Him from within whilst every Part Rack'd and transfixed with intestine Streins In streams of purple Tears bewail'd its Pains 173. Down to the Ground this sweating Torrent flows To wash away the Curse which on it grew Whilst moated in his melted Selfe thy Spouse The noble fight doth with fresh Strength renew His Mortall Nature three stout Onsets gave To his immortal Piety and Love 174. Father He cri'd by that thy tender Name Commiserate thy most afflicted Son If thy Omnipotence a way can frame How to exempt Me from my Passion O let thine Hand which brings this Cup to Me Far hence remove it and my Misery 175. But straight by most athletick Braverie Above himselfe He gets and nobly cries Although all Bitternesse triumphant be In this sad Cup it amply does suffice That from thy Hand it comes Thy Will shall be And not mine own the Rule and Rein to me 176. Thus reverend Abraham when by Gods Command He was to bath his Sword in Isaac's blood Divided was in his own bowells and With his brave Selfe in competition stood Till valourous Piety her Powers strain'd And the hard Laurell of Selfe-conquest gain'd 177. But when thy mighty Lord atchieved had This triple Conquest Judas and his Rout Like furious Boars into the Garden made And for their Prey all rang'd and rov'd about Not knowing He as ready was to be Betray'd as they to work their Treachery 178. For like a most victorious Champion who Before his other Foes has conquer'd Fear He meets their Furie asking Whom with so Eager and strong a Chase they hunted there Their traytorous Spight and whom it sought He knew Yet this brave Challenge in their face he threw 179. Jesus of Nazareth We seek said they Alas Blinde Soules He came to seek out you And lead you safely in the Kings high way Unto his Throne above that on your brow Heav'ns Crowns for ever might have shin'd but ye In nothing would be Found but Treachery 180. Nor they nor Judas Psyche now did know Thy Spouses face which flamed heretofore With gracious Beauty but was clouded now With his strong Agonies all bloody Gore Thus like some duskie Meteor Phebus shows When an Eclipse upon his Count'nance grows 181. But He who would not be unknown to those Who came to suck what Blood was left behinde Which burned in his Veins till it got loose And flow'd as largely as his liberall Minde Revests his Look with gracefull Majesty And makes this brave Profession I am He. 182. If ever Thou hast seen what killing Dread Doth on base-hearted Traytors seize when They Are by their awfull Prince discovered Whose Voice and Looks their spurious Courage slay Treble this Fright and then conceive what Fear Shot through the Soules of these vile Caytiffs here 183. A stream of Horror drove them trembling back And over whelm'd Them flat upon the Ground And in the depth of this dismaying Wrack Their shivering Spirits had been surely drown'd Had He not spred his Pitty over Them Whose Swords and Staves and Spight all made at Him 184. O how will they endure his Dreadfull Eyes Which all this World on flaming fire shall set When He in triumph sweeping through the skies Shall hither come and mounted on his great Tribunall once again crie I am He No more the Prey but Judge of Treachery 185. When they no Lanthorns nor no Torches Light Nor Juda's Conduct any more shall need But by our Trumpets death-awakning fright Be summon'd up and by our hands be led Into the presence of Heav'ns glorious Son Whom then they would not finde but cannot 〈◊〉 186. But now He brideled in his awfull Raies And on condition his Disciples may Without disturbance goe their severall 〈◊〉 Offers himselfe unto his Foes who lay Quaking before Him but took courage now Perceiving They again might 〈◊〉 grow 187. As when a serpent bruis'd and beaten back Spies any way to reinforce her fight Her head she raises and deep care doth take Her Wrath and Poyson how to spit aright So did these Elves start up and cheer their Head And this Iscariot was to doe the Deed. 188. Iscariot that Prince of Treason now Forgetfull of his royall Masters Love And of the Dint of that majestick Blow Which strook Him and his Armie down to prove His cursed Selfe Earths Lucifer led up Against the Lord of Hosts his desperate Troop 189. And then none but a golden Arrow shot Burnish'd with faire and complementall grace Yet in as mortall Venome dipp'd as that Which Eve's Heart felt when she saluted was By faire-tongu'd Hell and by the Tempter driven With courteous Treason from her earthly Heaven 190. Hail Master was the Word What Ear could now Disrellish such a suger'd Noise as this Or once suspect Discording Jarrs should grow In such soul-plying Accents Master is The Phrase of Service Hail of Love Yet He Could make these honest Words insidious be 191. And when his faithlesse Tongue her part had done His Lips succeeded in the Treachery With matchlesse Impudence He ventured on Against the very face of Majesty And to make sure his Project should not misse Seal'd it upon his Master with a Kisse 192. O Wit of Treason could no Signe but this The gentlest Token of soft Courtesie Be made the Marke of deepest Barbarousnesse Monstrous Iscariot how dost thou by thy Inhumane Kindnesse both a Traytor prove Of Loves great Master and the Badge of Love 193. Is not a Kisse the soft and yeilding Signe Which clapps the Bargain of Affection up The sweet and joyous Marriage between The tenderest Pair of Lovers Lip and Lip The closing Harmony which when the Tongue Has done its best compleats the pleasing Song 194. Is not a Kisse the most delicious Seal By which Friends Cement their concording Hearts Must this Betrayed be Must faithlesse Hell Poyson this dainty Truth Must Hatreds Arts Be clothed in the softest sweetest Dresse Of courteous Peace and amorous Tendernesse 195. Must sweet Arabia's Beds breath out a Stinck And harbour all the Bane of Thessaly Must milkie Lilies stain their Leaves with Ink Must Roses Buds with Thorns all prickly be Must Silk and Down be harsh Must Honey flow With Gall Must Summer Gales bring Ice Snow 196. O what will Treason not presume to doe Which more than all those strange Mutations makes In this own venturous Fact of Judas who Ev'n in this Tie of Love all Friendship breaks Who biteth with his Lips not with his Teeth And strives to Kisse his dearest Lord to death 197. But though Iscariot his own Love betrayes His Lord triumphs beyond all Treachery And doth against the Traytors Hatred raise A Counterwork of heav'nly Lenitie O Mystery of Love though Jesus may Betrayed be no Plots his Grace betray 198. Who teacheth all Succeeding Traytors how To burnish over that foule rankling Brasse Of impudence which arms their sullen Brow To tip Rebellion with meek Lies to grace Their arrogant Treaties with submissive Words Whilst
sulphure doth confesse What is its work and where it kindled was 128. A double Alablaster Conduit hung Down from his Forehead where is nothing now But those two rotten Pipes not to be wrung Least with the Moisture down the Nose do flow That banefull Moisture which 't is hard to say Whether it be more Poyson than its Way 129. Two Rows of Roses on those Lipps did grow To sweeten every word that passed by But now scorch'd black as Hel's own mouth they show What kind of Breath is wont through them to flie A Breath like that which from the Chimneys topp Speaks it owne stink by what it vomits up 130. His Cheeks which lifted up but yesterday Two Hills of Spices now are sunk so low That like two hollow untill'd valleys they With nothing else but Desolation grow Now grizly Haire has spoil'd his polish'd skin Shewing what He to Satyrs is of kin 131. His lovely Hands are now two monstrous Paws Whose Nail's much longer than their Fingers be Sure his Imbrace is daintie when he throws Those Arms about his Love But prithe see What now behind the Gallants back doth trail His courtly Sword 's turn'd to a dangling Tail 132. Behold his goodly Feet where one great Cleft Davides two Toes pointed with iron Claws The rest of his fine Body must be left Sealed up close by Modesties chast Laws Yet mayst thou safely look into his Breast And see what Treasures there have made their Nest. 133. Look where ten thousand Charmes and kisses lie And Complements of every garbe and kind With which He doth on herdlesse Virgins flie And Correspondent Entertainment find Look where upon the Topp those Courtships be By which He wooed and inchanted Thee 134. In that slie corner and observe it well Lie various Shapes which alway changing be Shapes trim and smooth and faire without but full Of inward Poyson which industrious He Subtlie improv'd and dayly did devise Handsome Impostures and well-favoured lies 135. See'st thou not there the model of the Beast That hideous Witchery which chased Thee With all the amorous Story fairely drest To Court and cheat thy credulous Chastity Never did Cozenage with more lovely Art Or Face more honest act its divelish Part. 136. But there is something stranger yet behind See'st thou that Scroll It is a full Commission By which he made this Voyage ready sign'd And strengthned by the broad Seal of Perdition Come I 'l untwine the knot of Snakes which tie It up and lay it open to thine Eye 137. Loe here a scheem of such confounding Letters And scrambling Lines as never Conjurer writt His Forks Hooks Prongs Racks Gibbets Gridirons Fetters And other Tools of his infernall spight Are Belzebub's mad Alphabet But hear How well I ken his mystick Character 138. Satan the great by mine owne Power alone God of Hell Earth and Aire Immortall Foe To Men to Angels to Heav'n and Heavn's Son Monarch of Pride Rage Blasphemy and Woe Out of our royall grace to our right vicious And trustie friend and Cosen Aphrodisius 139. By these our Letters Patents We doe give Thee full Authoritie the Souleto seize Of hated Psyche that she may receive What share of Pangs our royall Self shall please Given at our flaming Court of Desperation This sixt Age of our Soveraigne Damnation 140. This being read He folds it up againe And thrusting it into the Furies breast Goe home says He and ask thy Soveraigne A larger Patent See thou art releas'd But here I hang the Withe if ever thou Returnst this Way thou mayst this token know 141. The loosned Fiend fetching a deep drawn Sigh And tearing his owne breast with helplesse wrath Flung downe his Patent and away did flie The Grove smoak'd as He went in all his Path No Tree did meet him though the place were full But downe He tore it and made hast to Hell 142. This Spectacle so wrought on Psyche's Heart That fill'd brimme full of holy shame and Ioy Her equall thanks and blushes she doth part Between he carefull friends Never may Day Shine on this face if I forget says she Your Loves and mine own reskew'd Chastity 143. Farewell fond Passions Heav'n above I 'm sure Is full as faire within as 't is without No Aphrodisius there but all as pure As is the spotlesse Chrystall or your thought Deare Phylax which from thence its pattern takes And a new Heav'n in your sweet Bosome makes 144. There will I fix my Heart there dwells my Love My Life my Lord much purer than his Home Whose Paradise shall be the onely Grove Henceforth to which my soul shall strive to come Forbid it Jesu any thing below Be master of this Soule whose Lord art thou 145. Thus sweetly breathing out her holy Passion To ease her high-swolln heart she homeward goes With her dear Consorts yet at every station Renews her thanks and her pathetike Vows At length got home She to her Closet hasts Where all her Soul at her Loves feet she casts 146. What praiers were there what thanks what sighs what tears What Languishments what amorous extasies What confidence what shame what hopes what fears What pains what joys what thoughts what words she dies And yet she lives and yet she dies againe And would for ever live so to be slain 147. But fainting Nature for 't was midnight now And farr sh' had travell'd and wrought hard that day Permitted sleep to grow upon her brow And though unwilling downe at last she lay Sweet was that rest but yet much sweeter was The Dream which now before her Soul did passe 148. Imagination swiftlie carried Her Into a Garden where more Beauties smil'd Than did in Aphrodisiu's Grove appeare And gentler Gales the aire with odours fill'd Lillies alone on every bed did grow Which scornd comparison with Northerne Snow 149. The goodly Walks with Alablaster were Pav'd all alone whose smooth and spotlesse face Layd fairlie ope unto the silver sphear Which roll'd above a comely looking glasse Whither upward she or downward turnd her Eye Still she 〈◊〉 the same Heaven's Majesty 150. No Fountaine bubled there but fed with springs Of purest Milk upon whose dainty shoare Unsported Pidgeons sate and wash'd their wings Though full as white and pure as it before But thus one Candor powr'd upon another Does kindely kiste and sport it with his brother 151. High in the midst a princelie Castle stands Invincible for strength and for delight Built all of Virgin-christall and by Hands As pure as the Materials were bright A cleerer Court was ne'r by Poets braine Built for Queen Thet is in her watery Main 152. Ten thousand Blushes stood before the Gate With Magnanimities all hand in hand As many Purities behind them sate And after those as many Beauties and Young smiling Graces whose sweet task it was To be the Guard of that delicious Place 153. As Psyche wonder'd at the stately sight She turns and spies her Phylax standing by What Place is
does answer it and now Becomes a Needle and its Eye can show 32. Then from his golden Locks that curled Grove Where thousand little Loves for ever play He pluck'd an Haire and this said He will prove Sufficient Thred to finish all thy gay Imbroyderie 't will stretch and alwaies be Longer and longer to Eternity 33. Heer take thy Tools and let th' Invention be Thine owne Conceit for who can better fitt The Emblematick gift of Chastitie Than thou the Mother both of Me and it She bowing low her thanks and Dutie throws Before his feet and to her work she goes 34. Millions of Graces tripped after hâ—r The fair attendants on her 〈◊〉 rain Unto that Tower of living Chrystall where Thy Vision lately Thee did entertaine That Miâ—â—ie Way which downe Heavn's Mountain flows Its beauteous smoothnes to her footsteps ows 35. Oft had she trac'd it for you see the Way Is broad and Heavn's faire amplitude doth suit Yet ne'r with cheerlier Count'nance than that Day 〈◊〉 the decotum she did well compute Rejoycing that this Virgin-work should be 〈◊〉 to the Mother of Virginity 36. The Castle Gares did in a smile stand ope To see their Queen and bid her wellcome in She looks about her in that curious shop Of Purities uncertain where to ' gin Nothing dislikes Her but she spends her care Among so many Bests which to preferre 37. The lofty Roofe of the illustrious Hall With Sighs and amorous Languishment was seel'd From whence upon the princely floor did fall Full many an hearty Teare which there did yeeld A 〈◊〉 Pavement which the cool Grounds Kisse Into chast firmitude did chrystalize 38. The Twilights teares 〈◊〉 in the Laps of flowers Reflected not so 〈◊〉 Heavn's rising Eye When Phebus let in the diurnall Howres And trimm'd his face upon the Morning skie As these reverberated that fair Look Which from the Virgins entring face they took 39. The Walls impeopled were with all the stories Of those whom Chastity had cloth'd in White From antient Abels most unspotted Glories Unto the latest Beames of Virgin-light That Abel who first to his 〈◊〉 tied Martyrdomes 〈◊〉 in whose Bed he died 40. But at the upper end a Table hung All of one sparkling Diamond faire and high Whose brighter lines can by no Angells tongue Be fully read It was the History Of Love himself crav'd by art so divine That every Word the Table did out shine 41. Long look'd shee on this pourtract and forgot By looking long almost for what shee came The Sight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her eys that shee had not Her wonted power to be Queen of them At 〈◊〉 shee calls them home and bids withall Her heart come back which out with them had stole 42. Then ô. cries shee that this unworthy Hand Could draw those lines of Blisse of Life of Love A thousand yeares I d be content to stand And practise heer so I at length might prove Artist enough to forme one Copy which With more than all Heav'n would the Earth inrich 43. But my Almighty Lord and Sonne who did React his stories on this diamond sceen By his owne finger can be copied Onely by it Though He would make a Queen Of worthlesse Me yet He was pleased still In his poor Handmaid some defect should dwell 44. This Word straight summoned into the Cheek Of all the Graces which about her prest An universall Blush to see how meek Their Empresse was And give us leave at least Say they to copy this Humility More due to Us than unto royall Thee 45. But turning to the next her studious eye And reading in that Table fairely drawn The sweet Exploits of her Virginitie She blushed more than they and of their owne Blush made them all asham'd to see how farr It was out-blushed and out-grain'd by her 46. What help cries she for He is Lord and King What help if he be pleas'd to have it so If He my Memorie next his owne will bring And print it in a Book of Diamond too 'T is not the picture of what I did merit But what his love hath made me to inherit 47. With that the Graces all upon their knecs In a conspiracy of reverend Love Assault her thus Seek no more stories these Of thine the best imbroyderie will prove Degrade not what thy Son preferres nor be Because he loves thee thine owne Enemie 48. Nay gentle Sisters sweetly she replies I love my selfe too well to be so proud Let other Hands applaud my Victories But to mine own it must not be allow'd Were that my Work this Needle at each letter Would prick my Heart because I was no better 49. Loe in that Rubie Table there I see A heav'nly Storie well the Man I know A pretious Friend both to my Lord and Me When We with Him were Sojourners below Pure was his Life pure was his Office too Cleansing the Way where Purenesse was to goe 50. Whil'st on the noble Baptist thus her Eye And Praises dwelt a Grace had fill d in haste Her lappe with Lilies and the mayden prize Into a Chair of Alablaster cast The gentle Virgin smil'd at first to see 't Then down she sate and made her Cushion sweet 51. Her diligent Maydens compasse Her about And with a Jewell each one ready stands To her pure Work she falls and as she wrought A sweet Creation followed her Hands Upon her Knee apace the Table grew And every Figure to the Texture flew 52. As active Fancy in a Midnights Dream With strange extemporall dexterity What Sceens what Throngs what Worlds she lists doth frame Making the most divided things agree And most united quarrell though one Cell Be all the room for this vast spectacle 53. So wrought the nimble Artist and admired Her selfe to see the Work go on so fast Sure the ambitious Historie desired To this its own new honour to make haste And purchase to its single Rubie Beams The various Lustres of ten thousand gems 54. The forward Figures crowded close for all Would needs come in and rather chose to be Justled and throng'd and nipp'd into a small Yet a well ordered Epitomie Than in that little Dwelling loose their seat Where sweet Contraction would make them more great 55. And now the Girdle proves a Multitude Of sundry things made friends and tied in one But eminent among the rest is shew'd The lovely Master of the businesse John One-different John who as the Work doth rise Lives preaches washes suffers prison dies 56. Th' Imbroyderie finish'd thus that with more speed She might present it to her mighty Sonne She gives command her Birds be harnested Quick as the Word her ready Maydens run And from the milkie shore of the next spring Five Paire of her immortall Pidgeons bring 57. Her Coach was double gilt with that pure Light Whose grosser part fills Phebu's face with glory Not glaring like his Eyes but Milde and White Shining much like its Owners Virgin-storie Her Coursers take their place and
Serenity To which the Ocean is but poor in Treasures His own dear Breast to Thee hee opened wide And let Thee in unto its fullest Tide 138. There did'st Thou lie and learn thy Soule to glow By the dear Copy of thy Pillows Heat A Pillow in whose soft Protection Thou Put'st all thy Cares and Fears to rest And yet Slep'st not thy Selfe for how could any Eye Indure to close when Jesus was so nigh 139. There did'st Thou lie next to the Heart of Love Whose ravishing Imbraces kept thee warm With all the best of Heav'n no more above But folded up in his incircling Arm Which forc'd all wise Spectators to conclude Thou wert aforehand with Beatitude 140. The loftiest Stories where pure Seraphs dwell Exalted in Felicities bright Sphear Thy dainty Habitation did excell For at his Foot-stoole They lie prostrate there Amidst the Sweets of whose all-balmey Breast Thine onely Head makes its delicious Nest. 141. What potent Joyes what mysticall Delight Woo'd and besieg'd thy Soule on every side Whil'st thy inamoured Spouse spent all the Might Of heav'nly Tendernesse on his dear Bride How many healing Wounds gave his Loves Dart How many living Deaths to thy soft Heart 142. How did hee study to epitomize His Incarnation's amorous Designe And trie the best of Mercie 's Mysteries Upon thy single Soule in which divine Experiment it was thine onely Grace To fill his universall Churches place 143. Thus while he liv'd he sweetly liv'd in Thee And when hee di'd Thou saw'st him nayled fast Unto his Death Yet no Mortality Could seize upon His love for by his last And tenderest Words whil'st hee Himselfe did die To Thee he gave Loves living Legacie 144. Into his dearest Mothers Bosome hee Commended Thee and bid her own her Son What Nature could not Love contriv'd to be And Mary must be Mother unto John Jesus and John Love had so closely ti'd That in their Mother they must not divide 145. Mary no other Glass could findè where she So fair an Image of her Sonne might read Nor John so pure a Mirrour wherein He His ever looking-longing Eyes might feed On his dear Lord Thus Love though dead and gone Sweetly leaves John his Spouse Mary her Sonne 146. No wonder gentlest Saint that on thy Tongue Love built his Hive and dropp'd his Hony thence Whilst thy Soul-charming Words rellish so strong Of Heav'ns best Sweets and choycest influence That Love from his own Wing lent Thee the Quill Which all thy Lines with Charity doth fill 147. No wonder Thou brave Eagle soar'dst so high And div'dst so deep into the Suns bright face Where Thou didst read the Words great Mystery By which thine Eye refin'd not dazeled was No wonder that Thou didst thy Gospeli fashion And Calculate by God's own Elevation 148. No wonder that Port Latin saw the Oile Scalding in vain Thou who didst live by Fire And in whose breast such amorous streams did boile Could'st feel no other Flames O no! some higher Fervor of Love must melt thine own and send It to the flaming Bosome of thy Friend 149. The Languishments of never-faint Desire Must crown thy Life with correspondent Death Though by sharp Pains thy Brethren did expire This dainty Martyrdom must end thy Breath So Heav'n has privileg'd thy Piety Thou who did'st Live by Love of Love must Die 150. Pardon me Psyche I could not forbear This deare Apostrophe John was the Man Whose virgin flaming Worth made Him be neer Of kin to our Angelick Tribe and can We mention him and not salute him too Whom Honors Soveraign Lord has honor'd so 151. And pardon Me that I have dwelt so long On his Apostolick Bretheren the Glory Of whose death-scorning Valour does no wrong Nor interrupts their Masters royall Story He and his heav'nly Might in them appear'd And o'r the vanquish'd Earth his Banner rear'd 152. Mark now that Mount which lifts its lofty Head Neer to Bethsaida whence it takes a view Of all the Countries round about it spread Nor Zebulon nor Nephthali out-flew Its Prospect which through Trachonitis too And Ituraea did sublimely goe 153. Yea though far distant it acquaintance took With other Mountains unto Hermon 〈◊〉 And stately Libanus it reach'd a Look This was that noble Oratory where Thy Lord so oft retired that the Place Thenceforth the Mount of Christ 〈◊〉 was 154. A Mount where liberall Nature did her best Witnesse the flowrie Beauties smiling there But Grace far more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Than that bright Pomp which and of old prepare For the Lawgivers feet the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Sina mix'd with Thunder Smoak and Dread 155. For here no Trumpet spake the Frightfull Minde Of stern Imperiousnesse no rigid Law Back'd with an everlasting Curse injoyn d The World to its hard Yoak their Necks to bow But Love himselfe upon his gentle Throne Gave the soft Lawes of Benediction 156. Eight Springs of Blessednesse abroach hee set And woo'd the weary World to bathe in Them Their Cares and Fears hee taught Them to transmit And bury all Solicitude in Him He pass'd his Word Heav'n should their Purveyor be Who served in the Warrs of Pietie 157. His Evangelicall Oeconomie He instituted here and so improved The highest Pitch of Legall Sanctitie That though incumbering Burdens hee removed Yet more Bonds of Perfection on hee laid And wonderous strict his Mercies Candor made 158. His Reins were Silk but yet hee held them strait And drove amain providing by that Art That in their Passage no enchanting Bait Might his Disciples lure and tempt to start Out of the King of Heav'ns high Way but to His Kingdome safely and directly goe 159. His blessed Rules and none but His are They Which past the Puritie of Gold refine Gross Mortall Hearts and sublimate poor Clay Into a State Angelick and Divine Whilst by his Spirit He scours off sinfull Rust And into Heav'n blows up the purged Dust. 160. But turn and view those Desert Fields which lie Next Neighbours to the Galilean Sea Into that hopefull quiet Privacie Devotion had withdrawn thy Spouse but He Had given the People too much tast of his Sweetness to think He long could scape their Press 161. For as the busie Bees who once have found 〈◊〉 Garden haunt it day by day 〈◊〉 out every flower and humming round About the Tops of their delicious Prey So to that Garden for thy Lord had by His presence made it so did People flie 162. Jesus who bow'd from Heav'n poor Man to meet Could not refraine to entertaine the Throng With gracious ready Welcome He did greet Each Troop and Party as they came along Dealing his Courtesie to great and small Who came to be the Saviour of All. 163. Then as the wise Physitian first takes care That all the Vitall Parts be sound within Before He spend his pains on any Soare Which sinks into the Flesh or on theSkin Doth swimme So did his Tenderness to those His numerous Patients his art dispose 164. Their Hearts
