Jesus give He to this purpose spake yet ne'r-the-less Lov'd best the wages of unrighteousness The Understanding may much light receive And yet may not the Soul rightly believe Nor be espous'd to Christ may not rely On him alone in true simplicitie But to proceed with careful Eye let 's view What follows here what 't is doth next ensâ—e As Combatants sometimes a Parly beat After some sharp Encounter or retreat And with each other do expostulate About their rising or their sinking fate Even so likewise do these strong inward Foes They pause as 't were parly then fall to blows Old-man The Old-man moves and presently he meets With the poor Soul and thus Affection greets Thou for my Int'rest ever yet hast been And sweet says he Ah! sweet's a bosom sin Thou never yet deny'dst to yield subjection Unto my will and now indear'd Affection Our Master great Apollyon doth command That we unite our force and faithful stand Against our Foâ—s thy int'rest is invaded Thou â—eest by whom thou knowst who are inraged Hold safe thine own ne'r let those Objects go Thou lov'st so dear 't will be thy overthrow And thereby too the Soul will unawares 〈…〉 involv'd in more vexatious cares And those delights which thou weâ—t wont to have Will be obscured in the darksom Cave Of black Oblivion buried out of sight Should once the Soul close with this Prince of Light Not that we think thou canst'ith ' least approve Of thiâ— whereby she should withdraw her love Quite from those things which we esteem so dear For Heart and Will some ways do yet adhere Unto our Int'rest yet basely misled She is 〈◊〉 since she 's been enlightened We are content she should cry up the choice She thinks to make let her in that rejoice Yet there 's a secret we would fain reveal She 's blinded by her over-fervent zeal It iâ— enough since she has made such vows To love him 〈…〉 to become his Spouse Why should she not have yet sweet sensual pleasures To please the flesh to whom the greatest treasure Of right belongs that ever were poste it How can her glory better be exprest Than to imbrace what is so freely given Joys here below as well as bliss in Heaven Let her not fear to spend her days in mirth That 's Heir of Heaven and Lady of the Earth This think upon and secretly impart So sweet a Message to the yielding heart Affection hears and willingly consented And strives with this to make the Soul contented Nay with it too the Soul began to close Until poor Conscience did them both oppose Affection Will and Conscience talk a while Apollyon straight starts up and with a smile Salutes them all seeming as if he were One unconcern'd with any matters there Who well observing how thâ—se three contended Begs leave to speak a word as he pretended In favour to them all desiring he Might at this time their Moderator be At this they seem'd to pause and stand all mute At length the Soul but faintly grants his Suit The Devil having thus obtain'd his end Salutes the Soul Fair Virgin I commend Thy happy choice almost if not quite made Yet if all matters were but wisely weigh'd Thou 'lt find Affection has advis'd thee right And 't can't be safe such Counsel now to slight The greatest honours oft for want of care In just improvements have been made a snare What bount'ous Heav'n Earth affords refuse not Be not so nice ye ' buse the things you use not What is thy Soveraign willing to receive thee Into Celestial Joys yet quite bereave thee Of present sweetness Tush this cannot be He will sure ne'r such wrong do unto thee Reflect not what thy former state hath been But what 't is now a Saint more than a Queen Things present and to come nay all are thine Come merry be drinkof the choiest Wine Thine honour 's great and let thy joys abound Chant to the Viol hear the Organ sound Let the melodious Lute and Harp invite thee And each transcendent joy on Earth delight thee A sweet is What a thing reproacht call'd Sin It in the bosom lies has harbour'd bin By chiefest Saints O then do not deny The present good that 's pleasant to the Eye But it thou fearst thou shouldst thy Lord offend Observe this Rule which I shall next commend Let all thy words be pleasant smooth and sweet When him thou dost in daily Duties meet Seem to be chast and let no Saints espy The smallest sign of Immoralitie Be â—rave in speech and lowly when thou meetst them And call them thy dear Brethren when thou greetst them And if thy Soveraign seek to have thy heart Let him have some yet must the World have part Call him thy Friend thy Saviour own him so And to poor Saints thou must some kindness show Or else thy covetousness they will espy And 〈…〉 be charg'd with what Idolatry Thus mayst thou keep his love but when thou go's Amongst thy old acquaintance yet his Foes Let them know nothing let no sentence fall Which may discover this to them at all Thus having spoken briefly be thou wise And with thy Friends my Agents now advise Thus ends the Old-man and Apollyon's suit And the poor Soul in this assault stood mute Not well discerning who these thoughts did dart Into her yielding and divided heart Nor hath she got that grave and good inspection What 's best to do and where to take direction But goes to th' Flesh with that doth she consult Which quickly brings her to a sad result I hitherto saith she have been deprest What shall I do how may I be at rest The Flesh or corrupt Affection What 's the reversion of a Prince's State When 't must be purchas'd at so dear a rate 'T is but arriving at a seeming pitch Of Honour and to be câ—nceited Rich. If there 's no way to get this promis'd Crown But to incur the world'ds vile scoff and frown With loss of life and all we call our own 'T would folly be to seek for such a prize For what we have is pleasant in our Eyes A real thing and present as 't is dear To part with it is more than flesh can bear But by the way mind what our Friends propound A Medium to enjoy them both is found Wherefore 't is best in this perplexing case For to unite that Counsel let 's imbrace Soul Hast thou forgot or knowst thou not mine eyes Have been enlight'ned let us first advise With Judgment lest this over-rash conclusion Turn all our Consultations to confusion It would be well could we I must confess Those sinful sweets and present joys possess Without the loss of those transcendant pleasures That 's in Jehova's unconfined Treasures But what if Judgment says it must not be Nor Truth nor Conscience with us will agree If so what shall I do what shall I choose Whilst I secure one I both may loose The flesh or
Countries vastly doth excel Its Glory splendid is and infinite It cannot be beheld with fleshly sight Ten thousand Suns ten thousand times more bright Then ours is could never give such light None ever there beheld a Cloud nor shall Nor ever was there any Night at all No cold or heat did ever there displease No pain nor sorrow there nor no disease No thirst nor hunger there do any know Nor any foes to seek their overthrow Disturb their peace or them i' th least annoy Nor is there any Devil to destroy And if one would that Kingdom searth about There is no finding of one poor Man out No sooner any such do thither get But on their Heads a glorious Crown is set Congratulating Angels round them wait And cloath them all in long white Robes of State They live in boundless Bliss with such content It raises Joy unto a Ravishment There 's Rivers too of Pleasures fil'd to 'th Brim In which the Prophets and Apostles swim There Beauty fadeth not nor Strength decayes No weary old Age neither end of Dayes Impossible it is for them to dye Whose Souls have tasted Immortality All there is Love and Sempiternal Joys Whose sweetness neither gluts nor fullness cloys Friends always by for absence is not known Their loss or departure none can bemoan Within the confines of this blissfull Land There doth a spacious foursquare City stand The noblest Structure 't is that e're was rais'd By men admired or by Angels prais'd The Founder of it was a mighty King Yet without hands t' was built amazing thing As for th' Marterials which did it prepare From a good Author this description hear The Luke-warm Blood of a dear Lamb being spilt To Rubies turn'd whereof its parts were built And what dropt down in