The betraying of Christ Iudas in despaire. The seuen words of our Sauior on the crosse. With other poems on the Passion.

The betraying of Jesus

EVen vvhen no beauties of the garnisht skie Had left the view of Heauen-makers vvonder, And Phebus steeds were gallop'd posting by Their hasty speed had got the vvorlds half vn∣der, Yea eu'ry creature that had life or sprite, Mourn'd at the darke approch of vgly night:

An host of swartest sable foggie clouds, Wrapt in faire Cinthia from her siluer shine, Mantling her brightnesse vvith their obscure shrouds As though heav'ns lampe vvere come to latest fine, Her cannapie of starres vvas eke vnseene, Where on she vvonted mount, imperious Queene.

The airy vvinged people gone to rest, Had clear'd vvith day, not left a note vnpaid, All other creatures that might be exprest, In caues and holes for nights repose vvere laid, Of vvild, or tame, none raung'd or ran astray, But rauenous, by darke that hunt for pray.

Thicke mistie vapours vvere dispersed foule, Prohibiting day-followers to be seene, Dispensing only vvith the shriking Owle, And eies that Nature put lights hate betweene, Such as vvere banisht from the face of day, To lurke the couert shamelesse night away.

Then child of vtter darknesse, lights offence, Intituled: The lost sonne of perdition, Hired against his Lord for thirty pence To be a traitor vnder hels commission, In this nights time, did rebell troupes increase To manage armes against the Prince of peace.

Toward Cedron brooke th'accursed leader goes, With horse and foot, vveapon'd vvith launce and speare, His blessed maister vs'd that vvalke he knowes, Vnworthy vvretch had oft ben vvith him there, Oft as a friend the place he did frequent, But now foe-harted, trecherous of intent.

As in a garden Adam disobayed, And there became a captiue to the diuell, So in a garden Iesus vvas betrayed, To suffer death for Adams former euill: Within a garden Adams crime offended, For vvhich Christ vvas in garden apprehended.

And as in pleasures garden at the fall, For Adams clothing, dead beasts skins God gaue, In euidence that death vvent ouer all, And that his garment might presage his graue: So Christ in garden tombe and dead mans shrowd, Defray'd our debts, vvith paiment best alowd.

Ouer the brooke, to garden they repaire, (Swift vvere their feet about the sheading blood) Euen to the place that Iesus vs'd for praier, Where he intreated grace for sinners good, Where he consulted to redeeme and saue: Thither they came, resolu'd his life to haue.

With easie search the guiltlesse may be found, Whose quiet thoughts and peace vnite in one, A voice, Whom seeke you? threw them all to ground, A power diuine, to make true godhead knowne. Iesus came forth, encountred them vvith breath, And they at once fell backward all to th'earth.

Had then his vvill consented to his power, If Iustice had appear'd, and mercy hid, They had descended hell that sinfull hower, Like Corah, Dathan, and Abiram did, Where th'one vvas seandale to the seruant done, The other vvas rebellion gainst the sonne.

While Ieroboam stretcht his threatning hand (Right insolent and full of daring pride) To stay the Prophet, giuing strict command, Iudgement laid hold on him, his hand vvas dryde: But these in armes, and violent enterprise, Though throwne to ground, doe vnrepentant rise.

Deaths harbenger vnto Damasco towne, Then bloody-mind Saint-persecuting Saul Was with like powreful voice from heauen thrown down, But to conuersion grace imploy'd his fall: With greater fauour, blisse can none acquaint, Then crowne a greeuous sinner, glorious Saint.

But these vvhose hearts vvere hardned, sight extinct, Haters of knowledge, children of the night, Atvvar vvith God, in league vvith Sathan linckt Grosse darknesse followers, shunners of the light, Stiffe necked, stubborne, and rebellious Iewes, Contemne saluation; offered grace refuse.

Wisdomes beloued, Israels vvisest king, Doth say the vvicked cannot sleeping rest, Till they are pleased vvith some ill done thing; The vvorser deed, the doer likes for best: A minute spent in good, seems long loth'd day, A night of sinne, but moment stolne avvay.

