stable Moths can't corrupt them nor can Thieves be able To rob us of them Nay yet further-more He that hath them what e're comes can't be poor His Riches can't be spent his Treasury Cannot exhausted be nor yet drawn dry These Riches will rejoyce thee make thee glad Revive thy heart and God will never add Sorrow with them whilst thou dost live on earth They 'l quiet thee and fill thy Soul with mirth They 'l be a breast of such sweet Consolation That when all other dwellers in the Nation Shall be perplext through loss of earthly gain Thou shalt be satisfied and remain In perfect peace nought shall distress thy mind When they shall nought save horrid anguish find Though Gold and Silver will not satisfie The Soul of Man yet this I do espy The loss of them and other earthly things It grief and sorrow to the Spirit brings And so uncertain are things of the world Though here to night e're morning all are hurlâ—d Away from him who now possession hath Like to a bubble are all things on Earth He that on wordly Riches sets his mind Strives to take hold on shadows and the wind But if Christ's Riches once thou dost obtain The loss of them thou never shalt sustain Nor will they leave thee when thou com'st to die But cleave unto and thee accompanie Beyond the Grave ev'n to Eternitie What dost thou say canst make a better choice Than close with Christ O hearken to his voice And don 't with fraud the proffer made to thee If any good thou dost in Riches see Christ's Bounty What sayest thou what hast thou in thine eye Will not Christ's Riches move thee then I 'le try To gain thee by some other property He 's bountiful and of a generous heart Most free and noble ready to impart What e're he hath unto the Soul he loves O see how his Heroick Spirit moves In him whose generous whose bounteous hand Holds forth to thee what e're thou canst demand 'T is thine for asking do but speak the word Thou hast it done O! none like this dear Lord Some mens great Riches seem to overflow Who do a base ignoble Spirit show They treasure up their bags lay heap on heap Yet with a narrow covetous spir't keep All from the poor Nay their own Wives can get But now and then a little in a fit In a good mood sometimes perchance they 'l be Kind unto them though but unfreely free But Christ's rich Bounty does to all extend He stretches forth his hand to Foe and Friend Refined Gold Eye-salve and Rayments white Ev'n all choice things for profit and delight Sweet Frankincense Spicknard Calamas fine Myrrh Saffron with all choice of spiced Wine He freely gives to all O come who will He 'l bid you welcome and your Treasures fill O what doth he then to his Friends impart Unto his Spouse the Soul who has his heart Come eat O Friends and drink abundantly Beloved ones 't was for your sakes that I This Banquet made There 's nought says he too good For those that I have purchas'd with my blood Take Grace and Glory all I have I give you And to my self I will e're long receive you Ask that your joy may now be full for I Can't any thing that 's good your souls deny The Soveraign Power and Dignity of Christ What can I now do more if still thou art Resolved to deny Jesus thy heart If Beauty will not move thee to incline To close with him who longs till he is thine Strange Beauty oft prevails great Conquests gains Like to a mighty Victor binds in chains Those wch would not by other means e're yield Such is the nature of his pow'rful Shield Triumphantly it has obtain'd the Field No standing out against its piercing Darts It hath a secret way to wound those hearts Whose constitution leads them naturally To steer that course and on it cast an Eye To search the sweet which Fancy says doth lye Hid in the same For human Beauty's vain Which some have sacrific'd their lives to gain But Christ's sweet Beauty is a real thing And doth substantial joys and pleasures bring Such pleasures also which will still abide For evermore like Rivers by thy side Shall Beauty which is spotless without slain Nor Riches neither sweet Imbraces gain Nor generous Bounty win thy purer love Then let Ambition thy affections move Is Greatness barren quite of solid joys Are all her Merchandize but empty toys If it be earthly 't is an Airy thing Though 't were to be a Spouse unto a King But let it not be so lookâ—d on by thee To be espous'd to that great Majestie From whom alone true Honour dos descend This Greatness lasting perfect ne'r will end Come Soul let us most seriously now pry Into Christ's Pow'r and regal Soveraignty And next let me his glorious Pow'r show By which he works and all great things can do Some have a Pow'r whereby they can command But to accomplish things do want a hand But Christ in both excels 't is he alone Hath regal Pow'r and what he will have done He can effect i' th twinkling of an eye Though all combine against him far and nigh He 's over Angels as thou heardst before They gladly him do rev'rence and adore The Head o' th Church makes Laws and governs it According as he sees 't is best and fit His regal Pow'r also doth descend And over all the Devils doth extend The Keys of Hell and Death to him are given 'T is he alone can shut and open Heaven Power to Rule to command to forbid To punish or deliver they 'r all hid In him alone 't is he can bind or loose To damn or save 't is all as he doth chuse He 's King of Kings all mighty men below To him their Princely Crowns Kingdoms owe. Yea such an universal Monarch's he Commands the mighty Winds and stils the Sea 'T was by his hand the glorious Heav'ns were made And wondrous Earth's foundations first were laid The Sun the Moon and Stars receivâ—d their light From him at first to rule both Day and Night His Power 's absolute without controle He governs all the World from Pole to Pole His Soveraign Pow'r was not gain'd by fight Or Usurpation but a lawful Right As he is God 't is his essentially Born Heir of it from all Eternity And as he 's Mediator th' God of Heaven This glorious Power unto him has given His Pow'rs Infinite it hath no bound No ends or limits of it can be found He made the World which by him doth subsist Nay he can make ten thousand if he list He can do more than we can think or know Can kill and make alive save or o'rethrow The Conquests he has gain'd demonstrate The matchless Pow'r of this dread Potentate Sin is ore-come the Devil 's forc'd to fly Nay 〈◊〉 hath obtain'd a perfect Victory O're Death o're Hell o're Wrath
