CAP. 1©32 T%efiateef the" Church, were fleecing or waking ? who neither loathed nor perc:ived fuch things. When Confranrini was dead, Chrift found the Church a- fleepe, and fought by all meanes to ftir her up, both by knocking, and calling. He knockedby perfecutions in the times of(onfaruey Iulianand Valens, of whom though Iulian were a profeit enemie, (i `D. 368.) yet the other two exceeded him in cruelty. After their tyrannous raigne, God furred up Valentinian in the Weft parts, by whomChriii lovingly called his Spoufe, that returning untoher former integrity (he fhould open and let him in. Then tam king away Valens, he called more earneftly at both doores (as ip were) as well in the Weil as in the Eaft, by Gratian and Theodofut theelder: after by Arcadius and Honorius, then by Theodofius the. younger and Valentinian the third. Andhilly (that theremight ba foure paireas it were anfwerable to the foure voyces, My Sifter my Love, my Dove, my undefiledone) by Marcian alone in theEaft, Thefe Emperours ftudied and laboured very religioufly to defenr and enlarge true Religion; but the Churchwas in all the fault, whc having there helper prepared, would not ufe them to recover her former brightneffe. To this readines of the Emperors was added tht voyce of the moft excellent Bithops and belt learned men of that time: As Rafle, Gregory, Natianzen, e4mbrofe, Therome, Chryfo, flame, Augufline, and other the lights of that time. But feeing hi$ profeffion of love could nothingmove her, he tryeth what his (hutsj king out ofthe doores at night would doe. Myhead (faith he) isfilled With de*,andmy lockes With the drops ofthe night. The lockes ofhaire fignified before the congregation ofthe faithful', among whom true Religionwas now fo much decayed by new and foolith Ceremo nies, borrowed partly ofthe Lewes and Gentiles, and partly inven- ted of their owne idle braines, that the graffe is fcarce more cove- redwith drops of dew in the night, then the Church was at that time with fi]perftitions. Verfez. I haveput of fmy come, hoWAouldIput it oti : IhaveWa- flied my feete, halofhould.I defile them ? It was great negligence in the Spoufe to give her felfe fo much to fleepe : but pardon her heavineffe. Why opened Thee not when hee knockt and called ? was the fo buried In fleepe that fhe heard him not ? it is plainely feene, (he anfwered him quickly. But was the fo benummed that the could neither move hands nor feene ? Neither was that the matter. But when Che heard and might open, (he made an idle =de. I have put of my coat? (faith
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