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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE ARGUMENT.

Christ's great fore-runner by him pris'd so much,
And those who his familiars were below,
Th' evangelists, apostles, and all such

As did him in the flesh when mortall know:

Then those who freely did their faith avouch,
And for the truth true constancy did show:
The churche's fathers, and the martyrs all,

THE world at first against all good obdur'd,
That sacred statutes might men's judgements sway,
By wonders mov'd, by benefits allur'd,
Their temporall treasures prosp'ring every way;
By covenant who followed God secur'd,

He, even whil'st here, their service did defray,

As by the ancients evident appeares,
With plenty, peace, posterity, and yeares.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Haile, happie Mary! virgin great in grace,
Thy sexe's glory, the Eternall's love!
Whom high affection freely did imbrace,
By sacred flames ore-shadow'd from above;
Not bodie's forme, nor colour of a face,
To make this match did the Almighty move:
Her portion was an humble modest minde,
For which the Lord a state in Heaven design'd.

But how the deity could be joyn'd with dust,
Some curious brains (weake reason's captives) scan:
Not like fain'd love in flames enflam'd with lust,
Nor in a dove, as he came in a swan;
Who would be sav'd must absolutely trust,
No male enjoy'd, a mayd brought forth a man:
If by God's word cold earth did life receive,
A woman by his sprite might soone conceive.
What wonders rare do now enrich my ryme!
Still mayd, though mother, free from mortall seed,
Wive's childe, not husband's, and yet not her cryme,
Bigge by himselfe, who did her Maker breed;
Eternity was limited by time;

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

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

She who, long childlesse, last conceiv'd a sonne,
As first an angell did to her divine,
Still till the time that thrise three times were runne,
Whose husband's dumbenesse prov'd a certaine signe,
Her to salute when Mary had begun,

The babe for joy her wombe could scarce confine:
Whose mother prais'd the blessed virgin's state,
As by her birth who did indeed grow great.
I see those sisters shining in this ranke, [dead,
Whose brother Christ first wail'd, then rais'd when
But chiefly she who circumspectly franke,
A precious oyntment pour'd upon his head;
Though others grudg'd, Christ her for this did thank,
And it for ever memorable made:
Then unto her as one before held deare,
(Pale death dispatch'd) did at the first appeare.
Thrice glorious twelve whose parts no tongue can teil,
As his companions by our Lord imbrac'd,
To binde, and loose, with power of Heaven and Hell,
(Still working wonders wonderfully grac'd)
With whom the Holy Ghost did come to dwell,
Who now with Christ to judge the world are plac'd:
You by your suffrings conquer'd have farre more,
Then all men else, by acts, since, or before.
True grounds neglect'd, the doting vulgar throng,
To servile meanes do so ascribe events,
The gospell planting, that to scape such wrong,
God us'd none great in power, nor rich in rents,
But simple trades-men, neither learn'd, nor strong,
Brought up in fishing, or in making tents,
That thus all might their heavenly message know,
The which to earthly helps would nothing owe.

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

He would have hid his face with flouds of teares: Yet, even when weeping, with more strength was stor'd,

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

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

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

There he who first incredulous was found,
Else could not trust what he desir'd so much,
Still wanting faith till he had try'd the wound,
To see too curious, grosse when he did touch:
Yet last, the truth did to farre Indians sound,
This fault to helpe his fervent zeale was such:
Thus having seene and felt, beleeve he must,
But happy those who never saw, yet trust.
That eunuch who could reade, but not conceive,
Till Christ's apostle taught to him a space,
Who as he strangely came, so did him leave,
In Nature lesse, made more then man by grace;
He whom his chariot then daign'd to receive,
Whil'st running by, as worthy of no place,
Rais'd now above himselfe with reverence seene,
Perchance shall judge his Ethiopian queene.

Those barbarous lewes, O how they suffer must!
When seeing him exalted in their sight,
Whom (though as singular entitled just)
They hurl'd downe head-longs from a temple's
height,

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

[wings,

His voyce harmonious angels' sounds might eaven,
Not knowing how since ravish'd up to Heaven.

That sacred vessell by the Lord elect'd, [grace,
From whom each soule might draw forth streames of
Who doing, suffering, never was deject'd,
Though beaten, bound, in prison, and disgrace,
He boldly did professe what he affect'd,
And kept the faith, till finishing his race
At fatall Rome, the mother of much ill,

Where with his bloud at last he seal'd his will.