thy curst design Most horrid hatred is that love of thine Thou seek'st her life her blood nought else will do But her most desperate final overthrow I likewise see how the sad game is laid How she by treacherous Loves to Sin 's betraid But I that League resolve to break asunder Dissolve your Charms quickly bring thee under Although I know thou art a Son of Thunder I 'le spoyl all your designs and make appear That only I that Soul do love most dear I 'le spill my dearest blood upon the Ground But your Infernal Plots I will confound I am her friend and will so faithful prove That all shall say I 'm worthy of her love My Life is in my hand I le lay it down E're she shall miss of the Eternal Crown Thou damned art and wouldst I fully know Bring her into the same eternal wo But know vile Fiend 't is more than thou canst do Unless thou can'st this day prevail o're me Those dreadful Torments she shall never see At this Apollyon's parched Lips did quiver These words like darts struck through his heart and liver He gnaw'd his very tongue for pain and wo And stampt and foam'd and knew not what to do Till e're a while like to a Lyon bold Upon his Spear he furiously takes hold And doth the second time the Lord engage With greater violence and fiercer rage As when loud Thunder roars and rends the Skie Or murdering Cannons let their Bullets fly So did he cause as 't were the Earth to quake When he at him the second time did make And by the force of his permitted power Snatches him up as if he would devour Him like the prey which hungry Lyons eat But not prevailing down he did him set Upon a Pinacle 'o th Temple high And then again upon him does let fly But finding he no hurt to him could do He strives him headlong down from thence to throw Pretending if he were so great an one His foot could not be dasht against a Stone But then our Prince did draw his Sword again Not doubting in the least he should obtain Another victory against this foe And did indeed give him so great a blow That he fell down being forced to give ore And shamefully retreated as before Now would one think the Battel quite were done And time for the black Prince away to run But he reviv'd and did fresh Courage take As men would do when all doth ly at stake And a third Battel was resolv'd to see What ere the fatal Consequence might be Apollyon now to his last shift was driven Almost of all his Magazine bereaven But one poor Weapon more he had to try If worsted there resolved was to fly And here indeed God suffer'd him once more To take him up as he had done before Ah! t was a sight most dismal to behold What foe was e're thus impudently bold That so was bafled forced to retreat And found his Enemie too wise and great A thousand times for him yet would essay By force of Arms to carry him away Don't Heaven and Earth and all amazed stand To see the Prince of Light in Satan's hand Or rather in his Arms carry'd on high As if he would have kill'd him secretly But on a mighty Mountain him he set Hoping he might some great advantage get A cunning Stratagem he did devise Thinking thereby our Saviour to surprize And him 'orecome by subtile Policy And that was to present unto his Eye The Glory of this World the only Snare By which poor Mortals often ruin'd are This Hellish Prince is full of Craft and Wiles And with 's inventions all the World beguiles From him the Politick Achitophel And our more modern famous Machiavel With other States-men learn't their puzling Arts To plague the World that Science he imparts To imbroil Nat'ions and cheat honest Hearts Sly Stratagems in War most wise men know Have oft prevail'd where Force no good could do The Walls sometimes of Castles down do fall When n'ere a Bullet hath been shot at all Unless discharged from a Silver Gun Thousands alas this way have been undone Strong Citties Gates we know have open'd been With Golden Keyes and Enemies let in Which force nor strength could ne're have made to fly Nor been broke down by fiercest Battery The Maxime's true which frequently we read That Policy doth very far exceed The Strength and pow'r of great haughty Kings And to subjection mighty Nations brings But all the Strength nor Craft nor power either Which Satan hath with all his fiends together Could with this Glorious Lord prevail i' th least Who hath the strength of Heaven to assist And was himself Omnipotent in power Doth Satan think he can a God devour Can fading Glories of vile Earth intice Or break his purpose off when Paradise Could not upon him any Influence have To turn his love from her he came to save How soon deep Policy is overthrown And crafty fraud to foolish madness come Art thou Apollyon such a wretched Sot Hast thou no other Bait nor weapon got Is this thy wit and can'st thou do no more Than give him that which was his own before How prodigal thou seem'st wilt thou bestow At once on him all Kingdomes here below What then will all thy flattered Subjects do If thus thou rashly giv'st them all away What wilt thou do thy self another day What! is poor Soul worth more than all the world That all thou hast shall thus away be hurld Rather then thou of Soul would'st be bereav'd 'T is time for her to see she ben't deceiv'd What! all the Kingdoms of the world Pray who Did give them all or any unto you Ah! what a Traytor 's here Is 't not a shame Before thy Soveraign's face to make a Claim Unto those Kingdoms where thou hast no right Thou know'st they do belong to 'th Prince of light Thine if thou call'st them 't is by Usurpation No other right hast thou to any Nation But we discourse too long behold a sight Apollyon rallies all his scattered might Now nothing else than a full Conquest will The haughty Wretch his wild Ambition fill How fain would he Majestick Steps have trod And worship'd be nay worship'd by a God But the wise Prince of Light doth straight advance To check his bold and vain Extravagance Declares his pow'r and shakes the awfull Rod Thou shalt not what tempt who the Lord thy God This well-plac'd stroak did Satan quite confound He cannot stay yet 's loth to quit the ground But seeing that he needs must now be gone Looks back and grins and howling thus goes on Apollyon Although I find thou art for me too strong Yet I 'le revenged be for all the wrong I have sustain'd either on thee or thine For which the powers of Hell shall all combine T' engage thee in another sort of Fight Although at present I am bafled quite Moreover this I further have to say So
long as thou dost in this Country stay Be sure of troubles thou shalt have thy fill I 'le sett my Servants on thee and they will By help from me add sorrows to thy dayes Strew all thy Paths with Throns and cross thy ways I 'le render thee as odious as I can That thou mayst be disown'd by every man What I and all Infernal Powers can do To make thee miserable or o'rethrow The great Design which thou art come about We are resolved now to work it out And though thou thinkst this Soul for to obtain I tell thee now I have her in my Chain And doubt not but I there shall hold her fast Till tired out thy love be over-past Nay let me tell thee further in thine Ear She unto thee doth perfect hatred bear Thee nor thy Portion doth she like at all Although for her thou dost thy self inthrall And into Troubles and afflictions bring What wise man ever would do such a thing What love where thou no love art like to have Tho thou the same a thousand times shouldst Crave If this proves not most true then me you shall The Father of Lies hereafter Justly call Boast not this Conquest though I go my way I 'le meet the better Arm'd another day A hideous Clapy of Thunder then was heard And streight the cursed Spirit disappeard CHAP. IIII. Shewing what joy there was in Heaven amongst the Angels upon the great Victory obtained over the black King Shewing also how affectionately in a sweet heavenly manner the Prince of light after this saluted the Soul he came to save for whose sake he had passed throw all these sorrows And how the ungrateful blind deluded wretch slighted and dispised him in her Heart choosing rather to hearken to and side with Apollyon King of Darkness and to entertain the Monster of pollution sensual Lusts than to become a Spouse