The Wise and Prudent and the Courtly Spark Will they direct thee so such counsel give That thou an Hermits life on Earth shouldst live What marry one that in possession hath Not one small house or foot of Land on Earth When Wealth and Honour Dignity and Power Are offer'd to thee as a present Dower Thou may'st be deckt with Bracelets rich and rare And live on Earth free from perplexing care If thou dost look about and take advice And suffer Men nor Conscience to entice Or thee allure such a choice to make Those joys to leave and utterly forsake Which most men do nay all accounted wise Pursue amain esteem and highly prize But if thou hast a thought to change thy state Be wise and stay don't holy Writ relate He that believes doth not make hast O why Shouldst thou have thoughts to mind it presently Come pause a while be not so hot alas By inconsiderateness it comes to pass So many Souls are spoil'd and ruined Be wary then not rashly be misled Nay furthermore I 'le speak to thee again Thou mayst love him and yet mayst thou retain Respect and love to other Objects too Love thy God well but why shouldst thou let go This world with all the precious joys therein But don't mistake thou must leave off thy sin For Holiness I must tell thee is right And very pleasant in Jehovah's sight But know O Soul yet over and above Thy Soveraign Lord and Prince hath set his love So much upon thee that his gracious Eye Will overlook thy smaller vanitie Ne'r doubt but thou shalt have his favour still Though in some things thou satisfie thy will Dost think that he who came down from above And dy'd for thee will ever quite remove His dear affection from thee or e're hate And leave the Soul he bought at such a rate It is enough and happy wilt thou be If thou escap'st all gross impurity Thus the base heart be'ng inflam'd by the Devil Vndoes the Soul No Enemy's more evil Than that curst Foe we harbour in our breast Which all enlighten'd ones have oft exprest Corrupted Judgment blindly would inform her Christ having dy'd her sins can never harm her Alas saith Reason do not all men sin Nay more than this the very best have bin To blame in many things and yet esteem'd As righteous ones and as the Lord 's redeem'd If famous Men of old offenders were What needst thou be so nice what needst thou fear The glorious King is filled with compassion Besides he sees in thee great reformation Thy love to sinful lusts is but in part To what it was and thou must know thou art Plac'd in this world and therefore must comply In some respects with smaller vanity When Reason to the vicious Will gives ear How can the Vnderstanding then be clear When vile Affection thus corrupteth Reason All works and thoughts are turn'd to perfect Treason O see how blind poor Souls by Nature are How vain their thoughts how ready 〈◊〉 insnare Themselves are they with false Imaginations With earthly toys and idle speculations To learn and understand all humane Arts Most apt they are they 'l magnifie their parts How very quick and dext'rous are they when They talk of things that appertain to men But things of God are quite above their sphere Can 't them discern nor do they love to hear Of God or Christ they count that man a fool That daily goes to learn at Jesus's School Vnto the blindness of the natural mind Add this besides most evident you 'l find It doth resist the Truth 't will not receive it Nay 't is incredulous 't will not believe it Apt to believe false tales and stories vain Nay like to Eve 't will quickly entertain Suggestions of the cursed Prince o' th Night But what God says seems evil in their sight Nay more than all this treach'rous faculty Is so deprav'd St. Paul doth plain descry Much enmity to God therein to lie Vnto God's Law it will not subject be For in the mind is great malignity But I must not the Reader here detain Because that our old Friend is come again CHAP. V. Shewing how the Judgment of the Soul comes to be enlightened and the effects thereof Theologue MY patience's not yet tyr'd my bowels move With bended knees shall I now gain thy love To Jesus Christ how shall I leave thee quite When I behold such terrors which afright My trembling Soul wch soon will thee o're-take Unless thou dost with speed this Contract make Thy Judgment 't is which I would fain convince Thy danger 's great I do perceive from thence When Conscience had almost in truth persuaded Thee to repent it was straightway invaded By thy blind Understanding and dark mind From whence thou art to evil still inclin'd Thou ofen-times hadst listen'd unto me And left thy sin but they deceived thee And chang'd thy thoughts as Conscience doth relate Till thy condition 's grown most desperate Wilt thou once dare to harbour such a thought Because with bloud thy Soul by Christ was bought Thou mayest sin and take thy pleasure here And prize the world as equal nay more dear To thee than him How canst thou be so dark This to imagine Soul I prethee hark Did he not bleed and die upon the Tree Thee to redeem from all iniquitie And that to him thou shouldst espoused be Should a great Prince love a poor Virgin so As for her sake ten thousand sorrows know And be content at last when all is done Another should enjoy her for his own Oh! ope thine eyes imbrace the chiefest Good Let him be dear to thee who with his Bloud Hath thee redeem'd from Sin the chiefest ill Be not unto thy self so cruel still And void of Reason foolishly to chuse The greatest Evil and chief'st Good refuse The good in Christ with every state agrees It suits the Soul when troubles on it seize When thou art sick he 'l thy Physician be He all distempers cures Nay it is He And he alone that heals the precious Soul And with a word can make the Body whole Art dark O he can straightway make thee see Nay if born blind he can give eyes to thee If thou art weary he alone 's thy rest Or art thou sad and grievously deprest He is thy comfort and thy joy will be Like to the deep and overflowing Sea If thou an hungry art he is thy food O tast and see and thou wilt find him good The Fatling's slain and all things ready are Thou'â—t welcome too O come and do not spare But freely eat and drink his spiced Wine Wch will make glad that drooping heart of thine The Father calls the Spirit says O come And Christ doth say here 's in my heart yet room O Sinner come to me hark he doth cry O come to me poor Soul why wilt thou die Art thou in Prison he will ope the door He 'l pay thy debts and wipe off
heard a Sacred Story told Fill'd full of Wonders Wonders which unfold Such depths of Wisdom depths of Grace and Love Which none can comprehend it is above The reach of men no knowledg is so high That can conceive of it nay Angels pray Into this thing this Myst'ry is so deep It all the glorious Seraphims doth keep In holy admiration they 'r amaz'd To see how all the Attributes are rais'd In equal Glory and do sweetly shine In their own proper Sphere alike divine Here by diviner Art you all may find What was in our great God's eternal mind Before the Earth's foundation long was laid Or e're bright Sol his glorious beams display'd Respecting Man whom he foresaw would fall And bring his Soul thereby into sad thral Here may you with much ease and joy espy The great result of the blest Trinity In that eternal Council held above About the Soul the object of Christ's Love Here also here 's a proof of true affection And how to love from hence let 's take direction Who ever had or shew'd such love as he Who for his Love was nailed to the Tree But hark some do enquire they long to hear What is become of th' Soul he loves so dear Lo from the Grave he 's come he looks about He searches every place to find her out What is the fled and where in what strange Isâ—â— Of 〈◊〉 and darkness lurks she all this while Good Reader urge me not I 'le let thee hear That which may melt thy Soul into a tear Excuse my Pen for what its lines shall speak Such Marble hearts as cannot melt must break To leave off here I 'm sure it is not fit Nor would I write what you would have unwrit But since it doth upon the Soul reflect It matters not how much we do detect The folly which doth in the Sinner lie When Soveraign Grace exalted is thereby My Heart and Pen seem both to be at strife To paint unkindness forth unto the life Wilt Thou who dost the Muses aid afford Divine assistance that each pow'rful word May rend a heart at least and every line Turn Kingdoms and whole Nations into brine Of their own tears teach me O Lord the skil T' extract the spirit of grief O let my Quil Like Moses Rod make Adamants to fly That tears may gush like Rivers from each eye How can it once be thought that such a Friend Who loveth thus doth thus his love commend And in such sort so strangely condescend Should when all 's done by her contemned be Though he 's most high and she of base degree The grand design the end and reason why This Prince from Heaven came was scourg'd did die Was to redeem the Soul and so endeavour To get her love and marry her for ever As is before declar'd But will you hear How things are carry'd how they manag'd are The time is come you 'l find by what ensues That this great Lord his Suit a-fresh renews When Sacred Love runs thus with greatest force What pity is 't ought should disturb its course How can the Soul refuse to entertain A Lover which for her with shame was slain But stop again my Muse thou must give o're The Prince is come lo he is at her door Jesus Prince of Light Most precious Soul I now am come again Behold 't is I who for thee have been slain How is 't with thee hast thou not heard the news What for thy sake I suffer'd by the Jews That through a Sea of blood and sorrows great I now am come with bowels to intreat Thee to embrace the offer I present And first of all with tears do thou repent That ever thou hast entertained Sin That has to me so very bitter bin Soul Repent This is a melancholly strain It suits with such whose lives are fill'd with pain And guilty are of some notorious crime Whose glass is near run out whose precious time Draws to an end 't is good for such indeed To look about them and repent with speed But thus 't is not with me I know no sorrow I 'le wave that work I 'le wave it till to morrow To morrow I mean till some fitter season I see no cause alas I know no reason To hark to thoughts that may disturb my peace When joys abound and sweat delights increase Repent of what strange kind of voice shall I Amazed stand yet can no danger ' spy JESVS No reason why Ah Soul art still so blind Wounded from head to foot and canst thou find No ground of grief no cause to lay to heart Thy horrid guilt nor yet the bitter smart Which I indur'd for thee to prevent Severer Wrath severer punishment And dost not savour this sweet word Repent 'T is well there 's room a call a season fit There 's thousand Souls who are denied it Dar'st dar'st adventure still to live in Sin What crucifie thy dying Lord agin Were not my pangs sufficient must I bleed Afresh O must thy sinful pleasures feed Upon my torments and augment the story Of the sad passion of the Lord of Glory Is there no pity in thee what no remorse Within thy breast Seek seek a firm divorce Betwixt thy self and Sin do thy endeavour To break that league depart depart for ever Did I not suffer to dissolve the knot Between thee and all Lust and wilt thou not Regard me now but entertain my Foe What cruel unto me and thy self too I prethee Soul bethink thy self and yield And let thy Lovers for my sake be kill'd Ah let them die who if they live will be Thy death at last who have bin death to me Soul Thosâ— joys are sweet which do delight my heart Ah! how can I and sinful Objects part Must gainful Lusts and those which honour's yield At once be put to th' Sword And those be kill'd Which so much pleasure unto me afford How can it be alas it is too hard The thoughts of it's a perfect death to me Lord say no more I cannot yield to thee Jesus Ah! Didst thou know poor Soul what 't is to sin And how my Soul for it has tortur'd bin Thou wouldst revenged be on it I 'm sure And a divorcement speedily procure Or didst thou know what grief it is to me To be contemned and despis'd by thee Such churlish Answers wouldst thou not return To him whose soul fervent love do's burn To thee poor wretch and only for thy good 'T is that I seek and sought with tears of blood Once more I ask thy love I cannot leave thee Until my everlasting Arms receive thee Soul If I may have those pleasures which delight me Whose amorous glances sweetly do invite me To love them dear who stollen have my heart J am contented thou shouldst have some part Of my affection Worldly joy is sweet And I resolve to take some part of it Jesus Ungrateful Soul did I not wholly give My self for thee and shall I now receive
