A description of an annuall world, or, Briefe meditiations upon all the holy-daies in the yeere with certaine briefe poeticall meditations of the day in generall and all the daies in the weeke / by E.B.

S. Matthias.

WHile Christ was in his mi∣nisteriall Office, Iudas Isca∣riot Simons sonne seemed to beare the lustre of an Apostolick starre, followed Christ, was numbred with the twelve, and was intrusted with the bag, of which he was so good a steward and saving a hus∣band, that he was very unwilling that any thing should fall out or passe beside the same, for any cha∣ritable or pious use, as appeares plainly by the text, Iohn 12. and so covetous was he of money, that he betrayed his Master for thirty pieces of silver. And Christ knew what he said, when he utt••red those words, that he had chosen twelve, and one was a devill; for it is reported of this Iudas, that he slew his father, maried with his mother, and betrayed his Master,

and in the end hanged himselfe, and falling downe, his bowels gushed out. But he ought to have no place in this Apostolick Zodi∣ake, except as an Airy Comet or signe of wonderment and cauti∣on, to feare us, from following his steps. Therefore instead of him, Matthias one of the 70 Disciples was chosen by lot cast betweene him and Ioseph, called Barsabas, whose surname was Iustus.

This Apostle first preached the Gospel in Macedonia, then in Aethi∣opia, about the haven called Hyssus and the River Phasis, unto barba∣rous nations and ravenous of flesh. He dyed at Sebastopolis, where he was also buried neer the Temple of Sol. But others write, that he afterwards came into Iudaea, where the Iewes stoned him, and behea∣ded him with an axe, after the Roman manner. Therefore I con∣clude with the prayer for the day, saying. Almighty God, which in

the place of the traitor Iudas, didst choose thy faithfull servant Mat∣thias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles, grant that thy Church being alway preserved from false Apostles, may be orde∣red and guided by faithfull and true Pastors, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.