A PROSPECTIVE GLASSE TO LOOKE INTO HEAVEN OR The Coelestiall CANAAN described Together with the SOVLES sacred Soliloquie and most ardent desire to be inuested into the same Sung in a most heauenly Hymne to the great comfort of all good CHRISTIANS by the MVSES most vnworthy IOHN VICARS REVEL 21. 1. And I saw a new Heauen and a new Earth 1. COR. 13. 12. Here wee see as through a Glasse LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for Iohn Smethwicke and are to be sold at his Shop in Saint Dunstanes Church-yard in Fleet-street 1618. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SOCIETIE OF THE GOVERNOVRS OF Christs Hospitall I. V. Dedicateth all his poore endeuours and wisheth the Kingdome of Grace heere and the Kingdome of Glorie hereafter YOur Worships fauours from my Birth still found Haue me in all my best Endeuours bound And since I Owe more then I Know to Pay I rest your Worships to my Dying-day Your Worships in All alwayes to be commanded IOHN VICARS To the Right Worshipfull Sir IOHN LEMAN Knight President of Christs Hospitall and Alderman of LONDON I.V. wisheth all earthly Prosperitie and the Reall fruition of this Ideall description REligions Rules and Natures Bonds bind All To keepe account and true memoriall Of fauours past or present lest with shame Ingratitude should Cracke their Credits fame Since then Right worshipful these Bonds All bind This Dutie needs to Mee must be assign'd Who from your VVorships vndeseruedly Haue found much fauour and great courtesie Whose sweete Effects haue my good so effected As Blacke Obliuion may not make neglected And since your VVorship worthily is made The President chiefe Pillar Prop and Aide Of Gouernment in that blest Hospitall Of Christs poore members Orphans poore and small I therefore ioy thus to Congratulate Your Worships hap their Helpe so fortunate As also that I may expresse in part Some sincere Fruites of my most gratefull Heart By Dedication of this my poore Mite To your good Worship due to you by right Which hoping you Right Worshipfull will take With kind acceptance Heau'ns great King you make A blest Partaker of that Maiestie Which my weake Pen can here but Typisie To your Worship in his Power and Prayers duely and dâ—tifully Deuoted IOHN VICARS To the Godly Reader SInce for the most part all men take delight Of nouelties to heare to write to tell Of treasures and of pleasures which excell Which best may please their itching eares and sight And for that cause haue many Captaines stout By Sea and Land to finde out and discouer The admirable workes of Heauens Arch-mouer Trauail'd the Globes-circumference about Yea many wise Cosmographers haue spent Much time and trauaile cost and care to write The Nature Manners Riches and Delight Of famous Kingdomes in Earths Continent But I the most vnworthie of the most Haue vnderta'ne by Heauens all-blest direction To contemplate th' vnspeakeable perfection Of New Ierusalems most sacred Coast In which Suruey lest I with Icarus Should soare too-high or lest with Vzzah I Should touch Gods Arke into Heauens-Secrets pry Or question what God doth inhibit vs Prophetick-Iohn I heere haue made my Guide And by his Plat-forme drawne this Map of mine And heereto Barnards Napiers help Diuine And Brightmans bright assistance haue applide Wherein good Christian Reader thou may'st finde Things admirable glorious sweet and rare Treasures and pleasures matchlesse past compare Such as transcend the reach of humane minde And such indeed as though I had the skill And Tongue of wisest men and Angels bright Yet were I most vnable to Indite The true perfection of this Sion-hill Wherefore as old Historians testifie A wise Geometrician once t' haue found The foote of Hercules cut in the ground Of high Olympus-hill apparently Did by the length of 's foote delineate The whole Proportion of Alcides great So though the Fabrique of Heau'ns supreme Seate In its perfection none can demonstrate Yet by some things exprest in sacred writ And circumstances suting to the same Wee may thereof in minde coniecture frame Although alas wee come farre short of it No mans Imagination can conceiue No Vnderstanding comprehend the same No Tongue can tell the maiesty and same But those as Christ sayth which doe it receiue And therefore Hee Hid-Manna doth it call Hidden because vnsearchable vnknowne Manna because more sweet than Hony-combe Manna delightfull meate Angelicall O then auaunt thou fond Poetick fiction Of Greekes suppos'd but false Elysean fields Which they doe dreame such soueraigne solace yeelds Which they to get haue suffered much affliction Why boast th' Aegyptians of their high-topt Spheares Cloud-kissing pinacled Pyramides Assuerus his pompous Palaces Of these and more than these what now appeares What talke wee of East Indian Marchandize What of West-Indies Mines of massie Gold What of the richest Iewels to behold What of most precious Pearles of rarest price Here 's worke of wonder worthie admiration Heere is a Structure which out-lasts Times date Heere is a Country rare faire fortunate Heere 's to be view'd the Land of sure-Saluation Wouldst thou be Rich ô here 's true Wealth indeed Wouldst thou Liue-euer here 's Eternity Wouldst thou Liue-merry here 's Festiuity And perfect Ioy which doth Earths ioy exceed Heere in this Heauenly Canaan thou mayst finde Riuers which flow with Milke and Heny sweet Heere as Companions Angels shall thee greet Here 's ioy to fill Soule Body Hart and Minde Since then the Subiect whereof now I treate So Holy is kind Reader me excuse That I prophane Poeticke Phrase refuse In this discourse of Heauens supernall Seate For t is not Fame nor hope of worldly wealth That I desire The Golden Age is past But that I wish Thine as mine owne Soules-Health For which I pray and shall while breath doth last For Loue I onely looke for Loue againe This if repayd repayes my greatest paine Thine in Christ Iesus IOHN VICARS To the Authour in praise of his Prospectiue Glasse THy Verse containes pure language in true measure Thy View descries the Best blest Syon-hill Thy vow discouereth thy religious Will Thy Drift is to disclose to all this treasure Thy Verse thy View thy Vow thy Drift declare Thy Wit thy Skill thy Will thy Zeale all rare Thine in the truth of a friends affection I.H. of Cambridge M. in Arts and Preacher of Gods Word A louing LOOKING GLASSE sent to his friend M. IOHN VICARS in returne for his Heauenly PROSPECTIVE GLASSE MY lookes can shew me Heauen through Thine My loue can shew thee but his Hart through Mine Loue lookes Heauen and my Hart best part of friends Thy Glasse Grace Friendship and thy Zeale commends NATHANIEL CHAMBER of Grayes-Inne Gent. ¶ A Prospectiue Glasse to looke into Heauen Or The coelestiall CANAAN described TH ' Armi-potent All-seeing All-Creater Th' All-mightie Artizan of Earths Theater Hauing inclosd in his vn-clasped Booke WheÌ„ Heauen Earth their first foundation tooke And therein registred this firme Conclusion An Vniuersall end and All-Confusion Of
all the World which when once discreated Should be refin'd renew'd and re-created This great Decree will doubtlesse ratifie And for th' Elects-sake doe 't more speedily As Sybells Prophets and Apostles wise Yea Christ himselfe did truly Prophetize Then pallid Death whose Ash-pale face did fright The stoutest Champion most vn-daunted Sprite Hauing at Length with strength enough displaide His All-Tryumphant Trophies hauing made A massacre and hauocke of all flesh Thinking to Nimrodize it still afresh Like proud disdainefull Pompey at the last Shall meet our Caesar and at 's feet shall cast The Glory of his Mortall-wounding might Shall lose his fatall Sting which did so bite And pierce the Hearts of euery Mortall Creature T' reduce to Dust each Wormelings Dusty feature Death being then Mans fatall finall foe Him Christ victoriously shall ouerthrow From forth his Clawes shall strongly wrest the conquest And fell All-felling Death at 's feet thus vanquisht But as the Corner-creeping Theefe doth watch With sure aduantage vnawares to catch The carelesse Seruants left the House to keepe Whom when he findeth snorting fast asleepe Suddainely sets vpon them thus doth prey On 's hopt-for Booty and then hastes away Or as it fares in a faire Summer morning When the Great-Light the azure Skie's adorning And new-now risen from th' Antipodes His radiant Raies displaies the world to please At whose sweet Sight the pretty Larke doth rise Wiâ—h warbling noates wau'ring i th lofty