frown on Thee who betray'st its Son The Lord of Life to Death thy Saviour to Most sure most undeserv'd Destruction Into one Bolt let all Gods Thunders goe And on thy cursed Heart his Justice throw Which scorned all the Mercie He could show 226. That Stroke will send Thee down into thy Place Of Death but yet of never-dying Pain Where melted with the flames of this my face Thy thirty silver Peeces I will drain Into thy Heart that Thou mayst shreik and roat Whilst there they burn and boile for evermore 227. This said th' infulting Prince of Tyranny In scornfull Spight with-drew being confident Maturity would get her Wings and flie To overtake his Plot yet e'r he went Seav'n times he thresh'd the Conscience with the flaile Of his enormous poyson-pointed Taile 228. As when the Deluge in great Noahs time Broke out upon the World and with a Sea Of universal Woe surpriz'd the Crime Of that impenitent Age their Misery To those unhappy Mortals op'd their graves In Desperation first then in the Waves 229. So Judas taken in this mighty flood Of deepest Anguish had no power to think How to escape or that his Saviours blood Might drown that sea in which he fear'd to sink O no! the thought of that dear blood alone Pour'd on his face Guilts blushing Ocean 230. Since long ago his Trust He rather built On Money than on God he durst not hope That Mercie now could reach his heightned guilt And thus by fear to impudence set ope The way for by this dread of goodnesse he Gives flat defiance to its Lenitie 231. And now sees vengance aiming at his head And his foule Treason flying in his face He sees the whole Worlds anger marshalled Against his odious crime He sees the place Deep in the heart of Hell where damned He Designed is for evermore to be 232. With that his Cloths his Hair his Flesh he tore He roar'd he rav'd and thus to cursing fell May that unhappy day be read no more In any Calendar but that of Hell Which to this balefull Life did me betray A Life to living Death the dying way 233. Curs'd be my Father who did me beget Curs'd be my Mother who did me conceive Curs'd be my Nurse because in every Bit She mix'd not Poison which might Me repreive From this most damned Night And cursed be All sicknesses which would not murder me 234. Curs'd be this Hand of mine which oft has had A Knife and yet forbore my throat to cut Curs'd be these Feet which oft their way have made Over the brows of Precipices yet Would never stumble that I might have fell Then but to Earth who tumble now to Hell 235. Curs'd be that Day which me acquainted brought With Jesus and enroll'd my ominous Name Amongst his Chaplanes Cursed be that thought Which spur'd me to the Priests to trade with them Curs'd be the project which hath curs'd me so Curs'd be the Bargain and the Chapmen too 236. Curs'd be this Garden upon every bed May fatall Hemlock Woolfbane Poppy grow May Vipers Adders Basilisks be spred In every corner on each Tree and Bough May Ravens and Scritchowls dwell that something may Resemble Judas here another day 237. Another day ô no! may thickest Night Upon this Sceen of Treason ever dwell That neither Sun nor Star may reach their light More unto this than to the other Hell The bloody beams of Ghosts and Furies will With fittest lustre this black garden fill 238. But may the deepest of all Execrations On you my thirty silver torments fall How shall I be reveng'd on your temptations Which thus have drown'd me in a Sea of Gall Is there no way base pale and paltry Clay How I may you as you did me betray 239. Shall I take you along with me to Hell And hold you fast amidst my endlesse flames Or send you back unto your former Cell The High-Priests wicked Bag surely this seems The blacker and the deeper Pit and I Thither again will damn you instantly 240. This said Like that tormented Man in whose Possessed heart a Legion of Feinds Did tyrannize He to the Citie goes Where in the Temple he his Chapmen findes Unhappy Temple which was now Possest With them as was with Satan Juda's Breast 241. With hideous yelling he amongst them ran Flinging about his hands his head his eyes And having strein'd his ejulation Wide as his throat could reach O Me he cries My sin burns in my breast and domineers Too high to hope for quenching from my tears 242. No Expiation does that Altar know Which for my deep di'd guilt can satisfie The stream of Jesu's blood so full doth flow On my unpardonable Soule that I Am drown'd for ever in my deep offence Being Condemned by his Innocence 243. Take your vile Money and my Curse with it May all Heav'ns wrath your bloody Bargain crown Here with indignant furie having spit On Them first on his Silver next and thrown It at their hated Heads away He flung Raving and Cursing as he ran along 244. For