may know 〈◊〉 he has not in some passi nate haste Without sufficient grounds his Sentence Past. 264. The Priests had mony that commanding Spurr Which fires all Soldiers with impatient Speed And Pilate now can cast in no Demurr The Jews assure him that he has no need But need or not his thoughts in vain doe beat The Soldiers now were bought to doe the Feat 265. But being Martiall generous Spirits they Must not debase their armed Backs to bear The servile ignominious Cross nor may The Jews who now all purified were To celebrate their Paschall Supper be Stain'd by the Touch of that accursed Tree 266. On JESU'S Wounds his Death the Soldiers lay And He must ern his Crosses Service by Bearing its tedious Weight before he may Be born by it Thus with a barbarous Crie Of Tongues and Trumpets which the Welkin rent Through the cheifstreets this sad Procession went 267. But He whose Springs so drained were before Both of their Blood and Spirits now grew faint In vain they kick'd him and in vain they tore Him forward by his Hair for no Constraint Can make weak Nature her own Power exceed Nor finde out Firmnesse in a broken Reed 268. What Heart but seared by the fire of Hell Could now Compassions courteous Tears forbear But yet the Soldiers bosomes by the fell Contagion of the Iewish Malice are So deeply tainted that what might invite Tigres to Pittie does but whet their Spight 269. For meerely in prevention of the Loss Of that choise Sport they hoped for when He Was once set fair and sure upon his Cross As the full Mark at which all Scoffs might be Directly aim'd Him from this Load they spare And force Cyrenian Simon it to bear 270. Nay Live you shall say they till you may Die As you deserve mean while this Ernest take Of that full Summe which We will by and by On Golgotha without abatement make With this they beat Him and so much the more As with his Blood he no Complaints would poure 271. Indeed the softer Sex who upon Him And on his Woes did wait with tenderer Eyes In his own Blood could not behold Him swim But with their Sympathetick Tears and Cries Confess'd that they had Bowells still although Remorseless Stone Mens hearts did overgrow 272. But Jesus who did all this grevious while Encourage by his patient Silence those Most insolent Jeers and Blasphemies the vile And spightfull Jews could frame doth now oppose These Womens loving Tears and upon them With nobler Pitty turn their pittying Stream 273. For 't was his brave Ambition to engross All Greifs and Sorrows to Himself to day Esteeming every Groan of theirs his Loss And all his Woes discredited that they Should seem to need Assistants when stout He To his own Shoulders woo'd all Miserie 274. Weep not ye Daughters of Jerusalem Weep not for Me who have set ope my Breast To every Greif which into it can stream And thither mean to welcome every Guest Weep not for Me said He whose Sorrows are Not to be quenched by a mortall Tear 275. If you will broach your Bottles let them run For your own selves and your unhappy Seed For loe those fatall Days are posting on Which all your Brine and more than all will need The Days when Blessing shall no longer spred Its joyous Complement on Mothers Head 276. For then the Barren Womb shall praised be As fertile in the choisest Happiness Then everie Tongue those Papps ariditie Which never brought up Babe to Woe shall bless Then shall the dearest pledges of your Love Your Sonns and Daughters living Torments prove 277. Then in impatient longing for a Grave Despairing Men shall to the Mountains call And everie neighbour Hills Compassion crave Beseeching them upon their Heads to fall And hide them though in Death from seeing how Calamitie about the World doth flow 278. For if in me a young and verdant Tres The flames of Veng'ance thus prevailing are What shall the Refuge or Condition be Of Stumps and Trunks all withered and sear Which are already dri'd and fit alone For feuell for their own Combustion 279. In a fresh Cursing and Blaspheming fitt This set the mad-braind Rout who ask'd Him why When they of late so humbly begged it He would not condescend to Prophesie And why He who could others Woes so well Discern could nothing of his own foretell 280. And see good Prophet yonder Hill said they Take your own Counsell now before it prove Too late Come let Us heare what you can say Both it and its Compassion to move Set out your Throat if hard and loud you plead Perhaps 't will bow its own to hide your Head 281. Then having star'd a while upon Him all Whose Fists or Toes or Spittle him could reach With thick and peevish indignation fall Upon his bruised bloody Body Which Triumphant scorns He meekly vanquish'd by His Silence and march'd up to Calvarie 282. Ev'n to this Calvarie We stand on heer This Mount which from a Scull hath gain'd its Name For in this solemn Place the Sepulchre Of reverend Adam stood which carefull Fame Told to Posteritie and so the Hill Wears in its Title that old Story still 283. With such Decorum did thy prudent Lord Order his meritorious Passion that The second Adam might his help afford Unto the First where He lay chain d and shut Up in Deaths Prison the remorseless Grave Which to Corruption did Him enslave 284. Iesus on that drie Dust resolv'd to shed His most enlivening purifying Blood That He might wash and cure the tainted Head Of Mortalls Miserie by the soveraign Flood Of his own Life that Life which onely can Restore true vitall vigor unto Man 285. Here 〈◊〉 here the Crosse its foot did set When it sustaind the Worlds Redeemer here Is that renouned Soile which once was wet With richer Drops than ever shoured were From kindest Heav'n for by that fertile Dew Salvations Harvest to perfection grew 286. But yet this Hill wears not that onely Name Of Calvarie 't was call'd Moriah too Of old when zealous Abraham hither came His most renouned Sacrifice to doe And by unparalleld Obedience prove The valourous Bravery of faithfull Love 287. Brave Abraham hither came his Altar heer He built and prepossess'd the Crosses place So Isaac did thy Lords a while But there An hamperd Ram strait substituted was Thus Isaac scap'd but now there was no Ram Which might supply the place of heav'ns dear Lamb. 288. Jesus himselfe must sacrificed be Not by but to his Father Psyche now That fatal Houre was come when Tyrannie Held the free Reins and did its freedome know When purest Innocence was abandond quite Unto the Luxurie of proudest Spight 289. For loe the Souldiers thy torn Saviour stretch And fit Him unto his tormenting Tree His blessed Hands unto the Topp they reach Those Hands whose workmanship all creatures be His Feet unto the bottom those pure Feet Which no Bloud but their
And that he ment upon the Aires high back To shew himselfe in State to Us but now His Crosse is all the Chariot he can show 316. He often bragg'd that God was his great Sire How is it then his Father owns Him not Sure were He worth the owning all the Quire Of Heav'n would hither Flock to hide this Blot Of his broad Shame with their pure Wings bear Him hence in triumph to his native Sphear 317. Shame on your Blasphemies you shamelesse Rout Of Priests and People Jesus aimeth not To save Himselfe but You who sting and flout His noble Patience He has not forgot That in his Soveraign Hands and Fingers still The whole Train of Omnipotence doth dwell 318. For those Almighty Hands he stretcheth out And busie is in working your Salvation He could Come down but stayes till he has wrought That mighty Act of his victorious Passion He could come down but stayes till he may draw Up after Him this groveling World below 319. He could come down did you not fix Him there Not with your Nails but with your stronger Sins He could come down were his own Life as dear To him as yours But on his Wrongs he winns And by all resolute Love strives to prevail Against all Spight and Rage which him 〈◊〉 320. O Psyche cruell were those Scoffs but yet More stinging Scorn then this is still behinde For now the very Theeves upon him spit Their odious Taunts and seem in Him to finde What their vile Soules amidst the Miseries Of their own cursed Crosses dare despise 321. Ink scorns the Snow foule Night accuseth Day The dirty Puddle mocks the virgin Spring Dark Shades contemn the Suns meridian Ray Black Night-ravens call the Swan a swarthy Thing Ignoble Bats revile the Eagles Eyes And Hell it selfe insults o'r Paradise 322. Art thou that mighty Christ said they and yet Hang'st here the Game of all Contempt and Spight Can Heav'ns great Son his Selfe so far forget As rather to endure to Die then fight Discredit not by yeilding cowardly The Lord of Hosts if he thy Father be 323. Come justifie that royal Title there Which now but laughs at thine ignoble Head Approve thy Selfe King of the Jews and fear Not to redeem thy Fame and Life But spread Thy Favour too on Us that under Thee The Soveraign We may glorious Nobles be 324. For since in these thy deep Misfortunes We Of all thy World thy sole Companions are We well in your restor'd Prosperity May promise our Desert the deepest share So spake the Theeves and then they roar'd for Pain But quickly fell to scoffe and curse again 325. And shall not Heav'ns Artillery now attend Its wronged King and vindicate his Cause Can Earth hear this and not in sunder rend Snatching these Elves into her deepest Jaws No Jesus now no Veng'ance doth approve But that of patient and Silent Love 326. Sweet Veng'ance which so strongly wrought upon One of this loud blaspheming Pair that he Converts his Curses to Devotion And prompts his Fellow unto Piety Rebuking sharply his malitious Tongue Which still persu'd his Lord with shameless Wrong 327. Then like a wise and sober Theif indeed He seeks to steal into his Saviours grace O King of Heav'n he cries I plainly read Thy Majesty though in thy clounded Face Sure Thou hast taught mine Eyes this skill ô then Compleat this Mercy which Thou hast begun 328. When in thy Kingdome Thou shalt mounted be Upon thy Throne of Glory ô forger Those Wrongs which ignorant I did poure on Thee On Thee the God of Innocence but yet Forget not Me who must for ever die Unlesse repreived by thy Clemencie 329. Jesus whose Goodnesse never did disdain 〈◊〉 hear and answer a meek Sinners Crie Though his provoked Lips he did refrain Amidst those thick Storms of loud Blasphemie With gracious Sweetnes doth Assurance give Unto the Dying Theif that he shall live 330. Fear not said He thy Death is drawing nie But it shall prove the Gate of Life to Thee My Word the Pillar of all Certainty I freely pass Thou from that cursed Tree Shalt step this Day to Paradise and there Under the Bowers of Blisse with Me appear 331. The Preists and People laugh'd and scoff'd to hear Him talk of giving Blisse who hung in Pain Blinde Fools who could not now discern how clear His Power shin'd which thus its Prize could gain Out of Hells Mouth with Loves sweet constreint Make of a Cursing Theif a Praying Saint 332. By this deer Token He to every one Of them aforehand did their Pardon seal If they would doe what the meeke Theif had done And to his Grace with penitent hearts appeal But most unhappy They this deep Designe Of Love did obstinately countremine 333. Profoundly did this Scorn of Mercy tear Thy Spouses most compassionate Breast But He Observing now his dearest Followers there The Mother of Him and Virginitie With faithfull John a keen and double Dart Of fresh Greif shot quite through his bleeding Heart 334. For in his Mothers tender Soule he saw That cruel Sword stuck deep which Simeon Foretold so long agoe The Virgin now Who at the first brought forth her blessed Son Whithout all Pangs doth in hard Labour strein And pays her Debt of puerperiall Pain 335. O how the Bowels of her yearning Heart Are tent and torn her hands her feet her head All bear their proper Torments and no Part Can say To me these Sorrows doe not spread For from her Sons deer Body every Wound Doth on her sympathetik Self rebound 336. Her Temples are with thick-set Thorns hedg'd in Nail'd unto Tortures are Her dainty Feet Tatter'd and mangled is Her tender Skin Her Flesh plow'd up Her veins wide open set And all her modest Body to the view Exposed is of every shameless Jew 337. On Her those Jeers and Taunts and Blasphemies Their venome pour and swell with Greif her Breast That Breast which noble Love so straitly ties And coments to her Sons that not the least Division can interpose nor make This Double One themselves for single take 338. If She had in her other Self if she In Mary had been Crucifi'd the Crosse Had tolerable been but thus to be Destroy'd in Jesus is so vast a Loss That Mari's swallow'd up in it and this Calamitie becomes both Hers and His. 339. Her Hope her Joy her Life her Love her Blisse Her Heav'n her Son her God all these She now Beholds betrayed to her Enemies And what has Mary more How shall she row Through this vast Sea which in each gaping Wave Presents her ô how much more than a Grave 340. As oft as to the Crosse she opes her Eyes Death rusheth in Yet she as oft doth Die As unto their Compassion she denies That ruefull Spectacle If Psyche I Or Thou or any Seraph had been so Beseig'd with Soveraign Griess What could We do 341. What could we doe but sink Yet noble she Struggling amidst a
on his Son Resign'd his Reins into his childish Hand Th' impatient 〈◊〉 cross the road did run And neither kept the way nor his Command But in unbrideled Madness with their wheels Drew on the Worlds Confusion at their heels 163. The Senses too first sticklers in the Treason Their share of its licentious fruit did reap Perceiving quickly that imprison'd Reason No more his rigid Discipline could keep And proudly smiling what tame Fools were wee They cri'd who did no sooner mutinie 164. How strange a Monster doth a Kingdome grow Where Laws and Soveraignty the life and health Of every heav'n-descended State must bow Unto 〈◊〉 Wills What Common-wealth Can justifie its Name where Subjects may Command and Princes dare not but obey 165. No Hydra's shape so shapeless is as this Which throws the World back to its breeding Heap The hideous Chaos of Preposterousnesse That tumbles All things in one monstrous Deep And in despight of the well-form'd Creation Disjoynts and scatters it quite out of Fashion 166. Yet wretchlesse Psyche is content to see This monstrous Soloecisme in her own Breast And thinks her Scepter and her Selfe more free Than when Obedience did her Subjects cast Low at the Feet of her Commands where they With reverence and ready Service lay 167. The silly Rose delighteth thus to be Drest in her fairest Looks and best Attire When round about a churlish Companie Of Thorns against her Tenderness conspire Upon that Seige of Pikes She smiles doth cast Not dreaming They will murder her at last 168. Psyche's as jolly as the Passions wilde And means her Joys with those Delights to feed With which Agenor's Cabinets were fill'd Proud Expectation prompts Her there to read The Lines of Fate against her selfe For she In opening them broach'd her own Misery 169. With such unfortunate Curiosity The fatall Box rash Epimetheus op'd The trembling Lid for-warn'd his Hand to be Better advis'd yet still the Fondling hop'd For mighty Matters But the Prize he found Himselfe and all the World in Sorrows drown'd 170. The first was full of Bracelets Net-works Tires Rings Earings Tablets Wimples Hoods Veils Laces Lawns Crisping-pins Chains Bonnets golden Wires Vermilion Pencills Smiles Youth blooming Faces Gloves Sandalls Girdles Busks Suffumigations Powders Perls Coronets High-looks New-fashions 171. Silks Sattens Purples Sables Ermyns Gold And Silver by the Loom and Needle taught To wed and dwell with Silk which feels no cold Besides all that lay in the bottome fraught In ready Coin to pave and make the floor Fit for the Feet of that ambitious Store 172. The next was nothing but th'inammeld Case Of a large Mirror Never Chrystall did Smile with such pureness Never Ladies Glasse Its Owners face so sweetly flattered Narcissu's Fountain did with less Delight Unto his fair Destruction Him invite 173. For He in that and in self-love being drownd Agenor from him took his doting Eys Proud Jezabells he also scatter'd found Amongst her fragments and made them his prize Goliahs stareing Bagins too he got Which He with Pharaoh's all together put 174. But these being not enough from Phacton From 〈◊〉 Joab Nebuchadnezzer From Philip and his World-devouring Son From Scylla Cataline Cicero Pompey Cesar From Herod Cleopatra and Sejanus From Agrippina and Domitianus 175. And many Stoiks their high Eyes he pull'd Whose proudest Chrystall having drained out He blended it in a fair polish'd Mould Which He fill'd up with what from Heav'n he brought An Extract of those Looks of Lucifer In which against his God he breathed Warre 176. Then to the North that glassie Kingdome where Establish'd Frost and Ice for ever reign He sped his course and meeting Boreas there Pray'd Him this liquid Mixture to restrain When loe as Boreas op'd his Mouth and blew Forth his Command the Humor solid grew 177. Thus was the Mirrour made and did contain The vigor of those selfe-admiring Eyes Agenors witchcraft into it did straign A dangeroud Juncture of proud Fallacies Which did so highly please its Authors Eye That Kissing it he nam'd it Philautie 178. Unhappy Psyche ravish'd was to see The Glass her selfe upon her selfe reflect With trebled Majestie The Sun when He As by Aurora's roseal Fingers deckt Sees not his repercussed Selfe more fair Upon the Eastern Main then she did here 179. New Flames were kindled in her sprightfull Eye New Roses on her smiling Cheeks were spred New Graces and new Loves did gently fly Down with her golden Tresses from her Head New Lilies beautifi'd her dainty Hand New Goodliness her Person did commend 180. Her cheated Soul sprang through her Eye and dwelt So long upon the Glass that it grew New Such mighty Thoughts till now she never felt As up and down her high-swoll'n Fancie flew Which breaking from her Mouth at length she cries How long have I been strange to mine own Eyes 181. Am I that Worm whom Phylax put in minde So oft of Dust and Vileness Could this face These Eyes these Locks these Hands this Person finde No better credit Surely now the Case Is plain how Aphrodisius came to be So hideous Phylax makes the like of Me. 182. Foole that I was to dream it could be true Which proud He daily preach'd to my Disgrace Who could beleeve that I should never veiw Till now the Wonders of mine own bright face That this ingenuous Glass should tell me more Then Phylax or then Charis did before 183. No marvell now if Heav'ns Apparent Heir Disdains all Beauties that He findes above And doing right to her that is most fair By stooping down to me exalts his Love I little thought I could so much have shown Why this my Head should fit an heav'nly Crown 184. Pardon me ô my Eyes that ignorant I With brieney Tears so oft have soiled you Had not your Flames by their Divinity Secured been they had been quench'd e'r now And pardon Me sweet Cheeks I will no more Blubber and scall'd your roses as before 185. And you all-lovely Lips no more shall kisse The Dust which foolish I took for your Mother The Tribe of Orientall Rubies is Your pretious Kindred nor must any other Sip the soft Nectar which in you doth live But that dear Kisse my Spouse to me shall give 186. Nor shall rude Usage rob thee of thy due My gentle Body All Hair-cloths fare-well My liberall Tresses Hair enough can shew And by this Girdle Heav'n did plainly tell What other Furniture would suit me best When with this Seige of Gems it girt my Waste 187. And since thy Cabinets Wardrobe Challenges My proudest choise I wish thy selfe were here Royall Agenor to behold how these Fair Limbs of mine would quit themselves and wear In worthy Triumph thy best Jewells which Shall by my purer beams themselves enrich 188. This said Love who stood fawning by her side Her delicate Service offered to dress Her high-conceited Queen in equall Pride A purple Mantle fring'd with Statelinesse Embroider'd with Ambition laced round With Vanity
sweet Sir will have it so content Said she and meekly blushing in she went 39. Up flew Devotion and Chastitie The gallant Steeds which did the Chariot draw Her native Albion soon began to be Lost in a Sea of Air and now she saw The wealthy Fields of Gallia which as fast Behinde her fled as she did forward post 40. Then climbing higher in her yeilding Way Eternall Banks of obstinate Frost and Snow Which Winter on the Alps high back did lay Spight of the nearer Sun she leaves below And through the tumult of the justling Clouds Down into the Italian Heav'n she crouds 41. From thence she launch'd into that Region Which by the Adriatick Storms doth frown And sped her course above that Ocean About whose sides the Mid-land shores are thrown So well did Phylax steer that to a Port So far off ne'r was made a Cut so short 42. For having reach'd blest Palestine she flew Over the groveling Towns of Galile Untill the Steeds as if the place they knew At Nazareth brake off their Course where she Viewing the simple Village wondered why Her Convoy thither took such pains to flie 43. But Phylax having led her by the Hand To the unlikliest House Behold said hee This pretious Monument which still doth stand To chide their Arrogance who needs will be Immur'd in Cedar and roof'd o'r with Gold O who would think poor Dust should be so bold 44. This silly Mansion though it scarce would win Ev'n Poverty it selfe in it to dwell Was once the House Home where the bright Queen Of Glories kept her Court in this mean Cell Dwelt She in whose illustrious Family All Heav'n desir'd a Sojourner to be 45. She the transcendent Crown of Females She Great Jacobs Ladder Aarons budding Rod The Chrystall Princess of Virginity Davids fair Tower the Mother of her God Mary her selfe O may that lovely Name Be Blessings Nest and the dear Theam of Fame 46. There her plain Cates she eat or rather kept Her healthfull Rules of sober Abstinence There did she plie her Prayers and there she slept When midnight Zeal had tir'd her mortall Sense No Corner was in all this House but she Did dedicate it unto Piety 47. How many Temples in this narrow Room Erected were by her Devotion Who taught all Virtues here to take their Home But if Sin knock'd She bid it straight be gone For at her Door Humility she set A Potter which would no such Guests admit 48. Here on her pious knees she wept one day In wondring Meditation of that She Whom God would chuse to make the noble Way Unto his own fore-told Humanity O how she blest that Soule who ever was To be advanced to that matchlesse Grace 49. Not for a thousand Worlds would she have thought Her Selfe the long-designed She but rather Would with a thousand thousand more have bought An Hand-mayds place to wait upon that Mother To kisse her blessed feet or bear her Train In whom all Excellence rejoyc'd to reign 50. But whil'st her meek admiring Fancie flies Through this high Contemplation which drew Applauding joyous Christall from her Eyes A bright and gallant Stranger hither flew One who from Heav'n her sweet reflection brings Looking almost like Her but for his Wings 51. Youth bloomed in his Face the blessed Throne Where purest Beauties in fair Triumph sate Their brisk and sparkling Combination All ravishing Joyes into his Eyes had put His Looks commanded Love but did withall By potent Purity all Lust fore-stall 52. His Head was crown'd with its own golden Hair Which down his back its dainty Wealth did shed The Alabaster of his Neck was bare Sweetly betraying what below was hid In the green ambush of his Robe of Silk The Curtain drawn upon his Fleshie Milk 53. That Robe was guarded with the orient Lace Which on Aurora's Virgin Coat you see Neglect seem'd to have put it on yet Grace And Comelinesse would not prevented be But did in every carelesse fold and pleit To catch Spectators Wonder lie in wait 54. A silver Girdle did his Loins imbrace With the prest fashion of Travellers Like Loves sweet Bow his left Arm bended was Upon his Side whil'st high his Right Hand bears A Lillie which from thence received more Sweetnesse and Whitenesse than it had before 55. The Candor of his Wings was no such kinde Of glaring thing as in the Alpine Snow Or on the purest Cygnets neck we finde Or on the soft face of new Milk doth flow But a celestiall Tincture pure and bright Made not by scorching but by whitening Light 56. He was an heav'nly Citizen and one Whose place is in an higher form than mine In neer attendance on his Makers Throne He with his Archangelick beams doth shine Whence he when Heav'n has greatest businesse here Dispatched is the choise Ambassadour 57. But though his Eyes their education had Amongst those Claritudes which gild the skies They never yet at Home did seem to read So much of Heav'n at large as here he spies Epitomized in the lovely Glass Of Maryes modestly-illustrious face 58. And Hail said He Thou dearest Favorite Of our great King in whose selected Breast His Majesty with singular delight Doth take his private and mysterious rest Hail thou the Crown of Females on whose Head Their best exuberance all Blessings shed 59. The humble Virgin started at the sight But much more at the Salutation The complementall Youth did her affright Who us'd such charming Companie to shun Untill his Wings admonish'd her that he One of her wonted heav'nly Guests might be 60. But yet her lowly Soul could not digest The tumor of that strange Hyperbole Which still she boulted in her thought-full Breast Being suspitious least some Flattery Had borrow'd an Angelike shape by which A Woman it more easily might bewitch 61. O strange but nobly-pretious Jealonsie Which onely dost in holy Bosoms rest Thou art the Bar which dost accesse deny To whatsoever might an Heart molest Pride Usher to all Sins comes not neer thee So low thou liest so high strutteth hee 62. When Gabriel observ'd her doubtfull Look Where Blushes and where Palenesse mutually Their fearfull and their modest Stations took Mary said He thy meek Anxiety May spare its pains No Danger dares draw neer Her whom the Prince of Power doth hold so dear 63. He who is Lord of Love hath seal'd on thee His amorous Heart the choisest of his Graces The flowre of all his Sweets th' Immensitie Of his best Favours and his Joyes he places On thee alone whom he exalts as high As thou art sunk in thy Humility 64. Witnesse this Message I have now to tell How much too glorious for Me to bring The onely Message which could parallel The boundlesse Love of Heav'ns inamored King A Message which the World hath long expected But fit to thee alone to be directed 65. Behold thy blessed Womb shall Fertile be With a more blessed Son whom at the due And wonted Season