to so glorious a Prince pretending she knew him not neither would she believe he was the son of God the blessed and eternal Potentate demanding signs of him Shewing upon this what strange and wonderful Miracles he wrought amongst the people who notwithstanding all went about to kill him And how he was forc'd to fly from one Country to another to preserve his life And what hardships and difficulties he passed through for love he bore to the poor Creature NO sooner had this Overthrow been given But Troops of Angels did descend from Heaven Unto this Prince with great Congratulation Yeilding to him all humble Adoration Ah! how the glorious Seraphims did sing Bringing fresh Bayes of Triumph to their King They come to serve him as was just and right Because his En'emy he hath put to flight Let Heaven rejoyce and Earth resound his praise For victory or'e him who did always Disturb the Earth and whom none could withstand Such was his strength and force in ev'ry Land Now might one hope the Prince from trouble 's freed And quickly will in his Affairs succeed Wherein he hath such great obstructions met Since first his feet upon the Earth were set Kindly he now doth the poor Soul salute And with such fervency begins his suit And in such sort he did himself declare That none in Woing could with him compare No Orator on Earth like him could speak So powerfully and sweet enough to break And melt a breast of Steel or heart of Stone If well his words be weigh'd and thought upon He to this purpose doth salute her Ears Some times with sighs sometimes with bitter tears Prince of Light Look unto me dear Soul behold 't is I Who lov'd thee deeply from Eternity Who at at thy doors do stand oh let me in And do not harken to that Monster SIN Refuse me not because my thoughts descend Below themselves so far to recommend My dearest Love to thee although that I No Beauty can at all in thee espy I love not as your Earthly Lovers doe 'T is Beauty that engages them to woo Or the great Portion or the Vertuous mind There 's none of these in thee that I can find Yet my Affections burn and Love 's so much No mortal ever did experience such Why dost thou frown Ah doth thy hardned Brow Not made at first to wrinkle wrinkle now I am a Person of no mean Degree Although my heart is fixt and set on thee My Father who hath sent me is most high He rules above and all beneath the Sky All Kingdoms of this World they are his own Whether inhabited or yet unknown To this great Monarch Soul I am most dear What ere he has is mine I am his Heir His choice Delight his Joy and only Son Moreover He and I am only one My Father is in me in him am I And was with him from all Eternity There 's many Mansions in his House and there Of all Delight thou shalt enjoy thy share I 'le raise thee unto Honour and Renown And arch thy Temples with a radiant Crown In Robes of State I 'le clothe thee every day All glorious within shall thy Array Be wrought of finest needle-work so bright As shall transcend and dazle mortals sight Then clear thine Eyes and purifie thy Mind Accept my Love and to thy self be kind All these Advantages thou sure shalt find But oh such stubborn dulness who can bear This Soul seem'd not to mind or lend an Eare To any thing the Lord did thus declare But lay like one a sleep or rather dead Being by other Lovers falsely led She rather entertains him with a scoff And frames slight Answers for to put him off Would not believe he was of such descent His sighs nor Tears could move her to relent But joyns in League with other bitter Foes Who did contemptuously his Grace oppose Signes they demand and tokens to be given To make it known that he was sent from Heaven He graciously to this did condescend That from Reproach he might himself defend To manifest he no Deceiver was Strange things in sight of all he brought to pass The Miracles he wrought did all amaze And highest wonder in the People raise The Lame and Impotent he made to walk The Blind he caus'd to see the Dumb to talk Nay such as were born blind he made to see Which never any did nor could but he His Love was such he daily went about To find the Sick and the Distressed out All kind of sad Diseases he did heal No Friend like him unto the Common-weal The Feaver Phrensy and the Leprosy Were all remov'd by him most speedily Yea Bloody-fluxes too by him were cur'd When all the Doctors could no help afford Though all they had were on Physicians spent Yet whole by him they all were gratis sent 'T was meer Compassion Bowels and sweet Love And not Reward did this Physician move By these bless'd deeds he soon obtain'd a Name And all the Country Eccho'd with his Fame So that vast multitudes did daily croud After Him and implore his Help
yield Where flames of Fire were like to Beds of Roses Through Heav'nly Rays wch gloriously composes Their spirits so that they in Triumph sing When half-consum'd in Fire they felt no sting God smiles and Heav'n appears so clear bright All fears and terrors were extinguisht quite But he who for our sakes his Life laid down Is forc'd to bear his Father's angry frown And in our stead he felt his Indignation The bitterest part of all his bitter Passion How heavy is that stroke how sharp that Rod That 's lifted up by men laid on by God When Heav'n and Earth and Hell do all agree To lay on stripes with greatst severitie That grief that pain that anguish must be sore And yet all this for us blest Jesus bore Who that beholds Heav'ns glorious lamp of Light When in his strength obscur'd from our sight By the dark body of the pale-fac'd Moon Making black shades of Night appear at Noon But would conclude from thence the Sun were gone And had forsaken quite our Horizon And yet we know he 's but eclips'd a while And soon will lend the World another smile Disperse those shades that counterfeited Night And fill the Earth again with splendor bright Lo thus our Sun in his Celestial Sphear Is near his setting yet but lend your Ear Unto the Voice th' amazing Voice of Heaven You 'l find an universal notice given Unto the world when this bright Sun went down Heav'ns lightfoot Herauld quickly makes it known Christ lies a bleeding nailed on the Tree And now the universal World shall see Heaven act a part in this black Tragedy The Worlds great Eye the natural Sun whose Rays Each day throughout the Universe displays From East to West from North to South his face Visiting and refreshing every place No sooner doth he spy the Prince near dead But straightway he withdraws his blushing Head That horrid sight bright Sol abhor'd to see And hides his face from Noon till after Three At Three Christ's matchless Torments made him cry Eli Eli lama sabachthani Then was the Temple Vail rent quite asunder The earth did shake the rocks did roar like thunder The Clouds grew thick and such as scatter'd were Conjoin'd to darken all the Hemisphear Thus for three hours Darkness great remain'd All hearts now tremble every spirit 's pain'd Th' Astronomers who starry motions trace And read Earth's wonders in Heav'ns various face Eusebius and other Authors write Were much amaz'd at that unusual sight Their Learning could no natural Causes spy Nor give a Reason of that Prodigie The Moon being then at full just opposite Could not in Natures course eclipse Sol's Light 'T was supernatural what he suffered And