all the way he thought he struggled through An Army of reviling Detestations Over his head he both his Arms did throw To sh heild it from his own Imaginations Through which from heav'n and earth such arrows flew As wounded Him at every stop a new 245. For Melancholy dark as is the Pitch Which on the throat of Hell so thick doth grow Chok'd every glimpse of Sense and Reason which Offer'd to dawn in his Soules sphear and show Him by what torturing Mistakes he had Himselfe unto Himselfe a Tyrant made 246. Thus came He to a secret silent Place Without the Town yet could not think it so For still he fancied all the City was Hot in the chase of Him 〈◊〉 Saviours Foe Each Bird or Flie that moved made him start Each Winde that puffed blew quite through his heart 247. His Eyes distracted were first looking up For fear least Heav'n should fall upon his head Then down least Earth her dread full Mouth should ope And snatch him to his grave e'r he were dead Till tired with this fear his breast he stroke And into right down Desperation broke 248. Adieu all hopes he cries and fears adieu Come Veng ance come my heart is ready here I see how vainly I my Money threw Back to the Priests whose burden still I bear The Rust sticks close and heavy still upon My knawed Soule and I must be undone 249. If Heav'n be just why does it yet delay To poure its Wrath on my deserving head Am I not Judas He who did betray Its onely Son Is not my Conscience red With his most innocent Blood and yet must I Be still endur'd to live when He must die 250. At least great Satan doe not thou deny Thy Servant Pay for this grand Work which He Hath compass'd with unparalleld Treachery In high obedience to thy Hell and Thee No Soule did ever more than I have done Nor ernd
ne're have kindled their own flames So all the Rays of Goodnes which make fine Created Eyes are Sparks of the Divine 328. Meer Sparks indeed who of their weaknes by Their twinckling tremor plain Confession make But Gods supream original Bonity From its own Home doth its Dimensions take It lives and flames in his unbounded Breast And fils with sweetest fulnes all its nest 329. Heer The lema leap'd in who now had found That God alone was absolutely good And fain she would her ravish'd self have drown'd In this delicious Attribute's deer flood But Psyche reind her in whose life she meant Should in another sacrifice be spent 330. Her fourth days Task was wonderous hard and high For now her thoughts adventured to look On the vast Volumes of Immensitie Which were the sacred admirable Book Of her great Makers face a Book which made All Heav'n and Earth to lesse than Nothing fade 331. But as her Contemplations wander'd here The further they went on the further they Were from their end and in their boundlesse Spheat Lost both themselves and their increasing way Yet Psyche found her Heart fill'd with Delight Thus to be lost from Morning unto Night 332. Oft did she cry What though by Loosing I Am fain to finde and by being Blinde to See What though I cannot Comprehend but by Granting mine own want of Capacitie I am content dear Lord since I by this Negation thy Greatnes doe Confesse 333. I see thou art Immense and Infinite Therefore I see thee not yet see thee more By this unable and denying sight Than they whose saucy Eyes dare by the poor Comparison of whatsoe'r it be Expresse the Measure of the Deitie 334. But since thou art so great ô mighty Lord. Whence is it that Mans narrow Heart to thee An acceptable dwelling can afford How is it that thy Eave's Immensitie Shrinks up thy Nature's which is yet as great As 't was before ev'n in this litle seat 335. The fifth day summond all her Might to view The matchlesse Power of the Deitie Strait in her face the whole Creation flew With witnes of its Author's strength which she Read from the fairest Heav'ns sublimest Crest Down to the gloomy Centre 's lowest Nest. 336. And though the universal Fabrick were The full Expansion of Magnificence Yet oft she chose the smallest Character Of close short-writ Epitomies and thence Observ'd Gods finger-worke in little flies As great as was his Arms in widest skies 337. But Man took up her deepest Admiration Man the rich extract of all things beside The wondrous Juncture of the whole Creation By which the Heav'n unto the Earth is ty'd Yea more than Heav'n for God unto the Creature Is married by none but Humane Nature 338. Yet not content thus at the second Hand To feed her hungry Meditations she Gallantly made a further venture and Gaz'd on her Makers naked Potencie Where she discover'd strength enough to build More Worlds than Atoms she in this beheld 339. No Bounds nor Bars she saw which could forbid The pleasure of his Hand but onely those Which Contradiction had established