite of thee Out of thy poore , and petty liberty : O wicked Herod , and of lewd behauiour Who fearing thy successor , hat'st thy Sauiour : O bloudy Herod , which by the fell death Of harmelesse children , wouldst prolo● , thy breath : But little admiration it requires , That Tyrants seeke to compasse their desires , Or found their thrones on slaughtered innocence , Pharaoh long since had taught him to dispence With murders of that ranke , who to secure His crowne , made Abrahams yssue to endure A heauy burden , while he did command To drowne their yssue male throughout the land . Exod. 1. So did Abimelec the base borne sonne Of that couragious warriour , Gedeon , Who through the bloud of 70. brothers waded , Vnto the Crowne most wrongfully inuaded , Herod was more vnnaturall then these , 'Gainst his owne sonne he could not rage appease , But fearing he should the Messias be , Among the rest he wrought his tragedy : Therefore Augustus did this saying vse , If I were bound to liue among the Iewes , With greater willingnesse I would be swine Then sonne to Herod : for by law deuine Malo Herodis porcum quam filium esse : Macrobius . Swines flesh forbid the Hebrewes they did giue A kinde of priuiledge the beasts might liue , Whereas King Herod a worse beast did grutch Vnto his owne childe to afford so much . The Lyon will not tender Infants slay , Vnlesse meere hunger force him to such prey , O With what hunger then was Herod wag'd , When he against so many Infants rag'd , With hunger of ambition , which of all The greatest hunger we may iustly call : Hunger of raigning sure must needes be great , Which to appease it , must haue so much meate ; So many Infants flesh , that thirst is sore Which nought can satisfie but crimsin gore , Enioy bloud thirsting Herod , re-inioy Thy kingdome safely , free from all annoy , He that aboue doth Heauenly crownes bestow , Gapes not for earthly scepters here belowe , Such earth-bred honor Christ doth much despise , Elephants take no mice , nor Eagles flies : Though he of power be for to cast thee downe , Yet feare no depriuation of thy crowne , For though two Kings can in one kingdome raigne , No more , then Heauen can two bright Suns sustaine , Yet euery King may with him , in him daigne His kingly Lord , his true Messias raigne , As the faire Heauen with many Starres is dight , And with the Sun , from whom they take their light : Only learne mercy from this potent one , And heape not bloud so long vpon thy Throne , Till it become so slippery , as to threat Each step thou tak'st , to cast thee from thy seat . But rage , like to the belly , hath no eares , To reason deafe , it onely passion heares , Aduice is vaine , say what I can or will , Herod will be himselfe , a tyrant still . They say , that Bee who of the rest is King , Either hath none , or doth not vse a sting : Surely this man , whom wretched Bethlehem sees Reeke in the blood of Infants , not of Bees , But Waspes was King , for wasplike full of spleene , 2. King . ● . He thrusts his poysonous sting ( so great his teene ) Into the flesh of children , and doth kill Those , who to hurt him had nor power , nor will . Indeed two Beares did certaine children sley , But cause they mockt Gods Prophet : thou then they More fierce destroyst the guiltlesse : fearefull man , Do'st thou dread silly childrens force ? or can Faint cowardize with thee preuaile so farre , Thou shouldst gainst Infants wage such bloody warre . Great praise no doubt , and many a worthy spoile Thou shalt enioy , by giuing them the foile . The noble Elephants will not inuade The weaker sort of beasts : thou shakst thy blade At sucking children , and sendst men of might , To challenge those that know not how to sight . There is a story of great Constantine , How true , the Authors credit , and not mine , Must answer : but the matter ●le relate , And leaue the question further to debate : Before he came to Christianity , The Prince was troubled with a Leprosie ; To cure this sicknesse the aduice and care Of his Phisicians would haue him prepare A Bath of Infants blood : sure here the Diuill Prompted his Doctors to so great an euill : But being by Gods prouidence conuerted , He from so foule a slaughter was diuerted By soules Phisicians , who doe well assure him , Baptisme a Bath more powerfull is to cure him . He hearkens to them , is baptiz'd , and free Both from the bodies , and soules leprosie . Behold , ambition Herods soule inuades , Like a foule Leprosie ; ●atan perswades ( Such is hells phisicke ) naught will doe him good , Vnlesse he bathe himselfe in Infants blood ; And not the opening of a ve●e or two , No , but their life blood this great cure must doe : Therefore to satisfie the soule-sicke King , Each tender Babe must empty all his Spring ; And now God lets the Wolfe the Lambes deuoure , Without restraining of his rage , or power , He puts no bridle into Herods nose , But lets him take full swinge in his dispose , Because he knew how to draw good from ill , And make this wicked action serue his will : From Lyons mouth sweet honey he can take , And Marahs bitter waters wholesome make . Herod in this his rage doth type out those Of the malignant Church , who still are foes To the Church Militant , and by their will Religion in it infant age would kill : Herod like malice , and impiety , Egyptian , Babylonian cruelty . It is ( though tyrants hold these termes in scorne ) To smother piety as soone as borne , To quench Religion while it is a sparke , And drowne poore soules by keeping from the Arke ▪ Againe , in Herods foule designe of blood , Satans condition may be vnderstood , Who seekes not only by malicious will , Christ while an Infant in our heart to kill , But many children more , euery good thought , Though it be neuer into action brought , To make those babes good motions in vs die , Though they want strength to goe in act , and lie In meditations cradle , is his glory , But I leaue types to prosecute the story : While Herod inly vext , became thus wilde , With furious rage , the Deuill rockt his childe , But would not let him sleepe : like some mad beast , By nature feirce , if wounded will not rest , But doubling his fell fury and euen blinde With rage , regards no longer how to finde His foe that hurt him , but with head and feete Fiercely assailes the next that he doth meete : So Herod , who conceiu'd himselfe much wrong'd By the wise men , for whose returne he long'd , His hope deluded like one robd of sence Wreakes his reuengefull spleene on Innocence : For full of doubtfull thoughts as well as sinnes , To reason with himselfe he thus begins : What childe is this ? that hath from Heauen his birth Foretold , ere it be perfected on earth : Vnto the World himselfe he hath not showne , Yet is to those that neuer saw him knowne : Ouer no people yet he hath command , And wise men , great men , leaue their natiue land To waite vpon him : o who is the wight That ouercomes me , and yet does not fight : That like a tyrant ouer me doth raigne , Ere he the kingdome ( I possesse ) obtaine : If he already me of state beguile , What will he doe if he encrease a while ? Poore as he is , he is more fear'd , then I With all my riches , and authority : Or else these wise men or impostors rather , ( For by their dealing lesse I cannot gather ) Whom my intelligence is I did make , Would not haue faltered with me for his sake , But here I vow , who euer doe be friend him Nor heauen , nor hel shall from my power defend him : No I will make ( if my vnhappy fate Crosse not my will ) Bethlem as desolate Of Infants , as this Infant hath made me Of comfort , since his new nan●'d soueraignty . Thus he resolu●s in rage , an● what that still To rash attempts a Counsellor full ill , Suggests vnto him , he in action brings , So soone men execute the will of Kings : And now come other actors on the stage , The blo●dy instruments of Herod rage Made ready to present vnto our eye A tragicke ●ceane of horrid cruelty . Not to examine who they were , we see Subiect and King full well , and ill agree , Tyrants doe neuer want fit Instruments , To execute their very worst intents : Would wicked Saul haue the Lords Priests be slaine ▪ Doeg the motion soone will entertaine : Doth Dauid plot to stop Vr●ahs breath ? Joab will set him in the face of death : Doth Iezabell 'gainst Naboths life conspire ? The elders will effect her lewde desire : The world yet neuer knew a Prince so vicious , But that he should haue men to be officious , Such as account it an especiall grace To doe their Lords will be it nere so base : The officers of Herod bare this mind , Ready to goe when he their warrant sign'd . And now suppose them vnto Bethlehem come , Ready to act the tyrants fatall doome , While the Sunne hides his head at such a sight , As if a Noone he meant to make it night , And with blacke clouds did couer his sad face , Grieuing that men should haue so little grace : The melting heauens doe also showre downe raine , As if they wept for the poore Infants paine ; Euen the walles there in a cold dew stood , As struck with horror , to see so much blood : Yet these feele no remorce , nor once desist From the commanded murther , but persist In that abhorred worke of cruelty , Which shall them brand with lasting infamy : With their swords drawne , that none this course may stay , Into mens houses they do force their way . Here they an Infant from the cradle snatch , There from the fathers armes