Christ lightning love surveighes that joyfull band,
Since them (even then while as they wretched seem'd)
He did foresee by grace reserv'd to stand,
And could not faile to know whom he redeem'd,
Their honour now (when plac'd at his right hand)
Can by no meanes be high enough esteem'd;
He doth delight in them as his owne broode,
Who had their being onely from his bloode.

That happie squadron is not question'd now,
What ill they did, what good they did neglect,
No circumstance is urg'd, when, where, nor how,
They oft had fail'd, in what God did direct;
He trusts, not tries, not counts, but doth allow;
The Lord in Israell will no fault detect,
But absolutely doth absolve them all,
And from their bondage to a kingdome call.

"You whom my Father bless'd (noe more dismai'd)
Come, and enjoy that boundlesse kingdom now,
Which ere the world's foundations first were lai'd,
By Heaven's decree bath beene prepar'd for you,
With raies more bright then are the sunne's arrai'd,
Before the throne you shall with reverence bow;
The height of pleasure which you should possesse,
No tongue of man is able to expresse.

"When press'd by famine you me friendly fed,
And did with drinke my scorching thirst allay;
You with your garments mee (when naked) clad,
Whose kindely visits sickenesse could not stay;
No, even in prison, they mee comfort bred,
Thus (charity extended every way)
Your treasures (kept in Heaven) for int'rest gaine,
That you enrich'd eternally remaine."

With sprituall joy each one transported sings,
And (lifted up) to Heaven in haste would flie,
But yet this speech so great amazement brings,
That modestly they (as with doubt) replie;
"Unbounded Lord, when didst thou lack such things,
That there was cause our willingnesse to try?
Who nothing had but what thou gav'st to us;
How couldst thou need, or we afford it thus ?"

"That which was given (as now I do reveale) Unto the least of those whom I held deare, (Saith Christ) deep grav'd with an eternall seale, As due by me, I do acknowledge here; Those were the objects prompted for your zeale, By which your goodnesse onely could appeare;

Best magazines for wealth the poore did prove, Where, when laid up, no thiefe could it remove'."

Thus helpfull almes, the off'ring most esteem'd,
Doth men on th' Earth, the Lord in Heaven content,
How many are (if time might be redeem'd)
Who wish they thus their revenues had spent?
If this on th' Earth so profitable seem'd,
What usurer would for others gaines be bent?
But would the poore with plenty oft supply,
Though they themselves for want were like to die.

Those who (affecting vaine ambition's end)
To gaine opinion muster all in show,
And (prodigall) superfluously spend
All what they have, or able are to owe,
For pleasures fraile whil'st straying fancies tend,
As Paradise could yet be found below:
Still pamp'ring flesh with all that th' Earth can give,
No happinesse more seek but here to live.

Those if not gorgeous who do garments scorne,
And not in warmnesse, but for cost exceed,
Though as of wormes they have the entrails worne,
Wormes shall at last upon their entrails feed;
Those dainty tastes who, (as for eating borne)
That they may feast, strive appetite to breed:
And (curious gluttons) even of vilenesse vaunt,
Whil'st surfetting when thousands starve for want.
The world's chiefe idoll, nurse of fretting cares,
Dumb trafficker, yet understood ore all, [faires,
States' chaine, life's maintenance, load-starre of af-
Which makes all nations voluntar❜ly thrall,
A subtle sorcerer, alwayes laying snares;
How many (money) hast thou made to fall!
The generall jewell, of all things the price,
To vertue sparing, lavish unto vice.
The foole that is unfortunately rich,
His goods perchance doth from the poore extort,
Yet leaves his brother dying in a ditch,
Whom one excesse (if spar'd) would well support,
And (whil'st the love of gold doth him bewitch)
This miser's misery gives others sport;
"The prodigall God's creatures doth abuse,
And them the wretch not necessar❜ly use."
Those roving thoughts which did at randome soare,
And (though they had conveniently to live)
Would never look behinde, but farre before,
And (scorning goodnesse) to be great did strive;
For (still projecting how to purchase more)
Thus (bent to get) they could not dreame to give.
"Such mindes whom envy hath fill'd up with grudge,
Have left no roome, where charity may lodge."
Ah! who of those can well expresse the griefe,
Whom once this Earth did for most happy bold?
Of all their neighbours still esteem'd the chiefe,
Whsl'st strai'd opinion ballanc'd worth by gold;
That which to thousands might have given reliefe,
Wrong spent, or spar'd, is for their ruine told;
Thus pleasures past, what anguish now doth even?
We see how hardly rich men go to Heaven.