Yet they were not his Power to enclose But to demonstrate that his noble Might Could nothing doe but what was True and Right 340. O how she pittied those Princes who Upon exterior helps misplace the Name Of strength and dread not what all foes can doe If they have once prevail'd with vaunting Fame To publish to the World their numerous Force Of Castles Ships Arms Money Men and Horse 341. For what are those swoll'n Names unto a King Whose Arms as short whose Sinews are as weak As are his meanest Servants who can bring No Legions into the field nor wreak His challeng'd furie on his ready foe Unless His be his Subjects Pleasure too 342. Can his sole Word the Battell fight and wrest The Laurell from his strugling Enemies O no his Power doth in Others rest More than himself and if by Mutinies Unhappy Spark Rebellions flame breaks out By his own Strength his Overthrow is wrought 343. But Psyche saw how her Creators Might Fast unto his own Will alone was cham'd Omnipotence when e'r he pleas'd to fight 〈◊〉 all his Marches for it reignd In 〈◊〉 vast Hand which doth support and stay All other Arms from mouldering away 344. Yet though thus Potent He is also 〈◊〉 And She as such the sixt Day Him admired Deeply she weighed how all Ages held One Principle of Boldness and conspired Against their Patient God as if his strong Right-hand were bound because He held his Tongue 345. Amaz'd she was to see how He kept under Incensed Justice who would fain have thrown His ready Veng'ance dress'd in dreadfull Thunder In Warrs in Plagues in Drought in Famine down Upon the wretched Heads and Hearts of those Who durst in spight of Mercy be his Foes 346. Indeed she saw that Mercy fix her Eye Upon the Rainbow where she seem'd to read An Obligation of her Lenitie Though Heav'n-defying Sin bore up its Head Never so high Yet by her own Consent Yea and Desire that Signall Bow was bent 347. The Bow was bent yet not to shoot but show How Mercy bound her self to doe her best The World to shelter from a second Blow Which from the first her onely Love releast Else had the Deluge not repented and To Earth made restitution of drie Land 348. This Speculation inform'd her how Much more heroick is the Victory When Sweetness wreaths the Bay about the Brow Than when plain force doth snatch it thither He In whom both are supreme takes more delight In conquering by his Mercy than his Might 349. And ô may I said when Night at length Warn'd this her Meditation to conclude Not by the Dint of thy all-conquering Strength Dear Lord but by thy Mercy be subdu'd If on a Worme thy Power thou wilt trie O let it be the Might of Lenity 350. But then the seavnth Day gave her Thoughts their cue To trace the Wonders of his Glory which Did from the antecedent Week accrew And with transcendent Brightnes Him enrich Brightness which gave Heav'ns Quire their task to sing Eternal Hallelujahs to their King 351. And ravish'd heer with mighty Joy and Love She needs would take with Them her Part of Praise With utmost Zeals intension she strove Her Acclamations to their Key to raise And though she could not sing so high nor clear Yet did her Musick please Heavn's candid ear 352. She Thought and Sung and then she Thought again For still new floods came rouling in upon Her God's other Attributes illustrious Train Themselves in Homage pay unto his Honour In whose incomparable Vastness they Can all their owne Infinitudes display 353. What ever breaths or lives or has the least Share of Existence constant Tribute brings Unto this Treasurie as well's the best And brightest Cherub yea ev'n empty Things Defects and Sinns though not by Doing yet By Suffring what they merit render it 354. And shall
〈◊〉 nor ever failes to hit Its blessed Marke whither on Prayers Wings Or Contemplation's it takes its flight And there with busie Angels rank'd it sings Admires adores and studies to forget There is a Breast below which look's for it 110. How often has his fainting Body made Complaint of his injurious Piety How often has it cri'd I am betrayd My life and spirits all away do flie And smile in Heav'n whilst I below am left To live this Death of death and life bereft 111. That Cave his Palace was both safe and strong Because not kept by jealous Door nor Barr Those Groves his Gardens where hee walk'd among The Family of Dread yet knew no feare Fear 's proper Region and Dominion is A guilty Breast more than a Wildernesse 112. Those Bears those Boars those Wolves whose irefull face Strikes Terror into other Mortall Eyes With friendly Mildnesse upon him did gaze As on old Adam in calme Paradise They slandered are with Salvagenesse No spleer They owe to Man but onely unto Sinne. 