And smiling thus unto the Will she spake What is the reason that you would forsake The Pilgrim to his Blisse Shall pleasures sence And Passions strong conspiracy from thence Detain you 't is the World and Sathan that Hatâ— circumvented you into this Plot. All what they promâ—se are meer shaddows know That all things â—e so that are here below Why fear this Gate This will indeed conduct You to a higher Sphear your Way obstruct Back to the Dunghill Earth what then if here You pleasures find much more in that bright Sphear You shall unto Eternity enjoy And there where is an everlasting Day You shall reside inthron'd in 〈◊〉 shall be One with that Will which first created thee Shall Earth to Heav'n be prefer'd below How full of uglâ—nesse do all things show To eyes which heav'n's Beauties see dung ne're Did unto Jewels half so vile appear Wilt thou not then forsake this world and passe Thorow this Gate unto this blessed place Let my entreats of Love prevail so far When for your happinesse they spoken are Be not a Captive to the world but be One unto Heav'n and that is to be free A thousand Rayes fled from her eyes as fast As from her mouth flew Word with which they past Into her Heart wherewith such melting Love Like soft oyl mixt with Wâ—ne about they move Down falls the will and by her looks doth show That now she 's willing th'row the Gate to go The Will thus gain'd the Pilgrim values not The Sences not the Passioâ—s weaker plot By her he ' d tame them whensoever they Shall dare t' appear for to obstruct his Way Now Faith and Hope anew their plumes do â—ear And from him with their Wings brush Doubt and Fear No longer now the World nor Sathan can With-hold him their intreats and Threats in vain Are now he is resolv'd and though they fling Themselves upon his neck and 'bout him cling He passes on and th'row the Gate doth presse Those Hooks and Sythes his heavy load redresse One pulls off Sathan by the heels The Sp'rite Of the Great World another â—ook doth light All grosser sinnes and vainer pleasures by A Sythe cut off jumbled together lye Upon the ground a I anâ—e the flâ—sh rips up And noughty thoughts cuâ— from the head do drop Unto the Earth Flesh feels the worser smart Which pierced is unto the very Heart Past through he views himself extuberancies Which obvious were are all cut off he sees But smaller wenns stack closer to his skin And other hidden Griefs lay close within Which hooks nor Sythes had yet cut off but these A haâ—der task par'd must be by degrees For now he knows Mortality he must Loose ere he sees Ierusalem the blest No sooner past this narrow Gate but they Enter an asper and a narrow Wâ—y At first nor Trees nor grasse he found nor did See any place for to repose his Head Both sides with Rocks were wall'd Asperity The one side pav'd the other Poverty The way of SELF-DENIAL this they call'd The VValk of Trial where Obedience dwell'd The Stygian Proteus varies shapes more than The cloudy Pictures in the Sky a Man There you may see and by and by the same A Lion Horse and then a Bear become So he who at the Circumcising Gateâ— In shape of Grosser sinns pull'd off of late More Spiritualâ—z'd becomes like Anicus grows More strong by 's falls whilst to the Earth one throws Him in one shape he rises up anon Cloath'd in another and as strong agen Like Pâ— lius therefore with him we must Cope With chaines of Persevâ—rance bind him up Or else like Hercules this Anteus Croud To Death betwixt the Armes of Fortitude We must not think but he will tempt us still Untill we come unto that sacred Hill Where we may say Sathan avoid and know A Deity commandeth thee to bow Then otherwise he shall not dare to do Us then shall Angels minister unto Long in this path our Pilgrim had not gon But on a sudden he is set upon By a great Satyr on his back he wore The bristly Jacket of a new-slain Bore His sleeves were hispid Goat-skins and upon His Crest a great bunch of Satyrion Orchis and Southernwood instead of plumes Wav'd All his garments stunk of strong perfumes The juyce of Ash his Face besmear'd his hair With Nutmegs powder'd was his right hand bare A Shield in which was pourtrai'd Pasipha Faustina Messalina Hellena I who have made the mightiest Monarchs bow Must I fight with so small a Pigmy now I 'le stop thy farther passage cries he out The first blow of this fair-fac'd Sword shall do 't Straight this sallacious Monster from his side A Weapon drew whose strength he oft had tri'd At him he ran with it But from the Sword His head the Pilgrim with the Crosse to guard Did think when straight the Sword converâ—ted to A naked Nymph who in that shamelesse hew Yet full of a fictitious Beauty flung Her Ivory armes about his Neck and clung Close to his Body wrestling all the while To trip him up yet in his face did smile In the mean time the Satyr with his clawes Endeavoured to ope his closed jawes Having a poys'nous Filtre in his hand The which he meant to make him swallow and Fescinan Songs singing with Goatish breath The Pilgrim h' almost stifled had to Death Great danger was he in both Faith and Hope Strove till they weary were The Will did Cope Be'ng now resolv'd most strenuously and now Her armed courage did to purpose shew But in his greatest danger almost spent With this certation GRACE assistance sent A Nymph doth one of her bright Train appear Whom purple Wings of chasest Turtles bear From the polluting Earth More white than snows Her garments were a Lillied Crown her brows Precing'd her neck a chain of Saphirs and No spots had ever her pure garments stain'd In her sweet eyes Rare Modesty kept Court Alternate blushes on her Cheeks did sport Sâ—lence sat on her Tongue and Beauty spread A lovely splendor all about her Head Of all the Nymphs the Pilgrim yet had seen This in his eyes for Beauty seem'd the Queen Hearts could not chuse but do her homage not If Heav'n Love refrain from loving her Day ne'r came forth out of the Eastern Gate With so bright face or so immaculate A Shield one hand did bear where you might see Ioseph Diana and Penelope Susaâ—na and the Apostles Maid who bare The World's Redeemer and Him pourtrai'd there Green Lettice sugared with Continence Upon a snow-white plate of Abstinence Sharpned with Laboâ—â—r in her other hand She brought and did close by the Pilgrim stand As fair Aurora with the brush of Light Strikes down the Cobwebs of the â—ordid Night From off the face of Heaven every morn The Light which did this Nymphs bright face adorn Strook from the Pilgrim those black clouds of Lust And to the Earth both Nymph and Satyr
Soul 's blest tye Sees God beyond Thoughts Intellectually This is the stâ—te in which SOPHIA will Souls emptied thus with her blest Spirit fill Then is the Soul made fit for to receive Those Bounties which Heav'ns blessed Hand doth give For whilst thoughts do her empty vessels fill Receive she cann't Heav'ns higher Bounties well A Cup fill'd to the brim can hold no more Nor stomachâ— meat desire if full before Then is the Soul fit to be wrought upon And to receive Heav'ns seal's impression What in this state she doth or hear or see Must needs be true she cann't deceived be Unutterable were those Sweets which here Our Pilgrim felt before his eyes appear The Beauties of the inner Worlds and on His Soul divine irradiation Is pour'd and now his soul with Constant eye Beholds true glances of AEternity Pens are too weak for to expresse the Blisse Which in this silent state enjoyed is Thunders and Whirâ—winds are not Heav'ns choyce He softly whispers in a silent Voyce The Souls eares then are eyes what Heav'n then shows The Soul both hears sees â—eels and truly knows Deep is the sight when that no thoughts controul For Heav'n then gives eyes to the passive Soul Past reach of Reason then she flyes and there With a new Light sees demonstration clear But on our Pilgrim passes and to ease Himself oft rests in such blest Groves as these Which thick stood in the Way there quiet rest From working thoughts his passive Soul possest And now unto this World he bids adiew The inner World appeareth in his view No new relations he receives who from Spiritual tyes and Heav'ns kind hand doth come Those who do travel in the Way with him By Heav'ns Venter are his Bretheren And Sisters tyed by a neerer Bond Than ever Earth or Nature yet had don'd They are his Brothers be they rich or poor Who in their Hearts his Father's Image bear Those are his Fathers and his Mothers that Into Regeneration begot His Soul Nature's Children do ne'r to their Parents the Love which Heav'ns to theirs do bear Though he Loves all yet there 's degrees in Love Some are more near and some do farther move As in the building of an House you see Some stones do touch while others farther be Some are more near some keep a distance yet All to the Structure are exceeding fit So Spirits joyned are in that divine And heavn'ly building they do thus Combine Some they are nearer knit than others thus Iohn unto Christ the most beloved was Here Spirits signatur'd alike conjoyn And in a mystic union combine Here Spirits be espous'd and here they see That they meet helps unto each other be Some cann't receive from every vessel though Their thirsty souls drink what from others flow One gives another he receives and he Gives to another here 's the harmony Saints thus combin'd are like a Tower that Unshaken stands against the Devils shot He fears such unions therefore all his Art And cunning he still uses them to thwart O blessed union whom God thus doth joyn Let no man venture for to discombine This doth produce a Love implete with Blisse Which far above natural affection is No Man but he that has 't the Virtue knows Of this Love which from pure union flows Words cann't exprest that heart which feels it doth Know certainly that here I speak a Truth The highest love of Friendship which doth shine So bright 's the Image of this Love divine The Stars alone that doth concatinate Nature and Grace bind fast this firmer state He who this Love Possesses would rejoyce And with great joy ' count it an happy choyce To dye and suffer torments for his Brother And loose his blood with joy to free another In this state two are one one cannot smart Feel but it thrilleth th'rough the other's heart One cann't be sad but by a Sympathie The other's sinking Soul doth almost dye Joy never bloometh in the Face of one But gladnesse in the other's eyes doth shine Although â—eas and a thousand Leagues do part Their Bodies yet by sympathetic Art Their Spirits meet and kisse and do declare At the same moment how each other fare In the black lines writ by each others handâ— A flowing Fire of constant Love thy find No sooner can their eyes be plac'd on them But th'rough them to their hearts a flaming stream Of sweetest Fire runs and every Line Unto that Fire doth new fewel joyn O blessed Love which from true Union flows Thy sweetnesse none but those that tast thee knows Base Earthly Lust and wanton Love's alloy Is all but dâ—oâ—â—e and counterfeited joy Is mix'd with them hut here true sweetnesse is True Joy and an unutterable Blisse Our Pilgrim tasted this felicity Whereby he found all earthly Harmony Below this sweetnesse Sweets Affection But far more sweet is heav'nly Union In Bodies joyning is Earth's Lovers blâ—sse In Souls uniting Heav'ns true Lovers is Most justly did the Holy Spirit Call The Serpent the most subtle Beast of all And though in subtilty he doth excel His envy runneth with it parallel This sets abroach that this desires the ill That 's the Instrument for to perform it still And where he cann't do what he would to Man He ' l shew his Teeth and do what e'r he can Think you our Pilgrim though so far he be Gon past the reach of his fell Subtilty No Hell must shew his envy still and to The very last try what his power can do When he had try'd all Stratagems in vain The Pilgrim's union with the Saints to strain To burst that League which breaks the Leagues of Hell And their united Forces oft repel To spoil that mariage of Spirits from Whose happy juncture sacred Powers do come Which overthrow those Legions of the Great Prince of Hell and all Impiety To break that true-Loves Knot which only can Bind fast the hands of this fierce foe to Man When he in vain to hinder this had try'd And saw our Pilgrim by an happy Guide Had it attain'd he seeks some other Way In midst of all his Sweets him to betray His envious eye beholds the Pilgrim's Soul Oft to carouse it in Loves sacred Boul Where she whole streams of Nectar gulped down Sweeter than Honey or the Honey-Comb Down to his Stygian Kingdom goes the Foe And there assembles all his Cooks below Makes them to cull the fairest Fruit the Tree Of ills doth bear First then Complacency Then Covetousnesse then Pride then Sâ—lfishnesse Envy and Iealousie and such as these He takes and by a cunning Chymistry Draws out their blacknesse and deformity Extracts their bitternesse and makes them fair Refin'd like Crystal and as pure as ayr But yet the poyson still was left behind Which stronger grew the more they were refin'd From these a juice he drew most fair and clear And up he mounteth to the Pilgrim's Sphear Sculking behind a cloud this Serpent lay And for an
resign Do what thou pleasest Lord with me For I am truly slain I being subject unto thee At thy dispose remain This is the state which Reason's foolish Schooles Do nominate the Paradise of Fools Because their high adored Deity Reason 's cast down and on the Earth must lye When the holy Ark enters the Temple then Dagon must fall and break his Neck so when Wisdom divine its Beauties doth display Upon our Souls Reason much pack away That is too shallow for to Comprehend Those things which WISDOM'S Wisdom doth Command It 's a false Judge and cannot truly see Beyond the dark Clouds of Moâ—tality The first degree in wisdom's sacred School Is to be Wise by first becoming Fool Fool to the Earthly Reason in Divine Wisdom a Wise man by subjection shine Mistake me not I 'l not have you put out The Souls bright Eye and so become a Bruit I 'ld not have Reason banished from Men Meer Animals indeed they would be then But that our Reason passe not those Bounds given To terminate it by the Hand of Heaven But that our Reason should its weaknesse own Confesse that Heav'ns Arcana's are unknown To her That her weak eyes cann't gaze upon The glorious splendor of bright wisdom's Sun And not to dare with a proud scrutiny To search Heav'ns secrets with her pur-blind eye Our eyes are Lights unto our steps but shoot Their Balls against the Sun he ' l put them out Reason's our Guide below but when she flees 'Gainst wisdom's Sun she loseth both her eyes Reason's illuminate and soar's on high When wisdom lendeth unto her an eye Then her eye passeth to the highest Sphear Searcheth the deeps and seeth Wonders there But before Reason can this eye attain She must acknowledge that her own are vain This Lesson now Heav'ns Pilgrim learn'd and He Subjects his Reason to Divinity He knows he must be born a new and then He knows he must become a Child agen With such Heav'ns Kingdom is implete you know Children are Innocent and harmlesse too They 'r pretty Lambs poor Tenderlings their eyes The seats of Innocence of Smiles the prize They have no wills you may do what you list To them they are not able to resist But if you hâ—rt them the defence you have Their Tongâ—â—s are which with cryes for pity crave Set them down here they cannot stir or go Till you remove them they no evil know The Devil cannot hurt them they defie With pretty Innocence his subtilty They know no guile they know no evil nor Sin They made fit for Heav'ns Mansions are The 〈◊〉 â—o such who gain the Child-like state 〈◊〉 hath already read their woful fate Thâ—se who offend such Babes had better be 〈◊〉 with a Milstone cast into the Sea They are his Care his tender Lambs who these Offend do highly Châ—ist himself displease Oâ—r truâ—-resign'd and child like Pilgrim now His to 〈◊〉 's highest will doth bow But whilst he at his Altar prostrate lyes His Angel speaking thus Commands him rise Arise thrice happy Pilgrim Let us still Proceed for that I 'm sure is Heav'ns Will Thou almost fitted art for to behold Those glories which by Tongues cannot be told Thâ—â—ce bow'd the Pilgrim not to him but God And on they went in Heav'ns illustrious Road. But by and by two flying Coursers brought Thither at th' Angels beck a Chariot Into 〈◊〉 they went no sooner seated they Were but th'row th' Ayr the Coursers Wings make way Earth 's left behind and now they launched are Into the calm Sea of the gentle Ayr. The Angels Pilot guide and Charoteer Who upward drives and from the Earth doth steer A place there is not view'd by mortal eyes Which 'twixt four Worlds just in the middle lyes Thither the Angel took his Course and on A rising Hill to Land his Chariot came Alighting there they mount unto the top Where was an antique Crosse erected up After the Pilgrim round had view'd the place And with his eyes su'd to know where he was The Angâ—l then his long-kept silence brake And this unto the holy Pilgrim spake This Hill on which thou stand'st doth lye between The four great Worlds from hence all may be seen Cast down thine â—ye that which thou seâ—st below Is th' outward World from which we came but now Where yoâ— ' dark mist is upon thy lest Hand The Devils dark internal World doth stand Where yon bright Light on thy right hand doth shine Is the Light World or Paradise divine Over thy head from whence that glory springs The Mansion is of the great King of Kings Th' Aeternal World and thither 't is I know Thou pressest and desiâ—ous art to go Th'rough Paradise the way doth thither lye Which e'r thou cann'st attain thou here must dye Here thou must crucified be for that Through Hell thou must passe e'r thou canst come at Blest Paradise and dangerous it is To passe th'rough Hell before you Death do kisse Death will disrobe thee of whatever may In Hell's dark Kingdom thy brave progresse stay Thou must to all things crucified be And no impediment retain with thee For if thou bearest any thing on which Wrath 's mighty King his iron claws may pitch He will torment thee and inforc'd by pain Thou to this Crosse return must back again Thou canst not passe his Kingdom until thou Thy Head to blessed Death dost freely bow For by this Death thou gain'st thy Saviour's blood Which thorow Hell thy passage will make good Wrath 's King may threaten then but dare not dâ— For 's eares the least of injuries to you But if thou ventur'st th'row his Kingdom and Noâ— Crucified here thou can'st not stand Thou se'st the Way now if thou can'st embrace A happy 〈◊〉 here is the Crosse and place Châ—â—st made Death easie fear not then to dye But let this Mount be thy Mount CALVARY This said the Angel bid the place adiew And th'row the smooth ayr in the Chariot flew Leaving the Pilgrim to encounter Death And to gain Life by yieldâ—ng mortal breath The Pilgrim being left alone unto The Crossâ— he ran and his sweet lips did glew Unto its hard sides from his mouth there came Blessings and hearty kâ—â—â—es mix'd with them About its sides his grasping armes did twine Enclosing it as Elmes the tâ—nder Vine Bless'd instrument by Death of Life cry'd he Man's gain Hel's pain losse to Mortality The zeal of Heav'n the blessed sâ—oyl of sin The Key that shuts Hell out and lets Heav'n in The Way to glory and of Crowns the gain The Bar to Death and everlasting pain To Death but 't is of Flesh and Sin the Way The Road to Life and everlasting Ioy. Come Death come Death I now prepared am To Dye Come nail me to this Crosse O come Come strike me with thy killing Dart for I To give the Ghost up of mortality Of Flesh of Sin do long Come here 's my Heart Prepared to receive thy
Mundos OAvarice for Gold and Silver 's prize The golden Truth thou ' ast turn'd to drossy Lyes Best things corrupted prove the worst of all By Rome's false Limbo doth true LIMBO fall The Christian Churches first blest Founders sure Their Streams delated from the Fountain pure Heav'n put that breath into their mouths which they Inspired thus to others did conveigh The holy Ghost upon them breath'd nor was Their Words corrupted by an humane glosse Then flourish'd Truth and all our Hyerarchie Rejoyâ—'d so pure a Church on Earth to see No pitchy clouds of error then did presse 'Twixt their eyes and the Sun of Righteousnesse The Truth shon then as clear as doth the Sun Mounted in 's golden Chariot at noon Christs Church sees clearly still where e'r it be Scatter'd through others and the Head is he But envious Sathan when he saw Truth so Extreamly spread and o're the World to grow He sew'd his Tares of Errors and did blind With clouds of darknesse Man's true eye the Mind These faster than the true Wheat grew this crop Of evil weeds did soon the Wheat o're-top Darknesse grew on apace anon the Day Could not its Light but here and there display Th'rough the small cranies of dark clouds then 't was Pride and Ambition in Rome's Church took place Then crept in all those Ceremonies then The Truth gave place unto the wiles of Men. Then Avarice with her hook'd Talons made Such Laws which turn'd Religion to a Trade And for the Love of Money did disguise Fair Truth and cloath'd her with a pack of Lies Something of precious Truth something of Day Under disguise under the clouds there lay Your Silver ISIS about Chelsy's not The same as where his bubling springs do put First forth their Crystal Heads near Thorlton for Churne's wondrushe's and Cherwell's waters there And Tame's Coln's Brents with his clear streams do run So on the other side he entertain Doth Ock Lad Kâ—nnâ—t Surrie's Rivers too Whose severe Waters with his mingle do Yet with these may at Châ—lsy run the same Pure waters which from his clear spâ—ing-head came So pure Religion's streams by this time had With many of Hel's Stygian stream lets spread Which were polluted with their Waters yet Amongst them Truth 's pure Crystal streams did â—â—iâ— But so bemudded that they scarce were seen But by those clear eyes who did dive for them The snowy flow'r is mixed with the Bran The chaff with Wheat one sift the other faâ— We must not â—â—ing them both away and make Th' â—ne uselesse for us for the other's sako We must beware when that the Tares we cull Lest we with them the wheat up also pull Fifteen Cent'ries and two decades of years After Christ's death from Isleben appears A Light by which Rome's muddy streams were seen By which the Truth men strove to câ—ll between Error 's black clouds But Zeal them so possest They her rejected 'cause by Rome's hands drest So fearful were they of a Romish dresse That Truth they ' ad rather leave than her possesse In that false Habit many Truth 's despis'd Were thus because by Rome they were disguis'd Among the rest and not the least this place This Region which thou now behold'st one was And 'cause Rome's fopperies had obscur'd the Light Of it forsooth they it discarded quite And by the ears it from existence whorry For fear of entertaining Purgatory The Truth of it now testifie thou mayst To others now thy self thou seen it hast It is not such thou seest as Rome doth fain For th' all-corrupting Gold and Silver 's gain This is the middle Region and doth hide It self between four Worlds on every side They bound this place Would'st thou know who those be Who yonder up and down you wandering see They are departed Souls who had begun The holy Race to Sion's Hill to run Who had Hel's broad Rode left and who in this Heav'ns Path some progress made had towards Blisse But e'r their Natures purified were E'r they attain'd had to that happy Sphear Which unto Paradise immediate leads Paâ—ca assunder cut their vital thread Their parted souls then to this Region flew Where they must perfect what they had to do VVhere they 'till purified must remain E'r they to Paradise admittance gain Th'rough Hel's deep Centre must the Soul first pass And th'rough a Sea of Fire to that of Glass Th'rough the first Principle as thou anon Shalt see Now if the Soul 's not cloath'd upon With Christ's sanguinous Robe the second and Most holy Principle she cannot stand But there is captivate or beaten back Unto the Crosse t' endure the holy Rack By putting off the first that so she may With th' second Principle her self array Then may the passe and not before Those who In flesh this holy Robe do not indue But dying hold by Faith 's strong clue are brought Hither to finish what remains unwrought The Way to Heav'n is not so easie as By poor beguiled Man imagin'd was Straight is that Gaâ—e and narrow is that Way Which Mortals doth conduct to perfect Day He that to presse th'row this straight Gate would seâ—k Must fling the World and flesh from off his neck They cannot enter Heav'n with him nor can Some Notions prove a Saviour unto Man The Work must somewhere finish'd be if on The Earth to Heav'n they go if not 'till done It fully be they here remain But those Wend straight to Hell who Hel's high-way had chose Man calls God merciful yet makes the same God the third part of all mankind to damn Hard-hearted Man dost thou not know there is An armed Cherub 'fore the Gate of Blisse Dost thou not know that Paradise is kept By Armes unwearied Eyes that never slept By a bright flaming Fauchon which enough Of terrour strikes to keep the wicked off Or tell me Man hast thou yet never heard That Imperfection cannot passe this Guard Nor flesh nor blood can enter Heav'n nor can Ever come there the least imperfect man No Imperfections enter Paradise If Man 's not perfect then before he dyes A some by no means grant where shall he then Be perfect made but in this Region 'T is true degrees â—ere in perfection are None throughly perfect still he comes where Mortality of immortality Is swal ow'd up where he beholds the Eye And Face of God without a Screen to this None can attain whilst in the flesh he is How few are there that to a perfect State Arrive before Death Life doth terminate To such a State I mean in which they may To Paradise go and make here no stay When their Souls fly their Bodies Souls must clear Be purg'd on Earth from what they drunk in there It is not Notions that the Work must do It must be real and done throughly too This Work not in tâ—e Head but Heart doth lye That 's most regarded by th' all-seeing Eye If they with Christ are truly risen
delicious and did sweetly vye For to delight with their variety All to excel the Pilgrim thought His tast Still gave the style of sweetest to the last Till he another tasted had When it With sweet delight made him the last forget So till he almost filled Was he guest The last he tasted still to be the best But then at last he could not but confesse His judgement lost in their deliciousness Would that the Earth had colours that could suit For to express the beauty of the Fruit Scarce can that Bow seen in the clouded ayr Its Opals with the shades of these compare Nor the three-squar'd Glasses varieties Which doth at once both please and hurt the eyes With the reflection can represent The shade of Paradise's Complement Man may by these some faint reflections frame But his Idea's cann't come near the same And those who have it seen do say they cann't Express the beauty of the meanest Plant. Our slick and scarlet Cherties nothing were Could they with blushes make themselves more fair Should they stand by the fruit of Paradise They would be rob'd of all their braveries The Honey-â—weet and Purple grape would grow Bitter and lose her Purple garments too Our yellow Apples with their painted cheeks Would pale their yellow and their golden streeks All Iune's and August's gallant braveries One single Fruit our Pilgrim â—at ouâ—vies Sweet Thymiamu's and Arabian Spice â—welt in the sacred Fruit of Pâ—â—adise So that at once those sacred Fruits did feast Three Sences both the eye the smel the tast Between which three his Judgement was so tost That he was dubious which was feasted most The sacred Graces which this feast did Crown Had there a Heav'nly Banquet of their own Such food it was on which they daily fed And this before the Pilgrim too they spread 'T was fruit of Life's fair Tree which they from thence Had taken for their daily sustenance Their smiling Ioy 's and secred Peace's fruit With Hope's and Faith 's together sweetly suit There were the apples of blest Chastity The daily Food of sweet Simplicity The Fruit of Love and that which Innocence Did daily feed on That which Patience Most Lov'd and that so satisfying meat Which Meekness and bless'd Temperance did eat Brotherly Kindnesse Single-mindednesse And many more which there his eyes did bless The Lovely Fruit with such sweet charmes did greet His fixed eyes that he fell soon to eat On every Dish so pleasing was the Food The more he eat of it the more he cou'd Its sweetness could not cloy and every bit Gave satisfaction and desire of it Encreas'd at once in every bit there lay Life-Honey Manna and Ambrosio But now four trines of blessed Angels bring The second course of this sweet Banquet in Each one between his Snow-white Hands did hold A Dish whose mettal purer was than Gold Seav'n times try'd o're the quintessence of that Would be less pure and immaculate They were all fram'd of Gemms of Paradise Whose Sun-like Lustres did persâ—tinge the eyes Not Epicurean Feasts nor the profuse Symposiums of waâ—ton Syracuse Nor Sybaritic nor all Asia's fare Might with what in those Dishes lay compare No if all Lands and Seas conspired were To feast a Monarch with their choysest chear And should they bring th' Hefperian golden Fruit Or rob Alcinou's Orchard 't would not do 't Kings may command Earth's Dainties to their board But such as these nor Earth nor Seas afford Apples they were though not of â—assy Gold Yet far more rich and fair for to behold Their full-blown Beauties did attract the eye Chearing the Spirits with their bravery For Gold and Silver and the blushing Queen Of Flowers lay involv'd of Beds of green The verdant Leaves espoused to the Fruits Gave them green Mantles to their Pinky Suits So all the dainties of sweet smiling May With Autumn's fair exuberances lay But whilst the Pilgrim's eyes content doth take In their fair looks thus t' him the Angel spake Immediatly the Birds surcease their noyse To hear the sweeter musick of his Voyce Now shalt thou by experience confess The Way to Wisdom is th'row foolishnesse At least by that which so the World doth Call Who miscall all things ever since the fall Thou hast by all a Fool accounted been Who superficiously thy paths have seen What greater foolishness can be to them Than all the World and its Sweets to contemn Who leaves the World's High Wayes though ne'r so wise Still subject to Fools Category Lyes But it O Pilgrim granted is to thee That Heav'n 's Archimagus thou shalt be Seest thou those Lovesy Fruits whose Rosie dye And hew their Complements shew to thy eye But when their inward vertues thou shalt know Thou ' lt say one's worth exceeds all Earth's below These lovely Fruits which are before thee spread For thy sake fâ—om Life's Tree was gathered Iesus commanded that it so should be For to express his mighty Love to thee And this excess of Love bespeaks for why But very few did ever feed so high But our great King now in these latter dayes Some to the highest pitch of Power will raise To match those Mortals who in Hell beneath Feed on the Magic Fruit o' th' Tree of Death And as Hel's Powers increase so theirs shall rise Who feed on Life's blest Fruit in Paradise For once before Christ's great appearing Day Shall be both Kingdoms shall their might display On the Terrestrial Orb The Dragon shall Sore to the skies to have the greater fall This is a special favour to thee shown For tho that many to this place have flown And that the long Arm of Humility Hath reach'd them many Fruits of Life's fair Tree Yet these fair fruits they never tasted they Could only with their eyes feed on their gay Many may unto Paradise attain And other Fruit of Life's blest Tree may gain And yet may not permitted be to tast These blessed Fruits which thou so freely mayst God's gifts they are and his Arcana's be The very choyce of all his Treasury All fitted are not for so deep a Feast Christ the sole Giver knows for whom 't is best The Tree of Life hath divers sorts of Fruit Which with all tempers and conditions suit All that may be for Man's own happiness All that come here may eat but these oppress Peculiarly above the rest the might Glory and strength of the great Prince of Light The Tree of Life mounts up her towring Head Unto th' Aeternal World from hence doth spread Her laden Armes and on her upper bough These Theamagical twelve fruits do grow From thence these Angels brought them what they are And what their Virtues I 'le to thee declare O Man Can Time contain Aeternity Or can it comprehend the Deity Can God grow old or feeble Time or age Immortal Srength to languishment engage Is God's all-powerful Arm now weaker grown Than in those Ages which are past and flown That thou thus boldly O