a kind gellied Gore Became rich Saphire and did pave her Floor The Brighter flames that from his Eyebals ray'd Grew Chrysolites whereof her walls were made The Milder glances sparkled on the ground And grounsild every Door with Diamond But dying darted upwards and did fix A Battlement of purest Sardonix Its Streets with Burnisht Gold are paved round Stars lye like Pebbles scattered on the ground Pearl mixt with Onyx and the Jasper Stone The Citizens do alwayes tread upon Here he with 's Father in great state did sit Whilst millions bow'd themselves unto his Feet Here 't was he kept his Court here was his Throne From hence through all the World his Glory shone And if ought could unto his Greatness add Mark what a rich Retinue there he had He Servants kept of very high Degree Who did bow down to him continually Though they were Nobles all and far more high Than proudest of the Roman Monarchy And mighty great in Power too are they For one alone did no less Number slay Than near two hundred thousand in one night Of Valaint Souldiers trained up to fight These Troops still ready stood at his command To execute his will in every Land Of them he 'd an Innumerable Host Though some of them in ancient times were lost Yet the selected number Millions were Who still to him do true Allegiance bear True Love and Zeal burn'd in their breasts like fire To do his Will 's their business and desire 'T is his greâ—â—â—â—â—'rest which they wholly mind Aiding his Friends 〈◊〉 welfare they design'd And likewise evermore to frustrate those Who did their Prince's Soveraignty oppose Their Nature's quick and clear as Beams of light Creatures too pure for Mortals grosser sight And if we shall consider well their worth Meer Empty Nothings are all Kings 'o th Earth When to these Servants they compared be So much excells their glorious Dignity What of their Sovereign Lord then shall we say On whom they do attend both night and day When they before his dazling Throne appear Their Heav'nly faces straight way cover'd are As if not able on his Face to look Or else with glorious blushings Heaven-struck Such such his Court such his Attendants were Who could with this great Prince of light compare Oh what Celestial Glory didst thou leave Almost beyond mans credence to believe That thou shouldst thus thy Fathers house forsake And such a tedious dismal Journey make Could not that charming Melody above Allure thy thoughts and hinder thy remove Oh no! there 's nothing can retard thy Love Hark how the glorious Seraphims do sing Whose warbling notes do make the Heavens ring What Mortals ever did such Musick hear Spirits made perfect are quite ravisht there Oh! how they listen whilst the Strains rise higher And joyning gladly with th'All-charming Quire Sing forth aloud inspired with his flame All Glory Glory Glory to his Name One strain of this Celestial Harmony Could Mortals hear they soon would thither fly They straight would shake off all their carnal shackles And quit these dull and loathsom Tabernacles Like towring Larks still upwards would they soar And ravished would think of Earth no more Or like to herds of Cattel great and small Theyâ—d leave their feedings and run thither all But yet could not this lovely Paradise These Honours or this Melody intice The love-sick Prince unto a longer stay So much he longed for the Marriage day No thing could his Design divert or move So constant was he in his Royal Love His Travels next will you be pleas'd to hear Which raises wonder in me to declare Ten thousand millions and ten thousand more Of Angel-measur'd Leagues from th'Eastern shore Of Dunghil Earth this glorious Prince did come Did ever Lover go so far from Home To seek a Spouse What brave Heroick Spirit That e're did love of vertuous Princess merit Would not have found his trembling heart to ake So vast an Enterprize to undertake Such dangers to expose himself unto Such pleasure and such glory to fore-go But some 't is like may ask a question here Unto what Parts or Region did he steer Or whither did he travel whither go A very needful thing for all to know Was 't to some Goshen-Land of precious Light Or in to some Elysian Fields which might With Boundless Pleasures thither him invite Was it a Kingdom somewhat like his own For Bliss and Glory or what kind of one Was this strange Land to which this Lover went To find the Soul forc'd into Banishment Alas dear Sirs this may you still amaze And to a higher Pitch your wonder raise As far as Darkness differs from the Light Or dolesom Earth falls short of Heaven so bright As Heavens higher are than Earth or Seas A thousand times ten thousand of Degrees So far that place where this sweet Prince did dwell The other to which he travel'd did excel As that transcends for loveliness most rare So this in wickedness exceeds compare Egypt was once a dark and dolesom place When no one could behold his brother's face Though there the sacred stories plainly tel 't The darkness was so great it might be felt Yet was that but a figure
and jointly satisfy To save her now from the infernal pit I have a Ransom found a Ransom fit Divine Justice I cannot hold I 'le strike the fatal Blow Hell she deserves with vengeance let her go Unto the place appointed for all them Who do God's holy Laws and Grace contemn Jesus Prince of Light O who is this What Traitor 's at the Bar That is condemn'd and Justice wo'nt defer The Execution speak hold up thy head Hast any thing to say What canst thou plead Methinks methinks I should this Creature know Ah! Soul is 't thee What shall I for thee do I told thee what thy state would be i' th end When first my Love to thee I did commend Soul Speak 't is I why dost thou not look up I 'm sorely griev'd to think upon the Cup That is prepar'd for thee What dost thou say Shall I step in that Justice may delay To strike the stroke for then too late 't will be To show my Love and pity unto thee Hast any kindness for me in thine Heart I doubt that still thou the same Creature art Thou wast before and hast no love at all Why speakst thou not shall vengeance on thee fall Ah! how can I see Execution done And Tears not from mine Eyes like Rivers run Divine Justice Lord be n't concern'd she is thy bitter Foe Oh let me therefore freely strike the blow There 's nought in her but Sin and poisonous Evil To God a Foe and Friend unto the Devil JESVS I know not how to let this stroke be given For I am come on purpose down from Heaven To make Atonement and to satisfy For all her sins and foul Iniquity Though she to me doth no affection bear Yet her I pity and do love most dear Justice Blest JESVS hold 't is my just Master's sense Abused Mercy must have recompence There is no other way but she must die Unless thou wilt be her Securitie If in her stead thy life thou wilt give up Then mayst thou save her from this bitter Cup. The price which thou on that account wilt pay Will make a Compensation and defray All her vast Debts yea plenarily God's wrath appease and Justice satisfy What must be done Who is 't the stroke must bear Is 't not most fit such should who guilty are I cannot hold my hand nor longer stay Law must be satisfy'd what dost thou say Thou wretched Soul behold the knife and spear Can'st thou dost think God's fearful vengeance bear Now Soul look to thy self this Spear I 'le run Into thy Bowels ere I it return JESVS Stay Justice stay withold thy furious Dart And let its glitt'ring point first pierce my Heart Her guilty state aloud calls for relief It wounds my Soul and fills my Heart with grief My Bowels yearn my inward parts do move Now now 's the time to show her my great Love Let Law and Justice be suffic'd in me 'T is I will die to set the Sinner free Behold me Soul my life shall go for thine I will redeem thee with this Blood of mine Although most Precious Sacred and Divine CHAP. VII Shewing what Consultations there were amongst the infernal Spirits to bring Jesus Prince of Light under the power of Death a Council called in Hell the Princes of the fallen Angels in a deep combination against him for fear their Kingdom should fall and the poor Creature be delivered The grand Counsel of Old Satan is taken He enters into Judas Judas's sin discovered Jesus is apprehended