another catch , And the poore childrens sad destruction wrought , Ere the amazed parents had a thought Of any danger neere : some they transpierce With their blood thirsting sword , others in fierce And sauage manner , they deuide asunder , While they that own them stand stone still in wonder : Me thinkes in one place I some father heare ( At his deare Infants danger struck with feare ) Like Nisus in the Poet , or more milde , Crie out vnto the Butcher of his childe ; O spare my sonne ! or if you blood must spill , Here turne your swords , the grieued father kill ? I might , he durst not could not entertaine A thought of wrong vnto his So●eraigne . Me thinkes I in another place behold An Infant stab'd , whose pretty armes lay hold About his mothers breast , whence he doth draine Milke , that in blood runs out as fast againe , While the affrighted mother , with her hands Heau'd vp , like Niobe , turn'd Marble , stands . In euery place that doth afford an age Markt out for slaughter , death and fury rage , While the poore soules , some for their mothers crying ▪ Some smiling on their murderers , are dying . O here a while your speedy haste forbeare Compassionate parents , and vouchsafe a teare ! Thinke but what sad , what soule affrighting sight These saw , when they were rob'd of their delight . Suppose your Infants whom you highly prize , Snatcht from your armes , and slaine before your eyes , What would you doe in such a case as this ? Nay , what would you not doe ? surely amisse I doe conceiue , or else your sorrow would Be greater farre , then all their suffering could ; While from their pretty eyes salt teares did trill , Your pierced hearts would liquid blood distill ; And euery wound their bodies should receiue From murderers hands , your very soules would cleaue . And yet behold such was the wofull state Of that late happy Citie , fortunate Erst in her Sauiour , who there first drew breath , But now most wretched in her childrens death , Whilest by this fearefull act of sinne and shame , Of Bethlehem a Bethauen it became . But not this bloody act could yet asswage Either their cruelty , or Herods rage , No , the neare Villages in her hard fate The wofull City must associate : Not one poore cottage can keepe out pale death , Wherein a child sucks in an infant breath . They passe through all the coasts about , and striue , That not one Infant may be left aliue : Their charge so ready are they to fulfill , And satisfie the Tyrant in his will . O mercilesse and matchlesse murderers . How can you thinke wh●n iustice once preferres A bill against your liues , and death you brings Fore the Tribunall of the King of Kings To answer this foule act ? when their blood cries To Heauen for vengeance , it will not suffice That you had Herods Warrant , Gods Command Did you knew well 'gainst murder firmely stand . But how haue I forgot you all this while , Poore Innocents , delay must not beguile You of your worthy suffering , ample glory , The which alone deserues to make a story . The Church on blood , and the not doing wrong , But suffering for it , hath foundation strong , By persecution she receiues renowne , And martyrdome giues her a glorious Crowne . The blood of Abel at the Worlds creation Of this truth giues a pregnant demonstration : So lik●wise in the Gospels pupi●lage , The blood of Infants , slaine by Herods rage . There be two colours which God much delight , And they are white and red : first , the pure white Of innocence , then martyrdomes blood red , And b●th these in the Infants largely spread : Not all the coates , though quartered nere so faire , W●●re men th●ir armes emblazon , to repaire Th 〈…〉 ●●●try of their Family , Which time would weare out but for Heraldry , Are halfe so glorious , as those faire Armes were , These Innocents did in their Scutcheon beare , For , crosse of Gules in Argent field they carry , Versus est vagitus in ga●dium luctus in iubilum . Cyprian . O paruuli beati nunquam tentati , multum luctati , ●am coronati . Augustine . Well may their Crest be a rich Crowne of glory . Some doubt , but such either doe iudgement want , Or else of charitie are wondrous scant , Whether these Infants here depriu'd of breath , Were sau'd or no from an eternall death : But what should this strange dubitation breed ? Is not Gods promise made vnto the seed Of faithfull parents ? Were not these receiu'd Into the couenant ere of life bereau'd ? They were , they were , therefore their cry did turne To ioy , and they now laugh , who then did mourne : O blessed Infants , whom the cunning Diuell By his temptation neuer led to euill , With death you struggled hard , and for that strife , You are now crowned with immortall life . Sure Herods flattery