degenerate That Miracles are ceas'd dost praedicate E're since the World did from a Chaos spring Upon its Theatre God still did bring His acts of Wonder spreading them abroad As Witnesses to all there was a God All ages of the World can testifie Those matchless Wonders of the Dcity But why less frequent in these later times Is cause of Mortals unbelieving Crimes Faith now is wanting whosoever hath That may do Wonders with a grain of Faith Rocks may be mov'd the Seas divided and Earth's floted o're the Ocean made dry Land Man's unbelief and much unworthiness Has caus'd exuberant Miracles to cease But yet these later dayes so barren grown Are not but they true miracles have shown The Romish Church although Priests oftâ—n fain Some through the cursed thirst of rotten gain True miracles has seen O Man despise Not all because some Priests have forged Lyes For nothing is to thee more dangerous Than to say what God doth Belzebub does But to that pass men now adayes are grown That they no miracles at all will own But if ought pass beyond their apprehension They strait cry out it is black Hel's invention As if th' Immortal King to Hell had given The glorious Wonder-working Power of Heaven Or had resign'd to him his right or swore Never to shew his Arm of Wonders more Long shall not Man retain these thoughts for why As Lightning breaketh th'rough the Crystal Sky So shall miraculous Wonders have a birth And with new Light illuminate the Earth And shew that Heav'n's Magâ—tians can do More than Belzebub or his Magâ— too For those who eat shall on these fruits you see Shall only God's true sacred Magi be And these shall make them so thou shalt be one Their several virtues therefore shall be shown Seest thou that Dish those fruits in Scarlet dy'd Who seem to brave it in Pomona's pride Such is their virtue that they far excel In giving Eloquence the Clarean Well Hermes himself less Eloquent shall be Than those whose Tongues these tip with swavity These tasted strait the Tongue-ty'd sweetly speaks And all impediments assunder breaks Tongues stammering strings are scru'd to Heav'nly strains The blattering Mouth the highest Measures gains They to the Eater straitwayes do dispence The divine accents of true Eloquence Rhetoric Honey through their Lips do speed And such are termed golden-Mouth'd indeed Their virtue 's ty'd not to one Tongue alone It the true Grammar of all Tongues makes known And in a Moment the unlearned'st Man Can teach the deepest Characters to scan And make him speak all Languages that are More smoothly than his own vernacular To Mose's Mouth the fluent Aâ—â—on this Fruit granted was for the Isachians Blisse This sacred Fruits high Virtue did imbue A many of the holy Prophets too Whereby in charming Notes they did diffuse God's sacred Word unto the stubborn Jewes The holy Spirit when in cloven flame He on the Heads of the Apostles came Touched their Tongues with this Fruits sacred juyce And of all Tougues they straitwayes had the use Such is the virtue of this matchlesse Fruit Unless by those that are adjoyning to 't But mark that next Dish where green Leaves inclose Fruit which in scarleâ— Robes out-braves the Rose So fulgent Rubies court and charm the eye When with clear Smuragds they invelop'd lye The Pestum flower peeps th'row her infant Skreen With paler blâ—â—hes wrap'd with duller green The jayce of these impregnates strait the Brain Not with discourses Kicksie nor with vain Disputes true Logic art it doth diffuse And teaches Syllogisms how to use For Heav'n's own int'rest True Dilemma's too Can by infusion to the Taster shew This doth the understanding purge the eye O' th' Soâ—l the Mind from Motes do purifie This Reason doth illuminate and shews How the true Dialectic Art to use Reason's corruptions spots and fallacies This purgeth out and gives it purer eyes This givâ—th Armes unto Truth 's Champions and Inables them in Dispute's Wars to stand This unto Paul was borne by some of us When He with Beasts battail'd at Ephesus By this at Athens to the Schoole he flew And th' Epicures and Stoicks overthrew With solid Arguments This means did show His persecutors how to overthrow The Iewish Rabbies Gentile Doctors Mute At last were made 'gainst him was no dispute That third Dish where in Seas of Beauties wallow The slick-skin fruits bestrip't with Red and Yellow Screening their Virtues in a double fold Of Crimson Satin and of yellow Gold The ground is Gold upon whose face is spread A thousand striplets of a grain-dy'd Red. That Dish contains fruit of unvalued prize Whose sacred virtue makes man truly wise That Magic makes and true Phiâ—â—â—hers That â—isdoâ— and true Knowledge still infers Those Fruits unlock the fast-shut Cabinet Of Nature and her Treasures open set Nature's true â—ewels rol'd in pitch do lye Not to 〈…〉 by an Heav'nly Eye And such an one these give an Eye that looks Upon and reads her most mysterious Books An Eye that thorow Neptune's Region goes And all things in his brinish Kingdom knows An Eye that walketh thorow all the Mines An Eye that to Earth's solid Centre shines An Eye which doth perspicuously see What virtues in all Vegitables be That the true Nature of all things that grow From the tall Cedar to the shrub doth know An Eye that from the Earth to Heav'n doth rise And rangeth th'rough the myst'ries of the Skies That views the stations of the Wanderers That sees the mansion of the Northern Bears That knows the nature of those glittering Fires That reads their Lectures and Heav'n's Hand admires That knows their good and evil influence They on the World and Mortals do dispence That knows the causes of all natural things Seas and Earth's motions and the Winds swift wingâ— The streaming Metours and the blazing Stars The hairy Comets sad predicts of Wars That truly sees and knoweth all the parts O' th' Ptolomic and Eucledean Arts. These sacred Fruits besides all these disclose Nature's hid Magic which th' unwise oppose The Ancients wisdom whereby they could do Things wonderful yet natural and true Not jugling tricks nor by ill Spirits might But by Dame Nature's just and sacred Light Almost extinct now in the World unknown 'Cause men have sought praestigiae of their own And following airy Notions caught the shade Whilst the true substance did their hands evade Such are the Virtues of these Fruits divine Which with such matchless lustrous Beauties shines Of these the Father of the Faithful eat Sucking true Wisdom from the blessed meat And those who liv'd nine Ages to descry The Planets dances iâ— the azure Skye Great Salomon that mighty Magus had His Wisdom and his Rnowledge from this food This sacred Fruit was lovely to his eyes For he this more than 's Crown or Gold did prize He wisely said For all things there a Time Was did but Mortals on the Earthly clime Exactly
the true seekers of the noble Stone Have golden Spurs to spurious such unknown These be the Reasons why so many misse The STONâ— and their investigated Blisse To thee dear Pilgrim need I not to shew The way to Magic 't is the Way which you Have come and there 's no other Path which guides To this Caelestial Art of Arts besides 'T is not the selfish Wise man this can gain 'T is not the Covetous shall this attain 'T is not the thirsty after Glory shall Be able once to touch this Magical And happy Fruit from such it 's safely kept By an huge Dragon whose eyes never slept Those who this Fruit will gain must first outright O're-come this Dragon in a single Fight O man thou must Regenerated be Before thine eyes this happy Fruit can see Foâ— none but Children gain this Diadem Children of Love it is preserv'd for them Châ—ldren of Innocence who washed are In blâ—st Regeneration's Lavar fair This happy Fruit by the free Hand of Heav'n To such Regenerated Babes is given By which from Babes to an exalted pitch They ' â— rais'd and so become Men wise and Rich Rich in those Treasures whose most simple Gemm The World doth and its richest Riches shame Thâ—s gift is Free and yet it must be sought Yet by true Resignation 't is bought God gives a portion small at first but so As it Man uses shall his Talent grow But never let Man hope for this estate ' Til 's heart is pure and Regenerate You know great Riches and high Honours are The Devil's strongest unresisted snare By which oft-times he Souls doth overthrow Who pious were e'r they those Bâ—â—ts did know Think you that God thâ—n in t ' Man 's hands will put So sharp a Weapon his own Throat to Cut Think you he will to him the Stone disclose ' Til how to use it for his good he knows Nor knows Man how to use it 'till that he First truly Dead Regenerated be Then let all who this Art investigate In Soul and Body be regenerate Then if they ask they shall receive the prize If Knock the sealed Door assunder flyes If seek they find if pray they 'r heard Thus I Have shew'd the true way to Felicity The way whereby this Fruit may be attain'd Whereby the much desired STONE is gain'd He then who pure is and Regenerate And blessed so that he may freely eat Of this beatifying Fruit he then Becomes Heav'n's SOPHUS or Magitian O those bless'd Bonds which fast together tye God and the Soul Man and the Deity Nothing 's impossible for him to do Who this blessed state and pitch attain'd has to For if to him to God it must be so His Will is God's they are no longer two He willeth nothing but by Heav'n's own Will Then what shall dare not his Command fulfill He now is Soveraign over the World and all Things that therein are shall obey his Call For by this Art of divine Magic he May shroud him in invisibility Walk on the Clouds stand in a flame of Fire And th'row the walls if dores be shut retire May walk upon the sâ—â—liest Seas while they Smoothing their rugged Fronts his feet obey To him diseases bow their eager heads And at his touch they leave their nasty beds And fly to Hell from whence they came for by His touch and Word restor'd is Purity Of Vegitables the true use he knows The poyson in each herb away he throws And perfect Chymist by Spagyric Art Hell from Heav'n's Essence Drosse from Gold can part Both Aâ—â—mals and Minerals also He not by guesse but perfectly doth know As Man may in a Mirrour see his Face So he their virtues through their outward Case No thing 's unknown to him all Arts that be Unmask'd are and he views their Verity Metals he may transmuâ—e the Stone by which They are exalted to theâ—r highest pitch Of persectnesse he has which will unfold The way to change all Mettals into Gold Not only Bodies are at his Command But all created Spirits also stand To do his Will The sneeking Devils are If he Commands enforced to appear VVith louting Heads and trailing Tails and eyes Dejected to behold themselves made prize To see that Man whom they triumph'd upon Now to have Rule and be a Lord o're them O they had rather to the darkest place Of Hell run than behold their own disgrace For if he cometh where they be they run Into the lowest darknesse headlong down For they his eyes as much now hate to see As the bright splendor of Aeternity For they behold him with that glory clad As once themselves before they lapsed had All Earthly Spirits also prest do stand Ready to do what he shall them Command Those in the Fire yield a joynt consent To wait upon him in their Element Those in the Water and the deepest Sea All his Commands are ready to obay Those in the Ayr and Astral Regions too Their constant service at his beck do shew The holy Angels also do rejoyce And pleasure Him who is the Highest's choyce Thus all conspire to be his servants and VVith speed obay what he shall them Command Besides all these to him permitted 't is To enter Gods own Treasury of Blisse In which he doth Arcana's deep behold Not fit unto the World for to be told The great Archaeus of all things that be He doth in ev'ry World and Astra see Divinely taught divinely learn'd indeed He Heav'n's Caâ—al and mysteries doth read And thus is Heav'n's Magitian a King Upon the Earth to whom all Creatures bring Their homage due unto that Image that In him appears of the Incorporat And increated Deity And thus Man is co-equal with nay more than us What Adam lost he gains by this new Birth And is new-Crowned King and God on Earth And such a Godlike King was Adam All So should have been but for his fatal Fall But few and very few attain to this Great Pearl of Wisdom Fruit of matchlesse Blisse Now in these latter dayes But Mortals may E're long behold the mighty lustrous Ray Of this fair Fruit which I may call the Best For in it is contained all the rest Heav'n's great Magitian mighty Moses had Upon this Fruit by God's donation fed When â—e those VVonders in the Name of God Did do in Aegypt with his Magic Rod That Rod which to a Sâ—rpent changed was And which again into a Rod did passe By this Fruit he God's MAGUS did become Performing VVonders in his mighty Name By this on Phaâ—oh and all Aegypt too He sev'n fold Plagues and seav'n-fold Wonders threw By this the Seas he parts which Crystal waâ—ls Become the Israclites by this with Qualos And Manna bright he feeds By this a knock Opens the Springlets in the solid Rock By this he Gold makes potablâ— his face With royal Rayes by this incircled was Mosâ—'s successor by this Magic too The strong-built walls of Ierico
dead the Soul then flyes To Heav'n and not before above the Skie To such whose Breasts are with such thoughts implete I shall and in a word this Answer â—it Paul was alive and yet to Heav'n he flew Where he such wondrous mysteries did view That as they were unutterable so They were not fit â—or to be told below The Patriarch Aenoch walk'd with God and there Is Heaven doubtless where he doth appear In Love and Glory so Aelias went To Heav'n before his mortal Spirits were spent But such whose thoughts are thus do heaven tye Unto a place above the starâ—y Sky Such don't believe the Scriptures which declare That also they within Man seated are Indeed th' Aeternal Heav'ns are boundless they In Man and out of Man themselves display I say they 're boundless for the God of Blisse Is boundles and they are where e're he is Nay Heav'n though strange it seem is too in Hell And there doth as Lâ—ght doth in darkness dwell As Night cann't Day as Darkness cann't the Light So cann't Hell e'r comprehend the bright Aeternal Heav'n as 't cann't excluded be So not included by Demensity Did Man himself but truly throughly know He 'd find all Woâ—lds that are within Him flow Man 's a deep study and who Mâ—n doth see Truly and throughly knows all Worlds that be 'T is very true if Heaven only were Beyond the blew Seas of the starry Sphear Our Souls enchain'd below could never come Thither till they had left their fleshly home For that our Elemental Bodies are Too heavy to be carried so far But Aenoch walk'd with God on Earth and so May Man on Earth be and see Heav'n too O thou that gazeth on the Olympic Court Fancying beyond it the Majestic Port And Restful Haven of departed Souls Whose bredth extendeth unto either Poles Where mighty Mansions for the Saints do lye Spread over the vast and starry Canopye Carnal Conceits of splendid Palaces 〈◊〉 grosly Brain-deluded Images Did'st thou but know the Nature of a Soul Such fancyful Idea's thou'dst controul For nothing is more near than Heav'n to thee Wert thou not blind had'st thou but eyes to see The deeper into thy self dost go The nearer thou still Heav'n approachest to For what 's indeed a Souls departure hence But motion from the Circumference Unto the Centre let it Centre where It will or in the Light or darker Sphear Had'st thou a Poâ—er granted thee to flye Ten thousand tâ—mes as far beyond the Skie As it is to 't as far from Heaven thou Might'st be God's Seat I mean as thou art now Heav'n is spiritual yet real too So that our outward carnal Eyes cann't view Its Seat The Soul which is a Spirit may Yea whilst it's pris'ner in this house of Clay Though I confess this Clayie Vail is such That intervening it doth hinder much These outward eyes can nothing view but what Is gross material and Corporate Rather more truâ—y they do nothing view No more than the Perspective we look through Is said to see for 't is the eye so 't is The Soul and nothing else that views and sees What sees the Body when the Soul is fled The Organ still remains the same though dead Yet it no visive Power has for why The Soul once gone of no use is the eye So likewise 't is as plainly it appears The Soul that feels that smels that tasts that hears But now the Soul without a Body may Nor see nor hear touch tast or smell I say Mistake me not I pray I mean not now This Flesh and Blood this gross out-garment though For this indeed is as it were a foul Garment unto the Body of the Soul Which is its prison and the fruit which all Men bear of Adam's fell and fatal Fall For this Imagination did indue This Body when he put his mind into This extern Principle which once shall be Int 's Aether swallow'd to Aeternity Suppose you had a Robe of Lead made fit Unto your Body and that put in it Your Face and Hands all parts covered o're Against your eyes thick Glasses as before You could not see how dim the World would show How heavily should you then move and go Could you so nimbly scud across the Plain Or sprightly swim within the silver Main As you before did should a wedg of Steel Fall hard upon you should you not it feel And should your glass eyes stopped be with clay You could not then behold one glimpse of Day But should you freed be from that Prison then How fair and clear would all things show agen Just so 't is with the Soul a heavy foul Garment unto the Body of the Soul This fleshly Case is whilst it fouly decks It she doth labour under its defects And must be subject unto them then she If that the eyes be d'outed cannot see The outward World let any part of this Organic Body be but ought amiss She is afflicted with it by this tye Of flesh she thus endures misery But the Soul's Body is another thing Which in and through this fleshly Case doth spring Not to be seen with fleshly eyes so you May see the Sun but not that Body view Which gives it splendor so you view the flame But not that Body which Lives in the same For the true Elements they are not seen By eyes Corporeal 't is an outer Screen You view the Body of the Soul likewise From the unmixed Element doth rise This is the Body that to Heav'n doth flye Who gains this Body gains the Mysterie For thorow it he Heav'n may view though he In his corporeal Clayie House still be Who fixes this may there for ever dwell For he those Wonders views that Worlds excel 'T is in this Body that the Soul doth see Th' immortal Glories of Aeternity 'T is plain that all or most great Visions that The sacred Scriptures t' us do nominate Not with the outer were beheld but by The Heav'n-beholding and internal eye What outward Eye can see a Sp'rit unlesse He doth himself in t ' form and matter press What outer eye is able then to see The Form or glory of Heav'n's Majesty An Angel's fain to vail his splendid beams With some gross matter when himself it seems He will discover to th' extern eye of Man What extern Eye can see the Heav'n's glories then With what eye did Elisha's Man behold The fiery Host that did them safe enfold With what Eye was it that Ezeâ—iel spy'd That glorious Vision by clear Chebar's side With what Eye did he see Ierusalem When he in Chaldâ— captive did remain With what Eye was it that great Daniel saw Himself though then at Shushan at Aelai By what sight saw he when sleep seal'd his eyes The great Creator in th' Aeternal Skies And how could Steven with his outer eye See Iesus sitting in th' Aemperial Sky At God's right Hand You know the glorious Sun Which round this Orb in twice twelve
hours doth run By three times fifty and sixteen degrees Exceeds the World But who that Planet sees Deems him but smal How far beyond that Star As they account th' Emperial Heav'n's are You may imagine when the space they ' count 'Twixt Earth and the eighth Heav'n to surmount Sev'nteen hundred millions of Miles and more How vast a distance did Steven's eye therefore Behold our Saviour But that eye by which He say no bounds to it can distance pitch Paul's eyes were closed with what eye saw He The Glory then of Heav'n's bright Majesty Peter entranc'd was with what eye Beheld He then the sheet with clean and unclean fill'd And lastly with what Eye and with what Ear did divine Iohn in Patmos see and hear If thus the Eye may Heav'n see also The Body of that Eye may thither go It is not strange to them therefore that are Acquainted with true notions of that Sphear Wherein Iâ—hovâ—h and the Angels be That Man on Earth th' Aeternal Heav'n's may see For such do know how Souls abstracted may Be from their House of impediting clay And that whilst in their Bodies they remain May Heav'n by Faith not only here attain And be conversant in the highest Sphear Abstracted from the World though they dwell here But least because I here so stifly plead You should suppose I have been there indeed I will confess as ' counting it great shame To be accounted better than I am That I not worthy have accounted been O no I cleans'd am not am enough from Sin I am a Pilgrim and do thither wen Strong is my Faith I shall come there Amen! Assur'd I am although a very few Attâ—in whilst here on Earth this Court unto That here on Earth it may attained be Though Flesh and Blood impeed its clarity But you that ask me how I come to know Those things of Heaven which I here do show Since as I do confess I have not been There nor those myst'ries that I speak of seen Pray tell me also then how you come by Your knowledge of a Heav'n beyond the sky Were you e're there Yet confidently you Discribe the place affirm your notion true You 'l tell the Joys of everlasting Blisse Describe the Glory that in Heaven is And will you then if you did never see The place you speak of angry be with me For doing what your selves do daily do You say 't is UP to Heav'n and that is true And is 't not also INTO Heav'n you 'l grant That God's the Centre of all things and sha'nt The Centre which is inmost highest be Or Up or In it is all one to me But this I know that Heav'n and also Hell Though separate in every place do dwell Although as I confess I have not been In Heav'n nor there its spendid glories seen Yet I account it grace enough to be The Praecâ— of his heav'nly Majesty I may the Candle hold and light the way Into the place of everlasting Day I may the Mercury be to guide aright Caelestial Pilgrims with my glimmering sight We may see right unto the Mountain's top And point the way whilst we are getting up Unto our fellow-Travellers that they if faster go they can may see the Way We Joy if by our means aright they move Those that see more may thank us for our Love That upper Globe which you see pourtrai'd there Doth represent the high Eternal Sphear This is the highest Noblest brightest best The Glory Life and Centre of the rest The place of mighty Wonders the divine Seat of the sacred everlasting Trine The habitation of the blessed Saints Where glorious Angels spread their heav'nly Tents Where stands Mount Sion and the glorious Lamb Where is SOPHIA and Ierusalem This is the everlasting place of rest The Heav'n the habitation of the blest This Man may find in the deep Centre and How this through all devolveth understand Here is the spatious glassie Sea and the Crystalline Earth the Ayr of Purity The purest fire which conjoyn'd in one The matter is of the Caelestial Throne Of Everlasting Joyes This place it is The Empyreum and the Seat of Blisse GOD out of Nature Comprehended may Not be a Nothing so to us I say He seemeth but as he Himself doth show In the Eternal Forms of Nature so We apprehend him can The Father then Hath from Eternity begot the Son This Birth 's the Heart of God which ever was And though begot yet 't no beginning has From whence proceeds the sacred Spirit who From both begotten is Eternal too All three distinct in Person yet but One Aeternal GOD in a strict Union This is the Mysterie of the sacred Trine Which in this everlasting Orb doth shine But now the Father with a strong desire Thirsts for the Son from whence springs up a Fire Which Fire not reaching God's most sacred Heart Is full of Anguish Bitternesse and Tart. This is the Fire that inkindleth Hell Where all the damned and the Devils dwell But the same Fire when that sacred LOVE Or Heart of God it self to it doth move Strait blazeth forth into a meek and Bright Joy and desire of Aeternal Light This is the Light of Heav'n and pleasant Joy In which all Blisse is not the least annoy And thus O Reader if thou are not blind Heav'n's Blisse and Joy Hel's pain and torment find Thou wilt to come from one deep Root and even Perceive the true cause both of Hell and Heaven And thus thou seest how they together dwell Hell hid in Heav'n Heav'n in the midst of Hell And yet so great a Gulf between that they In Hell behold not the least glimpâ—e of Day Nor they in Heaven feel the least of wo Their separation's thus Eternal too Though Similies are too too base to shew This Mystery of Mysteries of Mysteries to you But that our weak and duller eyes may see More clear by them think on this Simile Take thou a lighted Tapor put it out The week thou ' lt see with Fire glow thr'owour From whence a stinking vapour and a Fume Displeasing to thy nosethrils fills the room The stinking glowing weik gives little light And the Fire far doth differ from a bright And burning Tapor Light the same and then Thou 'lt see the former darknesse fled agen Thou 'lt see a blaze which from the weik doth rise With a bright splendid Glory 'fore thine eyes Which Blaze without the Fire could not be made The Fire 's without that blaze a deady shade The Heat and Light distinct and several be Though joyntly they do in the blaze agree Nor can the 〈◊〉 without the Heat have being But joyntly in 〈…〉 agreeing They make that Glory brighter than the Gold Which in a lighted Taâ—or we behold But Heav'n's splendrâ—â—â— Light doth not contain Such scorching heat as 〈◊〉 such Lâ—ghâ—â— remain The Application's very 〈◊〉 'T is â—ven Thus 'twixt the Fire of â—ell and Light of
which doth imbue The sacred VVall with more than scarlet hew Blessed Saint ANDREâ—'S holy name doth own A splendid place upon that blushing Stone The seav'nth a CRYSOLITE whose Croseam beams Paint all the side with thousand golden streams Saint MATTHEW'S Name most glorious to behold Shines there engrav'd and wrapt in purest Gold The eighth a BERIL of a glorious hew Which paints the VVall at once both green and blew The name of SIMON doth it self display There graven deep which shall remain for aye The ninth a TOPAZ which with Lustrous Rayes And verdant streams its beauty there displays Saint BARTHOLOMEâ—'S bless'd name doth also stand Engraven there by an Almighty Hand The tenth a CRYSOPRASUS which is seen To paint the Wall at once with Gold and green Shining in Heav'nly Lustre THOMAS his Illust'rous Name on it engraven is Th' Eleventh is a HYACINTH whose flame The golden splendor of the Sun doth shame VVith bless'd Saint PHILLIP'S name engrav'd thereon VVhich glowing there seems written in the Sun The twelfth an AMETHIST whose blushing shine Out-braves the Rosie hew of Cretian VVine VVhereon the glorious name of blessed IUDE By God engrav'd in triumph there is shew'd Her everlasting Gates were three times four One entire Pearl doth serve for every door On which in most resplendent Glory dwell The names of the twelve Tribes of Israel The dainty streets pure Crystal doth enfold And the whole City is of massy Gold But yet transparent as the brightest Gemm Unto Spectators blessed eyes doth seem Thorow the middle doth Life's River flow Upon whose banks the Tree of Life doth grow The glorious Splendor of the blessed Lamb Is Sun and Moon unto IERUSALEM The Glory of the Lord doth alwayes sit There to embrighten and o're-shadow it Night 's banish'd thence the Lamb 's resplendant Ray Indues it with an everlasting Day The Lamb the only stately Temple is Of this great City of everlasting Bliss O here remains the everliving Word O here remains the Glory of the Lord Lo there the Lamb upon mount Sion's top Triumphant stands with all his Virgin Troop There all the Elders with their glorious Crowns To Judge the world sit in their splendid Thrones Lo there the everlasting SON of GOD Cloath'd with immortal Rayes makes his abode Lo there the blessed Saints and Angels be Cloathed with Robes of Immortality VVhose glittering brows are Crown'd with Diadems Chas'd with e'rlasting and Caelestial Gemms Here Glory Prayse and Hallalujah's be Sung to the LAMB to all Aâ—ternity Here is the Book of Life the Heav'nly Stone The glorified Mame th' immortal Thâ—one Of Blisse and everlasting Ioyes And here The new and glorified Bodies are This is the secret Sacred Place this is The glorious Kingdom of everlasting Bliss This is the Mansion House and the abode Of IESUS and of all the Sonnes of GOD O here 's the Rock of Wonders and here is The hidden Treasure of Aeternal Blisse O here the Saints and Angels shall for aye The blessed Name of GOD resound with Joy Ioy everlasting and a Ioy that can Not comprehended be by sensual Man VVhilst thus with Joy implete and Wonder too Our happy Pilgrim doth intently view The glorious beauties of this sacred place He 's now disrob'd of his poluted Case For no defilement or polution Can enter into new IERUSALEM A Body clear as Crystal Light as Ayr VVhere the true Elements all mixed were In a just harmony he now indues His other body now no fâ—ces shews But swallow'd up by a blest Union Is made more bright and glorious than the Sun Arrayed thus th' Aeternal Gate of Blisse Straitway unto our Pilgrim open'd is Through which he enters to that sacred place VVhere without Vails he sees GOD face to face VVonders of Wonders there he sees which none Beholds til they as he approach the Throne That Throne of Glory and Aeternal Bliss VVhere our thrice happy Pilgrim seated is Thus ends his Iorney here for ever blest He doth implete with Joyes and Blisses rest And here I too should end I do confess VVith admiration of his happinesse And with Addresses to Heav'n's Majesty That my poor Soul at last enthron'd might be And that she might for ever blessed move In Joyes and Blisses in the Sphear of LOVE But that my thinks I see your noting eye That Clouded Glory o're this Orb doth spye And speaking in its silent Language now The meaning of it me commands to shew That represents GOD past the reach of Creature Beyond the Forms of the Eternal Nature GOD in himself GOD in the Abstract where VVe may say what He is not but we dare Not say here what He is for neither He Can Good or evil or Light or Darknesse be Nor this nor that here in this place nor Can Nor ought to be search'd into by Man Here as a Nothing He to us doth seem Nor Can Man further knowledge have on â—im Nor Man or Angel a Commission has To dive into this abstruce secret Place Therefore thine eyes withdraw and be Content To know GOD as He will nor represent Thou to thy mind or in thy fantasie An Image of the glorious Deity For never ought we Heav'n's high Majesty To Form or Figure whatsoever tye Therefore O man destroy all Images Of God that in thy fantasie shall rise This is the increated ENS of God And an immense unfathomable flood Where lest we loose our selves we shall withdraw Into this secret place no man e'r saw Therefore O Reader I admonish thee That thou no farther search what God may be For if thou dost distracted in the end Thou wilt confess Man cann't GOD comprehend VVithdraw thy Thoughts then cease thouhere to pry Into the secrets of the Deity GOD will not here be known but yet he is And will be known upon the Throne of bliss He will be known in NATURE increate His VVonders there Man ought to meditate VVhere He the Arcana's of Heav'n's Majesty VVith eyes of Truth and with true eyes may see O Reader therefore to the Orb â—f Love Your eyes and meditations now remove VVhere thou by constant Prayer mayst obtain A sight of what here under Clouds remain And with clear eyes must see those things of worth VVhich by my Pen are darkly shadow'd forth But yet accept my Labour and my Pains My Heart examine not my duller strains For if they any shall with Light befriend I joy for that of Writing is THE END Deo soli Gloria Qui Nobis haec otia fecit FINIS Books printed for Lodowick Loyd and sold at his Shop next the Castle Tavern in Cornhill BUrtâ—ns Anatomy of Melancholy fo Pintos Travails to the East-Indies fo Goodwins Redemption-Redeemed fo Authority of the Scriptures 40. 3 Disputations with Mr. Powel and Mr. Simpsoâ— 40. An Exposition on Romans 9. in 40. Of Infant-Baptisâ—â— A Vindication of Infants Baptism in 40. Bâ—hmes Misterium 〈◊〉 being an Exposition of 〈◊〉 in fo His 3 Principles of the diviâ—e Essence in 40.