A terrible battel or Christ's Agony before his Passion Sin and Wrath combine together shewing the Prince's Conquests over them both Seven aggravations of Christ's sorrows in the Garden and a Dialogue between the Devil King of Darkness and Death the King of Terrors HEre let 's a while reflect with careful heed What! doth the guiltless for the guilty bleed This may astonish all here 's Love indeed Do Mortals ever greater love extend Then to lay down their lives for a dear Friend But for a Prince a mighty Prince to die Not for a Friend but for an Enemy Convicted and condemn'd for horrid Treason Thus to step in at that most Critick season When just the fatal blow was to be given This Love 's above our Reach higher than Heaven Deeper than Ocean Seas so Infinite As well deserves our wonder day and night What Was the Father free his Son to give His dear and only Son that she might live And doth the Son i' th midst of Enemies Yield up himself to be a Sacrifice Yet who can be so bold to lay their Hands Upon this Prince that Heaven Earth commands How shall this thing be now accomplished And by what means shall his dear Blood be shed Let 's now inquire who is 't that will consent To be the grand and chiefest Instrument To execute this precious spotless Lamb Who for this purpose down from Heav'n came Has he on Earth any such spightful Foe As dare's attempt this ' mazing thing to do You heard before he daily was beset And with what Enemies he often met But now his hour is drawing very near Great Consultations ' mongst his Foes there were How they might take his blessed Life away Who seem'd himself impatient of delay He long'd until his work were finished Which could not be until his blood were shed And though he had most raging Enemies Yet knew they not what project to devise To bring this bloody traiterous deed to pass Which long before by them designed was Until Apollyon finding by his Art The dire Intentions harbour'd in their Heart Doth rouse them up and first the matter start To the Infernal powers to wake them â—l A second time upon this Prince to fall Then Belzebub Satan and Lucifer Consult afresh how to renew the War And to this purpose wee 'l suppose they spake Apollyon Shake off your fears and speedily let 's make The strongest Head that possibly we can Against this strong this Devil-amazing man Now now 's the day let 's bring him to Death's sting And then with shouts of Triumph we may sing For over Death 't is we the power have And we may sure secure him in the Grave 'T is he alone who frights us in our station And puts us all into great Consternation Our Kingdom by this means is like to fall And we thereby be ruin'd great and small I have engag'd him once but could not stand I know his strength he has a pow'rful Hand Belzebub My Sentence is for War this Enterprize Well managed will make our Kingdom rise And re-inthrone us in our Antient Skies To a great Height and flourish as before When he is down we 'l let him rise no more Can we but once deprive him of his Life 'T will put an end to all our fears and strife Lucifer Dominions Pow'rs and Principalities You all in danger are awake and rise From off your Seats and lazy Beds of Down Sleep you secure or
Eternal I Give forth the Sentence Thou shalt surely die 'T was I that curs'd the Serpent who remains Unto this day and shall in lasting Chains When Cain did shed his righteous Brother's bloud I sentenc'd Cain 't was I that brought the â—lood Upon the Earth By me the World was drowned Proud Babels Language was by me confounded I am Jehovah's everlasting Word Who in my hand do bear th' two-edg'd Sword 'T was I and only I that did Command The dismal darkness in the Egyptians Land 'T was at my Word the Seas divide in twain And made an even passage through the Main At my Command Pharaoh and all his Host Were utterly within the Red-Sea lost 'T was I that made Belshazzâ—rs joints to quake And all his Nobles tremble when I spake 'T was I that made the Persian Monarchs great And threw them with the Grecians from their Seat I say the Word and Nations are distress'd I spake again and the whole World 's at rest Let all Men stand in fear and dread of me I was the first and I the last will be All knees shall bow to me when I reprove And at my Voice the Mountains shall remove The Earth shall be dissolved at my Threat And Elements shall melt with fervent heat My Word confines the Earth the Seas the Wind I am the great Jehovah unconfin'd 'T is I divide between the joints and Marrow No place so close no cranny is so narrow But like the Sun 's bright beams I enter in Discovering to each heâ—rt the darling Sin That lodges in the Soul 'T is I alone Who by my piercings make them sigh and groâ—n If from true sense and sorrow they complain I graciously bind up those wounds again 'T is I that save the humble and contrite And do condemn the formal Hypocrite My circuit's large I coast the World about No place nor secret but I find it out All Nations of the World I rule at pleasure To my Dominion's neither bound nor measure Therefore dear Soul chear up and do not fear I 'le confound all thy Foes both far and near And now I do command to bring to th' Bar That inward Foe Old-man I wo'nt defer His Tryal lâ—nger his Indictments read And he had leave and liberty to plead And on his Trial he deny'd the Fact But Conscience swears she took him in the act And other witness too but to be brief All prove him the Soul's Foe nay and the chief And only cause of all the horrid Treason Acted against the Lord unto this season He was deny'd to speak the Proofs being clear You shall therefore his fatal Sentence hear Come thou base Traytor impure Mass of Sin That Villain-like dost seek revenge agin Upon the Soul and striv'st to raise up strife Nay thirsts again to take away her life Hear hear thy Sentence Old-man thou must die I can no pity shew nor mind thy cry Thy Age away 't is pity thou hast bin Spared so long when guilty of such Sin Soul thou must see to bring him in subjection With every evil lust and vile affection This heap of Sin thou must strive to destroy That so thou maist all perfect peace enjoy Under the strictest bonds let him abide Till he is slain or throughly crucify'd The Old-man being sentenc'd and confin'd The Soul is consolated in her mind Affection Judgment Will do all rejoyce And are united now O happy choice Ah! she admires the excellence and worth Of her Beloved that she sets him forth As one that 's ravish'd in the contemplation Of his great Glory and her exaltation In this her sacred choice and this so raises Her ravish'd senses that Angelick praises She thinks too low O now she doth discover And not till now th' affections of a Lover There 's nothing now so tedious as delay Betwixt the ' spousal and the Marriage-day Her former joys in which she much delighted She treads them under-foot they are quite slighted Nay altogether loathsom in her Eye Compared with his sacred Company Unto the place where he appoints to meet her Thither she runs with speed there 's nothing sweeter Nay there is nothing sweet nothing is dear Or pleasant to her if he be not there O! saith the Love-sick Soul in such a case May I but have one kiss one sweet Imbrace O how would it rejoyce this heart of mine His Love is better than the choisest Wine His Name is like an Ointment poured forth And no such Odour e're enrich'd the Earth The Eastern Gums Arabian Spices rare Do not perfume noâ— so enrich the Air As the Eternal 〈◊〉 renowned Fame Of his most preciâ—â—s and most glorious Name Perfumes my Soul 〈◊〉 elevates my voice Whilst gladness fills my heart O happy choice My sacred Friend my Life my Lord and King Doth me into his secret Chambers bring Although ten thousand fall on either hand My Soul in saâ—ety evermore shall stand Tell me my Lord tell me my dearest Love Where thou dost feed whither the Flocks remove And where they rest an Noon in soultry gleams Bring me into those Shades where silver streams Of living Waters flow most calm and still There there I 'le shelter there I 'le drink my fill The Fountains ope O see it runs most clear Green Pastures by a â—â—odg is also near To hide in â—afety and to saâ—e from fear Of scotching heat â—â—der this shade I 'le rest