How toilesome tedious had that vvatching bin, If vertue had persuaded thereunto, But Owle-eied they became to compasse sin, Fit vvas the time so foule a fact to do: That vvork of darknesse, ioin'd vvith darknesse power Might meet together all in darknesse hower.

When they should rest, their malice not indur'd it, For malice neuer closeth sleeping eies, And vvhen they should not vvake, reuenge procur'd it, Reuenge, doth hourely, some reuenge deuise, Who rides the deuill hath no curbe they say, For malice drawes, and fury spurs away.

Th'vnseemely vprore, to the night vnkind, Happening as frightfull as in fires danger, Caus'd him make hast that left his clothes behind, Hardly entreated, like vnwelcome stranger, For in retire, his case like Iosephs stands, Who left his garment in his mistresse hands.

T'was no offence springing from his intent, That did demerite violent force resist him, Yet pawn'd he shirt for skin before he vvent, Gladdest vvhen naked gone that rage had mist him, What furies guided this misguided swarme? To bend their force against vnthoughted harme.

When traitor meets, these quaint deceits he had, In gesture, kind imbracements vvith a kisse; In vvords, All haile, God saue thee, or be glad; Yet murder, blood, and death, lies hid in this, This cup of gold did poisons draught begin, This greene had serpents lurking hid vvithin.

The vvord All haile, seru'd Ioab to salute, (Good vvords do often make for ill pretence,) But Abner found a mortall stab the fruit, While falshood spake, twas murder did insence: Like that, vvas this of Iudas false intent, By vvord, God saue, the deed Destroy vvas ment.

All haile, the Angell reuerently did vse, With heau'nly tongue, to holy virgins eare, All haile, in Pilats hall they did abuse, That scorning Christ, presented Aue there, Highest in fauour of all vvomen gain'd it, And chiefest sinner of all men, profan'd it.

First vvord it vvas, Gods gracious loue tv'nfold Beginning at our sauiours incarnation, First vvord vvherewith false Iudas bought and sold, Whose trafficke turn'd Christs death, his own damnation. What profite his that all the vvorld should vvinne? With soule in deaths eternall debt by sinne.

Why com'st thou friend? vvhat mean'st thou, Iesus said, At th'instant houre my praiers and teares commend thee, To giue a kisse vvhereby I am betraide, And vvith, All haile, brings troupes to apprehend mee? I tearme thee friend, vngratefull as thou art, That show'st nor friend nor yet disciples part.

To call thee friend, it doth thus much betoken, No cause in me hath canseld loues desire, But they reuolting hath our friendship broken, Vnaltred I remaine the same entire: If thou vvith Dauid, I haue sinned, couldst say, His answere thine, Thy sinne is done away.

Returne thee vvith repentant hearts imbrace, And mercy shall vvith iustice dome suspend, I left not thee, vvhy doest thou run from grace, Though thou hast sold me, still I call thee friend, But if thou vvilt not be reclaimed backe, Be thou thy selfe thine owne soules vvilfull vvracke.

When murder had saluted, treason kist, And bribery imbrac'd vvith signe of gladnesse, In vvhich the traitors seruice did consist, Then press'd the Iewes on Christ vvith furious madnesse, Like hunger-paunched vvolues prone to deuour The lambe subiected to their rauening power.

Right manly valiant Peter did him beare, When no disciple durst attempt the like, T'vnsheath his sword, and cut off Malcus eare, Against an armed multitude to strike, Danger and feare are cowards turnd aside When manhood is by resolution tride.

But Iesus did no humane forces need, That legions had of Angels at command, And Peter had no charge to fight, but feed The flocke of sheepe committed to his hand, It vvas Gods vvill to suffer, not resist, His power gaue power, and sinne did vvhat it list.

He vvas content, their violent force should bind him And lead him thence vnto the torturing place, To teare his flesh vvith vvhips to mocke and blind him, To buffet and to spit vpon his face. T'accuse him false by slanders lying breath, To dome him sentence shames most odious death.