"The sprite (when God the souls of men converts)
Doth move the teachers' tongues, the hearers' hearts."
The south was first of soveraigntie the seat,
From whence it springing, spread to neighbouring
parts,

And then some states did strive how to be great,
By morall vertues, and by martiall arts,
Till colder climats did controll that heat,
Both showing stronger hands, and stouter hearts,
And whilst each prince was onely prais'd as strong,
The way to greatnesse, went by ruine long.

The light of Heaven first in the east did shine,
Then ranne the course kept by the earthly light,
And did (as zeale in realmes) rise, and decline,
Still giving day to some, to others night,
The faith of man yet toil'd it to refine,
And left no land till loath'd, not forc'd, no flight,
Christ's light did still amongst the Gadarens shine,
Till to his presence they preferr'd their swine.

Where are these churches seven, those lanterns

seven,

Once Asia's glory, grac'd by sacred scroules? With monsters now, as then with martyrs even, The Turke their bodies, Sathan rules their soules, Lands then obscure are lifted up to Heaven, Whose souls like linxes look, whilst theirs like owles, Those whom the word renown'd, are knowne no more, Those know God best, who scarce knew men before.

The world's chiefe state old Rome with glory gain'd, Of which the losse her nephew's shame did seale, The gospel's truth at Rome long taught remain'd; But now she would the same too much conceale,

Thus temp'rall power, and spiritual, both Rome

stain'd,

Sonnes of the second match whom Christ should
Ah, brag not you as heritours of grace: [crowne,
The naturall branches they were broken downe,
And we (wilde olives) planted in their place.
Feare, feare, lest seas of sinnes our sonles do drowne,
Shall he spare us who spar'd not Abram's race?
As they for lack of faith, so may we fall;
"What springs in some, is rooted in us all."

Till ours be full though Israel's light lyes spent,
Our light shall once them to salvation leade;
Is God like man that he should now repent,
That promise which to Abram's seed was made?
For his great harvest ere that Christ be bent,
The Iews shall have a church, and him their head.
We feare their law, they shall our gospell love.
Both Iews and Gentiles once, one church shall prove.

This signe it seemes might soone accomplish'd be,

Were not where now remaines that race of Shems,

The Gentiles' dregges, and idols which they see,

Makes them loath all, for what their law condemnes; To be baptisde yet some of them agree, [temnes; Whil'st them their mates, their mates the world conAnd why should we not seek to have them sav❜d, Since first from them salvation we receiv'd?

Even then there was a falling from the faith:
When the evangell most toil'd souls to winne,
The antichrist his kingdome did begin
To poyson souls, yet, ere the day of wrath,
Once shall perdition's childe, that man of sinne,
Be to the world reveal'd, a prey to death.
God may by tyrants scourge his church when griev'd,
Yet shall the scourge be scourg'd, the church reliev❜d.

The antichrist should come with power and might,
By signes and wonders to delude the eyes:
Thus Sathan seemes an angell oft of light,
That who the truth contemn'd, may trust in lyes:
And this with justice stands, even in God's sight,
That he in darknesse fall, the light who flyes:
"And, oh! this is the uttermost of ill,
When God abandons worldlings to their will."

This adversary of Christ's heavenly word,
Should straight himselfe extoll by Sathan's wit,
Over all that is call'd God, or is ador'd;
And of iniquity no meanes omit,
Though worthy of the world to be abhorr'd;
He in the church of God, as God, shall sit:

This hypocrite huge mischiefes borne to breed,
Should look like God, yet prove a devill indeed.
This mysterie of sinne which God doth hate,
Even in Paul's time began, and since endur'd:
Yet could not then be knowne, till from the gate,
That which then stop'd, was razde, and it assur'd;
The Romane power was at that time so great,
That of lesse states the luster it obscur'd;
The let which then remain'd, while as remov'd,
This antichrist, the next aspirer prov'd.