My Love shall be inclosed in my breast My heart shaâ—l be 〈◊〉 lodging-place for ever Nothing shal me from my Beloved â—ever The terrors of the Night shall never harm me He saves from heat in â—rosts his love doth warm me You Virgins who yet never felt the smart Of Love's soul-piercing and heart-wounding Daâ—t If all these sacred Raptures you admire Know Virgins know that this Celestial 〈◊〉 That 's kindlâ—d in my breast comes from 〈◊〉 And sets my Soul into this frame of Love O he that has endured so much pain To gain my Love is worthy to obtain Ten thousand times more love than his poor Spouse Is able to bestow yet shall my Vows Be daily paid to him in whose sweet breast My love-sick Soul shall find eternal rest Know know I ne'r obtain'd true peace beforâ— My soul cast 〈◊〉 on this sacred shore All earthâ—y pleasures are but seeming miâ—th His presence is a Heaven upon Earth How heavy O how bitter was the Cross Once unto me to think upon the loss Or temporal comfâ—rts made me to complain But noâ— I 〈…〉 my gain Terrestrial joys as dross to me appear My joy 's in Heaven O my treasure 's there Had I all Riches of both th' India's shore At my command ten thousand times told o're My soul would loath them they should be abhor'd Being worse than dung compared to my Lord. O may these Sun-beams never cease to shine By which I see that my Beloved's mine He is my flesh and bone therefore will I Rejoyce the more in this Affinity He is my
All my soul 's to him united As Jonathaen's to David who delighted So much in him that in his greatest trouble Dear Jonathan did his affections double When David was in great distress and fear Then did his love and loyalty appear So when my dear Beloved is distrest My love to him shall chiefly be exprest But why said I distrest What can my Lord Who hath consuming power in his Word Be touch'd by Mortals what can he be harm'd Who with all strength of Heaven and Earth is arm'd No no I must recall that lavish strain No hand can touch him he cannot sustain The smallest injury from th' greatest Pow'r For in a breath he can his Foes devour But now methinks I presently espy Upon the Earth the Apple of his Eye Which are his servants nay his members dear Which wicked men do oft oppress O there My Lord 's distrest for if his Children smart O that doth pierce and wound his tender heart If cold or nakedness afflicts their souls He sympathizes and their state condoles It sick they be or if by cruel hands They are in Prison cast and under bands And there with hunger and with thirst opprest He feels their grief he is in them distrest What wrong soever they on Earth receive 'T is done to him for which my soul doth grieve To see th' afflictions of his servants here This is the fruit true loyal Love does bear Her sorrows are his woes for they alone Being his members are my flesh and bone And all make but one Body he 's the Head From whence all flows 't is he alone has shed His love abroad in this my love-sick â—eart Whereby I feel when any members smart My bowels move and tender heart does bleed VVhich makes me for his sake supply their â—eed Thus for my Christ and for his Children's sake I 'le suffer any thing yea I do take My life and goods and all into my hands To be disposed of as he commands But know for certain evermore that I For aid and help on him alone rely These pleasant Fruits O these delight the King And hereby 't is that we do honour bring Unto his Name all souls of the new birth VVho are sincere this precious fruit bring â—orth â—et not these things seem strange because to few Do bear such â—ruit believe the Maxim's true That as the Sun doth by its warm reflection Upon the Earth produce a resurrection Of all those Seeds which in the Earth do 〈◊〉 Hid for a time in dark obscurity Ev'n so the Sun of Righteousness doth shine Into this cold and barren heart of mine The precious seeds that have been scattered there Take root and blossom nay their branches bear Sweet fruit being the product of those Rays VVhich that bright Sun into my soul displays 'T is precious and most lovely in his Eye Both 〈◊〉 it Beauty and Veracity You Viâ—gâ—â—â— all who are by Love invited Into his 〈◊〉 where he is delighted With all his pleasant Fruits come come and see â—ow choice fâ—ir sweet and 〈…〉 they â—e One cluster â—ere's presented to thy view That thou mayst sâ—e and then believe 't is true Theâ—e be 〈…〉 which I 〈◊〉 nâ—w 〈◊〉 â—â—ve Joy and Peace â—ong 〈◊〉 Holiness â—aith Goodness Temperaâ—â—â— aâ—d Charity â—hese are the products 〈◊〉 th' Aâ—â—inity That 's made between me and my dearest Friend Nay moâ—e than these Eternal 〈◊〉 i' th' end But iâ— through sin thou canst not cast thine Eye On these 〈◊〉 Fruits then know assuredly VVhen th' Vintage comes and thou beginst to crave For one small taste one taste thou canst not have The â—ruitful Soul it is the King will â—â—own VVith th' Diadâ—m of Glory and Renown O let theâ—e things the Soul's affections raise In grateful Songs to celebrate the Praise Of great Jehovah who is King of Kings VVhâ—se glorious Praise the heav'nly Quire sings â—hen let us sing on Earth a Song like this 〈…〉 and I am his An Hyâ—â— of Praise to the Sacred Bridegroom PRaise in the Highest Joy betide The sacred Bridegroom and his Bride Who doth in spendor shine Let Heaven above be fill'd with Songs In Earth beneath let all Mens Tongues sing forth his Praise Divine 〈◊〉 sullen Man refuse to speak 〈◊〉 Rocks and Stones their silence break for Heaven and Earth combinâ— To tie that sacred Bridal Knot O let it never be forgot the Contract is Divine You holy Seraphims above Who do admire Jesus's Love O hast away and come With Men on Earth your joys divide Earth ne'r produc'd so fair a Bride nor Heaven a Bridegroom Another 'T is not the gracious lofty strain Nor record of great Hector's glory Nor all the conquering mighty Train Whose Acts have left the World a story Nor yet great Cesar's swelling fame Who only look'd and overcame Nor one nor all those Worthy Ninâ— Nor Alexander's great Renown Whose deeds were thought almost Divine When Vic'tries did his Temples crown But 't is the Lord that Holy One Whose Praises I will sing alone My Heart and Tongue shall both rejoyce Wâ—ilâ—t Aâ—gâ—ls all in Consort sing Aloâ—d with a melodious voice The praises of sweet â—ion's King O 't is his praise that Holy One I am resolv'd to sing alone My Heart indites whilst I proclaim The Praises of the God of Wonder My lips still magnifie his Name Whose Voice is like a mighty Thunder I 'le praise his Name and him alone Who is the glorious Three in One. Whose feet are like to burning Brass Whose Eyes like to a flaming Fire Who bringeth mighty things to pass 'T is him I dread and do admire Iâ—le magnifie his Name alone Who is the glorious Three in One. My Heart and Pen shall both express The Praises of great Juda's â—ion The sweet and fragrant Flower of Jess The holy I 〈◊〉 the King of Zion To him that sitteth on the Throne Be everlasting praise alone Whose Head is whiter than the Snow That 's driven by the Eastern Wind Whose Visage like a flame doth show 〈◊〉 all yet unconfin'd For ever prais'd be Him â—â—one Who is the glorious Three in One. I 'le praise his Name who hath revealâ—d To me his everlasting Love Who with his stripes my Soul hath heal'd Whose Foot-stool's here his Throne above Let Trumps of Praise be loudly blown To magnifie his Name alone This sacred Subject of my Verse Though I poor silly Mortal should Neglect his Praises to rehearse The ragged Rocks and Mountains would Make his deserâ—ed Praises known Who is the glorious Three in One. You twinkling Stars that Day and Night Do your appointed Circuit run Sweet Cynthia in her monthly flight Also the bright and flaming Sun Throughout the Vniverse make known The Praises of the Holy One. Let every Saint on Earth rejoyce Whom Christ hath chosen let him sing Whilst I to him lift up my Voice To sound the Praises of my King For He it is and He alone Hath made me his Beloved one FINIS There will be suddenly Publish'd another Treatise of this Author's intituled Zion in Distress or The Groans of the true Protestant Church * Sat. 6. Cessant oracula Delphis †Excessere omnes Adytis Arisque relictis Dit quibus Imperium hoc steter â—t c.
