Prison-pietie, or, Meditations divine and moral digested into poetical heads, on mixt and various subjects : whereunto is added a panegyrick to the right reverend, and most nobly descended, Henry Lord Bishop of London / by Samuel Speed ...

¶ The Christians Alphabet.

AN Angel good Satan himself can make; But the Apostles true, bid men beware. Christ had his Paul the drowsie to awake, Daring even Death it self; such was his care. Earnest in zealous works, did sharply tast Fortunes ill will in stripes of cruel measure; Great was his troubles: he did oft forecast Honour for God, in counting Death his treasure. In Prisons frequent, from the fight o'th' Sun; Kill'd oftentimes, and yet he did revive; Lashes five times he had forty save one; Menacing terms did frequently receive.

Night and day in the deep, and shipwrack'd thrice; Once was he ston'd, and three times beat with rods; Perils came often; cold he was as Ice; Quips oftner came than did his days by odds. Render he did his thanks to God for all, Such was his holy love and fervent Zeal, Though first he was a persecuting Saul, Undoing such as bless'd the Commonweal. Wreaths crown his head because he was a Tree Xactly good, too pretious for the frames, Yielding such fruit as few have born but he; Zealous for Heaven, where he in Glory reigns, & so his Losses turn'd to be his Gains.