Poems on most of the festivals of the church composed by the Right Honourable Roger, Earl of Orrery.

On the Day of St. Io••n the Apostle

HAil Great Apostle, who so happy prov'd, As to be call'd th' Apostle IESUS Lov'd.* 1.1 A Name, which does to thee more Glory bring, Then wer't Thou stil'd, the Vniversall King, Who well can think, Linus and Cletus were, (Who next to Blessed Peter fill'd Romes C••air* 1.2) The onely Heads, Christ to His Church did give, While ••hou, who on ••is Bosome Dw••llst didst Live? Thou, on whose Head, while Thousands did Admire, The Spirit did sitt in Cloven Tongues of Fire.* 1.3 Thou whom, that Spirit did Inspire to write, The Loftiest Gospell,* 1.4 which it did Indite. Thou, whose blest Tongue by God himself was Chose, That Book to Dictate,* 1.5 which His Word did Close. Thou to whom Christ,* 1.6 while yeilding vp the Ghost, Gave Gifts, the Like of which, none Else could boast▪ Hee left His Blessed Mother to Thy Care,* 1.7 And by Adoption made Thee His Joint Heir. None could, whilst Thou on Earth mad'st Thy abod••, Bee above ••hee, who Brother wer't to God. Yet this great Truth must Contradicted bee, Or it must Ruine Romes Supremacy. Whose Sons, alas! with too much guilt maintain, Onely Their Bishops o're Christs Church can Raigne,

God might to Thee so Long a Life Dispence That such Vsurping might have noe Pretence. Tho Tyrants Thee to Patmos did Condemn,* 1.8 Yet there Thou saw'st the New Ierusalem. God shew'd Thee thence,* 1.9 lest too Long Life might Cloy, Those Glories, which through Faith, thou shouldst Enjoy, Let none Admire, since Christ Lov'd Thee so well, That Hee so Long left Thee on Earth to Dwell; For since to serve Him here Hee did Decree, To do His will on Earth, was Heav'n to Thee. Thus Angells tho from God They take their Flight, Yet finde in Their Obedience, Their Delight.

Thou onely of Thy Blest Society, Christ did permit a Naturall Death to Dye▪ Mans Fury did the Rest to Death Decree, But Age it self to God presented Thee. Which proves, All Those as sure to beav'n shall Climbe▪ Who Dye in Christ,* 1.10 as those who Dy For Him. Many might else from His Blest Doctrine Fly, I•• all, who taught it, had been Doom'd to Dy. Which sinfull Fear, that All men might Decline, God, who Their Lives did shorten, Lengthen'd Thine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ioh: 13▪ 23.
• * 1.2

  E••seb. lib. 3. C. 19.
• * 1.3

  Act: 2: 3▪
• * 1.4

  ••oh: 21. 24.
• * 1.5

  Revel: 1. 11.
• * 1.6

  C••: 22. 18.
• * 1.7

  Ioh 19. 26. 27.
• * 1.8

  Euseb: li••: 3 Cap: 16.
• * 1.9

  Revel: 1. 9. Ch▪ 21. 10.
• * 1.10

  Re••el: 14. 13