The victory equalled the club's biggest ever in their eleven-year history at Sixfields and reinforced the belief that Colin Calderwood's men can at last justify their pre-season favourite's tag.
There were few clues to the avalanche to follow until Taylor opened the scoring in the 35th minute when he headed home a byline cross from winger Josh Low.
Indeed, only three minutes early Alan Fettis had pulled off a brilliant save, tipping away a shot by Kirk when the striker burst clear.
But two goals in two minutes broke the hearts of the Silkmen, Kirk getting the second when Scott McGleish directed a header from David Hunt's corner into this path.
Macclesfield's best chances of the first half came early on, with Martin Bullock feeding Danny Whitaker, but the midfielder's first-time chip drifted over Lee Harper's crossbar.
Then Bullock played in Clyde Wijnhard, but the striker's hurried shot again cleared the bar.
Northampton sealed the points in the 61st minute when McGleish bagged his 17th of the season, converting a near-post cross from Low.
The home side continued to press and Pedj Bojic bounced a cross on top of the bar before Martin Smith, on as a substitute for McGleish, hit a spectacular volley which just dipped over.
Macclesfield could consider themselves unlucky not to pull a goal back ten minutes from time when Chris Doig cleared a John Miles effort off the line, as the Silkmen had penalty appeals turned down.
But it would only have been academic, and Northampton ended in a blaze of glory with Taylor heading his second from a David Rowson cross before Kirk hit his second in injury time.