That speech pronounc'd to the elected band,
May make the wicked apprehend their part,
Whose black accounts, ere them the Iudge demand,
Strict conscience offers, summ'd in every heart:
Thus (freez'd with horrour) they dejected stand,
Not hoping help by power, nor yet from art:
And whil'st their souls are swallow'd up by feare,
This fatall sentence thunders in each eare.

"You souls accurst, who have provok'd mine ire,
(Detested crue) not worthy of my sight,
Go, get you hence to Hell's tormenting fire,
Which hath of heat, that which it lacks of light;
Where (with his angels) Satan must retire,
To be entomb'd in an eternall night:
This as their due was first for them prepar'd,
But (since their mates) it must with you be shar'd.

"When I was hungry, you refus'd me meat; When I was thirsty, would afford no drink; When I was naked, cloth'd me not of late; When I was sick, did of no kindenesse think, And when a stranger, held me at the gate; Then when in prison, quite away did shrink: Thus as compassion never mov'd your minde, You from henceforth shall no compassion finde."

Thus meanes were us'd exempling such a one, That Achab might by bloud fall from his throne.

"Your wayes were cross'd by many a stumbling block,

But you gave eare to every whispered charme,
Whil'st waving pleasures plastred ruine's rock,
Where Satan's ambush lay to do you harme;
Nor shall that traitor at your judgement mock,
Who still his troups against all good did arme:
Come, sprits impure, come and receive your due,
You never would repent, but now must rue."

To muse what muster every monster makes,
I scarce for feare my faucies dare engage,
If every one a hideous bodie takes,
Vile like their minde, to tread this fatall stage:
What gorgons, hidras, lynx, chimeras, snakes,
By hissing, howling, lowing, roaring rage?
What strange aspects, what intricated sounds,
A dreadfull horrour all in one confounds?

But all such masks (poore jugling tricks) grow stale,
Though they (like bug-beares) frighted some before,
They now themselves defend, none else assaile,
And terrour take, not give; all them abhorre,
But at this time no person can grow pale,
Since apprehensions power can move no more;
Each doubtfull thing, that day doth fully cleare,
And as first made, all creatures must appeare.
Infernall fiends now no man can affright,
For all the godly whom they oft had brav'd,
Do look upon them, comfortably bright,
As glad to thinke that they from such were sav'd;
And in the wicked anguish (at the height) [grav'd:
Then shows can move, hath deeper thoughts en-
So that this object all with ease can beare,
"Despaire, and confidence, both banish feare."
Yet marking them by whom so many fell,
Huge exclamations burst abruptly out;
Those vagabonds who did from God rebell,
To tempt (it seemes) still walk'd the world about,
And (bent with guests to grace their driry Hell)
Made oft toss'd souls of their salvation doubt:
Who when for Heaven they hunting were the way,
Turu'd headlong backward, train'd by them to stray.
Great naturalists, of art chiefe masters made,
By starres, and times, they could each course dis-
close,
[spread,
And marking still when life's first powers were
What influence affections did dispose,
Or to what custome education led,
Where every heart for pleasure did repose:
They having found each inclination's square,
As best might fit the same did frame some snare.
When lustfull fancies had enflam'd the minde,
Then liberall beauties charm'd the wand'ring eye;
When to contention one was knowne inclin'd,
Occasions offred were franke wrath to try;
When avarice did make the judgement blinde,
Straight meanes were us'd that it might never dye;
Thus did they nurse (by tempting objects) still,
The vice predominant that swayd the will.
This generall course (extended unto all)
Not onely did insensibly betray,
Whil'st souls for pleasure voluntar❜ly thrall,
Were (by prevailing) made their enemie's prey;
Some whom they did perswade, or else appall,
For feare, or gaine, did to their will give way:

Yet (Heaven exchang'd for toyes which th' Earth
Were but deluded by ambiguous words. [affords)
Those with much passion bitterly declare
How they the Devill (by him seduc'd) ador'd,
Who, storm'd by sea, and thundred in the aire,
(As he affirm'd) of all the world sole lord;
That they with him should (when dissolv'd) repaire,
Where they should be with all contentment stor❜d:
Thus painting out how they had beene abus'd,
The great accuser is by them accus'd.