That spirituall plague which poysons many lands,
Is not the Turke, nor Mahomet his saint;
Nor none who Christ to crosse directly stands;
He whom the sprite takes such great pains to paint,
It must be one who in the church commands,
No foe confess'd, but a professor faint.
For if all did him know, none would him know,
A foe (thought friend) gives the most dangerous blow.
Ere that day come which should the just adorne,
And shall discover every secret thought,
The antichrist whose badge whole lands have borne,
The prophet false which lying wonders wrought,
The beast with the blasphemous mouth and horne
Shall be reveal'd, and to confusion brought.
"For causes hid though God a space spare some,
Their judgements are more heavy when they come."
Th' effronted whore prophetically showne
By holy John in his mysterious scrouls,
Whom kings and nations to their shame should owne,
The Devil's chiefe bawd adulterating souls;
Though scandaliz'd, and to the world made knowne,
By mingling poyson with her pleasant bouls,
Yet shall her cousening beauties courted be,
Till all at last her fall with horrour see.

The part where that great whore her court should
Vile Babylon, abhominable towne,
[hold,

Where every thing, even souls of men, are sold,
Low in the dust to lye, shall be brought downe:
Her nakednesse all nations shall behold,
And hold that odious which had once renowne;
But her discovery, and her ruine's way,
Are hid till that due time the same display.
Flie, faithfull Christians, from that sea of sinne,
Who hate the whore, and from the horned beast
Flie, flie in time, before their griefe begin,
Lest as their pleasures, so their plagues you taste;
When as the lambe the victory doth winne,
He of fat things will make his flock a feast. [bright,
This cloud dispers'd, the Sunne shall shine more
Whil'st darknesse past endeeres the present light.

Now in the dangerous dayes of this last age,
When as he knowes Christ doth to come prepare,
The Divell shall like a roaring lyon rage,
Still catching soules with many a subtile snare,
Whil'st his fierce wrath no mischiefe can asswage,
Some by presumption fall, some by despaire,
And if this time not shortened were, deceiv'd,
God's chosen children hardly could be sav❜d.
Some for a glorious use who once did serve,
As starres to th' eyes, cleare lights of soules es-
teem'd,
[swerve,
Loe (stumbling blockes) from their first course did
Not what they were, else were not what they seem'd,
And justly damn'd (light's foes) as they deserve,
From darknesse more shall never be redeem'd:

Then even the most of misery to make,
The soules of some which (alwaies ill) grow worse,
(All sense quite lost) in sinne such pleasure take,
That frozen mindes can melt in no remorse;
No threatned terrours can their conscience wake,
Sinne hath so much, the sprite so little force.
"No physicke for the sicke, which live as sound,
A sore past sense doth show a deadly wound."

As such a burden it did burst to beare, [shake,
(Through horrour of our sinnes) the Earth doth
And shall it selfe ofttimes asunder teare,
Ere Christ his judgement manifest doth make;
Or else I know not, if it quake for feare
Of that great fyre which should it shortly take;
The living Earth to move, dead Earth doth move,
Yet earthly men then th' Earth more earthly prove.
In forraine parts whose ruines fame renowneş,
In indignation of her sinfull seed,
(As men should doe their eyes) the Earth God
drownes,
[freede)
Which (that some captiv'd aire may straight be
Doth vomit mountaines, and doth swallow townes;
The world's foundation brandish'd, like a reed,
Whil'st with pale hearts the panting people thinke,
That Hell will ryse, or that the Heaven will sinke.
One earth-quake toss'd the Turke's imperiall head,
Dayes sensible, but violent some howers,

Till in that towne a monstrous breach was made,
(As charg'd at once by all the damned powers)
I know not whether buried first, or dead,
Troupes seem'd to striue in falling with their towers,
Whilst those who stoode long trembling did attend,
That all the world (at least themselves) should end.