214. 215 An Hymn of Mortification p. 215. 216 The triumph of Death p. 216. 217 The Olive bough of Peace p. 217. 218 The bloody Garment of Christ The souls Resurrection p. 218. 219 Purgaâ—ory p. 219. 220 221 222 223 224 No Imperfection can enter Heaven p. 222. 223 Tâ—e Heathens sâ—lvation p. 224. 225 The Pilgrims passage thorough Hell or the dark Kingdom p. 225. 226 227 228 What the Cherub is that God plac'd at the entrance of Paradise p. 229. 2â—1 The Devil overcome p. 228. 229 The Partition-wall p. 229. 2â—0 231 The Power of Christ extol'd p. 229. 230 Adam's fall the cause of the Partition-wall p. 230. 231 Christ our Saviour's work p. 231 Christ our Saviour only The way to Paradiâ—e is through Hell and how there 's no redemption from Hell p. 231. 232 Christ's descention into Hell p. 232 How it was typified p. 233. 234 The great work of salvation wrought alone by Iesus Christ that dyed at Jerusalem p. 234 The Paradifical world p. 235 The souls resurrection or the new Birth p. 235. 236 The souls study after Regeneration p. 236 The two Principles explain'd p. 236. 237 What Paradise anâ— the second Principle are p. 237. 238 Christ possesses the throne of Lucifer p. 238 How Hell came to be And Lucifers fall The waters above the Firmament p. 238. 239 240. The Aeternity of the world The worlds Creation sucâ—inctly describ'd Adam creatâ—d in Lucifers stead p. 239 The Earth whâ—reof Adam's Body was made p. 240 Adam soul p. 240 Paradise opened in one place of the Earth and why p. 240. 241 What the forbidden tree was p. 241 Of Christs Body after the Resurrection p. 141. 242 Christ gain'd what Adam lost p. 242 The soul prohibited union with the spirit of the outer world p. 242 Paradise p. 243. 244 245 c. The clouds of Paradise p. 243. 244 The Iâ—ea's of all thiâ—gs in this world in their purity in Paradise p. 244 The Flowers and p. 244. 245 246 247 The â—rees of Paradise The Saints Harmony in variety p. 245 The River of Life p. 245 its virtue 246 The fruit of Paradise p. 248. 249 The perfumes of Paradise p. 247 The trâ—â— of Life p. 248. 249 Its virâ—ue The Graces that inhabit Paradise and p. 249 The S ouls â—wrodâ— wiâ—h the Graces p. 250. 251 No◠〈…〉 Paradise p. 251. 252 Aâ— Aâ—gel deâ—crib'd p. 254 Sophiâ— promis'd p. 254 The celebration of the mariage feast p. 256 The inner senses feasted p. 257. 258 259 c. The feast describ'd p. 256. 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 c. The Epithalamium p. 257. 258 259 The Feast of Love p. 261. 262 263 264 Miracles not ceas'd p. 268. 269 The Fruits and p. 269. 270 271 272 273 c. The Gifts of the tree of Life Gifts of T ongues p. 269 Gifts of Reason p. 369. 270 Gifts of Wisdom p. 270. 271 272 Gifts of Healing p. 272. 273 274 Gifts of Prophesie p. 274 Of interpretation of Scripture p. 274 Of Dreams and p. 274 Of Prayer p. 274. 27â— Gifts of Poetry p. 285. 276 277 Gifts of discerning of Spirits p. 277. 278 Gifts of union and Communion with holy Spirits departed p. 278. 279 Of uniou and Communion with holy Angels p. 279. 280 281 Of Miracles p. 281. 282 Gifts of seeing p. 282 Of Hearing p. 282. 283 Of Smelling p. 283 Of T asting p. 283 Of T ouching p. 283 Of divine Magic p. 283. 284 The Abuse of Magic and how the divine Magic comes to be lost p. 284. 285 286 87. 189 290 Why so many lost their labour in search of the S tone p. 290. 291 292 The way to gain â—â—e divine Magic p. 292. 223 What a divine Magitian is p. 293. 294 295 His power and knowledge p. 294. 295 Of those skil'd in 〈◊〉 Magic p. 295. 296 The sacred wine of Love p. 297. 298 The Soul drunk with Lâ—ve p. 298 The Daunce of Love p. 299 The Soul 's râ—pt of Love p. 299. 300 301 302 The Soul's Hymâ— The â—oul the Maâ—tyr of Love p. 302 303 The Baptism of Fiâ—e â—â—d â—he Holy Ghost The glorious humanity of Christ appears in Paradise p. 303. 304 335 The Soul's ravishment in the Armes of Love p. 305. 306 The Conclusion p. 306. 307 In the third Part. ENtrance and Invocation p. 309. 310 Carpers inveigh's against p. 310 Pearls not to be cast before Swine p. 310. 311 That Hâ—av'n may be attain'd on Earth p. 311. 312 Heaven every where both within and without Man p. 312 Heaven not locally beyond the starres only p. 312 Heaven the Câ—ntrâ— of all things p. 313 The Soul sees not without a Body p. 313. 314 The outward Body a prison to the Soul p. 313. 314 The true Body of the Soul p. 314 The true Elements not seen p. 314 Most Visions mentioned in Scripture not seen by the outer Eyes p. 315. 316 A Confession p. 316 Hell and Heaven separated and yet one in another p. 316. 317 A great Happinesse to be the Instrument of Good and converting of Souls p. 317 The Aeternal world p. 317 God not to be known out of Nature p. 318 The Mysterie of the Trinity p. 318 The cause of Heaven and Hell p. 318. 319 And of the torment of Hell and the Ioyes of Heaven p. 318. 319 The Gulf between Heaven and Hell p. 318 How Heaven and Hell are in one another p. 318. 319 The innumerable Wonders of Heaven p. 319. 320 Man the Aepitomy of all worlds p. 320. 321 Christ carries the soul into the Aeternal world p. 321 322 The Gifts of the Graces p. 322. 323. 324 The inexpressable Ioy and ravishment of the Soul p. 324 The entrance into the Eternal World p. 324 Three distinct Mansions or Orbs in the Aeternal World p. 325 The first the still Aeternity p. 325 The farther ascension of the Soul into the Sphear of Angels p. 325. 326 Angels superiority and inferority p. 326 The unexpressable pleasure the Soul receives in this place from the Heart of God p. 326 The Sanctum Sanctorum or fixed Glory p. 327 The Habitation of the Trinity p. 327 The new Jerusalem describ'd p. 327. 328 329 The Soul cloath'd with the new Body p. 330 The Soul's union and Gâ—orificaâ—ion p. 330 God out of Nature unsearchable p. 331 God not to be figured in the Imagination p. 331 Man prohibited to look into the hidden secrets of God p. 331 Conclusion p. 331. 332. The ERRATA in the First Part. PAge 8 verse 19 read 〈◊〉 p 9 v 9 r one VII r once p 13 v. 35 some p 14 v 3 r his p 16 v 29 r Orpine p 19 v 13 〈◊〉 v 19 r mâ—nv p 25 â— 4 r or Ameriâ—â— v 37 â— Sathans p 2â— v 20 r justling v 38 r ore p 31 in the Margert r p 09 v 1â— r â—â—â—us v 30 r soul v 33 â— so p 32 v 30 r fill p 33 v 18 r Asphaltes v 19 r such p 3â—
things in the World do shew The mighty wonders of Man's pregnant Brain The Muses and Apollo's wits it drain Would should they go about but to recount The same indeed they Number do surmount But whosoe'r Contemplates Man may see The matchlesse Wisdom of Heav'n's Majesty Thâ—se are the Seas of endlesse Wonders where God's admirable power doth appear For who-soe'r into these depths doth go Shall the Creator's Wonders see and know Into which Seas infinitude I fear So slender ' vessel as mine own to steer Nor am I suffer'd now to swell my verse These things although Arcana's to reherse Nor yet Geography's fair Lists to enter Fair Eâ—ROP'S limits or great ASIA'S Centre To speak of or to tell what bounds do close Scorch'd AFRICK AMERICA what Seas To say what River Mountain Lake or Ground Or Seas do such and such a Countrey bound To tell each soil's abundant fruitfulnesse It s divers properties and various dresse To say where grows the sweetest Grain and where Best wine what Lands best Hemp and cordage bear What Countrey Timber Cattel Silk and Lead Yeelds Where most Mines are where best Horses bred The Countreys temp'raments the peoples manners Religion Laws Rites Customs Habits Honors These things I leave to others to reherse They come not here in compasse of my Verse For should I lanch into so vast a Main My slender Barque could ne're return again Although indeed all these be Wonders great They are not those of which I mean to treat Fill'd with a fire that now inflames my Soul That with strong ardors in my Breast doth roul That fill's me with a sacred rage and beares Me from the Earthly into mystic Sphears I write Know therefore this World two-fold is Fill'd with a curse and yet retains a blisse Full of deformity and uglinesse Though washed over with an outward dresse And yet there is a part that doth indue The Robe of happinesse and beauty too In one part stand great BABEL'S lofty Towers SODOM'S profane and AEGYPT'S wicked Bowers Where LUCIFER triumphs and raignes as King In 's Throne of Evil and his Court of Sin Sorrow and Care Labour and Toyl and Swet Trouble vexation round about him set Here SATURN'S Lord though 't is by usurpation Here he committeth spoil and devastation Here his great Princes with their Hellish art His Stygian Vice-Royes govern each a part Who here malâ—gning mortals happinesse Do cause them one another to distresse Here bloody wars the stained Campaine spread With mangled Limbs and Bodies butchered Here is the Chrystal turn'd to Crimson flood Distained with the gore of humane blood Here thousand Orphans thousand Widows stray Here thousand Captives chain'd are led away Here Famine rageth here contagions spread That scarce the Living can intert the Dead Here sicknesses and all diseases are Here miseries unhappinesse and care Here also all the sinnes in order range Provoking all Men â—or to take their swinge Here avarice here cruelty and here Lusts murthers rapines drunkennesse appear Here Ryot Luxuries and wantonnesse Here also pinching scraping and excesse Deceit and cheating have their Residence Within the vast Realms of this mighty Prince Within the circuit of great BABYLON Where mighty LUCIFER has pitch'd his throne Where like a Prince and like a Lion stout For 's prey he wâ—lks his Countrey round about In th' other part of this great Universe Which mask'd to mortals yet true beauty wears IERUSALEM and blessed Sâ—ON stand With famoâ—s Edâ—â— and the Holy-Land Fair Paradise felicites bless'd site Where pleasure and unwearied delight Where Plenty Peace where Justice Righteousnesse Where Truth Love Piety and Happinesse Dwell sweetly link'd There still a springing green And constant verdure sans decay is seen No Winters blasts no stormy Rages there No wars nor cruel Discords once appear No vices Vipers brood no blood nor murther No cheats deceits no Rapines nor disorder No Lusts nor avarice nor base impiety No cursing Men blaspheming of the Deity No Oaths nor Rancor no injustice nor Ambition Envy Stimula's to war Can there approach here only dwels community Peace Meeknesse Love Truth Wisdom Joy and Unity Here King of this part sacred Iesus sits Who to his Vice-Roys also parts commits The holyâ— Angels under whose command They with impartial Iustice rule the Land And for the good of mortals still expose Their vigor to the Rigour of our Foes Our Stygian foes who were it not for them From th' Earth would quickly root the mortal stemm All that both good and blessed doth appear All that 's delightful or contentful here All that is beautiful or doth delight With hurtlesse pleasures both our heart and sight Proceedeth from the Happy Influence Of this part of the world Likewise from thence Proceeds our health mortals chief wealth content Blisse Joy peace concord and true Blandishment All that both Evil and accursed is All that is ugly and all bane to Blisse All that is hurtful poyson sicknesse death All discords wars infections jarrs beneath On th' other side comes from the Influence Of that part where inthron'd sits Hel's black Prince Now were That gone this Earth an Hell would be And were not This here we 't an Heav'n should see So that this Eart'hs a medly checquer'd still With black and white compos'd of Good and Ill. The darker part where Sathan rules doth here Perspicuously to mortal eyes appear Th'rowout the world and blessed Paradise Obscur'd by clouds is hid from mortal eyes And as it were triumph'd upon and fled From th' Earth and thence for ever banished What said I hence for ever banish'd No I must recant and if I did say so For â—illed now with a prophetie Rage My Life and all that 's dear to me engage I dare I will that Sathan's tumbling down And shall bereft be both of Rule and Crown E'r long this Earth so long the Stage of Hell Love's blessed influence e'r long shall feel Cherâ— Saints and tremble all you wicked crue A Day of blisse of sorrow be to you It shall Chere Hearts Night's sable blacks are gon And fait Aurora now begins to dawn Turn to the East your long-expecting eyes And see this Sun in his bright lustre rise His Kingdom then no longer shall be hid Nor under clouds of darknesses abide None then shall say where is this Kingdom where This Paradise for then it shall appear In all its lustre th'row the Earth and then Iesus alone shall raign the King of Men. Nothing but Peace and Righteousnesse shall flow With Joy and Blisse and all content below Then shall IEHOVAH'S gracious will be done On Earth as now in Heav'n by every one For this end was the Earth created shall The end not be for which God made this ball Effected then for hitherto we see The Devil King was of this Globe not he But now he shall be King alone with shame â—ell banish'd Earth I A TRUE PROPHET AM. But now my thinks your words assault mine ear Where 's Paradise desirously you
tâ—y Which got they straight send to Hel's Treasury Sometimes he this makes use of sometimes that This serves for this that for another Plot. Sometimes the Starres and their â—ad inâ—luence As instruâ—ents he uses and from whence He oft assaults poor Man MARS stirs to wrath And blood Sâ—â—Tâ—R to Avaâ—ice and sloth MERC'RIE to Theft Ambition IUPITER VENUS to Lust and the cold MOON to err His wayes innumerable are and mount Unto infinity the starres you count May first or sands that on the shore do lye He 'l suit all Humours By their humours try To work for his advantage To excesse Of feeding this man that to drunkennesse He doth provoke Leads this to Pride to Lust Another this to doing things unjust To lying Theft Adâ—ltery Perjury And to all manner of iniquity But meets he with a studious Man or one Who hath got conquest o're his passion Unto grosse sins he doth not tempt them he Their strength doth know therefore with policy His shape he changes and with subtle guile Corrupts their knowledge and with errours vile Their Brains doth fill if in Theology Their study be their errours are more high A prying mind finds he in men of Parts He subtlely draws them to his blacker Arts Where with most strange delusions them delude And thus himself in every one intrude He will and suting to their inclination With cunning Art unseen work their destruction But sees 〈◊〉 some who in earnest be To leavâ— the World who would their Spirits free From his sad bondage bid this Earth adiew And woâ—ld with Heav'n a stricter league renew Uprightly walk and very closely presse To find that Gate that leads to happinesse Out of this Earth thus cunningly be deals So soon as he their working pulses feels A mighty Circle 'fore the gate he draws The which scarce touched is with Heaven's Rayes Those then who presâ—e toward this Gate anon Fall into this Fantastic Region For so it is they in a Circle run Blinded and groping wanting heat and Sun A little Light as at a crevice flows Into the place the which these umbra's shows Unto their hood-winck'd eyes Formes Government Words Literal sence Disputes and Cavilment Concerning Ceremâ—â—ies Iudging and Self-gathering in a more righteous Band. With these they sport themselves who like that fire That in the Night leads people th'row the mire And 'bout the Field do cause these blind ones stray In oblique pathes and hinder from the way They should have ta'n In this same Region All Sâ—cts as in a misty Circle run Here gropes the Presbyter whose rigid sp'rit Is took for zeal beclouded too with night In this dark Region's th' independant who Hath a more pleasing sp'rit and better hue The Dippers here do wash their scaly eyes And round about the bolder Ranter flies Here the severer 〈◊〉 and here Fist 〈◊〉 Eâ—thusiasts appear With other Sâ—cts and Fâ—â—â—aticks and all Who pressing forward stay or catch a â—all For such whose love to heaven caus'd them press Towards that gate that leads to happiness Once enter'd here it is more hard to finde Then 't was before they entered this blinde Phantastic place passe this forme that try there Another â—ound them all yet where you were At first you are nor are more neer the gate In this same sect now then you were in that Help't by soâ—e Angel or some brighter ray Of all these Sâ—cts some may invene the way Out of this Region and may finde the gate Which all that Heaven find must enter at All it endeavour can we justly blame Them when they grope about to find the same Alas though some do almost touch it yet Through blindnesse they can have no power to see 't The way 's not Sects nor formes of pleasing sence But Truth and Life to Christ obedience Tho Satan tempteth all men unto sin And doth desire they should inhabite in His harsh-dark principle and rather then He 'd any loose a thousand wayes for men He trys as by this worlds law pleasures yet He 'd rather man should like a Prince be set Then like a slave in his great Kingdom there Both high and low degrees of places are They nearer to or farther from his Throne Are set as they with him have union Those whom this worlds low pleasures catch or those Who by Lust Lying Wrath or Envy goes To this dark world are kind of underlings And are like Subjects to Hells greater Kings But those who to greater perfection Arrive and who have stricter union With Hell and those who knew his Mâ—gic's might Advanâ—'d are and their states are higher pight These do become Pâ—inces in Wrath and these He loveth most for they his nature please Are one with him these do his Wonders show And make his mighty power known below These are his Agents Saints beloved ones Are more than servants these become his Sona Heav'n thirsts not more to have one perfect here To make his Glory and his might appear Than Hell who as thâ— Elder Brother show His Magic first shall on this Earth below Therefore it first I will describe and tell The Power Nature Might and Pomp of Hell Mundus tenebrosâ—s vel tartareus SUppose the mighty Prince of darknesse wou'd Himself incarnate vail with with fleshly Hood His Stygian Face to shew the power and might Of the vast Kingdom of Aeternal Night Upon this Earth He finds a man propense From genial starres to ill a mind immense After abstruser prying piercing Wit Grave look and studious such a Man is fit For this his high design First then he strait Causes his Princes on his elbow wait With all Hel's agents who in clusters presse T' imbue his Soul with deep dy'd wickednesse By their infernal Magic they convert The mortal Tree's fruit to the Evil part He feeds on ill the which his Soul doth stain His freer will unto themselves they gain And by degrees his sences please that he Desireth they should his Companions be They promise then if he 'l obedient Be with what power and Regiment They will indue him His high mind doth come And Hel's disciple doth at last become Some Angel then Hel's mighty Prince assignes To wait on him he good converse declines The Daemons laugh to see him captivate And scoâ—f the Angels of the other state Seeing that he obedient is they now Cause him unto Hel's Image for to bow And as the â—â—â—nce of Heav'n commandeth his A way to gain the same to shun Heav'ns blisse Hel's Prince commands He from the World abstract Must be lest that his deeper thoughts detract From that high work he doth intend him for He fastings vigâ—â—s doth command him nor Lesse prayers than the other World requires Washings and Ceremoies he desires And also that he should be Celebate Thus like an Ape he God doth imitate In all his biddings th' better to beguile Man with his high deceits and cunning vile He spares him in grosse sins it may
at any time deny If they sincerely ask my Company I Queen am of that place of such delight Whose heav'nly Beauty recreates the sight Of all that enter there and now I come To let you see unto Ierusalem The heav'nly the true Way such guides I 'le leave That if you 'l follow none can you deceive With false illusions nor draw aside But be you sure to follow still your Guide Although you able are to comprehend The whole World in a thought yet if you bend Yoâ—r whole Imagination to conceive The Glory of Ierusalem bereave The Earth the Seas the Skies of all what e're May glorious or beautifull appear And with them frame a glory all shall seem Unto the glory of Ierusalem But as a grain of dust to mighty Gemms Or as a Candle to the Sun 's bright beams That I may give thee some small glimpse of that Most glorious House I have a Picture brought With me of it and that I may invite Thee with its beauty to attain't a sight Thou shalt have of 't APOCALYPSIS then She call'd a Nymph that 's much desir'd of Men. Her tresses hung like waves of gold upon Her shoulders her transparent garments shon With far more lustrous beauty than a gemm Diaphanous Earth's Beauties were in them With Heav'n's intermixt a curious Hand Had here the Sea and there the stable Land With Groves and Rivers Gardens Founts and Springs With all Earth's pleasures and all living things Express'd The Sun the Moon and Stars he might With all the Beauty of the Heav'n's delight Fully behold wrought with Stones highly priz'd The Heavens and Earth were there Epitomiz'd So that she shon like the bright Evening Star Or Phoebus mounted in his high-noon Carr. A Chrystal Key with which the inward sight She did unlock her left hand held her right A scroul of Paper This GRACE did unfold That he might there Ierusalem behold His greedy eyes fix'd on the Scroul did wait VVhen her blest hands would ope the picture straightâ— VVayes the unfolding it more dazling beams Than could proceed oâ—t of a masse of gâ—mms Flew thence and like the agill Lightning strook His eyes perstâ—ng'd them and his Body shook Prostrate he fell not being able to Bear all those Beauties which together Flew From thence This splendor is too great he cries For to be look'd upon by mortal eyes Heav'n's Eaglets only can behold this Sun And without striking blind their eyes upon It gaze How wil't perform thy word to me Unlesse thou giv'st new eyes I cannot see If that a shadow of its glory does Perstring thine eyes says Grace and ' maze thee thus VVhat will the full fruition of it do VVhen in its hâ—ghest lustre it by you Shall be beheld An Alabaster box Her snowy Hands with a cold Key unlocks From whence she drew a Sov'raign eye-salve made Of Purity upon his eyes she lai'd The same and bid him boldly view the Light For that pure Salve from hurt would guard his sight At her Command his baulmed eyes he now Erec'ts and doth that glorious splendor view VVhich doth proceed from the bright radiant gemm Of which is made the new Ierusalem A glorious City there he saw the Pen Nor Heav'nly Tongues of Angels nor of Men Can it expresse or half its Glory tell Its beauties other beauties all excell More than the brightest gemm dark glasse or far More than Gold durt or Sol the meanest star Rap't in a kind of extasie he moves In that bright splendor round the City roves He with his eyes taken with so much blisse His Soul out of his body wrapped is Himself among the Thornes he sees and there Views what his tongue to utter doth not dare O glorious Beauty cries he out one graâ—â— Of thee will more than recompence all pain And trouble that we on the Eard endure For to possesse thee O bless't Light immure My Soul for ever here where reigns true Blisse Where is true Joy and where true pleasure is Adiew vain Earth and all thy foolish pleasure Worser than Dung compared to this Treasure And Joys I find Ah what are Crowns to thee Least particle of true Felicity Lighter than chaff of lesse esteem they are Than dung if they with heav'n's bright Crowns compare O how I 'am rapt O how I now esteem The glorious Vision of Ierusalem Grace smiling at his Rapture warbled forth These words This sight of such esteem and worth Is that to very few it granted is The favour to behold this sight of Blisse Amongst those very few thou seest thou art For ever then record it on thine heart And let this Beauteous sight attract thee 〈◊〉 That thou astray mayst not hereafter go Nor think that thou already art in Blisse This but a sight and at a distance is Of futâ—re happinesse which gain you may If you persever in the stricter way But if backslide and in your sins remain This Heav'nly City you shall ne'r attain How vain the choysest of Earth's pleasures are If with the least of these you them compare Let this consideration beget A fire of constant sacred Love to it So that thou mayst with greater ease presse on Till thou the harder way hast overcome For if thou dost heav'n's Beauties contemplate Earth's in compaâ—ison to them thou'lt hate Whilst to this sight thine Eyes are married The way thou se'st not that doth thither lead It s glorious Beams o'te-shadow it but I By vailing them exhibit to thine eye The way that leads unto this City will A thick mist strait doth her command fulfill Which like a Vail hid those illustrous Beams And now the way pourtray'd he sees it seems To lye here over Rocks th'row Vallies there Here dark black Caves there Seas of Blood appear Here precipices thick here thornes here steep And stony places there strong Watchmen keep The passages a thousand dangers show Themselves along the way that he must go If he to Salem will attain His eye About he cast no other way espy He could so that necessity compells He that wayes must when there is no way else Nor Rocks not precipices nor cries he Sanguineous Seas now shall discourage me Since I have seen those Beauties which do Court My Soul for which all dangers seem a sport Will for 't is fitting that Aeternitie With fleshe's hazzard should attained be Come I'm resolv'd and ready am to tread This narrow Path which doth to Sion lead I 'le leave this World and for my future good Fly over Rocks swim thorow Seas of blood This said APOCALYPSIS then withdrew And GRACE her hand did to the Pilgrim shew A hearty Kisse on which he straight inferr'd Unto the path from which he lately err'd She him conducted where stood HOPE and FAITH Who ran to him assoon as in the Path He came To whom themselves the' excused thus For your deviating pray blame not us 'T was your own fault for whilst we with you kept We know not how into a
is of her store But thou this Mount despise must and be poor Desie Earth's Riches 'Till from Heav'ns blest done Thou dost receive them then they are thine own When Heav'n adorns thee with Earth's pride then thou Shalt like an Angel truly shine below Thou then shalt honour God and every gemm Shall glory but to touch thy Garments hem All what thou dost here in thy passage meet To stop thy way shall tumble at thy feet No power have they then to hurt And thou Regard them shalt no more than dunghills now 'Till then thou leave them must and follow the Most rare Example of Humility With that she from her sacred Bosom drew A Picture and reposâ—d it to the view Of the Caelestial Traveller where one The best skill in the Graphic Art had shown The Pencil guided by some hand divine Had there trick't out the fruitfull Palestine Had shew'd Iuâ—aea and Ierusalem The famous Temple Iordan's Christal stream All Gâ—lâ—ee the Hamlet Nazareth And Bethlehem where God in flesh had Birth His Life his Miracles his Death and where He â—uried was was rarely pourtray'd there Beâ—old said Alathia here 's the story Of the great King of Meeknesse and of Glory Who cloath'd himself with mortal flesh and blood And shed the same to do poor sinners good This is the Pattern of Humility View this fair Copy thou the ectype be Consider the immensity of Love Past the poor reach of Man and far above His most capacious thoughts to Comprehend The depth of it which to the very end Of AEternity doth reach Immensity Of Love and Oceans of Humility With pious reverence turn here thine eye Thy Saviour view in 's Infant Majesty See how Heav'n smileth in his eyes what Grace Already beameth in his sacred Face Those Rayes divine though vaild with flesh and blood Break through their Closure and make bright their Cloud O depth of Meeknesse O great Caesars fling Your Crowns and stately Robes aside The King Of great Olympâ—s and of all the Earth Humility doth â—each you by his birth See where he lies his high-roof'd Chamber is A despicable Stable look how this Poor Crib supplies a Cradle's place you see No gilded Cradle here no Couches be This Hay grown soft by 's sacred touch doth own A happinesse serves for a bed of Down The Crib's hard side a pillow is alasse His Chamber-fellows are the Ox and Asse Darknesse surrounds the Earth and whilst 't is hurâ—d Through Hearts as well as Eyes into the World The Sun of Righteousnesse doth come 't is he That Day and Light and Sun to all must be His Winter too snow hangs on every bough Tearts had their Ice their â—nows and Winter too But in the midst of Hyems is the King Born that to Hearts and to the World 's the Spring See Where his Mother the blest Virgin on Her bended knees doth wait upon her Son Nought but Humility can here be seen In all the World 's great King and Earth's blest Queen See where the Virgin-mother 〈◊〉 about His sacred limbs a clean but homely clout You see no Tyrian-tiâ—cted mantle there Shining with Gold no uselesse Vailes appear Brodeâ—'d with Lace a piece of home-spun cloth Is Vaâ—l is Mantle Rug and Blanket both For lack of better Aâ—as see where spreads Upon the walls busie Arachne's threads See with what pains that careful Animal With her best art labours to hang the Wall Nought but Humility can here be seen In all the World 's great King and Earth's chast Queen Although this birth with so much lowlinesse Accompan'ed simplicity expresse And of small value seem t' ambitious Earth Heav'ns Choresters rejoycing at his birth Sâ—ng this Antiphona Salvation is Come unto Man by this blest Genesis VVhilst others answer with a high-tun'd voyce Rejoyc O Earth both Eâ—â—â—h and Heav'n rejoyce Salvation now is come to you below At Jesu's Name all heaâ—ts and knees shall bow VVhilst thus his great Name the Caelestial Quire Râ—sound his mystic Birth they all admire AEâ—ernity before nor eâ—er shall Again a Wonder see so mystical Th' AEternal God takes humane flesh and blood And all what Man has sin excepting had O Wonder wonderfull indeed it is The greatest Wonderâ—â— e'r told was this His â—nd was to redeem fall'n man but you May see his Life to be exâ—â—plar too O â—ioâ—s lowlinesse See where he stands To be Baptiz'd by Iohn's lesse worthy Hands See how the Chrystal Streams his Limbs do kisse From whence they take a far more purer Blisse And if that any staines they have from thence The sacred touch of his blest flesh doth rince Them clean see how part of those gentle Streams Loath to depart are chang'd to Chrystal Gemms Which from his skin receive their lustre they Melt into Tears when that they glide away You see no glaring Gold no gaudy Lace Upon his back no Pedlars shops embrace His Holy wast one seamlesse Coat supplies To hide his Beauties from prophaner eyes All Ornaments O single Poverty The Wing'd inhabitants of ayr they be Not destitute of Nests the Foxes they Have Dens but he whereon his Head to lay Has not a place Heaven and Earth's great Lord Earth don't the favour of a Home afford Now view his Court they like himself are clad Two coats two scrips two pair of shoos forbad They were poor Fisher men such chose he they Happy forsake the VVorld themselves deny All things The sinners and the Publicans Are oftentimes made his Companions The Supercilious Scribe and Pharisee Scorn him and he his blessed Company Denies to them their Pride and wickednesse Are opposite to 's Worth and lowlinesse See here the mirror of Humility See where he humbly on his knees doth lye And though he Lord be yet â—e thinks it meet For our example to wash clean the Feet Of his Disciples the slaves office thus He takes who is Lord o're the World and us See where he doth his Body break O that You had but eyes to see the blessed meat He gives under those Elements of Bread And Wine His Body and his Bloud is shed Thereby into their Souls though from your eye 'T is hid he gives his blest Humanity They on his Body feed and I must tell You here he wrought a mighty Miracle All those who truly do receive this sood Do feed upon his Body and his Blood Not by a notion really they do A Sacramenâ— indeed yet known to few The mirroâ—r of all Paâ—ience see he that The Angels thought a Happinesse to wait Upon and at whose Call ten Legions would His foes have into thousand pieces pull'd Is bound and fetter'd see what Majesty Reignes in his eyes mixt with Humility See with what meeknesse he doth turn his cheek Whilst it the wicked multitude do strike See how he bears their buffets where they spit Upon his Face â— see how he beareth it Speaks not a word but rather pitties them Who slay their own Souls in their muâ—thering him
Wrath of God Then sweat he drops of Blood this agony Endured was so that you all might be Sav'd from the Wrath he underwent for Mâ—n Unto the Fathers Justice was he then A Sacrifice his Soul for you abode In Hell and there quenched the Wrath of God Through it a Way he made for every one That after him to Paradise shall come So long as Adam slept when Eve was made So long he in the Grave and Anger staid But then that Body pure angelical That Earth of which Adam was made the fall Not having yet Cloath'd him with such as you And other Mortals sprung from him indue This Body Christ assum'd the which did straight His Crucified Body penetrate And wholly swallow'd up so that it then Could passe th'row Walls and walk unseen by men But when he pleas'd to shew himself so all Bodies shall rise this flesh and blood and all Such flesh and blood shall enter heav'n Now four Times ten dayes he remain'd just and no more In Paradise there tempted he withstood VVhat flung down Adam like a rushing flood Confirmed now to Heav'n he ascends In his Disciples sights and there remains See where they gazing stand see where a Cloud His Body from their mortal eyes doth shroud Now he to Glory goes in 's Company The Patriarchs and holy Prophets be And all those who before him dy'd who on The promis'd seed did trust which was to come Abraham the Father of the faithfull Band Dischargeth now his holy Bosom and Close follows Iesus with his blessed train And so th' Imperial Court of Heav'n they gain And thus Angelical Bodies getting rise With joy and with him enter Paradise VVhere they in Heav'n remain In Heav'n he is The cause oâ— joys of happinesse of blisse 'T is he makes Heav'n and there where he doth stand Is Paradise which is at God's right Hand O mount not now beyond the clouds for where The second Principle remains 't is there That Heav'n is nor can it be confin'd Nor comprehended in thy darker mind So that a local place thou in thy head Imaginest when that its Court doth spread Th'row out the World a way to Paradise And Heav'n there is and yet not th'row the Skies Tâ—â—s Path â—ill lead thee thâ—â—â—er thou shalt know The Way not out but into Heav'n doth go 'T is to the Centre thou must presse for there Heav'n and the glorious Angels will appear There Iesus is and when he comes again Not as before shall he in flesh remain No more be Crucifi'd but then â—e shall VVith his bright Glory swallow up this Ball. Then Paradise shall manifested be This is the Day all Saints do long to see Keep safe this Picture and be sure that thou Continually do this bright Pattern view Him only imitate see now if that These things which here are offer'd by Deceit Are worth a grain of Dust compar'd unto Those Riches that in Paradise do grow Kick down Decâ—it and all her toyes despise Follow thou Me I 'le shew thee Paradise Thus Alatâ—ia ends the while his eyes The Pilgrim to the perfect Pattern ties On it they dwell where they such sweetnesse found That to a meditation so profound And deep as may be they his soul attract That Life so spotlesse and so pure to act He now desires Christ now his Pattern is And in his steps he seeketh after Blisse Whilst thus his busie eyes 〈◊〉 to and fâ—o On that which Alaâ—â—â—a did bestow Upon him all the circumambient ayr Began to glow and seemed all on fire The Pilgrim 'gan to feel the glowing heat His Cheeks grew red his Face and Temples sweat About he looks to see from whence it came When that he spies a Chariot all on flame Which two swift Coursers drew their flaming breath Threatning to all that should oppose them Death VVith a Iehuan pace on wheels of speed Down the next Rock Horses and Chariot slide And up another ran e'n to the top Before hot Zelus could 's swift Coursers stop Doubling their sturdy necks he back again Inforces them with much ado refrain At last he did his furious Steeds and from His Chariot did unto the Pilgrim come His Robes were flames of fire pouder'd with Hearts Winged with flames struck th'rough with flaming Darts His eyes a piercing ardor sent his Hand Bore both a steeled Lance and flaming brandâ— The Pilgrim he accosts and easily got VVith him to mount his flaming Chariot Now glows his heart and now a Champion For God he is with sury he upon Deceit doth set against the Mountain flings His Spear tramples upon her siner things Scatters her Gold and silver doth despise Her Honours Dainties Pleasures Braveries Under his feet he tramples that at last His flaming Brand amongst them all he cast The fire takes hold consuming them to nought The Mount it to a heap of ashes brought VVhat cryes the Pilgrim shall a mount of dust To stop my passage unto Heav'n thrust It self between me and my God so shall This brand what e'r opposes cause to fall Nought stand 'tween me and Heav'n shall if it do This Spear this Brand this hand shall make it â—ow The World and all things I 'le forsake and I Father and Mother also will deny And hate them too if they opposers be And stand betwixt blest Paradise and me Heav'n 's in my eye its Beauties are my prize Heav'n 's a Reward for him that Earth denyes My Way I am resolved to make Good Although I stand up to the chin in blood A fire agitates my Limbs and now Both World and all things Zeal shall make to bow This said he hurries up and down the Way His furious Steeds cannot stand still nor stay What e'r appears the hot-spur'd Pilgrim now Without examination makes to bow The furious Steeds over the Mountains flye Feeling the Reines loose on their necks to lye And ready to praecipitate their Guide Down the steep ridges of the Rocks they slide Sometimes they 're in the Way sometimes they 're out Someâ—imes they backward run sometimes about And o're the Rocks their heady coâ—â—se they take Th'rough fire and water they their voyage make The next Way that appears he takes and what He thinks is Good others must bow to that This furious Course makes him to lose the Way And up and down at every turn to stray What e'r he sees under his Censure comes As well in Iudgâ—mâ—â—ts as in Zeal he fumes But whilst with Zeal he runneth up and down A Matron met him on whose awfull frown Sat a most comely Gravity Serene And free from tempests her clear face was seen Her eyes something of Majesty did bear And over hearts did sweetly domineer Her face enough of Beauty had and she In all her make bore a just symmetrie Her cloaths were grave and decent neither were They cut to all modes nor yet singular Her pace was grave in every thing she