Soul inlighten thee Thirdly Nay once again it 's Nature to declare 'T will sweet Impressions take God's Image bear It bore it once O then how did it shine A glorious shadow of him who 's Divine But now 't is blurr'd and soil'd by filthy dust O 't is defac'd and spoil'd by means of Lust But he who stamp'd it there at first can make It once again a new Impression take He can wash off the soil refine the Ore And make it shine fairer than heretofore O what a glorious thing how rare 't will be When God renews his Image once in thee Lose not the Soul the wax for nought can bear This Image then nor can that loss repair Fourthly The Soul 's glorious Piece wherein doth lie So great an Excellence as doth out-vy All outward Glory for 't is only she That 's capable of so great Dignitie To be espoused to the Glorious Three Strange condescention an amazing thing What joy and ravishment from hence may spring Up unto thee when into 't thou dost pry Will the high God take sweet complacency In such a one What doth he please to chuse Thee for his dear Consort make thee his Spouse May'st thou in Christ's dear Arms and Bosom lie Ah! is the Soul the Jewel of his Eye Can any joy and sweetness be like this Can worldly Comforts raise thee to such bliss What is thy Soul capable of such Union And doth there flow from thence such rare Communion Admire it is not one kiss worth more Than all the Riches of the Eastern shore O! lose not then thy Soul Ah! who would miss Of this sweet Union and Eternal Bliss Fifthly It 's nature worth and rare transcendency Appears in that great iâ—congruity And weakness of all Creatures to suffice it And from this ground great cause hast thou to prize it Nothing but God himself can satisfie That precious Soul which in thy breast do's lie The Universâ—s too little th' whole Creation Will not appease its longing expectation How vast's the Deeps how lotty the desires Of Man's poor Soul above all bounds aspires It seeks it prys and views all kind of Treasure And still it craves its wishes know no measure It walks again it rambles O it flies And ransacks all the secret Treasuries Of Art and Nature hurried nay 't is driven To and fro being restless till to Heaven It casts a look and Jesus does espy And then full soon with greatest joy doth cry O there 's the Pearl I must have him or die Thou must expect no peace there 's nought can still it Nor give it rest till God himself do's fill it Hark to its sighs do not befool and cheat it Nor of its wishings baffle and defeat it For nothing but that God that made it can Suffice the Soul the precious Soul of Man Sixthly What thinkst thou of that price that price of blood Which Christ laid down does it not cry aloud O precious is the Soul it cost full dear Doth not this noise sound always in thine Ear Seventhly Don't Satan's rage his enmity and wrath Against the Soul shew forth its precious worth Take pleasures here and Coffers fill with Coin The Shop with Wares Cellars with rich Wine Let him but have the Soul he does not care Take what you please besides and do not spare He rages when one Soul escapes his paws Ah! that 's the Prize his black and bloody jaws Are open for These Demons grin and swell With venom great and Councils hold in Hell As hath been hinted that by craft they may Catch the poor Soul and this Pearl bear away That that 's the Morsel that 's their only prey Eighthly Its blest Infusion and God's constant care For food and Ornaments which he does spare For to adorn her on th' espousal day Fully declares this Truth therefore we may Amazed stand and wondring all ways cry O precious Soul thy worth and exc'llency Is very great who can it comprehend It 's that which does oft-times to Christ ascend In strong desires and longings O! 't will pry Into all places for his Company She in his sight rejoyces and is glad But when once gone she sighs she mourns is sad All other joy 's but meer perplexity Without his love 't will swoun'd away nay die Nothing but Grace Heaven's off-spring can revive it And nought but sighs of Jesus can â—nlive it These things considered may make thee see Its worth nay more how also 't is with thee Ninthly How shall we prize the Soul what rate shall we Upon her set O what against her weigh Come bring the ballance and now let us try What further worth or preciousness doth lie In the fair Soul 't is done all Golden Ore Of both the Indies are i th' seales yet more We still do want more Riches pray put in All precious Stones and Pearls now weigh agin Alas the ballance flies here yet wants weight The Soul out-viâ—s them all Lord here 's a sight Th' whole world at once is in yet 't is too light Add world to world and heap ten thousand more Were there so many could you find such store Yet would the Soul in worth exceed them far Nay I might multiply and yet not eâ—r Oh! then take heed thou dost not chaffer so To get the World and in exchange let go This precious Soul nor let it be thought strange What shall a Man for 's Soul give in exchange Tenthly She is Immortal O she cannot die Though 't was not so from all Eternity She was created but in such a state Man can't her kill nor hâ—r annihilate Her Beings such hâ—r Life shall still remain Although the body die in bliss or pain Then hast then not good ground to watch ward With wary eye and set a constant guard Upon the portals of the treach'rous heart Lest of this Jewel thou decâ—ived art What Man to gain a shilling would let go A Pearl of such great price and value who Would think that Men accounted grave and wise â—or toys and trifles should their Souls despise Many I fear there be who day by day To gain a Grâ—â—at unjustly givâ—t away Whilst others prostitute it to their lust Nay do by it as by a bone or crust That 's cast unto the Dog for him to knaw This Dog 's the Devil whose wide stretchtâ—out jaw Stand gaping for 't his Eyes are upon all Knowing when e're they sin they let it fall O then take heed and if this Dog should fawn Or wag his Tail let not so sweet a pawn Of future Glory be contemn'd or lost Think think from whence it came what it cost CHAP. VII Christ's Love Epitomiz'd the Old-man wounded Will made willing shewing also the nature of the Soul's Espoâ—sal to Christ IF all that hath been said yet will not move thee To close with Christ I once again will prove thee By making of a brief or short collection Of his sweet Love and wonderful Affection
desires May turn a soveraign Balsam to make whole Those wounds my sins have made in thy dear Soul Ah! wilt thou let me swoun'd away and die Whilst thou standst looking on Lord cast an eye On me for whom thou on the Cross didst bleed Some comfort Lord now in my greatest need No Corrosives some Cordial Spir'ts or I For ever perish must Lord hear my cry Jesus Afflicted Soul the purchase of my Bloud Come hear come hear a consolating Word Shall I who have through sore Afflictions past For love of thee refuse thee now at last No no! I cannot Soul I cannot bear Such piercing moans that wounds my tender Ear Now will I magnifie my Pow'r and rise To scatter thy malicious Enemies I 'le thee enlighten with my glorious Rays And make thee happy happy all thy days Who will betroth or give this Soul to me Let 's Celebrate with great'st Solemnity And glorious Triump the espousal Day Come come my Dear let us no longer stay The Father 'T is in my Pow'r 't is I I give her thee As th' fruit of my own Choice Love and Decree CHAP. VIII The mutual and blessed Contract between Christ and the Sinner Jesus GIVE me thy heart then Soul I do betroth Thee unto me that no approaching Wrath May any ways be hurtful unto thee In Righteousness I thee betroth to me In Judgment also thou betrothed art And all I have to thee I do impart In faithfulness and tender mercy so That thou thy Lord thy Friend God shalt know I do betroth thee unto me for ever And neither Death Nor Earth nor Hell shall sâ—ver Thy Soul from me If thou wilt pay thy vows I will be thine and thou shalt be my Spouse I take thee now for better and for worse Give me thy hand let 's jointly both of us With mutual love tie the conjugal Knot Which on my part shall never be forgot My Covenant with thee is seal'd by bloud 〈…〉 than the Oath at Nâ—ah â—s â—lood 〈◊〉 my folded 〈◊〉 I now do take thee 〈…〉 that I never will forsake thee â—spandâ— cast behind my back and I Will 〈…〉 future inâ—â—â—mitie The Sinners closing with Christ Soul Upon my bended knees I do this day Accept of thee my Lord my Life my Way By whom alone poor Sinners have access Unto the Father nay and do confess Declare pronounce i' th' sight of God that I Do enter now with all simplicity Into a Contract with thee make my Vows That I will be to thee a faithful Spouse O blessed Jesus I 'm as one undone A naked vile loathsom and guilty one Unworthy far to wash the very feet Of th' Servants of my Lord O how is it That thou the glorious Prince shouldst ever chuse Such an unworthy Worm to be thy Spouse O what 's thy Love O Grace beyond expression Doth the great God on me place his affection But sith 't is so this I engage to do I 'le leave all for thy sake and with thee go And in all things own thee alone as Head And Husband dear by whom I will be led And in all states and times will thee obey What ever comes unto my dying-day I take thee as my Prophet Priest and King And my own worthiness in every thing I do renounce and further vow that I Upon thy Bloud and Righteousness will lie On that and that alone will I depend By Faith always until my life shall end I covenant with thee and so I take thee And whatsoe'r falls out I 'le ne'r forsake thee But run all hazards in