THE FIRST PART Of the SUM of the HOLY HISTORY.
SECT.
I.
IN the Beginning GOD alone,
did Heaven and Earth create;
He spake the Word, and it was done,
Genesis. Chap. 1.
as Scriptures do relate.
The Earth had neither Form nor Face,
the Darkness covered all,
When thus he made in six days space,
the Creatures great and small.
The first Day he commanded Light,
The Darkness to prevent:
The second Day he rear'd in sight,
the stately Firmament:
The third, the Earth with Fruits adorn'd,
the swelling Sea debars;
The fourth, the Sun and Moon were form'd,
with all the Glorious Stars:
The fifth, the Fish with Scales and Fins,
and then the feathered Foul:
The sixth, the Beasts and creeping things,
and then that living Soul,
Which that one God, in Persons Three,
did make by Consultation,
With purpose that the same should be,
the Mirror of Creation.
Even Male, and Female perfect man,
right Holy, Wise, and Just:
For he did bear God's Image then,
though he were made of Dust.
Thus having finish't all with speed,
and blest them, and protested,
That each thing made was good indeed,
the seventh Day he rested.
For
Adam's Aid, who was alone,
the Lord God formed
Eve:
Flesh of his flesh, Bone of his bone,
and unto them did give,
A Sovereign Power in
Paradise,
to rule by Sea and Land.
And all the Creatures did rejoyce,
to do what they command;
And all the Fruits were theirs for meat,
that in the Garden grew;
Save one alone, which if they eat,
Death certain shall ensue.
But
Eve for all that listened
unto the Serpent's lies,
And took and eat the Fruit forbid;
yea,
Adam ate likewise,
And thereby thought like God to be;
but for this great Offence,
Poor Souls! to shame and misery
they were cast out from thence.
Now wretched Man was wrapt in woe,
and in his loyns his Heirs,
For cursed and corrupt they go:
Verse
15.
yet to prevent despairs,
God promised them to restore
unto a State more stable,
And
Eve unto her Husband bore,
Chap.
4.
Cain and his brother
Abel.
Abel was slain by cursed
Cain,
who did his Goodness scorn,
Anno mundi, 130.
But
Evah did conceive again,
and godly
Seth was born.
SECT.
II.
FRom
Seth did spring a Race of Men
religious and upright,
Yea
Henoch walkt with God, and then
was taken out of sight.
His Grand-child
Lamech did beget
Noah: and then began,
Anno 1056
The Sons of God their face to set,
on Daughters fair of Man:
Thence Giants came and mungrel kind,
Chap.
6.
on whom the Lord did frown,
And for their sin and wicked mind,
did threat the World to drown.
Noah alone on Earth did live,
uprightly; him God sent,
And did an hundred Years them give,
and twenty to repent.
Mean while built
Noah at his Charge,
an Ark three stories high:
The wicked World liv'd still at large,
and dream'd that
Noe did lie:
Till Fountains burst, and open stood,
Heaven's windows all,
Chap.
7.
for rain,
Which quickly caus'd a fearful Flood,
for down it pours amain,
And all the Earth with ruin fills;
Anno 1656.
Men, Beasts, and Birds must die,
When as the Flood above the Hills
flow'd fifteen Cubits high.
Which rag'd well near a Year about,
and then was
Noah bidden
To bring those living Creatures out,
which in the Ark were hidden.
And out they came, both they and theirs,
four Women and four Men,
The unclean Creatures all by pairs,
the clean by sevens; and then,
They offer'd Sacrifice,
Chap.
8.
God smell'd
a smell of Rest; wherefore
He promised though Man rebell'd
to drown the World no more:
And plac'd the Rainbow for a pledge
and did again vouchsafe
To Man, a Sovereign Priviledge
above the Beasts,
Chap.
9.
and gave
Their flesh for Food. Thus having made
a Covenant of Peace,
With
Noah and his Sons; he bad
they should Mankind increase.
Of
Japhet did the Gentiles spring,
of
Cham the
Canaanite,
Who curst was for uncovering
his Father's shameful sight,
But
Sem unto the Blessed Line,
was Heir, and from him came,
A Race and Progeny Divine
to Father
Abraham.
Now all the World, in speech was one,
and did to build conspire
A
Babel, and confusion
they gained for their hire.
SECT.
III.
THis
Abraham a faithful Man,
left Land and Kindred all,
Anno 2008.
And wandring up and down he ran
where e're his God did call.
From
Ʋr he went to
Canaan,
Chap.
12.
with
Sara and with
Lot,
To settle there he scarce began
but that by Famine hot,
To
Aegypt he was forc'd to flie,
where fearing much his life,
Before King
Pharaoh fainingly
he did deny his Wife.
To
Bethel he goes back again,
Chap.
13.
where Strife began to grow,
'Twixt
Lot and him; for Wealth amain,
did in upon them flow.
Old
Abraham, with humble Heart,
to younger
Lot gave place,
And in distress did take his part
and rescue him in chase.
Chap.
14.
Melchizedec did him meet and bless,
but childless still he staid,
Till
Ishmael;
Chap.
16.
and that increase
was but by
Sara's Maid:
Yet God by special Promises,
Chap. 13.16.15.5.17.6.
Chap. 17.
himself did often tie,
As Heavens Stars, and sand of Seas,
his Seed to multiply.
And seal'd it with a Sacrament,
to him and his Heirs Male;
When solemnly he did appoint,
to circumcise them all.
Mean time he did him entertain,
Jam. 2.23.
very familiarly;
Much like a Friend,
Chap.
18.
as was most plain,
when
Sodom's sinful cry
Did pierce the Skies, and God down came,
and if but Ten good Men
Could there been found; for
Abraham,
the Lord had spar'd it then.
So Fire and Brimstone fearfully
from Heaven fell apace,
And furnace-like the smoak did fly:
Chap.
19.
just
Lot in better case,
To little
Zoar fled for life,
where in a drunken mood,
On's Daughters (having lost his Wife)
he got a * cursed Brood.
SECT.
IV.
THence
Abraham went to
Gerar Land,
Chap.
20.
where he again for fear,
Deny'd his Wife, but by God's Hand,
Abimelech did forbear.
Long had he waited, hope was past,
yet still he did believe;
And God remembred him at last,
and
Sara did Conceive:
Chap.
21.
And in her old Age
Isaac bare,
and nurst him on her knee,
And joyful
Abram did not spare
to make a feast; but see
This only Son, and only Heir,
of Promise God Commands,
To be both slain,
Anno 2108
and burnt with fire
and that by
Abram's hand.
Well: he obey'd, and call'd his Men,
Wood, Knife, and some he took,
On, to the place they go, and when
was bent the deadly Stroke
God staid his hand, and in the stead
of
Isaac there was ty'd,
A Ram for Sacrifice. Indeed
here
Abraham's Faith was try'd.
Chap.
22.
His Son thus spar'd, his godly Care
was next about to spy,
For him a Wife, and therefore sware
his Man's Fidelity.
Chap.
24.
Who full religiously perform'd
the Office on him laid,
And with
Rebeckah soon return'd,
a fair and vertuous Maid;
Whom
Isaac married, but still,
She barren was, they pray'd:
God heard, and granted all their Will,
Chap.
25.
and further to her said;
The Babes that in her Womb did strive,
were Twins and Nations twain,
The younger should prevail and thrive,
the elder should remain
A servant:
Esau was his Name,
and as he Venison sought,
And back again well wearied came,
his Brother
Jacob bought
His Birth-right for a Mess of Broth,
mean while was
Isaac blessed,
Though envious Philistines be wroth,
Chap. 26.
ver. 14, 15.
and him with Wrongs oppressed.
When Age came on and Eyes waxt dim,
then solemnly he meant,
To bless his Son, requiring him,
Venison for that intent.
About goes
Esau with his Bow,
but
Jacob doth prevent him;
The means his Mother did him show,
and cunningly present him,
Chap.
7.
In
Esau's Clothes and Skins of Kids,
unto his Father; who
Mistrusts the Voice and therefore bids,
come near to feel and know.
With fat of Earth, and Heaven's Dew,
with happy Seed and Kin,
He blest him (reverend was the shew)
and then came
Esau in.
And he with Tears and piteous Moan,
the Blessing sought in vain,
He came too late, alas 'twas gone,
with that he beat his Brain
To seek and work Revenge, and then
the days (quoth he) make speed,
Of mourning for my Father, when
I'll slay him for this Deed.