that was it which fill'd them all with dread Some smote their breasts whilst others in confusion Drew from the premises this just Conclusion Either the God of Nature suffers now When Sol in Sables muffles thus his brow Or the whole frame o' th World in a short space Will be dissolv'd and end its painful Race These dreadful things which then did come to pass Do fully prove He the Messiah was And many when they saw those Wonders done Cry'd out indeed he was God's only Son Had not this obvious been to every sight A real thing with what great ease then might The Foes of Christ and Christianity Detected all as horrid Forgery But matt'r of Fact being so very clear The Jews and Heathens thereby silenc'd were Thus he yields up at last his painful breath And for a while lay conquered by Death Conquer'd said I forbear my lavish Muse Recall that word and be not so profuse What shall we say The Lord of Life is dead 'T is but a slumber he 's not conquered He only for a while Retreat hath made To bring his Foes into an Ambuscade And soon will rise more gloriously Array'd Thus did the Glory of the World lay down His precious Life to purchase a rich Crown Of Life and Glory for his Spouse whom he Found under Wrath condemn'd eternally Who had receiv'd that Sentence full of Ire Goe go thou Wretch into eternal Fire But he has bail'd her from Hell's gaping Jaws And satisfy'd Justice's strictest Laws By this his Death where he in her stead stood And ransom'd her even with his dearest Blood But hark my Muse What Triumph dost thou hear What Voice is that hoarse sounding in mine Ear 'T is Death doubtless 't is Death that ghastly King Who over Christ doth now insulting sing Now he has got him down I prethee hear How he o're him doth vaunt and domineer The King of Terror's boasting Triumph over Christ whilst he lay in the Grave King of Terrors What am I or from whence For though I be Yet know I not my self nor why to me The mightiest Monarchs bend I rule I raign And am the High and Lofty's Soveraign All tremble at the thoughts of my grim face They look they run yet cannot find a place To hide themselves My Powr's very great Yet know I not who set me in this Seat There 's none that live have liv'd or ever may But I o're them an awful Scepter sway But oh what kind of subject have I here A Subject t' whom no Monarch is a Peer Ah! how I smile to see 't I 'le never fear Being worsted now Alas dost thou submit Art thou likewise brought down unto my feet Who 's able my dread Power to withstand Since thou canst not escape my pow'rful hand Now I have seiz'd thee be assur'd that I Will keep thee down for ever thou shalt lie In the dark Regions of eternal Night Lo here proud Mortals an amasing sight What can't I do since he that made the Day By my strong hand is turned into clay If thou can'st not thy self from me deliver The hope of Creature-man is gone for ever None out of these close Regions can repair Nor re-salute again the ambient Air. I never did so great a Conquest gain O what a mighty Monarch I have slain Now now let me be crown'd victoriously For what is done which none could do but I. Who dares my Triumphs lessen or defer Since I am now a perfect Conquerour Here here Great Prince with me in this dark Cell My Captive thou with other Kings shalt dwell Prince of Light Thou proud Imperious Tyrant prethee hear Don't boast too soon nor vainly domineer A feeble Warriour may the Field obtain When his strong Foe is willing to be slain My Life proud Death thou didst not take away By any strength of thine for I did lay It freely down as God did me command This made me yield my self into thy hand King of Terrors I 'le not contend let that be so or not I have thee safe in my Dominions got And e're thou do return I 'le make thee know What pow'r I have what 't is that I can do My Prisoner thou art and here shalt lie In these dark Cells unto Eternitie Whilst worms on thy
Yea and ript up their filthiness within Through each Religious Mask and trim disguise Their canker'd Breasts lay open to his Eys He knew their Hearts them he would not spare And thence to him such Malice they did bear But 't was Apollyon whose deceit and Lies Abroad amongst the people did devise Most of these Troubles which on him did rise No stone that Monster left unturn'd that he Might bring this Soveraign Prince to misery Though all in vain For he miscounts his sum Alas the fatal hour 's not yet come Christ still persists the stubborn Soul to woo Intreats her not her self thus to undo He is not gone behold he 's at her door And patiently Admission doth implore He knocks he calls and doth his Suit renew Until the Heavens his gracious Head bedew Until his Locks with drops o' th Night are wet And yet from her can no kind Answer get Oh! hark I pray unto his melting words Enough to pierce ones heart like sharpest swords Prince of Light Soul Harken to me or thou art undone I cannot leave thee thus nor yet be gone I see thy state thy state I pity too Thy treacherous Lovers seek thine overthrow It is in vain for me to ask thy Love Until thou breakst with them and dost remove Thy Heart from those that thy Affections have Who to vile Lusts thy Faculties inslave What dost thou think I can have in mine Eye What self-advantage will accrew thereby What gain I if thou grantest my request All that I beg's thy greatest Interest I ever happy was and so shall be Although at present thus distrest for Thee How can'st thou cruel Soul thus let me stand Barr'd out of Doors whilst others do command The choicest Room within thy yielding Breast Lodgings too good for such destructive Guests Believe me poisonous Toads and Serpents lurk Within thine Arms which will thy ruin work Those Lovers which thou keep'st so close within Are Murderers Trust not that Monster SIN Nor any of his Hellish Company For though no harm thou dost at present spy But wantonly presum'st to sport and play And canst not see the fatal snares they lay Soul o'pe the Door and I 'le discover all The secret Plots devised for thy fall Or push the Window back let in some light And I will shew thee a most dismal sight Thy self I 'le shew thee which couldst thou behold thou 'dst see thou art undone betray'd and sold To slavery from whence there 's no Redemption Torments from wch ther 's not the least exemption Then wake look now behold thy wretched plight Or straight thou r't seized with eternal Night The Soul is deaf or certainly she 's dead Or by some pow'rful Magick Charms misled For she no Answer in the least doth give Sad 't is with them whom Satan doth deceive How blind are Creatures in their natural state Oh! how insensible and desperate They sleep securely and will never hear Till direful Thunder bore their stupid Ear Boldly they frollick on Hell's smoaky Brink And never on its gaping dangers think Till swallow'd down to endless flames they sink But silence now Here comes a Reverend Friend A Servant to the Prince pray Sirs attend He 's sent about the Business that 's depending Oh! that it might obtain an happy ending He is a man his Master loves most dear And he to him doth like Affection bear His int'rest he will now be sure t' improve That all obstructions he may quite remove Which in the way of the poor Soul doth lie For whose sad state lo tears stand in his Eye His Heart is full his Spirit greatly griev'd