to be whate'r His most victorious Love would make of Her 92. Behold said she The Handmayd of the Lord For he hath given Me leave to use that Stile Since Heav'n will have it so may thy great Word My worthless Bowells with Performance fill To Him who made Me I my Selfe resign 'T is fit His Pleasure and not mine be Mine 93. This blessed Word no sooner brake from her Sweet Lipps but to the Top of Heav'n it flew Where in the Mouthes of all the winged Quire It found its Echo and was made a new And pretious Anthem for the Sphears that Day Measur'd their high Dance by this onely Lay. 94. All Nature heard the Sound which in her Eare Spake Life and Joy and Restauration O blessed Musick which so cheared Her That her old Wrinkles into Smiles did run Fresh Fire she glowing felt in every Vein And briskly thought of growing young again 95. For now that Spirit which first quickned her Return'd again and flew to Maryes breast O what Excesse of Sweets and Joyes did bear Him company unto his Virgin Nest O what pure streams of Light what glorious showrs Of most enlivening and prolifick Powers 96. With these flew down Enternities great Son To be a Son of Time and parting from His Fathers Bosome Glories sweetest Throne Chose Ashes for his House Dust for his Home Having taught Exaltation to bow And of the Most High made Himselfe Most Low 97. In vain should I or all the Angells strive To reach at that impossible Eloquence Which might a paralled Description weave For that immense mysterious Confluence Of purest Joyes with which in this Imbrace The most enobled Virgin ravish'd was 98. Onely her spatious Soul the blessed Sea Where all those Floods of pretious Things did meet Knew what it comprehended Glorious She Did taste the rellish of each mystick Sweet In one miraculous Instant and did trie The various Dainties of Divinity 99. For though this Generation had been The deepest Project of Eternity Yet were its Wonders all transacted in Durations most concise Epitomie One single Moment crowned was with this Exploit of most unbounded Power and Bliss 100. O mighty Moment at whose feet all Dayes And Moneths and Years and Ages homage pay Upon whose Head Time all its Glories lays Wishing that thou migt'st never slide away Eternity holds it selfe deep in debt To thee in whom its sweetest Wonders meet 101. This Universe for ever thou dost tie Close to its greater Maker Thou dost join These Mortall Things to Immortality And in one Knot both Heav'n and Earth combine Thou giv'st Fertility a new-found Home And bid'st it flourish in a Virgin-Womb 102. For Mary now the Mansion-house became Of her conceived God who deign'd to take His Pattern from her reverend Bodies frame And borrow part of Her thereby to make A Garment for himselfe that hee might be As true and genuine Flesh and Blood as she 103. O Paradise how poore a Soile art Thou To the rare Richnes of this Virgin Bed That Tree of Life which in thy Heart did grow It self but as the shade of this was spread Here is the Garden where the noble Tree Of everlasting Life would planted be 104. Blush all yee Heav'ns the gallant Virgins Wombe Hath left no Looks but those of shame for You All Glories here have chose their dearer Home And fairer shine because They make no show Here dwells a Sunn whose Count ' nance is a Book So bright your Phebus dares not on it look 105. The most resplendent equall Character The flaming Brightnes of the Fathers Face Hath now vouchsafed to exchange his Sphear And in this lesser Heav'n to plant his Rays Which yet He hath so sweetned and allayd That He consumeth not the tender Mayd 106. Thus when to Moses He came down of old Arrayed all in fire and took his Seat Upon a simple Bush his flaming Gold In mercie to the shrubb reind in its Heat And all the leaves with harmlesse Brightnes fill'd Which He was pleased not to Burn but Gild. 107. When Gabriell had seen this wonderous sight He bow'd his holy Head first to adore His new-conceived Lord wishing he might Have made his dwelling on this blessed Floor And then to take his reverent leave of Her Whom yet to Heav'n He in his mind did bear 108. Whether as He mounted up the News He tells To every Orb and Star but cheifly to Th' inquisitive Spirits whose ears and hearts he fils With all the Wonders He had seen below Till with applause from every Angels Tongue The pretious Name or humble Mary rung 109. Thus Phylax spake When Psyche fill'd with Joy And Admiration cri'd Why may not I Have leave in this dear Mansion to stay Where can I better live or sweetlier die Humilities own Palace best will fit Me who through Pride stand most in need of it 110. If that be thy Desire thou strait shalt see Phylax reply'd a fairer House than this Fairer in more transcendent Poverty And nobler farr in higher Lowlines With that into the Chariot again He takes her up and gently moves the Rein. 111. The ready steeds no more Monition needed For through the Ayr they Snatch'd their greedy way And o're the Galilean Regions speeded No Hills were high enough to bid them stay No windes out-ran them but to Bethlehem Well neer as soon's their Drivers thought they came 112. There lighting down Behold this Town my Dear The Guardian cri'd where Fame once lov'd to grow Jesse's illustrious Sonn was nurtured here Here reverend Samuell did prepare his Brow For royall Honour when upon his Head The Crowns rich Ernest holy Oile he shed 113. This chosen Root in Kings was fertile whose Successive Hands through many Ages bore The Jewish Sceptre till with other Foes Sin stronger than the rest combin'd and tore It from its guilty Owners farr from Home First unto Babylon and next to Rome 114. Rome holds it still and makes this wretched Land Pay that sad Debt its Wickednes contracted How oft has an imperious Command Heavy blood-squeazing Taxes here exacted Drowning in Gall this servile Country now Which did of old with Milk and Honey flow 115. Such miserable Gains fond wilfull Men Condemned are to reap who needs will be Driving the self-destoying Trade of sin To such heart-galling Bonds of Tyranny All those unhappy Nations make haste Who from their Necks Heav'ns gentle Yoke do cast 116. This golden Trick Augustus learned and Summon'd the People to a generall Taxe The Warrants strait awak'ned all the Land And every One to pay his Homage packs To his Parentall Town the Register Of Tribes and Kindreds being setled there 117. This cost good Joseph and his blessed Spouse A tedious journey for the Way was long But short the Days in Winters inmost House Cold churlish Capricorne the Sunn had clung The Morning and the Ev'n so close together That there was left no room for cheerly Wether 118. The holy Travellers through Cold and Frost And
which her self had bred And opening through applauding Tears the way To her exultant 〈◊〉 offered Her Self a prostrate Sacrifice before His feet and taught the World what to adore 145. Cri'd O my pretious Son and more than mine How shall thy worthlesse Mother and thy Maid With due Attendauce wait on thy divine Cradle without thine own almighty Aid How shall my wretched Dust Great Thee imbrace On whom the brightest Angells durst not gaze 146. These words wak'd pious Joseph Who when he Beheld the Infant stayed not to ask Whose or whence was that blooming Majesty But straight bows down himselfe to his due Task Those Beams of such convincing Sweetnesse were That He concludes his God must needs be there 147. With lowly Adoration on the Floor The dear example of his heav'nly Spouse He sweetly copied and his Soul did poure Forth in ecstatick Thanks and Praise and Vows For at the radiant Casement of those Eyes God looking out call'd for that Sacrifice 148. Those dainty Easts of gentle living Light Those diamond Quivers of divinest Love Those Wells of ever-springing Joyes those bright Mirrours of purer Beauties than doe move About the silver Heav'ns when Night is fine Or when the Day in Cancer's height doth shine 149. As the Doves Eyes thrice wash'd in milk upon The neighbour Rivers Chrystall move and play So on the Mother did this Spotlesse Son The Purity of his fair Looks display That by his Eye he might himselfe approve Conceiv'd by none but Heav'ns eternall Dove 150. His skin the seat of softest White and Red Did that delicious Conjunction shew By which his Mothers Blush was married Unto that lovely Doves all-Snowie Hue. Ten thousand Ladies Pencills ne'r could teach A Skin so rich perfection to reach 151. His goodly Head is of refined Gold Being it selfe unto it selfe a Crown O that the fond bewitched Worldlings would Exchange their Avarice and once fall down To worship this diviner Mettall which With surer Wealth their Coffins would enrich 152. The gentle Hillocks of his Cheek present Two soft and living Beds of pretious Spice With which their flowrie Neighbours blend their sent And in one fragrant Combination rise His Lips like Lilies whensoe'r thy stir Thick Blessing drop of odoriferous Myrrh 153. As Berylls marshalled in golden Rings So in his richer Hands are Graces set As Ivory which prides the Throues of Kings When Streaks of Saphirs Lustre garnish it Such is his lovely Bellie onely this Thrills through its Beauty Warmth and Tenderness 154. As slender Pillars of white Marble which On Sockets of the finest Gold do stand So his fair Leggs are builded on his rich And gracefull Feet His Aspect doth transcend The loftiest Excellence of Cedars when They look from their Majestick Lebanon 155. His Mouth the Gate of Sweetnesse is and he Is round array'd with nothing else but Love In this miraculous Epitomie All choise Extremities of Glory strove Which should be most Extream and in that fair Contention every One was Conqueror 156. As Joseph with these Wonders Feasts his Eye The reverent Mother on her Sons dear Feet A consecrated Kisse presents and by That Taste encouraged unto a sweet Audacity she ventured to sip The roseall Dainties of his heav'nly Lip 157. O noble Kisse which might a Seraph hire His highest Orb to leave his Mouth to wipe In hopes to drink in more delicious Fire From this young Altar than from all the ripe Flames of the Empyreum Fire which is Fed with no fuell but pure Joy and Blisse 158. O Kisse which fetch'd the Mothers joyous Heart Into her lip and seal'd it on her Son Which he receiving did his own impart In answer to her sweet Impression O Kisse the sacred Complement between Heav'ns highest King Earths most lowly 〈◊〉 159. This done her carefull and most tender Hands Begin their duty to the noble Childe Whom having dress'd in simple swadling Bands She to her Breast applies whose Bottles fill'd With Milk but more with Joy and with Delight To his first Breakfast did their God invite 160. Then stepping to the Manger on that Bed The onely Bed except her own soft breast Where Hay and Straw were for the Coverings spred She laid Him down to take his hardy Rest Forth with the Oxe his Infant-Owner knew The wondering Asse his Masters Crib did view 161. They both due distance kept and as they could Adored Him who saves both Man and Beast Him who alone did nourish and uphold Them from the Field with a perpetuall Feast Their Manger Straw and Hay they well can spare For his dear Service whose own Gifts they were 162. As there He lay the holy Mothers Breast Grew big with noble Contemplation Which as her Tongue brought forth and sweetly drest In vocall graces all the Cave begun To imitate the Accents of her voice And in soft Echo's duplicate the Noise 163. Almighty Infant who till now said She Wert round arrayed with celestiall Flames Whose Mantle was eternall Majesty Whose Crown was Glories most unbounded Beams What condescent of mighty Love is this Which of that supream Pomp doth thee undress 164. Could Clouts and Raggs have ever hop'd to be Exalted to this strange Prerogative That wretched They should unto naked Thee The courtesie of their poor shelter give Surely henceforth all simple Weeds which be Of kin to these shall pretious be to Me. 165. Let Silks and Gold goe puffe up Prince's Pride Who for their Stains doe need a beauteous Veil This home-spun Rayment will a Body hide When friezing Cold or melting Heat assail Thou art contented to be but thus fine Then let who will for Me their God out-shine 166. Thou art my God this Vestures duskie Cloud No such ecclipse can on thy Glory throw But through its gloominesse my Faith can crowd And see to whom I adoration owe. Loe I adore Thee who art still Most high Ev'n in this Bottom of Humility 167. Fair was thy Throne when Thou did'st mounted sit At the Right Hand of thine Imperiall Father When all the Heav'ns were bow'd to be thy great Chair of Majestick state when Earth did gather It selfe up close and ready stand to be A faithfull Foot-stoole to thy Sire and Thee 168. When the vast Volumes of Immensitie Unto their utmost Bounds were stretched out To spread a correspondent Canopie Over thy glorious Head When round about Brightnesse and Power to compleat thy Port Fill'd the brave Circuit of thy mighty Court 169. But now the Sceen is chang'd now this poor Cell This Manour-house of shame and scorn must be Thy native Palace now thy Throne doth swell No wider than this Cratch now Poverty Has layd Hay for thy Pillow faded Hay Which speaks what Weaknesse thou assum'st to day 170. Now all those flaming Hierarchies which did With Halalujhs fill thy royall Eare Are left at home now thou art furnished With these dull Waiters which stand silent here This Oxe and Asse the onely Servants
uterine Brother The Modell of all Blots and Spots together 2. Should so inamour Heav'n as to obtain The Dignity of highest Favorite And in his Makers grace so freely raign That They should service doe to Him whose bright Extraction no acquaintance knows with Earth Nor did Pollution e'r defloure their Birth 3. Had not Almighty Love vouchsaf'd to take This lump of Clay and mould Himselfe in it By which intire Conjunction He did make The totall Masse of worthlesse Vilenesse fit To sit on Honors Throne and there receive The Service Angells blush not now to give 4. For now the Heav'ns are well content to spare Part of their Quire to wait on Us below Knowing their Masters Brethren sojourne here Who by their very Dust that Kindred show Thus is our Badge of shame advanc'd to be The stamp of our sublime Nobility 5. In love and reverence to Jesus who Upon the loftiest Crest of all Creation Has fix'd for ever our poor Nature so That under her high feet full Adoration Has room to kneel their ready Service they Ev'n to the meanest of his Kins-folks pay 6. How little think vain Kings who build their Pride On th' arm'd Protection of their numerous Guard The simplest of their Slaves are dignifi'd With Heav'ns illustrious Hoste who watch and ward Their severall Charges which though scorned things Below are yet above design'd for Kings 7. With Arms displayed and with open Breast They stand to catch Us when we falling are Into this hard and dangerous Life and least The Fall should hurt Us with their softest Care They stir their Fethers up that in that Bed Of Sweetnesse we may rest our infant Head 8. Alas our other Nurses help were vain So were our Mothers tenderest Care did These Dear Fosterers not help them to maintain Their proper Parts And though those chance to cease These still persue Loves Task Hard Mothers may Forget their Sons but that will never they 9. O no These blessed Guardians are Things Of tri'd and never-failing Tendernesse Such as their everlasting Snowie Wings Such as the living Smiles and Joyes which dresse The Court of Heav'n Such as the dainty Aire Which makes deer Paradise both soft and fair 10. Yet when just Cause awakes their noble Might No Scythian Rock stands halfe so stiffe as they No Libian Lyon marcheth to the fight With higher Courage nor afflicts his Prey With deeper Terror then these Champions who Into the Lists in certain Triumph goe 11. Nor needlesse is this potent Aid since We Are by spirituall Foes impugned and The Powers of Darknesse and Artillery Of Hell against Us in pitch'd Battell stand Whom Belzebub their Generall with Spight And ever slaming Rage fires to the Fight 12. What can poor Lambs against the Tygre doe How shall the Partridge with the Griffen fight How shall a Cockboat to the Indies goe When Tempests Rise and make Seas stand upright By Dust how shall the Serpent be withstood When he gapes to devour his usuall Food 13. Alas the feeble Dust is helplesse but These Friends long since have with the Dragon fought And at the first so clear a Conquest got That ever since that heav'n-renowned Rout Wilde Lucifer is in their presence tame And trembles like the burnt Childe at the flame 14. He trembles if the Boldnesse of our Sin Adds not fresh courage to his failing heart For then on Us He by our selves doth win Nor can our Guardians perform their part With due Successe when by self-treason we Our forces joyn with Hells conspiracy 15. When to mad Fancy Sleep doth give the rein Unto polluted Dreams these stop the way That no high-fed and tickling Thoughts may stain The clouded Soule For who alas can say I always am my Self and though asleep The constant Watch of Chastity can keep 16. These lend Us Aid when any Danger neer Our strait-beseiged Soule or Body draws These intercept all Hell These by that cleer Lustre which flows from their own blessed Brows Shew us the Way to Peace and lend Us too Their Wings when we are faint and cannot goe 17. These fire a Soule and make her towre above These grosse yet empty things which flag below These steer Us through the Miracles of Love And teach Us in Heav'ns Ocean how to row These all are Brethren unto Phylax who What he for Psyche did for Us will doe 18. Their way his Steeds had now recovered And Palestine regain'd When he aside Sloped his Bridle and his Journey sped Into another Desert wilde and wide By whose intemperate Drought old Jordan was Affrighted so that he far off did passe 19. As Psyche wonder'd at the ruefull Place Amongst whose desolate Nothings strait she lost Her questioning Eye with a divine Imbrace Phylax encourag'd Her and though thou dost Not yet behold said He the Price of thy Long voyage thou shalt finde it by and by 20. With that He stai'd his Coach and thus went on With his Discourse O my thrice dearest Dear Because most pretious to my Makers Son Who is my Maker too this Desert here Is but another Sceen where thy sweet Lord More fuell for thy wonder did afford 21. It was repriev'd from bearing other fruit That it in Miracles might fertile be In Miracles whose high and glorious bruit Shall fill the ears of Time as long as He Hath leggs to run and when He dropps into His grave in triumph o'r his Tombe shall goe 22. When thirty times thy Spouse had seen the Sun Change all his Inns whose golden Signs are hung Upon the Zodiaks Girdle reverend John Unto the World unlock'd his holy Tongue And drew by heav'nly Summons mighty Store Of wondering People unto Jordans shore 23. Thy Spouse hid in his own Humility Mix'd with the Crow'd and to the Baptisme came Thus in the Margin of the swelling Sea Oft times there roules in a tumultuous stream Of Sand and Gravell some rich Gem or other Which in that presse doth its own luster smother 24. How there He was Baptized how a Crown Of Heav'ns best beams perch'd on his fairer head How his coaequall Spirit hovered down And what Applause his Father thundered I would relate but that it hugs thy heart For with this Story now thou Girded art 25. But by that nimble Doves eternall Wings He 's hither hastned from that Rivers shore And purity unto the Drie Land brings As to the Water He had done before Yet nothing else hee brought nor Drink nor Meat He hither came to Fight and not to Eate 26. He came to Fight and bravely to revenge The whole Worlds Quarrell which subdued lay E'r since through Mans unwary Heart the strange Bullet burst ope its death-deriving way Which as it smiling hung upon the Tree Fond hee an harmlesse Apple took to be 27. He came to Fight and soon his Foes He met All-arm'd with Power but much more with Rage Had hee been lesse than what he was those great Antagonists had made this Place the Stage Of his