Skies Earth hauing op't her Shop of sweet Perfumes Of fragrant flowres herbs plants and pleasant bloomes A gentle Wind fannes coolenesse through the Aire The Suns increasing heate thus to impaire Each Creature much delighted at the heart To see this Sight now ready to take part Of pleasure in this pleasant Day begun When as vpon a sudden o're the Sun A mightie Raine-swolne-Cloud begins to spred And furious Winds through th' Ayre are nimbly fled From forth their Stations blustring vp and downe The angry Heauens vpon the Earth ' gin frowne And froÌ„ their Spouts powre downe great streaming Showers Dashing and washing Trees Plants Herbs and Flowers With Light-heeld Lightning and such Cannon-Thunder As Heauen and Earth were rest and cleft in sunder Damping the former hope of sweet delight By this so sudden Change amazing sight Euen so this Second-Comming of Christ Iesus From Sins most heauy hatefull Yoke to ease vs To Purge the World of its Impurity To Plague the Atheists Incredulity T' Auenge the Bloud of his deare slaughtered Saints To Giue an End to their sad sighs and plaints Shall Sudden bee will come at vnawares When Worldly-men are plung'd in worldly Cares When Lust-full-men are most a Sensualizing When fawning Guathoes most are Temporizing When as Voluptuous-Vaine-lings sport and play When they doe least expect suspect this Day Then shall this Vnsure-Certaine Doomes-Day come To Some most well-come wo-full vnto Some Vnto the Wicked terrible and fearefull Vnto the Godly comfortable chearefull Vnto the Bad a day of Lamentation Vnto the Good a day of Consolation Sharp to the Wicked ioyfull to the Iust Gods wrath the Sinner scattering as the dust Then as i th' dayes of Noe with wondrous change Shall dire destruction int'all places range As that with waters wofull inundation So this with fires all-spoyling conflagration As that with water coold the heate oâ— Sin Wherewith the World had then inflamed bin So this with fire to burne the rotten sticks Of want of Loue combustible dry liâ—ks Our Globy-Gran-dame Earth shall then all flame Like a huge Bon fire and about the same The bound-lesse ground-lesse Sea bright Fishes station Shall b'exciccated with strange admiration And that great-little nimble-scale-arm'd hoast No longer shall through the watry-Region coast Yea then that huge Leuiathan Sea's wonder Shall cease his sport and roaring voyce like Thunder Then Heau'n and Earth shall variated bee To pure perfection in the high'st degree Then all the Spheares the Starres and heau'nly Motions Which seru'd for Time-distinctions certayne Notions Planets and Plants which Man on Earth did vse Their Power in Man and Vertue then shall lose Yea all vicissitudes all alternations Of Heau'n and Earth shall leaue their antique Stations Shall be dissolued cease and haue an end Mountaynes shall melt and to low Dales descend The Creatures then which groane and moane in paine Freed at the least if not renewd againe Then shall be heard a loud hart-daunting voyce A heauenly Trump shall sound with ecchoing noise By Gods all-potâ—nt power and prouidence Shall all flesh of this vast circumference Heare and appeare by that loud Trumpets summon At this Grand Sessions all the world in common Then rattling roaring thunder shall be heard Whereby the wicked shall be frighted feard Then all the world shall be as flaming fire Christ our Iust-gentle Iudge with loue and ire Shall come with all the hoast of winged Legions Soaring about the bright-starre-spangled Regions With whom Apostles Prophets Martyrs flye In compleate glory in the glistring Skye Mercy and Iustice marching cheeke by iowle Shall his Diuine triumphant Chariot rowle Whose wheeles shall shine with Lightning all about With bâ—aâ—es of glory each-where blazing out Who shall in 's hand a Booke in folio beare Wherein mans faults and follies written were Then shall the wicked Sin-polluted Goates Inguâ—â—t in sorrow roare with hideous noates Howle groane and grieue and lamentably moane At Godâ—â—â—â—â—nall â—â—â—â—nall and tribunall Throne Holding their hands at 's Barre with griefe and horrour Shall beme the Iudges sentence to their terrour Their seâ—se-accusing Conscience telling them That they are Guilty and will them condemne And Sathans Sergeants at their elbowes stand To beare their soules and bodies out of hand To his infernall Iayâ—e with fiery chaines To binde them fast to Hells ne're ending paines Their Sins I say will stand at their right hand And at their left will damned Diuels stand Within th' accusing Conscience crying shame Without them all the World a burning flame Vnder their feete Soule-frying gaping Hell And ore their headâ— their Iudge most fierce and fell Too late they then weepe for vn-wept-for Sin Too late they wish they neuer borne had bin Too late asham'd at Heau'ns most glorious light They wish but vainely wish that mountaines might Them couer smother from heart-searching Iudge Thus rest of comfort vp and downe they trudge And then the iust chiefe Iustice wrathfully On 's left hand sayes to th'wicked Stand you by You aw-lesse lawlesse wicked hence depart Into eternall terrour paine and smart Depart I say you Cursed goe begon Into the depth of Hells deepe dungeon That Prison where your damned soules must lye And dye a thousand deaths yet neuer dye Where shall be weeping wailing schreekes and grones Gnashing of teeth Hell-howling sighes and mones Diuels tormenting you in flames eternall With fearefull frights by hellish Fiends infernall For ere to bee sequestred from all ioy In end-lesse
elect to th' worlds last end Now then the totall body of this place Doth to vs represent the beautious grace The great felicitie admired ioy Which in this Citie we shall sure enioy In the vnited glorious Deitie Th'in comprehensible Trine-Vnitie The three distinct dimensions as foreshew'd Of Latitude Longitude Altitude Present the seuer all measures of delight Which in the Father Sonne and Holy-Sprite We shall possesse and this felicitie To be alike of equall Quantitie There shall we Three in One most cleerely see There also shall we worship One in Three And of this ioy we shall haue full fruition Alike of all without all intermission Euen as the Persons are One in the Deitie And one in substance in the Vnite Trinitie The premises thus re-obseru'd afford To vs a most harmonious sweete accord Twixt God and this his holy Habitacle The Lambes sweete Spouse celestiall Tabernacle God the Worlds most admired Artizan When first he fashion'd and created Man Like his owne perfect Image did him make God would Man should his Makers likenesse take Euen so this Cities specious Symmetrie Is shaped like heauens sacred Deitie As God himselfe in Trinitie is One So by this Citie his true Church is showne As of the God-head there be Persons Three And Father Sonne and Spirit co-equall bee So those dimensions Length Height Breadth are all By the Angell measur'd to be iust equall As neither Person in the Deitie Is separable from their Vnitie So none of these dimensions being Three May from a Citie separated bee Or other solid body otherwise It were not found but Line or superfice The Persons Three and their three Offices Are not confounded and no more are these For neither is the Length the Breadth and so The Height is neither breadth nor length we know And euen as Athanasius in his Creede As wittily as wisely doth proceede And sayes the Father Sonne and Holy-Sprite Though three in Persons are one God Vnite So Longitude Latitude Altitude Must One sole Citie euermore include The Doctrine also of the Deitie Is witnest in the Foure-fold Veritie Writ by the foure Euangelists so here This New-Ierusalem as doth appeare Is in a Quadrate or square forme set downe Most like a strong immoueable firme Towne The twelue Apostles were disperst and sent To euery quarter of Earths continent To preach to all our Sauiours doctrine found Whereby all Nations Heau'ns right rhode-way found On twelue Foundations so stands this great frame And by twelue Gates all goe into the same Lastly the God-head vniuersallis And infinite in glory and in blisse Infinitely extended ouer all So in Ierusalem coelestiall Is infinite tranquillitie and peace Aboundant roome for all the great encrease Of Gods deare Saints who were predestinate To this Ierusalems most happie state Thus hauing heard this sacred Symphonie Twixt God and 's church proceed we orderly The Angell now here measuring the Wall The mightie Bulwarke Apostolicall Of this Angelicke Seate of sanctitie