SECT.
V.
THen did
Rebeckah forthwith call,
and send
Jacob away,
Lest
Esau should upon him fall,
his bloody Vow to pay.
And
Isaac charg'd him (taking leave)
to play a wiser part,
Then
Esau, who did vex and grieve,
by heathen Wives his Heart.
Chap.
21.
But he should to his Uncle go,
and match in godly Race,
And blessing should be with him; so,
he went out from their face:
As he in fields that night did sleep,
in
Haran on a Stone;
By Dream he saw a Ladder steep
from Heaven; and thereon
The Angels passing, and above
God standing all in view,
The blessed Promise of his Love,
with
Jacob to renew.
There
Jacob vow'd the Lord to fear:
thence on he went apace,
Inquiring in the fields to hear,
of
Laban's dwelling place.
The Shepherds shew'd him readily,
Chap. 29.
his Cousin
Rachel there:
Whom he saluted chearfully,
and she could not forbear,
But ran and carry'd home the News:
then
Laban hies to meet him,
To dwell there he must not refuse,
where all his Kindred greet him:
A match was made, and seven Years
for
Rachel serve he must;
But
Leah in the light appears,
so false was
Laban's trust.
Well, seven more he was content,
to serve for his Beloved,
And thought the time full quickly spent,
Chap. 29.
vers. 20. Chap. 31.38, 39.
though full of Toyl it proved.
God blessed
Laban for his sake,
but him he blest much more.
Whatever Wages he did take,
to him was Gain and Store.
Then
Laban did envy his Wealth,
yet loath to let him go,
But
Jacob fled away by stealth,
Chap. 31.
and made him (following) know
The wrong he did; and both good Friends,
after a chiding parted.
Then
Jacob in his Journey sends
to pacifie hard-hearted
Esau his Brother, who in Arms
was then against him bent;
But God prevented all the Harms,
and
Esau did relent.
So
Jacob called
Israel,
Chap. 32.
(for God had chang'd his Name
When he prevail'd at
Peniel)
in peace to
Shechem came.
Here
Dinah did a gadding go
and to her self brought Shame:
And to the
Shechemites much wo,
and to her Brethren Blame.
SECT.
VI.
THence up to
Bethel had he word,
to go to pay his Vow
Of Holy Worship,
Chap. 35.
for the Lord
again to
Canaan now;
From
Padan Aram had him set;
where mightily he grew
In Family and Substance great:
his Sons Names here ensue.
Reuben, Dan, Levi, Simeon,
Issachar,
Chap. 29.30.
Napthalin,
Aser, Gad, Judah, Zebulon,
Joseph and
Benjamin.
These Twelve were Patriarchs, whose Seed,
still multiplied more,
Even to those Thousands promised
so oft and long before.
Judah the Royal Line enjoy'd,
who for a Deed amiss,
Had
Tamar's Life with fire destroy'd,
but that the Fault was his.
Young
Joseph Jacob's Joy,
Chap. 37.
the rest
still stomached and spited,
Yet Hatred he deserved least,
had him his Brethren righted;
For Envy they conspir'd to kill,
but
Reuben did perswade;
Yet secretly they did him sell,
to Men of Merchants Trade;
Chap. 38.
Who sold him unto
Potiphar,
where though he lived chaste,
And faithfully himself did bear,
yet was in Prison cast.
Chap. 39.
But God beheld his Misery,
and gave him Wisdom great;
By which he was advanced high,
even next to
Pharaoh's Seat.
For when the King no Rest could find,
of Dreams that him had past,
Chap. 41.
Th' ungrateful Butler then to mind
doth
Joseph call at last.
And then he was from Prison sent,
and set before the King;
Where he to
Pharaoh's great Content,
Expounded every thing.
Besides, he shew'd a ready way,
the Famine to withstand,
Which
Pharaoh lik'd, and then did lay
on him the Charge in hand.
So by him was Provision made,
against the time of Need:
Wherewith (to
Pharaoh's gainful Trade)
all
Aegypt he did feed.
Chap. 47.
vers. 14.17.19.
SECT.
VII.
OLD
Jacob and his Sons also,
Chap. 42.
were pinch'd with Penury,
Wherefore he charged them to go
and Food in
Aegypt buy.
They went with Grief, and bought in Fear,
not dreaming of their Brother,
Nor did he Countenance them bear
more kind than any other;
Till when they came to him again,
Chap. 45.
Affection was so great,
He could no longer it contain,
within his Breast for heat.
With weeping Eye and joyful Tongue,
he then did plainly tell,
He was their Brother
Joseph, whom
to
Aegypt they did sell.
The Joy of either was so much,
that neither now could bear it;
Their sobbing Passion was such,
that
Pharaoh's House did hear it.
Who understanding what they were,
commanded presently,
With Charets, Horse, and Furniture
for
Jacob they should hie.
So He with all his Family,
Anno 2298. Chap. 46.
came thither out of hand;
And welcomed most lovingly,
were plac'd in
Goshen Land.
In
Goshen Land did
Jacob see
the fulness of his days,
Chap. 47.
And in his Sons Prosperity,
his fill of earthly Joys.
But solemnly before his Death,
he blest his Sons each one:
Chap. 49.
And
Joseph eke gave up the Breath,
e're many Years were gone.
Chap. 50.
Now when these Fathers both were dead,
and still their Seed did grow:
There rose a
Pharaoh in his stead,
that did not
Joseph know.
He Tyrant-like with heavy Hand,
of Bondage prest them down,
Exodus. Chap. 1.
And gave the Midwives strait command,
the Males to kill or drown.
SECT.
VIII.
BOrn in these Flames was
Moses mild,
Anno 2428.
and by God's Providence,
Though cast in River Flags (poor Child)
yet was he freed thence;
By
Pharaoh's Daughter, who did take,
Chap. 2.
and keep him as her own;
Until he came to Man's Estate,
when fearing to be known,
For killing an
Aegyptian; he
forsook the Court and fled:
And all this was by God's Decree,
whose Work must now be sped.
For God had heard the grievous Cry,
of
Hebrews sore oppressed,
And
Moses he meant to imploy
in having it redressed.
Chap. 3.
And called and sent him away,
Chap. 4.
to proud King
Pharaoh;
Requiring him without delay
to let his People go.
But
Pharaoh did the Lord despise,
Anno 2508.
and asked what was he?
Increasing more and more their Cries,
by greater Cruelty.
The Lord to tame this Tyrant stout,
Chap. 5.
and his own Folk to right,
With
Moses sendeth
Aaron out,
Chap. 7.
to make him know his Might.
They caused Blood, Frogs, Lice, and Flies,
with Murrain, Scabs, and Hail;
And Grashoppers and darkened Skies,
all
Aegypt to assail;
Chap. 8.
Excepting
Goshen Land,
Chap. 9.
where dwelt
God's People
Israel.
Chap. 10.
Yet
Pharaoh's Heart did nothing melt,
for still he did rebel.
Then was the Passover ordain'd,
and with the Paschal Blood,
Chap. 12.
The Posts of all their Doors were stain'd,
for their Safegard and Good;
Lest that the Angel passing by,
should smite them with the rest:
For he the First-born did destroy,
of
Aegypt Man and Beast:
Which Slaughter caus'd them dreadfully
at Midnight up to start,
And to entreat with woful Cry,
all
Israel to depart.
From
Aegypt then they forced went,
with borrowed Jewels plenty,
When they in
Aegypt Years had spent
four Hundred Ten and Twenty.
But
Pharaoh did repent the Deed,
and forthwith did not slack,
With Men and Chariots to make speed
again to bring them back.
And to the Red-Sea them pursu'd,
they passed thorow dry,
Chap. 14.
He followed with Courage proud,
but in the midst did lie.
For God affrighted Man and Horse,
and made his Chariots fall;
The Sea return'd with raging Force,
and drowned King and all.
Of this so strange Deliverance,
was then a godly Song,
Chap. 15.
Recorded for Remembrance,
and so they march't along.
SECT.
IX.
ABout this time (the learned Judge)
did patient
Job endure,
Job.
All Mischiefs that the Devil's Grudge,
and Malice could procure
To Children, Servants, Goods, good Name,
to Body, and to his Mind;
By Fire, Sword, Whirlwinds, Botch and Blain,
by Wife and Friends unkind.
Who long and large Discourse
[...] had,
to prove him plagu'd for sin,
Whereby they did Affliction add,
to Misery he was in.