But he who once durst dreame in Heaven to raigne,
Whose pride prepostrous (swolne with madnesse)
Though that designe attempted was in vaine, [raves,
And he throwne headlong to Tartarian caves:
Loe, when at last, even ready to arraigne,
He doth not seek to purge, nor pardon craves;
Though just excuses something might acquite,
But thus bursts forth with his accustom'd spite.
"Since fled from Heaven to pacific your spleene,
Whose jealousies my fall could onely free,
I of your wrath a minister have beene,
To execute all what you did decree:
Thus all your ends to take effect were seene,
Whil'st still the hate reflected back on me,
To whom the world imputed every ill,
Though all my power was bounded by your will.
"That excrement of th' Earth, that drosse of dust,
Who wanting courage publick force to try,
Though not so stout, yet did prove as unjust,
And would have beene like thee, as well as I;
Yet for all this, did oft thy name deny:
He serv'd for nothing but in thee to trust,
He broke thy law, had power to do no more,
Yet by his fault is better than before.

"From abject basenesse rais'd to such a state, Till damn'd to die, no bounds could man containe; Nor was his change by that decree made great, Since, but by it whence drawne, turn'd backe againe; Yet though these worms were still (when grac'd) ingrate,

Thou by thy suffering did'st prevent their paine;
Whom though immortall we did mortall see,
That these vile mortalls might immortall be.
"But I who was a fountaine once of light,
Whose envied beauties angels did commend,
With those the partners of my wretched flight;
Who suffer did because they lov'd their friend;
We might have serv'd to make the Heavens more
In indignation whom thou mad'st descend: [bright,
And would'st not unto us one fault forgive,
Though sacrific'd, to make great sinners live.
"Man (pittied thus) his pardon did procure,
That still his weakenesse might thy power admire,
Where we whose power thou no way could'st indure,
Are persecuted with an endlesse ire;
Imprison us, that thou maist live secure;
Nor will we daigne thy favour to require;
But since defrauded earst of hopes so high,
Must live in anguish since we cannot die.

"But this indignity doth make me storme,
In Heaven, in th' Earth, in th'aire since long so great,
That this poore creature, this detested worme,
Whom I have troad upon so oft of late,
By partiall hate both ballanc'd in one forme,
Where earst my slave, must now become my mate:

Yea, and reduc'd to a more base degree,
I must his iaylour and tormenter be."

This hatefull monster to confusion thrall,
Was once an angell, innocently white,
And had continu'd so but for his fall,
Whilst pride and envy did engender spite;
The spirituall substance tainted then with gall,
(Turn'd diabolicke) was extinguish'd quite:
So that thenceforth he nought save ill could doe,
When leaving God, all goodnesse left him too.

He fell of malice, mankind was deceav'd;
That syre of sinne to nurse it always striv'd,
And since by him that plague was first conceav'd,
Each sinne is his from whom all sinne deriv'd;
What due reward can be by him receav'd,
By whom of Heaven so many were depriv'd?
Who guilty is of every mischiefe gone,
Still tempting all, yet tempted was by none.
Yet bent for mischiefe, as he first beganne,
Farre from remorse, thus sparkling poison still,
He dare contest with Christ, outrageing man,
Though barr'd from acting, yet intending ill,
And those his thoughts which rest not suffer can,
(Since obiects want where he might use his will)
Turn'd backe as furies shall himselfe afflict,
Who still on some just vengeance must inflict.
Christ first doth show how he rebell'd above,
From whence expell'd with a deserv'd disgrace,
He straight did tempt the man whom God did love,
As he had done to make him loose his place;
Then all the meanes(that hate could hatch)did prove,
(No cause first given) to persecute his race;
Though God had told that one of them at last
Should punish him for all offences past.

Of all his course when casting up the scroules,
They finde each moment did some harme conspire,
That (even when dying) he distress'd weake soules,
So that no end could mitigate his ire;
But Christ the same for ever now controules,
And damnes him straight to Hell's eternall fire:
Where with his angels he must alwayes stay,
As long reserv'd in chaines for that great day.
This damned squadron sentenc'd thus to Hell,
The godly doe applaud Christ's just decree,
And his great judgment with amazement tell,
Which by effects they ravish'd are to see;
Their approbation doth content him well,
As assisters whom he admits to bee.