Found it to be rais'd vp in Cubits high Euen by a twelue-fold high-ascending Course By th'twelue Apostles rais'd to mightie force But this though spoken in a humane sort Yet hath a heau'nly sence of great import Namely that though the Church here Militant Was euermore distrest with woe and want Being by worldly obstacles kept-low And neuer could to full perfection grow Yet now in her Tryumphant dignitie To plenarie perfection springs on high This being by twelue Courses signifi'd Which twelue times so much more being multipli'd T'an hundreth fortie foure Courses of hight Doe make the Wall to rise direct vpright By Iewes and Gentiles mightie multitude Whom Grace by Faith will in this frame include Thus now we hauing seene the stately Statute The spacious Compasâ—e of this Heau'n-built structure Let vs with our diuine Diuine behold The Matter substance and most precious Mould Whereof the Wall Citie and firme Foundation The twelue great Gates of this Heau'ns Habitation Were Form'd Adorn'd yea with what pauement rare The Streetes were pau'd all which is to declare The wonderful vnspeakable delight Which Gods deare Saints in presence of his sight Shall in that life to come to th' full possesse And thus the Prophet Esay did redresse And consolate the Iewes dis-consolation Declaring in his true Vaticination The gloâ—ie of this New-Ierusalem Which God would once re-build remake for them O happie are they which are interested And whose blest Soules are there into inuested Now then the building of this fenciuâ— Wall This sincere Doctrine Apostolicall Of precious Stones most gloriously did shine With bountie and with beautie most diuine Hauing a lustre like the Iasper greene Which euermore to flourish shall be seene Hence then this Note is set before our eyes That this raâ—e Fabrique pompous Edifice Is all most precious specious round about As Bright within as it is Light without But in this Wall this one thing is most rare Is most regardable beyond compare That though those twelue Foundations firme and strong Were so by Course set and laid along As that Course after Course th' are placed all And strangely ord'red cleane throughout the Wall Yet is the Wall as here we plainely see Thus wholly said of Iasper for to bee Which is indeed to shew and signifie That though those Ground-props of the Ministrie Whose rare and diuers gifts in euery one Are by rich Iewâ—lâ— afterwards here showne Yet that the Matter and the Lustre bright Of this great Wall are said and that most right T' arise from One which is the Lord alone Designed here by this rare Iasper stone He only is the Churches Bulwarke strong For though to these Apostles did belong Diuersitie of gifts of heau'nly grace Yet each of them in his peculiar place Did euer build one and the selfe same thing And not themselues did preach but Christ their King The Cities modell was of perfect Gold Most delectable glorious to behold Which Mettle for its ex'lent properties This Cities glorie rarely amplifies It being of all other chiefe and best For these fine reasons in pure gold exprest First that the burning fire consumes it not Next that it takes no canker stayne or spot Againe for vse it longest doth endure As also that the Fire makes it more pure Lastly nor Salt nor Vinegar can spoile Nor any such liquiditie defile The faire corruscant beautie of the same And therefore from the rest it beares the fame O! must not then this Citie needs be stable Is 't not most strong inuincible dureable Being so free from staynes of all corruption Being so farre from feare of Foes irruption Nay here 's not all there 's one more propertie Of rare respect of precious ex'lencie Namely that it like cleerest glasse doth glistre And thereby casts a more admired Lustre Whereby is thus much to vs intimated That 't is not with foule spots contaminated But doth with such a radiant splendor shine That
Church once Militant Now should they thus build vp his Church Triumphant And as they had conuerted Soules to Christ Their Soules should shine like Starres in glorie high'st Thus then the Citie Wall and Ground-worke past To th' Gates with ioy we now are come at last Twelue Gates most rich and precious did belong To th' Wall Apostolike most firme most strong Which Gates were all of Pearles most Orient Yet all were but One Pearle most excellent Euen Iesus Christ who is the only Port Through whom th' Elect must into blisse resort Through whom alone by Faith we here are fed Through whom at last we all shall taste that bread That Bread of Life neuer to hunger more Which for his Saints Christ hath laid vp in store He only is the Doore by which I say We shall goe in and our feed liue for ay And as on twelue Foundations did arise A Wall as we did formerly premise But One in Matter and in lustre bright Euen God the Father Father of all Light So these twelue Ports are all One Pearle most rare Euen God the Sonne whence they deriued are But here this one Obiection may accrew How it may come to passe a Pearle should shew And represent this Man-God Christ our King To which Obiection I this Answere bring That as the Shell wherein the Pearle doth grow Which Plinie plainely in his worke doth show Doth at a certayne â—eason gape and yawne And without any generating Spawne Drawes into it a Dew from forth the Aire Which by the Sea i' th' Shell growes Orient faire And of this Dew doth more coagulate Than 't is of earthly stuffe coaugmentate Euen so the Holy Ghost from Heau'ns high frame Vpon the blessed Virgin Marie came And Gods eternall power whose breath All made Did so Christs Virgin-Mother ouer-shade That without any Humane copulaâ—ion Christ in her Wombe tooke on him Incarnation Yet so as that his powerfull Diuinitie Was still assistant vnto his Humanitie Which subiect was to Mans Infirmitie But not to Sinnes euen least Impuritie Being thus most perfect God and Man indeed Knowing our wants to helpe vs at our need Thus then wee see that these twelue Pearly Gates Consisting of One Pearle this intimates That we in Heau'n or Earth none other haue To inuocate our sinfull Soules to saue But Iesus Christ true God and Man alone Who sits our Aduocate in Heau'ns high Throne Oh then the wilfull madnesse of our Foe That monstrous Beast of Rome who though he know This our Position most Authenticall Both he and hâ—s besotted Shauelings all Yet they vnto their Saints appropriate And vnto Angels dare accommodate The honour only due to Christ blest Name Angels themselues hauing refus'd the same And since nor Saints nor Angels know our state Nor haâ—e in them power vs to consolate But Christ hath will'd vâ— come to him alone Who can and will ease and appease our mone Therefore that they dare adde and thus diminish From Gods firme Truth they doe but striue to finish And measure vp to th' full their owne damnation Threatned to all such in the Reuelation The Gates thus entred now we may behold The Streets within all pau'd with purest gold Which gaue a lustre like the cleerest glasse Euen euery Street through which the Saints shall passe And customarily walke vp and downe Like glorious Kings in pompe and great renowne Which Streets and parent passages imply Amongst their other ioyes the Libertie And perfect Freedome which those sacred Saints Shall fully there possesse without restraints Of being vnto any one place ty'de For why wheres'ere they goe God is their Guide They walke in God and God in them alwayes Their beauteous paths shining with his bright rayes Thus haue we seene th' Essentiall Maiestie This Cities glorious frame and Symmetrie The most magnificent and blissefull State Of those which are in Christ incorporate But yet whiles here we see 't no otherwise Then as we had a Mist before our eyes Then as we were i th' bottome of a vaile Whence of a perfect sight we needs must faile By reason that cloud-kissing Mountaynes hie And lostâ—e Trees are interpos'd to th' eye And hereby hinder our more cleere aspect Of this most glorious heauenly Architect So that but Aenigmatically wee As through a Glasse this sacred Citie see Whiles in the Flesh we liue by liuely Faith As blessed Paul in his Epistle saith Yet let it ioy our hearts our Soules delight That though but thus we may admire this sight That though but with the Prophet Daniel wee May ope ' the window and looke toward thee O Date-lesse Fate-lesse Rest-full Blisse-full Citie Where Halleluiah is the Angels Dittie Now let it not be O! how can it bee Tedious to vs to contemplate and see What Maiestie and Dignitie compleat