And to such Passions did him drive,
'twixt hearts Despair and Hope,
That Flesh and Spirit did strongly strive,
and scarce to Breath gave scope:
But God at last, Just
Job commends,
Chap. 42.
and doubl'd his former Weal,
And check't his three censorious Friends,
but now to
Israel.
The Lord their God in open sight
directed them the way;
Chap. 13.
By fiery Pillar in the Night,
and shady Cloud by Day.
With Angel's Food and Waters fine,
from Rocks that forced Stream,
He fill'd them,
Chap. 15.24.16.3.17.3.
yet they did repine
full oft, e're that they came
To
Sinai; where the God of Might
in Glory did appear
And
Israel trembled at the sight:
Chap. 19.
nor durst,
Chap. 20.
nor might come near.
There did He give the Ten Commands,
and other Laws did Write,
For to contain them in the Bands
of Holiness and Right.
There did he unto
Moses show
Chap. 26.
the Tabernacle's Frame;
In every Point he taught him how
to make and use the same.
Chap. 28.
There made he choice of
Levi's Tribe,
the Priesthood to attend.
And did their Duties all describe
at large from End to End.
Mean while had
Israel made a Calf,
Chap. 32.
and grievously offended;
But
Moses Zeal in God's behalf,
deserves to be commended:
Who sharply punish'd with the Sword,
about three Thousand Men,
And earnestly besought the Lord,
to spare the Remnant then.
God granted it,
Chap. 33, 34.
and promised
his Angel should (in Token
Of Love) them lead; and then he did
renew the Tables broken.
Full forty Days and forty Nights,
was
Moses in the Hill,
Recording what the Lord indites,
his Precepts, Laws and Will.
Familiarly and face to face,
and fasting from all Food,
He waited in that Holy Place:
and thence he came and stood
In press of People to recite
all that the Lord had said;
Cap. 34.30.
What time his Face did shine so bright,
as made them much afraid.
SECT.
X.
WHen as the Tabernacle now,
Anno 2510.
was finished and reared:
And with Appurtenances due,
Chap. 40.
well furnished appeared.
Towards
Canaan the promis'd Land,
Numbers. Chap. 10.
that flow'd with Milk and Hony,
They marched forth Band after Band,
with stubborn Hearts and stony.
For by the way they soon forgot
Gods Mercy and his Power;
And car'd not how they him provok'd
to Anger every hour.
They long for Flesh, they MANNA loath,
Chap. 11.
and back they will retire.
They fret at GOD and
Moses both,
Chap. 14.
for crossing their desire:
Nor would they warned be, though they
his dreadful Judgments saw
On them inflicted day by day,
which liv'd not under Law.
As
Korah,
Chap. 16.
Dathan, Abiram,with thousands more among,
Chap. 12.
Nadab, Abihu, Miriam,
and such as Serpents stung.
Yet tempted they the Lord so long,
and with so high an hand;
That in his Wrath he swore, not one,
should enter to the Land.
Save
Joshua and
Caleb, who
returning with the Spies,
Chap. 14.
Affirm'd the Truth that they did know,
and cross'd their Fellows Lies.
So wandred they in Wilderness,
the space of forty Years;
Till all were dead that did transgress;
as by God's Book appears.
Chap. 26.64.
Their Sons he then did forward bring,
'gainst all that kept them back,
As
Sihon, Og, and
Moab's King,
whose Name was
Balaack.
Who hired
Balaam them to curse,
and so thought to molest them;
But for himself it was much worse,
for
Balaam three times blest them:
He and those two, and five Kings more,
which were of
Midian,
Chap. 21.24.
Were in revenge of
Baal-peor,
subdued, spoiled, slain.
Chap. 22.
Here
Reuben's Tribe, and
Gad also,
Chap. 31.
their Heritage possest,
On promise they should marching go
in Arms before the rest.
Chap. 25.17, 18.
Here
Moses named every one
that should the Land divide,
Chap. 32. Numb. 34.
And gave a fit Possession
unto each several Tribe.
And now must
Moses make an End,
as did his Fathers all:
Wherefore he did not time mispend,
Deut.
31.
but presently did call
For
Joshua, and gave him Charge,
the People to conduct,
Whom he by Sermons long and large,
Chap. 28.29.30.32.33.
divinely did instruct.
Which with a sweet and Swan-like Song,
in heavenly wise he ended;
And blest the Tribes each one along,
and forthwith he ascended
Mount
Nebo, unto
Pisgah Top,
Chap. 34.
whence as he did survey,
The
Canaan Land, the earthly Hope,
God took his Soul away,
Anno 2549.
To Heavens rest; and buried then,
his Body none know where,
When Peerless he amongst all Men,
had lived sixscore Year:
And yet his Eye-sight did not dim,
nor Natures Forces wither;
There
Israel lamented him,
for thirty Days together.
SECT.
XI.
THen did the Lord call
Joshua,
Joshua
1.
and bid him to be Strong,
And trust in him who is his Stay,
and boldly go along.
So he the Captain sends out Spies,
Chap. 2.
whom
Rahab safe did hide,
And they return'd in joyful wise,
which made them to provide
To pass with speed into the Land,
at
Joshua his Word,
Chap. 3.
The
Jordan Waters back did stand,
and Passage dry afford.
In midst whereof in open view,
Chap. 4.
they did a Pillar rear,
The Circumcision they renew,
Chap. 5.
the
Manna ceased there.
Chap. 6.
Then set they upon
Jericho,
Chap. 7.
and also upon
Ai.
But
Achan's Sin did work them wo,
and from the Conquest stay,
The
Gibeonites by Subtilty
were saved,
Chap. 9.
but the case
Of all the rest, was for to die,
and give God's People place:
Who cast them out, and did them kill,
with a victorious Hand,
For this the Sun and Moon stood still,
at
Joshua's Command.
Chap. 10.
When he had now fully possest,
each several Tribe in order,
And given to all Content and Rest
By Lot in every Border:
Religiously he did them press,
a Holy League to make,
Chap. 24.
For him and his,
Chap. 25.
he did profess
none other God to take:
And them and theirs he did adjure
to fear this God for ay.
So having seal'd the Covenant sure,
he pass'd by Death away.
Anno 2566.
Full soon had they the Lord forgot,
when
Joshua was dead,
Then
Judah had the Charge and Lot
their Armies forth to lead,
Chap. 1
But for their great Transgressions,
and League with
Canaanite,
God gave them to Oppressions,
of cruel Men of Might.
Who spoyl'd them without Mean or End,
and did them sorely grieve,
Until their God did Judges send,
Chap. 2.
their Grievance to relieve;
Against King
Cushan's Tyranny,
Chap. 3.
stout
Othniel raised he,
And when fat
Eglon made them cry,
lame
Ehud made them free.
'Gainst
Sisera of
Canaan,
did
Deborah prevail,
Now
Ruth obtain'd that honest Man,
Chap. 4.
when nearer kin did fail,
'Gainst
Midian a mighty Host,
Chap. 7.
march'd Captain
Gideon.
Bloody
Abimelech did boast;
Chap. 9.
he next would Reign or none,
The proud oppressing
Ammonite,
Chap. 11.
by
Iphtah was subdued;
The
Philistines for all their Spite,
Chap. 15.
the Birth of
Sampson rued.
Whose matchless Strength miraculous,
was over-match'd by Guile,
Of
Dalilah perfideous
Chap. 16.
who wrought his Bane the while.
When none amongst them rul'd as King,
each what he listed did:
Then
Micah made a molten thing,
Chap. 17.
and it he worshipped.
And at such time, that hainous sin,
upon the
Levite's Wife,
'Twixt
Israel and
Benjamin,
Chap. 19.
cost many a thousands life.
Chap. 20.
SECT.
XII.
ELI was Judge in
Israel,
1 Sam.
when for his Sons lewd ways,
God threatned him by
Samuel.
Chap. 3.
that he a Scourge would raise:
This
Samuel a righteous Man,
was last of all that judged,
And in his time the Kings began,
Anno 2905.
for then the people grudged;
And being male-content and sad,
Chap. 8.
would have a King to Reign,
O're them as other Nations had,
which was to
Samuel's pain.
But yet the Lord did them appoint,
a goodly Man and tall,
Chap. 9.
And
Samuel did him anoint
their King; his Name was
Saul.