could nere haue wrought you So great a blessing as his fury brought you . O blessed age , which could not speake Christs Name , Yet was thought worthy to die for the same : Sure you were borne in a thrice happy time , Felicities high toy so soone to clime . You are scarce past the threshold of your birth , When life comes forth to meet you , and from earth Takes you to heauen ; you doe no sooner leaue Your infant cradles , but a Throne receiue : In stead of hanging at your mothers breast In Abrahams bosome you securely rest : Faire Infants whom the ancient Church did hold The Flowers of Martyrs , sprung vp in the cold Of vnbeliefe , whose buds were ●pt to death , Flores martyrum . Aug. By frost like persecutions bitter breath , O how your death due prayse to Christ affords , Sanguine non lingua passione non Sermone . Chrysost. By blood , not tongue ; in wounds , and not in words . When greedy Wolfe the Lambe doth beare away , The tender flesh torne by his teeth , some say , In taste , if eaten , men shall sweeter finde , Then others killed whole of the same kind : This obseruation whether true or no , Is not materiall any way to know : Certaine it is , the flesh of these brought vnder The fangs of woluish Herod , torne asunder , Was sweet vnto the Lord , and gaue delight : For death of Saints is pretious in his sight . That children should teach men , may seeme 'gainst sence , Yet we may learne from them , faire innocence In all our sufferings must companion be : For if we suffer ought deseruedly , With these we can expect no Crowne to take ; The cause , not crosse , doth a true mart●r make : Causa non poenafacit Martyrem . August . If that be good , though Herods doe conspire Against our liues , and threaten sword or fire , They may our bodies , not our soules distresse , And their hate shall but worke our happinesse , Our crosse shall crowne vs , and the death they giue , Shall be a meanes to make vs euer liue . Now was fulfill'd that fatall Prophecy , Which was foretold of yore by Jeremy ; Ier. 30. 15. A voice was heard in Rama , whose dire sound In woe and lamentation did abound . Among those mothers which were childlesse made , Rachel was one , whom griefe did so inuade , That shunning company , she seem'd to liue , As she were borne for nothing but to grieue . A shady Groue neare her now hated-home A neighbour stood , there did she often rome In that thicke Couert , which made day like night , She sought to hide her from all humane sight : Sometime she sets her downe close by the foote Of a faire spreading tree , vpon whose roote With nimble hand she 'gins to carue her woes , But ere she halfe haue done , her passion growes To such a height , she marres what she hath made ; Then with sterne rage the barke she doth inuade , Stabbing , and mangling of it without stint , As if her Infants wounds she there could print . Starting at this , as if feare wings did borrow , She fled , as if she would out-run her sorrow : At last a burbling Brooke she doth espie , Whose noise , she thought , did hold fit sympathy With her in mourning , there she stayes her pace , And seated neare it , doth extend her face Ouer the current : hauing fixt her looke A while vpon the Streame , she chides the Brooke For his to speedy passage : Stay , O stay Thy course , relentlesse Torrent , did she say , And carry my complaints with thee along , My words , although my woes , shall not be long : Say that a Mother of two hopefull twinnes Rob'd of that ha●lesse issue , for her sinnes , Will neuer cease to mourne their bloody death , Till the iust heauens in pitty stop her breath ; And for this kindnesse , I to thee will pay My teares , as a due tribute euery day . This said , her eyes a liquid shewre distill , As they the Fountaine were , the Streame to fill . All that was done , which she thought vndescried , By a neere Kinsman of hers was espied , Who now approacht , and sitting downe beside her , In this milde manner did begin to chide her . For shame at last leaue to be thus alone , And vnto sencelesse things to vent your mone ; Your faith and patience I once thought more strong : Griefes that recurelesse are should not be long : By your immoderate sorrow you offend The highest Powers , and hasten on your end . Beside such griefe is vaine , whether the dead , Or else the liuing be considered : The first , if they die well , are blest ; if faile Of a good end , our teares will nought auaile : Your Infants death in innocency found , This should you rather comfort , then confound . The body the soules prison's said to be , Now it is death which sets this prisoner free , Who mournes for the enlargement of his child ? But 't is the bodies death that makes you wild . If it be so , O