have plotted it Nor need'st thou lend us any Wings to flie Who can make hast enough when Hast is fit The Wheels of Time with speed enough doe runne But yet mine Houre they have not rolled on 34. Know Psyche that his Houre is Mercies Cue And when Extremitie of Need doth call Then Mercie loves her gracious Power to shew The want of wine was yet not knowne to all The Company whose Souls it did concerne By that thy Lords wise Potencie to learn 35. But yet no sooner did that Want appear 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with ready Goodness gives Command 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He spied standing there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 owne Liquor should be filled and 〈◊〉 for the Convives When loe at the Spout The Miracle into the Boule gush'd out 36. He who had Water taught by passing through The Conduit of the Uine and of the Grape To turne to brisk and joyfull Wine did now Teach it as much by running through the Tap. The cool and Virgin Nymph drawn from the Pot All over blushed and grew sparkling hot 37. The Master of the Feast amazed at Her sprightfull Sweetness wonderd whence she came Never had his judicious Palate yet Discover'd such a brisk and sprightfull Dame Alas He knew not that His gift She was From whom no Thing but what is Best can pass 38. Look yonder flows the Sea of Galile Upon whose sandy shore which He had set To curb and bridle in its Waves as He Uouchsas d to walk his Eyes an object met Which mov'd their pitty and that moved Him In a new Sea to bid the Fishers swimme 39. Peter and Andrew in the tiresome Maine Catching their Living with their Fish he spi'd In whom he read the vainer Life of vain And mudling Man who in the briney Tide Of this unstable World his Days doth wast And with his Net himself into it Cast. 40. So certainly Uncertainty upon This Lifes unfaithfull Stage doth domineer Proud Change in such confounding Sport doth runne Heer sometimes flowing sometimes ebbing there That Earth it self may seem no less than Sea At never setled Luna's beck to be 41. This made Him crie aloud Come Follow Me And I will you imbark upon the Shore In a more safe and profitable Sea Than you have ever fished in before Let those mute things alone and I will make You henceforth catch such Fishes as can speaks 42. The Shoale of Men which in this Ages Deep Doe scudd about unto your Netts shall flow Those feeble tatterd Things you need not keep I upon You will nobler Netts bestow Immortall Nets which know not how to break Netts which the Universall World shall take 43. As needless is your crazie Bark for I Intend to build a royall Ship in which You round about the Globe being steered by My watchfull Providence shall safely reach When Heav'n fears being shipwrackt then shall this Uessell which nothing but Heav'ns Kingdome is 44. Hast Thou not heard how Sirens notes have drawn The Fishers from their Boats into the Sea In whose sharp Brine their silley Preys they drown Drowned before in their soft Harmonie Well then might this strong Charm those Men invite To plunge into the Sea of safe Delight 45. Once more their Netts they Cast but Cast away Meekly ambitious to be Fishes now And yeild Themselves to Him a willing Prey Who thus his Nett of Love about them rhrew Never Adventure did they make like this Where being caught Themselves they Catch'd their Bliss 46. But yonder taken was an harder Prize There once erected stood Exactions Throne Where Levi sate Lord of a strange Excise The heavie Mark of Romes Dominion A Knight he was for none but such might be Intrusted with that Cruell Dignitie 47. That at the gracious Calling of thy Lord Fishers were well content their own to leave Lesse ground to sober Wonder doth afford Their cold and wet and dirtie Trade might drive Them to an easy faith their old Degree Of life by any new advanc'd would be 48. A Faith which in the Dregs of Time so far Abus'd will be that bold Mechanicks who In poor and painfull Trades ingaged were When Sloth and Pride make them too worthy to Buckle to work their Tools away will throw And by this Call inspir'd Men-fishers grow 49. But what Charms can out-vie the power of Gold An heavy strong and pretious Chain which now In deer imprisonment did Levi hold And fast upon his Soule and Body grow Can a Poor Master such a Man perswade To leave great Cesar and his thriving Trade 50. A sturdy Mountain may more easily be Commanded to resigne his native place And heave his mouldering bulk into the Sea The Sun may sooner from his princely face Tear all his golden Tire and damp his light In the vile pitch of an unnaturall night 51. Yet as thy Lord alas how mean and poor Pass'd by the Office He this Word let flie Come follow Me which forth-with over-bore By most unconquerable Potencie The startled Seat the Profit and the Man And turn'd into a Saint the Publican 52. The Worlds Opinion Levi ponder'd not Nor how Tibereus this Affront might take He counted not what He should loose or what He should not gain whilst he this Change did make He asks no Freinds advice how he might keep His fame nor stays to Look before he leap 53. But as forth from its horrible Abysse The World did at thy Spouses Call appear So from the blacker deeper Masse of his Confused Mammon Levi mounteth here And bravely Follows Him without delay Who was Himself his Leader and his Way 54. For Love like Lightning from the blessed Eyes Of Jesus shot it self quite through his Heart Where into its own instant Sacrifice What e'r it light upon it did convert So sublimate and so refining was The Fire that all the Gold it turn'd to Drosse 55. Doubts Fears and Cares and secular Relations It quite burnt up and in his flaming breast Left nothing but the noble Exultations Of valiant Zeal which should the World resist Its course with all this Masse of Earth and Sea Would rend its way through all and victor be 56. O Psyche Love Love is that potent Thing To which all other Strength its head bowes down The Universe's most Almighty King Ne'r chose to use Pow'rs Title as his own But in this sweeter Name of higher might For God is Love he takes his deer delight 57. Thy Lord his ordinary Chaplanes thus Did chuse and twelve their mystick Number was For in this Zodiak He all-gloryous Resolved through his Grace's Orb to passe About his World Nor does the other Sun Through fewer Signes in his great voyage run 58. But I must tell Thee for himself descri'd The Secret first One of the Twelve He chose An Hell-hound was and the false-hearted Guide Unto his deerest Masters mortall Foes One who did prove in matchlesse height of evill Against Incarnate God Incarnate Divell 59. Yet such was Jesu's most unbounded Love That He resolv'd to doe his best
and trie How He from Juda's bosome might remove Intruding Hells pernitious monarchie For Heav'n forbid that Pitties Lord should fashioa A way to plunge Him deeper in Damnation 60. O no! may those black Mouthes for ever be Damm'd up with Silence and with Shame which dare Father the foulest deepest Tyranny Upon the God of Love And busie are In pleading it from his own Word although By it they make Him Contradictious too 61. But all the rest were faithfull Soules who stood True to their Lords Cause which they strove to write As He in His had done in their own blood And never started at the sharpest Fight But by their own Deaths studied as they Were able His great Death how to repay 62. James was the first old Zebedees elder Son To whom proud Herods Sword the way cut ope And gave Him leave that noble Race to run Which leadeth straight to Heav'ns illustrious Top. How little dream'd the Tyrant that He did Put on his Crown when He took off his Head 63. The next was Philip who with noble Heat Flew to the North and hunted out the Ice From those dull Hearts which ne'r with Heav'n did beat But with congealed stupid Ignorance freeze For his large Sceen was snowie Scythia where December takes his Walk through all the year 64. When He that Winter all on fire had set With Christian Flames He bent his Course into A Clime which should have been much warmer but At his lifes price He found it was not so For soon He saw that more than Scythias Ice Bound up the Heart of Hierapolis 65. Joves Name had left no room for Jesus there And when He tells the People of the shame The Nails the Crosse his Lord for them did bear He his own Torments did aforehand name Enough of Jesus now said They for We Will quickly make as good a God of Thee 66. Then with a thousand Taunts they pierce his ear And next with nails his sacred Hands and feet And so his Crosse with acclamations rear Where like a Mark to fury being set Flints neer as hard 's themselves they poure upon Him And from their World thus into Heav'n did stone Him 67. Thomas whose Doubts did fix his Faith so Fast That neither Life nor death could make it shake With Jesus in his Mouth through Parthia past And charm'd what Rome could never pliant make The AEthiop's too did hear his Voice but He Resolv'd to reach the Worlds Extremity 68. He had observed how the greedy West Into the East was drawn by thirst of Gold Which had the Suns and Natures Courses crost And into Jndu's Mouth the Ocean roll'd And will none goe a richer prize to win Than that fair Ore said He the Soules of Men 69. Sure Indians Soules of purer Metall are Than that which Avarice doth so far adore Thomas will thither trade though India were More Worlds off than it is from Jordans shore For in his Zealous Sails Gods Spirit blows And not to fetch but carry Gold He goes 70. If Gold be not too poor a Name to set Upon the forehead of his royall Wares Loves Joyes Peace Glory Blisse and every Sweet Of sweetest Paradise He thither bears For these and more than these inshrined be In Jesu's Name Heav'ns best Epitomie 71. With this He traded to make India rich And not Himselfe who now could not be poor As having more than All though not so much As any thing layd up in provident Store He knew his Lord was Plenties King and He Did as his own account His Treasury 72. Close to his work without all further care He falls and having op'd his Merchandize Come Buy saies He for though these Wares be far Above your glittering Ore's adored price Yet you on Trust may goe for all this Blisse Give but your Faith and yours the Treasure is 73. The Brachmans wonder'd at the generous Man So did the sage Gymnosophists untill A barbarous unmoved Faction Pass'd a blinde Act of Spight to seize and kill The noble Merchant who as ready stood To poure it forth as they to suck his Blood 74. Arm'd with their Kings Consent and with their spears Unto his Heart they ope their cruell way Whil'st He with sweet content their Madnesse bears And for his Doubting Hand returns this Pay This finall Pay for that now faithfull Hand Which deep in debt to 's Masters Side did stand 75. The younger Jame's whose noble Family Advanc'd Him to be Brother to his Lord Much neerer grew of Kin by Piety No man with stouter fervor Him ador'd Nor with more resolute Constancy than He Witnesse his reverend Forehead and his Knee 76. His Knee all plated with Austerity Which on the Temples Pavement night and day Did naked dwell till it arriv'd to be Hard as the Marble which beneath it lay There never grew on painfull Camels Knees So stiffe a Proofe of Patience as on His. 77. His Forchead which was sealed with the same Stamp of Severity for by Prostration Its fleshie Tendernesse hee overcame O sacred Impudence of Humiliation Whil'st wicked 〈◊〉 armed were with Brasse His prous Front in Brawn immured was 78. A Brawn which shall hereafter check their Pride And foolish Superstition who by new Coyned Devotion will the Old deride And think no worship from the Body due But in pretence their Conscience tender is Maintain their dainty Fleshes Tendernesse 79. His dearest Meat and drink was to fulfill His Masters Pleasure Ne'r did dangerous Grape Its blood on his abstemious Palate spill Nor stain his sacred Cup for mean and cheap His Liquor was the virgin Fountains were His onely Cellars and his onely Beer 80. Ne'r did the rampant flesh of Birds or Beasts Reek in his Kitchin nor sweat on his Board Chaste Moderation cooked all his Feasts And well she knew how to content her Lord His highest Fare were sober modest Fishes Where Water serv'd for Beer the aptest Dishes 81. Ne'r did perfumed Oiles his Body dew With their soft Flattery of delicious Sweat Unmanly Bathes his skin did never brew Nor cheat his Vigour with effeminate Heate His Limbs in active Linnen us'd to dwell Being never muffled up and lost in Wooll 82. Nor was that Linnen though full course and plain Contemned in the Peoples Eye for they On bended knees were Suiters to obtain His leave their offrings on its Hemm to lay That as hee through the Streets was passing by Their Lips and Kisses they might sanctifie 83. O how imperious is meek Piety Whether it will or no commanding All Spectators into Love and Reverence hee Who counts Blisse by true Honor must let fall All other Plumes and wisely learn to dresse Body and Soule in humble Holinesse 84. Nay now the surly Priest among the rest Of James his matchlesse Worth convinced is And finding him to be the holier Priest Grants him into the Oracle free Accesse Of which mysterious Place he had the glory And none but hee to make his Oratory 85. He was the holier
And though the holy Omen to his gross Though learned Foes were unperceived He Rejoyced in his Crosses Mysterie 112. A Cross which shall e'r long so glorious be Wearing his Name upon it crucifi'd That it shall crowne the Scottish Heraldrie And in the Topp of all its Banners ride What Glories then shall Saints themselves obtain If in such state their Suffrings Badges reign 113. Nayld fast unto this Honour was the Saint Array'd in Scarlet from his own rich Veins The Graecians took it for a torturing Paint And thought his Cross a Throne of Soveraign Pains But He his noble Pulpit made this Tree A Pulpit which did preach as well as He. 114. Long was his Sermon for his last it was Two days it measur'd and yet seem'd but short What are two poor and flitting Days alas To that which doth Eternitie import He preach'd Eternitie unto whose light His hood-winkt Torturers He did invite 115. At length perceiving Death no hast would make With strong Desires he wooed it to come Not that his Pains his Patience did break But that his Heart did long to be at home He could be nothing but a Stranger where His Masters blessed face did not appear 116. And am I nail'd in vain deer Lord said he Unto this Pillar of renouned Death Though not poor I yet thou Deserv'st for Me That in this Honour I may yeild my Breath These potent Words to Heav'n with violence flew Whence a fair light they for his Convoy drew 117. As in the bosome of his Chariots flames Illustrious Phehus through the Sphears doth speed So resting in the Arms of these sweet Beams The Saints brave Soule was thither carried Thus in her funerall Fire the Phaenix dies And by her Death to fairer life doth rise 118. On Zeals undaunted Wings great Bartholmew To meet the Dayes Flame where it kindled is Unto the furthest brink of India flew And taught the East to bend their wakening Eyes Upon a new Son who no Gold did need To dresse his Locks and more than golden Head 119. Then having left His goodly Picture there Which Matthews Pen had drawn fair in a Book He posted backward to Armenia where The same illustrious Work in hand hee took But promising his Hearers Kings to make The King grew wroth and thus his Fury spake 120. Bold Wretch who pratest of the idle Throne Of thy vain Christ I 'le make thee know that I In my Armenia will have but one And that 's the Seat of my own Majesty If Jesus be a God his Heav'n will be Realm large enough He need not trench on Me. 121. 'T were speciall Credit for Armenia's King To entertain as a great Deity A stable-born and manger-cradeled Thing Whose ignominious Death did justifie The vilenesse of his Birth because a poor Resolved doting Wretch doth Him adore 122. O no! the Gods by whose great Blessing I Possesse my Crown are Gods enough Away With shamefull Jesu's uselesse Dietie Yet for some use Thou mayst be fitting Say Serjeants will not this Carrion serve to flea Though He be naught yet good his Skin may be 123. That onely Word sufficient was to let The Tygres loose who straight the Saint undresse Both of his Cloths and Skin which at the feet Of their fell Lord they threw for it was his Due right the blessed Martyrs skin to keep In token that He slew the harmlesse Sheep 124. But He now grown far fairer than before As when the Sun from Clouds unveiled is Did shine and sparkle in his glorious Gore Quite dazling by his noble Nakednesse The Devills eyes who could have wish'd the skin To hide his own shame on the Saint agin 125. Yet 't was in vain for Bartholmew was now Fit for the Roabs of Immortality Which Jesus hand ready was to throw Upon his most deserving Back for hee Might without Pains and Crouding now get in At Heav'ns strait Gate who first put off his skin 126. But Matthew into AEthiopia ran Ventring upon a strange Designe for there He strove to purge the Crow into a Swan To make Pitch Chrystall Ink Snow Darknesse cleer Spots beauteous Sables lucid Shaddows bright I mean to wash the Pagan Negro's white 127. And this by Baptisms searching Streams he did Which drown'd their Hearts in Life and Purity Soon the full Torrent of his Name did spread And in the Channell of the Court grow high The Court soon catch'd the News but little thought That in the Newse's Net it selfe was caught 128. Caught was its dearest Gem the Virgin Heart Of Iphigenia daughter to the King And now not all the flattering frowning Art Of royall Hirtacus her Soul could bring To leave her mystick Spouses love and wed Himselfe who panted after her sweet Bed 129. O no! She cri'd My Vow is past and I Unto my God my Body must restore As I receiv'd it My Virginity Is now intirely His and mine no more Matthew is witnesse and it were in vain For Me to call my Promise back again 130. O if you love me then love what I am Love Love himselfe and so you shall love me Be truely Royall Love the Christian Name And let my Sacred Vow still Sacred be For I may to no Pagan Spouse be tied Who to an heav'nly Bridgroom am affied 131. The Prince with Wrath and Folly blinded saw Not how this Match most matchlesse was nor that She had already chose a King And though The shame of meer Humanity would not Permit his Rage to take its swindge on Her Yet He o'r Matthew let it domineer 132. His choisest Bloodhounds in all haste he sent With correspondent charge against the Saint Whom finding busie at the Sacrament With His and his Lords blood the floor they paint And at the Altar thus the Martyr dies To Heav'n a willing and sweet Sacrifice 133. Matthias whose heav'n-witness'd Faith commended Him to supply the Traytor Juda's place To finish Matthews great Designe contended In AEthiopia whence He turn'd his Race To Jewry where his blood hee forth did poure For Him who gave him all his own before 134. John was the last but first and highest in His dear Esteem who is Himselfe most High O blessed Saint which did'st the Riches win Of all Heav'ns sweetest fullest Treasury Jesus indeed does all Men love but hee Not onely lov'd but was in love with Thee 135. He was in love with thy Virginity Which with all blooming Graces was bedeckt Of all his Twelve choise privileg'd Chaplanes He Did for his amorous Favours Thee select He did select Thee his soft Spouse in whose Delicious Eyes He meant his own to loose 136. He was in love with the reflexion Of his own Sweetnesse shining in thy face With sympathetick Joy hee dwelt upon His iterated Selfe in that pure Glasse Striving all Lovers Arts on it to prove O blessed Soule with whom Love fell in love 137. From off the troubled Main he lured Thee Into a deeper Sea of calmest Pleasures The bosome of supream
Oaths and Cries Tumbled and toss'd themselves from place to place And sought Lots Door in one anothers face 324. As Jesus spi'd this helplesse Wight for He Warch'd to surprise all Objects of Compassion Speeded by his own heav'nly Charity He to his Succour flies Such is the fashion Of generous Love which never stayes to be Woo'd and importun'd to a Courtesie 325. The simple Man perceiving one draw nigh Fell to the Beggers covetous Dialect Craving for Money Friend that is not my Largise thy Lord repli'd which doth infect Those who desire it Surely Thou would'st finde What Bane thou begg'st wert thou not double Blind 326. Money is that unhappy Dust which flies Full in the face of undiscerning Man And heaps such Mists of Blindnesse on his eyes That Heav'n He cannot see If thou did'st skan Thy state aright Thou might'st thy Blindness blesse Who seest not how monstrous money is 327. I l'e make a thinner Clay than Money which Shall far exceed the Worth of Gold to Thee They are not moneys beams which doe inrich The World with Light and Glory but from Me Alone flow forth those clear and genuine Raies Which blesse the Age with sweet and golden Days 328. This said three times He spit upon the ground And temper'd with his Hand a Soveraign Clay No Salve by deepest Art was ever found Which could so sure all Maladies allay Should pretious Balsame now prove sick and die This Ointment could work its Recovery 329. With this the Blinde Mans Eyes He Oynted yet Was pleased not forthwith to give them sight First an experiment He meant to get Whether his inner Eyes of Faith were bright Then with his Favour to reward and grace The Pool which long before so pious was 330. Bethesda Waters swell'd with full-tide Fame Wherefore though apt Occasion Him invited Time was when He refus'd to honor Them But pour'd his royall love into this sleighted Though worthy Pool which as his Partner He In this his Miracle vouchsaf'd to be 341. To Siloam goe said He and wash thine Eyes And thou shalt see what I to thee have given The joyfull Man with holy Credence hies Him to the Place No Hart was ever driven By scalding Thirst more greedily unto The Rivers than He to this Spring did goe 342. He went to drink not with his Mouth but Eyes Which as He washed loe they 'gan to ope Out flew black Night and all those duskie Ties By which his Sense before was chained up Straight his released sparkling Pupills show'd Like sprightfull Lightning from the broken Cloud 343. And now he lives and sees that he does live And Heav'n and Earth more than by hear-say knows Now every Parcell of the World doth give Him a Remembrance unto whom He owes His power of seeing it O happy hee Who must in every Thing his Saviour see 344. Since from the Darknesse of the first Abysse The Universe was wakened unto light Ne'r was atcheiv'd so strange a Cure as this Which on condemned Eyes bestowed fight In spight of Nature who had put them out Before she gave them leave to look about 345. Now Psyche turn thine Eye to yonder Town Great Salems little Neighbour Bethany A place of dear Remembrance to thine own Beloved Lord from Salems tumults He Would oft retire into that calmy place And still as oft's He came He welcome was 346. For there two Sisters dwelt an holy Pair Industrious Martha who the World did love Yet not so much but Jesus was more dear Although the practick Trade of Life she drove The Cream of her Solicitude she spent To purchase more than secular Content 347. Pathetick Mary one whom Mercy made Her chosen triumph This was 〈◊〉 She Who in the hottest Troop of Sinners had A leading Place such stout Impiety Incouraged her Heart that Hell could not Put her on any Task but she would do 't 348. For seav'n foule Devills had themselves possest Of all her Soule and with imperious Port In the usurped Palace of her Breast Their throne erected and maintain'd their Court What Proclamations or Warrants They So ever issu'd she did straight obey 349. But Jesus who did square his Pitty by No Merit hee in Mortall Man could read But for his Rule took their Capacity Of Succour found how much this Heart did need His potent Help which He forthwith applied And made her Live who now seav'n times had died 350. For from the bottome of Her poys'ned Breast Seav'n hideous Deadly Sins she vomited And having thus disgorged Hell which prest Her down so low to Heav'n she rais d her head Flaming with purest fire of Love as she Before had smoak'd in Lusts Impurity 351. Her brave Devotion she did measure now By the Large Size of Mercy she had gained For as that Mercy did no limits know So to Infinitude her Love she strained She strained hard and would have reach'd the Top If Mortall Passion could so high climb up 352. O Psyche hadst Thou but been by when She Unto her Lord upon Loves Errand came Thou might'st have seen impatient Piety Mount in the boldnesse of its noble Flame First at his Feet it 'gan and then it spred With fair and liberall Fulnesse to his Head 353. That fragrant Ointment which she us'd before To her own lustfull Skin to sacrifice She now on Jesu's sweeter Feet doth poure And adds another showre from her own eyes Then wiping them with her late crisped Tresses She offers there her consecrated Kisses 354. She mindes not what Spectators think or say Love is secnre and carelesse She does mean E'r from her Lovers Feet she goe away To oint or weep or wipe or kisse them clean And by this generous Zeal she Sanctifies Her Locks her Lips her Ointment and her Eyes 355. But as the sprightfull Flame disdains to stay Below and with undaunted Ardor strives To reach its lofty Sphear So she one Day The Reins unto her gallant Passion gives And takes aime at the Top of Heav'n for this I 'm sure said she on Jesu's Temples is 356. She had a Box of Ointment of high price Yet not so pretious as her loving Lord Could the Worlds wealth meet in one Sacrifice All this She freely could to him afford And now unbrideled Love such haste did make That straight the Box or her own Heart must break 357. Indeed both brake and both she poured on His Head who is of Sweets and Hearts the King Straight through both Heav'n Earth the Odours ran Which shall for ever with their Praises ring For now't has lost its Alabaster Cell The glorious Nard in all the World doth dwell 358. Thrift grumbled at the Cost but Jesus who Excessive in his Love to Mary was Vouchsaf'd her generous Soule free leave to goe In the same princely and licentious pace He knows the heats of this unweildy Passion And will allow it brave Immoderation 359. All other Passions eas'ly bounded are Because their Objects are in limits ti'd But Love alone