this dolesom day And never from thy holy ways will stray All this and more I promise shall be done But in thy strength Lord in thy strength alone Th' Solemnity thus ended presently The glorious Prince the Bridegroom casts his Eye Upon the Soul and bound up all her sores Nay healed them and cancellâ—d all her scores But be'ng her self defil'd she soon espy'd A precious Fountain flowing from his side A Fountain for uncleanness to wash in In which she bath'd and wash'd away her sin Then gloriously by him she was array'd With Robes imbroid'red very richly laid With Gold and Diamonds that she did seem Like an adorned Heav'nly Seraphim One Vâ—sture was especially most rare Without a seam much like what he did wear It is the Wedding Robe both clean and white Whose lustre far exceeds the Morning-light And other garments also which she wore Curiously wrought with Silk and spangl do're With stars of Gold or Pearl of precious Stone Enough to dazle all to look upon Which be'ng made up of every precious Grace Did cause a splendent Beauty in her Face That whilst he did behold her could discry His Father's Image clearly in her Eye Which did so please him that he now admires And after this her Beauty much desires O see the change she which was once so foul Is now become a sweet and lovely Soul Her beauty far 〈◊〉 what it had been In ancient days 〈…〉 Eye hath seen So sweet a 〈◊〉 no such Virgin Queen Yet all her Beauty â—ow's but spots and stains To what it will be when her Saviour raigns O hear the melody Angels rejoice Whilst she triumphs in thâ—â— most happy choice Who would not then all Earthly Glories slight To gain a minutes taste of such delight No sooner did Apollyon cast his Eyes On what was done but furiously did ' rise To damp her joy or cause her mirth to cease And by some stratagams to spoil her peace He first stirs up the Old-man's broken force For to estrange her if he can't divorce Her from her Friend yet raises inward strife How to deprive her of those joys of life Which do abound in Lovers every way Betwixt th' espousal and the Marriage-day A thousand tricks contriv'd before had he How to delay or spoil th' Affinitie But if he can't rob us of inward joy Our name or goods or life he will destroy For failing in the first he stirs up Foes To lay upon her persecuting blows He that will follow Christ must look each day To have his worldly comforts took away Besides the Old-man being not yet slain Great troubles in her mind there rose again But her dear Friend so faithful is that he Will never leave her in Adversitie And to the end her joy may more abound A way by him immediately is found To free her from the Old-man's hellish spite He must be crucify'd but first they cite Him to the Bar to hear what he can say Why now his life should not be took away But hear before that 's done how the blest Lover Doth his dread threats and awful frowns discover Against the Foâ—s of her he loves so well Who e're they be Men Lusts or Fiends of Hell He reads his great Commission lets them know He in a moment can them overthrow The dread Power and awful frowns of Jesus Prince oâ— Peace over his Saints Enemies When Man transgress'd 't was I
front y title I. Oliverâ— Scuâ— The Pirgin drest vp in her Gallantâ—â— The glorious state e'th soul doth 〈◊〉 Before the Fall Her outward Robes 〈◊〉 Her inward Beauty was beyond compaâ— But naked striâ—â— when satan did deceive her And Hells wide jaws stood readâ— to receive 〈◊〉 frout y title I. Oliver Scuâ— THE Glorious Lover A DIVINE POEM Upon the Adorable Mystery of Sinners Redemption By B. K. Author of War with the Devil Psalm 45. 1. My Heart is inditing a good matter LONDON Printed by J. D. for Christopher Hussey at the Flower-de-Luce in Little Britain 1679. The PROEM YOV Gentle Youths whose chaster Breasts do beat With pleasing Raptures Love's generous heat And Virgins kind from whose unguarded Eyes Passion oft steals your hearts by fond surprize All you who Amorous Stories gladly hear And feed your wand'ring Fancies by the Ear Those treacherous Delights a while lay by And lend attention to our History A History with Love and Wonders fill'd Such as nor Greece nor Rome could ever yield So great the Subject lofty the Design Each part is Sacred and the whole Divine If you its worth and nature well shall weigh 'T will charm your Ear your best Affections sway And in dark Minds spring an Eternal Day My Muse is rais'd beyond a vulgar flight For Cherubs boast to sing of what I write I write But 't is alas with trembling hand For who those boundless Depths can understand Those Mysteries unvail which Angels do With dread Amaze desire to look into Thou glorious Being from whose Bounty flows All good that Man or does or speaks or knows Whose Altars once mean Turtles entertain'd And from the mouths of Babes hast strength ordain'd Purge with thy Beams my over-clouded mind Direct my Pen my Intellect refine That I thy matchless Triumphs may indite And live in a due sense of what I write And you dear Sirs that shall vouchsafe to read Charity 's Mantle o're my failings spread High is my Theme but weak and short my Sight My Eyes oft dazled with Excess of Light Yet something here perhaps may please each Guest 'T is Heavenly Manna though but homely drest Paul became all to All and I would try By this Essay of mystick Poesy To win their Fancies whose harmonious Brains Are bettrr pleas'd with soft and measur'd strains A Verse may catch a wandring Soul that flies Profounder Tracts and by a blest surprize Convert Delight into a Sacrifice How many do their precious time abuse On cursed products of a wanton Muse On trifling Fables and Romances vain The poisoned froth of some infected Brain Which only tend to nourish Rampant Vice And to Prophaneness easie Youth entice Gilt o're with Wit black Venom in they take And ' midst gay Flowers hug the lurking Snake Here 's no such danger but all pure and chast A Love most fit by Saints to be imbrac'd A Love 'bove that of Women Beauty such As none can be enamour'd on too much Read then and learn to love truly by this Vntil thy Soul can sing Raptur'd in Bliss My Well-beloved's mine and I am his BOOK I. CHAP. I. The Excellencies and Perfections of the glorious King the Lord JEHOVAH discovered Shewing how he had but one Son the express Image of the Father the delight and joy of his Heart and of the glorious and eternal Design of this most High and Everlasting JEHOVAH to dispose of his Son in Marriage Moreover how the matter was propounded by the Father and whom he had chose to be the intended Spouse Shewing also how the Prince readily consented to the Proposal and of his first grand and glorious Atchievements in order to the Accomplishment of this happy Design IN the fair Regions of approachless Light Where unmixt Joys with perfect Love unite Where youth n'ere wasts nor Beauty ever fades Where no disease nor paining-grief invades There reigns and long hath reign'd a mighty King From whom all Honours and all Riches spring His vast Dominions reach from Pole to Pole No Realm nor Nation but he could controul So great his Pow'r there never yet could be An absolute Monarch in the World but he What e're seem'd good to him he freely did And nothing from his piercing Eye was hid To him the mighty Nimrods all did Bow And none durst boldly question What dost Thou Justice and Wisdom waited on his Throne And through the World his Clemency was know His Glory so Illustrious and Bright It sparkled forth and dazled Mortals sight Immense his Being for in every Land He present was and by each Soul did stand No Spies he needed for Intelligence In Foreign parts to bring him Tydings thence And vain to him was Court-dissemblers Art He saw each corner of the subtlest heart View'd acts unborn and plain discoveries wrough E're labouring Fancy once could mould a Though Beheld mens minds clearly as were their faces And uncontain'd at once did fill all Places His awful frown could make the Mountains shak And Stoutest hearts of Haughty Princes quake All things were his who did them first compose And by his wisdom doth them still dispose To serve his Friends and to destroy his Foes His Azure Throne with Holiness is spread The pure in heart alone his Court may tread No vitious Gallant Proud Imperious Vain In Court nor Kingdom will he entertain He 's th' essence of true Vertue spotless pure And no ungodly one can he endure No wicked person to him dares draw nigh Though ne're so Rich so Mighty or so High 'T is Righteousness his blessed Throne maintains Who all Injustice utterly disdains Nay Holiness doth this great Soveraigne cloath And such as weare it not his Soul doth loath But above all the Glories which did wait Upon this High and Peerless Potentate His Pity did the most transcendent prove Matchless his Power but greater still his Love Such bowels of Compassion ne're were known Nor e're such proofs of vast Affection shown His kindness beyond all that Pen can write Or Heart conceive or nimblest Brain indite This Sovereign Love our wond'rous Subject brings Our Hist'ry from those melting Ardours springs For this great King had a most lovely Son And had indeed no more save only one Who was begotten by him and brought forth E're Heav'ns blew curtains did surround the Earth Before the World's foundations yet were laid Times glass turn'd up or the Sun's course displaid This Prince was brought up with him and did lye In his dear Bosom from Eternity He was his only Joy and hearts delight Who ever did behold him in his sight And as he made his Father's heart most glad He was sole Heir to all the Father had Who freely gave all things into his Hand And made him Ruler over every Land Designing still to raise his Dignity Above each Earthly Prince or Monarchy And him intitle with a glorious Name Which none of all the Heav'nly Host dare claim What glory is there in each Seraphim Yet must they