be no longer sory , That falls to rise againe in greater glory . Who grieues to see a house puld to the ground , Which shall he knowes be better built ? Some bound Set to your sorrow then , God will restore The body farre more glorious then before . Looke on your selfe , and you will find it vaine , So great a griefe so long to entertaine : For shoul● your teares in as great plenty fall . As blood did from your Infants , could they call Your children backe to life , no , though you mourne , And pine to nothing , they shall nere returne . Take comfort then , lest if you sorrow still , You seeme to spurne against Iehouahs will . The gri●ued Mother , who had all this while In much impatience heard him , with a smile Borrowed from scorne , thus answered , that they liue In health can easily good counsell giue To such as languish in disease and paine , And they as hardly doe it entertaine : Words are but words , I neuer yet could heare , That the grieu'd heart was cured by the eare . Aswell may he which hath desire to eate , Be satisfied by seeing painted meat : Or he that is through cold like to expire , Warme his numbe limbes at the Apes Gloworme fire : As I from cold and painted comfort finde A medicine , to recure my thought sicke minde , Withall that I can from poore patience borrow , I cannot pay so great a debt of sorrow : In vaine you waste your words , my woes are more Then time can weare away ; therefore giue ore Your fruitlesse counsell , since my children are not , Though I consume my selfe in griefe , I care not ; Sorrow hath tane possession in my brest , And onely can by death be dispossest . When she had spoken thus , in hasty mood She runnes , and hides her in the thickest Wood : But while to trees she doth her woes rehearse , To other matters I must turne my Verse .

Saturdaies Meditation , or the seuenth Canto . The Argument . An Angell doth to Ioseph tell The death of Herod : Israel He longs to visit once againe : Nazareth doth him entertaine . NOw was the time that the Lord meant to take Vengeance on Herod , therefore he did make By iust permission , his owne issue striue How he might him of Crowne and life depriue : Herod , while these foule treasons were a breeding , Got notice of Antipaters proceeding , So was his base sonne call'd : the yrkesome thought Of this vnnaturall action , quickly brought Sicknesse of minde vpon him : and that soare Encreasing , God did yet afflict him more , And on his body lay a foule disease : A secret fire he had , whose heate appease No course of Physicke could though much he tride , Iosep . de Bello Iud. lib. 1. All was in vaine , the flame did quenchlesse bide , His bowels full of paine did not within , And wormes to swarme about him did begin ; The Crampe and Dropsie on his limbs did ceaze , And there was nothing which might giue him ease . Passing o're Iordan , neere Asphaltis Lake , Calyrroes hot Bathes , he needes would make A meanes vnto his cure , there he did baine , Euseb. Yet as he went in , came out full of paine . While Herod thus did in his torments broile , Phisicians gaue aduice , that in hot oile His body should be suppled , they prepare A vessell for that purpose , and with care Put him therein ; the fume perturbs his head So much , that he is taken out halfe dead . At last come to himselfe , he knowes to sure , That he this euill seekes in vaine to cure . Full of despaire , somewhat before his end , For Salome his sister he doth send , ( Together with her husband Alexander ) And to performe this foule designe command her : Sister , you see ( said the sicke man ) , that fate Hath markt me out for death : the deadly hate My subiects beare me , will not let them mourne To see mine ashes clos'd vp in their vrne : The meanest of them will scarce daigne let fall A teare , to h●●our my sad funerall , Rather I feare they will exceed in mirth , To see my body turn'd into his earth : But I haue laid a plot their ioyes to crosse , And make the mourne , not mine , but their own losse , Their ioyfull exclamations I le strike mute , If you but faithfull be to execute : All their young Nobles ( so haue I dispos'd ) Within Hyppod●omus are fast enclos'd , And a strong guard about it , at my death , Assoone as euer you shall see my br●ath Forsake my body , giue a strict command , That they may all be murder'd out of hand ; So when my corps vnto the graue shall goe , The Iewes shall mourne whether they will or no : So shall I haue a glorious Epitaph , And though low vnder ground , shall highly laugh . This said , his ill increasing more and more , And his despaire growne greater then before , Taking an Apple ( such was then his meate ) And being wont to pare , and so to eate , In hasty wise he called for a