Twixt Rome and Naples once (in Envie's eye) What stately townes did the world's conquerours found,

Which now wee not (noe, not their ruines) spie,
Since layde more low then levell with the ground?
They with all theirs en-earth'd by earth-quakes lye,
Whose stones (drawne down where darkenes doth
Like Sisiphus perchance a number roules, [abound)
Else Dis builds dungeons for the damned soules.
Late neare those parts whose ruines men admire,
Where wealth superfluous idle wonders wrought,
An earth-quake strange amazement did acquire,
A plaine conceav'd, and forth a mountaine brought,
Which diuers dayes disgorged flames of fyre,
And stones whose substance was consum'd to nought;
Hell's fyre it seem'd which (as God's wrath) did rise,
Growne great, flam'd forth, upbraiding sinners' eyes.
Last in this land our eyes saw one of late,
Whose terrour from some mynds rests not remoov'd,
Then any else as strange, though not soe great,
Not violent, but universall prov'd,

As if of Nature's course the threatned date,
All at one houre this kingdome trembling moov'd;
The old state lothing, longing for a new,
Th' Earth leapes for joy, as straight to have her due.
But ah! who walkes, when rock'd is all this round,
Orstryves to stand though even the Earth thus starts?
Though God doth tosse this ball till it rebound,
Who, lest it part, from his corruption parts?
Ah! that the world soe sencelesse should be found,
Both Heaven and Earth doe shake, but not men's
hearts;

Since for his word the world disdaynes to bow, Dumbe creatures doe denounce God's iudgments

now.

I thinke the Earth by such strange throwes would tell,

How much she doth her present state despise ;
Or else all those who in her bowels dwell,
Doe rouze themselves, as ready now to ryse:
Her belly thus growne big doth seeme to swell,
As one whose travell soone should her surprise;
And yet her broode she viper-like must free,
Whose course must end when theirs beginnes to be.

As God that day of doome strives to make know ne,
By monstrous signes which may amaze the mynde,
That judgment great by judgements is foreshowne,
Whil'st all the weapons of his wrath have shin'd,
That others may (whil'st some rest thus o'rethrowne)
Stand in the furnace of affliction fin'd;
"For still the wretched most religious prove,
And oft examples more then doctrine move."
The sword of God shall once be drunke with bloode,
And surfet on the flesh of thousands slaine
Of those who (following evill) doe flie from good,
And (scorning Christ) professe to be prophane,
From God's wine-presse of wrath shall flowe a floode,
Which shall with blood their horses' bridles staine;
None may abide, nor yet can flie his sight,
When arm'd with vengeance God doth thundring
fight,

When, father-like, God chastising his childe,
Plagu'd all the subjects for their soveraigne's crime,
What thousands then were from the world exil'd?
Even in three dayes (so soon turnes flesh to slime)
The Earth made waste, men had no more defil'd,
Had but one angell warr'd a little time:
Since by God's word the world did made remaine,
Lesse then his look may ruine it againe.

The pestilence of wrath chiefe weapon thought,
Which of all plagues, the plague is onely call'd,
As if all else (respecting it) were nought,
It hath so much the mindes of men appall'd;
That wound by God's own hand seems onelywrought,
Whose mediate meanes scarce rest to reason thrall'd:
That which we not conceive, admire we must,
And in God's power above our knowledge trust.
That poyson'd dart, whose strength none can gaine-
stand,

God us'd' but rarely (when enflam'd with wrath)
And had it once been brandish'd in his hand,
All trembling stood (as 'twixt the jawes of death)
Then now it selfe, the fame more mov'd this land,
Of that great frenzy which infects the breath:

A thing thought strange, by habite homely proves. What first all griefe, at last all sense removes."

Once in one age, few dayes, and in few parts,
The pest some people to repentance urg'd,
And did with terrour strike the strongest hearts,
Whil'st his vineyard the Heaven's great husband
purg'd,

The quiver of whose wrath did raine downe darts,
By which of late what kingdome was not scourg'd?
So that men now not feare that whip of God,
Like boyes oft beaten, that contemne the rod.

oe, in this stately ile, admir'd so much,

What province, no, what towne hath not been pyn'd
By that abhorr'd disease, which`strikes who touch,
Whil'st byles the body, madnesse swels the minde?
Ah, of some townes, the anguish hath been such,
That all, all hope of safety had resign'd:
Whil'st friends no`comfort gave, no, no reliefe,
The sicknesse onely (not the death) bred griefe.

This raging ague bursts so ugly out,

Till men of those whom they love best, are dread;
Whil'st danger all in every thing doe doubt, [fled,
Men by the plague (made plagues) as plagues are
And are with horrour compass'd round about,
When that contagion through the ayre is spread;
The ayre which first our breath (abus'd) doth staine,
It poison'd so, but poisons us againe.