did A Dove and Serpent seemed to be hid Her right hand bore a Dove her left did hold A Serpent which iâ—s tail about her rowl'd Meeting the Pilgrim from his hands she took The slack'ned reines and thus her mind she broke Sâ—â—y zeal-sparr'd Pâ—lgrim if thou safe wilt be Thou must commit the Reines of Zeal to me In this rough paâ—â— and 'tween the Mountains let Me be your guide least that you danger meet Zeal drives so fast that he will quickly crr Unlesse my Dove and Serpent draw the Carr. Those who without me go become forlorne Lose the right Path prove to the World a scorn Cast Pearls before the snowts of Swine and feed The ravenous Dogs with holy Childrens breadâ— Dangers incur which they might fairly shun Do what they by and by wish were undone Admit of me and I will be your guide I know which Way how where and when to ride â—rust me and I will bear you in my armes Untouched through the Multitude of Harmes That Majesty which beamed in her Face Constrain'd the Pilgrim to consent a place Upon his right hand for her he provides And now he soberly and softly rides Prudence is joyn'd with Zeâ—l nor does this want It s former heaâ— but lesse extravagant By that is made He who will rightly move Must first conjoyn the Serpent and the Dove Now safely goes our heav'nly Traveller Nor from this blest though rugged path doth err Nothing appears that may obstruct hisâ— Way But it he even with the Earth doth lay Dame Vigilantia all about doth seek For â—s foes which found Zeal doth their powers break Conquers them quite and by their fall doth raise Trophies of Honour and immortal praise By halves God will not have his work be done Nor must those faulter who this Race do run Clean must the house be swept to find the groat All must be sold before the Pearl be bought No Delilah must shave thy Locks but she Must be o'recome lest that she conquer thee Though thus far thou art gone as yet there may Some Delilah be left for to betray Thee to thy foe let Vigilantia find Her out then let Zeal all her powers bind And cast her from thee whatsome'r it be Thou 'rt loath to part with Delilah's to thee But when she conquer'd is faster thou ' â—t move On wings of speed unto the Gates of Love Thus Vigilantia to our Pilgrim brought His Delâ—lah the which he little thought For to have parted with and must she dye Cryes he who did within my bosom lye Yes answer'd Zeal God will with none dispence Slain on the Altar of Obedience She must be e'r we farther passe she slain He posteth forward without stop amain With full Carere he runs and full of Joy Leaveth behind him all the rugged Way He enters now a place where all about Light like the Sun from bright Clouds issues ouâ— By this clear Light he now begins to see What hurtfull rebels all the Passioâ—s be And how the Sences hurt irregular Affections also how they hurtful are Therefore he these now takes to task and first The Rebel Passions that oppose him durst He conquereth these now his slaves become Who had so often Lorded over him He will not kill them quiteâ— because they may Be useful to him whilst they him obeyâ— Not meerly Stoical in order he Keeps them He 's Lord and they his servants be Then all the Sences he doth Regulate And their excursions wisely moderate Makes them to know that he 's their Lord and they Are forced now his pleasure to obey Carnal affections stoop These Crucifie He doth lest they should draw his mind awry Where he God's Image seeth most he there Doth his affections as in justice share By this same Light he also sees that he Can in the Earth own no propriety All that he hath he offers to the Lord He 's but a Steward and must nothing hoard Contrary to his Master's Will but here Pâ—udence directs him how his Goods to share Else subtle Sathan would step in the while And with his tricks would him of all beguile By this Light also he espies his flesh To be a Case made up of Earthly trash A prison to his Soul now he espies Another Body in that Body lies The inward man which as the outward dies Lives gathers strength and doth in triumph rise This Body now he longeth to attain And by the death of all things it to gain Now every motion opposite must die Flesh and its Members he doth crucifie All things are sacrific'd by Diligence Upon the Altar of Obedience â— The fleshly body every hour dies The sp'ritual doth as fast in triumph rise He 's now diswedded from the World He knows He 's not to be now at his own dispose Therefore his Body Soul and spirit he Doth consecrate to Heav'ns high Majestie All that he has to Heav'n he offers and All he retains comes from its bounteous Hand Now joyes surround him Comfort is the Way Nor Night is seen all is a mystic Day The Sun of Righteousnesse his brighter Beams Displays and th'rough his Heart his sweetest streams Of brightnesse run his spiritual foes stand off And dare not venture for a Counter-buff They tremble now and fear the world's grand tye Will be assunder burst by Chastity For she appears unto the Pilgrim now Who to her feet his humble Head doth bowâ— Her eyes gave â—lames as pure as those which lye Beyond the blew Seas of the azuâ—e Skie Her countenance a brighter Light did grace Than that which â—hineâ—h in Diana's Face But when her virgin Lips she opened Th' incircling ayr with purity was spread Thither their Purple Wings the Turtles move To draw the ayâ— in of the purest Love The joyning Corals happy Kisses break She did and thus did to the Pilgrim speak Hail happy Pilgrim who thus far art from Earth's durty soyl and foul pollutions come Not far thou art from the blest City but Before thou thither come 't is requisite That thee and I should joyn therefore receive From me the Bounties that I daily give Unlesse thou with my Mantle cover'd be Thou never shalt the heav'nly Salem see Polluted eyes polluted hearts and hands Must not come there Heav'n will admit no stains Flesh must not enter Heav'n nor can you come Cloathed with that into the secret Room Where the grand Mysteries are revealed by Heav'n's gracious Prince the Son of Majesty The fleshes quickly-vanish'd pleasures foul With spots the cloathing of the purest Soul Spread clouds before her eyes so that she may Not see the brightnesse of the purest day And hang a Vail between her â—elmed eyes And the blest Ark of sacred Mysteries 'T is I that must make white the Soul and that Dark Cloud before her dull eyes dissipate 'T is I must draw aside this Vail 't is I That lead the Way to Heav'ns great Mysterie Christ doth all this by me 't is I that am Sent for
't is not for fear That he to her such reverence doth bearâ— From Love 't is his Obedience springs and that The slavish fears of Hell doth terminate Now all things easie are no Seas can stop Nor Mountains those he swims and these climbs up Now in his breast a strong attraction he Feels draw'ng him up to Heav'n continually Now constant ardors burn within his Breast And flames of Love give rest in his unrestâ— He feels most blest Enthean heats surprize His soul which make 't a living sacrifice A pleasing Tincture th'row his Body flows And like a Flower in Paradise he grows All sorrows now are banish'd down to Hell He nothing doth but Joyes and Raptures feel The Seraphims indite some sacred Song Which they decant by his Hymniferous Tongue And modulating too those heavenly Layes His Harp an Angel by his Fingets playes Under the Covert of the Angels Wings By Love inspir'd aloud this Song he sings Go Gnedian Idols spend your darts On all Luxurious pruriant Hearts A nobler shaft has pierced mine Which flames with Fires more divine You may now shoot but shoot in vain Such â—haâ—ts my Heart shoots back again My eyes your Venom cann't receive Heav'n's Queen a Remedy did give Her Beauty dwelleth in my eyes I therefore you and yours despise Fair Ladies all your Beauties spare For in my eyes they sullied are I Styx see in a Hellens Face Now I have seen a Deitesse You Cyprian Lovers now no more Your beautious Images adore Cease now your fond Idolatry Speak no more Lovers blasphemy Fling in the Fire your wanton Layes Which blushes in chast Cheeks do raise Cease your Encomiums your blisse Meer mortal dust and ashes is A wrinckled Baucis all the while The glory wears of your high Style Let fairer Souls a Godesse please Whilst Bacca's joyn with Thyrsites Had you but seen my heav'nly Bride Youl 'd count all beauties dung beside Aâ—d cease to idolize a Face Where white and red 's the chiefest Grace But my blest Bride SOPHIA is Both Queen of Beauty and of Blisse Her Face shines clearer than the Sun In his bright Chariot at Noon Her Crystalline eyes are the glass In which themselves the Angels dress The Beams that cometh from her eyes Give Light to Heav'n and Paradise Her eares the Seats of Judgements are Immortal Fortitude her hair Her Brows of highest Majesty High Wisdom in her mouth doth lye 'T is by her words the Angels Live Her Breath doth Life immortal give The beaming glory in her cheeks With splendor Heav'ns high Pallace strikeâ— A Diadem her brows do tye Of Blisse and Immortality Her sacred breasts the Fountains be Of Joy and true Felicity Ambâ—osia doth thence proceed The Heav'ly Manna Angels bread Water of Life blest Nectar streams Thence clearer than the Crystal geâ—ms In which as thorow Heaven it slips The Angels drench their Rosie Lips Her armes the Angels do enfold Her Hands immortal Blessings hold Upon her knees doth Pity sit And Goodnesse cloaths her Legs and Fâ—â—t Her Garments are of Light divine Which brighter than the Sun do shine The blew and starry Carpet's spread For her blest Feet upon to tread Whose blessed touches purâ—â—ie The Body of the Crystal Sky Such is my Bride and now who dare With my Bride's beauty theirs compare Sacred SOPHIA 't is in thee I place all my Felicity Blest with thy sight all things below Do very much deformed show I cast my eyes to thee above Ah I am even sick of Love Comfort me with thy fruit divine Stay me with Flagons of thy Wine Ah let me banquet now with thee And spread thy Banners over me Thou art the Rose of Sharâ—n thou A Lily in the Vale doth grow Thou aâ—t more fair than is the Sun Thy Garments smel of Lebanon My eyes unto thy Face I move Ah I am overcome with Love That Fire of Love which flows about My heart whole Seas cannot put out Not the black fear of dreadful Hell To be obedient doth compel Nor now those torments to eschew Enforces me to follow you It is from thee and not from thence That springeth my obedience 'T is Love of thee not Fear of Hell Which me to serve thee doth compel 'T is not Heav'ns blessed Joys that move Or do intice me to this Love It is not Heav'ns high Crown that draws 'T is Love alone a stronger cause Not Heav'ns high Blessings I regard I Love thee not for a Reward Fling me to Hel and if you will Yet will I Love SOPHIA stil. These flames which kindle in my breaâ—â— Shall never out until I rest Within thy bosom and there be Enclosed to AEternity Thus chaunts SOPHIA'S Lover whilst his 〈◊〉 Is warbling forth this Love-inspired Songâ— Love agitates with flames his noble breast And spreadeth there a most delicious feast The Câ—ystal Water turns to blushing Wine There banquets PSYCHE and her Love divine Their meat is Mâ—nnâ— their Wine Nectar is Their Banquets Love and everlasting Blisse Hell never ' frighted him so fast to Heaven Nor ever had Heav'n such attractions given As Love gives now he every day a year Supposes till he doth inhabit where His blest SOPHIA is Nothing can move Him backward now be'ing drawn by force of Love Forwards he runs and to his Love he pray'th That she would make a tryal of his â—aâ—th All difficulties past account he does As nothing and as things meer frivolous Not to be counted hard so high's his Zeal His Faith he longs with his Heart-blood to seal And now he thinks he Aâ—â—as could remove And nothing ' counts impossible with LOVE Sathan indeed this noble Champion In these Love-furies dares not set upon He stands a loof The Pilgrim hasts a pace To gain the end of this Heav'n â—winning Race He be'ing Heav'n's Favourite and that he may Be even lost and swallow'd in a Sea Of divine Pleasures and â—xcessive Blisse APOCALYPSIS she Commission'd is To ope his Sences with her Crystal Key That he aforehand may in Heaven be By her assistance she perform'd it straight And op'd his inner sences five-fold gate No sooner had APOCALYPSIS bright Fingers unlock'd the Gaâ—es of 's inner sight But he th' internal World beholds and there Myriads of Angels in their proper Sphear The Light World sees whose chiefest rarities Display themselves before his inner eyes Tempean pleasures coâ—rt his eyes the Blisse Of Edenean gardenâ— present is All Paradise and whatsoever there Grow'th doth before his inner sight appear The Angels in their glorious Robes of Light Compass'd with splendant Rayes appear in sight And things in Heav'n unutterable he In highest pleasure and content doth see The thick gate of his inner ear unâ—aâ—â—'d No sooner was but he the voyces heard Of the Angelical Core whose sweeter Layes From dunghill Earth to Heav'n his Soul doth raise Th' harmonious sound of Harps his ears doth fill Proceeding from the blest Sâ—onian Hill Which doth his soul with such sweet pleasure smite
opportunity did stay To poyson him and VIGILANTIA did No sooner turn her back and step aside But to the Boul he stept for she alasse The noble Pilgrim's chief Pincerna was And in he pour'd that Hellish juyce among Heav'ns blest Nectar mixing that poyson strong Th' unawary Pilgrim by and by the Cup Takes and in 's Nectar drinks Hell's poyson up Anon the several poysons 'gin to work Whilst Sathan laughing in his sleeve doth lurk Unseen to see the sport Oh! how he smil'd At the conceit of Man's being thus beguil'd The Pilgrim did not feel that he was ill Or that Hel's poyson did his Nectar spill But now it 'gan to work he did not cast His eyes unto the Fountain but embrac'd Too much the streams Too much Complacency He took in the fruition of those high Gifts of the Spirit too much dotes upon Visions Voyces Spirits union He fears to lose them and cannot resign To Heav'n his Nectar or his gifts divine Now to himself all Spirits he 'd engrosse He Covets gifts and ' counts no greater crosse Than for to lose them thus doth Coâ—etousnesse Spring in his Soul in its refined dresse Pride started up and though spiritualiz'd A curious cloathing for his Soul devis'd Wherein he prides himself he 's not content Except that others know he 's eminent In all the Gifts and graces of the Spirit He loves to be sought after for his merit Cloath'd with Heav'ns Pride of gifts and graces he Aspires and would accounted something be Next Selfishnesse did operate and that Self-Int'rest and Propriety begat In Spirits Gifts and Graces This doth seem For to belong to him and none but him Then Envy work'd and he is not content To see another be more eminent In Visions Raptures or the like or that Others enjoy them and he go without Then Iealousie spread thorow every vein It s virulent poyson fuming in his Brain He every one suspects and jealous is Left others rob him of what he Calls his He fears to lose a Spirit that another His gifts or Graces shining Light should smother He jealous is lost his Lights be out-shon Or that another's should eclipse his own This Hell 's refining poyson spreading through His Breast e'r he aware was brought him to And thus the noble Stone was almost spoil'd When for't the Pilgrim had long stoutly tovl'd That eye whose Rayes pierce the Earth's Centre and Sees to the bottom of the Stygian strand Which spite of Night and Hell 's calliginous Mantle beholds what ever Satan does That Eye which every secret thought betrays And to its self hid actions open layes That Eye behel'd the spight of Hell and saw Upon the Pilgrim's heart his poyson gnaw Nothing so soon as th' objects of the eye Pity attracts for others misery The ear so soon doth not affect the Heart With generous pity as the Optic part He that 's all Eye and every thing doth see Can he w'hout pity view man's misery No he 's all pity and his Bowels roul At every pang of an afflicted Soul Poyson i' th' Pilgrim's Breast no sooner flows But he his pity and his mercy shows His Angel-guardian is Commission'd strait To shew to him the Stygian Prince 's hate And 'gainst that poyson which so strongly wroughâ— In 's breast to offer him an Antidote Glad of the message down the Angel flies Whilst sparkling Joy beam'd from his sacred eyes Glad to do service to Heav'ns Servitour He shews himself clad with refulgent ayr In 's hand he brought a Crystal Glasse which â—â—ll'd Was with pure Light from Heav'ns Alimbeck still'd This he unto the Pilgrim gave and bid Him drink it up The which he strait wayes did No sooner had he gulp'd it down but he Beheld his Error and Hell's treachery He saw the infestous poyson though 't was clear By this draught now his eyes far purer are And can behold all its impurities Which had caus'd all irregularities This draught the Vail pull'd off and he espies Where Hell 's strong poyson in Heav'ns Nectar lies So had he seen a noxious Serpent dwell I' th' green grasse and Toads in a Crystal Well Startl'd at this sight seal my eyes again He cryes or else from me this poyson drain 'T is better I were blind and could not see Then to behold an helplesse misery It is a double pain hard haps to bear And seeing them remedilesse to fear An unseen harm lesse dâ—ead doth cause I pray Or take my eyes or this foul Ill away It is thy self the Angel doth reply That to thy self must give the remedy There is a pill will do 't I 'le shew it thee If thou wilt take it freely follow me The willing Pilgrim soon consents they go Strait forward without turning in Heav'ns Way Now far they had not gone e'r they came to A pleasant Green whose lustâ—ous verdant hew Cheered the Pilgrim's Sp'rite and in the midst Thereof he saw a flaming Altar plac'd And coming nearer fairly wrote upon The sides he saw TRUE RESIGNATION 'T was to this Altar that blest Abraham The Angel said to offer Isaac came And here it is and in thâ—se flames divine And on this Altar thou must offer thine Here what somever thou dost dearly prize To Heav'n must prove a pleasing sacrifice 'T is true thou didst pleasures and sins once bring Unto the Fire A fairer offering Now must th' Oblation be As Earth by you Was offer'd up so offer Heav'n too Not only Earth's but Heav'ns fair gifts divine Thou on this Altar must to God resign Amongst those Flames which were Aetherial The Angel put his hand and cull'd a coal A Carbuncle set in a Ring of Gold Glow'd as the Coal between his fingers hold Lo here a Pill sayes he that doth contain An Antidote against that deadly Bain Thou hast drunk down in this one Pill there are The Lemnian Earth and precious Bezoar Treacle and Metridate lock'd up This pure Pill will effect not an Acâ—sian Cure Not all the drugs of Aâ—sculapius Or Galen can do half so much as this The joyful Pilgrim takes the flaming Pill Which from his mouth down to his heart did thrill No sooner was it â—in his Breast but straight He Hel's soul Poyson did Evacuate That glowing Pill fir'd from his heart 's fast hold And utterly destroy'd Hel's bainful Cold. Thus by the Heav'nly Therapâ—utick he Receives by Heat for cold a Remedy Now basâ—el'd Sathan with an hideous roar To Hell flyes vex'd more than he joy'd before Shall Servants grumble to repay their Lord His own or not be willing to afford Him back what he lends them Shall Stewards grieve When their Lords at their hands their own receive Why then doth man so often shrug and pine When God bids him his lendings to resign A carefull Father that hath sent unto His Son some sums honestly to employ Is it not requisite he should be still Exactly subject to his Fathers Will And that the money back be paid again
yet aside From what thou did'st command I did believe You stil who 'ld think that you would me deceive You nor my Guardian here â— blame you both Concerning this place told me all the Truth Thouâ—h what you spake is true that 's not enough For what things find I you nâ—'r told me of Accuse us not replyed Truth again I hope you are noâ— such a Tyrant grown For to require us that we should declare Those things to you which past our reaches are 'T is not the Tongues of Angels that the joys And pleasures can declare of Paradise And as it was beyond our power to shew So past our reach to comprehend them too Then blame us not dear Pilgrim if we be Beyond and better than our Word to thee With this th' affresh embrace but then came up To clip him too all the nymphean Troop Round him they run and it a great while was E're his embraces to them all could pass There Wisdom clipt him Innocency hung Upon his arm whilst Peace and Meeknesse wrung His fingers Faith and Zeal held fast his Hand Light Ioy Hope Life together round him stand Uprightnesse and the fair Nymph CHASTITY Obedience LOVE and pure Virginity Embrace him too so Lowlinesse and she Nymphs-Courage and sweeâ—-look'd Humility Did their devoyrs Then Resignation And Prophesie with others to him run All do him hug he doth as much desire The free embraces of this Virgin Qâ—â—re As long as ardent their embraces were Nor could these outward signes their joyes declare As fael lay'd upon the rising flames A while depresses but in higher streamâ— It causes strait the depress'd flames to rise So Love encreases by what satisfies After their eyes had their tongues place supply'd A while that charming Organ they unty'd And sprightly Ioy the first of all must know Whether that place would not a Taedium grow For every man his native Countrey best Said she esteems though he should daily feast In highest pleasures in another yet His native home though homely cann't forget Can Paradise make you forget the Earth A place so hugg'd by man your place of birth The Pilgrim smiling to the quaerent then Sweetly and nimbly thus return'd ag'en Terrestrial things to those which heav'nly are Noâ— Earth to Paradise must we compare Such difference is betwixt Earth's joys and them As is betwixt Aeternity and Time Were I in Aegypt or in Palestine With all delights it may be I as mine Own native Albion though there poor and mean I still should dwel should not so well like them But now I 'm come upon this blessed shore I can long after Albiâ—n no more Than those who in the highest Heavens be Can wish or long the lower Orb to see So far transcendent are these joyes that I Account the whole World worthless vanity But your own Argument shall speak for me And prove that this place can no Taedium be Man loves his native Countrey best And where Is that I pray you if it be not here He is a Pilgrim in the Orb below His Soul from higher Sphears came down we know Therefore so restless is she there to come From her low prison to her native home Then can I of this Countrey weary be The genuine place of my Nativity For Sin Man 's banish'd let him â—anish Sin And to his home he may return agen No think not Nymphs that I can weary be Of Paradise and your bless'd Company But whilst this fair Corona stood about Discoursing sweetly with our Pilgrim out Of a bright silver Cloud an Angel â—â—ept Whose flaming Wings the spiced Aether swept So Lightning breaks from the unparted Clouds So â—ol himself from 's nightly Robes unshrouds But he did swifter then the Lightning run And shew'd more glories then the Earthly Sun His flaming Wings him swifter than a thought From the imperial skies among them brought Unto him bow'd the Graces all and the Guardian vail'd both his Wings and bow'd his knee The Pilgrim also would have bow'd but that Excess of lustrous Glories struck him flat Unto the Earth for Mortal eyes could bear Not half those Beauties he about him ware His Wings seem'd flames of Fire or burnish'd Gold His Garments which down from his shoulders rould Unto his feet composed of pure Light Thinner than ayr than Phâ—bus far more bright Unutterably bright the splendrous Sun Was that in 's eyes and Lovely Visage shun Volumns of streaming Gold hung on his neck A Crown of tadiant Stars his front did deck Meadows of Violets Woods of Roses know No such perfumes which in his breath did flow But above all such Heav'nly Majesty And Power commanding sparkled in his eye That had a World of Mortals seen his face As dead they must have fal'n in the place But this Throne-Angel for the Pilgrim's sake A Cloak of silver Clouds flung on his back To hide his radiant Beams which yet did flow Th'rough it and made it like the Iris show Such pleasing Tinctures to that Cloak they gave That though less dazling yet it shew'd as brave Repressing to his face's radiant flood He shew'd in beauty like to flesh and blood But Nature yet with her diviner art In her best pieceâ— of his face came short The Angel then stretch'd out his snowy right Hand sâ—ow for softnesse and for perfect white To th' Pilgrim and lifting him up he brake Silence and thus in Heav'nly Accents spake Th' Immortal Prince of Glories who of this Fair Orb is King and of the Thrones of Blisse At whose dispose ten thousand Crowns do lye Of Glories Blisse and Immortality From whose free bounty we those Beams receive Which such irradiant lustrous brightnesse give About whose Throne ten Millions such as I Stand ready on his Embassies to flye Hath sent me to thee mighty Saint that so Thou's Will and pleasure from my mouth mightst know He hath Commissionated me that thou Mightst tast his matchlesse Love and Bounties now Therefore a Nuncius from the highest Sphear I come to thee this happy news to bear It is his Will and pleasure now to prove Himself indeed the matchlesse King of Love Thou precious art in his immortal Eyes And Heav'n it self he counts too small a prize For thee therefore to bright SOPHIA he Intends that thou in Heav'n espous'd shalt be For this end therefore am I hither prest To celebrate this Heavnly mariage Feast Down fell the Pilgrim on his humble knees And bowing thrice his head re-echo'd these If Heavens servants so perstringe the sight Of mortals who can see the Fount of Light What Beauties doth the King immortal wear When that his servants such high Lustre bear If that one beaming of a Star's so bright What is the Sun the Ocean of Light But what am I that Heavens immortal King Should notice take on me so vile a thing That from his Palace the bâ—ight Court of Day He should send down a high 〈◊〉 Whom I 'm more fiâ— to serve such news to
bear That mortal Man could never better hear O I 'm unworthy of the Dignity But yet I daâ—e not Heav'n's high Gifts deny Since 't is his pleasure that it should be so To him I passive bow my Head full low Who can deny the blessed Gifts of Heav'n When Crowns and Thrones and blisse Aeternal's given O Lord thou knowest what is hest for me Since thou ' lt exalt me I le exalted be As thou my joyes O Lord dost higher frame So greater strength grant me to prayse thy Name More would the Pilgrim there have said but that The Angel rais'd him up to Celebrate Love's glorious Banquet which blest Banquet was The Confarreation 'twixt him and his Spouse Under the Covert of Life's blessed Tree Upon the Leek-green grass this Company Sat down each blade its top doth bow to them Each flower seeks to kiss their garments hemm There 't was as if the flowers conspired had To starr the place or with their bravery clad This little spot above the rest for here Mâ—y's Iune's and Augusts flowers together were An hundred teeming Springs seem'd here their flowers To have brought forth help'd by the Midwife-showers Their bowing Heads which did in clusters 〈◊〉 Their gallant tufts to purple Cushions fit Heav'n's Paranymphus first sat down and theâ— The Pilgrim and his Loving Guardian The Paradysical Bevy in a Ring Upon the inviting flowers themselves did fling Making a circle in whose midst was seen A round spot cover'd with Smaragdine green Which Carpet garnish'd was with flowers which 〈◊〉 Into true True Loves Knots conspired were A thousand Crystal drops of dew the grass Lading did silver Gemm and Pâ—â—â—l the place More pleasing Objects far our Pilgrim's sight To feast and Banquet to the full invite A Troop of Heav'nly Dapifers they were Surcharg'd with Chargers who the Feast infer And with Caelestial art the Dishes plac'd The Pilgrim they with their attendance grace'd The Pilgrim's greedy eyes now on the meat They brought now on the bringers ravish'd eat Sometimes to that sometimes to these he tost Them and them in Beauties Meandres lost By 's feeding eyes his Soul took her first tast Of the rare Sweets of this delicious Feast Where the five Sences altogether dine And filled are at once with meat divine These were a Chore of Angels of that Sphear Who in their brightest Robes to day appear To grace Love's Banquet and themselves they clad With all the glories the Aelisium had Yellow Electrum hung upon their hair Whose aubourn threads conspir'd in t ' Circles were Amongst whose gold-Rings silver spangles lay Whose Star-like twinkling made a kind of day And rais'd an Halos round about their Heads Which Cynthian lustres gave to those bright threads Whose golden Woods whilst the Zephyrian shocks Ruffle the Volumns of their Amber-locks Yield such a fragor that all Arabie With all her sweets cann't reach the tenth degree Chaplets of Roses mixt with Lillies fair And purple Violets bound their goldâ—n Hair Under whose blushing shades the Day did rise From the bright beamings of their sparkling eyes But in their cheeks Roses and Lillies be Wedded together in just Harmony And 'cause the Lily reigned in their hands In their sweet Lips the Rose as Mistress stands Upon their Fronts dwelt the all-charming Graces An everlasting Hebe in their Faces Their youth and beauty strove but by their strife As friends not foes they gave each other Life But the fair Robes with which they then were clad Of Paradises silver Clouds were made Garnish'd with divers colours less the bow Oâ— fair Thaumant is to the World doth show And far less Beauties doth it give than those Which sweetly triumph'd in their splendid cloaths In these fair Mazes lost our Pilgrim was And to draw thence his eyes no power he has But whilst in Beauties Labyrinth his eyes Do tread melodious sounds his eares surprize Which prove a cliew to lead him from his gaze And out of that into another Maze His Soul but now did issue at his eye Out of both eyes and eares she now doth flye For th' Angel having ta'ne their Cue by pairs The Hymenaeum sung in sweetest ayres The Waters Groves and birds do all agree Ecchoing their Melos to their Symphonie The sweet Symplones with the Angels joyn Marying their voyces in a Tune divine They sing this Hillulim mortals below Did ne'r such sweet Harmonious Voyces know The schreeking Sphears were silent at that time And by their musick learn'd a better Chime THE EPITHALAMIUM AFter sad Winter springs the Spring The Day thrusts out the Night Storm past the pretty Birds do sing The Skies their musfling Mantles fling Away and cheer Earth with their sight After the floating Ship hath past A thousand dangers she Thorow the surging Waves at last Doth Anchor in the Haven cast And there rests in Security So after an hard Pilgrimage Th'row Earth and Hell there is Joyes that the Travellers engage For to forget their Earthly stage And evermore remain in Blisse This is the Day the Sun doth rise The cheering Morn appears And Light springs from SOPHIA'S eyes Which blesseth all our Paradise And joyes unto this mariage bears This is the Time of Joys and Prayse True Laud therefore be given To Him who is the Light of Dayes Who to himself the Soul doth raise And Earth despised Wed to Heav'n SOPHIA is the Queen of Love Her Joyes Aeternal be Bless'd Souls within her bosom move For ever tast the Blisse above Enjoying all Felicity This is the mariage of the Lamb The Lamb of Purity Who from the highest Heavens came Brought forth Aeternity in Time That Souls this Wedding day might see Fears are for ever wip'd away Sighs from their Breasts are fled And happy evermore are they Who can attain this mariage Day And are unto SOPHIA Wed. All happinesse attends on thee No sorrows shall annoy Sophia's Armes thy Comforts be Her Breast thy true Felicity And in her eyes rests all thy joy Blest be this Day thrice blessed is This hour this mariage Feast For thou shalt Live in Paradise In everlasting Joyes and Bliss And be by thy Love ever blest Prayse to SOPHIA then we give And Hallalujah's sing By whom we in this Sphear do Live Who Souls from Earth to Heav'n reprieve And deignes them to her home to bring Let Hallalujah's be our Song O may Sophia deigne With her all-quick'ning Breath among Us now to cast her odors strong And on us her spic'd shewers rain Hallalujah's to the bless'd Name For evermore we sing May it our warbling Tongues inflameâ— O thou who didst this mariage frame Accept these offerings that we bring Hallalujah Hallalujah Hallalujah we cry Hallalujah Hallalujah Our Tongues for ever warble may Thus unto all Aeternity Their Heav'nly voyces charm'd the Pilgrim's eaâ—es With such like Songs and animated ayres But now they double their sweet melody And wrap him in t ' an higher extasie For every one takes his caelestial Lyre And runs divisions