Is Accessarie to the glorie great Of that externall beautie of this place Fill'd with the glorie of the Lords bright face Making this Citie most magnificent An abstract Common-weale most permanent First there shall be no Temple in the same Wherein to worship Gods all-glorious Name No Sacrificing no peculiar place To worship in or be this Cities grace Nor no externall Paedagogie shall Be vsefull there no Seruice Rituall Like that vnder the Law amongst the Iewes When they did their old Sacrifices vse But God the Father and the Lamâ—e Christ Iesus Shall of such heauie yokes then cleerly ease vs. And be a Temple vnto his most faire To whose blest sight Saints with delight repaire His worship then shall be most plaine and pure And shall for euer constantly endure Without all Legall Rites or Ceremonie Adoring God in Christ in Sanctimonie Whose lookes to them aâ— Lessons shall appeare His only Name be'ng Musike in their eare And such indeed is this great Cities State So admirable so inexplicate That gold and precious stones being too too base T' expresse the glorie of that glorious place If Nature did more precious things bring forth More amply to describe this Cities worth I therefore know not what terrestriall thing We may with due proportion hereto bring To haue a fit and true Analogie Vnto this Temple of eternitie But God himselfe and Iesus Christ alone In whom it may most properly be showne Againe this Citie hath no need of Light Neither of Sunne or Moone or Starres most bright For as the Prophet saith When God againe Shall his deare Church restore and o're it raigne The glorious Light thereof so cleere shall shine By the blest presence of the Vnite-Trine That euen the Sunne and Moone shall seeme most darke And in comparison but like a sparke To that ineffable refulgent light Of Gods blest countenance and sacred sight Whereby alone the Saints shall all possesse Such perfect ioy and heartie cheerfulnesse As that all earthly comfort though it seem'd And were as bright as Sunne and
verifie his promise and confirme What he hath said beyond Times endlesse terme Hath giuen his Letters-Patents his Broad-Seale I' th' sacred Scriptures which hee 'le ne're repeale Seal'd by an Angels testimonie pure And as his Act and Deed giuen and made sure To blessed Iohn in the behalfe and right And to the vse of all the Saints of Light Which being done makes thereof Proclamation With most Emphaticall Asseueration That Hee the Lord of Lords and King of Kings Hath power to doe and will performe these things And surely Heau'n and Earth shall passe away Yea all things shall prepost'rously decay Ere his pure Word in one least jot or tittle Shall fade or faile or alter ne're so little Which though some Wretches Atheisticall Some Nauseous Neuter Satan's Tennis-Ball Some execrable Sadduces I say Which doe the Resurrection denay Though some vile Sectists Pythagoricall Or Infidells most Diabolicall Which haue suppos'd the Spirits Trans-migration From one t'another in Lifes consummation Which doe with deuillish dotage them perswade That there 's no God which e're the World hath made Nor that the World e're had a Prime beginning And thinke and hold that it shall ne're haue ending Although such Nullifidians past all grace May entertayne a thought with brazen face And heart of flintie Infidelitie To thinke or say that the rare Symmetrie Of this Ierusalem coelestiall Seemes as a thing meere Hyperbolicall Incredible to their besotted sense And past the reach of their intelligence Yet let the rabble of such Miscreants know That ther 's 'gainst them pronounc't a fearfull wo Their No-beliefe or wauering Vn-beliefe Shall fill their Soules with Neuer-ending griefe And what they erst would not conceiue in mind Their heart with smart shall then both feele and find Nor shall they haue least part or portion heere Of this great Cities pleasure ioy and cheere But from Gods presence shall be separated Which is the Second Death ne're terminated As for good Abrahams faithfull Generation Who wauer not in tottering haesitation Who haue a Heartie-thirst and thirsting-heart Of these rare pleasures once to haue their part Whose Hope past Hope doth cause their soules aspire By Faith in Christ this Kingdome to acquire Wherewith i' th' warfare of this Life they Fight Fenc't with the Bulwarke of a zeale vpright Arm'd at all points with Christs blest furniture Wherewith they may most constantly endure The Fight Spirituall their Loynes to tie With the strong Girdle of Christs Veritie Hauing the Brest-plate on of Righteousnesse To quench the Darts of Hells outragiousnesse And on their Head the Helmet of Saluation True Perill-Proofe 'gainst Hells most hot Temptation The Sword o' th' Spirit brandisht in their Hand Wherewith they may couragiously withstand That Broode of Hell Satan the World the Flesh Which euermore assault the Soule afresh With hot encounters hellish Stratagems To keepe them from this New-Ierusalems Eternall blisse In which most faithfull fight If they magnanimously stand vpright Assisted by that All-Proofe feruent Prayer The Godlies Guard Supporter and chiefe Stayer If thus they get as thus being arm'd they shall The Conquest o're those Foes fierce Capitall Euen from proud Satan their old Enemie When he shall Challenge them this fight to trie As oft he will they ne're by fraud or force By terrours or by torments leaue their course Of constant Perseuerance to the end But his Hopes frustrate and their soules defend Then shall they like braue Victors haue the Crowne Of immortalitie of blest renowne Triumphantly to raigne with Christ their King And all their Vertues as rich Trophies bring And lay before him for which he will giue A Crowne a Kingdome wherein they shall liue The Lord in them and they in him shall dwell As Christs Co-heires whom he loues passing well And shall sit downe with him as Children deare To Sup at 's Table with coelestiall Cheere And then their Thirst of this accomplishment Shall satisfied be with full content Then shall the Holy Happy Faithfull see The Structure of this sacred Frame to bee Farre more illustrious admirable rare Than earthly things could possibly declare And that those Stones and Gold were too too base To serue t'illustrate Heau'ns coelestiall place Whose boundlesse beautie all discourse transcendeth Whose infinite felicitie ne're endeth Yea that 't is such as that no mortall Eye Could but as through a Glasse the same descry Such as no Eare hath heard no Tongue e're told The Maiestie which there they shall behold Yea such I say as neuer humane Heart Could e're conceiue th' incogitable Part. O then my Soule thou hauing contemplated This Citie all with glorie decorated Thou hauing view'd with Heart-exulting pleasure The Maiestie vnparalleld the matchlesse treasure The most magnificent Maiesticke state Whereinto Christ will his incorporate What wilt thou thereof with thy selfe conclude What wilt thou say of this Beatitude Oh this euen this with Peter and with Iohn At Christs admir'd Transfiguration 'T is good to make thy Seate and Mansion there O there 't is best to dwell and dwell for e're Neuer did Noble Greece so much affect Their Poetiz'd Elysean fields aspect Neuer so much did wand'ring wise Vlysses Desire his chaste Penelopes kind kisses Or rather more diuinely for to raise My thoughts vnto a more religious phrase Neuer did Noah more desire to see Ararats Hills where he of 's Arke was free Nor Sheba's Queene to see wise Salomon Nor at Christs birth more glad was Simeon Then doth my Soule desire these heau'nly fields Which perfect pleasure ioy and comfort yeelds To see my Sauiour sweet on Sion Hill My sences with his sacred sight to fill To see him in his glorified state Therein to be with him associate Euen in these Mansions of eternitie To liue in sure in pure felicitie Which happinesse though yet I may not haue Vntill my Soule receiue my Corps from Graue Vntill I mortall be immortalized And with the sacred Angels Angelized Vntill i' th' clouds my Sauiour come againe To re-collect th' Elect with him to raigne O yet my Soule thy selfe delight and solace To ruminate the ioyes of that sweet Palace To recapitulate the sacred pleasure The Saints shall then possesse in plenteous measure Euen in th' eternall Palace Crystaline The sacred Seate of the Vnited Trine The glorious Court and heau'nly Presence-Chamber Of Heau'ns great Emp'rour wonderfull Commander That Alpha and Omega First and Last Who Was Is Shall bee when all Times are past That mightie powerfull One sole God most high Th' eternall King nay Selfe-Eternitie Infinite All in All yet out of All Of Ends the End of Firsts Originall The Life of Liues Bounties o're-flowing Flood Cause of all Causes Ocean of all Good Vn-Seene All-Seer Starres-Guide Sight of Seeing That One-None which to Nothing gaue a Being There also shall my Soule behold and see The most ineffable deepe Mysterie Of that incomprehensible