To think how she by crafty Sin 's deceiv'd And seeing what his glorious Master bears His Soulâ—s almost dissolved into Tears Theologue I from the Great and mighty Prince am sent To see vile Soul If thou wilt yet repent And o'pe thy Eyes to view what thou hast done In piercing the dear heart of such an one As is that Soveraign Lord thou dost abuse And all his offers shamefully refuse Two things consider throughly first of all Thy sad and wretched state under the Fall Which thou receivedst many years ago When Eden's Groves bewail'd thine overthrow Ah! Didst thou know thy lost undone Condition Sure it must move thee unto great Contrition 'T would make thee roar and mightily condole Thy woful state O! thou condemned Soul The second thing is this O! mind with speed The worth of him whose Soul for thee doth bleed Didst thou but know his Dignity and Birth Soon wouldst thou say none's like him upon Earth Nor is this all for further I declare No other help thou hast far off or near 'T is he who is thy choice and only Friend Reject him still and sad will be thine end Shall he such grief and sorrow undergo And unto him wilt thou no kindness show Would he thy guilty Soul from Treason free By making of a marriage-League with thee Shall not his Love nor thy distressed Case Court thee in prudence to his safe Embrace Will nothing work upon thee to Relent Nor be a means to bring thee to Repent I pray thee Soul these things lay to thy heart And unto me thy true Resolve impart Soul What mean you thus to vex and grieve my mind My Heartâ—s to other Lovers more inclin'd It lies not in your power to command Against my will and well I understand What 's best for me I am for present case He suits not my Conditions doth not please My curious fancy Iâ—le content mine Eye Will you the liberty of Choice deny You must indeed have some mysterious Arts To change the secret sympathies of Hearts If that you ever make me to comply So as to loath the Jewel of mine Eye What! force Affection who can violate The Law of Nature weigh my present state Can Earth forget her burthen and ascend Or yet can Flames aspiring downward bend For if Fire should descend and Earth aspire Earth were no longer Earth nor Fire Fire Even so dear Sir I find it is with me Consenting I no more my self shall be As Love is free so are its bonds as strong As Death to break them is a grievous wrong Can the kind Heavens do a damage greater Than to destroy and ruin their poor Creature Or shall I think the Righteous God will fill me With such strange Joys which if enjoy'd will kil me Can I believe things 'bove my sense and reason And ignorant be when guilty of high Treason How can I think my self a Criminal When of the fact I nothing know at all My present state is good I know no cause To blame my self for breach of unknown Laws Why shall injurious Friends such things alot To have me place my Heart where I love not And break the League with those I love so dear These hardships are too great for me to bear Those Joys therefore in which I have delighted Shall not for fancied sweetness e're be slighted He whom
all the Jewels which her Soveraign gave her Whilst she remained in his Love and favour Of all her goodly Vestments they bereft her And stript her naked she had nothing left her Nothing to hide her shameful nakedness But filthy Rags how loathsom you may guess Besides all this they wounded her full sore And left her sadly weltring in her Gore Expecting Death each moment she did lie A loathsom spectacle to passers by Unhelpt unpitied too by every Eye Each humane Soul that is not born again In this sad state doth certainly remain The rich the poor the wise the old the young Though ne'r so high so beautiful and strong They seem or think themselves in truth they are In as bad Case as we 've described here Vicinus Sir You have fully answer'd my Desire Yet let me be so bold as to inquire One passage more since happily I see You can informall such as ign'rant be Of these weighty Affairs blest be the Lord That so much Wisdom doth to you afford O! that there were more of you in our Land That to the Truth might always faithful stand But tell me if it mayn't too tedious prove Whether this Prince that manifests such Love Knew her sad state when he came from above Did he her filthy bad Condition know Before he came from Heaven or did show That precious kindness which his Breast retain'd Unto her even after she was stain'd May be his Eye upon the Soul was plac'd Before God's Image in her was defac'd And as consider'd so then doubtless he Might find some Cause to her so kind to be But if as she did in pollution lie And so consider'd he did cast his Eye Upon the Creature then I must declare It may astonish all that of it hear Theologue The Question you propound is very good And would t' were throughly weigh'd and understood The Answer 's easy But I greatly fear Some mind it not enough who chosen are Before the World was made he fully knew Ev'n what below would afterwards insue He knew the Creature Man would sin and fall And in sad misery himself inthral The time therefore when first he cast an Eye To be her Suiter our Security It was not when she did her Grace inherit Then one would think she might his favour merit 'T was not when she was in prosperity But when she in her Blood and filth did lie Her time of sorrow was his time of Love Her misery did bring him from above Whilst she in actual bold Rebellion lives His Grace and offer'd Pardon then he gives Vicinus Sir You have said enough I am amaz'd Strange wonderment within my Spirit 's rais'd The nature of his Love who can conceive Such Love as this no mortal Creatures have I pray go on and further now let 's know Concerning her estate her Bliss or Woe Theologue You 'l find it worse and worse and what 's behind Will strange Impressions make upon your Mind For now you 'l hear what Justice has to say What horrid Crimes he to her charge will lay And though she seems undaunted without fear Once more I 'e try if she will lend an Ear. CHAP. VI. Shewing how Theologue the Prince's Spokesman indeavour'd to obtain the love of this poor Creature for his blessed Master by whom the aggravation of the Creatures sin and misery is layed open the Soul is in debt ten thousand Talents worse than nothing Moreover shewing how the Creature was guilty of high Treason against the Soveraign Lord Jehovah is also Arraigned and condemned to be burned alive A Dialogue or discourse between the Divine Attributes Justice cryes for Execution to have the fatal blow struck Mercy steps in Justice must be satisfied Goodness and Mercy will not lose their Glory being alike esteemed by God Divine Wisdom reconciles all the other Attributes and makes them meet together in a sweet harmony the Soul being condemned to die the Prince sees no other way to obtain her for his own but by satisfying Justice and becoming Surety and yielding himself up to die for her Theologue HOW is it Soul art minded yet to leave Thy Lusts and Lovers and to Jesus cleave Dost not perceive the sad state thou art in By curs'd Apollyon and his off-spring SIN Wilt thou for evermore thy self destroy And not accept of Health wilt not enjoy One who in value doth all Worlds excel Wilt thou refuse in Paradise to dwell Dost see thy state thy bloody state oh speak My bleeding heart for thee doth