you must know Of the black horror of this Land of Wo Whither the wretched wandring Soul was gone And whence her Lover now must fetch her home It was indeed an howling Wilderness A Region of dispair and all distress Where Dragons Wolves Lyons and ravenous Beasts Had their close Dens and Birds of Prey their Nests Besides throughout the ruinated Land A Black and fearful King had great Command Who had revolted many years before From his Liege Lord and to him since has bore Most cruel spight and curs'd malignity Assuming to himself the Soveraignty The greatst Usurper that e're being had Sylla nor Nero never were so bad For 't is well known he was th' original Syre Of Tyrants all and taught them to aspire Ambitious through the World to spread his Arms He fill'd the Earth with Blood and sad Alarms And like a ravenous Lyon rang'd about To seek his Prey and find new Conquests out Full of State-Policies and Subtil wiles Where 's Force attempts in vain his Fraud beguiles Most cruel to those Slaves he can betray And yet the Fools besotted to his sway Court their own ruine and blindly obey His Antient Lord he hated most of all And such as were his offspring great and small He was resolv'd to be reveng'd upon And them for to destroy e're he had done From whence his name was call'd Apollyon A name which doth his Nature full express And you of him thereby my further guess This greedy Dragon hungry of his prey With wide-stretcht Jawes stood waiting for the day When this dear Prince should come nay for the hour That so he might him instantly devour Oh Tyrant Love dost thou no pity take Wilt thou the PHAENIX of both worlds thus make A prey to such a Fiend who by some snare Hopes to entrap this long expected Heir And then to take Possession and alone Rule on an undisturbed Hellish Throne See how the Troops of his Infernal Power Combine this Sacred Person to devour Needs must that be a sad and dismal Land Where this damn'd Monster hath so great Comand What Prince would come from such a Mount of bliss Unto a Cave where Poysonous Serpents hiss Come from his Father's Bosom where he lay To be the Wolves and Dragons chiefest prey To leave his glorious Robes and Cloth of Gold And clothed be with Raggs and Garments old From ruling men and Devils now to be Tempted by both of them scarce ever free To leave a Paradise of all Delight And come into a Land as black as night A glorious Crown and Kingdom to forsake That he his bed might on a Dunghil make To leave a sweet and quiet Habitation To come into a rude distracted Nation Where Wars Blood and Miseries abound Where neither Truth nor Faith nor Peace is found To leave his Friends who loved him most dear To dwell with such as mortal hatred bear To him and to his blessed Father and All such as do for them most faithful stand To come so many Millions of long miles To be involv'd in Troubles and sad Broils And all this for a Creature poor and vile A Traiterous Vagabond and in Exile Yea one that still remain'd a stubborn foe â—ating both him and his blest Father too Who ponders all in extasy can't miss To cry out Oh! what manner of Love is this Sure this is Love that may our Souls amaze And to the height our wondring Spirits raise In grateful Hymns to celebrate its praise CHAP. II. Shewing what entertainment the Prince of Light meâ— with at his first arrival How there being no room for him in the Inn he was forced to lie in the Stable and make his bed in the Manger As also how he having laid aside his Glorious and Princely Robes was not known by the people of that Country and how he was wronged and abominably abused by them AWake my Muse I hear the Prince is come Go and attend him view the very Room Where he at first doth lodg see how they treat A King whose Pow'r is so exceeding great Much Rumor of his coming I am told Was spread abroad amongst them there of old And many waiting for him long'd to see What kind of King and Person he should be Oh! what provision now to entertain Him did they make my Soul 's in grevious pain To hear of this Doth not the Trumpet sound And Joy and melody sweetly abound I' th hearts of all who heard of this good News How did they carry 't to him or how use This lovely One whom Angels do adore And Glorious Seraphims fall down before Ah! how methinks should they now look about Some curious stately Structure to find out Some Prince's Palace for his Residence Or strong fair Castle for his safe Defence Don't people leap for Joy whil'st Angels sing To welcome in their long expected King Do not the Conduits through all streets combine In stead of Water wholly to run Wine Do not great Swarms of people 'bout him sly Like to some strange and glorious Prodigy What dos't thou say my Muse Art wholly mute Doth this not with thy present purpose suit Ah! yes it does but how shal't be exprest The grief that seizes on my panting Breast My heart into a trembling fit doth fall To think how he contemned was of all The Savage Monsters did this Prince reject And treat him with affronts and disrespect When he for them had taken all this pain They neither would him know nor entertain The very Inn where first he went to lie For to vouchsafe him Lodging did deny No Room alas had they but if 't were so He would be there to th' Stable he must go To 'th Stable then goes he contentedly Without the least reflection or reply The silly Ass and labouring Ox must be Companions now to Sacred Royalty Expos'd by Greater Brutes he must alas Take up with the Dull-Oxe and painful Ass Who their great Maker and Preserver was And in the Manger's forc'd to make his bed Without one Pillow to support his Head Let Heav'n astonisht Earth amazed be At this ungrateful Inhumanity Let Seas rise up in heaps and after quit Their Course these Barbarous people to affright Oh! what a mighty condescention's here What story may with this with this compare Is this the entertainment they afford And this a Palace for so great a Lord Is this their kindness to so dear a friend Do they him to a filthy Stable send Is that a Chamber suiting his Degree Or fit the Manger should allotted be For him to lay his Glorious Body in Of whom the Prophet saith he knew no Sin Whose footstool's Earth and Heaven is his Throne What ne're a better Bed for such an one That has so vast a Journey undertook And for their sakes such Glory too forsook Is this great Prince with such mean Lodging pleas'd So that he may of love-sick pains be eas'd O what a Lover's this Almighty Love How potently dost thou affections move What
knowâ— Good You shall become as Gods and I pray when 'T is so what fear you who can punish then Your wisdom may the threatned Death evade And with an equal pow'r Heav'ns pow'r upbraid Thus spake the Tempter and thou straight didst yield And treacherously to him didst quit the field Forthwith the fatal Fruit with impious hand Thou pluckst and eatst against thy God's command Branding thy self and thy posterity With Treasons Guilt and endless misery And here vile Soul I cannot chuse but tell Thee one thing more that will increase thy Hell The Devil had no power to compell Thee to have tasted this his poisonous Feast But wilfully thou hast God's Law transgrest For though thou hadst a pow'rful Sword to weild Tempted to Lust thou cowardly didst yield Thou to thy self dost thy destruction owe And this doth greatly aggravate thy woe If want of strength or weapons if oppression Do force a Man to give up his possession He is excus'd and his unhappy fall Condol'd lamented and bewail'd of all But he deserveth neither love nor pity That unconstrain'd surrenders up a City When he has pow'r to make strong opposition Furnisht with Arms and warlike Ammunition Yet at one slender Summons yields his Fort The mis'ries he sustains in such a sort Reflect upon himself and do redouble His conscious Anguish self-accusing Trouble Just as the Southern Sun with burning beams Reflecting from a Wall with fierce extreams Above its natural strength or wonted course Scorches and burns with a far greater force So do those Flames first kindled with desire Grow dangerous and prove the stronger fire The wounds receiv'd from