113. So wilde so black and so mis-shap'd a Beast Is Sinne that other Monsters it doe hate As a more monstrous thing then they and cast About how to revenge it But the Gate And Looks of Purity so reverend are That dreadfull Beasts wait upon it with feare 114. The beams of this Angelick Life at last Broke out and summon'd in the Admiration Of all the Countrey Man that runder Beast Convinc d by these Examples learn'd their fashion Behold that thronging Rout which hither flies See how they stare and scarce beleeve their Eyes 115. These Deserts nothing lesse than such do seeme Being crowded from themselves and now become Judea's Towns and fair Jerusalem Which hither have remov'd their populous Home What now has John lost by his private Cell To which whole Towns and Cities flock to dwell 116. And having now so fair an Auditory The noble Ermite is resolv'd to Preach Behold sayes hee the Dawn of that great Glory Which to behold the Patriarks did reach Their Necks and Eyes through many a shady thing In your Horizon now begins to spring 117. O faile ye not to meet his spotlesse Beams With undefiled Hearts for such is He And will Baptize you with refined streams Of searching Fire Then first be Wash'd by Me My Water for His Fire will you prepare As must your Tears for this my Water here 118. Observ'st thou Psyche how that silver stream It s limpid selfe doth through the Girdle winde This Jordan is looke how the People seem At strife who first should enter in to finde A better Baptism in those floods which may Their fruitlesse Legall Washings wash away 119. But mark Who standeth there how sweet his Eye How delicate and how divine his Face Embellish'd with heart-conquering Majesty Wert thou to choose thy Spouse would'st thou not place Thy soul on Him 'T is He ô no it is As much of him as Jewells can expresse 120. To be Baptiz'd but not made clean comes He Who is more spotlesse than that living Light Which gilds the Crest of Heav'ns Sublimity He comes to be Baptized and wash white Baptism it selfe that it henceforth from Him And his pure Touch with Puritie may swim 121. As when amongst a grosse ignoble Croud Of Flints and Pebles and such earth-bred Stones An heav'n-descended Diamond doth shroud Its Lustres brave ejaculations Although it scapes the test of Vulgar Eyes Yet a wise Jeweller the Gem descries 122. So John his Master straight discovered And Heav'n forbid that worthless I cries He Should wash a thing more bright then it and shed These lesse clean Waters upon mighty Thee Dear Lord my great Pollutions bid Me fall Prostrate and unto thee for Baptism call 123. If I be Lord thy gentle Spouse replies Pay then thy Duty to my first Injunction It must be so This Mandate did suffice The Saint and He submits to his high Function Cast but thine Eye a little up the stream Wading in Chrystall there thou seest them 124. Old Jordan smil'd receiving such high Pay For those small Pains obedient hee had spent Making his pliant Waves ope a drie Way When numerous Israel into Canaan went Nor does he envy now Pactolu's streams Nor Eastern Floods whose Paths are pav'd with Gems 125. The Waves came crowding one upon another Unto their Lord their chaste Salute to give Each one did chide and justle back his Brother And with contentious foaming murmur strive To kisse its Maker and more spotless grow Than from its Virgin spring it first did flow 126. But those most happy Drops the Baptist cast Upon his Saviours head return'd with Joy And to the Wealthy Ocean making haste Amaz'd the Treasures which there heaped lay The Deeps look'd up and op'd their richest Breast To make these Guests a correspondent Nest. 127. See there thy Spouse is on the Bank and more Than Heav'n come down and pitch'd upon his Head That snowie Dove which perched heretofore High on the all-illustrious Throne of God Hath chose this seat nor thinks it a Descent Upon such tearms to leave the Firmament 128. And Heav'n well witness'd this strange truth which at That wonderous instant op'd its mouth and cri'd This is my Darling Son in whom are set All my Joyes Jewells O how farre and wide That Voice did flie on which each Wind caught hold And round about the World the Wonder told 129. This businesse done to Court the Baptist goes Where lusty Sinnes as well as Herod reign Long Sanctity had made him fit with those Proud Enemies a Combat to maintain He who does nothing but his Maker fear Against all Monsters may proclaim a War 130. Behold how Pomp besots great Herod there O what impostumes of fond Majesty Pride puffs into his face Dares there appeare A Censor now a just Truth to apply Home to the King and tell him that his Eyes Should rather swell with Tears his Breast with sighs 131. Yes there the Heav'n-embraved Baptist is Who feareth not but pittieth to see A Prince made subject to vile Wickednesse Great Sir the Match