A Princely Mind God to him gave,
with Complements of Place;
And he with
Jonathan did brave
His Enemies oft in Chase.
Chap. 13.
Yet God that him advanc'd so high,
Chap. 14.
from Toyl and Asses Care;
He disobey'd when foolishly,
Chap. 15.2.
King
Agag he did spare.
Chap. 15.
Therefore the Lord did him reject,
and little
David chose,
Anointed
Israel's King Elect,
Chap. 16.
when he should
Saul Depose.
Now great
Goliah plaid his Prize,
Chap. 17.
but
David knockt him down,
The People shout with joyful Cries,
Chap. 18.
and give him chief Renown.
Saul bit the Lip at
David's Praise,
and hated him the more;
Yea, sought his Life all manner ways,
and chas'd him like a Boar.
Chap. 19, 20.
With Javelin and with threatning Sword,
with Troops of Horse and Men,
From House and Home, from Bed and Board,
Chap. 22, 23.
from Desart, Den to Den.
Forced he was himself to fain,
with
Achish to be mad,
Chap. 21.
And for Defence to entertain
lewd Runnagates was glad.
Chap. 21.
But
Jonathan his faithful Friend,
Chap. 18.
at no time did forsake him,
Chap. 19.
And ever did him warning send,
when
Saul us'd means to take him.
Chap. 20.
Although for it he did engage,
himself in Danger deep,
For such was
Saul's suspicious Rage,
none might his Counsel keep.
Abimelcch did give him Bread
Chap. 22.
in his Necessity,
But for it he was murdered,
Chap. 22.
and all his Progeny.
Had
David labour'd like for like,
his Enemy to repay,
He had both time and place to strike,
Chap. 24.
and Soldiers bad him slay:
Chap. 26.
When they were come in Cave alone,
when with him fast asleep,
But he the Lord's Anointed one,
from harm did safely keep.
And that he did both Mercy love,
Chap. 25.
and bloody Vengeance flee,
When churlish
Nabal did him move,
wise
Abigail did see.
Now
Saul with Envy almost pin'd,
Chap. 23.
and driven to distress,
Sought by a wretched Witch to find,
some Comfort and Redress.
Of which he fail'd, and in the field
as desperately he fought.
His Sons were slain,
Chap. 31.
his Soldiers yield,
and gastly he besought
His Armor-bearer him to kill;
but he the deed abhor
[...]'d,
His own Heart blood he then did spill,
with his own Hand and Sword.
SECT. XIII.
THen
David was proclaim'd and reign'd
2 Sam. Anno
2945.
in
Hebron, Judah's King:
But
Ishbosheth had
Israel gain'd,
by
Abners counselling.
Long War was 'twixt the Houses both,
Chap. 2.
of
David and of
Saul,
Till
Abner with his new King Wroth
to
David's side did fall.
This
Abner and eke
Ishbosheth,
Chap. 3.
were slain by Villany:
But
David did lament their death,
and Murderers all defie,
And being now established,
Chap. 4.
sole King of all the Land:
And seeing each thing prospered,
Chap. 5.
that he did take in hand:
He solemnly doth think it fit,
to fetch the Ark more near him,
But
Ʋzzah's Death did hinder it,
Chap. 6.
God's Judgment did so fear him.
Yet afterward he brought it on,
and purposed to rear,
A House for God; but he would none,
Chap. 7.
as
Nathan made appear.
When he had all his Foes subdu'd,
and as a Monarch reign'd,
In Peace and Ease; see what ensu'd,
his upright Life was stain'd,
Chap. 11.
With Murder and Adultery,
Chap. 12.
whereof though he repented,
Yet was he punish'd diversly
with haps to be lamented.
First
Absalom shed
Amnon's Blood,
Chap. 13.
for Incest then he rose,
And like a Villain armed stood,
Chap. 15.
his Father to depose.
Achitophel that crafty Wretch
had chief hand in this Matter,
But
Hushai did him o're-reach,
Chap. 17.
by Skill he had to flatter.
Shimei doth curse, and rail,
Chap. 19.
and throw
stones at him as he fled,
Sheba doth now Rebellion blow,
but for it lost his Head.
The Peoples hasty numbering,
Chap. 24.
cost seventy thousand Lives,
1 Kings.
And lastly in his aged Years,
Chap. 1.
the Son a Wanton bred,
Even
Adoniah boldly tears
the Crown from off his Head.
This Prophet after God's own heart.
this sweet Psalm-singing Prince,
Did to his God at last depart,
with Peace of Conscience.
SECT.
IV.
NExt him did
Salomon his Son,
Anno 2985.
the Kingdoms Scepter sway,
There never sate on regal Throne,
his peer unto this day.
For Wealth,
1 Kings.
for State, for princely Port,
for Plenty and for Peace,
For Wisdom rare, and great resort;
which made his Fame increase.
Witness his Sentence in that Case,
Chap. 3.
of Queans crying out of Wrongs,
His Purveiance,
Chap. 4.
his horses Race,
his Proverbs, Writings, Songs:
Witness the Glorious Temple,
Chap. 6.
which
he built for God's Great Name;
The Carvings, Coverings, Hangings rich,
the Treasures of the same.
Witness his Prayers that excel,
Chap. 8.
for Words, for Zeal, for Fitness,
His Offerings wonderful and well
may that wise Queen bear witness.
Who wondring at the comon fame,
unto his Court resorted,
To hear and see; and when she came,
Chap. 107.
loe! half was not reported.
Yet
Solomon who had these Mines
of Wisdom and of Treasure,
By many Wives and Concubines,
and surfeiting in Pleasure;
Was drawn from true Religion
Chap. 11.
and from Sincerity,
To wicked Superstition,
and gross Idolatry.
For which God's Judgment did begin,
his Kingdom rent in twain,
Judah alone and
Benjamin,
did to his Heirs remain.
The other Tribes, in number Ten,
from their Allegiance fell;
Set up a King, and nam'd him then,
the King of
Israel.
His Throne was at
Samaria
on which he ruled them;
But
Judah's Seat Imperial,
was fair
Jerusalem.
And there did
Rehoboam reign,
Anno 3015
when
Shishak rob'd the Temple:
Chap. 12.
And next him, his Son
Abiam,
Chap. 14.
the worse for his ill Example.
Then
Asa, then
Jehosaphat,
Chap. 15.14.
both good and holy Kings,
For reformation; saving that,
Chap. 22.43.
they let alone some things.
SECT.
V. Kings of
Israel.
MEan time, in
Israel, Nebat's Son,
Chap. 12.
King
Jeroboam reigned.
Who first, at
Bethel and at
Dan,
those Calves and Priests ordained,
Nadab his Son, King
Baasa,
Chap. 15.
King
Elah, and King
Zimri,
Did for the Crown each other slay.
so likewise did King
Omri:
Chap. 16.
But his Son
Ahab with his Wife,
that cursed
Jezabel,
Exceeded in ungodly Life,
and to such Fur
[...] fell:
That good
Eliah fled for fear,
Chap. 17.
who was by Ravens fed;
Who rais'd the Widows Son most dear,
who laid
Baal's Prophets dead.
By whom King
Ahab warning had;
Chap. 18.
but words did naught prevail,
Nor Famine,nor yet
Benhadad,
Verse 2.
who strongly did assail
Samaria:
Chap. 21.
yet for all that
he killed
Naboth just,
And after got
Jehosaphat,
Chap. 22.
to serve unto his Lust.
For crossing which, poor
Micaiah,
Verse 27.
was in the Dungeon cast,
But
Josaphat in Battel saw,
Verse 34.
proud
Ahab slain at last.
His Son took place when he was dead,
even wicked
Ahaziah,
And after him was
Joram Head,
Chap. 1.
as then did good
Eliah,
In fiery Chariot take his flight
to Heaven;
Chap. 2.
and in his place,
His Spirit did on
Elisha light,
with double Power and Grace.
To work great Miracles,
Chap. 4.
as by
the increased Oyl was proved,
And by
Naaman's Leprosie,
Chap. 5.
which strangely he removed.
And by the Plenty prophe
[...]ed,
Chap. 7.
in starv'd
Samaria,
Which the proud Prince that said he ly'd,
to his small comfort saw.
But
Jehu did this
Joram quell,
and reigned in his stead,
He slew also vile
Jezebel,
Chap. 9.
Baal's Priests and
Ahab's Seed:
Chap. 10.
His wicked Son
Jehoahaz,
Chap. 13.
succeeded;
Vers.