greatly ake Soul You had my Answer plain enough before Forbear I pray and trouble me no more I do ' nt believe what you have said is true Such pains I never felt nor sickness knew But if my state were worse than yet I see I will not have you thus to trouble me I have all things which naturally delights me And from them you shall not deter nor fright me You know the Proverb used in our Land Each Tub shall upon its own Bottom stand Theologue Soul b'not so rash be more considerate Ponder on things before it be too late Sith what I said before no good can do More of thy wretchedness I now will show And if that fails then afterwards I 'le leave thee And o're into the hands of Justice give thee First from God's Word I have Authority To lay before thee thy great poverty Thy Soveraign Lord most highly is distasted For all the precious Treasure thou hast wasted First of his Glory thou hast him bereav'd And to rebel against him been deceiv'd Next thy whole self to him 't is thou dost owe Yea all thou either art hast or canst do Which thou hast not regarded hitherto But to thy self and not to him dost live Who did thy self at first unto thee give And from whom thou dost ev'ry thing receive Thy knowledg judgment and thy memory Th' excellent nature of each Faculty Should all have to and for him been laid out As being all his Goods Soul look about For time for Health and for the day of Grace Thou must be brought before the Judge's Face And for thy Riches and all things thou hast Which thou Imbezel'st and dost vainly wast A strict Account must at the Bar of Heaven By thee in a short time be surely given Ten Thousand Talents doth thy God demand Which thou canst neither pay nor yet withstand His dire proceedings ' cause he is most Just And thou but sinful Ashes and vile Dust Thou wilt be seiz'd and in a Prison laid Till the last Mite be satisfi'd and paid Canst thou poor Soul dost think quit the old score When thou contractst new debts still more more Would not a Friend that 's able to defray All thy vast Debts and a full Ransom pay To thy just Creditor most welcom be If such an one could be found out for thee But things yet worse I fear there are behind The truth of which most certainly thou l't find Hark trembling Soul thou to
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
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-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
still encreases ours decays Words without Actions are but faint delays The rarest Wit amongst us must look out With wariness to bring this thing about I 'le tell you what I newly have contriv'd Let my Lord Lucifer the King of Pride Make one amongst their Rulers in the Seat Of seeming Justice Tell them they are Great And Prudent men yea Learned ones likewise And in their Breasts alone true Wisdom lies Yea tell them that the Soveraign Lord of Heaven To them the name of Gods on Earth hath given Tell them both God and men have though it fit That they like Gods should in this Grandeur sit And answerable to this lofty station The people have them in great veneration Thus when h' has put their Honours in a Heat And swell'd them up with Pride and self-conceit Tell them 't is much below their high Degree That such a low inferiour Man as he Should be their Prince or 〈◊〉 them bear sway Who rather ought their 〈◊〉 to obey Then when the uncontrouled â—reath of Fame Has spread abroad the Glory of his Name And fill'd each Eye and Ear with Admiration Giving to him Applause and Veneration Then let our envious Friend once more take's place And sit as pale as Death in every Face And let him tell them if they do not take Some speedy course their Honours lie at stake He grows so famous in the peoples Eyes They shortly will their Soveraignty despise Satan Nay I can tell them yet another thing The people seek by force to make him King Which if the Roman Pow'r should understand They 'd quickly come and take away their Land This sure will work or other ways I 'le find Good Mariners can sail with every wind Thus these Infernals seeking to prevent Their future but deserved punishment Far swifter than the lofty Eagle flies Did set upon their Hellish enterprize The King of Pride threw forth his poisonous Darts Which did not miss to pierce the yielding Hearts Of those that sat at Stern who should delight To do the thing that 's equal just and right But disregarding great Jehovah's Laws They sought poor Souls for popular Applause Puft up with Pride and swoln with vain Ambition That Tympany of th' Soul They had suspition That if the Prince of Light were once affected They by the people soon should be rejected For first they saw his Miracles were great His Vertues rendred him still more compleat And made him so illustriously to shine He gain'd the Appellation of Divine Nay furthermore they heard now some did sing Hosanna in the Highest to the King Of Israel the fragrant Flower of Jess The Root of David Oh! who can express The depth of Envy which in them did burn With-raging flames almost at every turn Close Consultation in their Courts appears And i' th mean while strange Rumors fill their Ears The Miracles which he before had wrought Into the minds of people fresh are brought Those wond'rous things did much encrease the strife He rass'd said some the Dead again to Life Gave sight unto the Blind who from their Birth Had never seen the Light that guilds the Earth The Dumb the Deaf the Lepers and the Lame In all Distempers whosoever came Had perfect Cure in every Disease Nay he could hush the Winds and calm the Seas Could dispossess the black Infernal Rout And cast whole Legions of fierce Devils out Of five mean Barly loavs and two small Fishes He made above five thousand plenteous Dishes Thus many talkt what he before had done Grieving to think what now was coming on His gracious words and vertuous Life commended Him to the Multitude but much offended Th' inraged Rulers yet his Innocence Was still so sure a Guard and strong defence That they could not their wicked ends obtain Yet from their malice would they not refrain How often did they in clandestine way Endeavour their blood-thirsty hands to lay Upon this Sacred Prince yet still through fear The people would rise up they did forbear Sometimes they thought to trap him in his words That Law Justice then might draw their Swords And cut him off And then again devise Another course charg'd him with Blasphemies Against the God of Heaven by which way They surely thought they might his Life betray But never could they over him get pow'r Untill his time were come Now now 's their hour The work must needs be carried on with speed When Heaven and Hell about it are agreed Though different ends in these great Agents are Yet in the thing they both consenting were That Christ should be of his dear Life depriv'd Though Hell alone the guilty Act contriv'd Yet God indeed from all Eternitie Knowing what rage and curs'd malignity Would be in their base Hearts resolved then He would permit and suffer these vile men To bring his Purpose and Decree to pass Which for our Good and his own Glory was CHAP. VIII Shewing how the Lord Jesus died in the Sinner's stead Such was his love and yet the Soul an Enemy at that time to him and hated him A full discovery of Christ's bloody Passion enough to make a heart of stone to melt