Continuation In him we also shall enioy possesse What euer various Time could here expresse Yea all the beauties of his rarest Creatures Which may our Loue allure by their sweet features All ioy and pleasure to content the mind Such as i' th' Creatures selues we ne're could find This sight I say is th' Angels chiefest treasure The Saints repast repose and Princely pleasure This is their euerlasting Life their Crowne Their Meede their Maiestie their high Renowne This their rich rest their spacious specious Palace Their outward inward ioy and soueraigne solace Their Paradise diuine their Diadem Their ample blisse their blest Ierusalem Their Peace of God past all imagination Their full Beatitude and sweet Saluation To see him who them made re-made made Saints Him seeing to possesse without restraints Possessing him to loue him as their King And Louing him to Praise him as the Spring And Fountayne of this All-felicitie And Praysing euer this blest Trinitie O then my Soule cease not to like to loue These admirable louely ioyes aboue And though thy corrupt Flesh is th'obstacle And stayes delayes from this blest Habitacle Although thy Flesh like Churlish Nabal frowne Refuse the paynes to seeke this sacred Crowne Yet let thy Spirit like good Abigal Goe forth to find this place Angelicall Let Hagar neuer get her Mistris place Nor Ismael good Isaac so disgrace But striue most strenuously fight that good fight Subdue thy Flesh withstand proud Satans might And with the Eye of Faith beleeue desire To liue with Christ pray seeke sue and enquire Pray earnestly to Christ thy King aboue In burning Zeale firme Faith and feruent Loue. For what 's this World nought but a flouting fancie A Theater of vainnesse pleasant Phrensie A sinke of Sinne a shop of all Deceit Iniquities chiefe Center and sure Seate A Map a Mirrour of all Miserie A Dungeon of most dire Calamitie Louely to looke on like the skarlet Whore But dangerous to deale with euermore A Mazie Labyrinth of impious Errors A Campe of Crueltie of teares and terrors Constant in nought but in In-constancie And most Vnconstant in that Constancie In nought the same saue not to be the same And of a Being but a very name Still floting fleeting neuer at a stay Hates on the Morrow whom it loues to Day Yea 't is a Ioab full of craft and guile Kills his Embracers with a trayterous smile A Wrastler 't is and trippeth vp the heeles Of many a man e're he its grasping feeles Salomon wise strong Samson so renown'd It made their lengths to measure on the ground Therefore to loue the World is nought else sure Then to her Lime-twigs thy poore Soule t' allure Which so the Feathers of thy Faith will marre Thy Soule if 't may be from Heau'ns ioyes to barre Why then my Soule shouldst thou to th' Earth be thrall Which hast a heau'nly blest originall Which hast a heau'nly-blest originall Why shouldst thou pin thy thoughts on mortall things Who art immortall from the King of Kings And why shouldst thou a Sp'rit inuisible Be pleas'd with things both grosse and visible Striuing to pamper thy corrupted Bodie Whose definition is indeed that Both-Die Both Soule and Body when the Flesh giues way To Sinne and Satan in their dire decay And hence it is that Latinists likewise Thus Corpus fitly Etymologize Cor which was once the Heart of pure perfection Is thus made Pus all filth and foule infection Why then shouldst thou thy selfe so low depresse Who art of high coelestiall Noblenesse One of thy Fathers first-borne Children deare Whose name in Heau'ns blest Records may appeare Why should the Worlds false promises delude thee Since Heau'n with Grace and Goodnesse hath endu'de thee Wilt thou a Princes Sonne a heauenly Prince Let Satans gilded Apples thee conuince Wilt thou the Sonne of Heau'ns All-sacred King Offend thy Father for so vile a thing Wilt thou thy Birth right Esau-like forgoe For one dire messe of Broth bewitching wo Oh no deceitfull Dalilah a-dieu Thy Syrens Songs my Soule doth most eschew Thy Crocadile like teares which would betray me By Heau'ns preuenting Grace shall neuer slay me For all thy Bitter-sweets false Protestations My Soule esteemes but hellish Incantations Wherefore as Amnon being once defiled With his owne Sister whom he had beguiled After the fact did hate her ten times more Then euer he had loued her before So I whom thy false Friendship once defiled Whom thy deceitfull ambush once beguiled I hate abominate thy mischiefe more Than e're I lou'd or liked thee before As Sea-men Rocks as Children Scorpions flie So Oh my Soule hate worldly Vanitie And oh what 's he that would not leaue most glad Worlds Vanities so finite base and bad For Pleasures infinite What 's he would take Fraudulentioyes and permanent forsake None doubtlesse none but Dastards void of Grace None but faint-hearted fearefull Cowards base The resolute couragious Christian bold Dares Deaths grim face confront see and behold Dares Death defie and his approach desire Because by Death he knowes he shall acquire The end of all his hopes for Death 's the Key Which opes the doore to true felicitie Yea 't is no paine but of all paiâ—es the end The Gate of Heau'n and Ladder to ascend And Death 's the Death of all his stormes and strife And sweet beginning of immortall Life Therefore with smiling count'nance merrily To Heau'n his place of rest he casts his eye And in his heart these thoughts are oft reuolued Vnfeynedly I wish to be dissolued To be with thee O Christ my Sauiour sweet Thee my deare Eldest Brother for to meet I see thee Christ I see thee heau'nly home I gladly would and quickly to thee come I see thee oh thou Saints coelestiall Place I much desire I once had run my race But though I cannot with Elias run Ith'strength o' th' Spirit in this race begun Vnto the heau'nly Canaan yet giue Grace Though I with Iacob halt to halt apace And if not so yet that at least I may Like to an Infant learne to creepe the way And grow from strength to strength from grace to grace Vntill I come in presence of thy face For I am wearie of this Pilgrimage And long for thee my heau'nly Heritage How oft haue I thee view'd with admiration How oft hast thou beene my Soules meditation How oft haue I beene rauisht with desire That vnto thee my Soule might once aspire How oft haue I both scorn'd and vili-pended Earths most vnpleasant pleasures quickly ended Being compared to those ioyes aboue Which from my Heart my Soule doth dearely loue My Heart my Life my Blâ—sse my Ioy my Gem My Soules deare Soule is New-Ierusalem And now I come my ioyes I come to you For whom I â—â—d so often seeke and sue I paine and Death doe heartily embrace So that my Soule amongst you may take place Yea
though euen Hell it selfe were in my way And would my iourney stop disturbe or stay I would it passe and hazzard Hells annoy To liue with Christ in his coelestiall ioy And surely since Heath'nish Cleombrotus Did seeme but desp'rately so valourous Hearing his Master Plato once discourse Of Immortalâ—tie with furious force From an high Rocke himselfe did head-long throw In hope to be Immortalized so O how much rather then I pray ought I Dying i' th' Lord a thousand deaths to die To be inuested in that perfect Glorie Showne and assur'd in Truths most faithfull Storie Hee dy'dâ— in bare opinion Soules blind-Loue I die in Faith and knowledge from aboue Hee only hop't to haue immortall Life I for immortall rest and glorie rise Hee went vnâ—sent for I am oft inuited Euen Christ himselfe my Soule hath oft incited Incited oft I say with Resolution And Pauls firme Faith to wish for Dissolution Shall then his Pagan-courage mine excell Shall feare of death my Christian-courage quell Since my sure ground than his is much more firme And death to me is but my sorrowes terme And that my Soule i'th'end shall sure exult Although the way seeme somewhat difficult O no my Soule be valorous and stout With constant courage perseuere hold out None fight but with a hope of Victorie Thy fight well finisht brings eternitie If one should say vnto a Captayne stout Goe forward with bold courage fight it out Doe