I next see him who minds so much did sway,
That Paul Mercurius, he was held for love,

Till both scarce priests, (with garlands crown'd)

could stay,

From offring buls, as to their gods above;

But whil'st the truth they frankely did display, What sudden chance so huge a change could move? Them whom they thus as gods would have ador'd, They straight did stone, as if turn'd divels, abhorr'd. That publican who did in scroules digest

Those treasures first, whose power each conscience binds:

He whose few lines doe some strange things attest, From grounds (though true) which now no reader findes :

He who was choic'd by Lot, and all the rest Whose feet Christ wash'd, to humble haughty mindes,

Which forme, in vaine, some fondly would affect, Though bow'd in show, whil'st swelling in effect.

Then with those twelve, some happy men did haunt,
(Heaven's messengers, evangelizing peace)
As he who watred after Paul did plant,
And circumcis'd to please the Hebrew race,
He (full of faith) who did fraile passions daunt,
Halfe lew, balfe Gentile; joyning both in grace:
Next Silas, Titus and a troupe I spy,
Who with th' apostles did their travels try.

She, rais'd from death, and prais'd for doing well,
Who charitable garments made and gave,
That theatirian, who did purple sell,
But greater treasure freely did receive;
That lady call'd elect, as to excell,
Who hath already fame, shall glory have:
Some of this sexe, beside with those are found,
Whose piety eternall pennes renown'd.

Those guiltlesse babes at Bethel kill'd by guesse,
(Loe, jealous mindes each shadow doth affright)
That martyrs were before they could professe,
By suffring happy, ere to doe of might,
They now in Heaven a glorious state possesse,
And from world's toiles, by time did take their
flight:

Thus falne for Christ, before at all they stood,
Those dy'd as Christians, baptiz'd with their bloud.

There he whom Iacob's farre degener'd race,
By calumnies accus'd, with partiall spite,
The martyr's mirrour, eminent in place,
Who sacred scriptures did solemnly cite,
Whilst like an angell shining was his face,
Not pale for feare, no, lightning forth delight:
For, he those suffrings farre more glorious thought,
Then all the wonders that by him were wrought.

This happy elder, first of the first seven,
(Whil'st hem'd about by a tumultuous band)
Did looke aloft to the inviting Heaven,
And saw the sonne of man at God's right hand,
Whose charity he onely then did even,
To pray for them, who stoning him did stand:
Stones bruis'd his body, but could harme no more,
His ravish'd soule had fled to Heaven before.
Whil'st ten fierce stormes the Christian state did
tosse,

With blasts of blasphemy, and shoures of bloud,
They, not by signes charactring then their crosse,
Did beare it selfe, and try'd by tortures stood;
Of honour, fortune, friends, or life, the losse,

Did passe (as trifles) for a greater good:

[heart,
Paine (scorn'd) but rais'd, not rack'd their soule nor
Who (even when suffring) act'd the bravest part.
My Muse (ingenuous) gladly would burst forth,
Their praise (when burning)who triumph'd in hearts,
Of whom each one deserves (respecting worth)
An epicke poeme, grac'd by all the arts;
Would God she could translate unto the north,
Their vertue's relicts, not terrestriall parts:
Which (even in soules enshrin'd) might reverence
As hence in glory, living here by fame. [claime,
Those learned doctors, primitively great,
The churche's ancients, whom account we may,
As foster-fathers of her infant state,
Lights set ere noone, yet lightning all the day,
Who did Christ's cause by words, by bookes debate,
And banish'd, tortur'd, kill'd, did constant stay:
What rare examples for each following age,
To scorne the fury of a tyrant's rage?

When good Ignatius, (highly to be priz'd)
Was brag'd by beasts, which roar'd with rouling eyes,
He boldly said (their gaping jawes despis'd)
"Fine wheate for Christ this grinding now me tryes;"
Not like that sect which was by one devis'd,
Who had his name, whom Heaven farre differing
Ignatians to inflict, not suffer fire,
[spyes:
Whose too great sprits to vexe the world conspire.

There Smyrna's angell, whom Iohn did affect,
In stormy times who did a light appeare,
Whom easterne churches did to Rome direct,
Of Hester's feast the question'd time to cleare,
His death fore-dream'd, as falling in effect,
(Sayd) urg'd to leave his lord (so long held deare :)
"Whom I for master fourescore yeares did try,
And found so good, I will his servant dye."

Like sayles with winde, fire's curling waves did swell,
From Heaven encourag'd to continue good,
(As gold refin'd, whose brightnesse doth excell)
All crown'd with flames, the reverent old man stood;
(A sacrifice which did most sweetly smell)
They burn'd not him, he quench'd them with his
To hide his dust, the Pagans did accord, [bloud:
Lest the beholders had the same ador'd.

When Iustine sought (as learning did direct)
How one might arme for death,vaine pleasures loath,
Whil'st Christians' courage nothing could deject,
(Though try'd extreamely) confident in both,
So that their course bred vertue in effect,
Philosophy but superficiall froth:

He needs would try who did their grounds devise,
Whence resolution did so bravely rise.