unlawfull is cries He O farre be it from Kings to break the Law For whose Defence so strong their Scepters grow 132. Since to thine own Commands just duty Thou Expect'st from these thy subjects Let thy Neck Not scorn to thine own Makers yoak to bow The Precedent may dangerous prove and wrack Thy Throne and Kingdome if thy People read Such stat and high Rebellion in their Head 133. Thy Brothers Wife to Him as neer is ti'd As He himselfe ô teare Him not in sunder You murder Him alive if you divide His Heart all one with Hers The worst of Plunder Is Mercy if compar'd with this which doth By tearing off one Halfe unravell both 134. God who has this Enclosure made and Her To Philip given still hath left to thee And thy free choise an open Champain where Millions of sweet and Virgin Beauties be Adorn thy Bed with any
ground But all together A thousand Doubts did rosse poore Psyche up From one side of her thoughts unto another Three times she op'd her mouth but jealous Feares Would suffer Her to speak by nought but Teares 137. Which when Arenor 〈◊〉 he with his Eye Gave 〈◊〉 Commission to speak She marching forth with port and majesty Loves 〈◊〉 Deceit did somerhing greater make And Well I know great Queen said she that You Much wonder I should come a Treater now 138. T is true you sent me with expresse Command To force the head-strong Rebells back againe And make them feel that your illustrious Hand Is moderatrix of the 〈◊〉 Rein. And I indeed took them for Rehells too So much your Error upon me could doe 139. But when I found their Lovalty as clear As Slander fain'd it blotted I who was Dispatch'd by You but as the Officer Of Right and Justice had no power to passe My strict Commission and what need I prove What was so solidly confirm'd by Love 140. I must confesse when I had mark'd that Store Of honest Bravery of which poor they Were with the Senses robb'd I could no more To their provok'd Impatience Treason lay Than unto Tellus if in chinks she ope Her Mouth at Sirius who her flowres burns up 141. Yet they were generous and unto Me The choise of all their choisest Wealth did profer That by my hand it might commended be To wait on you And here their Gift I offer If it and them you scorn yet must not I Be guilty of such Inhumanity 142. Forth with she op'd the Scene whence streamed out The confluence of that gorgeous Fallacy Which on her heedlesse Selfe before had wrought Straight as the sweetly-rolling Tide grew high The Stream bore Psyche down as sudden Light Instead of day seizeth the Eyes with night 143. Agenor seeing she was dazeled by The flash of those Varieties arose And while she rubb'd and questioned her Eye To the Imposture adds this specious Close Wonder not Madame but repent that you Your Subjects goodly homage scorn'd till now 144. I am content the weaknesse of your Sex Be your excuse if now you can relent To ease the yoak which gaulls your Subjects Necks And crown their just Demands with your Consent That Pitty I unto their Wrongs did lend To your repented Error I 'le extend 145. The love which to mine own Queen feals my heart Makes it unto all other Ladies kinde For her dear sake I will to you impart Rich testimonies of my tender Minde I know she 'l thank me when I come at home That in my Mercy I have made you room 146. Behold my Mine of wealth From hence will I This Peace with pretious Tokens consecrate And will hereafter owne your Majesty As my Confederate Though prevailing Fate Makes me a Martiall Prince I 'd rather win By sweetnesse than by churlish force a Queen 147. Then ope your Gates Or if my Kindnesse be A Price room an to buy our Acceptation Tell me but so I can more easily Force than Intreat This warlike Preparation Did with more pains win on it self to make This Pause than it will cost your Fort to take 148. What help for Psyche now whom Power drives And Charms allure to her Destruction With heart-misgiving Thoughts a while she strives And struggles how she may not fear the One Nor love the other But away at last Her Resolution and her selfe she cast 149. Vain Son of Dust pull down thy foolish Crest And in this Glasse thy feeble Wormship see Who will commit unto thy wavering trust Another thing when by Self-treachery Thou yeildest up thy wretched Heart a Prize To them whose Power in thy Concession lies 150. I like the Terms right noble Sir she cries And must for ever in my high esteem Inshrine and reverence these Courtesies Which from your sweet Magnificence doe stream Then to the Gate she hasts and to begin Her thanks flings it wide ope and calls them in 151. Agenor sheath'd his mighty Sword and bid The Passions all perform what He had done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Order they first entered 〈◊〉 with his swelling Train Himselfe