Traytorous-being Crew 121. That Crew whose severall Stalls were ready built Of burning Brass and all in order placed According to the merit of their Guilt About a Seat whose Canopie was graced With Flames of Soveraign Dreadfulnes a Seat Wide gaping for the Prince designd for it 122. For 't was the Throne that was designd for Him Whom Jesus would have crowned King above But Judas in an heav'nly Diademe Would nothing finde which might oblige his Love Hell had aforehand seiz'd his Heart and He Resolved was to 〈◊〉 his Misery 123. For Satan now unto this Palace came As to the Den of Avarice before When she beheld her Soveraign Lord the Dame Rose from her Throne and met him at the door Where falling on her face she asked what Brought his high Majesty to her low Grot. 124. His red hot 〈◊〉 Sceptre Satan here Reach'd fortn for her to kisse in signe of pe ace Then siniling on her answering face Most Dear Of all my Feinds said He my buis'nes is The greatest that I ever undertook Which if it fails this Sceptre must be broke 125. 'T is true time was when I and Thou did make A brave Adventure in the face of Heav'n When at our Courage all the Sphears did quake And God was to his utmost Thunder driven His Throne did tremble at our rivall Might And had our foot not slipp'd all had gone right 126. But that Misfortune is too poor to break The strength of our immortall Pride Forbid It all my Hell that Belzebub should make Truce with that Tyrant which disherited Him of his starry Kingdome No I may Perhaps be beaten but will ne'r Obey 127. I am resolv'd to finde Him work as long As He and his Eternitie can last My Spirit never must forget that Wrong Which Me into this Dungeon did cast He now has done his worst and I can be But still in Hell should He still conquer Me. 128. Full well I know his Spight Had any place Been worse then this He would have damnd Us thither Yet He forsooth must be the God of Grace Of Pittie and of Tendernesse the Father And silly Men beleeve Him too But We No reason have befooled so to be 129. Yet be He what He will to Men to Us He is a sworn and everlasting Foe And is 't not just He who maligns Us thus Should finde that Devills are 〈◊〉 too I would not wrong Him yet I must not by Respect to His clip mine own Majesty 130. No my brave Will He never yet subdued And I am now too old to learn to bowe Upon my youth his 〈◊〉 strengh He she wed Yet tender as I was himself doth know Ev'n then I yeilded not And shall this Arm Now grown all brawnie not revenge my Harm 131. It shall and must my Considence beats high For now our fight on evener ground shall be He from his slippery Heav'n is come and I Will as sure footing have on Earth as He Besides should We miscarrv We are there Neer to our Hell and no deep Fall can fear 132. And yet to make all sure I hold it best By secret Treason to unlock the way Unto our Conquest Doe but Thou assist My Plot and let Fate if it can say nay How oft when Ramms in vain have push'd the wall Have cunning Underminings made it fall 133. Come let 's away with hate to Christ I burn More than with all my Kingdomes Flames I swear By my bright Mother the unspotted Morn A fairer Virgin then his Mary farr By both my Horns my Sceptre and my Crown That I will win his Blood or loose mine own 134. The cursed Soules within all heard Him swear And clapp'd their flaming hands with damned Joy Hoping that now some fresh Companions were Designd for Them The Gates of Hell gave way Earth split into a mighty Gap and He Ascended with his Handmayd Treachery 135. Then having melted both Himself and her Into the lap of the next Wind he met He shely flew to Juda's Bosome where In with his breath he unperceived got Thus other Plagues infuled in the Aire Steale to the Heart and breath their Poison there 136. As when a Tyrant hath usurp'd a Crown The Arms and Ensignes of the rightfull Heir He blurs and tears and pulls his Statues down And doth their places for his own prepare Leaving no Signe to make the People dream Of any other Soveraign but Him 137. So Satan play'd his part in Juda's breast All characters which were engraven there Of his leige Lord and onely Soveraign Christ His mighty Miracles his loving Care His heav'nly life and Doctrine he defaces And every line of Pietie erases 138. Then by the help of those two Feinds which he Had there confederated Avarice The Mother of all Mischeifs Treachery The ready Midwife He erecteth his Black Standard in th' Apostates wretched Heart And thence his Conquests spreads to every Part 139. And Judas now breaths nothing else but Hell Whose fumes are tumbling all about his brain With plots of spight and rage his breast doth swell And with Contrivances of cursed Gain No Fury ever hatch'd such Thoughts as He Nor brought forth such portentous Villanie 140. O Avarice how flat Idolatrie Is thine who dost vile rusty Wealth prefer Before the King of heav'nly Majesty Whose beams then all thy Gold more golden are Who canst adore what Cankers feed on Who Canst hug base Silver and let Jesus goe 141. Judas the Slave of Gain resolves to sell His most inestimable Lord whom He Should rather keep his thirsty Soule to fill With all the Riches of Eternitie But Avarice his Heart doth so bewitch That He will sell Heav'n onely to be rich 142. His Chapmen are the Preists for They who had Betray'd the House of God to Merchandise Will make no scruple to extend their Trade And count God saleable But in the Price They thrifty are and beat their market low But Thirty silver Peices They 'l bestow 143. Fie sordid Caiaphas and Annas fie Your Law cties shame of this unworthy Rate Consult your Books and they will not denie But ev'n the meanest Man is valued at No lesse then fifty Shekells and will you For God and Man no more than thus allow 144. Does Jesu's God-head make Him of lesse worth Than is the vilest He that breaths your Air Bid but like Chapmen bring your Treasures forth And buy the pretious Wares your Offer square O could you purchase Him indeed the Prize Would make You rich in all Felicities 145. But thou improvident Judas since Thou art Resolv'd to sell a thing whose value is Beyond the power of Arithmetick Art To reckon up proportionate thy price In some more neer degree let thy Demand Make Buyers who this Christ is understand 146. Ask all the gold that rolls on Indu's shore Ask all the treasures of the Eastern Sea Ask all the Earths yet undiscovered ore Ask all the gemms and Perls which purest be Ask Herods Checker ask the
at their Soveraigns hearts they aime their Swords 199. He call'd no Lightning from the Clouds or from His potent Eyes to flash on Juda's face And throw on his bold Lips that flaming Doom Which due unto their odious Treason was He charg'd not Earth her dreadfull Mouth to ope And on the hellish Kisser close it up 200. O no With heav'nly Tendernesse He cries Friend wherefore art Thou come Strange Miracle Of gentle Patience Who can comprise Thy blessed depth Upon the face of Hell Shall the sweet Name of Friend be printed by Him who beholds and feels its Treachery 201. Is foul Ingratitude plain Apostacie Right down Rebellion now become a freind Or rather is not this Disciple by His curs'd Revolt transformd into a Feind And will his wronged Lord by none but this Deare Name revenge his most invenomed Kisse 202. O Psyche Jesus tortured was to see Judas himself into all Torments throw And by this Charme of noblest Lenitie Back into Heav'n indeavored him to draw He knew Loves Cords were strong and from his Crime By these he strives to hale rescue Him 203. Why art thou come thus to betray thy Freind Why art thou come with Arms against a Lamb Why art thou come all Bonds of Love to rend Why art thou come to fight for thine own shame Why art thou come with this strong Preparation For thy Lords death for thine own Damnation 204. Thy Kisse I in its naturall Language will Kindely interpret and make my Replie In the same Dialect if thou wilt still Imbrace my ever faithfull Courtesie And yeild that Blisse may in thy heart have room Say then my Friend say wherefore art Thou come 205. Thus did the Prince of sweetnesse plead and wooe But the deaf Serpent stopp'd his cursed ear In 's heart the Thirty Peeces chinked so That He no other Harmonie can hear When loe the Souldiers knowing now their Prey On Iesus fell and haled Him away 206. For love of Thee and all his other Brides Thus Psyche was thy Lord content to be Sold at so vile a Rate and Mock'd besides Ev'n by his own Disciples Treacherie Shrink not if thy neer Freinds abuse thy love Since Gods own Favorites so faithlesse prove 207. And let the World by this one Copie learn That hell-bred Boldnesse is not strange or new By which most Fostered Favoured Creatures turn Flat Enemies and lead an armed Crew Of Miscreanrs with bloody Impudence Against the Powers and Person of their Prince 208. But when no mercy could the Traytor winne To entertain his Pardon Vengeance made Haste to poure out her selfe upon his sinne For Satan who his heart possessed had His Treason in his proper Coin repayd And the Betrayer fatally betrayd 209. Into a Corner of the Garden where Thoughtfull disconsolate Night sate thick and black She crowded him alone and having there Prepar'd and fitted her infernall Rack With studied furie not his Body but His captivated Soule on it she put 210. For by the beames of their owne hellish Light Unto Iscariots intellectuall Eyes Herselfe She did display Excessive Fright The Traytors wretched Heart did strait surprise Each Joynt and Member quak'd and sweat and He Felt in this Garden too his Agonie 211. He saw feirce Beizebubs sulphureous face Flaming with swarthy fire His Horns he saw Mounted high on his head with dreadfull grace Which his erected snakie Hair did knaw He saw his adamantine Nails and Paws His steely Teeth his brazen gaping Jaws 212. He saw the Tempest of his flaming Breath Which swarthy Volumes spred of stinking smoke He saw the windows of eternal Death Flung open in his staring Eyes whose Look Slew him alive He saw his Iron Mace His burning feet and his enraged Pace 213. He saw his forked Tail in tryumph thrown Upon his shoulder and his irefull Brow With cruell scorn contracted in a frown Rampant Implacabilitie he saw In every Gesture and did plainly read The full Description of Immortal Dread 214. When loe stern Lucifer threw out his hand And by her Throat his woefull Conscience took And now he cries I 'l make thee understand What thou hast chose and what thou hast forsook Look on this dainty Pair of Damsells heer Who more than Heav'n and God to thee were dear 215. Just at the word He opened to his view The horrid Carkaise of foule Avarice And fouler Treachery not in her hue Of borrowed Smiles and outside Comelinesse But in her naked native Filth and then Shaking his Horns and Paws He thus went on 216. Maddest of Fools how many Hells dost Thou Deserve who with such Hags could'st fall in love When Jesus woo'd thy Heart Well take Them now Th' hast paid so dearly for Them They will prove Sweet Brides and pretiously adorn thy Bed Which in the Bottome of my Realm is spred 217. If any Part at all there be in Them Which is not horrid may my Scepter break And may my royall Tongue no more Blaspheam For once I tell Thee true and Thou mayst take The Devills Word There are few Furies who In monstrous Ouglinesse thy Wives out-goe 218. And was thy Lord so vile a Thing that He Might not with these in Competition stand Did those unthankfull Eyes of thine e'r see A face inrich'd with such pure Beauties and Majestick Graces as in his did shine Making Humanity appear Divine 219. Most stupid Sot How often hast Thou seen Divinity from His great Hand break out How oft might plain Omnipotence have been Read in the Miracles He daily wrought Casting forth all my stoutest Fiends Yet Thou And here He beat the Soule to Me wouldst bow 220. Nay never houle 't is but the Earnest this Of what 's to come Thou needs wouldst bow to Me To Me of whom that Christ the Conqueror is He threw Me down from Heav'ns Sublimity Into that Pit of Pangs where I am now The damned Soveraign of such as Thou 221. Had'st not as good have bowed unto Him Whose Yoak Thou would'st have lighter found than mine I tell thee Judas I am but a grim And rugged Lord what Prizes once I win Infallibly for evermore shall frie In Torments bottomlesse Extremity 222. And is my Hell my everlasting Spight My unrelenting Furie so much worth That Paradise and Heav'n and Jesus might Not finde acceptance Brings Damnation forth Such strong Temptations Can eternal Blisse Not wooe and win as potently as this 223. Sure Hell and Death are gallant Things and I Cannot allow Thee them untill Thou hast Through all Contempt and Hate and Infamie Which Salem or the World can yeild thee past That Preface shall for that eternall Smart Which gapes longs for Thee prepare thine Heart 224. Goe then the Ages Blot and Monster goe Let every Mouth spit on thine hated Head Let every Tongue thick Curses on Thee strow Let every Hand be arm'd to strike Thee dead Let every Eye abhorre thy balefull Sight Let all the World revenge thy Traytorous Spight 225. Let Heav'n
Proving that every Eye was worse then blinde Which no discoverie in Her could make Of richer Beauties then those faint and thin Graces which hover in a polish'd Skin 45. 'T is true She 's pale so is the Lilie too So is her heav'nly Daughter Chastitie So is the Milk so is the virgin Snow And yet when Modestie would dressed be In her brave Scarlet She doth raise a Flood Of Purple and shine fair in Blushing Blood 46. She is contented to be lank and lean As one who counts it Martiall Policie To keep her Amunition close within The better to confront the Seige for She Laughs at those plump and boasting Gallants who Can nothing but their swelling Outworks show 47. For whilst her Walls are lesse she hath lesse need Of numerous Powers to maintain the fight But being Mistresse of all active Heed She stands upon her guard both day and night Being of creacherous ease and sleep afraid By which fat lazie bulwarks are betrai'd 48. She knows what ballast will her Bulk suffice To keep her steady in this dangerous Sea And layes in but enough The Merchandise Which fraughts her stowage pretious virtues be And provident she no bigger than her self Securely sails by every Rock and Shelf 49. Her Parts and Passions all their duties know And she as little fears a storm within As from without her humble flesh doth bow To all Commands no Officers repine What course so e'r she steers but all conspire To make their own still saile with her desire 50. Thus she does safely at that Port arrive Which leads into the Continent of Blisse The Port at which her restlesse aym did drive The onely Key and Gate of Paradise For Paradise's sweets her stomack she Reserv'd which there at length shall filled be 51. This difficult but advantageous Grace Was that which Jesus strove on earth to sow But most ungratefull Earth so shamelesse was As not to suffer the faire seed to grow Though a few honest beds did entertain it The most part of the Garden did disdain it 52. Those who unto the King of Abstinence Have sworn Allegiance blush not to enrole Themselves the servants of Intemperance And the mad virtue of their Revelling Bowle More sacred and obligatory count Then the bless'd Streams of the Baptismal Fount 53. Else how comes that abominable Trade Of daily turning swine to be profest With most applans not where the Pagan shade Upon prevented Reasons eyes hath east Blinde irreligions night but where the Rayes Of most revealed heav'n gild Christian dayes 54. Else how cam'st thou unhappy Britaih which Barr'st out all other Oceans by thy shore To let the Sea of Drunkennes with such Unrulie fury in thy bowels roar O that thy feeble Sands should stronger be Then is thy Reason or thy Pietie 55. How has this deluge drown'd in Sottishnesse Thy once renouned sense of Braverie Since in thy Helmeti Swords and Bucklers place A cowardly succession we see Of Pots and Glasses and ô valours shame 〈◊〉 drinker turned into Credits name 56. How come those Bacchanalian wars so dear In thy Repute who prid'st thy self that thou So well appointed art as not to fear Or Dutch or Danish bowls but knowest how Foes and friends lives by the Grapes blood to shed And though not strike yet surely drink them dead 57. How comes the Name of Cynik or of Clown To dwell on them who never learn'd the Arts Of roaring Revels How is goodnes grown No more by virtues standard but by quarts And Pottles to be measured whil'st alas Carousers for the good companions pass 58. O how hast thou forgot what sumptuous Care Almighty Love hath taken to requite Thine Abstinence what Soule refreshing fare For Pieties untainted Appetite His bounteous hand prepares and proves how He Excessive is in hospitalitie 59. Heav'n stood amaz'd at the magnificence Of that high banquet nor could Phylax now Longer conceale the brave ecstatik sense He had of it for heav'nly bosoms glow So hot with Loves sublime exploits that they Must split did not their tongues their hearts display 60. The famous Traytors storie being done And Psyche having her short supper eat The 〈◊〉 Guardian thus again begun My Dear this Evening seaion and the 〈◊〉 Thou from thy Lords hand hast received be The items of a greater feast to Me. 61. He the sweet Doctor of chaste Abstinence Who taught his Servants not to clog their heart With corruptible Viands when from hence Already Sold he shortly was to part So great and rich a Banquet made as may The whole Worlds Temperance 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 62. A 〈◊〉 not of gross and earthly chear Where Birds or Beasts or Fish might convives be But of immortall Delicates so dear So sweet so pretious that onely He The God in whom all Power sweetnes live Could such Celestiall entertainment give 63. 'T was now the solemne time among the 〈◊〉 Their memorable Passover to ear Nor would thine inoffensive Lord refuie That grand solemnitie to celebrate And honour it which like the faithfull 〈◊〉 On Him the Sun so long attended had 64. With his Disciples down the Master sate And in the spotlesse and unblemish'd Lamb Beheld the Copy of his purer State In which no Criticks eye found room for blame Yet could not Innocence secure his life More than the Lamb it saved from the knife 65. The Lamb his tender fleece skin had lost And naked to the fire exposed was Where all its harmlesse helplesse flesh was roste And here he read atorehand his own case How to his Cross the Jewish furie tost him And how the flaming wrath of Heav'n did rost him 66. The sad attendance of that bitter sauce Which sourest Herbs about the Meat had thrown The dark resemblance of those torments was With which his Dish of deepest woe was strown The Weeds of humane sins which far exceed In bitternes all Herbs that earth can breed 67. The Haste which quickned on this transient feasi Was not so winged as the noble speed With which He posted in desire to rest Upon the cruel Cross his tender Head A wofull resting place was that and yet To Love no Pillow seem'd so soft as 68. But having 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 And with due honor brought it 〈◊〉 its geave He makes way for that tender 〈◊〉 Which as his finall favour he did save To print his dearest Memory most deep In the soft Sonles of his beloved Sheep 69. He with a Towel having laid aside His Mantle girds himself for humble he Would not the least impediment abide Of his officious Activitie With water then filling a Basin full Down at his own Disciples feet he fell 70. The Conscience of his own eternall worth And of his universall Soveraigntie The certain knowledge that He 〈◊〉 forth From his bright Fathers arms and was to be There re-inthroned could not hold him up All this he knew and yet he down did stoop 71. Stoop then prood Mortals whosoe'r yee be Who have
Such genuine beams of Piety descrised As soon dispell'd all mists of Jealousie Which serupulous Fear had rais'd unknown untried She is receiv'd Besides the holy Priest By Heav'n was warn'd to entertain this Guest 180. Phylax withdrew his nimble Selfe into His Closet of Invisibility Yet still attended on his Psyche who Approached to the royall Mystery With such brave fervor that her hungry Haste Almost as boundlesse seemed as the Feast 181. O how her Soule into the Dish did leap And dive down to the Bottom of the Cup With what Inamorations did she weep What sighs of Joy did break her bosome ope How did Fear strive with Love How did she groan Between Humility and Ambition 182. O how She thinks her Lips and Heart impure And yet she cannot for a World refrain She knows not how this Life she should endure If from the Life of Life She must contain She knows not how her Iron should for beak To meet the Loadstone now it was so neer 183. Whilst in this dainty Agony she lay Into her Mouth the Priest gives her her Blisse Which to her Heart directly took its way And drown'd it in exuberant Sweetnesses She now no longer Psyche is for she Is all converted into Ecftafie 184. O most Miraculous Feast how fain my Song Would be Luxuriant in admiring Thee But neither mine nor Phylax's high Tongue Knows how to reach that lofty Harmonie Of all united Sweets and Joyes which lie In bounteous Loves protoundest Mystery 185. Yet may my pained Soule have leave to lay At this Songs foot its just and heavy Sighs Which never since mine Eyes first op'd on Day So deeply rellished Lifes miseries The more my shame whose mighty Sins for Me Have earned this Heart-knawing Agonie 186. Time was when Heav'n in this late happy 〈◊〉 Kept open house when this Celestiall Feast Did freely wooe all Hearts to come and fill Their holy Appetites with all the best Of antidated Blisse and grow Divine With this Spirituall mighty Bread and Wine 187. But now both Feast and Bord devoured are By a new Banquet as jejune and drie As barren Air for all this Pulpit Cheer Feeds but the itching Ears strange Boulimie Whilst still the Heart remains as lank and thin And nothing fatter grows but lusty Sin 188. Sin fatter grows so fat that now it dares Kick both at Earth and Heav'n and scorns to be Aw'd by those generous and ingenuous Fears Which are the Reins of Virtuous Modesty It mocketh Veng'ance and derideth Law Because their patient Sword they slowly draw 189. O how come Christian Soules so well content To want the choisest Viands Heav'n could give O how preposterously Abstinent Are they who with all riotous Dainties strive To fortisie the Belly but can finde No Time to Victuall and enforce the Minde 190. Surely those Hero's were more prudent far Upon whose nearer hearts the warmer Blood Of Jesus dropp'd not once a Moneth or year Ordivers Years they with this holy Food Cheer'd up their Soules but every Morning fed And made the Lord of Life their Daily Bread 191. With Heav'n this alway kept their bosomes warme This made Them Eagle-like their strength renew With death-despising Courage this did arme Their gentlest Spirits By this they Masters grew Of Earth and Hell which having trampled down Heav'n too by Violence They made their own 192. But ô my Heart why art Thou stealing thus From thine own Woes thy Neighbours to deplore Time was when whilst thine unsledged Wickednesse Flew not at Heav'ns long patient face nor tore This Judgment thence I once a Week at least Could at this Bord of Blessings be a Guest 193. Then with sweet Comfort could I turn mine Eye Back on the year which with Delight did run Then could I count what Gains I reaped by My constant Trading in Devotion Rejoycing in my satisfied Minde That every Sunday I in Heav'n had din'd 193. But now the flaming Coursers of the Sun Are drawing on the fourteenth Moneth since I Attended on the Celebration Of this sweet life-enlivening Mystery Which yet I then was fain to steal and so A Thief that Day to Paradise did goe 194. I went indeed But a Forbidden Tree Strait woo'd my liquorish Hand and foolish I Beleev'd the flattering Bait and would not see How treacherous an Hook beneath did lie Dear wonderous dear this heedlesse Fault did cost Me For all my heav'nly Joyes and Powers it lost Me 195. It lost Me all and no Recruit was nie But I am lest aPrey to this long Fast O how the Palate of my Soule is drie What burning Drought doth shrivell up and waste The Bowels of my Heart how is my Minde With most uncomfortable Squalor pin'd 196. O how my Understandings Pinions tire And flag below when I aloft would soar What leaden Numnesse damps those hopes of Fire With which my Fancie'gan to glow before What Languor cloggs my fainting Will whilst On dark unworthy Earth thus groveling lie 197. O how this drie and barren Verse attests The heavy Truth of these my Lamentations O pitty Me all you whose gentle Breasts E'r felt the Stings of Mysticall Vexations Pitty Me ô my candid Readers now What makes me tire your Patience you know 198. Had I my wonted Share in that dear Feast Which with celestiall Spirits embraves the Heart A fairer Banquet I for You had drest Who now can onely by my pined Smart Warn You to prize and to imbrace with 〈◊〉 Religious Tendernesse what I have lost 199. Lost hitherto But must that Losse run on And can my Life mean while make good its Name Can Day maintain her Self if once the Sun Deny to feed her with his vitall Flame Can Rivers keep their constant full-tide Course If once the living Spring doth them divorce 201. O tender King of Love whose sumptuous Care For hungry Hearts that high Provision made Behold my starved Soule lies gasping here For one dear Crumb of thy mysterious Bread And craves to cool its burning Tongue one Drop Of liquid Life from thy all-saving Cup. 202. I know my Worthlessenesse sweet Lord and how Unfit I am to look for any Share In those peculiar Delicates which Thou For thine own genuine Children didst prepare Yet to a Dogg once more thy leave afford To catch what falleth from thy Childrens Bord. PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIII The Death of Love ARGUMENT LOve having Liv'd for Man is pleas'd to Dy To make his purchase sure by Life and Death Through Earths profoundest Gulfe of Tyranny And the vast Ocean of Heav'ns mighty Wrath He nobly waded and upon the Shore Having first spent his Blood his Soule did poure 1. SOule of all Sweets ô Life how dear art Thou To all that ever had a Taste of Thee How much of Heav'n it selfe infus'd doth flow Into the region of thy Suavity Indeed Heav'n were not Heav'n did it not joyn To make it Selfe by Marrying Thee divine 2. Thou in the Center of Divinity Before the Birth of