know the same they would not err So oft and toys to precious Gemms prefer Of Wisdom it no Mean part is to know The means not only but the Time to do For what these blessed Fruits so freely give Men in all A ges after deeply dive Nor is 't unlawful for them to do so Did they true Time take and right Wayes to go Else all is vanity For what 's all this If Man should know 't and yet ignore his Blisse On this the King pitched his Mind's clear eye When he cry'd out all things are vanity What are these Jewels though they Jewels be If Man 's not sure of Aeternity These are no means to gain the Heav'nly Race These are but Crowns for those that gaine the space They are unwise who first do seek those Arts Before that they have circumcis'd their Hearts For what they gain before is vanity What afterwards our King doth sanctifie What men acquire they usually abuse it What Heav'n himself gives he shews how to use it Let Man therefore the Time observe and see To gain Heav'n first these but additions be The World's eye who in twice twelve hours and four The mighty Moles of the Earth views o're In all her choysest Hort-yards cannot see Fruits half so fair and precious as these be Which in that neighbour Dish inchant the eye With painted Robes and fulvid bravery Those are Panchresta's for all ills of Man And who shall tast them shall Physitian Be to himself and others these impart Both Esculapius his and Chiron's Art As the Heraclian Stone draws iron and To rubbed Steel imparts the same Command So these with perfect Health do Man imbue And t' others make him Health's Physitian too Simples from his Hand â—a'ne more virtues hold Than Bezoar or dissolved Pearl or Gold His touch or Breath or Word or healing Eye May Physical Medicaments supply The Taster gaineth from these Fruits alone The healing virtue and the med'cinal Stone Raphiâ—l this jâ—yce 'mong the Fishes Gall did scruse Which Tobit t' heal his Fathers sight did use Part of this Fruit was mix'd with that Perfume Which did the evil Spirit overcome King Hezekia's Figs which heal'd his sore This Fruits blest Liquor in their intrails bore By this Aelia's Life bestow'd upon The widow of Zarepta's stone-dead Son By this Elishâ— did represse Life's flight And rais'd the Son of the good Shuâ—amite Some of this juyce he mingled with the Meal Which did the Propâ—ets poyson'd Poâ—tage heal This in the crystal streams of Iordan lay When they wash'd Na'man's Leprosie away This mix'd was with the Salt which cur'd the so Unwholsome Springs of pleasant Ierico This to the hâ—mm of our King's garment dropâ— When by its touch the bloody issue stop'd This in his healing Spittle hidden lay When that he an Opthalmic made of clay Which eyes restored to the born-blind and This in his Breath made whole the wither'd Hand Great Iesus our thrice blessed King did feed On all these Fruits which are before thee spâ—ead When he did flesh indue But He that Food Lik'd best which most was for poor Mortals good Therefore he this us'd much for through his Breath Diffusing it to Life he rais'd from Death He toth ' Blind Lame Deaf Dumb Dead power did give To see to walk to Hear to speak to Live To the 〈◊〉 Pool once eveâ—y year One of my Brothers of this Fruit did bear Whose virtue to those Waters virtue gave The sad afflicted from their pains to save Legs to a Cripple through this viâ—tue Paul At 〈◊〉 gave Cur'd Eutichus his fall Healed himself cur'd a possessed Maid Made Vipers hurtless cur'd where 's hand 's were laid So the Disciples all by this alone Became Physitians unto every one That next Dish prest with its exuberance Of matchless Treasures which their heaps advance Above the low sides of the Pattin seems The chiefest Archive of Caelestial gemms How thrust it is that it can scarcely hold Those silver apples in its purest Gold Preachers upon this sacred food should feed This makes Divines to be divine indeed This keeps the Eaters Mouth from speaking wrong Gives sacred Truth a dwelling in his Tongue So chimes that Member that she utters what â—o pass in after agâ—s shall be brought Makes Her so swift in Her predicting chime That she out-flyes the swiftest wings of Time By anti-Chronicles of things not done Forestals the ages of the World to come Making his Lincâ—ous eyes to see so far Things yet to come like God as if they were This to the Eater gives the golden Key Which doth unlock the Letter's mysterie Which doth unseal the most mysterious Wells Whâ—ch doth reveal Gemms hid in Parables This doth unfold the mysteries of the Night Visions appearing to th' internal sight When the eyes double-guarded porâ—a's be Fast locked up with Morpheu's Leaden Key When Night o're half the World in silence reignes Then noted Dreams Court undisturbed Brains These Fruits give oyl which oynt the Tongue and make 〈…〉 fervent daily speak To Heav'n and render Essences so strong That in stout ardoâ—s move the heated Tongue And with such fervoâ—r call on Heav'n that she Ev'n forces him with importunity Such flagitations don't with Heav'n dissute When they rise from the virtue of this Fruit. The Patriarch IACOB of this fruit did tast Before he gave unto his Sons his last Prophetic Blessings wherein he relates In Hieroglyphicks all their future fates This fruit of Naâ—oh all the Propheâ—s fed When Saul's fierce Nuncio's also prophesied And Saul this though unseen when pressing through His Lips was also made a Prophet too This all those eat who to the Iews foretold That Mortals should their God in flesh behold This gave them spiritual eyes to see before He came that Iesus whom we all adore This Fruit was rolled in Ezekiels Role This fruit was squeezed into Esdra's Bole This in the Leaves lay of Iohn's Book which He Eat with the promise He should Prophesie This Fruit Christ his Disciples granted too Whereby his words profunditly they knew Ioseph and Danâ—el also of it eat When of Kings Dreams interpreters they sat Elâ—sha eat of this when he by Prayer Stop'd up the watery Fountains of the ayr When he again by fervent prayer's power Chear'd the dry Earth with a continual showre When he from Heaven with like fervent cryes Fetch'd Fire to consume the Sacrifice When he from Heaven Caelestial Flames twice drew The which two Captains and their fifties slew Such is the virtue of that fruit you see A Gemm more rich than all Mortality But view the next Dish Did a greater prize And less than Heav'n it self e'r bless thine eyes Could Aretusa's tempting fruit more please Spectator's eyes with greater gay than these Doâ— golden 〈◊〉 rising from the main The gray-ey'd Morn with deeper Scarlet stain Thâ—â— thâ—â—hich bluâ—hes on their cheeks or may Hâ—s â—â—ams gild with a better Gold the Day What â—harmes upon
is known Here could our Heav'nly Joys permit us grieve I could Threnoda's sing 'cause Men deceive Themselves to think its any's Fault but their Own that we do not now so oft appear As we have done in former Ages No The fault 's not Ours but theirs we do not so The Reason why so oft we do not presse From Heav'n to Earth is Man's unworthinesse What else can Mortals think that it should be Cann't we be cloath'd with visibility With as much ease as then think they or now Grown old with Time do also lasie grow Think they the space 'twixt Earth and Heav'n more Large and wide drawn than in times before Or do they think our Love diminished Or that they of our helps now have no need Or do thâ—y on our Maker lay the blame That he to former Ages than to them More Love did shew think they him partial that We did on those and not on them do wait Or do they think our King has more to do In Heav'n for us that he cann't spare us now What is 't that peevish Moâ—tals think what e're They think it is their sins that keep us here Seal'd from their eyes which hide this blessed Fruit So that they know not which way to come to 't For could they eat of it they often would With â—leasure us familiarly behold In Ages past when we so frequent were With Men and did in Humane shapes appear Simplicity and Innocency reign Did amonâ— Mâ—n they knew not how to gain By lying Miracles their Natures all Most like to ouers were Angelical But after Sathan broach'd his vanities Which men suck'd in he under our disguise Of them deceiv'd so his delicious food They fed upon supposing it was good So as their sins encreas'd we disappear'd Whilst Sathan of his Conquests Trophies rear'd Which he by feigning Angels shapes did gain Whereby we did to Man obscure remain This now continues so man thought at last Our dispensat'on of Appearing past And now he boldly if we do appear As we were wont averrs we Devils are But blinded he is ignorant that this Fruit God's most sacred Fruit and blessing is Which still is free as e'r it was for Man Were he but worthy to obtain the same Of this fruit 't was those holy Men did tast With whom we had in all the ages past Communion for who do eat of it We are for them and they for us made fit We then to such shall not as strangers be But much frequent each others company That Royal Fruit which in that Dish doth lye Whose very looks with Wonders maze the eye In beauty and in virtue shall give way To none which fed thy blessed eyes to day See but what charmes are spread upon their cheek Their hew and make their wondrous virtue speaks This fruit indeed a faithlesse Faith expels And giveth one of working Miracles The Eater shall nothing too hard suppose To be effected by him for by those Mountains may be remov'd Seas made a Plain And all the Champain floated with the Main All living Creatures and inanimate Obey his Word who of this Fruit have eat He miracles shall truly do although Beelzebub's servants will not own them so Or if they do with belching Mouthes outright They cry they 're done by their own Master's might When by this Fruit they 're down which you behold As also were true miracles of old By this great Moses Power had to divide The blushing Seas by this was Iordan dry'd Twice by Elisha's Mantle The Command Of Ioshua still enforc'd the Sun to stand By this Fruit also great Amozides Repel'd the Dayes great Giant ten degrees Of this Fruit also blessed Iesus eat When he so many Wonders did Compleat That many Volumns cannot comprehend The tythe of them his Wonders have no end By this the bless'd Apostles did effect Their Miracles Wonders with Wonders backt Great Thaumaturgus when the VVord he spake By this Fruits Virtue dryed up a Lake By this the latter â—ges not a few Have Wonders done and VVonders more shall do For time draws nigh wherein this Fruit shall then Not such a stranger be to Mortal Men. The next Dish holds five glorious Apples that Man's five internal Sences animate The first whose beauties are so excellent That plunge Spectators into ravishment Unlocks the crystal pyla's of the eye Permitting it Heav'n's Beauties to descry By that the inner eye hath oft a sight In sacred Visions of Aeternal Light Of this bless'd place and of the Throne of blisse Where our great King 's immortal Splendor is By that we may be seen by that the eyes Behold the inner-VVorld's varieties And all the Spirits that created be In all the World 's perspicuously see By this Elisha's servant's eyes unbarr'd Were when he saw his Master's fiery guard Iohn's Iame's and Peter's when th' on Tabor saw Elias Christ the Giver of the Law The second that in yellow Ornaments Doth ravish with a thousand blandishments Continually a golden Key doth bear VVhich opes the Portals of the inner ear Through which the Sounds of Paradise do go And the caelestial Harpers musique flow Th'row which the inner World's sweet Harmony And all the Angels mystic voyces fly By this young Samuel's tender eares were bor'd When he the voyce heard of our Soveraign Lord. And divine Ioha's when he did hear the voyce Like to the rushing of enraged Seas The third which doth the Indian Nard excel Or all the spice of Arabie in smell The inner smelling Sence's gates doth wide Set ope th'row which Caelestial Odors slide Th'row which the sweet Perfume of Paradise To cheer the Brain and Spirits sweetly flyes The fourth whose sweetnesse Honey far exceeds With dews of Paradise the Eater feeds By that the Manna of Ierusalem To tast is often granted unto him By that his tongue on food divine doth tast And 's inner Palat on Heav'n's sweets doth feast The last whose slicknesse far exceeds the silk Whose snowy whitenesse far the purest milk Gives to the Eater sensibility Of the Contactions of Divinity By it he feels those pleasant thrillings which His Soul with the extreamest Joyes enrich Those burning tinctures of the deepest Love Which round his Heart with matchlesse pleasures move Of these three last the holy Saints did feed Be'ing granted to them in the time of need When persecution's mouth with all its power Sought them with cruel torments to devour Those then were Cordials to support the Hearts 'Gainst persecution's cruel Flames and Darts The lowest Dish which doth conclude the Feast Though it comes last yet is it not the least The Fruit it holds is of such price and Worth That it will lose much by my setting forth Not all the Rhetoric an Angel has Sufficient is this pretious Fruit to praise This is the Fruit that maketh Mortal Man To be Iehovah's great Magitian Art Magic this doth to the Eater shew And him with Heav'nly
o'rethrew By it Ierubaal did overthrow The Midians mighty Host without a blow Iesus with Heav'nly Magic also fed Four thousand people with sev'n Loaves of bread By it he fasted fourty dayes he by The same did with invisibility Adorn himself and 'mong a Multitude Of foes unseen he passed th'row the Croud By it he walked on the Seas and yet His soles the brinish Waters did not wet By it although the Doors fast locked were He could when e'r it pleased him appear So Paul by the Caelestial Magiâ—'s might Depriv'd the Sorcerer Elymas of sight So Peter when Hel's Magus Sâ—mon flew Thorow the Ayr him from the Clouds he threw Unto the Earth by Heav'n's true Magiâ—'s Skil Which Fall did both his Life and Magic spill For Hel's dark Magic unto Heav'n's must yield Nor darâ—s that come when this is in the Field With great-attention all this while attended The Pilgrim 'till the Angel thus had ended But ravâ—sh'd with the Knowledge of that Fruit Leave 〈◊〉 given he wiâ—h joy fell to 't Fell to that Feast which was more excellent Than twenty thousand out-worlds Complement That Feast which by Heav'n's proper Hand was dress'd That Feast which by Heav'n's sacred Breath was bless'd That sacred â—â—nquet which instal'd the man Heav'n's divine and Arch-Magitian O with what pleasure and delight he eat On that Caelestial and thrice sacred meat But yet with humble reverence he fed Bowing to Iesus for those gifts his Head Confessing still his own unworthinesse Of that Felicity He did expresse But seeing Iesus by the Angel had Granted him leave to eat he freely fed Whilst thus the Pilgrim with a full content Of â—oy and Blisâ—e and highest ravishment Feeds on those blessed Fruits an Angel from Th' Aeternal Throne doth to the Banquet come The presence of this unexpected Guest Starâ—l'd the Pilgrim and rejoyc'd the rest Such Crowns of Glory sat upon his Head Such beams of Light about his Garments spread Such Heav'nly Splendor flashed from his Eye That made him seem Heav'n's fair Aepitomy With a fair speed he came whilst the sweet ayr Wav'd the soft streamlets of his golden Hair And ruffling his white Gown rub'd flame-tip'd darts Against the tender Wounds of bleeding Hearts For his fair Garment pouder'd was all o're With flaming Arrows whose sharp points still bore Themselves against fresh bleeding Hearts the Wind At every puff seem'd cruel and unkind For those by clashing seem'd to wound indeed And these afresh to be inflam'd and bleed These were the Ensigns of the Sacred'st Love At whose Command this Messenger did move But in his right Hand all of shining Gold Thick set with Rubies he a Cup did hold Immortal Amaranthuâ—'s made up Into a Purple Garland Crown'd the Cup. But in the Mazure's golden Concave lay Of Wine of Love divine a blushing Sea A deep drought of that Heav'nly Nectar which Is broach'd for those who gain the highest pitch The Purple streams which fruitful Tmolus yields Th' exuberant Vines which crown the Massic Fields The Purple Grapes that on the Râ—ene do grow The scarlet Liquor that in Creet doth flow Spains sprightly Nectar Greece's pleasant wine Should they compared be to this divine Ambrosiac Liquor all of them would prove But Gall and Wormwood to this Wine of LOVE Approaching those who feasting were on the Choyce Fruits excerp'd from Life's thrice sacred Tree The Angel on the Pilgrim pitch'd his Eye In which was plac'd a Throne of swavity And reaching to him that Wine-filled Boul From â—s fluent Tongue these melting words did roul Take here said he a Cup of sacred VVine Squeez'd from the Grapes which grew on Iesu's Vine That Vine which spreads her spacious Branches even O're all the fair walls of the Court of Heav'n This is the new Wine which our Hearts doth chear Which bringeth gladnesse and expelleth fear This is Lovâ—'s sacred Wine in it doth move The very Spirit of the King of Love Which is not flitting but for ever fixed For he himself is with this Liquor mixed Our royal King himself commanded me For to present this Present unto thee This said the Pilgrim three times bowed and The Goblet took out of the Angels Hand And putting to his Ruby Lips the Cup With ravishment he drunk the Liquor up Not all the Honey streams of Hybla may Such gusts of sweetnesse to a Tongue display As what the Pilgrim tasted in that Boul As the Heav'n-nectarized VVine did roul Into the Breast He never yet did meet With any Wine so ravishingly sweet So that the pleasure did beguile his draught For e'r he was aware he deeply quafft The Boul was big but had it bigger bâ—en He would the bottom questionlesse have seen For here he knew he might drink in excesse And without sin drink unto drunkennesse For who can blame those holy Saints this Odd Expression pardon who are drunk with God No sooner had the Pilgrim drunk of this But Living Flames of everlasting Blisse Surround his Heart whose clipings without measure Yield Raptures and unutterable pleasure The Wine 's quick Spirits move in every part And corner of his Head his Breast and Heart And piercing th'row each Limb do cause them move In sweet Trâ—pudiations of Love Up starts he all inflamed with that Flame Which drove from David's breast Love stifling shame When he in an ecstatic Rapture danc'd Before the Ark of God as it advanc'd Th'row all the Streets of fair Ierusalem Taking the Graces all he danc'd with them The holy Dance of Love Nor can exprest Be that sweet prickling Joy raigned in his Breast His sence of feeling feasted to the hight And as the rest were swallow'd in delight Unusual Gestures forced him to rear That he the better Love's excesse might bear For Nature 's weak and strives to Congregate Those Spirits which extream Joyes dissipate For Her own safety lest by flying out Too much she should be quite left destitute Thus Flesh and Blood the Soul's Crosse alwayes is Depriving Her of Joys of Sweets of Blisse Not all the Joys and Pleasures the Dull VVorld On the most sensual Mortals e'r has hurl'd Not all the Fleshes various pleasures nor Foul Cyprian delights themselves compare May with the smallest part of that delight And pleasue which the Saints poor Souls â—â—cite Vain are the World's Joy momentany too Heav'n's everlasting undefil'd and true O what Tongue able is to tell the pleasure The Pilgrim felt Not all the Earthly Treasure Can purchase such delight for the true God Himself descended in a flaming flood Of Love upon his Soul Iesu's divine And sacred Body couched in the Wine It self in pieces brake upon his Soul The sacred Spirit too without controul Descending filled all his Soul about With Rayes of Light and Love which nought could d' out Whole streams of Love upon his Soul was poured Festatic pleasures through the same were showred Seas of delight unutterably sweet Love-Extasies his Soul together greet So that he was quite overcome of
things trodden down Under the glorious Lamb who once was slain But now in triumph doth for ay remain Death's and Hel's darts were broke o're whom he stood Incompassed with an illustrous flood Of Light ineffable displaying there His Conquest written in a Banner fair The blessed Crosse in Heav'n's bright Ensign shon With streaming Gold far brighter than the Sun So what was once contemptible and base Now stands in Glory in the highest place There also seen were those who had put on Their new Bodies and gain'd thâ—ir royal Crown And Scepter whom great Iesus did instal Princes and Kings and mighty Lords of all Sharing his Royal Scâ—pter and his Crown Such is his matchlesse Love with every One. Thrice bow'd the Angâ—ls thrice the Graces and Took up their places then on either hand Awaiting when they should Commanded be To any Office by his Maâ—esty Th' amazed Pilgrim as yet prostrate lay Too weak to view the Godhead's glorious Ray But the same Light which his weak eyes annoys His Soul fil'd with incomparable â—oyes And still the flames of ardent LOVE did roul Upon the Altar of his sacred Soul But by and by his Guardian Angel Came By Iesus first b'ing bid to do the same Who rais'd him up and spread his downy Wing Before his feeble sight and so did bring Him to the Throne of Iesus at whose Seat He fell and ravish'd kiss'd his sacred Feet Th' immortal Kingâ—strait took him from the place And honour'd Him with a divine Embrace Seal'd all the Joys the Pleasures Blisses sweets Upon his ravish'd Soul an Angel meets With in his blessed station O high Exalted Pleasures of Aeternity The Pilgrim then to Iesus would have Cry'd 〈◊〉 that the Rapt his Tongue had chain'd and ty'd That he unworthy was of all that Bliss Those favours and that matchlesse Love of his And 〈◊〉 he would have had his Tongue confesse His constant frailty and unworthinesse His Heart confess'd it but his Tongue was mute For Joys and Pleasures would not let him do 't For that Embrace unto his Soul did move Enflaming more and more the Fire of Love Whose heats at last unto that hight did come That he received there a Martyrdom Such matchlesse pleasures now enjoy'd this Saint That neither mine nor Angels Pens depaint Can nor Man think who never felt the same Who ne'r into Love's Armes and bosom came But such they were and of such price to Him That thouâ—and Worlds should not have purcha'st them Nay such they were he 'd be content to gain Such Pleasures with ten thousand years of pain Therefore O Man be wise and let not this World's pleasures rob thee of Aeternal Blisse Muse breath a while and give me leave to pray That I a Pilgrim too may once enjoy Such happinesse and high exalted Blisse Such Pleasure Rapture and such Joy as this Then shalt thou sing touch'd with Caelestial Fire Of LOVE Divine in sacred Notes much higher Than these low straines Thy Lively measures then Shall quicken up the drowsie Hearts of Men From their Lethargic sleep True Joy and glee Shall sweetly Couched in thy Numberâ— be True Joy's true Peace's Rest's and Blisses King I 'le sigh and mourn ' til thou say'st rise and sing 'Till thou say'st rise and sing I 'le Sigh and Mourn By me the Crosse not yet the Crown is worn Lord when thou pleasest Crown my Soul that I In Joy may Sing thy Prayse Aeternally The end of the Second Part. THE EXPLANATION OF AN Hieroglyphical Figure SHEWING THE MYSTERIES OF THE External Internal Eternal WORLDS The third Part. ONce more my sacred Muse doth take her flight And on the top of glorious SION light Where she beholds those glorious wonders which For ever the Aeternal World enrich Those Wonders and those Miracles of Grace Which beautifie and splendorize the place Those Wonders that are past her Skill to shew Which if she could it were not fit to do For there such glorious Wonders may be read As are not lawful to be uttered But what she may and what she Can express She shews unto you in a homely dress Accept I pray this Offering she brings For Rapt with Wonders all amaz'd she sings O Thou Aeternal Everlasting Day Illuminate my darker Soul I pray O let her eyes be fixed upon thee Thou King of Glories and of Majesty Grant that she may behold those Wonders that Th' Aeternal World thy bless'd Seat decorate O now inspire me with a Power divine Put Life into my Numbers sacred Trinâ— That whilst Heav'n's beautious Glories here I sing Unto your Throne I Souls may ravish'd bring That whilst my own wâ—apt in these Heaâ—s doth see Heav'n's Splendor and thy glorious Beauty she May be united to the Lord so close That nor the World nor Hell the tye may loose That while to others thus I sing I may O Lord not be my self a Cast-away Ho! Moâ—us cease to Carp Ho! Zoilus Cease Your scoffs and taunts Ho! Criticks hold your peace And say not now I Miracles reherse Beyond the lofâ—y Limits of a Verse Say not I write my Brainsick-Whimsies Lies Or Fables or I meerly Poâ—tize Ye are the Swine who grunting in the mire Would spoyl the musick of the sacred Quire But for your dissonance and grunt'ling noyse The World might often hear a Seâ—â—ph's voyce Piggs think their whining best the jetting Crows Themselves the fairest of Heav'n's Fowls suppose The Owles and Cuccows think their Notes to be 〈◊〉 sweet as Philomel's sweet harmony So you suppose your Canting best and then Like snarling Currs do Carp and snap at Men. You 're Swine indeed whose dull eyes stil below Behold the earth and hunt and scent your trough Your necks are too too short to view the Skye How come you then to judge of things so high Because some Wind-fals on the ground you see Think you no fairer Fruit hangs on the Tree Swine cann't look up it is a Man alone Not slothful Beasts can pull the fair Fruit down Buzzards are blinded by Sol's glorious Rayes Eagles unhurt against his splendor gaze Here then are Pearls but unto wise Men such But wrapt in pitch least Swine such gemms should touch Pearls must not naked be expos'd to Swine So say'd that mouth that wholly was divine Least that they trample and despise the same And Him who so unwisely offer'd them Therefore a wise Man cautiously shrouds Gemms of great value in obscurer Clouds And in the Pitch of Words those Pearls divine Hides from the eyes of such perverting Swine Which in their spendrous beauties otherwise Should Vail-less be exposed to their eyes But now me thinks I hear them Carp and say How come you thus Heav'n's beauties to display And the Arcana's of the Aeternal Sphear When you your self never arrived there If you should tell us that you were we cry We are assured that it is a lye For none to Heav'n ever can attain Whil'st his kept-Soul doth in his Corpse remain For when the Body's
same The form and being of this world doth prove The mighty power of the great IEHOVE And that a Deity there is For why 'T is plain it was not from Aeternity The constant changes of all things below The same to wise men do most clearly show Its alteration its Catastrophe Declares but what is from Aeternity No end can have The world beginning had Which was from Chance from Nature or from God From CHANCE it was not what a jumbled thing And foul mishapen Monster Chance would bring Forth could but she a world produce but this Of harmony and true agreement is So full that Atheists convinc'd proclam'd Have that not chance but God the world hath fram'd For who considers but the Harmony Of those bright fires shining in the skie The order marriage and the sweet consent With one another of each Element The secret virtues of all things that grow The hidden Sympathy of things below And Earth's most admirable form will not Himself exhibit to be such a sot Nor will be fill'd with so much ignorance As to averr the world was made by CHANCE Nor yet by NATURE was the world created For if that she had thus the world instated All things obedient would have been to her And past her bounds and rules not dar'd to stir But all do know how that sometimes the Creature Passeth the limits and the bounds of Nature Miraculously as when the golden Sun Ecclipsed is in the full of the Moon As when the Sun when Christ our Saviour dy'd His face did in a Mask of darknesse hide As all the world well knew for then between The Moon and him full half the Heav'n was seen So that it was impossible the cause Of this Ecclipse should come from Nature's Laws Nor yet can those who Nature God will make For every thing a Natural reason speak NATURE nor CHANCE therefore this world could frame A God therefore it follows made the same A GOD therefore there is The Devil too And acts of evil spirits plainly shew The same the world can testifie to this That Sp'rits apparitions no fable is But chiefly men although they God deny Themselves are forc'd a God to justifie How else can they such an Idea frame Of the great God as to deny the same For who can an Idea frame of what No being has whose species is not We an Idëa frame may of a face Of man or beast which living never was But men and beasts there are or else we frame Could not any Idëa's of the same So man may false Ideas frame of God But were there none he no Ideas shoâ—'d So man of God doth an Idea frame Whilst he about goes to deny the same And so is forc'd indeed for to confess What 's mouth denyes with so much wickedness Nature hath with an Adamantine pen Insculped deeply into the hearts of men That there 's a God although she could not show Nor dictate to them the true God to know And on their consciences she by her Law Has of a Deity impos'd an aw For there 's no Nation though they brutish be But have a Notion of a Deitie Some thing or other for a God adore They do which certainly was past the power Of humane policy for to imprint And o're the whole world through all ages hint Conscience doth prove a Deity likewise Which in the face still of the wicked â—â—es And though his actions ne'r so secret be Yet he 's afraid there is an eye doth see An eye which points and doth distinguish still Betwixt the several acts of good and ill Lastly the soul of man which shall for aye In night Eternal or eternal day Dwell which immortal is for were 't not so Corruption would take hold upon it too As well as on its case but all know this Th' immortal soul in age the stronger is The nearer that the body 's to the grave The more advantages the soul will have And so diseases which the case controule Cannot corrupt nor yet infect the soul. Sâ— alwayes mark whilst from the Body we By contemplation on deep abstracted be The â—oal doth better shew her complement But much more when she 's from the body rent As also by her laâ—ge capacity And by her utter independency On th' outer case for leaving that sometimes Without that she transcurs the earthly climes And visits places and them far more clear Beholds than if she in the body were This history will justifie but we Will strive for to avoid prolixity If the soul's mortal what doth make her love 〈◊〉 despising mortal things to sore above And never tire like unto like doth goe Which makes her thus despise all things below And to the Centre out of which she came Sâ—ll upwards tend with an immortal flame I say the soul doth prove a God to be The cause of her or else it follows she Iâ— of her self the cause then should we know All things that are more clearly than we do Knowledge nor understanding should we want Nor of our selves nor parts be ignorant Of which we are our parent then should not Be ignorant of what they have begot But how the cause and the effect can be All one as yet I have not eyes to see But to conclude what further proof indeed Of God than his great Providence doth need His providence in every thing but yet In plaguing those who him deny'd and it Especially for such struck with his rod Have by their deaths made known there is a God PHERECIDES was eaten up with lice LUCIAN by 's dogs devoured in a trice DIAGORUS from ATHENS banished A talent promis'd them who brought his head An arrow split the heart of JULIAN An ulcer killed scoffing APPION MACHIAVEL in prison rotted and HERMANUS felt the fire and God's just hand â—t would be endless to recount them all â—ut as they did may every ATHEIST fall Seeing that there a God immortal is 〈◊〉 follows then there are more Worlds than this For God's not seen here in this Orb below But as he doth himself in 's Creatures show Indeed he dwelleth here and every where Nor can he be confined to a Sphere But yet there is a world a glorious place Where brightned souls behold him face to face Where he is seen cloath'd with Eternal Day Where vails and shadows all are ta'ne away Where Saints behold him in great glory stand Not vail'd as here nor at the second hand Who so believes the sacred Scripture must Acknowledge needs that our assertion's just For that to take all scruples from us says God not one World but Worlds created has I 'le here not usher in with museful straines Th' exuberant fancies of some witty braines Who make the Moon a World to be and who Make Worlds of all the starres of Heav'n too Let such themselves and others to delude With brain-built worlds and worlds infinitude I 'le not contest GOD may do what he please But here I treat not
her bowels understand Let them her seal'd-up dores unbarr and there Her rusty Treasures brighten and reclear Let such dive down into her depths below And the Arcana's of her Min'rals know Let them th'row ev'ry Room and Chamber run And know the virtues of her central Sun Which with its Heat pierceing th'row ev'ry room Gives life to seeds sown in her vaster womb Let such behold her hidden Palaces Where sealed up lye hid her Mysteries There let them Tin Ir'n or pine Stibium Brasse Virmilion Merc'ry Lead and Coperasse Copper Letrargyre Marble Salt and Iet View and let them break up her Cabinet Where they with curious prying eyes behold May all her Mines of Silver Steel and Gold Her choyce of Rubies Saphires Calcedones Her Topaz Opals Emeraulds Diamond 's Her Carbuncles her Amythists her store Of Turques Crystals and a thousand more Let them the virtues of the Load-stone see And all the Earths that Medcinable be Let them their secrets dayly meditate Through them God's name and wonders predicate Let others on her superficies walk And thorow all her vegitables stalk Into Earths dainty garden-plats let them Come and search out the vertues of each stem Let them the secrets of all simples know The vertues of all herbs and flowers that grow Let them consider flowers fragrancies Their checquer workâ— and dainty diapres The Violets the Roses and the Lilies The Pansies Marigolds and Daffodillies Th' admired Lotos secret vertues given To herbs and shrubs by the free hand of heaven Let Mugwort Saffron Burnet Piony Swines-bread St. Johns-wort and Succory Madder Angelica and Bittany Lunaria Hellebore and Dittany With thousands more whose vertues wonderfâ—l Men into admiration justly pulâ— Consider'd be Then that which makes us bread And grain of all sorts be considered Then let them walk unto the spacious groves And see the Male-Palms woo their female Loves View there the Peruanan Brasil how It peopled doth like to a Village show See there the Oak the Maple Ash and Vine The Elm the Larch the Cedar and the Pine The Indian Cocos which supplies the lack Alone both of the belly and the back The Corck the Osier Alder Willow Holm The Poplars Beaches Yews against a storm Good for a shelter and consider these The Natures and the Uses of the trees Then to the fragrant Orchards go and there The Apple Plum the Cherry and the Pear The Apricock the Oring Quince and Beach The Limon Feald-beard Walnut that doth reach It's head to Heav'n almost the Olive Date The Baulm and Spice-trees which are good to eat See and admire the Hand of Providence Their Wonders virtues and their excellence Let others also view Earth's numerous guests And daily weigh the natures of the Beasts The Mysteries of Animals they may And their hid virtues to the World display Let them traverse th' Hercanian Woods and there The shaggy Lion and the cruel Bear The Elephant Rinocerot the Bore The Camel Bull Horse Asse a thousand more Behold and in black Chus his scorched plaines Draw out the Serpents from the sandy draines Consider there the Basilisk they may Who through his eyes his poyson doth conveigh The scaly Dragon spiteful Viper the Aspick and Adder and Tarantule Which puâ—s the stung into a Capering fit Then call for Musick that 's the cure of it Dâ—ynas and Dispas Scorpion and Eft Who tho but small to kill can make a shift The Horn'd Cerastes and the Crocadile Who daily stuffs his mighty paunch in Nile And let them the Camâ—lions various hue With worms and flies Bees other insects too Consider well and let them then proclame The virtues and the Wonders of the same Again let others with industr'ous bent View and review the other Element Peer into Rocks and on the Mountains Top See mighty Rivers infant springs burst up And let them weigh while others range the Woods The several virtues of the Crystal floods Let some behold the Cateracts of Nile Others the source of Tanais the while Some rapid Tigris others Euphrates Ganges and Plate great Rivers rather Seas Tagus and Rhyne and Rhone and Tiber too Arn Sâ—in and Po Ister and 〈◊〉 view Our silver â—â—is which upon the main 〈◊〉 born smels purges and grows sweet again Th' Effects and Operations then Recount Of the day cold and the Night-scalding fount Of Athamas whose cold and Crystal Flood Gives living flames unto the drenched Wood. Or Silarus or the Ciconian streames That wood convert to solid stone it seems Or the Arcadian Well of which who drinks All other waters yea wine loathsome thinks Also Lincestus who drink much of it Do reel like Drunkards in a drunken fit A thousand more scarce credible and then The medicinable waters good for men The Bathes of Bathe Bangers in Gascony And Bajae famous once in Italy Then to their Fish-boat with their tackle try To draw from Brooks the Silver-coated fry The speckled Trour the Barbel Tench and Ele The dainty Salmon Cherin Lampry Seile And â—ny more Then hoist into the Seas Where great variety their minds may please Where they as many several wonders view May as in th' Earth and airy Regions too Th'row NEPTUNE'S waâ—'ry Regions let them go To THETIS Coral-garnish'd Court below There let them view the shrubs the Trees the Pearls The Syrens Mearmaids Tritons with their shels And all the Fishes that do daily sport Themselves within great NEPTUNE'S liquid Court There they may Philanthropic Dolphins see The Whirle-Pool Whales the terrour of the Sea Leviathans the Sturgions Amia's The Cuttles Tunnys Prawnes and Remora's The Pearl-Fish Oysters Sargus Cantharus The Mullet Herring Uranoscopus With many more which in that Region swarm Of sund'ry sizes qualities and Form There they the qualities of the Sea to know May strive how it doth daily ebb and flow Its virtues properties how like a Lover The Earth embraces and yet flows not over And seeing these Aâ—cana's of the flood May preach the wonders praise the Name of God Also let others winged th'row the air Propitiously their noble courses steer And let their constant minds be dayly bent Upon the wonders of that Element There they may ransack every cave and house That doth belong to boistrous Aeolus The several Regions of the air they may With Hails and Snows and Rains and Frosts display With Dews and Comets Exhalations Thunder Mists Blasts and Fâ—mes and Lightnings full of wonder They too consider may when they are there The winged people of the moving air Up to the Eagles Eyrie may they run And see the Eaglets face the dazling Sun Scorning to wink for by this certain sign Fowles Prince knows that her brood is genuine Thence to the Arabian spicy woods they hast May and behold the Phaenix in her nest The Whilst her spicy bed begins to burn And her consumeth in her fragrant urn Straight way the ashes in her dainty Tomb Take life and so the grave becomes the womb Of a new Phaenix from whose ashes rise Another