self-confounding Arms Have ever done poor Souls the greatest harms There 's yet another Circumstance behind That aggravates thy smart which prethee mind When once thy fearful Torments are begun Thy fatal Glass will never cease to run Years fill'd with months and months with weeks retire Weeks fill'd with days days with hours expire And hours in nimble minutes swiftly fly Unto their End But in Eternity There is no End nor will thy woes diminish Although years moneths weeks and hours finish The toilsome Day when once it does expire All Creature here to pleasing rest retire Slaves Bondmen Prisoners Captives all have ease No Drudgery so great but then doth cease Each bustling Day ends in a Night of peace But thou must look to be with pains opprest Where mid-day torments find no night of Rest Death puts a period to the greatest grief I' th silent Grave the weary find relief But wish't-for Death from thee shall fly away Eternity's a never-ending Day Where th' angry mouth of Justice loud doth cry Here must thou ever ever ever lie How miserable ah how sad's thine end When thou in vain shalt court Death for thy friend Men now do fly from Death whilst Death pursues But then shall seek to Death who will refuse At their Request such favour to afford As frees them from that Breath giv'n by the Lord. Death knows no pity Nay observe it well â—Tis Death that opens wide the Gates of Hell Where thou must be tormented with the Devils As the just punishment of all thy evils Distressed Soul oh unto what shall I Compare thy caseless endless misery In various Volumes of the World's Records Strange Tortures we may find exprest by words But Oh! so great so fore is thy distress As flesh can't bear 't so words can't it express Devils rejoyce and welcom in the Day That crown'd their Conquests with so rich a prey To see thee thus quite buried in thy spoils Berest of Earthly joys and Heav'nly smiles And I do fear th' incensed God above With direful Wrath will quickly thee remove Into that place But hark methinks I hear Some dreadful noise see how the Mountains tear And rending Hills do into pieces fly Whilst Thunder bellows through the troubled sky The Stars and Planets in confusion hurl'd Have banisht Natures order from the World See how the melting Orbs of Heaven sweat Like Parchment parch'd shrivel'd up with heat Swift Lightning flashes through the Air appear And now O hark the dreadful Trump I hear It sounds exceeding loud enough to make The Dead from their deep silent Graves awake And stoutest Sinners stubborn hearts to quake Ah! 't is Mount Sinai God himself is come Now to convince thee of thy final Doom The Law and Justice will thee now Arraign Poor Soul for thee my Soul 's in bitter pain From them be sure no Mercy thou wilt meet Although thou shouldst turn Suppli'nt at their feet Their method is so rigid so severe The Guilty by no means they ever spare Awake awake poor Soul and look about Jehovah doth command the Sinner out And active Justice having seiz'd her fast Doth hale her to the Judgment-seat in hast Justice Most Soveraign Lord who dares i' th least gainsay What thou commandst thy Word I must obey Lo here I bring this wretched Prisoner forth Unto thy Bar who mad'st both Heaven and Earth See! with what dread the trembling wretch doth stand To know thy Sacred Pleasure Command Jehovah Justice What is her Fact her Crimes declare I patiently will now the matter hear Justice Then will I legally my Lord proceed And presently her black Indictment reade Come forth thou Conscious wretch and hear thy Crimes In wicked deeds thou didst begin betimes By th' name of Soul thou standst indicted here Being without true Grace and godly fear Most treacherously in Eden long ago Didst then and there with God's most horrid Foe Conspire against his Soveraign Majesty To the dethroning of him privily Then setst thou up a Traitor in his place And traiterously his Image didst deface And ever since hast in Rebellion stood Pursuing Evil and forsaking Good For Treason Murder Theft thou standst Indicted These Crimes were all in thy first fact united Nay more then this yet worser is thy Cause Thou art Arraign'd for breach of all those Laws Which in thy Nature God at first ingrav'd The same thou hast in every point deprav'd This Royal Law much hast thou violated And every Day thy Crimes are aggravated That Spirit 's still in thee which was at first When God did thee out of his Garden thrust Thou sid'st with Satan and dost him obey Not minding what or God or good men say All Evil Rebels in thy House remain And nobly there thou dost them entertain Whilst God thou hat'st his proffer'd Love refuse And precious Patience daily dost abuse Therefore my Lord she worthy is of Death As ever any that on Earth drew Breath Jehovah Soul What dost say hold up thy guilty head Thou unto this Indictment now must plead Guilty or not Guilty I charge thee speak Lest Justice doth severer Courses take Soul I dare not say I am not Guilty Lord Of some of these foul Crimes which I have heard Read in my Charge 't is vain for to deny My Conscience makes me Guilty Guilty cry Thy Law is
for us in a Garden bear To take our Hearts from slitting pleasures here But stop my Muse look back and let us sâ—e What did succeed Judas his Treachery O mind what Joy's amongst th' Infernal Crew In hopes of what is likely to ensue Not once but many times this makes me quake We are undone should he refuse to take Part now with us in this Extremity When all we have and are at stake doth lie To this Advice the Devils all consent And call for Tyrant Death who doth present His gastly face and boldly do's demand What 't was they would have him to take in hand Then soon Apollyon King of Darkness breaks Silence and to this purpose gravely speaks Apollyon Dread King of Terrors if thou stepst not in Down goes our Hell-bred Monarchy of Sin We now can walk the spacious Earth about And have we Friend or Foe we find him out Where e're we see a person that 's upright We seek his ruin with the greatest spight When we by fraud or craft can't him intice To yield to Pride or Lust or any Vice But that he 'l watch us with a wary Eye And persevere in all true Piety Then on him do we bring outward distress To make him lose or leave his Holiness Our Kingdom by this practice is made strong Potent and large and so has prosper'd long But now thy help we need for much we fear The downfal of our Kingdom draweth near Upon the Earth there now appears in sight A mighty Foe one call'd The Prince of Light 〈…〉 And for what end should he from Heaven come If not to execute on us that Doom Which Heav'n long since decreed To end which strife We are resolv'd to take away his Life Already he 's betray'd if things hit right And then we 'l yield him up unto thy Might For thy Assistance Death we do implore Else to these mischiefs this will happen more That Creature we so long have captivated Will in her Pomp again be re-instated The thoughts of which there 's none of us can bear Speak speak pale Monarch for we long to hear What 's thy Advice Thou mighty art in pow'r And canst we know whole Nations soon devour The King of Terrors Great Prince of Darkness you must understand We are not wholly at your proud Command For there 's a mighty Pow'r in Heaven high Which you are subject to as well as I 'T is true from him I cannot say at all That I derive my strange Original Yet by his pleasure am circumscrib'd And ' gainst his Will cannot be forc'd nor brib'd Wherefore if he this Prince of Light protect In vain at him shall I my shafts direct Besides in this Exploit methinks I find Some strange foreboding ills possess my mind As if engaging thus against your Foe I should but hasten mine own overthrow Take mine Advice then meddle not at all Better sit still you know than rise to fall 'T is true indeed as you have well observ'd Your threatned Judgment has been long deferr'd But if your execution-Execution-Day be come You can't escape but must abide your Doom Prince of Darkness Thou pale-fac'd Traytor shan't we have thy Aid Then all our Hellish Projects are betray'd How oft have we stood by thee sent thee forth