when he heard what had that wretch befel He hastned back to 'th Land of Israel But news being brought of Archilaus's Raign Soon found it needful to remove again So being warn'd of God to Galilee He turn'd aside and there at present we Shall leave him whilst we may more fully hear The great design of this his coming there Some possibly may say was 't not to take Unto himself a Kingdom and so make Himself Renowned Great and very High Above each Prince and Earthly Monarchy 〈…〉 Was 't not to take the Crowns of every King And all their Glory to the Dust to bring To set their Diadems on his own head That so the Nations might be better led Was 't not to take Revenge upon his Foes And grind to Powder all that him oppose Was it not to commence his glorious Raign That so he might the pride of Nations stain Herod t is like as you before did hear Such things might dream and it might vainly fear But wholly groundless for alas he came Not as a King to punish but a Lamb To offer up in sacrifice his Life To put an end to all tormenting strife And only gain a poor but long'd-for Wife His sole design I told you it was Love 'T was that alone which brought him from above These hardships and these pains to undergo And many more which yet we have to show For these are nothing in comparison Of those which must be told eâ—re we have done He in those parts had been but thirty year And little had he don that we can heâ—r About obtaining of the Creatures love But gloriously did then the matter move Unto the Soul who little did it mind For she alas was otherwise inclinâ—d For the Black King that had usurp'd that Land An Ill shapt Bastard had of proud command Whom having drest up in a much Gallantry He did appear so pleasant in her Eye That he before had her affections won And in her heart established his Throne Though he design'd no less than to betray And murder her in an infidious way Of which the silly Soul was not aware But fondly blind could not discern the snare Too like alas to many now a dayes Whom fawning words and flattery betrays This Imp of Darkness and first-born of Hell Transform'd by Witchcraâ—â— and a cursed Spell Like a brisk gawdy Gallant now appears And still false locks and borrowed Garments wears Then boldly sets upon her and with strong And sweet lip'd Rhetorick of a Courtly tongue Salutes her Ears and doth each way discover The Amorous Language of a wanton Lover He smiles he toyes and now and then le ts fly Imperious glances from his lustful Eye Adorns her Orient Neck with Penly charms And with rich Bracelets decks her Ivory Arms Boasts the extent of his Imperial Power And offers Wealth and worldly pleasure to her Jocund he seem'd and full of sprightly Mirth And the poor Soul never inquir'd his Birth She lik'd his Face but dream't not of the Dart Wherewith he waited to transfix her Heart There is no foe to such a Dalilaw As pretends love yet ready is to draw The Poysonous Spear and with a treacherous kiss Bereaves the Soul of everlasting Bliss If you would know this treacherous Monster 's name As you before have heard from whence he came 'T is he by whom thousands deceiv'd have bin Heav'ns foe and Satan's cursed Off-spring SIN A violater of all Righteous Laws And one that still to all Uncleaness draws Author of Whored omes Perjuries Disorders Thefts Rapines Blood Idolatries and Murders From whom all Plagues and all Diseases flow And Death it self to him his be'ng doth ow. This Monster of Pollution the undone Poor Soul too long had been enamour'd on And by the Craft his Sire Apollyon lent Doubted not to obtain her full Consent But when Apollyon saw this Prince of Peace His wrathfull spight against him did encrease So brave a Rival he could not endure But sought all means his Ruine to procure Shall I saith he thus lose my hop'd-for prey See my Designs all blasted in one day Which I have carried on from Age to Age With deepest Policy and fiercest Rage My utmost Stratagems I first will try And rather on the very Spot I le dye Thus Hellishly resolv'd he does prepare Straight to commence the bold and Impious War And now the sharp Encounter does begin A Fight so fierce no eye had ever seen Nor shall hereafter ere behold agen But first be pleas'd to take a prospect here Of the two Combatants as they appear The first a Person of Celestial Race Lovely his shape ineffable his Face The frown with which he struck the trembling Fiend All smiles of humane Beauty did transcend His head 's with Glory arm'd and his strong hand No power of Earth or Hell can long withstand He heads the mighty Hosts in Heav'n above And all on Earth who do Jehovah love His Camp 's so great they many millions are With whom no one for Courage may compare They are all chosen men and cloath'd in white Ah! to behold them what a lovely sight Is it And yet more grave and lovely far To joyn and make one in this Holy War The other was a King of Courage bold But very grim and ghastly to behold Great was his power yet his garb did show Sad Symptoms of a former overthrow But now recruited with a numerous Train Arm'd with dispair he tempts his fate again Under his Banner the black Regiments fight And all the Wicked Troops which hate the light His Voluntiers are spread from North to South And flaming Sulphur belches from his Mouth Such was the grand Importance of their sight It did all eyes on Earth and Heaven invite To be spectators and attention lend So much did ne're on any Field depend No not Pharsalia's Plains where Caesar fought And the Worlds Empire at one conquest caught Alas the Issue of that famous Fray May not compare with this more fatal Day Should the Black monstrous Tyrant Prince prevail The Hearts and hopes of all man-kind must fail But above all she who caus'd their contest Would be more miserable than all the rest Shee she poor soul for ever were undone And never would have help from any one T was for Her sake alone the War begun Some fabulous Writers tell a wonderous story And give I know not what St. George the Glory Of rescuing bravely a distressed Maid From a strange Dragon by his Generous aid This I am sure our blessed Captain fought With a fierce Dragon and Salvation wrought For her who else had been devoured quite By that Old Serpents subtility and spight But now t is time their Combate to display Behold the Warriers ready in Array Apollyon well stor'd with crafty wit Long time had waited for a season fit That so he might some great advantage get And knowing well the Prince of Light had fasted Ful forty days then presently he hasted To give him
He would such equal works have made appears None should have cry'd The singer of God is here But now as Moses did this way confute His faithless foes who did with him dispute By greater deeds and all their Arts o're-throw The self-same thing did JESVS also do The strongest Arguments he then did use For to convince the unbelieving Jews Were the great Signs wonders which he wrought And did this way refell what e're they thought Against his Person or his Doctrine either And they thereby were silenc'd all together My works saith he to me do witness give And for their sake you ought me to believe For if that I such mighty works do'nt do As none e're did or can pretend unto Believe me not but if they witness give How unexcusable then will they you leave He also had a witness from Great John Besides his works which were divinely done And God himself from Heaven witness bore So great a Witness ne're was heard before The written Word likewise this Truth did tell If they the same would have consider'd well And therefore search the Scriptures Sirs saith he For they are those which testifie of me Thus every way you see the proofs are plain He was the true Messias you have slain Therefore repent you unbelieving Jews With fained scandals longer don't abuseâ— Your blessed Lord nor 's Gospel more refuse The dangerous troubles of the Prince of Light The scandals that he met with and the spight The hatred by that Soul unto him shown Whom he design'd the Consort of his Throne Her weak pretences for this causeless scorn And with what wond'rous patience it was born How she receiv'd him with a scornful Brow We have in part set forth and also how By mighty Signs and Wonders he did prove Both his divine Ascent and matchless Love But now the Reader with attentive Ear And longing mind desires 't is like to hear How the poor blinded Soul behav'd her now Does she not straight unto his Scepter bow Doth she not yield and readily consent To close with him and heartily repent She ever did his precious Love abuse And such a Proffer wilfully refuse He ample proof and witness now hath given That he was sent down to her out of Heaven His Noble Birth and Sovereign Dignity Sure now she can't nay dares not to deny What can she further say I pray what more Hath she to urge to keep him out o' th Door Or has he left her and will come no more What Prince would ever put up so much wrong Or wait upon a stubborn Soul so long Or who would ever make another tryal That has so often had such flat denyal Ah no! he can't his Love 's so great and strong He hopes still to obtain her Love e're long See how with tears and sighs and melting heart He woos intreats and doth his Love impart As one resolv'd he 'l no denial have True Lovers press their suit ev'n to the Grave Prince of Light 'T is not Ungratefulness which yet can change My purpose or my heart from thee estrange My strong Affections on thee are so fixt That nought has them remov'd or come betwixt My Soul and thine but had'I lov'd thy face And that alone my kindness had giv'n place My slighted suit should long e're this have ended And never more on thee had I attended Or did I love thee for thine Heav'nly Eye I then might court Angelick Majesty Or if the smoothness of thy Whiter Brow Could charm mine eyes or mine affections bow To outward Objects pollisht Marble might Have given as much content as much delight No no 't is neither brow nor lip nor eye Nor any outward thing I can espy That has or could surprize my tender heart I know thy Nature who and what thou art Nor is it Vertue a homely Case Wherein lies hid much rich and precious grace Together rarely mixt whose worth doth make Me love the Casket for the Jewels sake 'T is none of this My eye doth pierce within But nothing there can I behold but Sin The reason of my Passion wholly lies Within my Self from whence it first did rise And though thou canst not it at present see Thou shalt if thou wilt hearken unto me O come poor Soul and give me but thy heart And unto thee choice Love I will impart I come to call thee and do call again O shall I not of thee my Suit obtain Dost not perceive what I for thee endure And may not all this thy Love to me procure The Soul seem'd not at all to mind this Friend Nor would she yet to him attention lend She could not in him any beauty see Nor did she know her own sad misery She bid him then depart and said to all He had no form nor comeliness And shall I ' gainst my fancy foolishly admire Where I no beauty see to tempt desire Whilst he was thus extending forth his Love And studying all obstructions to remove That so he might the Souls affections get Behold his Enemies with malice set Themselves against him with such horrid rage It seems no less than 's ruin to presage Ah! for this Prince methinks my heart doth ake To see what head against him they do make But that which doth the greatest trouble bring Is to see th' Soul combine against the King Did ever creature deal thus by a Lover Or ever such inhumaneness discover What hurt did this dear Prince unto her do That she would seek his utter overthrow Is this to recompence his fervent Love What will she now a Traitor to him prove If she his Love will not accept must she Expose him thus to shame and misery Is love to Sin and filthy Lust so sweet That Jesus must be trodden under feet Because he would that Contract break asunder This surely is Earth's shame and Heavens wonder What he that went about still doing good And in the gap of danger always stood Them to Defend from Ruin ah shall he The object of their Rage and Malice be He that to them no harm did do or think And yet must he this bitter potion drink Ah precious Lord how doth my spirit grieve To think what wrong from them thou didst receive So strange their malice and so fierce their spight That if God's Word did not the same recite Who thereunto would any Credence give Or the Relation of their Deeds believe But how was he expos'd what did they do 'T is that say some that we would have you show Their hearts were fill'd with wrath up they rise And thrust him out o' th City then devise To get him up to th'brow of a great Hill And cast him headlong down from thence they will Break all his bones and kill him out o' th way This they designed Holy Authors say Not that their Cruelty performed was For through the midst of them he free did pass His Pow'r Divine did his Protector stand And rescued him from all this