3.4.
and the next
Was his Son
Joash:
Vers.
25.
either was
by
Aram's Armies vext.
Next
Joash, Jeroboam's Plea,
and Place was to succeed,
Now
Jonas threatned
Ninivy,
Chap. 14.23.
but they repent with speed.
Now did
Hosea take his Text,
and
Amos Prophesie,
But
Jeroboam dead,
Chap. 15.
the next
was his Son
Zachary.
Whom
Shallum slew in open fight
Verse 10.
and reigned in his stead,
But
Menahem did him requite,
Vers. 14.
and in his Seat succeed.
Then
Pekahiah, Men'hem's Son,
Vers. 23.
did wear the Crown until
His Captain
Pekah seiz'd thereon,
Vers. 25.
and did his Sovereign kill.
Nor had this
Pekah reigned long,
but he receiv'd his Doom,
Hoshea did revenge the Wrong,
Vers. 30.
and reigned in his room
In his time did
Salmanazer,
Chap. 17.
besiege
Samaria strong,
vers. 6.
And took
Hoshea Prisoner,
Anno 3265.
and led with him along,
All
Israel into
Syria,
where they did still remain,
And planted in
Samaria,
of his
Assyrian Train.
Whom God by Lyons did molest,
Vers. 25.
for their Idolatries,
Which made them get an
Hebrew Priest,
to teach them better ways.
SECT.
XVI. The Kings of
Judah.
THus leaving
Israel dispossest,
the course of Story brings
Us back to
Judah, which was blest,
with more religious Kings.
There next unto
Jehosophat,
did his Son
Joram Reign,
Then
Ahaziah,
Chap.
8.
then upstart
Athalia who had slain
All the Kings Sons that she could catch;
Chap.
11.
young
Joash scap't alone,
By help of Friends, who made a Match,
to place him on his Throne.
He reign'd and did God's House repair,
and left them when he died
King
Amast, his hopeful Heir,
then
Joel prophesied.
Ʋzziah Amaziah's Son,
Chap.
12.
was struck with Leprosie.
Chap.
14.
As he did reign,
Chap.
15.
and then begun
Isaiah's Prophesie.
Jotham a Prince of God's behest,
Chap.
16.
succeeded next
Ʋzziah:
Chap.
18.
And after him
Ahaz that beast,
Anno 3260.
and then reign'd
Hezekiah.
Chap.
18.
Against him proud
Senacherib,
Chap.
19.
sent railing
Rabshekee,
Who to his cost was answered,
and caus'd with shame to flee.
Now was the Prophet
Micak heard,
and
Nahum: but we find,
That this good King from death reserv'd
Chap. 20.
towards
Babel is too kind.
Next him, his Son
Manasse reign'd,
Chap. 21.
a wicked cruel King,
1
Chron. 33.12, 13.
Until he was in
Babel chain'd:
but thence God did him bring.
Ammon a man profanely vain,
his Father worse way took,
And was by his own servants slain:
now preached
Habakkuk.
2
Kings 21.13.
Then young
Josiah, Ammon's Son,
a worthy Prince and zealous,
Made such a Reformation
Chap. 12.
as was and will be famous.
Now
Jeremiah Trumpet-like
cries out; and
Zephaniah:
But
Necho's men in Battel strike,
and kill good King
Josiah.
Chap. 23.
His Son
Jehoahaz the Crown
obtain'd; but reign'd not long,
For
Pharaoh Necho put him down,
and c
[...]ain'd with Fetters strong;
2
Kings 24 1.
And plac'd his Brother in his room,
Jehoiakim by name,
2
Chron. 36.4.
Who
Babel's Vassal did become
for three Years space with shame.
And then rebelling brought again
Anno 3389.
great
Nebuchadnezzar.
With all his huge and warlike Train:
who took him Prisoner,
And bound and carried him away,
with whom to
Babylon,
Ezekiel and
Mordecai,
1
Chron. 3.16.
and
Daniel are gone,
With other moe of Royal Seed,
2
Kings 24.8.
young
Jechoni alone,
vers. 10, 11.
Was left behind in's Fathers stead:
to sit on
Judah's Throne;
Nor sate he long but
Babel doth,
his Souldiers stout command,
To fetch him and his Treasure both,
and Chief Men of the Land.
His Unkle
Zedekiah plac'd,
Anno 3399.
was in his room, and c
[...]owned;
Who likewise did rebel at last,
but
Babel's King so frowned,
Chap. 24.17.
That up against
Jerusalem,
the fourth time that he came,
ver. 17.20.
He by strong Siege so starved them,
Chap. 25.
that Warriours fled with shame.
Verse 3.5.
King
Zedekiah also fled,
but
Chaldees quickly caught him,
And that due Judgment might be had,
Chap. 25.
they unto
Riblah brought him,
And slew his Sons before his face,
Verse 6.
and then put out his Eyes,
And chained him with all Disgrace,
that else they could devise.
And so to
Babel they return,
Anno. 3400.
with Prisoners and with Prey,
The Temple after that they burn,
and take all thence away.
Yea,
Verse 8, 9.
burnt the Palace fair and rich,
which
Solomon did build:
And all the goodly Houses which
Jerusalem did yield.
SECT. XVII.
BEing now at
Babel fast in Hold,
Dantel.
the finest Wits were sought,
Chap. 1.
Or captive Children to be school'd,
and
Chaldee learning taught.
There
Daniel among the rest,
did to such Ripeness come,
That when a Dream the King opprest,
and Wizzards all were dumb.
The Dream forgotten, he disclos'd,
Chap. 2.
which was an Image great
Verse 27.
Of Metals different compos'd,
from head unto the feet.
This made the King much to admire,
Verse
4, 6.
him and his fellows all,
Yet three were cast into the fire,
Chap. 3.
for that they would not fall
Before his Image hugely trim:
but fire could take no hold.
Another Dream then vexed him,
which
Daniel did unfold;
Chap. 4.
And eke the state of future Times,
Of Monarchs Crowns surprising.
Chap. 7, 8, 11, 12.
Of Christ precisely he divines
and of the Deads arising,
But
Babel's King restored back,
Chap. 4.
from Beasts made better end,
Next him reign'd
Evilmerodach,
even
Jeconiah's Friend,
To him succeded
Balshazzar.
Jer. 20.
who in his drunken Feast,
Did neither God nor's People spare,
Chap. 25.
for Blasphemy and Jest;
Till fingers writing on a wall,
dazling his very sight,
Did so his Countenance appall,
Verse 8.
was never man so fright.
This Writing
Daniel did expound
unto his further pain,
For even that night he was uncrown'd,
Verse 30.
and by
Darius slain.
SECT. XVIII.
WHen now full seventy Years were spent,
Anno 3458.
in their Captivity,
King
Cyrus Proclamation sent,
for their Delivery.
Zerubbabel doth then retire,
Ezra. Chap. 1.
with all the Temples Treasure.
And full Commission to repair
the Ruins at their pleasure.
But crafty Foes did plot apace,
the Lord's Work to withstand,
Chap. 4.
By flattering Speech unto their face.
and Letters under hand;
Yea,
Haman's Hatred cankered,
had clean destroy'd them all,
Had not Queen
Esther ventured,
Esther. Chap. 3.
and sav'd them from the Thrall,
Then
Haggai, also
Zachary,
Ezra. Chap. 5.
the slackness do reprove;
And shortly after
Malachi,
their lack of Zeal and Love.
At last the Temple finished,
was by
Zerubbabel,
And
Nehemi with Letters sped,
Nehemia. Chap. 2.
to build the Walls as well.
Which he perform'd for all the hate
of Enemies prophane,
Chap. 6.15.
Tobiah, wicked
Sanballat,
and worse
Samaritane.
And then he kept a solemn Feast,
whereat the Law was read,
Chap. 4.
Verse 1, 2. Chap. 8.
And seal'd a Covenant with the rest,
their God to serve and dread.
Next Kings and Dukes, the
Maccabees,
Chap. 10.
(as Stories do recite)
Did rule them: but the Monarchies,
still top't them by their Might.
1
The Babylonians.
In such Subjection did they mourn,
2
The Grecians.
four hundred Years, and odd,
Until
Messiah, Christ was born,
3
The Romans.
true Man and very God.
THE SECOND PART
SECT.
I.
OF
Abram's Seed and
David's Line
directly Christ descended:
Mat. 1. Luke 3.