Phaenix shall when e're she dyes The unkind Estridge on th' Arabian plain Beating her plumes against the wind in vain Who cannot mount as other fowl that fly Within the liquid bosom of the skie Behold and see Queen Iuno's stately Bird Her train extending high at every gird The brustling Turky and the crested Cock The Huswife 's watch the sturdy Plow-mans clock Then see the Crane the Stork the Pellican The Cormorant the Hern and silver Swan The Halcyon the bird of Paradise That never touches ground untill she dies The Griffin Faulcon Laner Marlin Kite The Swift and Swallow that renews the sight Of her blind yoâ—ng with Selandine the Pie The Lark and Finch and many more that fly Within the Air 's fair region Here they may The secret vertues of them all display And seeing here the wonders of the Lord His Name and Praises trumpet may abroad Lastly leâ— others free from earthly cares God b'ye bid to the earth and view the stars Where with fair pinions fluttering along The Azure dwelling of that numerous throng They may behold the Roods and several Inns Of the sev'n Planets and the twice six signs There they the Coach may of the day 's bright Prince Follow and view's course and circumference His flaming and swift steeds quotidian racâ— His twelve fair lodgings in his annual space How he the seasons of the year createth How now the dayes length now the nights length bateth There they fair PHEBE horned now e'r long Filling her Orb with light grow fair and young Again may see her divers aspects and How when at full eclipsed understand How nimbly tripping in a swift carere The heav'nly Zodiack twelve times in a year She passes Thence to Mercuries sphere they go May and behold his annual motion too Who waiting on the Chariot of the Sun Spends almost twelve-moneths e'r his race is run Thence mounting higher they behold the fair And splendid Veaus now the evening star Sometiâ—â—s again with most resplendant rayes And matchless beauty sh' ushers in the days Thence still ascending viewing Phaebus sphere They may behold him measure out the year And how he doth years several seasons cause Spring at 's approach Winter when back he draws Summer and Autumn when his jorneys made Th'row Cancer and when with the Virgin laid Thence to the angry God of War they go May and behold his sphere and journey too Which e'r he't finish'd th'row the Houses has Three Sommers and as many Winters passe Then to the Sphere of Iupiter they wenn May and behold his Chariot of Tinn Which twerling th'row the Zodiack doth runne Four trines of yeares â—'r't doth to Pisces come Thence they to leaden Saturn may advance Whose coursers slowly thirty yeares do prance E'r they can draw their heavy Car about And see the place from whence they first set out And thence to the eight Sphear whose mighty bent Contains the Host of the blew Firmament Whose vaster circuit e'r it turns about Tho'swift almost sev'n thousand years wears out Heav'n's glittering Zone next then they may behold Fringed with Silver and embos'd with Gold Wherein twice six most glorious Figures stand Exactly wrought by an Almighty Hand March his brave Ram and Apriâ—'s Bull that brings Upon his horns the garland of the springs Th' embracing Twins The Crab that first doth show Fair Sommer's presence with a swetty brow Then rampant Leo who with burning breath Scorcheth the Planes and green Woods withereth The Virgin next who smiling doth appear To crown the Plow-man's Hopes for all the year The Ballance then beaming with splendour bright The aequidistance weighs of Day and Night The Scorpion Câ—ntauâ—e Kid and Skinker shine The Fishes too a wet and Winter sign Turning their heads then to the Artic pole They may behold the mâ—nstrous Dragon roule â—ith his starry tail the Wain man there 〈◊〉 Crown the Harp the Eagle and the Spear The Snake the Swan and flying Pegasus Andâ—omeda and her dear Pâ—rseus Casiopâ—ia and the Dolphin and Medusa's Head and Cepheus do stand Then to th' Antartic turn they may and view Where the 〈◊〉 dog-star and Orion too The Whale the Whelpe the Hare the Hulke and the Raven Wolfe Fowl the Boule and Hydra be The Crown the Fish and other starres beside Most plainly by Astronomers descri'd There also may they with a mind intense Consider all the Twincklers influence On th' Orb below and how they often change Mens minds and manners in a manner strange How pleasant meeting in conjunction smile How frowning opposite another while Heav'n is God's Book the Starres are letters that Himself so fair with his own finger wrot Wise Men can read them ignorants indeed Do ' count them Ciphers 'cause they cannot read Wise Men alone do rule the starres but they 〈◊〉 cause both Man and Beast their Laws obey Who vieweth thus th' Arcana's of the Sky Glory may give to Heav'n's High Majesty But let us not unmindful be of Man Who harbours Wonders in his outer frame Tho Worlds he hold That to the outer Sphear Doth answer therefore to be mention'd here Let therefore some anatomize him and His Body's inner parts well understand There let them see the purple springlets draine From Life's true Centre thorow every vein The spungy Lungs the bellows of the Breast The stomach Cook by whom the food is dres't The which prepar'd by the Misentric's sent Unto the Liver for its nourishment Where in a short space all the juicy flood Dy'd is converted into Crimson blood From whence as Rivers from the Fountains Head's It by the veins th'row all the Body spreads Descending lower let them view at leasure The Guts fine labyrinth the Bellie's Treasure But e'r they thus dissect him let them see His comely features and Limbs symmetry See the fair capital of this structure stand On a Cylindric pillar to command The rest Hâ—s spacious Front the Throne of Aw And Majeâ—â—y His eyes that homage draw From other creatures like two Twinklers bright Sparkling and streaming with clear Rayes of Light Sâ—and placed under two fair arc's of Hair These with two lidds from harm defended are That with a double guard of slender pikes Keeps off th' offensives that the Eye dislikes See then the Conduits of the Head likewise Two blushing Mounts that in his Face arise The Ruby portals of a pearly gate The Mill and grinder of the body's meat The Tongue words former and the mazâ—y Ear Through which he doth the formed voyces hear His Hands the body's Purveyors his Knees His Legs and Feet the Basis unto these For tyes the sinue ligaments the Nerve And bones for Beams do in this building serve But most of all who 'l not admire at Hâ—s speech the nimble Tongue 's uncessant chat Words they are wonders in the Head created Then by the tell-tale Tongue a loud related His Wit and Memory are admirable For to recount whose Wonders none are able Mechanics and the Mathamatics too And almost all
stay Tiburtius 't is not thou canst keep Food from these Martyrs Christ will feed his sheep And tho ten thousand Iron barrs behem He in the foulest hole will feast with them A sacred Angel now Hel's Rage withstands And notwithstanding his severe Commands Brings ev'ry day food to these close shut up With which they bountifully dine and sup In vain Tiburtius every day enquires Which of the constant brothers first expires In vain he waits and still in vain he may To hear the cruel cut-throat keepers say That they were starv'd to death He waites in vain Raging therefore he now will have them slain This cruel Monster and right Stygian Heir Doth now a walk of burning Coales prepare And cruel forces these two Saints to stalk With naked feet upon this fiery walk The glowing Coales charg'd by the Angel so Kisse their sweet feet unhurt as they do go Fast locking up their burning quality As splendant Gemms under their feet do lye But all this will not serve their turns for now Unto IOVES Image they are bid to bow Instead of Iove to Iesus strait they cry When one of his blest Chore doth thither flye Touching the Idol with his sacred hand Prodigiously converts the same to sand The brasse resolv'd to dust falls on the ground Whilst Heathen Iesu's blessed Name reâ—ound Such were the acts of holy Angels then Frequent tho now so seldom seen by men And what 's the reason that these Sons of Light Seem as it were now to eschew our sight Why don't they now appear as they were wont To do in former ages and why don't They shew their kind familiarity But hide themselves in vail'd obscurity Some think the sins of Men the cause and sure Angels love to converse with none but pure Men like themselves and though this may not be The only Cause of their obscurity Unto our outer eye yet sure I am Man's inner converse hinder'd by the same Is for while Men lye plunged in the mire Of sinn they cann't behold these sparks of fire Others suppose the Church confirmed now Has no such need as heretofore for to Be strengthened therefore Angels don't appear And therefore miracles now ceased are Others do think and sure their reason 's good Since God himself put on our flesh and Blood And since that Iesu's blest Humanity For ay inthroned is in Heav'n on high That Mortals should Spiritualized be And him by Faith in Truth and Spirit see For the Internal World 's now open'd are And Spiritual Treasures more then e'r they were So that Man now converse with Angels may In a more Spiritual and nearer way For Angels tho they don't appear do Love Men as they did and round him daily move For to defend him from all hurt and Harm With Magic vigour of their powerful arm They willing are still to converse with Men Who lay aside the letting Vailes of Sin But what 's the reason seeing Spirits have Such power here that th' Ill do not bereave Man of his Life and with their shapes affright Him from his Reason Wits and Sences quite Why don't they haunt Man with continual terror And shew themselves in tâ—eir dread shapes of horror Why don't they muster all the Winds and tear The Rocks aâ—â—â—nder and the Mountains bear Unâ—o some City pashing with the stones Both Towers and Walls Houses and Men at once Why don't they move the Raging Seas and make At once a Kingdom or a Land a Lake And sith a power to slaughter men they have Why don't they sweep whole Townes into the grave Beeing they are to mischief alwayes bent Why make they Man to be their Instrument The Devil Mans subtle and crafty foe Charges his slaves that they thâ—mselves do show Tâ— none but such whom he'â— assured are 〈◊〉 and bound 〈◊〉 his Iron snare For he 's affraid if he should men affright With the black shadows of the dismal Night And should in 's horrid shapes be seen that they Sith Men in fear are then most apt to pray For help to God should through a sence of fear On goodnesse think and from their sins forbear And lest that many who no Hell believe Now he by this meanes should re-undeceive Beside the shame of their foul blot and stain From oft appearing doth them much restrain For they do know Man knows their fall and strait They hang their heads if he the same relate Therefore they 'r much enrag'd if any spy Them will they nil they with an inner eye But chiefly this restrains them Well they know Their ministry and what they are to do Spiritual is and that they need not come In shapes nor Corporeity assume They are to tempt Man unto Sinn and they That very well can do a better way Than to be seen into the fancy presse They do and there suggest all wickednesse Sleeping and waking Night and Day they do Disturb the fancy and the sences too So that they 'l not appear unto the eye Except they think they an advantage spy But why Man's Life they do not take away Nor all the order of the World destroy Is this IEHOVA whose black slaves they be Holds in his Hand their chaines extremity So that like Bandoggs they may bark and grin But cannot hurt unlesse he lose the chain Which loos'd for sinnes correction strait they rome And upon man with rage and fury come Likewise we must not think the Angels idle But that they still their rage and fury bridle Opposing still the rigor of their armes Against the venom of their spells and charmes So that with wisdom and with might they can Avert their plots and stratagems from Man But I suppose did God give Sathan leave He would not Men as most suppose deprive Of Life tho I confesse his furious spight Effect much harm and desolation might For what good would it do for him to Crown At once the whole World with a Martyrdom For what good would it do him to destroy Man for himself by it he 'd more annoy 'T is not this Life of Man he seeks but the Soul's company with him Aeternally Therefore he 'd have Men in prosperity And 's loth to see them in Adversity In easâ— and pleasure Men to sin are subject Disease stirs up to a Caelestial object If Sathan should Man's hand so agitate That he should burst in twain the thread of Fate Of any one answer shall he the fact If that his will concurr'd not with the act Then Daemonaicks must be guilty too Of whatsoe'r they in their fits do do Sathan knows well enough what e'r ill in Their minds he puts imputed sha'n't for sin Be unto them unlesse their will they shall Conjoyn thereto This sin we rightly call Therefore he tempts well knowing that he can Not hurt for Man himself must murther Man Hâ—rt from himself doth flow but cunning he Makes Man betray himself to misery But if that any persecute he wou'd His Rage
and spight would be against the Good Whom he should think were past his reach or those Who naked should themselves to him expose Hoping thereby to make them sin or that They should grow through oppression desperate But God who bounds the Seas doth Hell command And binds the Devils with the self-same Hand Man as the Sages not untruly say'd Peculiar Genii has both good and bad Each good Man has an Angel guardian And evil Daemon has each evil Man For to attend upon him one doth still Egg Man to Good the other unto ill As doth a careful Nurse attend the child She suckles lest by harm it be beguil'd Or hurt and as she joys to see it grow In strength and all perfections even so The Angel tuâ—ular attends his Ward And daily it doth from all evil guard He joys to see his charge to grow apace In Heav'n's perfections and the strength of Grace He guards his charge from ills and doth undo Hel's plots and snares and stops his fury too And were it not for such an Angel's guard To shun Hel's snares a Saint would find it hard What owe we then unto Heav'n's Love that sends So good a Nurse that Man so frankly tends So evil Men ill Daemons wait upon Who joy to see them in Hel's Races run They have their several charges too and they Also upon their charge attend alway Each seeks his charge to hale to TOPHET even As the good Angel to bring his to Heaven Sometimes these Genii bodies take and then Themselves they do exhibit unto men For Bishop Bruno heard a voyce cry thus No Bishop I am thy ev'l Genius E're long I 'le fetch thee and e're long indeed A Roof fell down upon his cursed head So Marcus Brâ—tus his ev'l Genius spy'd Whose Fate presag'd the night before he dy'd Cassius Parmensis saw a Daemoa that With horrid looks presag'd his evil Fate Who being asked what he was he thus Reply'd I am thy evil Genius Good Men likewise have their own Genii seen And with them also conversant have been Bâ—din relates a story of a Man Who was directed by his Guardian Angel at all times who forewarn'd him still That he prevent it might of any ill That threat'ned him or if he did not well He by some sign him of it still would tell And ev'ry morning such his holy care Was him awak'd and stir'd him up to prayer And every night he in a dream did shew Those accidents that should next day ensue So that he was fore-armed still and thus Preserv'd till Death by his good Genius One Iacob Behre a very pious Man By prayer obtain'd an Angel Guardian Which both himself and 's Wife saw every Night About their Bed like to a shining Light Such is God's Love and such the Angels care That we as children they as Nurses are I do believe that there are many now That by the guidance of their Angels go Steer as they do direct are guided by And have converse with their own Genii And tho men may not often see their own Genii and though themselves they have not shown Often unseen they act and do direct Our actions and us from Hel's harms protect They do inspire us and as God commands Sometimes they help sometimes with-hold their Hands Good Angels help good men the evil still Entice and draw them to the pits of ill Most men are by Good or ' ill Genii led In all their actions tho they 'r undescry'd Therefore behold within the Globe I paint An Angel Guardian waiting on a Saint An evil Daemon which another leads Who in the pathes of sinn and Tart'rus treads But the deep Magic of each mystic Sphear We shall below at full describe not here We here proceed shall tho in homely garb To shew the Myst'ries of this outer Orb. 〈◊〉 This Woâ—ld from th' inward Worlds its being gat And of their natures doth participate The curse with blessings good with bad doth blend Both Centres hither do their forces send This is the stage on which both act 't is here Their influence and power doth appear This is the field in which these powers do band And strive which of them may Man's heart command This is the receptacle here below For Heav'n and Hell their Wonders both to shew So that here is as 't were conjoyn'd in one Both Sodom Aegypt and Ierusalem The Devil crafty in his hellish art Rejoyced much to see this World produc'd From two more inward beings now he us'd His utmost skill and it stood him upon This World's and Adam's soul in union For to conjoyn For well he thereby knew A place of pleasure should to him accrew Infernal Spirits find some ease when they Imbody in some earthly bodies may The herd of Swine they 'd rather enter than Return into their smoaky hole agen Leaving their fiery Centre they as 't were Come forth of prison for to take the ayr Here they disport themselves and closely lurk With eagernesse to do their fathers work Which is to draw th' immortal Souls of men For to inhabit their Sulphurious den The Devils tremble when they think upon This outward Fakrick's dissolution For then more strictly shall they wrapped be In their own Centre to Aeternity This wily Serpent all his craft did use His poyson th'row this Earth for to diffuseâ— Which he no way effect could b' Adam's lapse Only a way is made He him intraps Assaults his free-will doth expose to view This World 's rare beauties when 't was formed new Shews him the tree forbid whose dangling fruit So pleasing with a new made creature suit He well knew would This was the only gate By which he hop'd to overthrow him at He knew beâ—orehad the sad consequence Of Adam's â—all Therefore he strives from whence He waâ— created to attract him and Thereby to lessen him of his Command Adam was King sole Pâ—ince and Lord of all The Eaâ—th but lost it by his fatal fall Sathan knew he millions of Souls should gain By this meanes to encrease his hellish train And hop'd it may be for to conquer all That should produc'd be on this earthly Ball If Adam should not fall he likewise knew He in this World should nothing have to do But should be banish'd quite which is the state Is promised for which the Angels wait To see Hel's power banish'd Heâ—v'n's alone To have with this World's Spirit union Then shall the curse be fled and Paradise To flourish here we shall see with our eyes But Adam's fatal lapse from what to what In briâ—f my slender Muse shall now relate Th' Aeternal one or th' one Original Th' internal World's which Principles we call Or his right hand or left hand Wrath oâ— Love Considering doth with his Spirit move On them what Images there Spiritual Were he gave them substance corporeal And by his Fiat this great Machine made Of nought and in such
next march thou forth With thy brave cohorâ—s against Astaroth Show thou to man our glory and our skill Our abstruce secrets with light Magic fill Him give him knowledge understanding and Wit to eschew Astaroths subtle band Guard thou his health divert the fatal knife And keep off all attempts against his life Next Haniel your Legions compleat Let your battalions 'gainst Abaddons meet With equal courage fight you band to band Provoke to piety bring comfort and Solace Root out 〈◊〉 image in its place He instrumental to infer my Gâ—ace Strong Gâ—briel with courage meet thy Foe And with thy Troops 'gainst mighty Mâ—mmon go Dissolve Man's fear inject the fear of me Loose from the World his Soul and set him free From 〈◊〉 exhibit to his eye Heav'n's glorious Riches and vast Treasury Observe the motions of great Mammon fight At every turn with that stiff opposite Under your Banners to the Oâ—b below May brightnesses and beams of Glory go Light apparitions sweet and pleasing noyses Tinkling of Bells and other sacred voyces For to attract the mind to our bless'd Sphear T' expel Teares sadnesse and disturbing Fear Let every Country have a Guardian And let a Genius wait on every Man Give way and let these Pâ—iâ—ces Congregate Who with your help will Man felicitate And bravely strive with all those Troops that ride So daringly under the Flag of Pride Humility Prince of this Tâ—ain first go Into the Earth confront thy prideful Foe With all thy force whilst he elates do thou Inâ—lect mens hearts make them not scorn to bow To thee Prince Love â—â—joyn whose power and might Makes Hel's black bands to tremble at his sight O how they â—ear him I Against all I send Thee chiefly though thy force 'gainst â—â—vy bend Rush on their blacker Troops let Malice Hate 〈◊〉 Companions â—eel thy Force's weightâ— ' Gaâ—nst Aâ—â—â—ice march Libâ—ralâ—ty And Trâ—th against twy-fac'd Hypocrisie 〈…〉 meer thou steâ—◠〈◊〉 Strength Courage Hope Do 〈…〉 sad Dâ—spair most bravely Cope 〈…〉 Faith wing the Souls 〈…〉 them higher than the Poles 〈…〉 this Kingdom e're 〈…〉 have left the â—ther Sphere By thee Hel's poyson shall dispelled be Custom of sinning ' â—ore thy Troops shall flee Go Wisdom with your Trooâ—s And Innocâ—â—ce With Resignation joyn Obedâ—â—â—ce With Uprigh nesse oppose to gâ—â—lâ— and guile To stuâ—bornnesse and disobediâ—nce vâ—le Go Continence and chast Vâ—ginity Resist thou Lust thou wanton Luxury Light vanquish thou dark mistâ— and clouds of Error Ioy bitter Sadnâ—sse peace dâ—urbing Terror Go bravely now Hel's force and strength resist My Power and Magic shall you sâ—ll assist Strait from their Centre these light Troops do go To help poor Man against his Stygian Foe Who else would be devoured soon all still Do eagre strive to do their Master's will Magic opposeth Magic Spirits Spirits Man's will can not be forc'd He still inherits A Kingly freedom neither World Constrain Man to do what he does they seek to gain His full assent or else 't is nothing worth For what if one should with a sword in Wrath Destroy my Corpse or fling me in the Sea From some high Rock What should I guilty be Unlesse that I with my free will had gon And voluntary sought destruction Sinn 's not without assent Nor lyes it in B'ing tempted but in yielding lyes the sin â—s God so hard to punish us think you For sin if we no otherwise can do Have we no power to will the good O fad If God should punish if we will the bad And yet you see most wills seem captivate To ill in this we 'r like an Infant that Chooseth some baublâ— when a Jewel too With it expos'd was to his choyce and view He 's not constrain'd he chuse may which he will So we through ignorance oft chuse the ill Man's will is free Both Words strive with their might For this their powers so eagerly do fight Hell tempâ—â— allures attract and craws and still A thousand wayes seeks for to gain man's will Love with his agents draw the other way Exhibite Glory Brightnesse Riches â—oy Spiritual To this man now doth bend His will anoâ— doth to the other tend The more that S 〈◊〉 gains of him the less His will he doth unto the good express The more heav'n gains of him the more he still â—schewes the bad turns to the good his will In this there are degrees coaction may Befall me when my Will another way Propends like one who to the place doth go Where he must executed be ye know Without his will his body would not move And yet that thing he wills he doth not love His will 's yet free that cann't be forc'd refuse He cannot Death yet it he doth not choose So often times to Man it may befall That he may do what he not wills at all Mâ—n wills not wholly ill untill that he With Hell in union and conjâ—nction be Then he 's a devil Hell to ill propends Wholly as God to good for ever tends The powers of both the worlds now being sent Iâ—to this Oâ—b begin their bickerment Wâ—aâ—h's sorces strive and ADAM's fiâ—t born Cain Tâ—â—y get the light world's forces ABEL gain Since when they still have fought their forces faile Not nor e'te shall stout wrâ—th seem'd to prevail Cont nuaâ—â—y Under his power the world He qâ—â—ckly got therefore God's Iustice. hurld The 〈◊〉 ng waters o're the Faâ—th which drown'd 〈◊〉 creatures but what in the Ark were sound How many men had he in Sodom got When Love amongst them had but one poor Lot Thus Hell prevail'd until the Prince of Love Himself came down from his bright Throne above Indu'd with humane flesh an overthrow He gave to Hell who tues that fatal blow For since that time Loves banners were display'd Th'rowout the Oâ—b Hells strength and force decay'd Whilst thus these powers for man contend and be In sharpest Wars upon the mortal tree Man lives his food which to his pallate suits Best are its various and delicious fruits This is the Tree of Good and Evil for The Fruits themselves tho' good nor evil are Yet as the Plannet Mercury incline To either as they are to whom they joyn 'T is not the grosser part that feeds thereon But 't is the soul the highest part of man The flesh hath fleshly food the soul likewise Feeds but on choice and more varieties This Tree is good for food such choice of fruits It hath that it conveniently suits With every soul so large and fairly spread That with its branches East and West are wed These then the fruits are Here hangs natural Wit And Iudgement which humane affaires doth fit Here a propriety in goods and Lands Self Interest Love to relations hangs On this Bow here an innate doing right Pâ—nds here hangs Riches you ' unto the sight Appears the lovely fruit of Beauty there Spoâ—ts to refresh the mind and Body are Here Honouâ—s hang and high promotions
Plenty of Goods and great possessions Here dangles Pleasures here Morality Good Carriage Parts and civil honesty Degrees of State whence Kings and Lords arise Earles Barrons Knights Gentry Nobilities Here Power and Authority and here This Bow innate Concupiscence doth bear On th' other side all manual Arts and Trades In clusters hang among the greener shades Here you may find both Grammer Rhetoric With Logic opticks and Aâ—tlâ—etic Musick Physicks Metaphysicks too With Geometry hang dangling in your view Astronomy and Geography there Astrâ—logie and Surgery appear Here nat'ral Magic and Theology Accompan'ed with antique Poetry Here Chimistry Ethicks oeconomicks Phisosophy all sorts and Politicks With many more do grow This is the food Which Man's Soul eats and finds it very good If that you well revolve these in your mind Nor Good nor Bad them in themselves you 'l find Yet may toâ—poyson be converted or Made wholsome nourishment convenient for Man's soaring Soul Here the two opposite Worlds forces often meet and strongly fight Both would his Cooks be both desire to carve Both willingly would at his Table serve That they their Tinctures might infuse for meats Do operate much in his Soul that eates For Beauty which a pleasant harmony Of Blood and humours is just symmetry Of all the parts no evil is nor is 't A sin to have it or a sin to mist't Yet Sathan this to poyson may convert If thorow it he should elate the heart Make those that it possesse make 't nothing worth By spending precious Time to set it forth Sathan endeavours thorow it to cause Pride and to make them greedy of applause To dresse it forth with highest vanities To make adorers with their wanton eyes Then Lust creeps in with other sins and thus Beauty though good is evil made to us Loves Forces strive if thou hast Beauty to Make it most wholsom and good food for you He 'd make thee Chast and strive his Grace to set As Jewels in so fair a Cabinet Vertue shines brightest in a beauteous frame That graceth Beauty Beauty to the same Adds splendor Oft the Beauty of the Soul Is disregarded in a Face that 's foul Therefore if thou art beautiful thou art More fit to serve God with a purer heart For is't not fit that he who Beauty gave Before all others should thy Beauty have Thus pleadeth Love who 'd make it good and thus It may be made both Good and ill to us To ill the Devil would convert thy Wit And understanding by employing it In vanities or some ill Arts or by Converting it to guile or subtilty Loves power would draw it unto goodnesse and His sacred Mysteries to understand Cause by converting it to Wisdom so Wit may our Friend be or may be our Foe All Arts and Sciences may be abus'd Made Good if rightly Bad if wrongly us'd So nat'ral knowledge us indammage may But do great good if it we well employ So whilst that we inspect Astrology Or the starres motions by Astronomy View we may there Gods Wonders contemplate Which may to Earth our eager Love abate Whilst we in Natural Magic look and see The various Wonders that there hidden be We may with greater ardour praise his Name Who out of nothing thus all things did frame Thus it redound may to God's glory But It by temptation we do solely put Our mindes therein or greater things neglect For them or to the stars an indirect Power ascribe or natural Magic passe To necromancy or Hells arts alas How are we lost thus recreatâ—ons May help the mind or prove temptations To greater ills Thus Logick may be bent For to maintain Errors by Argument And Syllogisms when the Truth it shou'd Alone maintain Thus bad it proves Thus good So Rhetoric with all its figures may A false cause to Truth 's prejudice display What may do greater good than may the Tongue And yet what is there that doth greater wrong So Eloquence which should to heaven invite By Satans means doth unto Hell excite How good a fruit's divine Theology Yet it by Satan may corrupted be How many Errors Schisms Heresies Strange Fancies Whimsies horrid Blasphemies Hath sprung from those who thus have study'd by Our Adversarie's subtle ingeny Caus'd Musick Satan doth impoyson too And makes more hurt than good by it accrue To most for those whose minds he doth possesle It stirs to Lust provokes to wantonness Allures to riot and to vanityâ— Thus is't the fruit made of the evil Tree When that it should so minds to Heav'n erect Do find it unto happiness direct Our fleeting thoughts and by those warbling measures Ravish our souls from earth to Heavens pleasures Make us to enter contemplation Of those sweet voices which before the Throne Sing evermore with Halalujahs raise Our duller spirits and make us sing with praise Heav'n's mercies to us and above the poles Divinely carry our harmonious souls Where in a kind of extasie a bliss Not to be spoke they find Thus good it is And now my heart glows with a sacred fire Just is my zeal nor sinful is my ire Gainst those vitiators who in these our times Make Poesie hateful by their wanton rithmes Who feel no sacred glowing heats who prize No flames but what come from their Mistress ' eyes Leave off you looser rithmers cease your pains For shame and trouble shall be all your gains Abuse no longer what in times of old God hath himself made use of to unfold His sacred Mysteries nor let it be Made by you thus fruit of the evil Tree Luxurious wits who feed on Poetry Are thus by subtle Satan drawn awry Whilst they the creame of wit do spend to grace With Eulogies some disproportion'd face Let these low lines you witty ones excite Your ready quills on some such theame to write Then shall mine cede to yours not while you erre And mortal beauties do to heav'n preferre The end of Poesy is the praise of God Us'd to that end it is exceeding good The food of man's soul thus describ'd you see The fruits are of the the good and evil Tree Which may be made or good or bad or so Bring Man to blisse or everlasting woe Therefore take heed to Satans subtle traine That by these fruits thy soul he may not gain For here he shews his cunning and his skill To make thee only feed upon the ill Heav'n's forces strive and if thou wilt obey This Tree shall be the Tree of good and joy And since we must upon it feed we shou'd Eschew the Evil and accept the Good The subtle Serpent our sworn foe with his Vast Troops do use to keep us from our bliss A thousand wayes a thousand stratagems And tricks he haâ—â— he round about behemms Our yielding 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 about he sets To catch us â—â—st his strong and wide spread nets Hel's Troops like Ants do never idle stand But movâ— about Earth's mighty Moles and All wayes to gain the Soâ—l of Man to
This seen they further passe not far from this Was Tartarus within his huge Abysse â— He look'd and saw nothing but horrid dark Obnigrous clouds heard Wolves and Dogges to bark Lions and Tygers roar men shreech and wail Others Blaspheme and others Curse and rail 'Gainst Heav'n a strange confused noyse He smelt Most horrid stinks and cold damp vapours felt Srait wayes huge fires appear'd below whereby He might the Souls tormented there descry All sorts of torments that you can devise With all the plagues and all the Miseries You can imagin he inflicted saw Upon those miserable Souls below Some torn with wheels some with hot Tongs their tongues Pul'd out and some with scalding flames their Lungs Wash'd were and others in the fire hung From whence they into fâ—ozen Rivers flung Were by and by and others whip't with steel Others on Gridirons brent whilst others feel The smart of Salt and Vinâ—ger which laid Is on their tender flesh be'ing newly flead With divers other sorts of torments then From this deep pit of Hell they farther wen. Now far they were not gon from Tartarus When in this sort spake Hel's mystagâ—gus Whilest we proceed t' our Kingdoms Centre where Our mighty King his Court doth keep declare I will our Kingdom 's first original When we came first into this â—â—ery Ball For do not think that ignorant we be Of our beginning and high pedegree Or that we have no memory of what We once enjoy'd no more then Souls forget What they in Earth have done when they come here For all their deeds Eternal forms do bâ—ar Which here remain and which torments them more Than in cold Styx for to be plunged o're Ah! Could but Souls in Lethe drenched be How little would they feel of misery But this a favour is which now I shew And should be granted unto none but you Know then there is a God and this although We tremble at it we assur'dly know Yet that there 's none we ofâ—entimes suggest Unto the misbelieving Atheist This God or mighty Power which all Worldâ— fill Unsearchable he is we to his Will Obedient are he fills our World his Might And Power 's as great here as in th' Oâ—b of Light By it this World consists and it shall be Thou't had beginning to Aeternity 'T is not against this Power that we â—ear And rend and fight and so opposing are Ne'r to be reconcil'd Our foe is Love The second Pâ—inciple 'gainst that we move In Wrath and bitternesse and natural It is for us to fight against that Ball. As fire cann't but tend upwards so cann't we But to that Orb perpetual Enmity Bear That to us has an Antipathy Think not that God in Wrath did us create Or that for damned Souls he made this state For to torment them in He did not Will That there a Hell should be or any ill Thus then it came God from Aeternity Did generate two Principles which be Contrary to each other God alone Cannot but by these Principles be known These generate he did Aeternally Both in and by himself a mysterie Not to be comprehended Neither tho Is God yet he 's the Root from whence they flow This Principle in which we make abode Is call'd the first An ang'â—y zealous God And full of Wrath Vengeance and Ire here To mortal Men and us he doth appear In th' other Principle of Love and Light To men he doth appear quite opposite The nature of our Principle is this It full of raging anxious prickling is An harsh sowr tart fell â—ager essence and Of bitternesse and stinging full we stand In this The other Principle is quite An other nature to this opposite We know no more of that this I can tell That accidentally is the cause of Hell Proceeding still they now were come upon The entrance to Hel's inmost Region A vast huge Globe of sad dark glowing Fire He saw and in it thousand Devils nigher He fears to go which seen thus said the Fiend What now affraid what is the matter Friend You do forget you have no body on Your Spirit 's here and Spirits cannot burn With this you must be cloath'd in this we dwell And so must you This is the fire of Hell Which never can go out don't you admire What fuel 't is maintains so great a fire Come e'r we farther go I will explain Its cause and nature in a word or twain This Principle of Wrath of which I spake Ev'n now God ne'â— intended to awake For it recluded was he did not will It should be open nor that so much ill Should happen Now before your lower Sphear Had birth or being we created were Our mighty Prince King Lucifer was then Created of such stuff as Souls of Men Created are and we his servants true Caelestial Forms at that time did indue Our Prince more bright than your light-giving Sun In glorious Rayes of Heavn'ly Light out-shon All other Angels sat upon the Throne Of God and like a God himself did reign Out of both Principles compos'd we were As Man's Soul is and other Angels are The first recluded was and we were made â— I' th second there we should for aye have stay'd But our brave Prince I must commend him for 't Did bravely Lord it in a Kingly sort Over the heart of God that meeknesse scorn'd Did higher flye and his high Spirit turn'd Into the fiery property that Rage And fiery flash which Love could not asswage He there begat We as our Master did Raged as he and so defiance bid To Love and Meeknesse and those Angels that With no aspiring Spirits kept their state Thus we deserted with our Prince that Throne Of Light and Love and gain'd this fiery one Where we are potent and with that strong might 'Gainst Micâ—â—â—â— our adversary fight Now those bright Rayes which our brave Prince had on Before with courage high he lefâ— that Throne As scorning to adorn his Princely grace With ought that did belong unto that place He left behind with that fine form which he There had now in the fiery property We other forms have got which we can change Into all sorts of shapes and Figures strange In that great râ—ge and burning of the Wrath This fire you see we live in then hâ—rst forth Which from our selves proceeds and which is made By that strong enmity which doth invade Us 'gainst the â—â—verse Orb of Light and know This Fire doth from bitter harssinesse grow As when you rub your fâ—int upon a wheel Which turneth round and is compos'd of Steel You see from bitter grating Fires proceed So our harsh grating Spirits Fire breed Which is the same you see This is the pain That we and all the damned in remain For all those torments that I shew'd you were But Images the better to declare The nature of this one and yet alass This doth all them a thousand times surpasse Spirits alasse though