To do our will and pleasure on the Earth The first that ever thou hadst in thy hand Committed was by me at my Command I caused Cain to slay his godly Brother And so taught thee how to bereave the Mother Of her most dear of her most hopeful Son And shall not now my will in this be done 'T was I which did thy being to thee give How many Subjects dost each day receive From me and mine who do in every Land Promote thy State and lend their helping-Hand Therefore consent and show thy angry Brow And make this Conqueror to thy Scepter bow Yielding himself to thee strike him with speed And pierce his very Heart until it bleed Then some dark Cave near the Earths Centre find Where Light ne're pierc'd nor Phoebus ever shin'd There there the vanquisht Foe do thou retain Close Prisn'er with an Adamantine Chain When e're thou strik'st be sure strike home thy blow Lest he revive and work our overthrow Be bold attempt and let thy pow'r be known Thy Glory of this Deed shall be thine own King of Terrors I must confess I have been often sent By Hellish means unto the Innocent To satisfy your Envy Pride and Lust Some thousands I have turn'd into the Dust Yet never did I strike but on Condition As Heaven did permit in my Commission And though by Thee and by that Monster Sin The Child of Hell I first of all came in Yet am I not subservient still to thee But bounded by Jehovah's own Decree For had I wholly been at thy Command Poor Job had fell before thy pow'rful hand Where my dread Sovereign Lord do's give me charge To stay my hand though my Commission 's large I must forbear But if he once permit The Just and the Unjust alike I hit Apollyon King of Darkness Wilt thou eclipse my Glory and Renown Destroy my Pow'r and tread my Kingdom down Fy Death for shame forbear thy Insolence And do'nt dispute the Mandates of thy Prince Strike I conjure thee do not vainly think 'T will be thy Int'rest from this work to shrink That hand that powerful hand that conquers me If he prevail at last will vanquish thee Though now on Earth thou dost in triumph dwell If he o'recome he 'l cast thee down to Hell Thou fro'n thy Monarchy shalt then be driven And shalt abide in no place under Heaven Thou that hast been a Conqueror heretofore Shalt conquer'd be and never conquer more Ah! lend thy Hand shew forth thy mighty pow'rs 'T is for thy Int'rest Death as well as ours If Arguments and Reason may convince Thee try thy weapons on this dangerous Prince King of Terrors Say say no more If you find things agree In order to his downfall I will be His Executioner do you not fear I tremble at the thoughts of what I hear Damned Spirits Bravely resolv'd At last they all Reply'd Swelling in Wrath in Malice Envy Pride Wee 'l now proceed and craftily prepare All things in readiness to end this War Apollyon Though Judas has a party for our turn Yet we have more to do e're we adjourn If we should bring this Enterprise to pass Yet when all 's done I shall be where I was We must seek out some persons to defame His so much honour'd and unblemish'd Name He 's Just and Virtuous and esteem'd so high Who dares charge him with th' least Impurity Satan At this an envious Devil strait jumpt in I 'le lead the people on let me begin I 'le stir them up to Envy more and more Such Envy that he shall not stand before Belial These are but sparkles from an hasty Fire Which will for want of fuel soon expire His Glory
following him one minute of a day The Flock is left the Herd and fishing Net As soon as e're the Soul its Eye doth set Upon his face or of it takes a view They 'l cleave to him whatever doth insue 2. Christ is the Spring or the Original Of earthly beauty and Celestial That Beauty which in glorious Angels shine Or is in Creatures natural or Divine It flows from him O it is he doth grace The mind with glorious Beauty as the face 3. Christ's Beauty 's chast most pure and without snares Not like to other's which oft unawares Like Josephs most treacherously betrays Poor wanton Souls and leads them to the pit Before they are aware or think of it Here may'st thou look and love and take thy 〈◊〉 Yea every one who hath a heart a will Whose sweetness ne'r will glut furfeit or 〈◊〉 4. His Beauty 's real 't is no glistering 〈◊〉 That suits vain Sinners this affects the Saint The painted face pleases the carnal â—yâ— But none but Saints through faith can this espy That 's a vain show but this a precious thing In sight of which Celestial joy doth spring 5. This Beauty fills and fully satisfies The hearts of all who have enlightned Eyes He that sees Christ doth say Lord now I have What e're I longâ—d to see no more I crave I have enough my heart and I are fill'd Which was not so before whilst I behold Things with a sensual heart and outward eye There 's nothing here save Christ can satisfie That precious Soul which lieth in thy breast Reject him and ne'r look for peace nor rest 6. Christ's Beautyâ—s hidden 't is so 〈◊〉 No glimmerings of it can appear at all To carnal Souls This is the cause why he Is thus deny'd and slighted still by thee 7. There 's one thing more which I'lâ— to thee impart Touching Christ's Beauty by diviner 〈◊〉 He doth transmit his beauty unto those Who are deform'd as soon as e're they close With him in truth in a contract of love He all their homely features doth remove Oh! he can make those lovely very fair Who ne'r so filthy ne'r so ugly are 8. This Beauty fadeth not 't will not decay 'T will be as rare to morrow as to day Not like to that which as a fading flower Ev'n now shines bright but wither'd in an hour Riches of Christ Or is thy heart on Riches set know then Christ is more rich than all the sons of Men. The Father hath to him all fulness given In Earth beneath and all that is in Heaven All Kingdoms of the world they are his own Whether inhabited or yet unknown He 's heir of all things and the time is near When he will make his Right most plain appear All Potentates his Tenants are at will And such who wast his goods or govern ill Account must give to him and then will find What 't is to bear to him a treach'rous mind Christ's glorious Riches are discovered Yet further unto thee for all are fed By him alone that on the Earth â—'reliv'd Both food and clothes they all from him receiv'd And still receive 't is at his proper charge They are maintain'd as might be shew'n at large I 'le only give a hint or two at things His Treasures far surmount all Earthly Kings He has paid all the debts of every one That clos'd with him O do but think upon This very thing and wisely then account To what a sum this payment will amount Suppose each Soul ten thousand Talents were In debt to God some little time we 'l spare To cast it up 'T is done and lo 't is found Eighteen hundred sev'nty five thousand pound And less than that what sinners ow'd that 's clear'd As often-times I doubt not you have hear'd What did they altogether think you owe Who 's able to account it who can show The quantity of that great debt which he Paid at one single payment on the Tree The quality too of his Riches are So great in worth O so transcendent rare Their Nature Men nor Angels can declare No other Coin would with God's Justice go To satisfie for debts which Sinners owe. Nay the whole World nor yet ten thousand more Could not discount one farthing of that score But had Christ's worth and Riches only bin Sufficient to discharge from debts of Sin And had he not more Treasure to bestow On such who do believe or truly do Cleave unto him it might be thought to be A lessening of his vast Treasurie But 't is not so for he enriches all Who are discharged from sin's bitter thral None comes to him nor ever came but they Receive besides such sums that very day They are espous'd that holy Truth relates Theyâ—r made more rich than earthly Potentates A golden Chain about their necks he places And them with Rings and precious Jewels graces And clothes them also in rich Robes of state Whose sparkling glory far exceeds the plate Of beaten Gold nay Ophir's Treasury And all the Wealth which in both Indies lie Must not compared be alas they can't Equal in worth the Robes of