O what contentment do their soules imbrace,
Who now to judge the rest with him take place !

They now behold some of the wicked sort,
Who straight the worst that Hell can yeeld attend,
With whose vaine pride no creature could comport,
Whil'st them for happy worldlings did commend;
Yet were their pleasures but both deare and short,
Yea often times before themselves did end:
And by their suffrage, now they stand condemn'd,
Whom they as abject many times contemn'd.

Some now with glory eminently sit,
As Christ's deare friends, though here of humble race,
Whom they had scorn'd for fellowes to admit,
Or at their table to have taken place;
Yea, would have thought it for their state not fit,
Them with a signe of least regard to grace:

Yet (marking them so highly honour'd) now
They would be glad still at their feet to bow.
But this distresse one vantage doth unfold,
Though out of time, when it can help no more,
They heare the truth, and all their faults are told,
Which had been still estrang'd from them before,
Whil'st awfull reverence dutious love controul'd,
So that what they affirm'd, the r followers swore,
Whom now they blame, that they so base could be,
As bent to please, not daring to be free.

The reprobate (as obstinately ill)
Expostulating blasphemy doe use,

And with their crimes would burden others still,
Not to be clear'd, but that they may accuse;
Not onely doe they taxe God's spotlesse will,
And Satan's fraud, for what it did infuse:
But likewise men as meanes that they were lost,
And of all men they blame their parents most.

Their whole endeavours every parent strains,
By fortune's treasures to advance his heirs,
Who many times do loose by guilty gains,
Not (as was hop'd) true helps, but onely snares;
But few advis'dly do respect the pains
Which leade to vertue, and religious cares:
Such fondly are in breeding of their brood,
For goods too carefull, carelesse of their good.
Yet oft they faile even in that temporall end,
Who seeke by riches to secure their race,
Which by their death doth it at last attend,
And long-sought conquests waste in little space;
Where indigence and education bend,
Some left more poore, each way for wealth do trace,
Which oftentimes, the syre's damnation's price,
But strengthneth his that they may follow vice.

Nor is this glistring course the safest way.
By which to stand, one stablish may a state,
Since it oft times the owner doth betray
To vice and envy, an inviting baite,
So that they thus are tempted more to stray,
Or are o'rethrowne by some man's hopefull hate:
Thus riches swolne with pride is crush'd by spite,
Or doth (made soft) dissolve the owner quite.
Some foolish fathers with prepostrous love,
(To flattring children too indulgent still)
Even by their favour pestilent doe prove,
Like toying apes that doe with kindenesse kill,
Who whilst they them should by their judgement
Are carried head-long with the others' will: [move,
And must their griefe by any meanes appease,
Not striving to instruct, but how to please.

Their off-spring's course each parent should direct,
And as a patterne by example lead:
Then when they faile in yeelding due respect,
As insolent by too much favour made,
They should rebuke, reforme, and last correct;
For, better then whil'st quicke, to waile them dead:
Who would preserve, must many times annoy,
Where those that dote by sparing doe destroy.

Amongst the rest, some here their moane doe make,
Whom parents' strictnesse did from good restraine,
That of their state would no compassion take,
Nor lend the meanes that might their life maintaine;
But (as their coyne) did keep their count'nance backe
For wretchednesse, yet other grounds did faine:

By which in children such ill thoughts were bred,
That they to mischiefe easily were led.

What gallants thus did perish in their prime,
By desp'rate wayes whil'st ventring for reliefe,
And prov'd (though little might have help'd in
time)

A bloudy murtherer, or an abject thiefe;
Till at the last dain'd for some filthie crime,
As venging this, they forc'd their father's griefe:
(With infamy when com'd to end their race)
Whil'st left an heire unto his heire's disgrace?

And many thus dispers'd in forraine parts,
Have sold their souls that they their lives might

save,

Who (whil'st by want) expos'd to all men's arts, When they by ruine onely help could have, Against their knowledge, and against their hearts, In spite of conscience, did religion leave:

And would (though first asham'd) at last grown strong,

Ere scorn'd for changing, justifie a wrong.