So have th'
Evangelists Divine
by Scripture left commended.
Before him was an Herald sent,
his Coming to proclaim:
Who cry'd in Wilderness,
Repent,
Mat. 3.
the Paths of God make plain.
His Clothing was of Hair and Skin,
his Meat of no great Cost,
And for reproving
Herod's sin,
Mat. 14.
his Head at last he lost.
This was that
John the Baptist whose
Birth, Name and Office high,
The Angel
Gabriel did disclose,
Luke 1.
to his Father
Zachary.
Who thought it not to be believ'd,
Verse 18.
and for it was struck dumb,
Till old
Elizabeth had Conceiv'd
and all to pass was come.
To
Mary eke of
Nazaret,
Verse 26.
a Virgin Pure and Chast,
With Salutation high and great,
this
Gabriel did haste.
Shewing that she must Mother be,
God's dear Son forth to bring,
The Holy Ghost by high Decree,
her overshadowing.
And at that very time betroth't
she was to
Joseph Just:
When being found with Child,
Mat. 1.
he thought
that part with her he must.
But then an Angel warned him
by Dream to keep her still,
For that she had Conceiv'd within,
was God's own Work and Will,
At
Bethlem she was brought to Bed,
and
Jesus Christ was Born,
And in a Manger swaddeled,
Luke 2.
as one cast out to scorn:
But heavenly Angels made him known
to Shepherds, forthwith they
Found out the Babe, as had been shown,
and publish't it with Joy.
Then was he Circumcis'd and Nam'd,
and (as the Law indented)
Brought to the Temple, fitly fram'd,
and to the Lord presented.
Where Holy
Simeon did him bless,
and with a Song embrace him:
And aged
Ann, a Prophetess,
preach't publickly to grace him.
Yea, Eastern Wisemen came from far,
and did rich Treasures bring,
Directed by a special Star,
to find out
Judah's King.
Who worshipped, and warned were
by God in their return,
To take good heed, and not come near,
King
Herod who did burn
With Wrath and Envy 'gainst this newborn
greater King of
Jury,
And being mocked sent and slew
the Infants in a Fury.
But God to
Joseph warning gave,
to
Aegypt thence to fly,
The Babe and Mother, there to save,
from
Herod's Cruelty.
King
Herod dead, then hasted he
to
Israel again:
But turn'd aside to
Galilee,
because his Son did reign.
And all this was for to acquite
the Prophesies of old,
From
Aegypt and a
Nazarite,
to come he was foretold.
SECT.
II.
AT twelve Years old with Doctors he
in Temple doth dispute;
Luke 2.
The Hearers all amased be,
Vers. 46.
his Mother is also mute.
At thirty Years he was by
John
Baptiz'd in
Jordan, and
Proclaimed God's Beloved Son,
Mat. 3.
while Heavens open stand.
To Wilderness then was he led,
Mat. 4.
and fasted forty Days:
The Devil there he vanquished,
though tempted many ways.
And so, his Ministry of Weight,
he closely sets about:
He chuseth Twelve Apostles straight,
Mat. 10. Luke 10.
and also sends them out:
And seventy more, by two and two,
he sent with like Command,
To Preach, to Heal, and to Subdue
the Devils that did withstand.
To quicken them, the more, he did
part of his Glory shew,
Being on the Mount transfigured
into an heavenly Hew.
Mat. 17.
Nor was he idle,
John 2.14. Luke 19.45.
but did purge,
the Temple first and last,
And still he did Repentance urge
as up and down he past.
At
Nazaret he took his Text
in
Esay's Prophesie:
Matt. 13.
Whence hardly scaping,
Luke 4.
he did next
to
Capernaum hie.
There Satan shew'd his discontent,
but strongly was cast out.
Unto the great Astonishment,
of all that stood about.
He taught a Doctor of the Law,
Matt. 4. John 3.
a Lesson new and strange.
In the Woman of
Samaria
he wrought a wondrous Change.
John 4. Matt. 5.
He made a Sermon on the Mount,
most heavenly and large.
Nine blessed Sorts he did recount,
and press the Preachers Charge.
The Laws of God he likewise there
did perfectly Expound,
He taught them how to pray,
Matt. 6.
and where
and gave them Precepts sound.
For practice of True Piety,
and taking heed also,
Of Cares and of Hypocrisie,
and many Duties moe,
Which uttered were in Parable,
Matt. 6. verse
26. Christ's Parables.
or in plain Speeches brought,
Each Word and every Syllable,
with Power upon them wrought.
By Builders. (
Mat. 7.24.
Mat. 21.22.
Luke 14.28.
Bridegroom. (
Mat. 9.15.
cap. 22.2.
cap. 25.1.
Brides. (
Mat. 6.26.
cap. 10.29.
cap. 23.37.
And Bread. (
Mat. 15.26.
cap. 7.9.
John 6.48.
By Beasts. (
Mat. 8.20.
cap. 7.6, 15.
cap. 12.34.
Thieves. (
Mat. 24.43.
Luke 10.30.
John 10.1.
Spirits unclean. (
Mat. 12.27.
& verse 47.
By Servants. (
Mat. 6.24.
& 18.31.
& 24.46.
Lu. 17.7.
Shepherds. (
Mat. 18.12.
Jo. 10.11.
Mat. 9.36.
& 25.33.
Salt. (
Mat. 5.13.
Luke 14.34.
Mark 9.49.
And Seeds. (
Mat. 13.3.
cap. 17.10.
cap. 13.24.
& v. 31.
By Net. (
Mat. 13.47.
New Cloth and Wine. (
Mat. 9.16.
& verse 17.
By Light. (
Mat. 5.14, 15.
& 73.
& 6.22.
John 8.12.
And Leven. (
Mat. 13.33.
& 16.6.
Feasts. (
Luke 14.
verse 12.
verse 8.
verse 16.
And Friends. (
Luke 11.5.
& 16.9.
By rich Men. (
Luke 12.16.
& 16.1.19.
& 18.10.
Trees. (
Mat. 7.17.
& 12.33.
& 15.13.
& 21.19. —
& 26.32.
Luke 13.6.
And Treasure. (
Mat. 6.19.
& 12.35.
& 13.34.52. —
& 25.14.
By Children. (
Mat. 11.16.
& 18.3.
& 24.28.
Lu. 15.11.
Women. (
Mat. 12.50.
& 24.41.
Luke 15.8.
Ways. (
Mat. 7.13.
John 14.6.
And Vines. (
Mat. 21.33.
& 20. 1
John 15.1.
he taught them out of measure,
Deep Mysteries which long lay hid,
which he from Heaven brought
And by strange Miracles he did
confirm what he had taught.
SECT.
III.
AT
Cana he did at their need,
Christ's Miracles. John 2. Matt. 14.
turn Water into Wine,
And with five Loaves five Thousand fed.
by his great Power Divine.
Another time four thousand Men,
Matt. 15.
with seven Loaves he filled.
He walked on the Sea,
Mat. 6.26.
& 15.32.
and when
it rag'd, the Waves he stilled.
Cood sight he gave to many blind,
Mat. 9.
& 12.
& 20.
Mark 8.
John 9.
And Speech unto the dumb,
Mat. 9.32.
& 12.22.
Mat. 7.32.
The lame, their Limbs do firmly find,
Mat. 12.10.
Luke 13.11.
John 5.8.
The deaf to Hearing come.
Mark 7.32.
He healed Sicknesses long bred.
Mat. 4.24.
& 8.6.14.
& 9.20.
& 14.26.
Even foul and leprous Evils,
Mat. 8.3.
Luke 17.12.
Yea more, he raised up the dead,
Luke 7.12.
Joh. 11.1.
& 5.21.
Mark 5.41.
And dispossest the Devils.
Mat. 8.29.
& 9.31.
& 17.15.
Mark 9.20.
Yet for all this he was not free,
but had Controllers many,
To carp and quarrel, pry and see,
if fault they could find any.
Mat. 26.2. Cap. 22.35. John 8.6.
Among the rest the Sadducees,
with those of
Herod's Train,
The Scribes also and Pharisees
did ever more remain
His deadly Enemies, and did seek
to trap him in a Snare,
By crafty Questions, rough or meek,
what way, they did not care.
Mat. 19.3.
& 22.16.35.
Mat. 8.11.
Luke
— 10.25.
& 11.15.
But yet his hour was not come,
he still preach't painfully,
And them bequeath'd a heavy Doom,
Matt. 23.
for their Hypocrisie.
