I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them : let my shame Go where it doth deferve.
And know you not, fays Love, who bore the blame? My dear, then I will serve.
You must fit down, fays Love, and taste my meat : So I did fit and eat.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men.
LMIGHTY Lord, who from thy glorious
Seeft and rulest all things e'en as one:
The smallest Ant or Atom knows thy power,
Known alfo to each minute of an hour:
Much more do common-weals acknowledge thee,
And wrap their policies in thy decree,
Complying with thy counfels, doing nought
Which doth not meet with an eternal thought.
But above all, thy Church and Spouse doth prove
Not the decrees of power, but bands of love.
Early didst thou arise to plant this Vine,
Which might the more endear it to be thine.
Spices come from the Eaft; fo did thy Spouse,
Trim as the light, sweet as the laden boughs
Of Noah's fhady vine, chaste as the dove,
Prepared and fitted to receive thy love.
The course was weftward, that the fun might light
As well our understanding as our fight.
Where the Ark did reft, there Abraham began
To bring the other Ark from Canaan.
Mofes purfued this: but King Solomon
Finish'd and fix'd the old religion.
When it grew loose, the Jews did hope in vain
By nailing Christ to fasten it again.
But to the Gentiles he bore cross and all,
Rending with earthquakes the partition-wall.
Only whereas the Ark in glory fhone,
Now with the cross, as with a staff, alone,
Religion, like a Pilgrim, weftward bent,
Knocking at all doors, ever as she went.
Yet as the Sun, though forward be his flight,
Liftens behind him, and allows fome light,
Till all depart fo went the Church her way,
Letting, while one foot ftept, the other stay
Among the eastern nations for a time,
Till both removed to the western clime.
To Egypt first she came, where they did prove
Wonders of anger once, but now of love.
The ten Commandments there did flourish more
Than the ten bitter plagues had done before.
Holy Macarius and great Anthony
Made Pharaoh Mofes, changing the history.
Goshen was darkness, Egypt full of lights,
Nilus for monsters brought forth Ifraelites.
Such power hath mighty Baptifm to produce,
For things misshapen, things of highest use.
How dear to me, O God, thy counfels are!
Who may with thee compare?
Religion thence fled into Greece, where Arts Gave her the highest place in all men's hearts. Learning was posed, Philosophy was set,
Sophifters taken in a Fisher's net.
Plato and Ariftotle were at a lofs,
And wheel'd about again to spell Chrift's-Cross.
Prayers chafed fyllogifms into their den,
And Ergo was transform'd into Amen.
Though Greece took horse as soon as Egypt did,
And Rome as both; yet Egypt faster rid,
And spent her period and prefixed time
Before the other. Greece being past her prime,
Religion went to Rome, fubduing those,
Who, that they might fubdue, made all their foes.
The Warrior his dear fcars no more refounds,
But feems to yield Christ hath the greater
Wounds willingly endured to work his bliss,
Who by an ambush lost his Paradise.
The great heart stoops, and taketh from the dust
A fad repentance, not the spoils of lust :
Quitting his spear left it should pierce again
Him in his members, who for him was flain.
The Shepherd's hook grew to a Sceptre here,
Giving new names and numbers to the year.
But the Empire dwelt in Greece, to comfort them,
Who were cut fhort in Alexander's ftem.
In both of these Prowefs and Arts did tame
And tune men's hearts against the Gospel came :
Which using, and not fearing skill in the one,
Or strength in the other, did erect her throne,
Many a rent and struggling the empire knew,
(As dying things are wont,) until it flew
At length to Germany, ftill weftward bending,
And there the Church's feftival attending :
That as before Empire and Arts made way,
(For no less harbingers would serve than they)
So they might still, and point us out the place,
Where first the Church should raise her downcast face.
Strength levels grounds, Art makes a Garden there;
Then showers Religion, and makes all to bear.
Spain in the Empire shared with Germany,
But England in the higher victory;
Giving the Church a Crown to keep her state,
And not go less than fhe had done of late.
Conftantine's British line meant this of old,
And did this mystery wrap up and fold
Within a sheet of
paper, which was rent
From time's great Chronicle, and hither sent.
Thus both the Church and Sun together ran
Unto the fartheft old meridian.
How dear to me, O God, thy counfels are!
Who may with thee compare?
Much about one and the fame time and place,
Both where and when the Church began her race,
Sin did set out of Eastern Babylon,
And travell'd weftward alfo: journeying on
He chid the Church away, where'er he came,
Breaking her peace, and tainting her good name.
At first he got to Egypt, and did fow
Gardens of gods, which every year did grow,
Fresh and fine deities. They were at great cost,
Who for a god clearly a fallet loft.
Ah, what a thing is man devoid of grace,
Adoring Garlic with an humble face,
Begging his food of that which he may eat,
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