broke which doth all Lust forbid My Sin I know from thee cannot be hid Although methinks Justice seems too severe For the whole Charge hee 'l scarcely make appear Jehovah Art guilty of that first and hainous Crime Which was committed Soul in Ancient time By him who was thy Representative From whom thy evil Nature didst derive If guilty of that one horrid Offence 'T is easie for thee to perceive from thence Thou art under my Just and fearful Curse Condemned by thy God what can be worse Soul To Adam's Sin Lord I must guilty plead Nay and to many an actual Evil Deed. Divine Justice The Prisoner does confess her vile offence And now there needs no further Evidence Shall Execution Lord on her be done How canst thou bear such a Rebellious one Lord let me straightway strike the fatal blow Let her with vengeance to Hell-torments go She 's guilty even by her own Confession Of heaping up Transgression on Transgression She 's in my Debt she cannot it disown And I demand my Right Come pay it down Ten thousand Talents Soul thou owest me Which must be paid and that full speedily Soul That I am in thy Debt I don't gainsay But I have not one farthing now to pay Some pity show I for forbearance cry Since thy Demands I cannot satisfy Justice Full satisfaction 't is that I must have In vain from me you compositions crave My Name is Justice and my Nature so I never did nor can I mercy show Soul If there 's no mercy then my state is sad And never was there any News so bad For Adam's seed who under Sin do lie All then must perish to Eternity Theologue That God is gracious Soul is not deny'd Yet Justice will also be satisfy'd Consider if thou canst the matter reach One Attribute God never will impeach To magnify another He 's so Just As to take vengeance on each Sin and Lust Each Attribute know thou assuredly Must meet together in sweet Harmony Soul What will thy Wrath O Justice then appease Upon what terms wilt thou afford some ease To me after this terrifying News Vouchsafe to tell the means that I must use To satisfie a Judge that 's so severe And will not of sweet Acts of pardon hear Justice There 's nothing can appease me that is less Than a compleat and perfect Righteousness Like that thou hadst whilst thou in Eden stood Nothing save this will do thee any good What e're is due to me of the old score Must be paid down or never any more Will the great God with thee concerned be On gracious terms of Peace and Amitie A Sacrifice can only make thy peace That that alone will cause my wrath to cease Soul If that be all I 'le get a Sacrifice Let me consider what shall I devise A thousand Rams and Rivers of sweet Oil I 'le offer up but for one gracious Smile With fat of firstling Lambs I 'le Heaven invoke And purest Incense up like Clouds shall smoke Each Morn Iâ—le sacrifice whole Hecatombs With Frankincense and sweet Arabian Gums I these O Lord I offer up to thee Mâ—â— they atone for mine Iniquity Justice Oh no! give o're those trifling low designs The Eastern Spices and the Western mines United are too mean an Offering To satisfy this great incensed King In such poor offerings God does take no pleasure Couldst Thou therefore procure all Europes Treasure Nay all the Wealth that in the World has bin ' Tould not his wrath appease for one small sin Shouldst thou thy dearest Son or Daughter take For Sacrifice 't would no Atonement make The fruit of thine own Body were in vain For thy Soul's sin a pardon to obtain No Friend or Brother can'st thou now find out To pay thy Ransom or release thee out Their Riches never can be help for thee Nor once redeem thy Soul from misery Nay couldst thou yet ascend to Heaven above And holy Angels with compassion move For to engage for thee and signify That in thy stead and for thy sake they 'd die It would not do for in them 's no such worth As to remove thy guilt appease God's wrath Their Glory 's great as holy Scriptures show Yet all they have and are to God they owe. They cannot help thee in thy great distress Nor satisfy the Law thou dost transgress In brief look where thou wilt no Balsam's fouâ— In any Creature for to cure thy wound No Surety can'st thou get then come away Eternal Torments must thy Reckoning pay Soul Hold hold thou art too hasty and severe To one word more I pray thee lend an Ear. I will amend my life if this be so The Promise runs to such as truly do Their Evil courses leave I hope hereby Thou wilt some pity show not let me die Divine Justice â—ond Soul though such thy promises indeed So often broke deserve but little heed Yet grant thou shouldst henceforth with strictest care Endeavour thine offences to repair Couldst thou so live as never to sin more Will this dost think pay off thy former score Can thine imperfect Righteousness to come Discharge of by-past ills so vast a sum When even that which thou callst Righteousness It self wants pardon and must Guilt confess When thy Bond 's su'd thou dost thy self forget To offer menstruous Rags to pay thy Debt For what is past not future I demand And thou shalt feel the rigors of my hand Soul Lord then I 'm drown'd in an Abyss of seats If hearty Sighs nor penitential Tears Can wash me clean nor yet relieve my wo My case is desp'rate what shall Mortals do Divine Justice If thou with Tears couldst the vast Ocean fill Or grieve till thou thy self with sorrows kill And make ten thousand Rivers with thy blood 'T would not contribute the least dram of Good Nay couldst thou live and never more offend Yet for old sins to Hell I must thee send To th' place of Execution thou must go Lord shall I strike O shall I strike the blow Lo here the Soul condemned wretch doth stand My Ax is up if thou but giv'st command I presently will cut her down with Ire Fit fewel for an Everlasting fire Divine Mercy Stay Justice hold forbear to strike shall I My Glory lose to all Eternity Though thou art just as just as God can be Yet something Mortals still expect from me 'T is gracious Love and pity I afford In me shines forth the Glory of the Lord In me God doth O Justice take delight Though thou art pleasant also in his sight How shall we both then meet in Harmony And shine in spendor to Eternity Divine Wisdom I have found out the way which will you both With equal Majesty and Glory cloath God is as just as Justice doth require And yet as kind as Mercy can desire Here is a glorious Prince come from above Who all obstructions quickly will remove Which in the way of the poor Soul doth lie And you appease
and jointly satisfy To save her now from the infernal pit I have a Ransom found a Ransom fit Divine Justice I cannot hold I 'le strike the fatal Blow Hell she deserves with vengeance let her go Unto the place appointed for all them Who do God's holy Laws and Grace contemn Jesus Prince of Light O who is this What Traitor 's at the Bar That is condemn'd and Justice wo'nt defer The Execution speak hold up thy head Hast any thing to say What canst thou plead Methinks methinks I should this Creature know Ah! Soul is 't thee What shall I for thee do I told thee what thy state would be i' th end When first my Love to thee I did commend Soul Speak 't is I why dost thou not look up I 'm sorely griev'd to think upon the Cup That is prepar'd for thee What dost thou say Shall I step in that Justice may delay To strike the stroke for then too late 't will be To show my Love and pity unto thee Hast any kindness for me in thine Heart I doubt that still thou the same Creature art Thou wast before and hast no love at all Why speakst thou not shall vengeance on thee fall Ah! how can I see Execution done And Tears not from mine Eyes like Rivers run Divine Justice Lord be n't concern'd she is thy bitter Foe Oh let me therefore freely strike the blow There 's nought in her but Sin and poisonous Evil To God a Foe and Friend unto the Devil JESVS I know not how to let this stroke be given For I am come on purpose down from Heaven To make Atonement and to satisfy For all her sins and foul Iniquity Though she to me doth no affection bear Yet her I pity and do love most dear Justice Blest JESVS hold 't is my just Master's sense Abused Mercy must have recompence There is no other way but she must die Unless thou wilt be her Securitie If in her stead thy life thou wilt give up Then mayst thou save her from this bitter Cup. The price which thou on that account wilt pay Will make a Compensation and defray All her vast Debts yea plenarily God's wrath appease and Justice satisfy What must be done Who is 't the stroke must bear Is 't not most fit such should who guilty are I cannot hold my hand nor longer stay Law must be satisfy'd what dost thou say Thou wretched Soul behold the knife and spear Can'st thou dost think God's fearful vengeance bear Now Soul look to thy self this Spear I 'le run Into thy Bowels ere I it return JESVS Stay Justice stay withold thy furious Dart And let its glitt'ring point first pierce my Heart Her guilty state aloud calls for relief It wounds my Soul and fills my Heart with grief My Bowels yearn my inward parts do move Now now 's the time to show her my great Love Let Law and Justice be suffic'd in me 'T is I will die to set the Sinner free Behold me Soul my life shall go for thine I will redeem thee with this Blood of mine Although most Precious Sacred and Divine CHAP. VII Shewing what Consultations there were amongst the infernal Spirits to bring Jesus Prince of Light under the power of Death a Council called in Hell the Princes of the fallen Angels in a deep combination against him for fear their Kingdom should fall and the poor Creature be delivered The grand Counsel of Old Satan is taken He enters into Judas Judas's sin discovered Jesus is apprehended A terrible battel or Christ's Agony before his Passion Sin and Wrath combine together shewing the Prince's Conquests over them both Seven aggravations of Christ's sorrows in the Garden and a Dialogue between the Devil King of Darkness and Death the King of Terrors HEre let 's a while reflect with careful heed What! doth the guiltless for the guilty bleed This may astonish all here 's Love indeed Do Mortals ever greater love extend Then to lay down their lives for a dear Friend But for a Prince a mighty Prince to die Not for a Friend but for an Enemy Convicted and condemn'd for horrid Treason Thus to step in at that most Critick season When just the fatal blow was to be given This Love 's above our Reach higher than Heaven Deeper than Ocean Seas so Infinite As well deserves our wonder day and night What Was the Father free his Son to give His dear and only Son that she might live And doth the Son i' th midst of Enemies Yield up himself to be a Sacrifice Yet who can be so bold to lay their Hands Upon this Prince that Heaven Earth commands How shall