kntfe , And with that sought to rid himselfe of life : But either his weake arme this foule intent Could not performe , or others did preuent The fatall blow : and must I then still liue ? Cryed out the Tyrant ? Will the iust Heauens giue No end vnto my sufferings ? Must I be The Ball of scorne , and Butt of misery ? Breake breake my heart ! flie forth imprison'd breath ! And welcome , what I haue long lookt for , death . More he had said , but that he scarce had spoke This , when with rage his very heart strings broke . While Herod thus in horror breath'd his last , A blessed Angell doth to Egypt hast , That Ioseph may haue word of this euent , Which well he knew would giue no small content To him , so long an exile : in the night , When dreames the fancy please , or else affright , The Angell makes approach , and thus begins : The Tyrant Herod , whose abhorred sinnes Did crie so long for vengeance vnto Heauen , At last is iustly of his life bereauen : They that delight in blood not long endure , Though God be slow in striking , he strikes sure ; His hands be iron , though his feet be wooll , And Tyrants neuer leaue , vntill they pull Dire vengeance on their heads , which long delaid , Falls with the heauier waight . Be not afraid Of any future mischiefe , he that sought The Infants ▪ hath his owne destruction wrought : Dead is the Wolfe , whose rage like fire did burne , Backe to his pasture may the Lambe returne : Therefore arise and take the blessed Childe , Nor let thy care forget the Mother milde , To Israel with them returne againe , In Egypt thou no longer maist remaine . This message which the Lord did now direct To Joseph , shewes that he doth his respect : Gods Saints in trouble must not alwaies liue , In time he will a ioyfull issue giue To all their sorrowes : Ioseph may be cast Into a lothsome prison , but at last He shall come forth with honour : for a ●it Iob may in anguish on the dunghill sit , Scraping his soares , ere long a happier fate Shall crowne his ioyes , and double his estate : Daniel through enuie of malicious men May closed be within the lyons denne , But he their vtmost furie shall withstand , And after liue aduanced in the land : Babylons king may giue command to throw ●ust Sadruc , Messhac , and Abednego . Into the fornace , but he shall admire To see them walke vnhurt , vntoucht by fire , And afterward , their innocence to grace , Ouer the Kingdome seat them in high place . Ioseph an exile may from Herod flie , But in this persecution must not die , Now the time comes , when he by Gods command Must trauai●e back to his owne natiue land , And with a happy salutation greet , His Galile , whose smoke he held so sweet : Like as a man for some long tedious time ●●nisht from his deare Country , to a Clime ●arsh and vnpleasant , will , if he doe heare His banishment repeal'd , with greedy eare Receiue the happy newes , and in his mind A not to be expressed comfort find : So fared it with our Joseph , when he knew The tidings of the Tyrants death were true , And that he might returne to Israel , From which in exile he so long did dwell , With a glad heart , and more then common care , He all things for his iourney doth prepare , And Phoebus scarce salutes the lightsome day , When he b●gins his trauaile , by the way Rendring due thankes to that Almighty power , Which had preseru'd him to this blessed hower . Suppose by this time they are safe arriu'd There , where vnwearied labour had so striu'd To bring them to the Land of Palestine , Here Ioseph doth enquire about the line Of the deceased Tyrant , and being told That Archelaus did the Scepter hold After his father : such mans weakenesse is , Though hitherto the Lord did neuer misse Safely to guard him a cold trembling feare Passing the maze of his offended eare , Tooke hold vpon his heart : the best of Saints While here they liue , liue not without their taints . So Lot , when Sodome was consum'd with fire , Did doubt the Mountaines safety , and desire A place of surer refuge : so the sight Of Esaus Band of men did much affright Perplexed Iacob , when he did repaire Backe to his natiue home : O can despaire Lay hold on such as these ? what then shall we Doe , when in danger and extremity ? So great a power hath feare vpon our soules , Resest i●periosa timor . Ouid. Saepius opinione quam re la●oramus . Soneca . That it checks vertue , and euen grace controules , And yet sometimes ( though feare so farre proceed , ) We suffer in opinion , not indeed . But why , O Ioseph wert thou thus afraid ? Didst thou misdoubt the Lord would send thee aid , And propulse danger from thee ? Could thy mind Conceiue a thought of feare ? Since thou didst find Thy gracious God so ready still to send An