Jerusalem her fearful State,
Matt. 24.
he did with Grief foresay,
The manner eke he did relate,
of the last Judgment-day.
But comforteth his chosen Ones,
with spiritual Consolation,
As sweetly may be seen in
John's
divine and long Relation.
John 14.1
[...], 16, 17.
And so to
Bethani he went,
where
Simon him received;
And
Mary's Box upon him spent,
Matt. 26.
dissembling
Judas grieved.
Then was the Passover prepar'd,
and
Judas pointed out,
A Traitor to his Sovereign Lord:
and then he went about,
A work of Grace, a Sacrament,
a Supper to ordain,
A Seal of Love, a Testament,
that should with his remain:
Thence went he to
Mount Olivet
as was his use to pray,
Of scattering and of Scandal great,
he told them by the way.
SECT.
IV.
MEan while did Priests a Council call,
and did his Death conspire,
They hired
Judas in their Hall,
to work them their desire:
Who promis'd to effect it so,
as that they should not miss;
With him their Captain, on they go,
their Token is a Kiss.
As Christ in Garden praying was,
with Sighs and Groans most deep,
That fearful Cup to have it pass,
the rest opprest with sleep:
In comes this rude and bloody Rout,
which
Peter could not bear,
But drew his Sword and laid about,
and cut off
Malchus Ear;
Which
Jesus heal'd,
John 18.
and to their Will,
he yields though at his words,
They first gave ground and backward fell,
Verse 6.
though arm'd with Clubs and Swords.
The poor Apostles fly for fear,
Matt. 26.
yea,
Verse 56.
Peter thrice denied
His Master;
Chap. 27.
Judas doth despair
and hang'd himself and died.
Verse 5.
To high Priests-Hall they led him then,
and witness false suborned:
Spat in his Face,
Matt. 14.
and by their Men,
he was both beat and scorned.
Then did they him to
Pilate send,
Matt. 27.
where being found most clear,
To free him
Pilate did intend,
and that the
Jews did fear.
And then began with Might and Main,
tumultuously to cry,
To let loose
Barabbas again,
Luke, 23.
and
Christ to Crucifie.
Nor were the common Souldiers slack,
Matt. 27.
to strip him of his Weed,
A Scarlet Robe put on his Back,
and in his Hand a Reed.
And on his Head a Crown of Thorns,
then do they bow the Knee.
So, on him having spent their Scorns,
to
Golgotha goes he,
They forced
Simon by the way,
to help him bear his Cross,
On which they did his Hands display,
and nail, without remorse:
Betwixt two Thieves they did him place,
and gave him Gall to drink,
They shew'd him all the vile disgrace,
that Heart of Man could think:
Thieves, Pharisees, Priests, Passers by,
Mat. 27.38. Luke 23.34.
all scoff and wag and Head,
All which he bare most patiently,
till all was finished.
Then rent the Temple vail in twain,
Matt. 27.
the Stones did cleave asunder.
The Graves did ope, the dead again,
did rise and walk with wonder.
The Earth lay trembling, and the Sun
abash't in darkness bode,
And then cry'd the Centurion,
Luke 23. Matt. 27.
this was the Son of God.
His Body
Joseph did take down,
and lap in Linnen sweet,
And in a new Tomb of his own,
did bury it as was meet.
The Priests his Resurrection fear'd
and therefore took good heed,
To keep him sure with Watch and Ward,
and seal'd the Tomb with speed.
But he the third Day did arise,
Matt. 28.
as he had them foretold,
Then did the Priests, to publish lies,
corrupt the Guard with Gold.
SECT.
V.
CHRIST being Risen, did appear,
and charged the Eleven,
To Preach and Baptize every where,
by warranty from Heaven.
And purposing to furnish them,
with Knowledge, Tongues and Art,
He bids them from
Jerusalem,
Chap. 1
in no wise to depart.
Till Promises performed were;
which said; out of their sight,
A Cloud to Heaven did him bear,
and two in Garments white,
Did check their gazing, and fore-show
his coming back again.
Then to the City back they go,
where all as one remain
In Prayer and Request to God:
there
Pe er doth propose
To fill the number that was od;
the Lot
Matthias chose.
Upon the day of Pentecost,
Chap 2.
in cloven Tongues like fire,
From Heaven high the Holy Ghost,
th' Apostles did inspire.
Then did they in strange Tongues report
the wondrous Works of God,
Astonish't was therewith each sort
of Strangers that abode
Within the City; others mook't,
but
Peter took their part,
And by his Sermon soundly knock't,
Chap. 3.
three Thousand at the Heart.
Then
John and he together joyn'd,
Chap. 3.
and heal'd the Creeple lame,
To Prison though they were confin'd,
yet were they freed for shame.
To preach the Truth they were all bold,
Chap. 4.
and many Wonders wrought,
Nor would they be by Priests controll'd
though oft in danger brought.
For they in suffering did rejoyce,
and God sent Help at need;
The
Hypocrites at
Peter's voice,
Chap. 5.
were suddenly struck dead.
Then did they for poor Widows moan,
Chap. 6.
seven honest Deacons chuse,
Of which was blessed
Stephen one,
Chap. 7.
who martyr'd was by
Jews.
Saul was consenting to this deed,
Chap. 8
and with his threatning sore,
Scattered th' Apostles far and wide,
but God's Word grew the more.
By
Philip in
Samaria,
with Power it was taught,
And into
Aethiopia,
'twas by th'
Eunuch brought:
Damascus succoured many a Saint;
which
Saul no sooner found,
But to the Priests he made Complaint,
for power to bring them bound.
And quickly sped: but see a change,
this hot blood-sucking
Saul,
By Vision heavenly and strange,
became bold-preaching
Paul.
At
Joppa Peter rais'd the dead,
Chap. 10.
and did the Gospel plant,
And in
Caesarea he sped,
Captain
Cornelius want.
At
Antioch the Word was spread,
Chap. 11.
by Preachers there disperst,
Who truly following Christ the Head,
were there call'd Christians first.
Now
Herod stormed:
Chap. 12.
James was slain,
and
Peter prisoned fast:
An Angel loosed
Peter's Chain,
Worms eat the King at last.
SECT.
VI.
BUt
Paul (call'd
Saul) surpast them all,
in Patience and Pains-taking:
To preach the Word to great and small,
he evermore was waking;
By Day, by Night, by Sea, by Land,
by Pen, and eke by Mouth,
Though Perils great were oft at hand,
yet publish't he the Truth:
Four special Journeys did he make,
in lesser
Asia one,
And twice he cross'd the
or
Mare Aegeum.
Grecian Lake,
and then to
Rome is gone.
With him also the Holy Ghost,
Chap. 13.
set
Barnabas apart.
Their Charge was in the heathen Coast,
the
Gentiles to convert.
From
Antioch they first set out,
and unto
Paphos came:
Where
Sergius to the Faith was brought,
and
Elimas to shame,
Then in
Pisidia did he preach,
and in
Iconion,
He stayed long, and still did teach,
Chap. 14.
till Stirs cause him be gone.
Thence did he unto
Lystra flee,
Chap. 14.
and there he heal'd the Lame,
Verse 11.19.
For which, a god, then ston'd, but he,
thence back to
Antioch came.
Th' Apostles at
Jerusalem,
Chap. 15.
did now a Council call,
A false Opinion to condemn
which did the Church befal.
A second Journey they intend,
but
John Mark doth divide them:
Barnabas doth to
Cyprus bend,
but
Paul and
Sylas hide them.
Through
Syria and
Silicia,
and with them they consort
Young
Timothy, of whom they have,
Chap. 16.
a special good Report.
To
Macedonia by night,
they called were and sent,
The Devil there gives God his Right,
Vers. 17.
there
Lydia doth repent,
And eke the Jaylor: forthwith they
to
Thessalonica moved,
Thence to
Berea,
Chap. 17.
where they joy
to see their preaching proved.
In
Athens next did
Paul dispute,
Chap. 18.
and thence to
Corinth came,
Verse 3.
Where he with
Aquila did sute,
and
Crispus Christian frame.
There
Gallio doth shift his hand
though hardly
Jews complain,
So back he goes to
Syria and
to
Antioch again.
Verse 22.
SECT.
VII.
THen did he his third Journey hast,
towards
Graecia once more.
Through lesser
Asia he past,
as he had done before.