this thing be now accomplished And by what means shall his dear Blood be shed Let 's now inquire who is 't that will consent To be the grand and chiefest Instrument To execute this precious spotless Lamb Who for this purpose down from Heav'n came Has he on Earth any such spightful Foe As dare's attempt this ' mazing thing to do You heard before he daily was beset And with what Enemies he often met But now his hour is drawing very near Great Consultations ' mongst his Foes there were How they might take his blessed Life away Who seem'd himself impatient of delay He long'd until his work were finished Which could not be until his blood were shed And though he had most raging Enemies Yet knew they not what project to devise To bring this bloody traiterous deed to pass Which long before by them designed was Until Apollyon finding by his Art The dire Intentions harbour'd in their Heart Doth rouse them up and first the matter start To the Infernal powers to wake them â—l A second time upon this Prince to fall Then Belzebub Satan and Lucifer Consult afresh how to renew the War And to this purpose wee 'l suppose they spake Apollyon Shake off your fears and speedily let 's make The strongest Head that possibly we can Against this strong this Devil-amazing man Now now 's the day let 's bring him to Death's sting And then with shouts of Triumph we may sing For over Death 't is we the power have And we may sure secure him in the Grave 'T is he alone who frights us in our station And puts us all into great Consternation Our Kingdom by this means is like to fall And we thereby be ruin'd great and small I have engag'd him once but could not stand I know his strength he has a pow'rful Hand Belzebub My Sentence is for War this Enterprize Well managed will make our Kingdom rise And re-inthrone us in our Antient Skies To a great Height and flourish as before When he is down we 'l let him rise no more Can we but once deprive him of his Life 'T will put an end to all our fears and strife Lucifer Dominions Pow'rs and Principalities You all in danger are awake and rise From off your Seats and lazy Beds of Down Sleep you secure or
of Man Oh! let our Souls be arm'd with courage bold Whilst we this furious Battel do behold Before the Fight begins do you not hear How he doth cry unto his Father dear O let this Cup from me Lord pass away If it be possible Let it I pray Pass from me that of it I may not drink Until this time he never seem'd to shrink From any pain conflict or suffering This Combat is alas a different thing From what before he ever met withal From hence he did unto his Father call Once and again repeating of his cry It 'h sense of what was now approaching nigh Some may at this 't is likely much admire That our dear Saviour should so loud desire To be deliver'd from that bitter Cup Which was prepared for him to drink up It did not rise for his unwillingness But from the pain the anguish and distress 'T would bring him to this humane Nature's weak From thence he might such supplications make Ah! wrath Divine what humane Soul can beaâ— But of Divinity he hath his share Which doth again his fainting spirit chear And such support he needs Cast but an Eye See how the Combatants with fury fly Upon each other What a Battel 's here Enough to melt our Souls into a tear Lo the first blow that Sin and Wrath doth give It is the worst he ever did receive Behold how frightfully grim Wrath doth frown Nay more the Prince seems by their strength cast down Now Sin Wrath upon him both do lie Which makes him groan and bitterly to cry With panting breast and half-expiring Breath My Soul is sorrowful ev'n unto Death Can the great Prince of Earth and Heaven feel Such heavy strokes as thus to make him reel The dismal weight of Sin this doth declare None but a JESVS could it fully bear Happy are we as the blest Prophet said Our Help was upon One that 's mighty laid Could man or Angel ev'r have born all this And not have been cast down to th'deepst Abyss Nay of this mighty One Saint Mark hath rais'd Our Wonder higher He was sore amaz'd Nay more than this he fell upon the Ground No Soul before such anguish ever found To see the Lord of Life brought to the Earth Under the pressure of God's heavy Wrath And that he suffer'd all this in our stead May make our Souls to stand astonished Especially if to these Trials we Shall add his great and bloody Agony Wherein the sweat fell from him as he stood In Crimson dy like trickling drops of blood Ah! precious Lord this work was very sore But still thy Love and it s blest Vertue 's more Through all these Toils thou graspst at Victory And Captive lead'st at last Captivity If Sin that day had not receiv'd a fall Grim Death and Hell had quickly swallow'd all The race of Man we all had been undone No help no hope no life for any one Sin was condemn'd it had a fatal blow That now to Saints it little hurt can do But to proceed here I shall now relate Some things which very much do aggravate The sufferings which Christ in 's Soul indur'd When he this Conquest for our Souls procur'd No greater sorrows did he ever know Than those which then his Soul did undergo Several Circumstances which demonstrate the Greatness of our Saviours sufferings in his Soul in the Garden First They did not seize him with the least surprize From thence oft-times doth great Amazement rise Unto poor Mortals we are not aware Oft-times what 's nigh know nothing of the snare But thus 't was not with the blest Prince of Light What can be hid from Great Jehovah's sight He knew full well what would upon him fall Yet when it came so great surpassing all Were th' Griefs he felt he in amaze doth call Unto his Father dear most earnestly If 't were his will to let that Cup pass by Secondly It was the very thing he came to do And yet cry'd out in such sad sort O who Can then conceive what he did undergo He freely did his precious Life give up And yet he 's ready to refuse the Cup. He takes it as it were into his hand Most willingly but presently doth stand Pausing a while then puts it to his Lip And after he had took one bitter sip Looks up to Heav'n and cryes O may it be Thy will dear God this Cup might pass from me Thirdly He knew unless he drank it up that we Must perish All to all Eternitie And that his coming would prove all in vain If he refused for us to be slain And yet with sighs and groans how did he cry In sense of wrath and that extremity Which he beheld would quickly overtake him When once his blessed Father did forsake him Fourthly The Angels which did there to him appear Demonstrate plain how great his sorrows were For like as one distressed makes complaint Quite tired out and all his spirits faint Needs to be strengthned by some faithful Friend So God to him did Holy Angels send For to relieve and comfort him that Day When Sin and Wrath so heavy on him lay Fifthly But what 's Assistance from an Heavenly Host To the great Power of the Holy Ghost Some little measure of the Spirit hath Caused blest Saints to triumph over Death How have they sung with flames about their Ears Contemning pains regardless of all fears This Spirit rested on him bodily Without measure and yet how doth he cry As scarce well knowing which way to bear up Whilst he partakes of this most painful Cup. This greatly doth his suff'rings amplify To humane sense if weighed seriously Sixthly O Lord what means these melting sighs and Tears Why is thy Soul amaz'd why fill'd with Fears Ah! 't is enough to break our hearts to think Upon that bitter potion thou didst drink Thou knewst thy sorrows would be quickly o're And then thou shouldst ne'r sigh nor suffer more 'T was from thy worth both Wrath and Justice cryes We are appeas'd with this thy Sacrifice Might not the shortness of this Conflict yield Thee some Relief Besides thou knew'st the Field Thou shouldst obtain the Conquest was thine own And quickly too the Conflict would be gone I' th midst of Wars or anguish Men indure If any can them certainly assure That in short time their Troubles will be over They straight rouse up their spirits to recover And patiently resolve to bear the smart For this is like a Cordial to the Heart All this thou knew'st and more abundantly Yet Sins dire weight so heavily did lie That with strong groans horror thou didst cry The Torments Lord of Hell took hold on thee Our Souls from that devouring Wrath to free But why didst thou into a Garden go Thus to encounter with the hellish Foe Was it because there first began our woe Or was it Lord to have us call to mind When we in Walks and Gardens pleasures find What thou didst
Take hold of him wâ—o Heav'n Earth Commands He 's taken Prisoner and strongly bound Who in one moments time could quite confound send The Universe and all that him offend Down to Hell's bottom quick with vengeance Yet like a Lamb he 's to the slaughter led And as a Malefactor suffered Most dreadful sorrows did his Soul indure That peace and Joy for her he might procure To bring his purpose to an happy end He manifests himself indeed a Friend A bounteous Friend who thinks his Life not dear But freely lays it down doth freely bear The stroke of Justice that he might recover Her forfeit Life again Oh! Sacred Lover Oh! Matchless Love and Grace Let every Eye Open its Sluces draw its Fountains dry If he for us such bitter sorrows felt Then let the thoughts of his strong Passion melt Our sin-congealed hearts our hearts of stone What was the reason why this Sacred One Did bear all this Were not our sins the cause He suffers but 't was we had broke the Laws Is he betray'd to Death Weep o're his Herse who only di'd our Death for to reverse You Sin-sick Souls think on his bloody Passion And then take up this bitter Lamentation Dear God! I sin'd and did a Saviour need And must the Lord of Life and Glory bleed Ah! must his dear and precious blood be spilt To free me from my vile and horrid Guilt Didst thou sweet Lord my heavy burthen bear And shall not I lament nor shed a Tear Shall not my hard and flinty heart dissolve To think how nought but thy own blood could salve My fester'd wounds What heart is so condens'd That cannot by these thoughts be influenc'd And mov'd unto remorse and great Contrition I' th sense of the Lord Jesus's Crucifixion They hal'd him bound unto the High Priests Hall Where Priests and Council did for witness call They search'd about for such but none could find Who did agree together in one mind They us'd him like a Thief put him to shame Who bore it with great patience like a Lamb. They blindfold him in a disgraceful sort And ignominiously made him their sport They smote him on the face pluckt off his hair And bid him prophesy then who they were That did him strike that so they might thereby His Office of a Prophet vilifie His own dear Servants in this dismal Day Did him forsake and from him fly away They they in whom his Soul took sweet delight His cursed Foes did so amaze and fright That they disown'd him too and left him all To stand alone or otherwise to fall Yea Peter who would have his Lord confide In him above the rest stoutly deny'd He ever knew him nay and furthermore To put it out of doubt he curst and swore Ah! What is man