but thy vtmost fight and giue not ouer For thou in th' end the conquest shalt recouer Would any Dauid his Goliah flie From whom hee 's sure to winne the Victorie Would any Gideon such a fight refuse Could any valiant Iosuah thinke you choose But enter combate with the proudest Foe Whom he with triumph surely shall o're-throw My Sauiour sweet euen thus to me hath said Take courage Christian Souldier ben't afraid Doe thou thine vtmost Satan to withstand For I will be propitious at thy hand Fight valiantly and though thy foes fierce might May hap to bring thee on thy knees i' th' fight May often foile thee by his craftie snare Yea though his clawes were readie thee to tare Yet I will raise thee vp I 'le thee defend And thou shaltsure be Victor in the end Who then I say what 's he would be so base As not this proffer gladly to embrace Who could with vile pusillanimitie So free a Coward-like denie Shall doting Louers for their Ladies fight And for their sakes account all danger slight Shall Merchants venture both their liues and goods For wealth and pelse through th' Oceans dangerous floods Yea shall the Ship-Boy gladly vnder-goe All hazzards which or Sea or Shore can show Onely in hope to gaine a Masters place And to obtayne a cunning Pilots grace And shall my Soule turne Coward feare and flie Shall not my Soule controll that Enemie Whom Christ my Generall first ouer-threw And thereby all his subtilties well knew And knowing them hath taught me how to fight Me to defend him offend put to flight Yea and hath promis'd hee 'le assistant bee And in my weaknesse cause my Foe to flee And vnder-neath my feete pull Satan downe And me as Victor graciously will crowne O then my Soule stand stoutly to 't and feare not Christs sacred Armes in vaine about thee beare not Fight this good fight and let proud Satan know Christ being Captaine thou'lt him ouerthrow For if Heau'ns King by Grace be on thy side Thou needst not feare what ere doe thee betide No danger sure can in that Battaile bee Where thou for Christ and Christ doth fighâ— for thee And heer 's my Comfort this is my Soules stay That whether Satan wound or doe me slay Dye fleshly Body so my Soule may liue Christ to my Soule the Palme of Peace will giue But as a mighty Emp'rour which proclaimes At some great feast Olympicke warlike Games Wherein to him which proues the Conquerour And doth the best exploits this Emperour Will giue a Crowne his valour to reward And him with Kingly fauour will regard But not the Emp'rour vnto him descends But hee to th' Emp'rours Gallery ascends There from his Princely hand to take the Crowne The tryumph trophie of his high renowne Euen so the Christian Souldier hauing gained The victory for which he long had strained With all his power spirituall to quell The rage of rau'nous Sin and Satan fell Must from the worlds Lists in a blessed end By Death Heau'ns glorious Gallery ascend There from the hands of Iesus Christ himselfe To take a Crowne farre passing worldly pelfe A Crowne of ioy euen Glories plenitude A Crowne of blisse euen Heau'ns beatitude Not as the Meede of his deseruing Merit But as the free-gift of Gods sacred Spirit For hauing done what euer I am able Yet my best seruice is vnprofitable Onely in Mercy hee is pleas'd to crowne His owne-good-gifts in mee to my renowne O! therefore Death shal be my welcome-guest Death which translates from Labour vnto reff From wordly sorrow to Heau'ns ioyes encrease From woe to weale from trouble to sweet Peace From Earth the Stage of instability To Heau'n the Fortresse of true Constancy Goe then you godlesse Heliogabolites You carnall Worldlings proud Cosmopolites Goe please your selues in swearing feasting fighting And not what 's iust but what 's your Lust delight in Goe please your selues with rich and large extents Of wealthie Mannours stately tenements Grow proud to see your Vnderlings beslaued And by your Greatnesse wrongfully out-braued To see your Ward-roabes stuft with proud Apparell Your Mouthes with oathes your thoughts with strife and quarrell To haue variety of worldly pleasure Delicate Gardens Coffers full of treasure Treasure said I nay white and yellow Clay Bewitching Mammon Sin-bane Soules decay Or if there 's ought that doth you more allure Or which you would with more content procure Vse it possesse it yet for all this know You shall it all with shame and smart forgoe Yea God will take at Deaths disast'rous day Your Lands your life your Goods your gods away This this alas did cause the Prophets cry This mou'd S. Paul with zealous ardency 'Gainst Worldlings to cry out and them accuse That they themselues their Soules would so abuse Such lying vanities so to respect So sottishly their Soules-health to reiect In Aegypt Straw and Stubble for to buy Yea Straw I say and Chaffe which finally Would their owne House burne-downe and ruinate And head-long them to Hell precipitate Whereas their Sauiour at a cheaper price Would sell them gold pure gold rare Marchandise Euen all the golden ioyes and sweet delight Of Paradise coelestiall sacred sight That Pearle of blest Saluation which to buy The wisest Merchant would most ioyfully Sell all his worldly treasure earthly pelfe With this rare Iewell to enrich himselfe And what 's his price O cheape and nought else sure But
is all good no euill to abuse Where 's all thou wishest nought thou wouldst refuse Where 's life e're-liuing sweet and amiable Where is true fame and glorie memorable Where is I say certayne Securitie Securest Peace and peacefull Pleasancie Most pleasant Ioy and ioyfull Happinesse Happie Eternitie eternall Blessednesse The blessed Trinitie in Vaitic The Vnities Trine-One rare Deitie The Deities Three-One's most blessed Vision Which is our Masters ioy in full fruition O ioy of ioves O ioy beyond all pleasure Farre passing farre transcending terrene treasure O ioy without annoy O true content O soueraigne blisse and Soules sweet rauishment O euerlasting Kingdome supreme peace Where all the Saints enioy such ioyes encrease Where all the Saints are clothed with pure Light As with a Garment shining glorious bright Their Heads adorn'd with Crownes of purest gold And precious Stones most glorious to behold Whose onely exercise is to reioyce To triumph and to sing with sacred voyce Sweet Halleluiah to their Soueraigne King Which them to this felicitie did bring Oh! when shall my poore Soule be made partaker Of this great ioy O thou my Lord and Maker When shall I see Thee in it It in Thee And therein dwell I in Thee Thou in Mee Surely O Lord I will make haste and flie I 'le make no stay but poste most speedily I 'le neuer cease to Seeke till I haue found I 'le not leaue Knocking till my Soule be crown'd I 'le ne're leaue Asking till thou hast me giuen My Boone thy Bountie euen those ioyes of Heaâ—en Since then I say such is Heau'ns Maiestie And since this World is but meere Miserie What is 't can hinder this my speedie pace Which I must run till I haue run my race Can Worldly power or Principalitie Can Kingly fauours wealth or dignitie Can worldly pleasures pleasant vnto some Can height or depth things present things to come Oh no with Paul I 'le all abominate E're they shall me from Christs loue separate I 'le crie Auaunt you Soule-betraying ioyes Which Bee-like bring the Sting of dire annoyes Auaunt I say worlds momentarie pleasure Worlds transitorie toyes Earths trashâ—e treasure The loue of Christ hath so enflam'd my Heart That as I trust it ne're shall thence depart And Lord confirme strengthen this Faith of mine O let it neuer faint faâ—le or decline But wo to me poore wretch who still am faine Amongst the Tâ—nts of Meshech to remaine To haue my habitation 'mongst the rout Of Kedar most vngodly stubborne stout The time me thinks is much procrastinated O that the date thereof were terminated Ay me how long shall it be said to mee Wait wait expect and thou the time shalt see And shalt thou see my Soule thou art too blame I must accuse thee O my Soule for shame Thinke not the time too long count it not much That wâ—th these trials God thy Faith should touch For as a Gold-Smith waits most carefully Vpon his gold which he i' th' fire will trie That when 't is burn'd enough and purifide It may not in the fire to waste abide So God his Children deare attends vpon When in the fire of dire affliction He purposeth to purifie and trie them When thus enough refined he doâ—h spie them By no meanes will he suffer them to waste Bâ—â— for tâ—â—â—r comfort to them soone