CHRISTs LOVE.
TO
PENITENT SINNERS.
SHEWING
How he shed his Blood seven Times for our SINS.
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YOU Mortals all of high and low Degree,
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Draw near a While and listen unto me;
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Whilst I unfold these Lines which you shalt find,
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They are composd to put you fresh in mind,
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Of what our gracious God has done,
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In sending of his beloved Son:
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When Thousands on the Brink of Ruin lay,
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He sent his Son their sinful Debts to pay.
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Now lets observe this Prince of royal Birth,
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When at the first he descended on the Earth,
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Was by a Virgin in a Manger laid,
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When Christ was born, his Mother was a Maid.
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This Babes Birth both far and near did ring,
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Which reachd the Ears of Herod that great King;
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That angry Monarch for to stir up strife,
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Was then resolved to take away his Life.
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To make sure of the Babe we understand,
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He sent forth a Decree throughout the Land,
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That every Child then, as he did reign,
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From two Years old and under should be slain.
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The Murderers were sent about their Work to do,
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And many a pretty smiling Babe they slew;
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Cutting their Flesh, and breaking of their Bones,
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Dashing their tender Heads against the Stones.
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Young harmless Babes they from the Breast did take,
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And havock of their crimson Blood did make:
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Regarding not their Parents Grief and Wo,
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Who sighed to see their Children murdered so.
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You have learned the Scripture for to read,
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Rachel refused to be comforted:
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Because among the rest Grief was her Lot,
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She sighed and mournd because her Babe was not.
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Thro Herods Wrath this Murder it was done,
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Thousands were slain to make sure of one;
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But God who knows the Hearts and Thoughts of Men,
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Preservd his Son from Herods cruel Hand.
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Joseph as he lay Sleeping in the Night,
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By Dreams was warned for to take his Flight,
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And take tha Babe to Egypt, where
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The Child thro Mercy was preserved there.
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Tho he escaped that Time in Egypt Land,
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Pray yet observe and you shall understand;
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This Babe was born for our sinful Crimes,
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Did shed his Blood for us seven several Times.
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The first Time he shed his Blood for us behold,
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When he was circumcised at eight Days old;
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The second Time as we have often heard,
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Was when the Jews with Pinchers pulld his Beard.
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Out by the Robes, which made me for to think,
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Blood must appear and make this Lamb to shrink;
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The third Time that his Blood in Streams did run,
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Was when the Jews did scourge him through the Town.
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The fourth Time in the Garden, where
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He in his Agony did suffer there;
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For by the Scriptures it is so understood,
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With Grief of Soul he sweat great Drops of Blood.
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The fifth Time his Blood for us was shed,
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It was when they with Thorns crowned his Head;
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For it needs must make us think indeed,
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To wear the pricking Thorns his Head must bleed.
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The sixth Time he shed his Blood most sweet,
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When to the Cross they naild him Hand and Feet;
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And like Monsters their Prince for to abuse,
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Over his Head they writ the King of the Jews.
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Nay more than that, tho Prince and Lord of all,
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They made him drink sharp Vinegar and Gall;
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And to degrade him as we understand,
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They placed two Theves by him one on each Hand.
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This done one of the Thieves said thus,
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If thou be Christ now save thyself and us;
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To hear these Words the other did reply,
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Thou Wretch it is for Justice we must die.
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But as for this good Man no Ill hath done,
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What makes thou thus revile this blessed One:
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Thou Son of God this Penitent did say,
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In thy Fathers Kingdom remember me I pray.
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Of this Thiefs Saying, Christ great Notice took,
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And to him then with a merciful Look,
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Christ cast an Eye, and said, Thou shalt be
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This very Day in Paradise with me.
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The seventh Time for to augment his Pain,
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With a sharp Spear they pierced his Sides amain,
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Great was the Stream of Blood upon the Ground,
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They piercd his Side so deep they made him groan.
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Out of his Side from his dear Heart ran down,
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Great Streams of crimson Blood upon the Ground:
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Dear blessed Lord, how was you then abusd,
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By bloody Jews who did no Conscience use.
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Then on that Day this blessed One was forced,
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With a deep Groan he yielded up the Ghost.
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And at this Dissolution then was there,
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Upon the Earth great Darkness did appear.
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The Earth did tremble, the Sun witheld its Light,
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The Rocks against each other now did smite;
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The Hills did tremble for a little Space,
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The lofty Mountains moved from the Place.
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The Graves did open and many Dead arose,
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To see this Sight many of his cruel Foes;
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Astonishd said, These Things looks very odd,
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Surely this Man was the Son of God.
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Then in a new Sepulcher Christ was lain,
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Wherein three Days and Nights he did remain;
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And when he arose, we hear, in Hell
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The Devil trembled, and with Rage did swell.
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Tho in Deaths Chains Christ was forced to lie,
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In Gods true Time he made those Fetters fly:
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Death never was bauked froce nor before,
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Christs Resurrection made the Devils roar.
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The first Time Christ was upon the Earth,
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He persecuted was unto his Death;
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Twas for our Sins he suffered thus indeed,
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To think on this what Heart can cease to bleed.
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Too many of us do act forbidden Things,
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And daily do crucify the King of Kings;
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Eer it be too late your Wickedness give oer,
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For Christ for us will shed his Blood no more.
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As we must die and Christ our Judge must be,
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To serve our Maker let us all agree;
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That Christ may say that sits upon the Throne,
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Come Souls! I dyd for you, you are my own.
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