The Prince gives up the ghost Death the King of Terrors insults over Jesus Prince of Light Death is threatned with Death shewing also what fear there was amongst the Devils lest the Prince should rise again and overcome Death A second Council held in Hell the Devils tremble Death subdued Heathen Oracles cease The Devil 's destroyed upon the Prince's resurrection and put to open shame Joy in Heaven Angels sing Saints rejoyce The end of the First Part. BUT to proceed Will you lift up your Eyes And view the Rage of Hellish Enemies The final troubles of the Prince of Light Are coming on Behold a frightful sight A multitude with Clubs and Swords and Spears About his Sacred Person now appears This wretched Rabble's come on a design Which wounds and breaks this stony heart of mine To think upon 't behold they are conducted By the grand Traitor and by him instructed How to proceed on this great Enterprise Which he by Hellish power did devise Arm'd as you heard they seiz'd on him as if He had indeed been some notorious Thief Fond men If you this Prince's Nature knew Your Weapons are too many or too few As Man so meek you need no rescue fear As God so strong he can in pieces tear A thousand Troops that should approach him near Of which a present Instance did appear Some little rays of his dread Deitie He caused to break forth and suddenly They stagger'd and fell backwards on the ground That they might see he quickly could confound Them utterly and lay them at his feet But that he saw it better to submit Unto his Father's Will and take the Cup Which was prepared for him to drink up But they recov'ring strength got up again Regardless of all dread and now amain Resume their purpose and with wicked hands
doth affirm and I Esteem above what e're Antiquity Hath left recorded or most curious Eyes Can view in best approved Histories Relating to the matter we have stated Which follows thus as 't is by him related About the period of Tiberius's Raign Who at Christ's Death was Rome's proud Soveraign Strange hideous Cries shriekings and howlings be Heard with amazement in the Grecian Sea Complaining that their great God Pan was fled From whence great Conâ—â—ernations followed No sooner did the louder Trump of Fame This news of their great Pan â—s Retreat proclaim But it was brought unto the Emperours Ears And unto him a certain Truth appears Who being startled at the strange Relation Falls with his Wisemen into Consultation Who sought by Magick to resolve the doubt Which all their Art and Skill could not find out Yet Christians in those days could quickly spy The way to open the whole Mysterie Comparing times they found this strange Relation Did just fall out upon Christ's Death and Passion And then concluded straightway bâ— the â—all Of their great Pan which signifieth All All Spirits by Christ's Death were so afflicted Their utter Ruin thereby was pâ—â—â—icted Yea others of their own Reconâ—â— still do Confirm the truth of this their overthrow How one of them constrain'd sometime before By God himself their fall did thus deplore An Hebrew Child that shall be born will be The final downfal of our Dignity All our usurpt Dominions by that Child Shall come to nought and utterly be spoil'd He strikes us dumb and nonplus's our Art Henceforth in vain no further Questions start But sad and silent from our Shrines depart Thus God doth force Devils sometimes to speak That which doth much against their Int'rest make But stay my Muse the Cherubs chant again O listen to this more melodious strain The glorious Angels do sweet Triumphs sing Upon the Conquests of our Heav'nly King They clap their wings and leap for joy to see This total Rout and happy Victorie Shall Heav'n rejoyce and more concerned Earth Not sing aloud Jehovah's praises forth O happy Day blest hour the best of all Poor Mortals ever saw since Adam's fall Christ of a truth is risen from the Grave No Pow'rs of Hell could keep him in the Cave Yet are there some in these in these last evil days Deny that he from Death himself did raise The Jews also with their Forefathers say 'T was a Deceit for he was stoln away Whilst drousy Soldiers fell into a sleep Who the Sepulchre had a charge to keep A thing themselves no doubt could not believe But was forg'd by the Devil to deceive And blind mens Eyes who wanted that inspection They might have had touching his Resurrection 'T was the last game the Devil could devise To hinder Christ's most glorious Enterprise They knew that if his Resurrection were Received for a truth no hope was there But all that they had done it tumble must So the last Evil would exceed the first But if they had believ'd it certainly The Souldiers had with great'st severity Been punished for being so remiss About a thing so weighty as was this Besides were they asleep how could they tell What things there came to pass or what befell Or if awake why did they not prevent Those men who came with such a strong intent And can one think if the Disciples durst Attempt that thing they should have stript him first Would they not take the body in the cloaths Lest e're they 'd done the Sould'ers should have rose And caught them doing it and then be sure Great sufferings for it they must endure Nay had these men been guilty of such evils They 'd been no better than seducing Devils The worst of Mortals and how was it then That God should own and witness to such men By aiding them Would Heavens Pow'r have gone To prove a Cheat when Miracles were done Again they were of such Integrity As none could brand with the least infamy And they 'i th face of Foes without least dread Declare that he was risen from the Dead That they convers'd with him full forty days Whilst he instructed them in all his ways Before he did ascend And then agen In Galilee at once five hundred men Saw him with joy and in their witness gave That he indeed was risen from the Grave Here stop again my Pen Time calls away Upon this Theme thou must no longer stay Leave them to perish let them fall and die That this blest Resurrection do deny Shall God his Saints and Angels witness bear Unto this thing and yet shall Mortals dare To call the same in question or deny What is confirm'd by such Authority No firm as Earth or Heav'ns more stable poles Let this great Truth be fixt in pious Souls Without it Faith 's a Fancy and the best Of men more wretched than the vilest Beast But now awake my Muse no longer slumber The Day doth dawn and joys which none can number Are rushing in upon the Prince of Light This sorrow 's gone nought now but Glory bright Shines forth in him now is he rais'd on high Far out o' th reach of all malignity Nor men nor Devils can annoy him more He 's safely landed on the long'd-for shore Go Turtles go whilst thousand Joys betide The glorious Bridegroom and his purchas'd Bride That Sun is risen who will ne're go down Who will his Spouse with light of Glory crown But where 's the Soul O where alas is she For whom he dy'd and hung upon the Tree What greeting O what Joy when they do meet There will abound the thoughts thereof are sweet He that was Dead is come to Life again And ever shall in bliss Eternal raign Thrice happy is that Soul which he hath chose To be his Love his Dove his Sharon's Rose But where is she and what is her Estate For nothing of her we have heard of late Doth she not wait doth she not long to see His lovely Face and to embraced be In his dear Arms O do'nt she greatly crave One sight of him one visit more to have Doth not her Soul dissolve then into tears With thoughts of him who freed her from all fears Read the next Part and you will quickly find The Fruit of Sin and nature of the mind That is corrupt and fill'd with carnal Love How nothing can those vile Affections move Oh how unkind to Christ do Sinners prove The End of the First Book Behind this Curtain 〈◊〉 suppose to be such Glory which 〈…〉 can see Besides the Day being 〈…〉 too If wee 〈…〉 yet more 〈◊〉 dare not 〈◊〉 see Death and Devils sin World cast down Whilst Heaven doth the glorious Victor crow◠〈…〉 BOOK II. The Glorious Lover A Divine POEM CHAP. I. Shewing how Christ renews his Suit again and again which is done either by the ministration of the Gospel or by his various Providences and yet the Soul refuses to receive him THUS have you