What thing more wretched can imagin'd be,
Then is a towne where once the pest abounds?
There not one sense rests from some trouble free;
Three doe infect, and two (though pure) beare
wounds;

Oft in one hole heapes throwne at once we see,
As where to bury fear'd for want of bounds:
Yea, whil'st in plaints they spend their plaguy
breath,

Of all things that are fear'd, the least is death.

Death (whil'st no drugge this feavers force oreOft, ere the patient the physitian clames, [throwes) The ayre they draw their heate more high still blowes,

Till even what should refresh, then most enflames; Of damned soules the state their torment showes, Who gnash their teeth as cold, whil'st fry'd with flames:

And 'twixt their paines this difference but comes in, Death ends the one, the other doth beginne.

To plague those parts where Christ's owne troops do dwell,

The angell that destroyes hath most been bent,
That whom words could not move, wounds might
Ere ruine come, in time now to repent, [compell,
By paine on Earth, made thinke of paine in Hell,
As this they flye, that that they may prevent.
"What can discourage those whom Christ doth love,
To whom evill good, griefe joy, death life doth
prove?"

Where we should alwaies strive the Heaven to gaine,
By prayers, plaints, and charitable deeds,
To raise up earth on earth, our strength we straine,
So base a courage, worldly honour breeds;
This doth provoke the darts of God's disdaine,
By which of some the wounded conscience bleeds:
"All head-long runne to Hell, whose way is even;
But by a narrow path are drawn to Heaven."

Of vengeance now the store-house opened stands,
O what a weight of wrath the world (ah) beares!
Through terrour straight, why tremble not all lands,
When God in rage a throne of justice reares?
And poures downe plagues whil'st brandishing his
brands,

The pest now past, straight famine breeds new feares. "Still thinke that mischiefe never comes alone, Who worse presage the present lesse bemone."

Since that the world doth loath celestiall food,
That sprituall manna which soule's nectar proves,
By grace drawne forth from the Redeemer's bloud,
A gift (and no reward) given where he loves,
Those who terrestriall things thinke onely good,
Them want shall try, whom no abundance moves;
"For, ah, of some so fat the bodies be,

That of their soules they not the leannesse see.

God's creatures (oft condemn'd) shall once accuse
Those who in wantonnesse them vainely spent,
Shall unto them more sparingly be lent,
And justly, what unjustly they abuse,
That which they now superfluously use,
Shall (made a curse) not nature's need content.
"A barren soule should have a barren earth,

Oft temporall plenty breeds a spirituall dearth.”

Those in the dust who still prophanely roule, Whose thorny thoughts doe choake that heavenly seed,

Which by the word was sown in every soule,
Shall likewise want what should their bodies feed:
What most they trust, shall once their hopes con-

troule,

By earthly hunger, heavenly thirst to breed.
Thus those (like babes) whose judgement is not
deepe,

Who scorn'd a treasure, shall for trifles weepe.
What sauces strange (a fault which custome cloakes)
To urge the bodie's appetite are made,
Which nature's selfe sufficiently provokes?
But of the soule, when carnall cares it leade,
The appetite which (ah) even nature choakes,
What art is us'd to quicken it when dead?
Whil'st bodies doe too much, soules nought disgest,
But when the others' fast, are fit to feast.
Base belly-gods, whose food is Sathan's bate,
Whose judgements to your taste rest onely thrall,
The lord in wrath shall cut away your meate,
And for your honey, furnish you with gall,
Like loathsome beasts since you the acornes eate,
Yet looke not up to see from whence they fall;
Sonnes prodigall, who from your father swerve,
You keeping worse then swine, shall justly sterve.
To waken some which sleepe in sinne as dead,
The Lord ere Christ doe come all states to try,
Since but abus'd, shall breake the staffe of bread,
And as we him, make th' earth us fruits deny;
The corne shall wither, and the grasse shall fade,
Then men to nurse, since rather bent to dye;
As dutifull to him by whom they breed,
God's creatures pure, his rebels scorne to feed.
Now in this time, which is the last esteem'd,
The sprites impure doe all in one conspire,
And worke that God by men may be blasphem'd,
To purchase partners of eternall fire,
That who should them condemne, hath us redeem'd,
Makes envy blow the bellowes of their ire,
Till wicked angels irritated thus,
Not seeke their safety, but to ruine us.