and pain A Language or some Rhetorick to gain The juice of this fine fruit did Herod lick When he a God was styl'd for 's Rhetorick And that round apple which hangs dangling there Will make you be a cunning Sophister You apple which is so variegate Will make you cunning in mechanicks strait This Apple here which hangs so fair to view With Mathematick cunning will imbue See what Cylindres and Rhamboides What Quadrats Dâ—agâ—amms Isoce'les With other lines and â—gures printed in Black red and yellow streakes upon the skin These shew its Nature But yon with a Star So fairly mark'd makes an Astrologer Should'st thou eat this which hangeth over us More cunning then was Aeculapius thou 'ldst be and skilfull too in Chirons art If that which hangeth on that bow a th'wart But yon fair fruit which takes up so much room Will make you know before what is to come Of this did Baalam often fâ—ed when he Did by our divination Prâ—pheâ—â—e In former time this Apple was in use Much when Delphean Priests did suck the juice And on the next they fed when they in verse Their Oracles â—id uâ—ually reherse But you five Apples which I shew you now And which do triumph on the upper bough Shall be thy food See here I 'le reach them down Make much of them for now they are thine own Well may'st thou prize them Heav'n nor Earth such fruit Can give which may so well thy nature suit These with thee take and feed upon below But first to thee I will their vertues show This purple colour'd one more cold than Ice Or Riphae an snow extinguish in a trice Will that Scintilla Love hath plac'd in thee Then shalt thou wholly from his chaines be free Flouds of temptations nor whole streams of sin Nor pleasures which the World may draw you in Are strong enough to dout that little spark Which closely gloweth in thy hollow ark Well may they cloak it that it may not flame But 't is this fruit that must put out the same This next although more black than pitch it be Will firmly glew together Hell and thee A thousand chaines shall sooner break than this Resolve thee of so strong a nature ' t is With all Hel's Peers and our great Prince you wil By it hold highest Correspondence still By this third snaky-colour'd one below Thou shalt most strange-amazing Wonders do Th' Eternal flames which wend above the sky Unto the Earth thou may'st call by and by The Hyperborean sconce thou mayst command To aestuate the Sea to Mountains and Mayst at thy bidding Taurus rend in twain Or Atlas fling into the Western main This reddish one bespotted thus with jet The lock'd gates of thy sences ope will set Your quicker eyes although on Earth you stand Shall pierce the Centre of our darker Land Then shall you see us when you please and know How that your Prince and we your Brothers do Our shriller voyces shall assault your ear Your nose shall smell the sulphur of our Sphear And our hot breaths feel blowing in your face Our Kingdom 's dainties tast in every place Banquet and deeply drink with us so you May be on Earth and in our Kingdom too By this last teter one all evil Sprites That b'longs to Hell to please you with delights You when you please may call nay if you will Ten thousand Legions shall attend you still All that belongs toth ' Necromancy Art And Conjuration 't will to you impart That at your beck from hence you may adjure The blackest Fiend to be your servitour Iannes and Iambres Simon and Faustus eat Tho not to fill them of this pretious meat See now what power thou' rt indued with By these rare fruits pluck'd from the Tree of Death The gold of In'd nor Peru not the Seas Rich Treasure purchase may such Fruits as these The fabuliz'd Hesperian fruit of old Were durt to these although they were of Gold Come now thou great Magitian thou shalt go Unto the Body which remains below Our Pomp and Power thou hast seen and I To you our Kingdom 's nature did descry You need no conduct hither now for when You please you my come visit us agen This said he strait his body reassumes And thus Hel's great Magitian becomes My Muse returned from the darker Sphear Her garments rank of Sulphur smell I fear Which may offend with those strange sights which late She saw affrighted now shel'd titubate Should she proceed Like one which newly come From long restraint in some dark Dungion Cannot indure the splendid Light nor dares Sol's beams behold so with my Muse it fares Who newly flown out of the house of Night Dares not as yet describe the Orb of Light Till that in Iordan she hath bath'd her eyes And Virgin Limbs that she may brighter rise New modulizing of his Harp again To sing Heaven's Blisses in a higher strain The end of the first Part. THE EXPLANATION OF AN Hieroglyphical Figure SHEWING THâ— MYSTERIES OF THE External Internal Eternal WORLDS The second Part. LOng mayst thou Phoebus pull my tender 〈◊〉 E'r I will my exalted notes for â—ear My Muse belongs not to thy miteâ—'d Hill Nor to thy teachings dos she owe her skill She from the double-top't 〈…〉 Unto the flow'r-spread Hills of Paradise And there inspired by the Angels notes Her self and Musick to their King devotes Who with the verdant Wreath of Love not Bayes Crowns the choice accents of her tender layes Great Prince of LOVE dain but to touch my tonguâ— With some small coal from off thy Altar flung Inspire my Soul ah let my words bespeak Thy Glory th'row them Hearts assunder break Glaâ—'d o're with steel Here highest Complement 'T is to become thy happy instrument O so intrance me that in Raptures I May sing the glory of thy Majesty The misty horrors of Eternal Night I 'ave shewn the far surpassing joyes of Light Let 's visit now a sight of much more worth May then my teeming Muse with ease bring forth An happy issue May my Numbers show The way to Heaven from this Earth below How deare's Man's Soul unto the Prince of Light Who all doth to his blessed Home invite Where all the pleasures and blest joyes of Hea'vn To crowned Saints by his own hand are given Who would not Heav'n acquire if 't only were T' avoid the terrors of the darker Spheat Where howling Devils spitting fire and flame In Wrath and fury 'gainst bright Heaâ—'n blaspheâ—e Where nought but Sulphur Fire and brimstone hurld About gives light unto that impious World Where pains Eternal in dark cares below With ugly Devils thou must undergo But what allurements hath blest Heav'n to give To Souls that Chastly and divinely Live What Joys what pleasures what true happinesse Do those blest Souls in Paradise possesse One single grain whereof more value holds Than all the pleasures that this World enfolds Ah! these are mix'd with sorrows those have none
sins to thee Thou hast committed 'gainst our Majesty And ouâ— most dear Son Granted from ABOVE Sent by Belief and sealed by gracious LOVE Down on his knees he falls his eyes directs To Heav'n and both his clasped Hands erects On high Dear Saviour cries he out O how My prostrate Soul doth to thy Mercy bow Lord what am I that thou should'st supplicate For me poor worm and from my sad estate Into a Blisse not thought on ravish me O Iesu Thy Love is immense I see O how I feel the blest Effects of thy Blest Mediation To thy wounds I flye Those sacred wounds from which a Crimson tide Of Sanctifying healing Blood did glide By which thou hast appeas'd the Wrath of God From me averted his chastizing Rod And gain'd this Pardon for my sins Oh! how I o're my soul do feel it gliding now How sweet it is my melting Soul now could Dissolve and Die a thousand Deaths it would For thee my Saviour That I ever sinn'd It me repents against so sure a Friend Oh now I see how I resisted have Against those motions that desir'd to save Me from my sins how sensible I am Of my defaults and now how full of shame Am I but thou hast pardon'd all On fire My heart is now to dye I long Require Now what thou wilt I ready am and will What e'r it be tho ne'r so hard fulfill Ah Monsters sins on you my eyes I wink Oh! how I loath you when I on you think I now abhor you and as monsters do Lest ye devour my Soul shun all of you But Christ has pardon'd what I did commit Now Eyes pour forth your Tears of Joy for it Break up new springs and from your watry Cel Rivers and Seas of joyful tears expel These are not bitter like your other cryes If He priz'd them he these will better prize Those flow'd from Grief but these from Joy do flow By 〈◊〉 returns of Love these greater grow These not from sin but from blest Ioyâ—s do spring Tho' signes of â—rief yet gales of Comfort bring When barren grow of lympid Tears my eyes Their want O breast supply with groâ—ns and sighs Caus'd y the drawing in of what I long For Pâ—aâ—ses ever sit upon my tongue All my Soul's faculties to him still move Who so immensly hath and doth thee Love Whilst thus he chaunts upon his bended knees The song of Praise he at a distance sees Tâ—o striving with an equal pace to gain The place where he was Wings the one sustain With which she cuts the gentle ayr her feet Scarce touch'd the Earth th' other with garments light As ayâ— painted with Anchors was adorâ—â—d And 's swiftly ran and both os if they scorn'd To be out-vy'd by Eurus swimming came Unto the place where he was Crimson shame Perch'd on his cheâ—ks when he perceiv'd they were Two Heav'nly Nymphs and that they both did share Their free embraces 'bout his neck The Dames Perceiving it discovered their Naâ—es VVe are two Sisters FAITH and HOPE they cry'd VVho from th' Imperial Towr's are sent to guide And to support thee in this way should'st thou Selfly adventure here without us two Thou 't quickly languish Hope will thy desire Nurse up and keep thee that thou maist not tires Faith will support thee and by her thou tast Shalt Heaven 's Joys before thou them enjoyst Under both armes they take him up and so Fast link't together in the way they go Swif◠〈◊〉 seems to loiter in the ayr A new-shot dait nor swifter wind compare May with their pace He by those Nymphs so born That scarce his feet upon the Earth doth spurn The ruder way they left behind and now Enter a kind of Paradise they do Continual verdure still adorns the place Which called was they told him GOD'S FREE-GRACE The Sun a lively splendor there did show Warming with gentle heat sweet flow'rs did grow On both sides as they went the grassy floor With a Smaragdine Carpet covered o're Did court their eyes and in its lively green The sparsed flowers like pretty starrs were seen All sorts o' th' best Autumnal Fruits did sue With their o're-loaded-bending armes unto His Hand to cull their profer'd store delight And plenty both unto the Feast invite Since here he enter'd a new vigor seas'd Upon his Heart he feels it strangely eas'd New streams of gentle oyl fall down upon His Soul he longs now after union With Christ his Saviour his still warbling tongue Sings Praise and Halelujah is his Song Now from those everlasting streams of Love Which on his Soul do flow he thus doth move His lips and tongve creating in the ayr Such vocal sounds as these VVhat may compare O God! with thy free Grace The Sun the Light Nor springs their streames nor the aerial bright Aura's their cool refrigera's so free Do give as thou this liberal Grace to me Not my deserts but thine own Love doth cause These streames of Comforts and these gales of Joyes These beams of Grace of Grace so freely given Purcha'st by LOVE by Love sent down from Heav'n These may obedience to thy Laws require Obedient to be is my desire It is my meat for 't is Obedience can Conveigh the Nectar of the Gods to Man O how I 'm rapt my eyes perstring'd before Did thee beyond the fleeting Clouds adore At what a distance did I comprehend Thee sitting at thy Father's dexter-Hand But now I see those eyes too thou hast given That thou hast daâ—ed from the highest Heaven For to descend and my poor worthlesse heart 〈◊〉 Glorious Temple to Convert Now need I not to daâ—t my weaker eyes Against the holâ—â—â— of the vaster Skies Now need I not seek to the deeps below Now need I not beyond the Mountains go To find thee out it is enough if I Thee in my inward Temple seated ' spy Ah there thou art Thy Beams of Light and Love Thy streams of Glory do thy presence prove Thy gales of Comfort Peace and Joy shew clear That it is Thee and I hee alone dwells there A Malefactor when condemn'd to dye Having no other Hopes immediatly Before his execution a Reprieve Comes from the Judge How joyfully receive The welcome news he doth when he doth know His 〈◊〉 he to the Iudge his Son doth owe Who not his pardon only gains but feasts Him at a Banquet with his noble guests How hearty then are his acknowledgements How strongly to his Service his intents Are fixt how he to every one doth praise His Mercy and his Bounty and alwayes Obedient aud officious is glad If he occasions has to serve him sad If he has none but by degrees these heats By Time and Pleasures vanquish'd he forgets The dangers past and what he ows to him That sav'd his life at least the sence of them Is not so fresh nor his desire as Strong for to serve him as at first it was So our Caelestial Pilgrim for a while
With th' apprehension of his Saviour's smile Ravish'd chaunts forth his praises and with Joy Poures forth his Soul which feeleth no annoy And whilst that lively apprehension lasts How over-sweet his fâ—eer Bounty tasts In this delightfull way our Pilgrim now On each side held by Faith and Hope doth go With so much ease and pleasure moves he that He thinks that he to Paradise is got Already little dreams the Rocks that he Must passe before he there instated be All things for to enjoy he seems and saith He union has with Christ and that by Faith He Heav'n possesses that the work is done Before that it in Truth is scarce begun His present Joys and sweeter frame of spirit Makes him suppose he doth all things inherit Thinks himself safe and carried thus at ease Betwixt two Nymphs the way doth greatly please So that by little and by little he About his heart feels a stupidity His eyes are heavy and his sences dul'd With ease e'r he 's aware to sleep he 's lull'd And whilst he sleeps he dreams he travels on With that swift pace with which he first begun This drowsie nap not lasting long he ' wakes Rubbing his eyes his lither limbs he shakes And looks about his sees himself alone And those two Nymphs which him supported gone The place of pleasure 's vanish'd too and now Dark clouds and sadnesse hang on every bough New troubles now arise a deadnesse he Sees all about more in his Soul doth see But not unmindfull of his journey still He would proceed but when he forward will Instead thereof he backward steps or else Upon one side he knows not what he ailes Nor how to help himself Anon he ' spies A Troop of fluttering Imps into his eyes Some flye and others perch upon his tongue Some pierce into his braines while othâ—â—s clung Unto his Fingers end This Troop they call The Troop of shadows meerly notional His eyes more dark with Notions see the Hull And nothing else His busie brains now full Of these pert impes do set his tongue on wheels Which tyring straight his fingers itch he feels For to be venting of these Notions that His over-busie working brains begat And now he talks of Christ his blood his death His Life and his Ascention and doth VVander into the heights mysterious He others and himself beguileth thus Our Pilgrim having slipt into this path And having lost the Sisters Hope and Faith Begins to wander and to rome about When on a sudden from a Bowre slipt out A comely Dame who thus bespeaks him Know My name's Misapprehension Sir you go Along with me and I 'le bring you where A many of your fellow Pilgrims are He taken with Her beauty and her speech Without delay his Hand to her doth reach Strait they pass'd th'row the Bowre of Deceit Into a place where many sat their feet By the World's Sp'rit chain'd to their chaires which she Told him were call'd Seats of Security Before his eyes each had a picture plac't That represented all their Voyage past By whom stood False-Persuasion wite his cheat That their Regeneration was compleat And that if they ne'r shirred from that place They'd done enough They could not fall from Grace Charm'd by Persuation he 's about to seat Himself in those bird-limed Chaires his feet They are about to shackle when his faire Tutelar Angel beat the gentle ayr With his displayed Wings his radient brows His glorious presence to our Pilgrim shows Betwixt a frown and smile his Wings he shook About his eyes and thence all Notions strook The Scene straight vanish'd and the comely Dame Misapprehension slunk away for shame What Pageant 's this cry'd he how cam'st to stray Into this Falâ—e from Heav'n's directâ—r VVay Wouldst thou have been insnaâ—ed thus Is this The New Ierusalem or Paradise Diâ—st thou not tast Hâ—av'n's sweet Ambrosia Whilst thou continuedst in its righter Way How cam'st thoâ— thence how didst thou lose that Path VVhere are thy Virgin-guides true Hope and Faith Dost thou not see the cheat thou wert about To enter art thou willing to go out From this deadnesse of Spirit and proceed In that true Path where thou must die indeed His Knees strait kist the Earth his words with sighâ— Were intermix'd â—is tears â—an from his eyes I' ave err'd indeed I must confesse but how I hither came I do not rightly know I thought I had to Paradise attain'd So great the pleasure was the which I gain'd Whilst in that Path I did my voyage make That 't lull'd to steep and whilst I slept forsake Me Hopâ— and Faith both did sure whilst I slept Ouâ— of that Path into this way I crept How willing am I to retrive the way I trod before would Heav'n its Light display To help me hence To beg can I begin Who was so lately pardon'd for my sin O Heav'n I beg would if I dare to do 't My crime and my unworthinesse strikes mute My Fault'ring Tongue yet if it be thy Will O Lord from begging shame my lips sha'n't still Shew me the way and with thy Light direct My steps and though a thousand Mounts obstruct My progresse I if strengthned by thy Grace Th'row all will presse unto thy holy place Though I am weak yet I am willing Lord Thou can'st and if thou pleasest help afford Prostrate upon the ground he falls his cryes With true contrition winged mount the skies Hea'vn hears and pity takes Immediatly From thence desâ—ending he doth GRACE espy With her a troop of heav'nly Nymphs whose Rayes With their bright lustre his weak eyes amaze Sol shews lesse glory when he heaves his head Dressed with Roses from his Eastern bed Than this great Queen her eyes more beamings than He when he mounteth the Meridian 〈◊〉 chiefest splendor gives than Cynthia When at the full she makes a second Day More â—air she is And she that troop of hers Surpass'd as Cynthia all the lesser starres Her garments far more white than Riphaean snow Hid a more candid skin her lips did show Nothing but sweetnesse and when e'r she spake Ten thousand chaines fell from her tongue which take All Souls that hear her captive never yet Our Pilgrim's eyes so sweet a sight had met Those glorious beams which shon about her Face Perstring'd his weaker eyes and made him place Them at her feet which she perceiving drew Over those dazling beams a Vail that view Her he the better might Two Rosie leaves Expanding by the which her breath receives More than a Roseal sweet perfume as it Passes those Portals she these words did fit Unto's attentive eares No sooner move Can Man Petitions to the Prince of Love But they are granted and sometimes are seal'd Before his tardy tongue has them reveal'd Nothing but Love mercy and pity he Is unto all and can no other be Part of himself I am and ever stand Prest for these Embassies at his right hand To none will he
gave and said Let this your Standard be to friend and foe This glorious Flag displayed ever show For who wants this let him have what he will The best and chiefest thing he wanteth still For this blest Boon when he his thanks had paid A farther progresse in the Way he made Still stony 't was obstructing blocks still lay At every turn so that the tedious Way Seems every step more troublesome to grow And when the end shall be he doth not know But least he tire Dame Patience whom he met To bear him up her helping hand doth set Stooping she went under the pressing weight Of Crosses which upon her shoulders sat And yet she doth not murmur if you will Lay more she 'l bear the same with Patience still Her feet were gal'd with Travel not an oh Or wry-distorted lip escapes her tho Perch'd on her arm a gnawing Vulture stood Yet she but smil'd to see her Crimson blood Run circling thence her fair-spread forehead where Nor ragâ— nor frowns did ever dare t' appear Was Crown'd with Rocket in her eyes serene Skies in her Face perpetual calmes were seen Three leaves she from her Crown plucks baulmed with The sov'raign Med'cine of her constant breath She to the Pilgrim gav 't this Antidote He takes Impatience is strait forgot And though the Way doth rugged still remain He with a quiet Soul endures the Pain And now unto this rugged way inur'd It seems not difficult to be indur'd Pleasure from labour grows more Joy he has And more it grows the farther he doth passe Rocks seem but pibbles Pibbles scruples show These could at first those cannot hinder now For whatsoe'r opposes in his Way He it with th' humble Earth doth equal lay What sharp at first seem'd now seems sweet Joy grows The farther in this rugged way he goes Which is so pleasing and such Comfort brings That thus its sweetnesse in this Hymn he sings Adonian Gardens I despise These rugged Rocks more please mine eyes This ruder path which leadeth to Jerusalem surpasses you These Thorns and bushes have more power To comfort than your Iuly-flower Your Pinks and Roses bow their heads Unto these rough and stony beds This walk of flints sha'n't come behind Your smooth-rowl'd ones of sifted sand Poor Walks you please the Sence The Mind And Soul of Man here pleasures find The Waters which from Rocks spring here I to your Marble Founts prâ—fer And Nymphs I have which more do please Than your Caerule Naiades Fair Groves of Pines fair Beaches spread Like Canopies to ward my head Christalline brooks sweet Meadows find Green Arbours of sweet Eglantine Walks where the Roses sweetly smell Couches of Musk and Camomill And what some'r you yield I find In the content of mine own mind My soul was pleased once with you But I do find the difference now You to my sence did pleasure yield But here with Ioys my soul is fill'd I by experience now must own This Crosse is better than your Crown O blessed Crosse by thee a Crown Iâ—gain O blessed Way I here find Joyes in pain And now this narrow Path this Rocky Way Is entertained with delight and Joy Pleasures and high content he finds in this And Blisse receiveth in the Way to Blisse Nor Stone nor Rock now in his Way doth sit But he or moves it or crawles over it And what somever Vigilantia spies That may annoy him he o'rcomes or flies But yet the Tempter will not leave but tries And maketh use of all his policies And like Vertumnus puts on every shape Raâ—her than Man his cursed gripes should scape Our Pilgrim now before his watchful eyes A glittering Mountain in the Way espies A Crosse it spread and just as he must passe Both sides the Way by it obstructed was He must take notice of 't for like the Sun It with a bright refâ—lgent Beauty shon Indeed there lay the glories of the East The Earth's choyce Beauties there his eyes did feast Decan had Diamonds sent and Guine gold Peru its silver Pegu thither rould Its Rubies Pearl and 〈◊〉 sent the Seas Tanian Emraulds Byrils Euphrates Onyxes Opals Ind and Arabie Iaspers and Saphyrs Cyprus Cyane What e'r was counted pretious there was found And with exuberance the Mountains Crown'd Next Riches Honours lay by heaps were seen The Robes of State with Purple Crimson green And Tyrian Scarlet lyn'd Promotions To every Gown and every Cap belongs Gay pomp lay next where bombycinian twine The labour of self-pris'ning worms did shine Tincted in various colours cut in shapes And fitted for the various minds in Apes Here Pride his wardrobe had and Lust his shop Where Musk and Amber-greece lay horded up Pleasures and Earth's delights lay also there The Palat's pleasures rarest Cates appear The Brain 's delight Books mounted too on high And what somever objects please his eye And what delight the Earth affords and what Earth's sons could wish were blended here and that With plenty made a massy Mount and spread A crosse the Pâ—lgrim's path To Heav'n its head It reared up and for a while amaz'd The busie Pilgrim who upon it gaz'd But whilst his eyes read Lectures of delight The Mountain seems to travel with a sp'rite And opening at last its gaping womb A twy-fac'd Hag doth from its intraiâ—'s come Her right hand held a Magic Wand with which She pointed to the Mountain and her speech Directed to the gazing Pilgrim thus O Pilgrim Whither travel'st thou Where does These Riches grow the Honors Pleasures Pomps On which he that this vile Way travels stompes Where are they but upon this Earth Behold These â—emms this Silver and this sulpid Gold These Pleasures Honoâ—rs Sâ—lken garments and These Caâ—es that all attend upon thine hand Are not these rare and woâ—ld they not invite A Prince's eye and surâ—et with dâ—light All their Spectators Where dost think there may Be â—ound than these afford a greater Joy Is â—t not pity such things should be lost That of the best and highest pleasures boast Is 't not a crime for â—o desert such Gemms Isn't he a Fool that such things disesteems Vâ—ew but their lustre there 's no other need To speak that doth their woâ—th and value plead Why speak I thus to thee Dost not thou know All these things thou about to leave art now This 〈◊〉 Way leads from the Earth where dwell These Rarities you see and doth excell What ever you may hope to have â—ools that Leave what is certain for they know not what And thou art one thou dost already find An asper-way know'st thou what is behind Had Heav'n desired Pilgrims not the worst Way but the best he would have shewed first Pray view their Beauties once again ar'n't you Quite ravish'd with their lustre Tell me true Nay why such frowns are you displeased then You do mistake me hear me once agen You think I 'de have you Heav'n desert for these It
See where they mock him how they presse the blood With a Thorn'd-Crown from out his sacred Head See how they scourge him here the Crimson stream Blushing to see their Rage reproveth them See how the whole Worlds sins are on him thrown A spotlesse Lamb who guilty is of none But see their wickednesse encreas'd lo here He 's Crucifi'd see how the cursed Spearâ— Pierces his blessed side O sacred spring Which doth Health Life and t' all Salvation bring Will they accept of it this stream doth run Not for a few to sip but every one Here drench his lips may without price all may Drink of this stream which from his side doth flow See how it runs how plentifull the Blood Flows through the whole World and becomes a flood Châ—ist dy'd for all that Dogma is untrue Which says he dy'd but for a very few And those elected partially by God Before or Time or Man had their abode O stâ—ange Shall God to Life some few Elect And all the Woâ—ld besides O hard reject Thus says the wicked then If God has chose Me unto Life I cann't Salvation lose Let me live how I will If good I be If I 'm rejected I no Heav'n shall see I 'le take my swing in wickednesse for I As God decreed has shall or Live or dye 'T is true God from Eternity foresaw Who should be dam'd and sav'd but that no Law On such impos'd then this Election In Time is doth Conditionally run That they persever in Obedience And Faith if not they then may fall from thence So all Elected are not one debarr'd From Life who otherwise do think a hard And cruel master of the Lord make rather Than a most merciful and Loving Father As God conditionally Elected All In the same manner was our Saviours fall For every one nor must it follow then Because he dy'd for all therefore all men Must sav'd be it Conditionally is Suppose there were a Well so full of Blisse That all Diseases it would remedy And that it free for every one did lye It is employ'd though 't be for every one That 't is for those that come and those alone Effectually 'T is just that they who will Not thither come keep their Diseases still Nor doth God's Will depend on man 's in this Because God Wills it so God's Will it is This is that Living spring whilst man remains This still shall flow to wash his fouler stains Without this he cannot be pure nor come Where Christ is to the new Ierusalem O blessed spring Water of Life here we The highest words without Hyperbole May use O 't is the blessed Nectar of The holy Angels and bless'd Saints above His flesh is there Ambrosia 't is by this We may attain an Apoâ—heosis By this bless'd food all heav'nly Souls are fed And through the Earth it doth its Bounties spread Think it not strange if those may feed on 't too Who live in India and that never knew Or heard of this bless'd Iesu's dying day Circumscribe not his flesh and Blood I say No one without it can be sav'd O damn Not all that ne'r heard that he dy'd for them This Blood 's a Living sâ—ring poor souls impute This to themselves and yet themselves pollute With beastly sins His Blood hath wash'd us clean Cry they and so continue in their sin O sad presumption whilst they crucifie Christ in their Hearts by 's Blood we 'r sav'd to Cry I say His Blood 's a Living spring and your Soul feed on 's flesh must drink his Blood most pure If that Salvation you intend to have 'T is that believe me that alone must save What this his flesh and Blood is partly you Do know the same and shall more clearly too The farther in this way you go 't is that That every pious Soul doth animate It is a Sacrament tongues cann't expresse 'T is Life 't is Virtue Power Holinesse By it all things subsist it penetrates All things all quickens all things animates The Angels food the same Humanity That sits at God's right Hand the same that the Jews crucifi'd that ' rose again and is Oâ—â— Propitiation 't is the same 't is this Thou seest here his Life and nothing there Did in 't without a mysterie appear He bound was spit upon whipt crucified Pierc'd with a Sphear thorough his sacred side Here Contemplate all is mysterious and Man may by it his vast Love understand See here where he gives up the Ghost here thou Upon the Wings of Contemplation now Mayst ride O sacred Death See where the Sun Obscured is how Rocks do rend in twain See how the Graves are op'd see where the dead Arise O this this is the Day they did So long expect which oft in dayes of old The Prophets by their Prophesies foretold Now trembles Hell now all the Devils quake Now suffers Luciâ—er now Hell doth shake For now the Light shuts up Hel's Centre now The mighty Wrath of God is broken too Christ underwent it and for mortal man Through th' envious Wrath made now a Path again He pierc'd the Principle of Wrath and there Love Wrath and Light all reconciled were O sacred Sacrament these mysteries Are hid and strange to more prophaner eyes But I will more declare attend and be An Auditor unto no one but me I in the Scriptures dwell there find you may What I declare as clear as is the Day When Adam fell in Paradise O then He ' wak'd the Wrath of God against all men That should succeed the Wrath then potent grew And like a wall bar'd up the way unto Blest Paradise all men excluded were And 't was impossible to enter there This Adam saw too late then was the seed The blest seed of the Woman promised VVhich should by being bruised in the Heel Of Death break Wrath's strong head and make him feel His mighty power This Adam saw and all The Patriarchs and Prophets that 〈◊〉 This should in this they all rejoâ—â—d thus saw With joy old Abraham this blessed Day The fieâ—y Law to Moses given forth VVas represented by those terrors Wrath The Zeal and Justice of Iehovah and In which no man but Christ alone could stand So Moses could not into Canaan bring The Iâ—raeliâ—es now learn we by this thing That 't must be Iesus who for all hath dy'd Who by great Ioshua was typisi'd None enters Heav'n till he that came from thence First enter'd had 't is for the mighty Prince Iesus the Saviour that this honour was Kept and till he had not a man could passe See then the work of this God-man 't is He The second person in the Trinity Who flesh indues such as you have no foul Stain tincting it in that an humane soul Cloth'd with a Body such as Adam had Before he with grosse flesh and Blood was clad Three Principles intire he had abode He then did for you all the