did flie Unto the bottome of Nights nideous Sea That now Sins Blacknesse chased was away Earth might behold a double glorious Day 421. But will no Pitty on the Body look Which now has born the utmost spight of spight Yes Arimathean Joseph undertook To pay unto it its Sepulchral Right And now with loving Loyaltie doth mean To prove that he had a Disciple been 422. A true Disciple though a Secret one Witnesse his Fear to generous Courage grown For though his Master now were dead and gone His Faith revives nor shall the High-priests Frown Or Peoples Fury fright his Duty from Yeilding his Saviour his own costly Tombe 423. A Man of honorable Place was he And Pilate easily grants him his Request The Corps resigned is unto his free Disposall which he straight-way doth invest With daintiest Linen that the Winding Sheet Might Delicacie learn by Kissing it 424. Right well he Knew this solemn Paschal Feast For bad him all Pollution by the Dead And yet his pious Love durst not desist Till he this votive Task had finished Being assur'd he could not stained be By handling the dead Corps of Purity 425. But is Ho busie was another Freind Came in good Nicodemus who by Night On Iesus whilst He lived did attend To gain for his obscured Judgment Light And in his blacker Night of Death doth now His gratefull Pietie upon Him bestow 426. Of pretious aromatick Mixtures He An hundred Weight doth bring to sacrifice Unto this Bodies service so to be Enobled and enhanced in its price The O dours smiled as they kiss'd the Skin For by that Touch more Sweetnes they did win 427. Mean while the Instruments of Death for this The manner was were younder buried Where they shall sleep untill a Queen shall rise Out of thy Albion from whose blessed Bed A Prince shall spring who shall exalt above His Roman Eagles the meek Christian Dove 428. Their deer Discovery is reserv'd for none But venerable Helen who when here Hot in her passionate Devotion Her Saviours Sufferings She her selfe shall bear Transfiguring her Miditating Heart Into each severall Torture Wound and Smart 429. Those noble Relicts shall revealed be In recompence of her brave Love and Zeal There for the Jewells She shall Dig and see At length the rude but glorious Spectacle The Crosse and Nail She there shall finde Which her Lords Body pain'd and her own Minde 430. Inestimable shall their Worth be held One of those Nailes to Constantine shall seem Illustrious enough his Head to gild And sit enthron'd upon his Diademe Two in his Bridle shall triumph when He Rides through the World like King of Victory 431. The Fourth shall tame the Adriatik Man And naile it fast unto its bottome so That on its equall pacisied Plain The unmolested Ships may safely goe Then by this Gem shall that enriched Sea More wealthy than the eastern Ocean be 432. But for the noble Crosse no Toung can tell The Wonders that shall spring from that drie Tree Which hew'd out by Devotions Edge shall fill The zealous World and quit that Injury Which from the fatall Bough in Eden spread Through all the 〈◊〉 sown with humane Seed 433. Persia shall take it Captive yet not dare To look upon its Pris'ner Pietie Shall thence redeem it by a 〈◊〉 War And then return it to its Calvarie When great Heraclius his own royall Back A willing Chariot for it shall make 434. But come my Dear here on the Western side Of this now holy Mountain Thou mayst see The pretious Sepulchre of Him who di'd And who was also Buried for Thee This Rock is it Come lets 's into the Cave No Temple is more holy than this Grave 435. Loe here good Joseph did the Body lay Here lay the blessed Head and here the Feet Hard was the Couche and yet no Princes may Compare their Beds with it which was more sweet Than Solomons although Arabia did With all her sweetest Sweets goe there to bed 436. The Phaeni'x balmie grave could never show Such soveraign Riches of perfumes as here Did from thy blessed Saviours Body flow Who soon the truer Phoenix did appear O pretious Place No Mau 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Into comparison with this must come 437. What are the Monuments of Kings but 〈◊〉 Memorials of their putid Rottennesse Whilst odious Worms and Dust inshrined are Iu specious Gold and Marble But in this Plain Sepulchre bold 〈◊〉 found Her Hands were more than the dead 〈◊〉 bound 438. This is that Oratorie Psyche now Whither the 〈◊〉 Soules 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Themselves and their best 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they Here all their Zealous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in this Air their warmest 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 439. Yet time 's at hand when bold Idolatrie Will venture to prophane this sacred Place To turn this Paradise into a stie And holinesses beauty to deface To build Hels soveraign Monster odious Jove Upon this monument of divinest love 440. But all in vain for Christian Eagles still Will to the place of the dear carcase fly And their impatient devotions fill By feasting on its pretious memory Jove though the most impure of things is not So foule as this Toombs puritie to blot 441. And here may'st thou for I thy heats discover Sweet Psyche stay and ease thy burning heart Thy Uows and Prayers here thou may'st run over And with the pious world take thy free part Doe riot in thy zeal I will attend And keep the door till thou hast made an end 442. Psyche who scarcely for this cue could wait Fell on her face and kiss'd the reveren'd floor Where her brave flames so melted her that strait Her armorous sighs and soule she forth did pour And by the strong embrace of Faith and Love Seem'd there to hug Him who was high above 443. Through all his pains and all his wounds she went And on her own heart printed every one Her bowels with his wofull cry she rent And wish'd not 〈◊〉 seeing he found none By bitter thoughts his nails his throns his spear She copied out by tears his Vinagre 444. But comming to his death she fetch'd a sigh Up from the bottome of her soule in hope Her life would have flown in its company And made her passion too compleatly up Striving in meek ambitious love to have The ready honor of her Saviours Grave 445. Desire lay boyling in her ardent breast With secret groans her Aspirations beat With restlesse panting she reach'd at that rest To which her Lord was flown and in the heat Of this contention she was towr'd so high That scarce her Body upon earth did lye 446. But when life held her on this dainty Rack In a full Ocean of Inamorations And mighty Ecstasies she strove to wrack Her labouring heart And yet these perturabtions And strong assaults of loves intestine war She by diviner loves assistance bare PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XIV The Triumph of Love ARGUMENT LOve bindes in his own
but stricken there With awfull reverence onely sent his Eye Into the bottome of the Cavern where The Resurrections Relicts He did spie The linen Clothes which had the grace to kisse The sacred Body of all Sweetnesses 132. But panting Peter there arrived ' in The wonted boldnesse of his fervid Zeal Entred the Cave Which pattern straight did win So much on John that to the Spectacle He follow'd Him and with joint Wonder there Gaz'd and examined the Sepulchre 133. He gaz'd and cleerly found his Eye told true This rous'd his Faith and made Her likewise ope Her Eyes the blessed Mystery to view She look'd and plainly saw Her Lord was up And needed now no Angels Tongue to seal To Her the Truth of that grand Miracle 134. These two Disciples having seen their fill To feed upon the Wonder home return'd But Magdalene who had thither follow'd still Stay'd by the Tomb to quench her Heart which burn'd With Griefs impatient Love The Springs which kept In both her Eys she Bravely broach'd wept 135. She weep'd and pitted her prevented Spice Which now breath'd short and panting lay to see It came too late to be a Sacrifice Unto the Lord of Sweets She weep'd that she Her Tears Drink-offring could present no more On his Feets blessed Altar as before 136. Had she the plenitude of whatsoe'r Th' idolatrous World ' adores she still would be Poorer than Poverty it selfe whilst here She nothing findeth but Vacuity The empty Tombe with open Mouth alas Tells her her onely Gem removed was 137. Removed and quite lost for ought she knew And how can Mary live without her Life Such lamentable Mourning never slew The Turtles Joies in her disconsolate strife Of Love and Grief when her dear Mate is lost As this sad Storme of Weeping Mary tost 138. Thus having Weep'd for what she saw again She look'd to read fresh cause of further Tears But in the Tombe she spi'd new Splendor reign Two Angells ready to out-shine her Fears And drie her Cheeks with Comfort there did sit One at the Monuments Head one at the Feet 139. In festival Array they gorgeous were Being clothed in Joies Colour milkie White Woman said They what reason finde you here To cloud your brows in this fair Sceen of Light Alas cri'd she what Light mine Eyes can cheer Seeing my Lord is laid I know not where 140. Her Eyes here gush'd a fresh and back she turn'd To give their crowding Streams full Liberty But Jesus Heart which melted as she mourn'd And answered ever Tear by Sympathy Could not endure her gentle Soule to see Suspended longer in this Agonie 141. For back unto his Sepulchre he stepp'd That his dear Weepens loyal Eyes might see Their earned Spectacle And Why she wept Was his soft Question but blubber'd she Blinded with Grief could not discover Who It was examin'd her about her Woe 142. She took Him for the Gardner of the place And meekly pray'd him if he had Removed The Body thence to tell her where it was That she might goe and wait on her Beloved And 't was the Gardner who did plant and dresse The World in goodly Braveries excesse 143. The Gardner who betimes a Weeding fell Ev'n in the virgin Spring of his Creation Those rank encroaching Weeds which on Heav'ns 〈◊〉 Aspir'd to over-grow the new Plantation Up by the roots he pluck'd in righteous ite And threw them thence into eternal Fire 144. The Gardner who at length deign'd to come down Unto his Nurserie in Earths Valley where All Tares and Poisnous 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 had sown He rooted up and out of matchlesse care To make the Soil be fertile every Bed With his own pretious Blood he watered 145. The Gardner who contented was to let The Thorns upon his Temples rather stand Than they should vex the Grafts which he had set In his own Body by his tender hand The Gardner who indeed had born away What in the Tombe untill this morning lay 146. But pittying Magdalens gloomy sorrow He Whose single potent Word all Clouds can clear In Loves milde tone the onely musick she Could be delighted with saluted her Yet his salute was neere as short as sweet For onely by her name He Her did greet 147. Mary in Maries ear no sooner sounded From Jesu's lips but to her breast it flew And with incomparable joy rebounded Upon her wakened heart She straitway knew The blessed voice in her own Name for this With sweet significance did echo his 148. She knew 't was Jesus and her heart must now Have split with swelling triumph had not she Unlock'd it strait and let it freely flow In a full torrent of high Pietie Her Life her Love her Heav'n when least shee thought Were all at once to her fruition brought 149. Surely a Breast so soft as hers had by This sudden onset of all joyes been broke Had not her Lord with his own Potency Assisted Her to beare the mighty stroak Master she cry'd but then could not go on Her ecstafie her other words out-ran 150. Down flat she fell and aimed at those feet Which pious she before did oint and kiss No Haste dear Mary Jesus cry'd for yet At ample distance my Ascention is But go and tell my Brethren I intend Unto our common Father to ascend 151. At this injunction Marie needs must goe Who on the Angels errand went before And yet her loyall Heart could not doe so But still behinde did linger to adore Her lost-found Lord whom that she ne're again Might loose Her Soule she to his feet did chain 152. This Message startled the Disciples but The hubbub of the City mov'd them more For by the Watch-men now the news had got Into the Town and knock'd at every door The High-priests wakened at the summons call A Common Council and to Plotting fall 153. Their Heads they beat and boulted every way How they their now endanger'd fame might save How they might damp the Resurrections day And stop the open mouth of Jesu's Grave Long did they think but could no trick contrive How he who lived might not seem to live 154. For Belzebub who us'd to have his Place In all their Councils tardy came that day His new-received wound and deep disgrace Upon his vanquish'd heart with terror lay Yet seeing them so forwards lothe he was The Priests in his own trade should him surpass 155. He rais'd his head and wiped off the gore Three times he sighed and three times he shook His broken horns and at the last he swore By his own might and realus that though the stroak Took him at unawars yet Jesus had How e'r he brav'd it out no Conquest made 156. And had he been said he a generous foe He would have pitch'd the day and pitch'd the field With trumpets sound he would have march'd unto The fight and not his slie designe conceal'd He would have called Heav'n and Earth to be Spectators of his noble Chevalrie 157. But
entertain'd to day Where as he brake the Bread in peeces he Tore from their clouded eyes the veil away And with like favour now he hastes to cheer His sad and thoughtfull Friends assembled here 184. This very Ev'n the Doors being made as fast As locks and barrs and fear could make them be He whose pure Body through his Tombe had pass'd Enter'd the House with like facility They slander'd were abroad for stealing Him But now he seem'd to steal at home on Them 185. Yet as excessive unexpected Blisse Doth swallow up Beliefe in Ravishment So the Disciples all amaz'd at this Strange Apparition mutualy bent Then frighted eyes and held their hands on high Confounded in a silent ecstasie 186. But he the King of Comfort op'd his sweet And gratious Lips and Peace be to you said Though I in love prevent my Promise yet You have no reason Friends to be afraid Loe It is I your Lord observe these wide Tokens both in my Hands and in my Side 187. Imagin not that you some Spirit see These Mouthes proclaim as much as I profess You know a Spirit cannot wounded be Nor wear such Marks of humane Passivenesse Come handle Me and be assured well If not of what you see of what you feel 188. This sweet Assurance was so full and cleer That it exceeded their Capacity Who by its Torrent over-whelmed were And thrown into admiring Joies soft Sea Thus those who gaze on Phoebus cannot see Him for his too much visibility 189. So strange a Thing is Joy if unawares It be surprised by Fruition that In fond amblguous Jealousie it barrs Out what it does possesse and aiming at Some proofs of what is absolutely clear Transfigureth it self from Joy to Fear 190. But Jesus their amazement to allay Grows more familiar and calls for Meat A Fish and Honey-combe before him they Present and friendly he vouchsafes to eat Though Paradise its Sweets for him prepar'd He this plain Diet with his Friends preferr'd 191. Then in kinde Anger he to Chiding fell That they so long their Faith suspended though He of his Resurrections Miracle Had by eye-witnesse sent them Proof enough He Chode but with such sweet and dainty Art That every Wound he made was with Loves Dart. 192. This done his Peace to them again he gave That Peace he purehas'd when he trampled down Hell into Hell and Death into the Grave When he appeas'd his mighty Fathers Frown When Heav'n and Earth at enmity before To blessed Amitie he did restore 193. Then breathing on them with that noble Breath Which first inspir'd Life into Humane Heart The dearest Gift said he that ever hath To Man been given I to you impart It is the holy Spirit of Heav'n which now With blessed heat shall in your Bosomes glow 194. Hencesorth whose Sins soever you remit By this great Patent I my Selfe Forgive And whom you Binde to the infernal Pit Shall from your Sentence purchase no Reprieve As Me my Father sent so send I you To by my potent Deputies below 195. This said into Invisibility Himselfe he shut and so from them withdrew When They who now no longer him could see On Joies and Loves and Faiths Wings after flew Pouring ten thousand Blessings on his Name Who with such Solace to their Sorrows came 196. But Thomas who this while had absent been Returning now They met him at the Door Shouting and telling him what they had seen Each Circumstance they shew'd him o'r and o'r Their Lords great Promises they did repeat And how he shew'd his Wounds and how he eat 197. Thomas amaz'd at their Relation stood Silent a while uncertain what to say Or how he should repulse that swelling Flood Of most unanimous Confidence which they Stream'd forth upon his Incredulity At last he stamp'd and cri'd It cannot be 198. I grant that Fancy may doe much and you Perhaps imagin all is true you say But there 's no reason my Belief should bow To your Imaginations You may By probabilities perswade Me far But no such thing can I discover here 199. I am not so much wiser now at night Than I was in the Morn as to admit What then to your own indgement seem'd so 〈◊〉 That you as well as I rejected it Why must it real prove in you which We In Magdalene so fantastick took to be 200. When with these Eyes those Wounds I have descri'd And put my 〈◊〉 where the 〈◊〉 we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When I have thrust my Hand into his 〈◊〉 And felt that no Imposture there does grow I of your minde may be But mean time give Me leave not at a venture to Beleeve 201. Thus Heav'n in Wisdome and in Love thought fit To let thick Clouds of Doubt objected be Before the Resurrections Truth that it Might fairer break from that Obscurity And pierce all faithlesse Hearts obdurate Stone As it the Marble of the Tembe had done 202. Resolv'd in this imprudent Prudence he Eight Dayes continued when their Lord again The doors being bolted close as formerly To his Disciples did his Presence deign Whose sprightfull Comming though it startled them Lesse strange and doubtfull than at first did seem 203. But Thomas unto whom the Sight was new Afflicted stood with quaking Joy and Fear His Masters blessed Looks he plainly knew And yet his Fancies something dubious were He blush'd and then grew pale and blush'd again And to crosse Passions gave at once the rein 204. When Jesus saw him tortur'd on this Rack With gratious gentlenesse Come neer he said And thine own Satisfaction freely take Loe here my Wounds before thine Eyes display'd Come pierce thou them again 't will be lesse grief Than to be wounded by thine Unbelief 205. This Condescent so conquer'd Thoma's heart That with compleat Assurance on his knees He falls and cries My God and Lord Thou art Not onely by these wide-mouth'd Witnesses I finde thee so to be but also by The heav'nly Sweetnesse of thy Lenity 206. I finde that thou eight dayes agoe wert here When foolish I so faithlesly was Wise Thou heardst how obstinately I did dare The pregnant Witnesse of my Fellows eyes Thou heardst what bold Conditions I set Before my Faith their Story would admit 207. O I beleeve dear Lord and ready am If need require such Wounds as those to bear In spreading forth the glories of thy Name To any Nations whether far or near Pardon my tardy Faith it doth suffice That I have felt those Tokens with mine eye 208. Jesus repli'd Thou build'st thy Faith upon Thine eyes and happy 't is that thou dost so But in how full a Stream shall Blessings run Into their soft and pliant Bosomes who Ne'r saw these deep-writ Characters and yet Unto the Credit of their Truth submit 209. Here Jesus stepp'd into his Secrisie And vanish'd from their wondering sight but yet He sundry times returned to their eye As his divinely-wisest selfe thought fit Famous his presence was on Tabor where He to
ward whether He is gone Who stamp'd them heer their Eys will know no Lid But make the Beams recoil the Rafters run Aside and suffer no Concameration To damm the way of Jesu's Exaltation 291. Thus Psyche have I made thee trace thy Lord To his last footsteps through a thousand ways All set with Mercie and made good my Word Thou seest how He a countermure doth raise Against Sinns Battery and thou needst not fear Hells Spight now Heav'n for thee doth take such care 392. Nor durst I doubt but thine owne Heart will say This thy long Pilgrimage is well requited Which hath presented thee a full Display Of that wherewith all Angells are delighted Whose Souls then with sublimest Joy do leap When on these Mysteries of Love they peep 293. Their Harness heer upon his Steeds he threw Who all this while were feeding on the Hill The meaning of that warning Psyche knew And on her knee prayd him to tarry till She gave the Reins to her Devotion As other Pilgrims unto theirs had done 294. He smil'd and stayd But She flat on her face Innumerable Kisses heap'd upon The venerable Stepps and long it was Before her amorous Sighs and Tears had done At length her Bosome with the Dust she fill'd And cri'd Go thou and my foul Body gild 295. Then casting up to Heav'n her zealous Eye After her Spouse a thousand Thoughts she sent To whom her panting Soul strove hard to flie Upon the Wings of her high Ravishment But when she felt her self stick still to Earth Fresh Tears at first and then these Words brake forth 296. Why may my Heart not be where most it is O Thou my dearest Life ô Jesu why Since Thou art mounted to the Topp of Bliss And leav'st Me Dead have I not leave to Die Never was any Ghost but I till now In its own Body bound and chaind below 297. I by thy Cross and Death was wholly slain And by thy Resurrections Life I grew Alive and safe and vigorous again But thy Ascension doth my Death renew Since nothing of my Life poor I can finde But these bare footsteps left Me heer behinde 298. Sweet Lord by these thy Psyche cannot live Though for thy Sake they pretious are to Me O no! their Worth doth but more reason give To long for most inestimable Thee If any footstepp Me can satisfie It must be that which next thy foot doth lie 299. Hast Thou not said that Earth thy Footstool is As well as Heav'n thy Throne O mighty Lord 'T will be thy Handmaydes most accomplish d Blisse If thou but unto Me make'st good that Word Loe I thy Dust the Footstool crave to be Of thy now Heav'n-enthroned Majesty 300. High my Petition is and bold I know And yet the worthlesse Dew must needs aspire To Heav'n it selfe when once it gins to glow With Phoebu's sweet and most attracting Fire Nor can the Spark in its dull Ashes lie But must have leave to venture at the Skie 301. Alas what is this weary World to Me What are the silver Sphears and golden Sun Could I reign Queen of every Thing I see At my sole Nod would all Earths Kindreds ran What were this Empire worth now Thou art gone Whom Psyche must esteem her Crown alone 302. 'T is not thy heav'nly Paradise that I Ambitious am to see 't is not thy Court Of Angels though by Phylax's company I guesse their Worth 't is not the Pomp and Port That flows about thy throne Nor doe I long To dance unto thy Quires eternal Song 303. My Heart doth pant for Thee and onely Thee And could'st Thou be in Hell I never more Would loose a Looking up to Heav'n but be Inamored of that Abysse and poure My Longings and my Labours downward till I at thy Feet my Vows and Soule could spill 304. O why art Thou so infinitely sweet Or rather Why must We that Sweetnesse know If Thou deer Jesu dost not think it meet Unto our Fires their 〈◊〉 to allow Away Thou flyest and Forsaken We Ev'n by thy sweets and Blisse tormented be 305. How can I help this my excessive Passion Or how can it deserve these Torments Since Thine own Love doth professe Immoderation And guilty is of boundlesse influence In which soft Sea of Fire whilst drown'd I am What can I doe but burn with answering Flame 306. Blame Me not blessed Lord it is not I But Thou thy Selfe rebounding from my Heart Who beat'st Heav'n with this Importunity And call'st for Ease for my mysterious Smart Had'st Thou by Love not stampd thy Selfe upon My Soule now Psyche had let Thee alone 307. Remembet Jesu what it is to be Forsaken ô remember thine own Crie When in thy Desolation on the Tree Thy Father Thou didst challenge May not I Use thine own Words My God my God why now Dost Thou thy desolate Psyche leave below 308. Upon this Olivet my Calvary I finde and to my Crosse am nailed here Ten thousand Torments in my Bosome lie And full as many Thorns as planted were Upon thy Tempels in my Heart doe stick Where all the Bowels of my Soule they prick 309. O Love why must thine onely Tyranny The Bounds of other Cruelties exceed Why will it not allow the Courtesie Of Death unto thy Vassals who are Dead By its reviving Slaughters and desire To be free Holocausts in thy sweet Fire 310. Her Passion here beyond expression grew Yet though She with her Tongue no more could speak With her resolved Eyes to Heav'n she flew And there a long Oration did make Both long and fluent in th' exuberance Of Tears the streams of strongest Eloquence 311. But Phylux having to Her tender Heart Thus far indulg'd thought fit to stop Her here Psyche said He imagin not Thou art Inamored more than the Disciples were Of thy Ascended Lord yet desolate They Warn'd by the 〈◊〉 meekly went away 312. I in their room that Warning give to Thee On Heav'n why dost Thou naile thine eyes in vain Thy Saviour is too high for Thee to see Till on a Cloud He posteth back again Then shalt Thou look thy Fill of Blisse and be To all thy Loves Extremities let free 313. Mean while thine Adorations and Imbraces On his dear Name and Memory thou mayst poure Come le ts away that by these signal places Of Mercies Triumphs thy soft Heart no more May tortured be Here on her hand he laid His own and raised up the heavie Maid 114. Then in his Chariot gently Her he set Who on the Footsteps kept her hankering eye But instantly he mov'd his reins to let His Coursers know he gave them liberty Forth with their goodly mains in answer They Shook in proud hast and gallopped away PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XV. The Poyson ARGUMENT LEaving his Psyche carefull Phylax arms With whole some sage Advice her tender breast Yet shee the Venome of Heretick Charms And Spurious Reasons wiles could not resist Phylax returns and in his