More neare doth draw salvation to the just,
The more the dragon's minde doth envy wound,
That men (the slaves of death, the sonnes of dust)
As heires of Heaven, with glory should be crown'd,
And that perpetuall paines they suffer must,
Though (all immortall) to no bodies bound:

"Hearts gall'd with envy storme at every thing, Whom still their harme, or some one's good must sting."

Man's foe who first confusion did devise,
(By long experience growne profound in skill)
Through strength oft try'd our weaknesse doth de-
spise,

And knowes what best may serve each soule to kill :
He unawares our passions doth surprise,
And to betray our wit, corrupts our will. [win,
"Whom God not guards, those Sathan soon may
Whil'st force doth charge without, and fraud within."
That heire of Hell, whom justly God rejects,
(Who sought by subtilty all soules to blinde)
Not onely shafts in secret now directs,
By inspirations poysoning the minde,
But even a banner boldly he erects,

As this world's prince by publike power design'd:
From shape to shape, this Proteus thus removes,
Who first a foxe, and last a lyon proves.

He, since his kingdome now should end so soone,
Doth many Circes and Medeas make,
That can obscure the Sunne, and charme the Moone,
Raise up the dead, and make the living quake,
Whil'st they by pictures, persons have undone,
Doe give to some, from others' substance take:
Three elements their tyranny doth thrall,
But oft the fourth takes vengeance of them all.
Whil'st in his hand the bolts of death he beares,
Still watching soules the crafty hunter lyes
With inward fancies, and with outward feares,
Whom he may tempt, continually he tryes;
Whil'st (rumbling horrour) sounds assault the eares,
And monstrous formes paint terrour in the eyes:
He who with God even in the Heaven durst strive,
Thinks soon on Earth men's ruine to contrive.

As many did possess'd by sprits remaine,
When first Christ came, salvation to beginne,
So likewise now before he come againe,
Some bodies daily which they enter in,
By desp'rate meanes would be dispatch'd of paine,
Else (bound in body) loose their soules to sinne,
And if that God not interpos'd his power,
Hell's tyrant straight would every soule devoure.

In some whom God permits him to abuse,
The prince of darknesse doth at divers houres,
His subtile substance fraudfully infuse
Till they his sprite, his sprite their soules devours:
He as his owne doth all their members use,
And they (as babes with knives) worke with his
O monstrous union, miracle of evils, [powers.
Which thus with men incorporates the divels!
When erst in Delphos, after ugly cryes,
The priestresse Pythia, seeming to be sage,
Big by the Divell, delivered was of lyes,
She to the terrour of that senselesse age,
Still panting, swolne, Hell flaming through her eyes,
Roar'd forth responses by propheticke rage;
And to her lord whil'st prostituted thus,
An image was of whom he fils with us.

Of those who are possess'd in such a sort,
Some to themselves whom Sathan doth accuse,
They mad (or he in them) doe bragge, or sport,
And whil'st they would the lookers on abuse;
Doe secrets (to themselves not known) report,
And of all tongues the eloquence can use:

The liquid legions by tumultuous bands
(Whose bellowing billowes to transcend contend)
Do oft usurpe, and sometime leave the lands,
Still stor'd with monsters, which a storme portend,
Whil'st, crown'd with clouds, each murmuring
mountaine stands,

Which acted first, but suffer must in end:
A mighty change, Heaven's Monarch now concludes,
Flouds first quench'd flames, flames straight shall
kindle flouds,

The ayre whose power impetuous nought can bound,
Doth cite all soules to God's great parliament,
Whil'st thundring tempests roare a rumbling sound,
And the last trumpet's terrour represent;
Those blasts denounce the ruine of this round,
Which Heaven in showres seemes weeping to lament:
That th' Earth (so purg'd) may be prepar'd for fire.
Thus waters wash, winds wipe, and both conspire,