At
Ephesus he made some stay,
for there the Word prevailed,
There was
Apollo shew'd the way,
Chap. 19.
and there
Demetrius railed.
Philippi last he visited,
and thence he sailed back,
To
Troas; where he rais'd the dead
and after did not slack,
Unto
Jerusalem to come;
yet sailing thither-ward,
Chap. 20.
The planted Churches all and some
to see, he had regard.
(For in his Journies as he went)
he preach'd and Churches planted,
And coming back, was diligent
for to supply what wanted.
He did Confirm them, and Ordain
Elders in every place,
With Fast and Prayer, and then again
commend them to God's Grace.
At
Ptolemais one day they bide,
and to
Cesarea walked,
Where
Philip's Daughters prophesi'd,
and
Agabus fore-talked
Of
Paul his Bands and Sufferings great,
Chap. 21.
but he was naught dismai'd
To suffer Death (though they intreat)
he ready was he said:
So, up he went, and being there
made to them full relation;
With Praise to God they gladly hear
the
Gentiles strange vocation.
To please the
Jews, they did advise
to purifie him there,
But in the Temple Stirs arise,
and like to cost him dear.
Had not the Captain ceas'd the strife,
and by his great Friendship,
Account he rendred of his Life,
and Faith, and scap't the Whip.
Then was he brought before the Priest,
Chap. 22.
and smitten, but the Fray,
'Twixt
Sadducees, Scribes, and the rest,
hindred the Plea that day.
Then was he unto
Felix sent,
Chap. 23.
his Answer there to make,
Thither also the high Priest went,
and did
Tertullus take:
The Orator, to plead their Case;
Chap. 24.
but nothing yet they gain'd.
Till
Festus came in
Felix place,
before him being raign'd,
And King
Agrippa:
Chap. 25.
he thinks well
to yield him up in Bands:
But
Paul to
Caesar did appeal,
Chap. 26.
and so escap'd their Hands.
To
Italy then was he bound,
with a Centurions Guard:
But Perils great on Sea they found,
Chap. 27.
the like hath scarce been heard.
Tost up and down the Ship at last,
Chap. 27.
stuck fast within the Sand:
And there was all to pieces dasht:
yet all came safe to Land,
At
Malta:
Chap 28.
where the Viper quick,
maid the
Barbarians quail,
Paul scap'd the Danger, heal'd their sick,
and thence to
Rome did sail.
Where he arriving was by
Jews,
both met and entertained,
He told the Brethren joyful News,
and two Years there remained
In his own House, but guarded by
a Souldier of the Train,
Until that
Nero cruelly,
did cause him to be slain.
SECT.
VIII.
AS
Paul in preaching got the Prize,
so
John did mount most high,
God's Holy hidden Mysteries,
Revelation.
and Secrets to descry.
Who, in the Spirit, on the Lord's Day,
in
Patmos banished,
Wrote Words divine, and blest are they
which understand and read.
First, to the seven Churches he
sends healthful Salutation,
Chap. 4.
Then sets he out God's Majesty
and Book of
Revelation.
Chap. 5.
But seven Seals this Book did close,
and none could be found out
Worthy the Seals for to unlose,
till came the Lyon stout
Of
Judah's Tribe, the
Lamb once slain,
he every Seal did open,
And each Seal drew as in a Chain,
some strange and special Token.
The first reveal'd a Horse milk white,
(the Gospel's Speed and Power)
The second red,
Chap. 6.
and did delight
by bloodshed to devour.
The third was black, and notice had
of Plague and Famine fell,
The fourth Horse then full pale and sad,
did
Antichrist foretel,
The fifth Seal open'd did bewray,
Saints Souls that had been killed;
Which under Heavens Altar lay,
till were the Number filled.
The sixth unsealed, there were seen
most fearful Signs and Wonders:
Chap. 7.
But God seal'd (spite of
Satan's spleen)
twelve times twelve thousand Numbers:
Last, opening the seventh Seal,
loe Angels seven attend,
Chap. 8.
Before the Lord,
Chap. 11.15.
and they reveal
the World's State to the end.
Chap. 8.
These Angels seven Trumpets had,
but each in order blows,
And for the World would be so bad,
denounced nought but Woes.
SECT.
IX.
THen mightily with glorious Look,
Chap. 10.
Christ Jesus is revealed,
And in his Hand a
little Book,
but open and unsealed.
This Book Saint
John did take and ate,
and it th' Estate contained,
Of God's Church present, and of that
her Glory which remained.
For present state, she never wants,
the preaching of God's Spell,
Two Candlesticks,
Chap. 11.
two Olive Plants,
two Witnesses this tell.
And though she cloath'd be with the Sun,
and on the Moon do tread;
Yet Wars against her are begun,
by Foes that make her dread:
And first the
Dragon caus'd her flie,
Chap. 12.
into God's Wilderness,
But
Michael from Heaven high,
his Fury doth repress.
Then did a Beast make War on her,
Chap. 13.
seven headed, and ten horned.
And after him there did appear
another Beast adorned.
Like to the Lamb, with Horns but two
yet
Dragon-like he spake,
And did what the first Beast could do,
compelling all to take
His Mark upon their Fore-head: yet
the
Lamb had thousands still,
On Earth,
Chap. 14.
that him with Praises greet,
signed to do his Will.
SECT.
X.
NOr doth he
Babylon forget,
Chap. 14.
th' Idolatrous drunken Whore,
Three Angels he against her set,
and after
seven more;
The first, by preaching to descry.
the next, to shew her Fall,
The third doth Torments notifie,
bequeath'd her Lovers all.
Those
seven, seven Vials had,
Chap. 19.
full of the Wrath of God,
Which they pour'd out as they were bad
on all the Earth abroad.
Chap. 16.
Unto the ruin of the Beast,
and of the Whore of
Rome:
Chap. 17.
That golden purple
Antichrist;
for this her heavy Doom,
Kings of the Earth, and Merchants proud,
Chap. 18.
take up a Lamentation:
But Holy Saints sing Praises loud,
for Churches Preservation,
Unto the Conquerous of Fame,,
Chap. 19.
that cloath'd is with the Word,
And bears on
Thigh, a
mighty Name.
and in
in his Mouth a Sword:
Who summoned triumphantly,
to his victorious Feast,
The Fowls that by mid-heaven flie,
as for his Foe, the Beast,
He with the
Prophet false were cast
into the Brimstone Lake:
The Sword devoured all the rest,
that part with him did take.
And then the Devil that
Dragon stout,
Chap. 20.
that
Serpent old (once chained,
A thousand years, and then let out,
he fiercely rag'd and reigned,
With
Gog and
Magog's armed Strength,
Chap. 20.9.
whom God consum'd in ire,)
The Devil (I say) was cast at length,
in Lake of Brimstone fire.
And with him all the damned Race:
for God comes on his Throne,
A dreadful Judge, before whose Face,
both Heaven and Earth are gone,
And Hell, and Grave, and Se
[...], and Land,
deliver up their dead;
Who all before the Judge do stand,
and Books are opened;
As they have done, Doom doth begin,
his Work each one commendeth;
The wicked out, the godly in,
and so the Session endeth.
SECT.
XI.
NOw doth Saint
John lively describe,
the
Church her glorious State,
Wife of the Lamb, th' espoused Bride,
Christ Jesus heavenly Mate:
Who was found worthy to be clad,
Chap. 19.
in pure and bright Aray:
And was exhorted to be glad,
against her Marriage day.
Jerusalem New, Holy, Great,
from Heaven down descending,
Chap. 21.
God and the Lamb there hold their Seat,
it lightning and defending.
The Form it is each way four square,
the Matter Gold and Pearl,
The Citizens more noble are,
than earthly Lord or Earl,
Twelve Gates there are for Entrance wide,
the Porters Angels stout,
A Wall most high on every side,
doth compass it about.
The weight of Glory there reserv'd,
can no Man's tongue impart,
Eye hath not seen, Ear hath not heard,
nor enter can Man's Heart.
There is no Sorrow, Pain nor Care,
Chap. 22.
no want of Cloth or Food,
No Filth, no Darkness, Curse, nor Fear,
No want of any Good.
There is of Life the Tree and Spring,
the Store-house of all Treasures:
There Saints triumph, there Angels sing,
in Paradise of Pleasures.
There lives our Head, let us not slack,
but ever watch and pray:
Our Saviour will come quickly back;
even so, come Lord away.
Sine fine sit Laus Deo.