will haste As that most rare payre-Royall well did know Good Shedrach Meshach and Abednego Whom he i' th' Babylonian fire did proue Yet so respected in his sacred loue That not so much as one haire of their head Was burnt or sindg'd or once diminished O then my Soule if God haue such a care As from thy head not one small simple haire Can fall to th'ground without his prouidence O then haue thou assured confidence That he thy Soule will ne're peâ—mit to perish But in due time will thee refresh and cherish And say with Iob that man of God most iust Lord though thou kill mee I will in thee trust Yea then confesse as 't is that all the wo Which in this Life for Christ thou vnder goe That all Earâ—hâ— torments or affecting toyes Are most vnworthy Heau'ns most blissefull ioyes Heau'ns ioyes for waight and measure infinite Earths paynes to death but slender small and slight Heau'ns ioyes most perfect absolutely pure Earths choicest pleasures paine and griefe procure Heau'ns ioyes are sempiternall euer-lasting Earths ioyes meere toyes still fleeting euer-wasting O then my Soule haue patience doe not grudge Left so thou make thy Christ thine angrie Iudge Giue Patience Lord thy sacred Will to beare And then receiue my Soule How When or Where For as no gold nor siluer can be pure Vntill the fires burning it endure Nor Stones for Palace-worke can well be fit Till they with Hammers oft be cut and smitâ— No more I say is 't possible that wee Vessets of Honour in Gods house can bee Till we be fin'd and melted in the fire Of worldly crosses and afflictions dire Neither can we as liuing-stones haue place Ierusalems coelestiall Walls to grace Vnlesse the Hammers of Earths tribulation Oft bruise the Flesh to worke the Soules Saluation But though thy Seruants Lord may oft be tempted Yet can they neuer finally be tainted They ne're can be surpris'd though oft assailed For why Heau'ns safeguard hath them neuer failed Christians and Persecutions ioyne together Like Christ and 's Crosse few calmes much stormie weather E're th' Israelites to th' Land of Promise came Their temp'rall Canaan Canaan of such fame Th'endur'd much danger many Miseries And shall not I most patiently likewise Endure all dangers all anxietie Shall I not vnder-goe all miserie In this my iourney to Heau'ns holy Land O yes with constant courage to it stand For why I 'm sure the more I here endure My ioyes in Heau'n shall be more glorious pure And who would not to Heau'n goe ioyfully Though with Elias he in whirle-winds fly Grant therefore Lord I take Earths Nocuments As precious Balme as my Soules Documents Confirme my Faith with constant resolution To wait and fit me for my dissolution To wait for thee my Sauiour staffe and stay Till thou shalt change my Bodies house of Clay That like thy glorious Body it may bee That so thy power and glorie I may see That I may heare and see and beare a part In Heau'ns heart-charming Musike sacred Art In that rare Consort of Mel-Melodie At Christs rare Nuptials blest solemnitie Come then Lord Iesus oh I cannot cease To wish my Soule in thine eternall peace Giue me O Lord good Stephens Eagle-eye Through thickest Clouds Heau'ns glorie to espie Giue me O Lord a Voyce Angelicall With Heart vnfeyned on thee thus to call How long O Lord how long wilt thou delay Lord Iesus come come quickly doe not stay Make haste and tarrie not I thee intreat And draw
my Soule from Earth to heauenly seat For why I feare Lord falsifie my feare That Satan will 'gainst me such malice beare To cause my refractorie Flesh to sturre My Soule vnto Rebellion so t' incurre Thy wrath and indignation for the same My stubborne Flesh therefore Lord cuâ—be and tame O free me from this fleshly Prison strong Wherein my Soule hath fettered lyen too-long Fett'red I say yea fest'red more 's my shame More art thou flesh and much more I too blame Who oft with Adam fondly haue aspired And with vaine glory led haue oft desired The fruite o' th' Tree of Knowledge for to eate Not of the Tree of Life more soueraigne meate And to be red in any other Booke Much pride and pleasure I haue often tooke Than in my Booke of Conscience to behold The woe whereinto Sin doth mee infold With Wantons I oft view'd Prides Looking-Glasse But not Times-Dyall how my Dayes did passe Yea on Earths follies I haue fixt mine eyes Gazing on blazing worldly Vanities Yet Lord I know that as thou hast a Booke Wherein my faults are writ on them to looke So thou a Bottle hast wherein to keepe My contrite teares when I for Sin doe weepe And though my selfe vn-worthie I agnize Vnto thy Throne to lift my Sinfull eyes Yet I my selfe vn-worthie doe not finde To weepe before thee till mine eyes be blinde Lord then vouchsafe vouchsafe I thee beseech An eare an answer to my Soules sad speech O come Lord Iesus come I humbly pray Speake peace vnto my Soule ô doe not stay Binde vp my wounds make whole my maladie With the Samaritans sweet Charity Into my sore powre thou the Oyle of gladnes Reuiue my Soule from Sin-constrained sadnes O bring my Soule out of this myre and mud This sincke of Sin where I too-long haue stood Smite off my Fetters of Iniquity As thou didst Peters in Captiuity Stop in mee all the Conduits of transgression Breake Satans weapons of my Soules oppression Yea let my Eyes bee as continuall Lauers To wash and clense Sins vlcers stinking sauours For a cleane Lord I know takes delectation To haue a cleane Heart for his Habitation Giue therfore grace ô Lord whiles heere I liue That I a Bill of due Diuorce may giue Vnto that Harlot Sin which too-too-long Hath by false flattery done my Soule much wrong O double treble happy were I sure If once I might put-off Sins rags impure Those Menstruous cloathes wherewith I am disguised Whereby thine Image in mee 's not agnized Whereby in thy pure sight I am but loathed O therefore that my Soule might once be cloathed With thy most royall-Robes of righteousnesse Thy Seamelesse spotlesse Coote of holinesse And therein bee presented to the sight Of my great Lord the Father of all Light And be ingrafted and incorporate Into this New-Ierusalems blest state Into this Kingdome euermore existing Into this Kingdome all of ioy consistiâ—g Where all thy Saints and sacred Angels raigne By thee their mighty Lord and Soueraigne Cloathed in Vestures of the purest white Still in the presence of thy sacred sight Their heads adorn'd with Crownes of purest gold Of precious stones rich Pearles rare to behold Thou Lord alone being the Diadem Of these thy Saints in this Ierusalem Whose onely sight is their beatitude Which dures for aye without vicissitude But Lord it may be thou mayst say to mee Alas poore Soule would'st thou my beauty see None ere could see the glory of my face And 〈◊〉 Earth such is Mans mortall case Lord thus I answer and I this confesse That thy Coelestiall glorious holinesse Is so immense so infinite so rare So great so glorious gracious specious faire That no flesh liuing can it see and liue Yet to my Soule ô Lord this mercy giue That so it may behold thy sacred sight Let Death with thousand deathes my body smite So my poore Soule may see thy Maiestie Let Death my breath my life end speedily Oh then I say and ne're shall cease to say O three-fold foure-fold happy sure are they Who by a pious life and blessed end By Christ Heau'ns Ladder to heau'ns ioyes ascend Who for the minutes of Earths Lamentation Enioy Heau'ns endlesse yeeres of Consolation Who from this earthly Prison are set free And in Heau'ns Palace liue O Christ with thee Yea who being dead to Sinne and Earthly ioyes Are there in plenitude of perfect ioyes But oh most wretched miserable I Who in the Flouds of worlds mortalitie By huge Heau'n-Mounting Hell-Descending waues By Rocks Syrts Whirle-Pooles all which seeme my Graues Am still constrain'd to saile through dangers great Which Waters Winds Weather together threat And which is more I most erroniously Through ignorance oft wander cleane away I lose my way and then am danger'd most Not knowing whither my poore Ship doth coast Being thus expos'd to Seas all-ieopardies Like Ionah when from Niniue he flies Tost to and fro euen into th' Maw of Hell By furious Flouds which 'gainst me rage and swell So that my way to th' Harbour of my Rest Thus being lost my Soule is sore opprest But which is worst whiles thus to thee I saile I meet Sea-Monsters which doe me assaile Resistfull Remoraes doe striue to stay me And huge Leuiathan gapes wide to slay me Lifes Toyes and Troubles Satans