all thy score If thou a Widow or an Orphan be Husband and Father both he 'l be to thee A Husband that does live yea live for ever Match here poor Soul where Death can part you never Or art thou weak canst not go alone He is thy strength O thou mayst lean upon His mighty Arm for that is thy support Art thou beleaguer'd he 's thy Royal Fort. In times of danger and of trouble great Unto his holy Name do thou retreat Which is a Tower strong to all that fly With care and speed from all iniquity Under his wings he 'l hide his purchas'd One Till these calamities are past and gone Or art thou dying and dost fear the grave He is thy life from Death he will thee save They cannot die who such a Husband have Or art a Sinner he 's thy Righteousness He 's more than I can any ways express The good in Christ is so exceeding sweet None understand until they tast of it He is a Good which none can comprehend He is a Good which doth all others send The chiefest Good good of himself alone When carnal joys and pleasures all are gone That 's not the good that fills not the desire That can't be chief if there be yet a higher God is so good noughts good if him we want Small things with him will satisfie a Saintâ— He is so good that nought can bitter make him Unto that Soul who chearfully does take him And his sweet love and precious grace enjoys Yet this rare Good ne'r gluts nor sweetness cloys The best of earthly sweets which fools do prize By sin and sickness doth much bitter rise They loath them straight and can't abide to hear Of that which lately they esteem'd so dear That that 's the Good on which thou shouldst depend That is desired for no other end Than for it self O tast of him and try And thou 'lt be filled to Eternity That 's not the Good which suddenly doth leave us That 's not the Good of which Death can bereave us Christ is a Good that 's lasting and abides All other Good alas will fail besides Make him thy choice dear Soul O do but try How sweet it is in Jesu's Arms to lie Make him thy joy and thou 'lt see cause to sing Whatever days or change may on thee bring Soul Sad times alas here is a sudden change Nought can I hear of now but rumors strange Of Wars and Tumults with perplexity Which do encrease and swell most vehemently Within the regions of my inward man Which causes tears and makes my face look wan Cross workings in me clearly I discover I am distrest about this glorious Lover The counsel which my heart did lately give I cannot take I dare not it receive Great slaughters there will be in my small Isle For without bloud be sure this fearful broil Will never cease which side now shall I take I tremble much yea all my bones do shake Some of my sins which I have loved dear Are forc'd to fly and others can't appear Lest Conscience should upon them fall for he Crys out Kill all let not one spared be Nay Judgment too is all-most at a stand Which doth amuse me much o' th other hand Yet Will and Old-man are resolv'dly bent To hinder me from granting my consent Yet if I could but have some glimm'ring sight Of this great Prince I know not but it might Work strange effects in me for I do find My Eyes are out my Understanding blind Lord pity me for I a wretch have bin To slight thee thus and love my cursed sin Thus whilst God's Word was preacht and she also Began to cry I did observe and lo A Friend was sent from the blest Prince of Light The glory of whose Face did shine so bright That none were able to behold for he Seem'd not infer'our to the Majesty Of the great God and his eternal Son For they in Essence are all three but one His Power 's great and Glory is his merit His nature 's like his Name most holy Spirit Who to the Soul did presently draw near And toucht her heart and then unstopt her ear And from him shone such glorious rays of light Some scales flew off and she recover'd sight Which straitway did her judgment rectifie Who to this purpose did himself apply Unto the Soul whom he had led astray I must confess my faults to thee this day Judgment For want of light false judgment I have given And treacherously conspired against Heaven And ' gainst thy life and happiness have I Been drawn into a vile conspiracy Of th' highest nature for I did consent With thy base Foes who hellishly are bent To tear thee into pieces quite undo thee Whilst smilingly they proffer pleasures to thee And now though not t' extenuate my sin I 'le tell thee how I have been drawen in Thy heart 's corrupted and from it proceeds The cursed Old-man with his evil deeds They with Apollyon jointly did unite To draw a Curtain 'twixt me and the light And thus though I sometimes was half inclin'd To judge for God they bâ—sely kept me blind T hey've me corrupted with thy wilful Will Who I do fear remains most stubborn still Which if 't be so and he 's not made to bend Conclude the match thou canst not wth thy friend And I poor I can't make him condescend Some higer Power 't is must make him yield Or he 'l stand out and never quit the Field For he 's a churlish piece and thou wilt find To what is evil he is most enclin'd But hath no will at all to what is right A very Traytor to the Prince of Light But as for me my thoughts are clearly now Thou oughtst forthwith to yield and meekly bow To the great King thy miâ—hty Lord and Lover And more then this to thee I must discover Now now I know thy Soveraign Lord will pry Into thy very heart his piercing Eye Will find that 〈◊〉 amongst the Company Who wants the Wedding-garment and will sever That unprepared man in Wrath for ever From his sweet presence Soul his Word doth shew Nothing will serve but universal new He is a jealous God will not endure To see thee only counterfeited pure O now I see he will not take a part But claims both ears eyes hands yea the whole heart Now now I see 't is pure simplicity That is alone accepted in his Eye That sin which has been like to a right hand For profit sweet thou must at his command Cut straight-way off Nay Soul look thou about For Right-eye sins must all be pulled out Though they for pleasure have to thee bin dear Yet must they have no room nor favour here Of every sin thou must thy self deny One sin will damn thee to Eternity If thou to it dost any love retain Nay hark to me Soul listen once again The Law must also unto thee be dead And thou to it or
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