drew on And seem'd to cast a sirly Look aside 〈◊〉 the Castle Gate was not more wide 152. With Princely slownesse thus march'd in at last Her royall Seal He Her desires to set To those Conditions which before had past And in a gilded Scroll were ready writ She ran it over with a smiling Eye And straight set seal to her own Miserie 153. Then unto Thelema the Instrument She gave with full Commission to shut Her Ports when Charis or when Phylax bent Their courses or their projects thither But For Logos she consented He should still Remain a Pris'ner at the Passions Will. 154. With that My seal to this Pacification Agenor cries this Friendly Kisse shall be Mean while the Passions with joynt Acclamation Salute their Soveraigns Eare as courtly He Her Lip And fond she joy'd their Noise to hear Which all her freedome did in pieces tear 155. By name she bad them welcome all but on Agenor dwelt her Thanks and Complement And sure said she what you to day have done Proves you to be of that sublime Descent From which my Spouse was said alone to spring Who would not swear that you were Peace's King 156. Power reigns in both His Hands the Armory Of Heav'n where Thundering Ammunition lies In dreadfull Store is His yet gentle He By sweetnesse loves to gain his Victories And so doe you who for His sake to Me The noblest Prince and dearest are but He. 157. Agenor smil'd And Whosoe'r I be Repli'd sweet Queen I have no time to show More than by this blest peace 〈◊〉 what you see This 〈◊〉 of my royall Love to You. The World may need Me some where else and I Must not by loytering here my help deny 158. Yet if my Aid you should hereafter want Send and enquire at any Prince's Court And think not that Agenor now 〈◊〉 vaunt Unto such Inns I make my chiefe resort Nor fail I of due welcome for the best And Noblest Place is proud of Me its Guest 159. His Present was two Cabinets which when His Pages had set down He took his leave From her soft lipp through which He breathed in What her unwary Heart did not perceive Slie Spirits of Self-love and Foolish Pride And many mystick swelling things beside 160. With earnest Courtesie she woo'd his Stay But now his deep Defign was compass'd He With all his gorgeous Train made haste away And leaves her more a Pris'ner than when she Was in her Castle close barr'd up by Fear Of them who now all play'd the Tyrants there 161. Each Passion takes her swindge and does appeal To Thelema when any Doubts arise Boldly provoking to the Scroll and Seal Which did this publike Freedome authorize Thus Noise and Tumult every corner fills Of Psyche's court which all with Revells swells 162. So when fond Phebus doting
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
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
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
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
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
I onely be a barren Tree When all the World besides so fruitfull is Forbid it mighty King of Souls said she Let not thy Psyches Heart the glory miss Of honouring Thee although my life it cost That life 's best saved which for Thee is lost 355. Much time in this Imployment having spent She chang'd her Task but not her Industry For next her Contemplations she sent To wait upon her Spouses Majesty The Marvells of his mighty Love to read Which over her and all the World was spread 356. And here with sympathetick Exultation And amorous fervor she her Soule did melt For in the tract of every Speculation His Acts and Passions in her Breast she felt Which alwayes Sad or Cheerly was as she His Sorrows or his Joyes in thought did see 357. A longer Pilgrimage she now did make And travell'd all the way with more Delight Than when by Phylax's Conduct she did take To holy Palestine her Zealous flight Longer she dwelt on every Monument Of what her Lord for her had done or spent 358. A thousand times she sigh'd and wonder'd why Brisk generous Spirits who hunt noble Stories Through all Books else should not be ravish'd by The Lustre of the Euangelick Glories But more exactly strave to know the List Of Casars Acts than what was done by Christ. 