craft and Power Would stay my Voyage and would me deuoure Restlesse redresselesse thus I flote about And for thy heauenly helpe my Soule cryes out Wherefore Sea-calming Wind-controlling Lord To my perplexed Soule thine aide afford For if thou wilt O Lord thou canst me cherish O therefore helpe or else my Soule will perish One Depth ô Lord another in doth call As Waues breake-out and on each other fall The Depth of my Calamity profound Doth inuocate thy Mercies which abound I call and cry from many waters deepe My Soule from sinking Lord preserue and keepe O keepe mee from these dangers imminent Which haue my silly Soule on all sides pent Let thine out-stretched arme vpholding Grace Once bring my Soule vnto her resting-Place From floods of worldly infelicity Into the Hauen of aeternity How long ô Lord how long wilt thou prolong Thy wrath t' appease and ease mee from among These dire Death-threatning-dangers ô direct My way o thee my hope to thee erect My Confidence re-plant in thee I pray That so these tempests may me not dismay That so these floods though flow may not come neere mee That so these blasts though blow may not so feare mee Thou being my vn-rocking Rocke my shield My fortresse strong which to no force can yeeld Most skilfull Pilot so my Sterne direct My weather-beaten Boate so safe protect That it these dangers infinite may shun And to my Harbour may the right-way run Commiserate compassionate my case And in chine armes ô Christ my Soule embrace Though I with Ionas Sea-men lose my wares My goods
by Longitude Latitude and Altitude Napier A most excellent obseruation of all the praemised forms of this Citie Napier The Wall measured This is spoken Allegorically hauing reference to humane building * Note Thus farre of the forme or constitution of this Citie Now of the Matter or Substance wherof t is made Esa. 54.11,12 The Wall The Matter wâ—erof this City is made and â—â—st of the Wall which hath a two-fold consideration Fiâ—st in the whâ—â—e t is Iasper Secondly in the twelue â—â—undations eâ—preâ—â— by twelue Iew â—â—â— like the twelue in â—â—arons bresâ—â—plate * A very excellent and â—emarkable obâ—eruation in the Wall The Citie of pure gold Fiue excellent properties in good goâ—â— Plin. de Metal Like cleere Glasse The Synagogue of Rome Psal. 45. The matter whereof the twelue foundations consisted Iasper Saphyre Chalcedonie Emeraude Sardonixe Sardius Chrysolite Beryll Topaze Chrysoprase Hyacinth Ametist An obseruation of the Premises Simile Simile King Hiram a true type of the Vocation of the Gentiles 1. King 5.2 Dan. 12.3 Twelue Gates of Peaâ—le All of them but One Pearle which is Christ Iesus Iohn 10.9 Simile Octiection Answere Simile Christ compared to a Pearle Non ignarus mali miseriâ— succurrere possâ—t Heb. 4.35 No saluation but by Christ onely Romes praying to Saints touched Esay 63. The Streets all paued with Gold Glistering like Glasse Thus farre concerning the Essential Maiestie and glorie of this Citie 1. Cor. 13.12 Rom. 1 17. Dan. 6.10 The Accessaâ—ie beautie of this Citie No Temple A simple sincere worship of God without Ceremonies Nothing fit to represent the heauenly Temple but God himself who is the Temple No need of Sun Moone or Starres Esay 24.23 ☜ MagnificeÌ„ce and Princely state * Gentilâ— Note Vertue and Pietie are the riches of the heauenly Ierusalem Securitie No Night An euerlasting Day A double meaning of this Night Literall Figuratiue ☜ Zachary 14.20 Esay 52.1 Coelestiall Aliment or Foode The same is the meate drinke in heauen euen Christ. * Cant. 1.14 A Riuer of Water of Life Iohn 4. 14. ☞ Iohn 7. The Tree of Life Christ is the Tree of life The Tree of life beares twelue sorts of fruites 1. God is the God of order 2. Sufficiencie * The twelue Apostles Delicacie This Tree beares fruit euery Moneth The monthly fruit argues not times alternation but Saints contentation The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The spirituall meaning of the leaues No curse or malediction Zac. 14.11 A three-fold cause of the Cities perpetuitie The Saints coelestiall contemplation How wee shall see God In respect of our selues we shâ—ll see God perfectly This our sight of God shall be immediate The Saints Coâ—nizance How the name of the Lord is written in the Saints fore-head ☞ Zach. 14.20 Their perpetuall light and glorie inculcated The plenary perfection of this Citie is Perennity The conclusion of All. Simile The assuraÌ„ce of these most rich promises Atheists * Reuel 3.16 Neuters Sadduces Pythagoreans Nullifidians The reward of vnbeleeuers The second Death The faithfull Belâ—euers A briefe description of their spirituall warfare and weapons Their spirituall Enemies They that wil be crowned in Heauen must winne the conquest on Earth The triumphant inauguration of the Godly into Heauen The vnspeakable Maiesty and Glorie they shall liue in The Soules most sacred Soliloquie and most ardent desire to be inuested into this Glorie 1. Cor. 15. * Not become an Angell but bee like an Angell A briefe description of God The Citizens of the heauenly Canaan The admirable Comforts and vnspeakable happinesse of the heauenly Ierusalem * Summum bonum A briefe recapitulation of the glorious structure of the new Iâ—rusalem Riuers of Honney Gardens Bowers Flowers Spices Plants All these in their Vertues Graces to Man not Reall existences * Enquiriâ— The incomprehensible Trinitie August de Trin. ☜ ☞ All the Sences delighted in Heauen ☞ ☞ Nabal the Flesh. Abigal the Spirit * Ismael the Flesh. Isaac the Spirit What this World is ☜ The World is a strong and subtill Wrastler Amor rerum terrenarum est viscus spiritualium pennarum The Loue of the World is the Soules Bird-lime A most holy expostulation of the Soule concerning the World and the Flesh. * The Body As holy detestation of them The resolution of a good Christian. What deaâ—â— is tâ—â—he Godly A most â—oly Meditation of a sanctified Soule ☜ Sweâ—tsolace of the soule Cleombrotus hâ—â—â—â—peâ—â—te râ—â—oâ—miâ—â— to enioâ—â—â—mortalitie * Imposed by others not exposed to by my selfe * To desire dissolution nâ—â— effect it my selfe Braue resolution of a Christian Souldier ☜ Christ encourageth the Christian Souldier in his spirituall warfare Christ is our Generall Christâ— duce non vinceris imo vinces S. Bernard Simile Vincenti dabitur Why the Godly doe die T is not Merit but Mercy which crownes vs. Death a welcome Guest to the Godly ☜ A most holy disdayning of worldly Greatnesse Rich Merchandise A cheape price The wicked takâ— more paines to go to hell then the righteous to goe to heauen ☞ * Marriage-Song * Satisfied Simile Satan a Hunter The World the Flesh his Hounds The Soules thirst Cant. 2.4 Cant. 5. ◠☞ ☞ * The Martyrs Passion-Day was called of old Natalitium salutis ☜ Our Soules with Christ shall be fed feasted filled The most absolute and perfect ioyes of heauen Visio Dei beatifica summum bonum nostrum August de Trin. cap. 13. August Solilo cap. 36. Seeke Knocke. Aske Heauenly resolution ☜ The Soule here checketh it selfe for being offended at Gods tryals Simile God compared to a Gold-Smith Gods great care of his Children Matth. 6. ☜ Heauens ioyes set against Earths ioyes by way of Antithesis Da sacere quod iubes iube quod vis Simile Vita sine malis est sicut auis sine alis No Crosse No Crowne ☜ Nocumentâ— sunt Documenta Stephens Eagle-eye The Soules Prayer The Soule bewayleth her miserie in the flesh ☞ The Soule oppressed with worldly miseries prayeth The Lord loueth a pure heart Ve semperveniunt ad candida tecta Columba ingreditur sanctus candida corda Deus The Soule desires to be clothed with the Robes of righteousnes Blessed are they that die in the Lord. The Sea of the World The soule ofttimes in danger of shipwracke through ignorance and infirmitie * Remora's Fishes that though little yet can stay a Ship Leuiathan the Deuill The Soules Prayer Abyssus abyssum inuocat ☜ Gods diâ—ection must be our Pilot Protection Rocks of Persecution Simile ☜ Perieram ni sic periisseâ—â— The bloud of Christ only can clense vs from all our sinnes The Soule prayeth that Christ would be propitious to it * Properly a salue for sore eyes The Soule by Faith is encouraged to escape all the dangers of the Sea of this world Dangers Scylla Charibdis Despaire Presumption The Pharise Cain Remedies Humilitie Poenitencie The Publican The Prodigall The Anchor of Hope fastned with the Rope of Faith Christ takes the Will for the Deed. Christ bids the Soule welcome into Heauen The Song of the Saints