one poor Saint He Heirs also doth make them every one Of a most glorious Kingdom and a Crown He doth assure them that they shall obtain And when they come to age for ever raign With him triumphantly and tread down those Who were their Enemies or did oppose Their rising up to such great Dignity Or treated them on Earth with cruelty He 's rich in every thing no good is found No wealth nor worth but all in Christ abound Few in all kind of Riches do exceed But there 's in him whatever Sinners need Caâ—t but a look O view this Treasury Riches of Life Love Pardon all dos lie Laid up in Christ in him t is hid for those Who do with him in true affection close These Riches do enrich the Soul of Man Which earthly Riches never did nor can Nay prethee hark to me I 'le tell thee more Although Christ has paid off our former score He hanâ—t consum'd one farthing of his store Though he has made some millions rich and high He hath with him such a redundancy Of glorious Riches that let come who will Their Treasuries with substance he can fill The Sun is not more full of precious Light Whose sparkling rays do dazle mortals sight Nor is the great the vast and mighty Sea More fill'd with water than in truth is he With Grace and Riches yea of every kind Which if thou close with him and dost not find To be a truth Soul then let me obtain Reproach from all yea an eternal shame Christ's Riches are so great St. Paul knew well No tongue could set them forth no Angels tell Th' nature of them they unsearchable be Men may find out the bottom of the Sea As soon as they can learn or comprehend How rich Christ is who is thy dearest Friend Nay more than this his Riches are so
And then I trust thou wilt with sacred Vows Contract thy self to him become his Spouse Whose left hand 's full of Treasure in his right Are Honours great and Pleasures infinite A Prince you know dispos'd to make Election Of a Consort before he 'l place Affection Will first enquire if the Virgin be In Person Parts Estate or Pedigree Equal unto himself but if in case She be of low descent of Parents base Compar'd with his or not so noble born Or has debas'd her self or is forlorn He thinks it is below him once to place Or fix his love on her he fears disgrace But if the Lady chance to equalize him She 's not so much oblig'd to love or prize him ' Yond common bounds because saith she I am No whit inferiour unto him my name Records the noble stock from whence I came But if a Prince should chance to set his love Upon a person that has nought to move So great a Lord to make that choice then she Amazed yields with all humilitie Can do no less than humbly give consent Yield up her self with great astonishment But she who doth reject such love is acted Like one bereav'd of sense nay quite distracted Misguided Soul and is not this the case What worth 's in thee to him O! vile and base Instead of love deservest to be hated Since from thy God thou hast degenerated And yet the blessed Jesus don't despise thee But from thy loathsom dunghil fain would raise thee But to proceed I now will give to thee Of Christ's sweet Love a short Epitome 1. 'T is a first-love as soon as he past-by And saw thee in thy blood he cast his Eye Whilst thou in that sad gore didst weltring lie Nay unto thee most precious love he had Before the fabrick of this World mas made 2. It is attracting Love its nature 's such 'T is like the Loadstone hadst thou once a touch 'T would make thy Iron-heart with speed to move Nay cleave to him in bonds of purest Love 3. 'T is a free Love there 's nought at all in thee Which can deserve his favour yet does he Not grutch thee his dear Love although so great The glorious King of Kings does oft intreat Those Souls to his imbraces who contemn His proffer'd grace and still love shews to them 4. 'T is ' bounding Love like Nilus overflows All banks and bounds his Grace no limit knows 5. 'T is a delighting Love there 's nought more sweet She found it so who washt his precious feet He takes delight and sweet complacency In those he loves his heart affects his Eye He resteth in his love and who can turn His heart away or damp those flames that burn In his dear breast none ever lov'd as he Who for his Spouse was nailed to the Tree 6. It is a Victor's Love he 'l wound and kill All Enemies who do oppose his Will Where he lays Siege he 'l make the Soul to yield By love he overcomes and wins the Field His Captive Soul thou certainly must be His love is such 't will have the Victorie 7. It is abiding and Eternal Love 'T will last as long as he nought can remove His love from such on whom he casts his Eye And for whose sake alone he chose to die The love which did appear to Saints of old Did graciously this glorious Truth unfold I with an everlasting Love saith he Have set my heart upon or loved thee And therefore I have drawn thee unto me Know he who thus doth his sweet love commend To his dear Saints loves them unto the end 8. 'T is a great Love most powerful and strong Hence 't is he thinks each hour and minute long Till he imbrace thee in his Sacred Arms Where he 'l secure thee from all the harms And dangers great by Men or hellish charms Fathers although they love their Children dear Yet never did from them such love appear David lov'd Absolom yet gives consent Nay he himself decrees his banishment A Mother may forget her sucking Child As some have done although of nature mild Yet forc'd by famine cruelly have shed Their Childrens bloud and of their flesh have fed But Ah! his Love 's so free so strong so great He gives his bloud to drink his flesh for meat Unto the Soul and those who it receive Shall never die and none but such can live 9. His Love is matchless 't is without compare Who neither flesh now bloud nor life did spare The love of Women which the World esteems Most strong in sweet affection their love seems An empty shadow and not worth regard When with his Sacred Love it is compar'd The Husbands Wives and Fathers may abound Yet no such love as Christ's was ever found Abraham and Isaac both lov'd their Wives Yet neither of them sacrific'd their lives Jonathan's love to David did exceed The love of Women 't was a Love indeed But what was Jonathan â—s great love to this Ah! less than nothing when compar'd to his Christ's love exceeds all natural Love as far As bright Aurora doth the smallest Star But Oh! in vain do we compare his Love With any thing below no 't is above Comparison 't is so immense so great We cannot find it out though Man's concert Is larger than expression though profound Yet Man's conception never yet could sound The depth of Love's unfathomable bliss So great so deep so bottomless it is Betwixt his Love and ours the disproportion Is like one drop of Water to the Ocean Or as the smallest dust that 's fiercely driven To the whole Globe or like as Earth's to Heaven The Sun for clearness with his splendent face The Moon for swiftness in her Zodiack Race The Saâ—ds for nomber and the Heaven for height The Seas for depth the ponderous earth for weight Yet with more certainty and with less doubt Be weigh'd and measur'd than Christ's love founâ— out O depth O heigth O breadth O wonderous length Of this great Love O uncompared strength Of true affections Love that is Divine What 's natural love Lord when compar'd to thine Such a redundancy of Love is found Whoever dives into these depths is drown'd Ten thousand Sea ten thousand times told o're Add to these Seas ten times as many more Let all these Seas become one deep Abyss They'd all come short in depth compar'd to this The Moral Natural nor the Spiritual Man With all their Understanding never can Find out the Nature of Christ's Love alas It doth all Knowledg ' nfinitely surpass O may these Depths Heigths have pow'r to move On thee till thou art swallowed up in Love That that which cannot comprehended be By Men nor Angels may comprehend thee And thou being fill'd with it may'st sweetly lie In depths of Love unto Eternitie The Spir't with this let fly a piercing Dart Which wounded dreadfully her stubborn heart It pierc'd to th' very quick and made her smart Now now she