streams let flow Which his tempestuous grief did thither blow 108. And now his Lips no more had power to speak In Zealous Kisses He does them imploy He kiss'd the Soile where once that Blood did reek Which all the Earths Redemption did pay And every Kisse did new Desire beget Of more affectionate Imbracing it 109. Psyche observing his sweet Passion swell With such Devotion soon forgot her own And with the Stranger in such love she fell That at his feet her self she bowed down She bowed down and little thought that then She stoop'd to enter the forbidden Gin. 110. But as the wary Seaman when He spies The amiable Mermaid floating nie Turns from the dangerous Bait his jealous Eyes Hoiseth his sail up and his Oars doth plie So this Devoto seeing Psyche there Confess'd and fortifi'd his holy fear 111. For starting at the unexpected sight Shield me my blessed Guardian said He Satan who doth with everlasting spight Disturb the Course of Zealous Piety Hath to facilitate my molestation In this fair Damosell sent me my Temptation 112. But whosoe'r thou art goe seek thy Prey Where rampant Lust in furious Bonfires reigns Thy Beauties Lustre must not thaw its way Thorow my tame and now long-cooled veins How know I but thou art some fair dress'd Feind To make Me foule and here Himself He sign'd 113. Ravish'd with this Religious Jealousie Sweet Sir said Psyche I was hither come Upon that errand which your Piety Hath here dispatched in that very room I purpos'd my devoted sighs to blow And make mine Eyes their liquid Dutie know 114. My bounteous Lord took my Intent I see For actual Deed and hath rewarded it He knew no blessing would more welcome be Unto my Heart then this which here I met And this art Thou in whom I plainly read The love of Him of whom my soul is Head 115. I heard thy holy Sighs and hearty Grones As towards Heav'n from thy Sweet Breast they flew I heard thy generous Lamentations And by those zealous Characters I knew That Jesus had by his Soule-conquering Dart Engrav'd Heav'ns best impression on thy Heart 116. I thank Thee that thou wert of Me afrayd For much I reverence that pious fear Yet be assured thou hast met a Maid In whom no Embers of black fervor are No no my Heart will no such Guests allow For it too well doth Aphrodisim know 117. Indeed I might have been what you suspected Foule Satans Agent and a feind of Hell Had our deer Lord the care of Me neglected And not seal'd sure on mine his blessed Will And so might'st Thou had He not spread above Thy helplesse head the Banner of his Love 118. That Love which wheresoe'r I finde it shine Doth humble Reverence from my heart command Wonder not at my Case but make it thine And think how thou could'st shun or how withstand Thy Charming Self If I immodest be Like Love will pardon Loves Immodestie 119. Yet 't is no Boldnes to admire the Sunn To love the starrs and what more lovely is Their Sovercign and ours what I have done To Thee great Jesus gave me leave to his Own Self to doe Wherefore no more admire That I grow warm now I come neer thy fire 120. My Warmth is pure as is its spring in thee I mix'd it not at all with other fires And onely on thy Zealous Pietie I feast the Hunger of my chaste Desires I am a stranger here and hither come On Loves deer businesse from my British Home 121. But in this Land of Holinesse I meet Such deer Remembrances of Heav'n that I Desire my native Albion to forget And where my Saviour did both live and die Me thinks I heer am neerest Him who is Whither I live or die mine onely Blisse 122. Yet some Acquaintance and Companion I Would gladly gain with whom my foul might live In holy freindships sweet society And mutual Heats of Zeal from Him receive Heav'n puts you in my way and if you be What you appear you will be kinde to Me. 123. This said sometimes to Him her pleading Eye Sometimes to Heav'n She turn'd and by that mute But most mysterious Importunity Sollicited her earnest bashfull suit Urging by this her yeelding silence more Strong Arguments than she had spoke before 124. Mov'd with her soft Expressions and her Tears For these flow'd out as thick and sweet as they The Man gives credit unto both and cheers His clowded Looks and cries O happy Day Which hast discover'd unto Me a Breast Of Heav'ns pure dove the chaste unspotted Nest. 125. Pardon dear Stranger pardon my Mistake And be no longer in that Name to me What recompence I can I vow to make To thy misprised slandered Pietie I at thy bounteous Offer catch and will Both thy Desire and mine own Joyes fulfill 126. Rare are those friends as Birds of Paradise In this unworthy world but seldome seen Whose Harts in one no other Cement ties But heav'nly Zeal and Love and had I been As good as I am vile thy Offer were Worthy to be unto my Soule most deer 127. If by the royall Law of our great Lord Pretious in our esteem our Foes must be O what Embraces must We then afford To them who Us out vie in Charitie Come gentle Soule and this chaste Token take That to thy Wish my heart I pliant make 128. Here by an Holy Kisse for that of old The Symbole was of Christian Consent He seal d his Words then reverently took hold Of her right Hand and down the Mountain went Leading Her to his Dwelling whither she Went cheerly on fearing no Treacherie 129. Into the Vulturs Nest thus slies the Dove Thus to the smiling Shelfs the Ship doth run The stranger thus to the enchanted Grove Goes for delight Thus to the fatal Den Of the fair tongu'd Hyoena skips the Lamb The Childe thus leaps into the playing flame 130. Come to his House Authades for his Name Was so pray's Psyche not to take it ill That since she in a busy season came His sacred Office He did first fulfill Before on her He waited But said He The work though great will soon dispatched be 131. In his eighth journey Phoebus now did run Since his first-born Authades did enjoy Who by the rule of his Religion Was bound to circumcise the Childe that Day Which with a consecrated knife of stone He did and gave his own name to his Son 132. The Infants Wound the softer heart did slay Of Psyche who strait wrep'd and knock'd her breast And then with indignation turn'd away But cunning He perceiving how his Guest Dis-rellished her welcome to her stepp'd And 〈◊〉 first demanded why shee weep'd 133. In sullen silence she made her Replie Compos'd of Frowns and of compleat disdain Till forc'd by his milde Importunitie She gave her angry Tongue a liberal Rein Shame on my credulous Love which thus said she Bewithc'd me to the Den of Heresie 134. Are you
the Faith of Reasonable Men That which against all Reason doth conclude And founded is on Contradiction Sure God so strange a Law did never give That Men must not be Men if they Beleeve 215. No 't was not God but Man who made that Law And by enacting it usurped more Than God-like Power on those he won to bow Their Superstitious Necks to this new Lore By which to brutish Sottishnesse they are Enslav'd who free by Christian Title were 216. 'T is not enough forsooth that We beleeve Mary the Mother was to Jesus but Into the bargain too We must receive That she a Virgin still remain'd And what More ready Way her Sons Birth to deny Than by continuing her Virginity 217. If she a Mother be she must be so But if a Virgin she a Virgin is And he that can in One tie up these 〈◊〉 May reconcile the Poles into a Kisse May Midnight in the face of 〈◊〉 throw May cement in one Centre I and No 218. Yet well it were had Mary been alone The subject of this holy Nonsense But With greater impudence upon her Son It ventured and madly forging what All Rational Creatures cannot but Detest This as the sacred Rule of Faith profest 219. For though the Marvell-mongers grant that He Was moulded up but of a Mortal Metall And that his Substance was the same which we Finde in our Selves to be so weak and 〈◊〉 Yet an eternal God they make Him too And angry are that We will not doe 〈◊〉 220. Thus the quaint Madnesie of a dreaming Brain Holds the same Thing a Mountain and a Mite Fancies the Sun Lights royal Soveraign To look like swarthy and ignoble Night Imagines wretched Worms although it see Them crawl in Dirt illustrious Kings to be 221. But Heav'n forbid that we should so 〈◊〉 And think our God as poor a Thing as We How can Eternity be born in Time How can Infinitude a Baby be Or how can Heav'n and Earths almighty Lord To AEgypt flie for rear of Herod's Sword 222. Can He be hungry who doth All Things feed Can it become the King of Joy to weep Can He the God of Spirits refreshment need Can He who is all Eye e'r fall asleep Can Man the Prince of Power Crucifie Can He Lifes everlasting Fountain die 223. Such Gods as these indeed were Jupiter Mars Saturn Neptune Mercury Apollo And all that Rout to whom the Pagans rear Their cursed Altars And must we goe follow Such goodly Leaders and our Pleasure take Religion worse than Atheisme to make 224. Sure God is much beholden unto them Whose glorious Faith hath been so carefull to Heap all those vile Indignities on Him Which they Themselves abhorr to undergoe If God be such a wretched Thing no more Will I and 't is no proud Word Him adore 225. But He is as Impassible as They Would make him weak and poor He cannot bow To yeild his high almighty Selfe a Prey To our Infirmities who crawl below His super-glorious most refined Nature As far from Suffring is as from a Creature 226. I know they strive to mince the Matter by Distinguishing His Natures for their Art Being asham'd of no Absurdity Himselfe from his own Selfe presumes to part Yet we durst not admit a Deity Which must on a Distinction builded be 227. But how much more than mad their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And how transcending Pagan Blasphemy Who not content to make a God of this Both 〈◊〉 and mortal Jesus try To thrust him into one Substantial Knot With his eternal Sire who him begot 228. Two yet not Two but One these Two must be Nay and a Third into the Knot they bring The Spirit must come in to make up Three And yet tnese Three be but One single Thing Thus fast and loose they play or ev'n and oda And we a juggling Trick must have for God 229. If God be One then let him be so still Why jumble We We know not what together Did all the World not know their God untill This old Blinde Age discover'd Him Did neither The Patriarks Beleeve nor Prophets See Aright because they took not One for Three 230. I and my Brethren are full well content T' aspire unto no other Paradise Than that to which those Holy Hero's went Whose Faith knew no such curious Prodigies No Faith 's a grave and sober Mayd and she Loves neither Quirk nor Trick nor Forgerie 231. Let Love and Duty make of Christ as high And glorious a Thing as Wit can reach Provided that against the Deity No injury nor Sacriledge they preach If onely on such Terms He lov'd may be Him to neglect is Pietie say We. 232. But We neglect him not who merits more Of Us than all our Reverence can pay Our Necks we bow unto his gentle Lore And his Commands ambitiously obey Love is his blessed Law and hated be Those who contemn so sweet a Lord as He. 233. You see how freely our Profession We Impart to Strangers being confident That honest Truth can never shamed be Yet whether you will bow downe your consent Unto our Doctrines I uncertain am And therefore will no further lavish them 234. For if your Faith relies on Men who are Themselves but founded and built up of Dust If you by Reasons Rule disdain to square Your Pietie and take your God on Trust Which Heav'n forbid you onely are a Prize Unto Imposters fair-tongu'd Fallacies 235. He ceased here When Logos louting low His fawning head to Psyche gave her Joy That she had met so grave a Doctor now Whose radiant Knowledge might light her the way To genaine Truth through those thick Foggs which here Make dim and black Religions Hemisphear 236. And take good heed said He sweet Madame that You serve Him not as you Authades did O what substantial Arguments and what Religious Motives hath he mustered In this concise Discourse whose depth might well Be owned by the holiest Oracle 237. Psyche whose tender Heart not long agoe Would have abhorr ' d this venomous Language more Than doth the Lamb the Wolfe or Lyon who Nothing but barbarous Death to it doth roar Had now forgot her pious jealous fear And knew not what it meant to be aware 238. Haeretick Poyson she already had Suck'd from Authades which no sooner wun Her fond Hearts Approbation but it made An open Chanel for more streams to run Into Her Bosome Thus an Army by One little Breach poures in its Victory 239. She yeilds to swallow the Cerinthian Bait And thanks unto her Murderer strives to pay Dear Sir said she your solid Reasons Weight Doth on my Heart such sound Persuasion lay That needs it must submit and study how To be for ever gratefull unto you 240. Scarce had she spoke but loe her Doctor who Espyed Phylax flying thither took His hasty leave but pass'd his Promise to Meet her again and bad her for him look The next day there Alas the Cheater was Afraid the Angel might his
Daughter and thou dost resist The course of thy Designe whilst thou dost shut Out Arts and Sciences the Wings whereby Proud Spirits as well as Generous soar high 33. But if thou choosest Virtues craggie Way And dar'st despise whate'r Thou see'st beneath If thy dull Bodies Burden cannot sway Thee downward if this Life to thee be Death If high thine Aim if heav'nly be the Heat Which doth in thy Heroick Bosome beat 34. Right generous is thy Enterprise but yet Strong Difficulties throng about it thick Bold inbred Dangers will encounter it Whilst thy wilde Passions all against it kick Nay thine own Heart unlesse thy Care be great Will Traytor prove and its own Plots defeat 35. Besides All They whose Bosomes tainted be With banefull Sins Contagion will joyn Their malice in a fell conspiracie Thy single Piety to undermine For all thy Virtue checks and chides their Vice And Thy fair Glories shame their Villanies 36. Thou art their Scandal and their Fame doth call Upon their deepest wariest Cares for aid Against that Blot thy Beauty throwss on all Those who of Virtues Hardship are afraid What Weapons wilt thou finde to force back them How shall thy Vessell strive against the Stream 37. Yet through this rampant Sea of Opposition Couldst Thou force ope thy way What wouldst Thou doe Against those stouter Billows of Perdition Which foam and roar wherever Thou dost goe Hell and its Prince their utmost Powers combine To terrifie and to enervate thine 38. And sure this Tempest would effect its Spight On thy weak Bark did not kinde Heav'n descend In pare aforehand did not Grace's light With cordial Assistance Thee befriend Did she not steer thy course and bid thee ride Secure upon the most outrageous Tide 39. Thy Life is nothing but a Tragick Sceen Of most inevitable Death if she By seasonable Help comes not between Thy faint Soule and its dire Catastrophe Grace onely doth condemned Man reprieve From fatall Woes and teach his Life to live 40. T was blessed Charis who so fast did move Phylax his Wings when He to Psyche flew And with the wholsome speed of heav'nly Love Her from the Jaws of the Cerinthians drew By shewing her the horror of that Pit Where Heresie and all her Brood did sit 41. But Phylax from that Grotreturned now His Chariot takes again and her with it Straight Gitton and Samaria sunk below For warned by the motion of their Bit The lusty Coursers took their sprightful wing And justling through the Clouds away did fling 42. As Psyche wonder'd whether they would flie She found her Selfe rapt to a gentle Sphear No Winde durst ever venture up so high Nor blow up any Tempests tumults there The onely Gales which in this Orb did move Were the delicious Breaths of Heav'n and Love 43. The onely Clouds which there did meet her Eye Thick Volumes of religious Ineense were The onely Noise which rooled through that skie Were holy Echo's that to her did bear The sweet Resounds of those rich Anthems which The Throats and Hearts of joyfull Saints did stretch 44. She mused much to think what Creatures were Inhabitants in that calm Sea of Blisse When loe a Troop of glistering Towers drew neer As her swift Chariot further on did presse And straight a goodly Palace fill'd her Eye With large and high-erected Majesty 45. Directly thither for they knew the way The Coursers speeded neighing as they slew But Phylax pluck'd the Reins to bid them stay When neer unto the outer Gate they drew Then lighting with his Virgin-pupill He Warnd her to ponder well what She did see 46. Never said he my Dear those Eyes of thine Though they have travell'd through the World so far Were honored with Object so divine As these with which they now saluted are No Pile e'r swell'd to such bright statelinesse All Princes Courts are Cottages to this 47. That pompous Fabrick which great Davids Son Built for a greater King was poor and plain If it be brought into comparison With this Magnificence which here doth reign As Shaddows doe the Substance so does that But blindly intimate this Temples state 48. The Gold which shin'd the Stones which sparkled there Were all th' ignoble Sons of dirty Earth But these substantial Glories flaming here Owe to Heav'ns Wombe their most illustrious Birth Nor was the Work atcheiv'd by Mortal Hand Which firm as Immortality doth stand 49. Hadst Thou my Wings and through the Sphears couldst flie Heav'ns most imperial Palace there to read That Spectacle would onely feast thine Eye With a more ample Copie wider spred And fuller drawn a Copie of what here Is written in a smaller Character 50. Mark well its Situation Caucasus The Alps th' Athlantick Mountains Ararat Noble Olympus nobler Lybanus Are in their highest exaltations not Halfe so sublime as is this royal Hill Which almost in both Worlds at once doth dwell 51. It s Head thou see'st to Heav'n next Neighbour is And upon Hell its Foot is surely set On Hell which often has repin'd at this Oppressing Burden and oft strove to get Its neck from under it but still in vain The Powers of all that vexed Pit did strein 52. For loe the Mountain's all one solid Rock Compacted in the Strength of Unity Though Hills of Brasse should yeild unto the shock Of Violence though Earths vast Base should be Shouldred out of its place this Mount would stand And laugh to scorn them who against it band 53. So stands the craggie Promontory sure With head erected high above the Storme When all the Windes against its Site conjure And thousand Waves with high-swolln fury arme It stands and sees the Blasts blown out of breath And all the 〈◊〉 shattered beneath 54. But mark the fabrick of this outer Gate And tell me if thou ever saw'st a more Unlikely Passage to a Court of State Strong the Materialls are but yet the Door Is built so low and so extreemly narrow That Worms not Men seem fit to scramble thorow 55. And Worms indeed the Passengers must be Poor thin and humble Things which enter here Big puffing Pride must never hope that She Shall through this Portal crowd or Worldly Care Swelld with Incumbrances and lagg'd with Sin At this small mystick Needles Eye thrust in 56. He whose unhappy Bosome 's stuff'd with Gold Whilst all his Baggs lie heaped in his Heart He who in Fat and Ease himselfe doth fold And never was shrunk up by any Smart Too burlie is to enter here and fit Through Hells wide-gaping Jaws alone to get 57. All secular Impostumes which doe rise From any Humors Superfluity From any Lusts or any Vanities From inward or from outward Luxury Can at this humble Passage finde no room But damm the Way to all that Laden come 58. This said He led the 〈◊〉 to the Gate Where though she shrunk and closely gatherd up Her selfe within her Selfe yet still to great She found her bulk that she was 〈◊〉 to stoop