his wantâ—n wast Binding his Hands that oft had prisners made With his own Scaâ—â— he to a Tree him ty'd Robbing a 〈◊〉 of its boughs a Rod He â—â—deâ— and soundly whipt this wanton God He flea'd his back and with his wanron blood Dy'd all the grasse in ' Crimson where he stood Then broke his bow and arrows His fine Quiver And Crown of Roses flung into the River This done he let him loose since which disgrace He ne'r was seen to come anear this place Lost in the Face which he did contemplate Oâ—r Pâ—lgrim was nor would he extricate Himself and if he could He ne'r did prize â—nough before the blessing of his eyes Ravish'd he was but blessed CHASTITY Spake to her CUPID with her speaking eye He understood the Dialect and drew A Golden arrow from his Quiver Blew The Feathers were the point was living flame This notch'd in 's silver Bow he took his aym Like a good Archer of the Pilgrim's heart And th'rough the same he shot the flaming dart A gentle Fire and sweetly glowing heat The Pilgrim feels his quicker pulses beat Th'row his Limbs the living flames do spread With pleasures joyn'd not to be uttered No blood ran from the Wound he feels no smart Although the shaft had cleft in two his Heart Those flames made Wounds of Joy heal'd those of pain Dispel'd all ills did Life and Health retain A constant ardor now burns in his Breast Being with th' immortal fire of Love possest And wholly swallow'd up in them he fryes In pleasing Flames becomes Heav'ns Sacrifice He lives in Flames but they 'r chast flames of blisse He is in Love but with SOPHIA ' t is Is not it madnesse to indulge a Foe Do men cry when they from their prisons go Do men love chaines and fetters to suppresse Their eager flight unto their Happinesse Yea sure they do all this who here do move In chaines of flesh and do such prisons love The free-born soul were it not chain'd below Above the Stars its nimble Fires would throw See all the World at once and swiftly run About the Heav'ns and clearer than the Sun Had not the Pilgrim had a fleshly case He longer might have seen SOPHIA'S Face Alasse our Souls enchain'd to Dust and Nighâ— Cannot behold the splendors of that Light Too strong for flesh and blood Whose flames will be To flesh as â—ove prov'd once to Semele Our eyes without apparent hurt cann't gaze Against the Sun Nor can those heav'nly Rayes Of high Beatitude the Soul see here Maried to flesh long 'cause that cannot bear The Soul 's high flight but that she suffers so She holds the Soul lest she should from her go Apocalypsis well man's frailty knew Therefore she blest Sophia's Face withdrew And vail'd it from the Pilgrim's eyes To whom Thus Chastity whose words flew in perfume Is not one glimpse of thy Caelestial Bride More glorious than all the World beside Didst ever tast in those dull streamâ— of Blisse The World affords a pleasure like to this Thou hast received by a Vision then How far more great wil 't be how ample when Thou full fruition shalt enjoy and be Blest with her Blisses to AEternity When that thy Soul cloath'd with immortal Day Has shaken off these shackling Robes of clay In Vailes she now is forced to appear 'Cause Flesh câ—nnot her ample Beauty bear See that she only Mistresse of thy Heart Remain for she ' l not be content with part Thou must not share it 'tween Mortality and Her she ' l bear no such indignity If ever Mistresse Hearts intire deserv'd If ever to be punctually serv'd 'T is she see then although thou canst not merit One grain of what thou shalt by her inherit That thou prove faithful to her Love and she Hers with Heav'ns Kingdom will return to thee Down bows the Pilgrim to the ground his Breast And in these Words his constancy exprest I know my frailty and my weaknesse and That I alone and of my self can stand Not one poor moment By the help of Grace Supported First the Sun shall change his Face And glorious splendor into pitchy Night Flames first shall cease for to ascend upright The brinish Seas shall over Atlas flow The Vine and Olive in Asphaltes grow First Sol shall rise out of the Western main And in the Iapon Sea his flaming Wain At evening drench December shall be May And Trees in Iune shall sheets of snows d'splay Noon shall be Night Nature inverted be Before I yield unto Inconstancy Before I leave her whom my Soul hath chose And her forgetting to another close Those ardent flames which now surround my Heart Will so dispose me that I ne'r shall start From her to whom whilst in this flesh I breath I do my Life Heart Acts thoughts all bequeath O noble Resolution which doth move From those bright flames of Zeal and ardent Love Hell trembles when he hears th' inspired tongue Of valiant Souls resolv'd to speak such strong Hel-battering Words such sounds do quickly go Both to the Angels and the Devils too Piercing both Worlds sound quickly in their ears Fill those with Joy these with disturbing Fears If the dull flames of the Idalian brat In tired Souls most strangely operate Making them bow unto their Idol-toy That from her presence they receive no Joy And ' count the pleasures of a Crown lesse bliâ—â—e Than those they gain when they her Lips do kisse If they so strangely Man can alter so As for to make him all the World forego For this one Idol never feeling ease Longer then while he doth his Mistresse please Doth she but frown Hell nor AEternal Night In their worst shapes could scarce so much affright The trembling Lover for her wrinkled brow More terrible than doth Avernus show 'T is not her power he fears But yet he can Not disobey Love's a Magician If by his power men dare to undertake The hardest things and nothing of them make If for their Loves their Lives they 'l venture and Be proud to spill their blood at their Command Dye if they bid them if such Love can cause So great obedience to his giddy Lawes If by his hidden and abstrucer Art Knowledge he doth to ignorants impart Make Clowns prove Eloquent nay Poâ—ts too If thus and much more this blind-God can do What shall that Love do unto which this seems As the worst Pibbles to the best of Gemms That Love divine whose fires immortal be Whose constant Pleasures never changes see That Love immense which filleth to the brim Capacious Souls where may whole Oceans swim Of Joyes divine unutterable then Shall not this draw Obedâ—ence from Men Shall not this sweeten whatsoe'r may seem Bitter make easie what is hard to them Fear can do much but Love much more can do Fear false obedience gives Love just and true Heav'n's Pilgrim now with these diviner flames Possess'd h' alone to please Sophia aimes Love regulates him now
That she is overwhelm'd with the delight Earth's duller Musick or that of the Sphears â—o this would be discordant in his ears If they mens souls chear with their melody How more exceeding shall Heav'ns Harmony Th' inner AEthmoides being open'd wide Whole clouds of Musk strait th'rough the passage slide Paradysaical Odors the Perfumes Which from the Body of our Saviour comes Presse in sweet Amber-greece perfuming Myrth Which fills the inner World doth enter there Pinks Violets Roses are lesse odorate Than these sweet Odors which assault the Gate The Gust unlock'd the dews of Sion Hill And Paradise upon his Tongue distil The Heav'nly Manna the Caelestial Cates Of Blisse more sweet than Honey fare he eats Nectar glides th'rough his Lips where more sweets reign Than the Hymetian Honey-dews contain Haphe unlock'd the heav'nly touch of Love Like gentle fire over his heart doth move Th' Anoynted's Hand which doth distempers heal Upon him lay'd he sensibly doth feel The Tincture which doth from Christ's Body flow With great delight he feels on his to grow Thus he in his five sences ravish'd is He sees hears smells tasâ—eth and toucheth Bliâ—â—e Ravish'd with the excesse of his delight In Seas of pleasures he 's immerged quite His soul drinks in the sweets too much upon These Cates feeds his Imagination But whilst he banquets at his fuller feast His Angel to him from the Heavens preit Taking Sophia's servant by the Hand His mind by these he let him understand Blest Pilgrim and Sophia's servant thou Must not rest here but farther still must go These are but streams and Rivulets of Blisse Sophia she the only Fountain is Here thou mayst bath thy self but canst not swim Untill thou comest to the Fountains brim There are vast Oceans there thou mayst remain These are but easements for your griefs and pain These are but objects at a distance these Are but refreshments and to give you ease To make thy Way the sweeter till thou art Hid in the Closet of Sophia's Heart Take not thou then too much complacency In these which only but the Conducts be To greater happinesse and do but shew The tythe of Blisse which thou art going to Presse on therefore ' count every thing but â—elf To the enjoyment of Sophia's self Rous'd by his Angel thus the Pilgrim hies And t'wards the perfect mark he faster flies But far he had not gone before he meets An adversary who upon him sets VERTUMNUS 't was lesse constant than the Wind In every shape seeks to disturb the mind A slye Ulysses cunning to deceive Leading to error if you him believe His cloathes were of all sorts of Feathers made With Windinesse and swiftnesse under-laid About his wast hung certain Looking-glasses Which represented strange disguised faces Upon his left arm certain Pictures hung In which those things which to the World belong Were pictured there Beauty was display'd There Castles Forts Rivers and Seas were made There Cities Towns Countreys Villages Wars Battails Peace and such like things as these What e'r Imagination's Pencil cou'd Expresse in lively figures there were shew'd On his right arm Caelestial Pictures hung And whatsomever did to Heav'n belong There pourtray'd was There Angels Seraphims There Thrones there Saints and fieâ—y Cherubims â— There Paradise there Light Stars Suns were seen And all Caelestial Forms and Bodies drawn Accouter'd thus he meets our Pilgrim and To stop his passage stretch'd out his left hand This sight was not like to his other foes No valour this but shifts and cunning knows He is no Champion but o'recomes by guile And e'r his foe thinks on him gives the foil Like to the wicked Pontic Bithiae that Children and Beasts with their looks facinate He doth bewitch skil'd in Cyrcean arts From every Picture he his charmes imparts And whilst they strangely draw our Pilgrim's eyes He in the mean time makes of him a prize Our Pilgrim meeting this fine fellow thought The Weaponlesse could have no mischief wrought He takes great pleasure to behold the charmes Which dangling hung at both his feather'd armes Those Pictures yield content his wandering mind Treads in those Mazes and no end can find Thus he delayes his Journey and this let His hasty Voyage maketh him forget But his good Angel putting him in mind Of 's Journey bid him this Deceiver bind For that he was a Foe and sought to keep Him back by causing him awake to sleep On him he set but a hard task he found This Proteus would not be so quickly bound Stoutly they wrestle but if on his armes He cast his eyes â—e's taken with those charmes He varies shapes and do he what he can No sooner bound but he is loos'd agen A Champion who hath often won the field By Custom knows not how at last to yield Each Conquest adds new Life and courage to His animated Soul and makes him do More than can be hop'd for Our Pilgrim so Oft Victor now will not faint-hearted grow Here Faith assists him and Perseverance Upon his Foes arms doth Ir'n chaines advance At last they bind his left arm when his right He stretched out before the Pilgrim's sight Those heav'nly Pictures now he dotes upon And brave Chimera's in his thoughts do run They 're all Caelestial cryes he who can chuse But on such heav'nly Subjects alwayes muse These are but shadows sayes his Angel thou Unto the very substance must presse to And therefore first of all thou must o'recome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IMAGINATION The Pilgrim seeing that he stop'd his Way And longing still SOPHIA to enjoy After much strugling flung him on the ground And with Perseverances chaines him bound This Adversary being cast he bent His course to Paradise and forward went Not far from thence his hasâ—y steps did move Under the shadow of a silent Grove The place was sacred to a Deity Who with still silence would adored be No babling Echo in that Grove did dwell No whistling Blackbiâ—d no sweet Nightingal No Bird at all came near those sacred boughs The grasse nor bleating Sheep nor mowing Cows Did feed no living Creature did that blest Place enter to disturb its quiet rest No â—â—bble chiding-Brook ran murmering there No Wind to move those silent Leaves did dare About the middle of this silent place Pâ—tch'd on a mossie Hill a Couch there was To this the Pilgrim went and gently hurl'd Himself on it As if another World He enter'd had he found himself a rest Seiz'd on his working mind both bad and bestâ— Thoughts banish'd were disturbing fancy or Imagination did not there discur Asleep he was not nor yet did he dream Alive he was but yet he dead did seem His mind work'd not on this nor that but he Rap'd was into a heav'nly Lethargy This is the Silent passive state in which God with his Finger Souls doth often touch This is the sleep of Iacob this the Trance Of Paul when he did to the Heav'ns advance This is the state in which the
killing Dart. Thou shalt slay me but when I yield my breath I Victor am for my last foe is Deaâ—h DEATH then appear'd though terrible he seem To others doth he pleasing shew'd to him 'T was not the common Deafh that takes away The little breath we in this world enjoy T was not that heap of Bones that frightful Death Which digs mens graves and robs them of their breath That slays whole thousands every Day and feasts His fleshlesse Carcasse both on Men and Beasts No 't was another Death which yet would seem To some more terrible and sierce than him This Death 's both foe and Friend a foe to all The sinful Man Friend to the Spiritual This kills the sinful Man but durifies The outward slayeth that this rectifies The sinful Man trembled to see the â—ace Of Death and his vile execution place O how he strugled but it was in vain The Pilgrim scorn'd him longer to retain His willing armes he gave to Death who straight Both Feet and Hands with Nailes did perforate And fix'd them to the Crosse and there upon That Tree to true mortification He did attain the Flesh the World and Sin Was slain all which so long alive had been This dying Swan now drawing near his end In such sweet notes his latest breath did spend Vain world adieu No more on you I le cast my dying eyes This sacred crosse Than all your drosse To me 's a greater prize Vain Flesh be gone No longer on Your Beauties will I dote The World and you I bid adieu To sail in Death's safe boat Too long I 'ave been Alive to Sin But now upon the Crosse That life I 'le leave And Death receive Yet gain Life by Life's losse I have o'rethrone Temptation And often giv'n the soil But now I 'le quell The Root of Hell And 's nest in my breast spoil By me hath sia Resisted been But now its root I will Though by the strise I lose my life For growing ever spill My Feet are nayld Affections quail'd Unto this Crosse my Hands My active Life Now ceaseth strife Are bound with iron bands Refined things May take their wings And speed to others now I passive am And dead become To live I know not how My Face grows pale My Spirits fail My dying breath doth flye Hast Death I pray Take life away For I do long to dye Death at these words struck th'rough his tender heart And Life and death at one stroke did impart Rivers of sinful blood ran down from his side The sinful Nature groaned thâ—ice and dy'd Flesh left the stroke and was enforc'd to yield And to triumphing Death bequeath the Field Thus he to Blood resisted and did share In this first Death nor doth he others fear Now he has tasted this By this who fall Fear not th' Eternal nor the Natural A pleasing Victim on the Crosse he lay Heav'ns Sacrifice and Death's most blessâ—d prey Go Hell and tempt him now with sugard Pills Thrice gild thrice dulcifie your bitter ills Use all your Art use all your Eloquence Conjoyn your Words and your false Excellence Go all conspire in one him to deceive See if he ' l either hear you or believe Your subtle prating Strength and policy Together knit with all your subtilty And see if either will admission gain Away all your endeavours are in vain Do not not you see he 's dead think you that he Then with your subtilties will moved be Go spread a Table and set on the Board The choysest vyands fruitful Earths afford A thousand Cups with all her pleasures fill Tempt him and see if eat or drink he will Away vain Ideots you have lost your prize Hell and the World 's cousen'd when Man thus dies O blessed Death that seals our eyes our eaâ— Our mouth that they nor tast nor see nor hear Can what Hell gives or shews or speaks to us Thrice happy Man whom this blest Death frees thus A dead Man 's wholly passive what you list You may do to him he cannot resist So here our Pilgrim dead upon the Crosse At the disposal of his Father was And truly mortifi'd he hangeth on The Crosse until the â—ngel takes him down Th' Heav'nly Nuncio with Peace's Olive bough And with victorious Palmes and Laurels flew From the Aetherial Court a wreath he brought Which cann't be by Earth's Gold and Silver bought It was a Branch of purest Gold which he Commissionated pull'd from Lifes fair Tree To make a Garland for the Pilgrim's Head And happily to crown with Life the Dead One Hand bore this as precious a thing And 's Sacred he in 's other Hand did bring A garment 't was of Scarlet dy'd in grain Whose Tyrian blushes Virgins blushes stain The Pinks and Roses as he passed by Hung down their heads to see a better dye Blushed for shame but growing pale with spite They being outvy'd themselves disrobed quite This Garment tincted was in that blest Blood That Crimson spring that deep dy'd Scarlet flood Which flow'd from Iesu's sacred side when he Dy'd that the sinful World might saved be The Ermin-lined Purple which doth lye Solely upon the back of Majesty Though cover'd over with Avacan Gemms To this rich Robe a simple Garment seems Man though he 's cloath'd is naked without this With this cloath'd though he 's naked cloathed is Unto the Crosse's foot the Angel came And with his lovely eyes considers him He sees the Pilgrim dead the sinful man Flesh and its Members crucifi'd and slain No gashly sight this was Death not enhance Did those fresh glories of his countenance This Death although h' had made him freely bleed Wrapt not his Body in his sheets of Lead His eyes were sweetly clos'd his cheeks did look Like those of the departing Feavour-struck A dying Fire seemed there to lye Which able was to court the nicest eye From thence the helpful Angel takes him down And with the Golden wreath of Life doth Crown His pious Temples on his Head he pours Out of transparent Viols crystal showers Pure water taken from the Fount of Blisse Which every Limb from head to foot doth kisse Which cleanseth every Limb and part And so The Stone 's deep black converted is to snow Stript naked of his former rags upon His back he puts the bloody Garment on A Noble colour White is turn'd to red The Work 's now almost throughly finished Thus cloath'd and drest to Life the Pilgrim came Another Man and yet the very same He look'd as if he were new born agen His eyes saw now what he had never seen His wandring Orbs on every thing do passe As if enquiring in what place he was He saw a Region which his eyes ne'r did Before behold The Region was hid Before but now lay open to his view His speaking eyes the willing Angel drew For to declare what place it was He brake Silence and thus unto the Pilgrim spake Locus Purgatorius inter
they When Dye passe by this purging Region may But tell me Man what shall those Pilgrim's do VVho in Heav'ns Way have gone but come not to Be dead and risen with our Lord when by The Way they lose their mortal Life and dye They are not fit for Paradise What then Must they be hurled to the Stygian Den Must they be damn'd with God's great Mercy rather Doth it not stand to bring their Spirits hither Where they may finish what they had begun And to the end of Sion's Race may run Dost say 't is by Christ's Blood they 'r purg'd we know 't But dost thou know what time he ' l take to do 't 'T is he that doth it here 't is by his Blood And in this place that they are purifi'd It was dear Pilgrim Man's stupidity That me enforc'd to this Apostrophe But now I 'le tell thee more This is the place Which by Christ's Sermon once made happy was When he to those who perish'd in the flood Repentance preach'd and made predictions good 'T was to the dead departed souls that he Bestov'd his blessed bounteous Charity After his own death when he had in one By an Hypostatical Union His humane Soul and Deity conjoyn'd And not in Noâ—h's time as some divin'd To Spirits not to Men in flesh he spake And did their Prison then a Temple make I would a question ask of peevish man Who doth to Death those you call Heathen damn Se'ing God all-mighty did with those souls bear Who 'fore the flood would not his servant hear But perish'd by the Waters and did them Not to an everlasting Death Condemn But to this Region brought their souls where they Their Ransom might with true Repentance pay Whither the Gentiles who but ' bate their name Do in morality most Christians shame Who before Christ's time liv'd by Nature's Law And conscientious unto what they saw Who had indu'd a moral Honesty Studious of that and all Sobriety Seeing that their Nature's dim taper had Only to walk by though their Light was bad They walk'd as well as that could guide and though They wanted that bright Sun which we do know They God in some part knew whether these be Condemn'd to Hell for all Aeternity Or whether God his Mercy has not shown To them and brought them to this Region Where they by Christ might saved be se'ing none Are saved but by blessed Him alone Seeing the Lord 's more merciful than to Require of them more than they ever knew Being Transgression's not without a Law And none damn'd for breach of what he ne'r saw This I would ask Man but I think that he Sarcasmes would return not answer me Let not the World presume nor yet surmise Because the Heathens works they equalize That they shall hith ' â— attain God has an higher And brighter Light gi'n to the World Require He therefore now doth at the Hands of Men Far greater things than he expected then Man's Talent's greater now the Stars upon The Heathens only now on Men the Sun Doth clearle shine Who falls for want of sight God pitty'd but will not now men have Light But let 's proceed for I have stai'd too long To speak of what the World doth count a Song The Pilgrim hearing this his eyes withdrew And bid the Spirits Eâ—gaâ—lule adieu Now hand in hand they went but straight they were Come to the entrance of another Sphear The place seem'd like a grave 't was where such dead As he was used to be buried The Pilgrim looked in but in the place Nothing but a most horrid darkness was Which equaliz'd the pitchy clouds which fume At black Avernus from Hel's horrid womb 'T was Taenâ—â—us or th' entrance into Hell Or from the third to the first Principle But thus the Angel to the Pâ—lgrim said This is the grave in which no man was laid Before the mighty Son of God 't was here His sacred Virgin Limbs first layed were Here was he buried here must also thou Into this Grave as he did enter too I 'le be thy Guide fear not thy Coat will keep Off all the vapours of th' internal deep From hurting thee This said they both into That Cave of darksome Night together go Fancy not Reader that our Pilgrim crept Into some Cave or down some Cavern stept Or that the Worlds by outward distance are Disjoyn'd they are contingent every where And yet there is a Gulf between but this The entrance is into that dark Aâ—ysse A sinking down from the third Principle Towards the Centre of the deepest Hell The darkest pitchy Night that ever was Her saâ—ses could not to this horrid place Compare This is the Fountain when she lacks Whence she expromes her jetty deep-dy'd blacks Here 't is she dips her inky Mantles Here In soot or pitch she dyes what she doth wear Hence she those black Screens has which from our sights Oft times do hide Heav'n's little twinkling Lights But th' happy Pilgrim and the Angel here In spight of all Hel's pitch their Way see clear No Carbuncle whose fiery Rayes doth Night Chase from his presence ever gave such Light As that Purpurean Garment he had on Which like ten thousand joyned Rubine's shon And those bright Rayes which from the Angels Face Calligenous Night did from their presence chase Backward she flew as they approach'd and â—ell Just at the Feet of the great Prince of Hell But as they onward went a pointed Ray Beam'd neer the place where all the Devils lay Hell started back and all the damned Crew Under dark inky waves together flew Nothing moâ—e terrible is to their sight Than the least beaming or a Ray of Light Great PLUTO trembled and his Throne did shake He fear'd least Christ another Voyage make Might th'rough his Kingdom to aâ—d pains to pains Câ—oser Confinement and more chaines to chaines But having drunk a draught of Stygian Nectar He â—wrodâ— grows Am not I Hell's PROTECTOR 〈◊〉 he Did not I dare at once to flye 'Gainst Heav'n's own Face and all his Hierarchie Do I so many Legions Command And do I here sneaking and trembling stand And dare not venture to see who these be That dare to venture on my Hell and me That dare in Hostile manner thus invade My Realm and Captivate with Light my shade I 'le see who 't is If 't be not him I fear So much my looks shall hence all others scare With that an hideous rore he gave and from All parts of Hell Legions of Devils come These hellish Troops follow their Princely Lord Cloath'd with the darkest pitch Hell could afford Each had a shield lin'd with ten thousand shades To keep off Light when it their eyes invades Yet not secure each musâ—les up his sight With Tartarus's black Lawnes and furrs of Night These met the Pilgrim but no sooner had His eyes and garment their bless'd Beamings shed Upon these Troops but they fall back and
rend Hel's strong Foundations with the cryes they send From their black throats Rage issu'd from their eyes And from their mouths and tongues fell Blasphemies They knew that bloody Dye that Robe was fear'd The sight of it Dis and his Troops thus scar'd O who can paint the noise of Hell the roar Great Sathan gave the neighbour Pillars tore Ten hundred thousand ratling chaines did clink Th'rough the place flew a Sulphurian stink Thinking the Pilgrim with the stinch to choak From their mouths flew Volumns and clouds of smoak This sight amaz'd our Traveller the smell Of Sulphure Brimstone and of Nitre fell Out of those clouds and all the stinking fume Fly'ng th'rough the place did to his nosethrils come His eares with curses and with Blasphemy VVere fil'd the clouds which all about did flye Prest th'rough his lips and touching there his tongue VVith bitter horrid acritude it stung Strange pricking atoms which did touch his skin Invisibly annoy'd him with their sting VVhole streams of venom rouled at his feet Which mighty Pluto from his mouth had spit But all this while with hideous roars and cryes All the black Troops of Hell before him flies Ratling their chaines and to avoid his sight Wrapping themselves in smoaky clouds of Night But â—el's insernal mâ—ghty Prince once more His flying Troops stops with an hideous roar And Sakâ—ng his dire snaky Locks he cry'd Yâ—a mighâ—y Sons and I great Prince of Pride Why flee we thus By my great Iron Rod My Head and Throne 't is not the Son of God Who loaded these Imperial Hands with chaines And whose great Power m' imperial might restraines This is some puny Saint some counteâ—feit Whom Zeal hath hither brought with hasty feet To pass our Kingdom unto Paradise Mâ— thinks we should not daunted thus agnize Hiâ— power Ah! wer 't not for that curs'd Coat He wears how soon l'd cut his Saintships throat But seeing 't is not Christ himself I vow I 〈◊〉 to any of his Train to bow He cannot hurt us let us shew him then That we have power to drive him back ag'en Let 's ' sright him if we can Torment alass To see our Foes th'rough our own Realm to pass Spite of our teeths I am resolv'd to try 't With him and though I â—al I 'le shew my spight This said his rallied Troops their Horns do whet Upon a Rock of Adamant and set Their stoutest courage up great LUCIFER A beam of Iron in his hand doth bear His eyes like Lamps were from his nosethrils flew Black clouds of smoak his Whale-like mouth did spew I â—ames like a Furnace and an hundred shoales Of melting bullets and red glowing coals His Iron Mace against a Rock he strook And a great Lake of fire and brimstone took â—â—s rise from thence which spreading all about Up to the knees he wadeth hurtlesse th'rough't Thus he appears and thinks by this to ' fray Thâ— unmoved Travellâ—â— out of his Way â—ut that blessâ—d Robe in which he was bewrap'd The Pilgrim dauntlesse and in safety kept The hellish light'ning from his Head was beat Back by the golden Bayes that compass'd it And maugre Hell and all its power could do Victoriously unstop'd he passed th'rough For Hell still dazeled at the Light he bore Flung down his fires and â—led as onâ—e before There was no Guilt for Hell to fasten on For if there had Hell had the Conquest won And if there had the Cherub's flaming Sword To Paradise no passage would afford For now he saw the passage fill'd with flame Which from a supercilious Angel came A mighty Sword he held from whence a stream Of flaming Fire th'rough the place did beam Into 't our Pilgrim went and bravely bold Walk'd th'rough the midst and like seven times tri'd Gold Shon brighter than those flames Untouch'd his hair Was and the garment which his shoulders bare To him bow'd down the Angel-Centinal And gave free passage to the brazen Wall Now was his heart amazed when he saw The separation plac'd by Heav'n's hard Law 'Twixt man and Paradise on heaps there was A mountanous ruine of the sellid'st Brass Which like huge Mountains heap'd together and As Monuments lay of some mighty Hand For part of that great Wall which was so high That its proud top our Pilgrim with his eye Could not attain it was now down a Gap It left which never could be mended up After the Pilgrim all amaz'd had view'd That Sconce of Brass he to the Angel su'd To let him know by what Hand built it was And what strength had broke down that league-thick Brass The Angel who such favours ne'r deny'd To him after a little pause reply'd You stand amazed at these ruines I As much amaz'd at Man's impiety Do stand for this immense and mighty breach To thankless man Aeternal Love doth preach And yet ingrateful He abase the Power Doth of his only and great Saviour I tremble now I think how some men dare Speak slightly of him who is Heav'ns own heir How some men dare O horrid to deny His Godhead fearful fearful Blasphemy How some Men dare to say blest Iesus did Do nothing for them when h' at Salem dy'd Would all such now were here to see the Power He had and how he was a Saviour To all that ever saved were VVould Heaven Had me to trumpet This Commission given Th'rough all the quarters of the World I' d sound This act th' effect of Love and Strength profound Would now the Winds th'rough every Land might blow My words that all what I tell thee might know That so they might ne'r hear blest Iesu's Name But their proud Hearts and Knees bow at the same Consider well this brazen VVall your eyes Are too too weak unto the top to rise How thick it is Behold how vast VVhat one Could ever climb o're it or break it down Could all the World and if they hither came VVith Catapults or Tower-shaking Rams Or their vast Bombards damage this great Wall Or a thousand shot make any sign at all How vain would all their strength be Iesus then As more Love so more strength had than all Men 'T was his own Hand and his own Hand alone That made this breach that pul'd this Brass-wall down Pilgrim attend The Protoplast once did On Earth behold that Realm which now lies hid That Realm to which we press bless'd Paradise Adam beheld on Earth with virgin Eyes The first and second Principles did lie Conjoyned to the third in Harmony These were disjoyn'd by Adam's wretched sin And Harmony stept out and discord in A sensual â—ast it was by which he lost That place which Iesu's dearest Blood hath cost For to redeem again for us God's Wrath And Justice be'ing awak'd against them both Both Adam and his Eve He them cast out From thence then wall'd it with this Wall about The Guardian Cherubim be placed then VVith a versatile Sword to keep out Men. O how
What mystic Monad perfect Quadrats Trines What double Numbers and unlucky Signes Of odd conjoyned Figures and the like They have which in 't amaze the unlearned strike But some whose patience worn out with their Book Into Pythag'r as can no longer look Whose suppositious pamphlets in his Name Which bring to that Philosopher great shame Cry out all is Deceit that Numbers be And all the Art but mystic Knavery And thus the World by witnesse testifies Against the Truth hid in all mysteries Others notorious in their Notarie Art juggle with as simple Foppery Thinking this noble Magic may be took From the Loines of some suppositious Book Of Apollonius or of Salomon Which these blind Dotards dote too much upon These superstitious make a wondrous doe With mystic Names of God and words not true Meerly invented with full sounds to awe The Ignorant with superstition's Law But when they see themselves beguiled by This pious-fac'd-deceitful Theurgy They to the World with open mouth proclaim Their own Ablepsie ignorance and shame Whereby the sacred Hebrew mysteries In Names too deep for them the blind despise Another sort of Men there is who do Long earnestly to be Magitians too Tritemiu's and Agrippa's Books they get By which each Note and Character they set In their due place their Crosses Lamens and Their Pentacles must all in order stand Their Tapors Swords and consecrated Oyl With other stuff the easier to beguile Themselves they fit assaulting by and by The Camp of Devils with their Geocy How eas'ly to them doth the Devil yield And let them for his gain to win the Field Being commanded for a while that he At last a Tyrant o're their Souls might be But some repenting timely did impart Hel's cunning and the Follies of that Art By which the World so fearful grew and fell To think all natural Magic came from Hell So Paracelsus nor Agrippa nor More skil'd in natural Magic could prefer Its Wonders to the World but for their pains They branded were for Hel's Magitians But others whom Hel's wretched Prince can gain With a black union their dear Souls to stain Dive to the botton of Hel's Arts and there Indeed great dark Magitians appear These Necromancers freely he indues With Wonder-working Pow'r his Kingdom shews To them and triumphs greatly that he can Make known his Power by the arm of Man These can do Wonders and the World amaze Such might on Man mighty Belzebub â—ays Such was great Iannes such was Mambres or Black Elymas the wicked Sorcerer And such was Simon who oft back'd a Cloud And th'row the Ayr rode in his Chariot proud These Men the World with such great fear infected That mysteries divine became suspected Science was lost and Ceremonies all Accounted were or Diabollical Or superstitious and the very Name Of Magic tainted odious became Thus divine Magic was obscured and Men won't believe that Heav'n's all-mighty Hand Can by his proper instrument disclose His mighty Pow'r Hel's Magi to oppose And that great Man by Heav'n enabled shew Can as great Wonders as all Hell can do But if such should appear the World would strait Them Hel's black Necromancers nominate Call us black Devils or base Incubies If they but hear that Man our Faces sees Thus you may see how Men themselves do cheat With Fear and the opinion of Deceit Thus Truth and the true magic that 's divine Wrap'd o're with pitch alone doth inly shine And is a Jewel lock'd up from the VVorld That so much Durt and mire at it has hurl'd But don't you wonder what the reason is That all or most men of their aym do misse And that this sacred Magic still in spite Of all their searchings is obscur'd in Night Labour all things o're-comes you think and they Investigated it have Night and Day VVith toyl and sweat pains indifagitable And all the forces that their wits were able To muster for This searched have and yet The knowledge of this Magic cannot get The Fault 's their own for they wrong wayes have took And the true Road to Blisse and it forsook their selfish wit and wisdome this have wrought And from fair Truth 's to errors paths have brought Them 'Cause they saw the way that to it led Simple and plain therefore the same they fled They this forgot TRUTH doth all coverings flee That to be Wise is first a Fool to be Money noâ— Wit may be the purchasers Of it Obedience chiefly this infers This Magic 's sacred holy and Divine By God himself hid from the World 's dull eyne Does Man then think that all his witlesse wit And prying's able to discover it Unlesse God with his Finger shew 't himself In vain they wast their wits their Time their Pelf This then is one cause why so many fail Because they do to their own wits intail The knowledge of it for they never doubt But by their Wisdom for to find it out But this Pearl God hath hidden from the eyes In ten-fold pitch of all such VVorldly-wise And sooner may they crack their troubled Brain Than one poor glimpse of this deep myst'ry gain God doth it to a seav'n-sold Chest commit And Prayer is one holy Key of it Another Reason why this Pearl they misse Because they slight the sacred Scriptures is Trusting more to the Heathens Scriptures than Those which contain all happinesse for Man As if because their vain Philosophy They cannot in that blessed Writ descry The true Philosophy that is divine Therein with sacred Lustre did not shine But those will find who pierce the mysterie A Philosophic high divinity The way to Blisse and to this Magic there Unseal'd to eyes enlightn'd will appear Man's Heart 's deceitful full of subtle wiles Both others and himself he oft beguiles His Heart 's corrupt for though he seeks for Blisse A foul Colluvies at the bottom is God this beholds and whatsoe're he seems To man he sees his close intents and Aimes Many investigate this Pearl But why Some some selfish aimes close in their Hearts do lye But such must know all self must lay'd aside Be or they else shall ever be deny'd FAME and Renown infuse some short-liv'd hear Which causes some upon this Work to set Poor blast of Ayr which shuffles Man to Pride That Man expect should to be satisfied That God should yield to him and not deny His Lust and Humours vain to satisfie He who hath aimes besides God's glory shall If clime unto this Art but gain a Fall How many 〈◊〉 the Pâ—iloâ—ophers Stone Part of this Aâ—t and but the meanest One Out of meer Avarice and hope of gain Hoping it will be their God Aeschylane These are the Spurs wherewith themselves they rouze When they th'rough Pains their dulled Spirits loâ—se But such at last when their Spurs dulled are Tire and yield up themselves unto despair Who have no better Spurs than these the mire They must go th'row their lazy jades shall tyre But