Angell for thy guard ? Did he defend Thee and thy charge from Herods cruelty , To let you fall by his sonnes tyranny ? Was his arme shortned , or his loue growne lesse , That now he could not as much care expresse In preseruation of you , as before ? Ah no , Gods loue encreaseth more and more To such as serue him , and his power extends Beyond all limitation to his friends . ● grant thou mightst , as not vnlikely gather , That Archelaus would be like his father , A bloody Tyrant , for a wicked Sire Mali coru● malum ouum . Prouerb . Leaues his sonne like himselfe : a strong desire To be thought apt for imitation , Leades children to obserue their parents fashion : But yet for all this thou maist rest secure , He who hath vndertaken , will procure Safety for thee and thine , onely be bold , And on his goodnesse by true faith lay hold : Danger may threaten , but it shall not harme Such as are guarded by th' Almighties arme . Now was the time , that Morpheus with his wand Did charme a silent sleepe on all the Land , Only perplexed Ioseph could not rest , 〈…〉 any cares lay tumbling in his breast . ●he while he thought he should most safety find 〈◊〉 going back to Egypt : but his mind Did quickly alter , when the Lords command Which bad expressely he should leaue the land To his remembrance came : then he thought best Where he now lodged to set vp his rest : But that was dasht , when being come so neare He did consider an vnmanly feare Should keepe him from his home : in maze of doubt An Angell came at last to lead him out , Giuing direction , he should not abide Neare Archelaus eye ▪ but turne aside Into the parts of Galile , for there He might securely liue , without all feare Ioseph obeyes and now his course he bends To Nazareth , where all his trauaile ends : Forfully seated there he liues in peace With his soules comfort , and his ioyes encrease . And this saith the Euangelist was done , That there might be a consummation Of what the Prophets told of Christ : for he A Nazarite say they shall called be . Expositors haue here been much perplext , Because they can directly find this text In none of all the Prophets ; some conceaue That time which doth of many things bereaue The world , hath in his reuolution lost Those sacred books , where these things were engro'st Chrysost. Another before this his sence preferres . And doth for Prophets read int●rpre●●rs , Isidor . For Prophets may be thought to say that thing , Which men from them by good deduction bring . But matter fetcht so farre wee need not vse , Or seeke the sacred writer to excuse : For holy writ two waies a thing affords , Either according to the sence or words : Now though we meet not the same words in sound , Yet the same sence in Scripture may be found . Nazaren signifies one flourishing , And doth not Esay call this heauenly King A Rod of Iesses Stem , a branch that growes Out of his roote , each one that Scripture knowes , Isal. 11. 1. Knowes this prophetique truth : Againe this name Is giuen him , that he may haue the same Which his type had before him : Sampsons facts Did but foresignifie our Sauiours acts : Sampson from barraine parents did proceed : And Christ alone was the pure Virgins seed : His killing of the lyon did foretell Christ should that roaring lyons power quell : Slaughtering his foes euen when he lost his breath shewed Christ should ouercome his foes by death : Now of the first we read that he was stil'd A Nazarite to God : therefore this child Iudg. 13. 15. That truth and type might fitly both agree , was call'd a Nazaren as well as he . But properly his name came from the place Hight Nazareth , which had the happy grace To giue him education as a bower Most fit to entertaine so sweet a flower . Nazareth doth a flower signifie , And what place could he better dignifie With his abode , then that whose name exprest His nature , who of all flowers was the best : Alcinous garden , or Adonis Bower , Was neuer deckt with halfe so rare a flower , Those of the greatest beauty are but silly 〈◊〉 Sharons Rose , or to the Valleys Lilly . This is not like French Flowers , in out side braue , Which yet within nor sent , nor vertue haue , No , from an outside meane there doth distill Such vertue , as the Saints with grace doth fill . The Soule a Nosegay is , if this adorne it , The Lord will take the sent , if not , hee 'l scorne it . O may this blessed flower which now doth grow In Heauens high Nazareth , not here below , Make vs so sweetly in Gods nostrils smell , That we transplanted from the earth may dwell In Heauen for euer , and in such a ioy , As time cannot weare out , or death destroy , Flourish with Christ , and blisfull Peans sing , Vnto the praise of our eternall King .

FINIS .