Servants they are proud to be 166. She who all over written is with Scarrs Laden with Palms and clothed round in Blood Fcclesia s Champion is ten thousand Warrs She waged hath and valiantly with-stood Hells and Earths Opposition her Name Is Martyrdome her Story highest Fame 167. That plain look'd Mayd whose course and simple Hue Seems to discredit this illustrious Place Is Poverty who though to outward view She shineth not with any courtly Grace Yet is within as gorgeous and as fair As on their Outsides her Companions are 168. For Jesus who the Heart of Things doth see Was so enamored of her Beauties that He chose to dwell with her alone when he Enter'd upon his Theanthronick State And found her Worth so high that he 〈◊〉 Her to Ecclesia when he hence Ascended 169. The next her Sister is Obedience Thou never saw'st a Twigg more 〈◊〉 to bow Nor Wax more pliant than unto her Prince In all her Mandates she her Selfe doth show A Will she had once of her own 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gave it her Queen that so she 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 170. For prudent as she was right well she knew What an edg'd Tool is every 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which oft makes its enslaved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Its 〈◊〉 freedome whose 〈◊〉 to quell The 〈◊〉 way she found was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It to a Wiser 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lo there Virginitie her 〈◊〉 O who Can count the Graces which 〈…〉 Which all about her dainty Body 〈◊〉 In 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Heav'n deeply tell 〈◊〉 love with Her and she As truly is 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Indeed the old acquaintance We have 〈◊〉 With 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 makes Us what We are Unto 〈◊〉 their 〈…〉 She sets Us free from all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 〈◊〉 Us leave to 〈…〉 The busines of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 which smilesh in her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with heroick 〈◊〉 For though bold 〈◊〉 be 〈…〉 A common Bridle and 〈…〉 That Hand he 〈◊〉 which with 〈◊〉 might Is furnish'd and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 But there stand 〈◊〉 far more noble yet Stars of the first and fairest 〈◊〉 Stars unto which the whole Word is in 〈◊〉 For that Commanding 〈◊〉 which hath 〈◊〉 That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 All Nations its 〈◊〉 Prisners 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That awfull Maid 〈◊〉 glorious 〈◊〉 Before whole look the World made haste to bow And take the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon Its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou by that Mark 〈◊〉 know Obrave 〈◊〉 which hast out 〈◊〉 The Course 〈◊〉 the Glories of the Sun 176. This is the Ladie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The faithfull Hands or whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pretious store was put that 〈◊〉 All pious 〈◊〉 might be anured where They should not 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or their dear Lord 177. But at her back 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apparent Her 〈◊〉 when to 〈…〉 Yet 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 The glory her great 〈…〉 And 〈◊〉 turns the 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She in whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Is most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She whose quick-sighted 〈◊〉 doth wonders see 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Age before they be 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whose 〈◊〉 doth d well A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sweet and 〈◊〉 too Which 〈…〉 〈◊〉 is that 〈◊〉 which at 〈◊〉 Not in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 181. The fift the Mistrels of profounder 〈◊〉 Than 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 knew She 〈◊〉 no 〈◊〉 nor Herbs to take her Part Nor any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plants doth brew But by her 〈◊〉 or her commanding Breath Knows how to 〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉 and Death 182. The sixt whose ready and officious Eyes Her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth speak Is she who on the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With reverent distance waits she who doth take The care or those who did not Chartitie Keep open house would no where narboured 〈◊〉 183. The 〈◊〉 whose stature is so high and fair Whose Snoulaers are to broad whose breast to 〈◊〉 Whose joints wei-knit whose bones wel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But stronger 〈◊〉 her Heart may be 〈◊〉 by there 〈◊〉 Marks to be no other but brave 〈◊〉 which in the 〈◊〉 is set 184. See'st Thou the 〈…〉 Can by 〈…〉 And yet 〈…〉 185. She in their proper Dialects can trade With all the World and Heav'ns Wares set to sale No Sound to Sense a Dresse was ever made But she with it doth strait acquainted fall And can discover whither it doth sit Upon that senses shoulders right and sit 186. Unhappy Babels Antidote is she And cures the Wound which there did Tongues divide All Languages doe in her Lips agree For to her single Tongue they all are ti'd So are their Virtues too and Eloquence Dwels there in all its kindes of Excellence 187. But now behold where at the Queens right Hand As best deserving that illustrious Place A 〈◊〉 Virgin than all these doth stand Who 〈◊〉 Soveraigns Gallantrie doth grace A Virgin 〈◊〉 than her native Home 〈◊〉 silver Sphears whence she did hither come 188. Loe she from head to foot all naked is As are the Sun by day and Stars by night Her Selfe she with her proper Beams doth dresse As they with their Attire of natural Light True Beauty never outward help did lack 'T is Shame alone which Clothes doth usefull make 189. Who ever thought the Rose or Lilie stood 〈◊〉 of course unhandsome Nakednesse Because they never put on borrowed Hood Content with their own native Sweetnesses Or where shall Ornaments be found which may In a new beauteous Garb such Things array 190. Beleeve it Psyche She doth but retain Her Countries Fashion They whose Blisse it is In heav'n above eternaly to reign Professe no other kinde of Dresse but this They Naked goe of every thing which might Hide those fair Beams which them all over dight 191. A Texture all of Glory soft and white 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Virgin Soule doth her surround 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can in the high-noon Face of Light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of ink in stoods of Milk be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may a Critick hope to spie in her 〈◊〉 Roab of Nakednesse a sound 192. That Nakednesse which though it breeds Desire In All whose Hearts are not of obstinate Stone It kindles none but sweet and spottlesse Fire In whose pure Fornace brave Devotion Learns with more sprightfull fervencie to glow And 〈◊〉 it self refin'd doth grow 193. But ô what generous Powers flame in her face Pouring her Conquests upon every Eye The hardiest he that e'r on Her did gaze Yeilded and lov'd his sweet Captivity Error her selfe though swell'd with Pride and Hell In her sweet Presence willingly doth 〈◊〉 194. Her Name is Truth and what her Love and Care Judge by the Tokens which her hands present That Volume which doth in her left appear Is the original Old Testament That in her right the New which unto her By Those who writ them first committed 〈◊〉 195. For every Leaf of them a Mirrour is Where She doth read her own unspotted Face No line is there but truely doth expresse Some correspondent Lineament of Grace In her sweet Body whose all-lovely Looks Are nothing but the Life of those dead Books 196. Bold Haeresie has often in that Glasse Presum'd to
Wheel in her hand rolled not In Gods it did and upon that would I Rather than on mine own said she rely 274. Logos into her Closet She did call Where with grave Countnance thus she Him bespake Thou see'st with what exact Obedience all My vulgar Subjects on their Necks doe take My heaviest Yokes and far far be it Thou 〈◊〉 loyall Love to Me than They shouldst show 275. If common Herbs and Grasse can learn to give Faithfull Attendance on their Lord the Sun What Candour can the Marygold repreive From Censure and from Shame if she alone Whom Nature joyneth unto Him so neer Refuse her constant Duty to preferr 276. Couldst Thou have e'r imagined that They My other Servants could have found such dear And full Content when I on them did lay Such loads as slew at first their Hearts with fear Yet now Tranquillity and Joy and Blisse The fruit of my seveer Injunctions is 277. To Brutish Dulnesse being neer of Kin Their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reasons sweetest Plea And hard it was for heavy them to win Upon their carnall Selves and bow to me But Thou art Reasons Secretarie and Her Will and that is mine dost understand 278. Yea and thy Load is lesse than theirs but far Greater thy Strength No Arrow with such speed Snatcheth its shortest journey through the Aire No Lightning with such nimble Wings doth spread Its selfe about the World as Thou canst Flie Ev'n to the Crest of all Sublimitie 279. Abuse not then that brave Activity By hankering and flagging here below Stout-winged Eagles ne'r were made to be Companions unto Dunghill flies O how Wilt Thou thine own Worth answer if thine aim Thou take'st beneath thy selfe and thy high Name I 280. Alas these sublunary Matters be So 〈◊〉 of Emptinesse that wretched They Will shrink and melt into meer Vanity When thou beginst to grasp them Never play At such poor Game which will but mock thy pains So far are they from answering Thee with Gains 281. Learning which looks so big and nods 〈◊〉 Upon illiterate Swains could never yet Beyond that self-tormenting Wit attain Of seeing cleerly its own Want of Wit Whilst Simple Soules are never vexed by Those stinging Checks of learn d Simplicity 282. Yet no disdainfull Knower e'r can gain That Admiration which ambitious He Hunts for with studious and pale-fac d pain Unlesse his Auditors unlearned be Art wonders not at Art but Ignorance Alone the fame of Learning doth advance 283. What are the busy Scholes but a perplex'd And implicated Maze in whose Meander With thousand knotty scrupulous By-paths vex'd The ever-doubting Student's forc d to wander Learning her Self's a Circle and the Soule Can finde no rest where it must always 〈◊〉 284. Had any Rest dwelt there thou hadst not in Ecclesia's glorious Hall 〈◊〉 how all The Patriarchs of 〈◊〉 Wit did 〈◊〉 Upon the Chains which held them there in Thrall And roar in helplesse 〈◊〉 That they had 〈◊〉 so to be 〈◊〉 285. What Gains reap'dst thou thy Selfe when thou didst sow In the Cerint hian or the Nazareen Soil When Heav'ns Instruction Thou away didst throw And with fond earthly Wisdom didst beguile Thy better Knowledge In thy Blush I see Confession of that costly Vanitie 286. But ask thy Memory and she will tell Thee what thou undertookst when thou wert freed From fair-tongud Heresies foule-hearted Hell Didst Thou not then intirely make a Deed Of thy whole Selfe to Me which still doth stand In force I 'm sure I cancell'd not the Bond 287. And now Performance I require nor will I bate a Tittle of the Obligation If this strict Course involved any Ill To thee I would admit thy Deprecation But thou art Bound to thine own Happinesse And Heav'n forbid that I should Thee dismisse 288. What could Indulgence towards Thee be now But most malitious Tyranny in Me Sooner among the Clouds shall Dolphins row And Eagles flutter through the de epest Sea Than I will accessory be to thy Enslaving Freedome and Selfe-felony 289. No thy perpetuall Task henceforth shall be In the soft Air of Heav'n thy Wings to stretch Say not they are too short for Constancie Of Exercise will quickly make them reach And Thee enable gallantly to rise And sore amongst the Birds of Paradise 290. Amongst those Birds who on the royall Face Of the eternall Sun of Majesty In meek audacitie for ever gaze Reading his mighty Providential Eye And all those other Marvels gracious He Will let created Contemplation see 291. These shalt thou see and fix thy studie there But ever with this Caution that thine Eye Trust not its own Powers which are weak and bleat But on that never-erring Glasse rely Which in Ecclesia s Court to thee was given Truthes mirrour and the Spectacles of Heav'n 292. Thy vast Capacity can onely there Meet with a Feast sufficient Thee to fill Where thou hast free leave to fall to that Cheer Which wouldst thou 〈◊〉 the whole World could not sell That Cheer whose Worth s above the World as far As its Exuberance and Dwelling are 293. Leaps not thy Soule at this If any where Thou canst discover a more worthy Prize I 〈◊〉 not command thy Strength to wrestle here But since all other Treasures this outvies I must not suffer Scorn to say of thee Logos could Reason finde a Fool to be 294. And that Anqmuesis thine Hand-mayd may Advance thy brave Adventure upon Her My strict and peremptory Charge I lay To see no Trash pollute her Register For many a Toy which wears an harmlesse Look Will easily defloure her virgin book 295. Wilde Fancy would be tame did she not finde A thousand Shapes of vain and uselesse Things Wandring about the Store-house of the Minde Upon whose backs she gets and madly flings About the Region of the Brain when Sleep In her blind Arms doth Thee a Pris'ner keep 296. All fond Romances and all wanton Songs With Idlenesses Bus nes tickling News Which swarm so thick upon unwary Tongues And Mans sole Treasure pretious Time abuse Must not that Bosome clog and pester where Heav'n is desir'd to be a Sojourner 297. No Heav'n is large and our poor Hearts are narrow Heav'n will our utmost Stowage fraught and more The ample Breasts of Seraphs could We borrow Still in Capacity We should be poor Still by the full-tide Wealth of Piety Our highest Banks would overflowed be 298. That Knowledge which doth its due Tribute pay To Sanctity I will not Her forbid But her prime care and task shall be to lay Up store of that pure heav n descended Bread Which Manna's famous Bounty doth outgive Teaching frail Men eternal Lives to live 299. That Bread which flourish'd from the Mouth of Blisse Gods sacred Word the reverend Scriptures where Wisdomes best Jewells and the rich Excesse Of purest Knowledge all enshrined are That living Mine of Oracles that spring Of every sober-heart-contenting Thing 300. Such pretious Eloquence ne'r made its hive On any Romane or Athenian
she ended Began her Praises and Congratulation Joy joy deer Pupill of this Morn said he Which hath dispell'd thy Night of Misery 51. I see what reason thou hadst to be sad Beyond my Comforts reach because I see The sweet Occasion which hath made thee glad Such mighty Greif could onely chased be By that Meridian Almighty Ray Which drives the Life of Woe ev'n Death away 52. The high Excesse of his 〈◊〉 Joy Would let him speak no more but spuir'd him on With Kisses and Embraces to allay The dainty Wrath of his strong Passion Full close he chain'd her in the tender Bands Of zealous Love his blessed Arms and Hands 53. 〈◊〉 Mayd who would not to this 〈◊〉 Belong in debt thus in a snnle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 begging of my 〈◊〉 you 〈◊〉 But for my Thanks they must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hence to be full and 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 best he 〈…〉 54. Surely the other Day you were the same Which you are now in every Ornament Of gratious Sweetnesse when you hither came And your best Cordials did to Me present But clownish Senselesse I could not embrace You 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 landy r offred Grace 55. Had this Behaviour quench'd your Love to Me. To none but my rude Selfe had Blame been due Yet you with faithfull patient fervencie More carefull still and still more render grew My Greif you to your Selfe assum'd as you Were able 〈◊〉 for Me with Tears did slow 56. Though Thy Heav'n and Earth abandon was And psung'd into the Cull of Desolation To own Me in 〈◊〉 despicable Case You blushed not but by your high Narration Of what Love 〈◊〉 to releive my mart Endeavored to cheer my drooping Heart 57. Well I remember how I then forgot My selfe and you how dead and cold I lay Before that flaming News which might have shot Life into any Soule but mine away I turn'd my foolish head from that which through A thousand Deaths would run after now 58. For ô my indefatigable Friend I feel your sweetnesse thrilling in my Heart Which there with Charis Intluence doth blend And a new Soule unto my Soule impart Forbid it Heav n my Mind should e'r forget Thee who hast help'd to raise and double it 59. When Earth denies her Vapours to repay To Heav'n whose Bounty sent her down the 〈◊〉 When Fountains bid their posting Curronts stay Whose Thanks were slowing to their mother 〈◊〉 When Building scorn their freindly 〈◊〉 Will then neglect thy 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In this 〈…〉 Then Words and Killes sweetly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Till the 〈…〉 Which common Mortals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 61. And now her high and holy busines she Perform'd no more with cold and fruitlesse pains But mounting up with cheerly Fervencie Reap'd in the middle of her Work its Gains For now she knew her Prayers welcom'd were Into her Spouse's ready open Ear. 62. Phylax mean while by Heav'ns appointment flew To learn her Parents fortunes out which He No sooner full sow but fir'd with new Excess of Joy he back return'd when she From her Devotions rose and thus display'd His blessed Message to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 63. News Psyche happy News for now I come From holy Valours Sceen that signal Place Where thy Uranius his brave Martyrdome Of late atcheiv'd and finished his Race That Race thou fear'dst had been too hard for thy 〈◊〉 Parents limping 〈◊〉 64. But at the Stake I found them Bothe where they Before the face of Heav'n and Earth to thy Sole charge that Resolution did lay Which fir'd them to contemn those Flames for by Our Daughters Zeal said they this sacred heat In our old froazen fearfull Veins doth beat 65. That heav'nly Answer from the Dungeon she Gave to our cruel kindenes though with shame It sent Us weeping home yet instantlie Those causeless tears it dried by this flame Of Christian courage whil'st admonish'd by Our second thoughts our first we did defie 66. And Heav'n require her wheresoe'r she be Who whil'st we tempted her idolize Did nobley fright Us from Idolatrie And reach Us how We safelier might 〈◊〉 Both Life and Death than Jesus who alone Holds over both supream Dominion 67. Then let Him shew it now the Solaiers 〈◊〉 Kindling the Pile and shouting loud that they In spight or Darknesse thus could turn the Tide Of Night by Christian Bonfires into Day O Blessed pair said I who in a new Marriage thus joyned are and hither 〈◊〉 68. So Phylax spake When Psyche ravish'd by This unexpected Bliss could not contain The pious Fountain of her joyfull Eye Nor her Tongues sweeter stronger streams restrain Abundant Tears she shed yet larger far Her thanks to Jesus and her Praises were 69. But as she oft had wearied been before With heavinesses mighty Burden so Surcharged now with joys exuberant store She laid her down in sweet submission to This pleasing load and sunk into the deep But soft untroubled Gulfe of do why sleep 70. When Charis upon whose eternal Eye No Slumber ever creeps begun a new And heav'nly work for with Activity About Imaginations Orb she flew And cull'd and cropp'd those Fancies here and there Which for her purpose serviceable were 71. Thus furnished with all Materials she In the fair Theatre of Psyche's Breast By orderly Degrees the Gallantrie Of her incomparable Pageant drest She first reard up a goodly Throne which might Out-vie the Hyperborean Snow in White 72. Forthwith she placed on this royal Seat A Prince who gave more Beauty unto it No Monark ever in more awfull State On his imperial Chair of Gold did sit Indeed all Potentates but shaddows be To this authentick Soveraigns Majestie 73. His copious Robe down from his Shoulders flow'd Unto his Feet with streams of gracefulnesse A Girdle of illustrious Gold which ow'd Its birth not unto Earth but Heav'n did kiss And closely hug his blessed Paps which yet In goodly Richnes far outshined it 74. No 〈◊〉 labour ever made so white The finest Wool as was his daintier Hair Which poured down the 〈◊〉 of its bright And Silken Curles with curious careless Care About his Alabaster Neck which stood Like a white Pillar in that Snowie 〈◊〉 75. As in their venerable Sockets on The sacred Altar glorious Tapers flame So look'd his Eys whose reverend Beams alone About the Temple of his Face did stream And made his Countnance like the Suns when he Is a wfull in his High-noon Claritie 76. The most resin'd Corinthian Brass which in The bosome of the slaming Furnace lies Doth not with more illustrious l error shine Than from his burning Feet of Glorie sties Thus was this radiant King from Foot to Head With supream Majestie embellished 77. Innumerable Angels then she brought To furnish out his Court and fill his Train These all their Stations took as quick as Thought And with their golden Trumpets in a strein Which through the roused Universe rebounded The glory of their mighty Soveraign founded 78. But his bright Standard to the open Air She poured out in
the Man who crouched to the Place Of Jesu's Cross and him your Lord did call How come you now to wear a Jewish face And with your Circumcision tool cut all Your Christian Mask in peeces Blinde were I As was your zeal could I this crime not spie 135. Had you Beleev'd that Jesu's blood was shed To wash the stains of all the World away Your cruel Heresie had not made red Your Infant in his needles blood to day Who had been purer had you washed Him In a much gentler flood pure Baptisms stream 136. I see what reason my wise Guardian had To be so jealous of my staying here Why He so solemnly appeared sad When I was merry and refus'd to feare He knew black Satan would himself array In heav'nly puritie Me to betray 137. Here she was flinging out But fawning He By the great Cross of Christ and geater Name Pray'd and conjur'd her pious Charitie His unexpected action not to blame But to defer her Censure and to hear With patience how He could his cause declare 138. Such power had that reverend contestation On Psyche's tender heart that she relents When 〈◊〉 He after long Commendation Of her soft candor tels Her He repents That He his Declaration did not make E'r He that solemn work did undertake 139. Then to a private Chamber Her He brought That no Disturbance might his ends prevent And by all Ceremonious service sought To entertaine her thoughts with kinde content For on a silken Couch when she was set With softer language thus He gan the feat 140. Sure now dear stranger thou art quit with me And hast repay'd me in my proper Coin I for 〈◊〉 Instrument suspected thee Thou for an Heretick dost me define But I recanted and if thou doe so Quit on the other side We may be too 141. If head-long jealousye for proof should passe What thing so perilo us were as Innocence What must we think of our great Saviours Case Who for a Devil slander'd was and whence Shall We acquit his Wise Apostles who In the fond Worlds esteem for fools did go 142. Thou prov'dst not what my sudden fear did speak Nor am I such as thine did me present Truth can her selfe cleer and transparent make And never fail'd to yeeld compieat content To those whom Prejudicies poyson had Not first envenomed and partiall made 143. Know then that I am one of those whose breasts Are consecrated to that Lord whom thou Alone adorest and permit no Guests To thrust in thither who will not allow That gentle Soveraign to domineer And reign without all contradiction there 144. That poor comtemptuous place whence glorious He Vouchaf'd to take his sirname is the same Whence 〈◊〉 his humilitie Our Common Title We his followers frame Too high for Us the Stile of Chrastian is Plain Nazareen our Ambition doth suffice 145. Unto the Dictates of his royal Law With universal Meeknesse we submit Whilst others but by halfes will deign to bow As Makers they not Subjects were to it All hard and costly Precepts they refuse And leave that Burden for the slavish Jewes 146. They tell the World how they a Patent have Writ in the Stile of Christian Liberty By which Heav'ns King to Them Commission gave To break the Bonds of Legal Slavery And a wise King the while they make Him who Allowes them what his Law forbids to doe 147. And is not this a brave Religion where There is no room for any Charge or Pains Cunning and thrifty its Profeslors are Who in their own Hands moderate the Reins Which on their Necks should lie who as they please Dispose their Discipline to their own Ease 148. And yet 't were well would they their Charter show Which makes them Free States and vouchsafe but to Declare what in the new-deliver'd Law Doth crosse and disannull the old that so The World might Satisfaction gain and we Be made Partakers of their Liberty 149. For we know no such Thing But this we know That Jesus who is Author of the New Was Institutor of the ancient Law And upon Sina's Head his Trumpet blew To wake the World and warn it to give eare Unto the Precepts which he thunder'd there 150. And did he then Retract what he before Oreained had Was Circumcision then Commanded to be exercis'd no more Upon the tender Infant-Sons of Men O no such Changings inconsistent be With a wise Gods Immutability 151. Like his own Selfe his Laws eternal are And need no Reformation or Corrections Our inconsiderane Lawgivers here Infect their Laws with their own Imperfections And both may mended be But surely 't is Proud Blasphemy to say so of Him or His. 152. But his Example is full Explication Of his own Laws And what did righteous He When fitted by his blessed Incarnation He could like Us to them a Subject be Did not he set the Seal of his own Blood To Circumcision that this Law was good 153. His Presentation in the Temple shews His cleer submission to the Law which there Professed was Nor did he e'r refuse To solemnize the Festivals which were Legaly Sacred or when he drew neer His End forget to keep the Passover 154. Let others cast the blustering scare-crowe Name Of Heresie upon our genuine Zeal We trust we never shall repute it shame To tread His Steps to whom we all appeal As to our onely King and surely he Cannot but own those who his Followers be 155. The Gospel Laws Weequaly Imbrace And though my Son I Circumcised yet I cut him not off from Baptismal Grace For in that Laver we our Children wet That in this double Sacramental Stream Of Blood and Water they to Christ may swim 156. We grant that where the Circumcision 〈◊〉 Blusheth not to oppose and uselesse make That venerable World-redeeming Blood Which from the pretious Veins of Jesus brake The Sacrament's Heretical But we Teach it more meek and mannerly to be 157. If now we of too Much Obedience seem Guilty to thee Convince Us of our Sin 'T is plain thou hast an hopefull pleasant Theme And easily upon our Hearts may'st win If Truth fight with Thee for what Man is he Who by just Licence would not conquer'd be 158. He ceased here But as the loathing Vine Though in the Colewort she can plainly read No hostile Quality doth yet decline Her Touch and any 〈◊〉 Shrub or Weed Will rather hug with all her Arms then by The least Imbrace approve that Company 159. So Psyche though she could not easily show The venome of Authade's Sophistric Yet could her heart not possibly allow What she could not confute Much rather she Would with fell Adders hisses fall in love Than the intent of his discourse approve 160. For Discontent still gather'd up her Brow Still nauseous neglect stream'd from her eye Still on her Guardians Words she thought and now The Serpent had his Poisnous suauity Displayd and his enchantment finished She wav'd her Hand and turn'd aside her head