O, what contentment shall those parents finde!
Who for all those whom to the world they bring,
Still mildly rigorous, and austerely kinde,
(Excesses barr'd) do seek each needfull thing,
And do plant early in the tender minde,
The love of God, whose praise at last they sing.
All those with Christ thrice happy now do stand,
Who thus did strive how to increase that band.

Great magistrates by sundry are accus'd,
For feare, for love, for gaine, or some such end,
Who had that power due by their charge not us'd,
To purge the land of them who did offend;
Who (when by pardons having them excus'd)
Their faults (as favour'd) seem'd to recommend:
There where examples should with terrour strike,
This did tempt others to attempt the like.

When insolency kills, or doth oppresse,
Those guilty are of each ensuing harme,
Who curbe them not who do the laws transgresse,
Ere indignation generous courage warme;
When parties wrong'd must needs themselves re-
dresse,

Whil'st lack of justice doth them justly arme:
As bound by credit vengeance to procure,
The braving object scorning to endure.

When great offendors justice not removes,
And chiefly them by whom to death one bleeds,
Since, given to broils, such persons no man loves,
And each occasion still more mischiefe breeds;
Their safety many a time their ruine proves:
For malefactors, whil'st that their misdeeds
Repentance expiats, made happy so,

Do (as from beds) to Heaven from scaffolds go.

Thus in like sort they blame some masters now,
Who them with whom they had by power prevail'd,
Not unto God, but to themselves made bow,
If not to them, not caring how they fail'd;
And did sometimes command, at least allow
Those faults whose fruits to profit them avail'd;
Such soules as pretious should have beene preserv'd,
Who were God's creatures, though that them they
serv'd.

But thousands here with anguish curse all those,
Who had in charge their safety to procure,
Yet did their course to fit the time compose,
And errours grosse most grosly did endure:
So that their flocke, when falling never rose,
But suffred were to live in sinne secure:
And they to Heaven could hardly others leade,
Whose selves to court the world all means had made.

Since robbers are abhorr'd (as beasts prophane)
Who steale but stones which to the church belong;
Pretended priests that sprituall states attaine,
Like waspes with bees, crept holy hives among,
Who wasting honey, poyson give againe ;
Are (as farre worse) accus'd for doing wrong;
Since they barre others from ministring grace,
Yet (save in coats and rents) not use the place.

Some who (their hearers swaying where they would)
Could force affections, comfort, and deject,
With learned lectures eloquently told,
(Though flourish'd faire, not fruitfull in effect)
Are highly tax'd, that they (when thus extold)
What taught to others, did themselves neglect:
And given to vice (brought comparatively in)
They lost that freedome which rebukes for sinne.

And how can any man another move
To flye those dainties that with him are rife,
Who talke of temperance, yet vaine pleasures love,
Call peace a blessing, whil'st they live at strife,
Praise deeds of almes, yet avaritious prove,
Chast but in words, not continent in life?
Of such th' excellency is all in art,
Whil'st vertue but their tongue, vice hath the heart.

Such (following Cain's way) like Core exclaime,
By Balaam's wages, to deceit inclin'd;
Sea's raging waves, still foaming forth their shame,
Clouds void of water, carried with the wind,
Trees without fruit, spots which the faith defame,
As wandringstarres whose course hath them design'd:
Of such did Enoch prophesy of old,

That which this judgement doth at last unfold.

Those stumbling blockes, rockes which with ruine swell,

Destruction's traynes, obnoxious unto all,
Not onely with the rest, are damn'd to Hell,
Whose threatned torments quaking soules appall,
But railing at them many thousands tell,
How they had beene the meanes to make them fall:
"This wretched comfort, the afflicted love,
That for their faults, they others may reprove."

But though they thus to make their faults seem lesse,
The Lord himselfe, the divels and men doe blame,
All doth afford no helpe for their distresse,
Nor workes it pitty, but augments their shame:
Like anguish doth their fellow partners presse,
And others doe with shouts their joyes proclaime:
Thus quite neglected in a desp'rate state,
They by contesting, but procure more hate.

As some (by sentence when condemn'd to dye)
By gazing troupes and friends, hemm'd round about,
The executioner attending by,

The coffin gaping, and the hatchet out,
Th' earth sometimes view,looke sometimes to the sky,
And, loth to leave them, doe pretend some doubt: