3. TWO SAINTS: AFTER PAULINUS.1

SEVERUS, in another of his epistles to PAULINUS, earnestly intreated him to suffer his picture to be taken by a limner which he had sent to him for that purpose, that he might have it to set up, together with the picture of ST. MARTIN, before that sacred font in a fair church which Severus was then in building. This friendly motion Paulinus was very much offended with, and would by no means consent unto, teling Severus that 'too much love had made him mad'; and in his 8th epistle, reasoning with him about this request, 'What kind of picture,' saith he, 'would you have from me? the picture of the earthly or the heavenly man? I know you love only that in a corruptible image, which the King of Heaven doth love in you. I am ashamed to picture what I am not.' But Severus resolving to force it from him, would not be satisfied with any other returne; wherupon he sent it to him with these following verses, the elegant expresse of his unfeigned humility. The first coppy relates to the pictures and the latter to the font.

! Ibid p 127-129.

Abluitis &c.

You that to wash your flesh and soules draw near,
Ponder these two examples for you here:

Great MARTIN shewes the holy life, and white,
PAULINUS to repentance doth invite ;

Martin's pure, harmlesse life, tooke heaven by force,

Paulinus tooke it by teares and remorse;

Martin leads through victorious palms and flowers, Paulinus leades you through the pooles and showres.

You that are sinners, on Paulinus look,

You that are saints, great Martin is your book;
The first example bright and holy is,

The last, though sad and weeping, leads to blisse.

The Verses relating to the Font were these:

Hic reparendarum, &c.

HERE the great well-spring of wash'd soules, with beams

Of loving light quickens the lively streams;

The Dove descends, and stirs them with her wings, So weds these waters to the upper springs,

1 Ibid pp. 119-120. G.

They strait conceive; a new birth doth proceede From the bright streams by an immortal seed. 'O the rare love of God! sinners wash'd here, Come forth pure saints, all justified and clear. So blest in death and life, man dyes to sins, And lives to God: sin dies, and life begins To be reviv'd: old Adam falls away And the new lives, born for eternal sway.

5. A FLOWER AND DOVE CROWNED CROSS. Ibid.1

THE painfull crosse with flowers and palms is crown'd,

Which prove it springs, though all in blood 'tis drown'd:

The doves above it shew with one consent,
Heaven opens onely to the innocent.

6. THE LORD JESUS, OUR REDEEMER : A PAINTING. Ibid.2

THE paines of saints and saints rewards, are twins, The sadde crosse and the crowne which the crosse

wins.

1 Ibid p. 142. G.

2 Ibid pp. 145-6. G.

Here Christ, the Prince both of the cross and crown Amongst fresh groves and lillies fully blown, Stands, a white Lamb bearing the purple crosse : White shews His purenesse, red His blood's dear losse.

To ease His sorrowes the chast turtle sings,

And fans Him, swetting blood, with her bright wings;

While from a shining cloud the Father eyes
His Son's sad conflict with His enemies,

And on His blessed head lets gently down
Eternal glory made into a crown.

About Him stand two flocks of differing notes,
One of white sheepe, and one of speckled goates;
The first possesse His right hand, and the last
Stand on His left; the spotted goates are cast
All into thick, deep shades, while from His right
The white sheepe passe into a whiter light.

7. FESTIVAL AND SAINTS' DAYS. Ibid.1

THOSE sacred daies by tedious Time delai'd,
While the slow years' bright line about is laid,
I patiently expect, though much distrest
By busie longing and a love-sicke breast

1 Ibid pp. 150-2. G.

I wish they may outshine all other daies,
Or when they come, so recompence delaies
As to outlast the Summer-hours' bright length;
Or that fam'd day, when stopt by divine strength,
The sun did tyre the world with his long light,
Doubling mens labours, and adjourning night.
As the bright skye with stars, the field with
flowers,

The years with diff'ring seasons, months and houres

God hath distinguishèd and mark'd, so He
With sacred feasts did ease and beautifie

The working dayes: because that mixture may
Make men-loath to be holy-ev'ry day,
After long labours, with a freer will
Adore their Maker, and keepe mindfull still
Of holyness, by keeping holy daies:
For otherwise they would dislike the wayes
Of piety as too severe. To cast

Old customes quite off, and from sinne to fast
Is a great work. To runne which way we will,

On plaines is easie, not so up a hill.

Hence 'tis our good God-Who would all men

bring

Under the covert of His saving wing

Appointed at set times His solemne feasts,

That by mean services, men might at least