359. She sigh'd and wonder'd how a Christian Heart Which did not give its blessed Name the lie Could possibly forbear to snatch its part In its Redeemers noble History How Love could quit its loyal selfe and yet Not know whatever of its Spouse was writ 360. But all this while on Logo's Wings she flew Though sometimes Thelema did flutter by And these were much too short and weak she knew To towre and double that Sublimity Which makes Perfections third and highest Story The Crown of Saints and all the Angels Glory 361. She therefore taking Thelema apart With all the winning Art of Courtesie Devised first to charin her mighty Heart And make it plyant to the Plot which she Had laid to catch her into Blisle And then She gently grasp'd her hand and thus began 362. O Thou the dearest of my Servants who Dost wear the Keyes of all that I possesse Yea and of Me thy native Soveraign too Who have no power to stir abroad unlesse Thou op'st the Door How doe I wish that I Had more to trust with thy Fidelity 363. But since I neither am nor have no more Let this suffice to binde thine Heart to Me In gratitude thou canst no lesse restore Than prest Complyance though I ask of thee Some hard and costly Matter so to prove The rate and value of my Steward's Love 364. But I my proper Interest can bate And by my Subjects Gains account mine own What e'r advantage doth inhance their State I take it as Accrewment to my Crown They are my Riches nor can I be poor So long as they increase their teeming Store 365. All I desire shall onely be That thou Wouldst venture to imbrace thy highest Blisse And now dull Sense and Passion valiant grow Now Logos through all Heav'n so busie is Not Flinch alone nor be content to stay In any lower Region than They. 366. Remember that thy Wings of Strength are made And that no Flight's too high or long for thee That nothing ever made thy Courage fade Unlesse thy Selfe didst timorously agree To thy Defeat Henceforth be brave and bold Thou canst not fail if thou but holdst thine Hold. 367. Jesus the Soveraign Lord of Thee and Me Will give thee leave to make Himselfe thy Prey Reach then thine Arms of noble Love that he Imprisoned in thy Imbraces may Thorough thy happy Heart his Sweetnesse thrill And with the best of Heav'n thy bosome fill 368. If this Adventure thou esteem'st too high Throw down thy Selfe before His blessed Feet He cannot let thee there despised lie But with his ready favour thee will greet And for that Resignation of thing Hug and imbrace thee till thou prov'st divine 369. This gallant Challenge wrought so strong upon The generous Heart of Thelema that she The forwardnesse of her submission Forthwith profess'd upon her bended Knee And Heav'n forbid said she I should deny Your Pleasure or mine own Felicity 370. Though not at Jesu's royal Feet ô no I am too vile to aime my Pride so high Yet Madame here at yours my Selfe I throw To be accepted and disposed by Your Love and Wisdome Use Me as you please Loe I return you yours and mine own Keyes 371. Triumphant Joy straight flam'd in Psyche's Breast The Virgins ready Loyalty to see Whom she embraced thrice and thrice she kist And sweetly forced to rise from her Knee Then all her 〈◊〉 she took which to her side Weeping and Smiling in one Knot she ti'd 372. And now I feel my Selfe a Queen said she A Queen indeed Yet be assured thou O faithfull Mayd shalt finde thy Selfe more free By this Subjection than when thou didst bow To thine own Inclinations which have To Vanity full oft made Thee a Slave 373. Exalated thus unto her own Desire Into her pious Oratory She More cheerfully than ever did retire To celebrate a new Solemnity An Holocaust she hastes to sacrifice For which her own brave Zeal the Fire supplies 374. Did golden Mountains tempt her now to stay Did Millions of Worlds made up in one Inestimable Bait lie in her way And woo her but to let one Minute run Before She fell to work not all the force Of those strong Complements could stop her Course 375. No She of joyous Love in travell is And feels the dainty Pangs of Parturition Till she brings 〈◊〉 her mighty Sacrifice 'T is not all Heav'n can ease her smart condition Speed Speed alone would usefull be she knew Whose Wings she snatch'd and to her Bus'nes flew 376. A Preface then of thousand Sighs and Tears Before her brave Oblation she spred As many Groans unto her Soveraigns ears Like Harbengers of her Designe she sped Then prostrate on the ground her face she layd And of her humble Heart the Altar made 377. Upon this Altar bound both Hands and Feet Her Thelema she for the Offring threw And bend thy gracious Eye said Shee thou sweet And gentle Lamb of Heav'n to Me who sue For thy acceptance of this Sacrifice Which at the footstool of thy Mercy lies 378. Thy royal Bounty gave it unto Me But I alas perceive my Self too weak To manage such a great Estate To thee I therefore render it O gently take It home again and govern it for Me The feeble Handmayd of thy Majesty 379. Doe with it what Thou wilt so it be Thine I care not what betide it for I know Thy Pleasure like thy Self must be Divine O see how it pants and heav's if Thou Wilt not accept it let it lie for Me How can I love what is despis'd by Thee 380. As when the Lightning flasheth from the Skie Down to the ground it
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