when God withdraws his hand A Peter then one moment cannot stand This doubtless did add grief unto his Heart To see his own Disciples to depart And leave him thus in his Adversitie When in their stead it was he came to die He after this bore much rebuke and shame Scoffs blows reproaches stripes oh who can name The many Cruelties he underwent Before his painful Death and not lament They cru'lly smite him on his precious Cheeks Which he with patience bears and never seeks To free himself from this their Insolence Although he knew his spotless Innocence O gracious Lord how how wast thou abus'd Unjustly judg'd and falsely too accus'd Accus'd as guilty of some grievous fact Who thoughtst no Evil none didst ever act No stain nor spot of sin was found in thee Though thus thou suffer'st for Iniquity The Injuries which thou that Night did'st bear How great my God! how numberless they were When he had past away that tedious Night Early next morning they with Hellish spight Like some great Malefactor him present To Pontius Pilate where with innocent And pleasant Countenance he then did stand To know what 't was of him they did demand Then with an humble Silence held his peace Which made the sury of his Foes increase Next was he unto wicked Herod sent Who at his presence seemed much content Hoping he might some Miracle behold Because he had been of strange Wonders told But he that knew the secrets of all Hearts Who tries the Reins and views the inward parts Knew well his curious but presumptuous mind Was only unto wickedness inclin'd Christ Answer'd not when he lookt for Replies Which made King Herod and his men despise Our precious Lord the Prince of Peace whilst he Became the pattern of Humilitie Thus Sinners contradict and dare reprove The Lord of Life who quickly could remove The lofty from their Seats and them confound But nought but Love and Mercy doth abound This was the Day of his Humiliation He 's first abas'd then comes his Exaltation But oh that ever men should be so vile To smite those Lips that never utter'd guile He at whose great Command the Seas were still Is now commanded by each Tyrant's will Heâ—s sent to Herod then sent back again Unto the Judgment-Seat But oh what pain Did he indure there by most wicked men Pen What Heart can think what Tongue express what Can set it forth Their sacrilegious Hands Bound him about with strong and cruel bands They mock'd and did deride him shamefully And then aloud set up a cursed Cry Hold hold him fast deliver Barabbas Who a notorious Malefactor was A Barabbas is now prefer'd before Him whom the glorious Angels do adore A Murderer shall spared saved be When JESVS shall be hanged on a Tree With torturing whips they scourged him most sore Until his flesh was dy'd with Purple Gore O dreadful dismal Cup what heart can think On what he underwent and 's flesh not shrink The Blood that once run through his sacred Veins Is now let out by Soul-tormenting pains And all the blushing Pavement gilds not stains Ah! don't you see how it fell trickling down Yet unto him was no compassion shown The Blood that issued forth from every wound Descends in pearly drops unto the ground Oh Earth that didst receive that holy Blood Nor fruitful Nile nor Tagus golden Blood Could ever yield like Vertue or such good Neâ—re such a stream did water thee before Nor shall again refresh thee any more Nor were these cruel barb'rous scourgings all That he endur'd in that remorsless Hall For after this they clothed him in scorn With Purple when his flesh was lasht and torn And in derision of his Princely State Their impious hands a Crown of thorns did plate Pressing it on his gracious Head with pain Till Sacred Drops did issue forth again In ruful sort as they had done before Spreading his precious Neck and Face all o're Thus like a Lamb amongst those Wolves he stood From head to foot besprinkled o're with blood His Kingly Office further to debase ' Stead of the Scepter due to Judah's Race They put a Reed in 's hand then kneel
before him And in Derision feignedly adore him Thus thus did they the Sacred Prince abuse Crying in scorn All hail King of the Jews Then in Disdain they spit in 's his lovely Face Could Devils offer God a worse Disgrace Oh depth of Love alone that knows no bounds To suffer such dire stripes such mocks wounds 'T was we that sin'd 't was thou that sufferst shame To free us from the guilt Oh let thy Name Thy Sacred Name for ever honour'd be Who thus wast us'd to set poor Sinners free But yet alas these sufferings were not all More bitter things did unto him befall Off next they took the Robe his own put on And now as if their malice fresh begun Not satisfy'd their God for to deride They loud cry'd out Let him be Crucify'd His Blood they thirst for Pilate gives consent Though Conscience told him he was Innocent And had deserved neither Death nor Bands Yet up he gives him to the Rabbles hands He knew of malice they had brought him thither Yet he and they at last combine together 'T imbrew their guilty hands in guiltless Blood Who never did them harm but always good Rather than Pilate will displease the Jews Hee 'l stifle Conscience utterly refuse All Admonitions though his bosom Friend A timely warning unto him did send Uses Intreaties urges Arguments But nothing would prevail nothing prevents Their wicked purpose Sentence being past Unto his Execution now they hast Though he was wounded very much before His flesh his Virgin flesh with stripes made sore Yet they upon his Martyr'd shoulders lay His heavy Cross till fainting by the way By reason of th' intolerable pain His bleeding wounds procured they constrain A Country-man of Cyrene who did pass Along that way to bear his pond'rous Cross And coming up to dismal Golgotha Without remorse of Conscience dread or awe They still persist in putting him to Death A Death the worst that e're stopt humane Breath The cruel Death oâ—th Cross matchless for pain And by God's Curse most liable to shame To cause the Just to die was crueltie But Crucifixion's more than 't is to die Prodigious Rage strange metamorphos'd mind What kill the Lord who was to you so kind What was his Crime what his so great offence That not contented to remove him hence By violent Death but you must look about Whereby to find exquisite torments out The vilest wretch that ever did draw breath Or in the strictest sense deserved Death Could never meet with more severitie From barb'rous Foes and brutish Tyranny He meets with no compassion every heart And every hand is set to throw a Dart. So far from shame in this their villany They chuse for time to act the Tragedy Their chiefest Feast when to Jerusalem From every part thousands of people came Then then they chose this cursed work to do That he the greater shame might undergo When Priest and Pilate finisht had their Court. Dear Jesus must be fetcht to make them sport And now behold if yet thy delug'd Eyes Can stay to see so sad a Sacrifice Behold him lift up on the cursed Tree Expos'd to Torture Death and Infamy His Arms spread wide as ready to imbrace His bitter'st Foes if they 'd accept his Grace Quite through each hand foot sharp nails they drive And fix him there to wait for Death alive Hanging betwixt two Thieves Numbred among Transgressors by the giddy partial Throng For passers-by did rail on him with scorn Wagging their heads who ought rather to mourn With taunts and scoffs the vulgar him abuse Prompted by the Chief Priest and barb'rous Jews And when he thirsts through his excessive pains Behold what favour at their hands he gains All they afford to quench his drought withal Was Vinegar mixed with bitter Gall. Was ever such a perfect hatred known No Dram of pity but all malice shown He that for them had Water turn'd to Wine And shown his Pow'r and Charity Divine Now Wine nor Water now could be allow'd T' asswage his thirst from this ungrateful Croud But into 's tender side they thrust a Spear From whence there came both blood water clear Thus hand and foot and head and every part They pierce and wound for to encrease his smart Ah! see that stream wch from his Heart-blood flows The precious Balm and Cure of all our woes Each pious Soul which truly doth believe It s Soveraign Vertue freely may receive One drop of that most Sacred Blood is worth Ten thousand Thrones Kingdoms of the Earth When you by Sin do see your selves undone Think on that Blood which from his Side did run Those cordial Drops apply'd unto thy heart Will heal thy Soul and cleanse thy inward part Ah! canst thou of Christ's dismal passion hear And not dissolve thy Soul into a Tear But to return There 's something still behind Which makes strange meltings in my grieved mind That 's worse than all the rest oh hear his moan And how his poor distressed Soul doth groan His Father hides his face that gracious Eye Casts forth an angry frown which made him cry After he had these bitter torments felt From cruel hands and found his Soul to melt His spirits fail and wounded heart to break Why why my God Oh why dost thou forsake Me in this needful hour Hard is the case When thou my God from me shalt hide thy face My Servants who forsook me are but Dust Poor flesh and blood alas what stay what trust Is there in man the best of men are frail Such as conside in them their strength will fail But ah My Trust my Hope my Confidence Thou thou that art my Rock and safe Defence Even thou my God! O thou O thou hast left me And this at last has of all Peace bereft me Whilst Souls can see their Interest in their God They can bear up under the sharpest Rod But when thy face is hid as 't is from me They sink they die they die Eternally Thus thus the Prince of Peace in sore distress His bitter moan doth unto God express Great depths of sorrow did oppress his Soul When his sad portion thus he did condole He saw himself forsaken and forlorn When in our stead this anguish great was born That which was due for our Iniquity Did heavy on our gracious Saviour lie For Justice spar'd not but laid on her Hand Whilst in the room and stead he seeks to stand Of the poor Soul he came from Heaven to save Justice alas will the last farthing have The torments Saints have born's another thing From what befel their Soveraign Lord King His Spirit 's gracious great magnanimous Yet ne're was any Soul distressed thus That much renowned holy Martyr Stephen He had so glorious a prospect from Heaven As fill'd his Soul brim-full of Consolation And by that means with joy he bore his passion Should I attempt to walk the spacious Field Of instances how many would it
A piece of thine nay but a little part That have deserved more than a whole heart 'T is all the heart or none do'st think it fit Sin and the Devil should have part of it Would any Lover such strange love receive To be contented that his Spouse should have Some other Suiters and to them should cleave What sayst deceived Soul why standst thou mute Disclose thy inward thoughts and grant my Suit O speak or if thy doubtful mind be bent To silence let that silence be consent If thou wilt grant me that whole heart of thine We 'l exchange hearts I 'le give thee all of mine She look'd about she mus'd she paus'd a while Whilst he on her cast forth an Heav'nly smile Sweet rays of Glory glanced from his Eye Enough to ravish all the standers-by So great a lustre from his garments shone It dazl'd all weak eyes to look upon Like as the Sun his glorious beams displays Dispersing every way his sparkling rays When in his strength splendor bright doth shine So glister'd forth his Glory all Divine Ne're such a beauty carnal eyes beheld Ah! one sweet sight of him has wholly fill'd The greatest Soul that liv'd and there is still Enough in him millions of Hearts to fill And none but Him alone can satisfie The Soul of Man the Soul-enlightned eye But stay and hear the Answer which is given By the deceived Soul O let the Heaven And Earth astonish'd stand whilst stubborn she Deny'd his Suit will not persuaded be To o'pe her door who longs to enter in To fill her Soul with joy destroy her sin Soul Strange 't is to me such beauty should be there What so amazing glorious none so fair When I no loveliness in him can see The World and outward pleasures seem to me More rare and spriteful far the better choice Such things I like but for this Lover's voice His Face and Favour I ca'nt so esteem Nor can I leave all things for love of him Therefore be gone and cease thy suit for I Have fixt my mind elswhere my heart and eye Is set on that which outward eyes can see Lord let me not be troubl'd more with thee O stay my Muse reach me an Iron Pen Tâ— engrave this on the marble hearts of men Let Sinners look within then let them read Themselves ungrateful blind and dark indeed Would not each Soul conclude this Creature were Besides her self or else deserv'd to bear The great'st contempt and pity'd be by none That bids such a dear Lover to be gone How oft has he by precious motives try'd The Soul from sin and evil to divide And make her too obdurat heart relent And take such ways as Wisdom do's invent His Passions Sighs and Tears are ready still As the officious agents of his Will To work her to a sence of her estate But she 's alas so dark and desperate That his sweet voice of so divine a strain So moving mov'd her but seems all in vain He sighs for her he knows her sad distress He asks her love but still without success Ah Sinners view your rocky hearts and then Smite on your breasts lament and read agen The glorious Lord his love 's so strange so great He knows not how to think of a retreat His soul is griev'd yet takes not her denial But makes a new Essay another Trial. Jesus Did did I love thee from Eternity And my celestial Kingdom leave for thee Did I Man's humane nature freely take Did I my bed in a poor Manger make Did I engage the cruel'st of all Foes Did I from men and Devils meet with blows Did I such kind of tortures undergoe Which men nor Angels can't conceive or know Did Wrath pursue and Justice fall on me And did I bear it all for love to thee Ah! did I sweat great drops of Sacred Blood Until the ground was sprinkled where I stood And were my feet and hands nail'd to the Tree Whilst my dear Father hid his Face from me Have I with joy delight and chearful heart Indur'd all this excessive pain and smart And out of precious love to thee I bore And must I still be kept out of thy door Shall shall I leave thee then and take my flight Into some foreign Land and let the Night Of dismal darkness be thy lot for ever Where direful Wrath all graceless souls do sever From all sweet shines of my Eternal Face That thou mayst there bewail with shame thy case When shades of frightful darkness thee do cover Thou wilt condole the loss of such a Lover Must I be gone must I my farewel take And leave thee to thy self my heart doth ake To think upon thy state when I do leave thee Far rather would I have these Arms receive thee What slight a Saviour thus a Friend indeed An early Friend a Friend who chose to bleed For thee and in thy stead that so thereby He might enjoy thee to Eternitie Farewel false Soul I bid thee now adieu Take what will follow dread what will insue Grief sorrows sickness and a troubled mind Will thee pursue until thou com'st to find A changed heart and vengeance do's allot Ruin to those thou lov'st who love thee not I 'le kill them all who have insnar'd thy heart Before from thee for ever I depart Ah! how my Soul with a tempestuous tide Of tears is overwhelm'd whilst I 'm deny'd My Suit by thee my passions overflow To see thee slight me and my passion too What tread me underfoot whilst vanity And worldly joys are Jewels in thine eye As if best good and sweet'st content lay hid In that gay fruit which is alone forbid He woo's the Soul says no he still replies He sweetly sues she wickedly denies He woos afresh she answers with disdain I cannot love but he intreats again At last he leaves her and his Suit adjourns He views the Soul and griev'd away returns He bids farewel and yet he bids it so As if he knew not how to take her No. He bids farewel but 't is as if delay Did promise better farewels than his stay He now withdraws but 't is with a design His absence might her heart the more incline To th' love and liking of him or to see What by some other means perform'd may be As Lovers often times by rules of Art Devise new ways to gain upon the heart Of such they love to bring them to their bow Like things sometimes doth Jesus also do T' incline the Sinners heart he hides his face And brings them into a distressed case He lays them on sick beds for to discover The worth and need of such a Sacred Lover Poor Sinners ponder well what you do read And mind those thoughts which woo you to take heed How you neglect slights the day of Grace Or to base lust and vain delights give place Now sickness comes Death begins to fright her And 't is no marvel if the Lord do
slight her Her drousy Conscience also now awakes Alas she startl'd much she weeps she quakes She crys out for a Christ but non's in sight And all her other Lovers fail her quite She yields she loves but with a servile heart When other Lovers slight her and depart She loves thee not Lord Christ for what thou art But what thou hast and should she spared be She 'd shew her love to Sin more than to thee No sooner the sad Soul her state laments But bowels mov'd in Jesus he relents In her afflictions he 's afflicted too And can't be long e're he 'l compassions shew He sent relief he eas'd her of her pain And rais'd her up to former health again But as 't was hinted so it came to pass The wretched Soul proves vile as ere she was Affliction will not bring to Jesus's feet Unless great Pow'r do go along with it The Soul 's like Phar'oh crys when smitten sore Then then for Christ and O'twill sin no more But when rais'd up and has sweet health restor'd It cleavs to Sin afrecsh forgets the Lord. But the affections of the Prince of Peace Abated not but rather did increase His love and patience both alike shine forth To ' stonishment of all who live on Earth And that he might obtain the Soul at last His Servants call'd and sent away in hast To recommend his love and in his stead To o'pe those precious Glories which lie hid To her and to all those who carnal be Alas they ca'nt behold they cannot see Those high perfections which in Jesus are Nor can they think his beauty is so rare Exceeding all conception all compare Dear Reader prethee mark what here insues Mind mind the Arguments this man dos use To move the Soul to tears of true contrition Fetch'd from Christ's love and from her lost condition Theologue By Jesus sent by such a Prince as he Ah! 't is a work too great too high for me What glory Lord hast thou conferr'd on those Thou do'st imploy thy secrets to disclose What! be a Spokesman for a Prince so great To represent his Love and to entreat Poor Sinners in his stead to entertain His Sacred Person Lord I 'le try again Since thou command'st me forth what may be done Thou bidst me go my duty is to run Did Abraham's Servant readily comply With his Command with great'st fidelity And shall I be unfaithful unto thee No Lord I will not do but strengthen me Prosper my way and let me have success That I with him thy Sacred Name may bless And how shall I poor nothing I rejoice To see the Soul thy Spouse thy Father's choice What next thy love 's so sweet Lord unto me Than to bring in poor Sinners unto thee CHAP. II. Shewing the evil of Sin and how compar'd HAIL precious Soul once glorious noble born But now debas'd defil'd in garments torn Nay naked quite yet mindst it not at all Thy wounds do stink and Vipers in them crawl So many sins of which thou guilty art So many Serpents cleave unto thy heart Whatâ—s Sin is 't not a frightful Cockatrice No Serpent like the Serpent called Vice And dost thou love to play with such a thing Ah fool take heed view view its poisonous sting Brute Beast by Natur 's instinct are aware Of the gilt bait and sence-beguiling snare Though it seems ne'r so sweet or ne'r so fair And art thou such a fool to hug a Snake And in thy breast such great provision make That it may harbour there both day and night Ah! Couldst thou see or hadst a little sight 'T would soon appear a very loath'd delight No evil like the evil called Sin Which thou dost love which thou tak'st pleasure in For what is Sin is 't not a deadly evil The filthy spawn and off-spring of the Devil And is thy mind on folly wholly bent What love the Devils odious excrement Shall that which is the superstuity Of naughtiness be lovely in thine Eye What dost thou value Christ and all he hath Not worth vain joys and pleasures on the Earth Has he so much esteemed thee and must Thou value him less than a cursed Lust Dost thou more good in that soul Brat espy Than is in all the glorious Trinitie That which men judge is best they strive to chuse Things of the smallest value they refuse O wretched Soul what thoughts dost thou retain Of thy dear Lord and blessed Soveraign Come view thy choice see how deprav'd thou art In judgment will affection thy whole heart Is so corrupt defiled and impure Thou canst not Christ nor Godliness indure Again what 's Sin is 't not a trait'rous Foe A Traytor unto God and Rebel too It first of all against him took up Arms And made his Angels fall by its false charms Nought is so contrary to God as that Nor more the perfect object of his hate The Devil was God's Creature good at first 'T was sin that made him hateful and accurst Sin ne'r was good its essence is impure Evil at first so now so will indure And darest thou O Soul conceal this Foe Nay hide him in thy house and also show Such deared love to him as to delight In his base company both day and night Nay sport and play and merry be with him What Gods dos hate and loath dost thou esteem Dost not O Soul deserve for this to die What greater crime what greater enmity Canst thou be guilty of or canst thou show Than thus to harbour God's most traitrous Foe The chiefest room he can always command Whilst my dear Master at thy door must stand And can't one look nor one sweet smile obtain Who is thy Saviour and thy Soveraign What 's Sin a thing that 's worser than the Devil Sin made him so sin is a thing so evil 'T is worse than Hell it dug that horrid pit 'T is sin that casts all Sinners into it No lake of Fire no Tophet had there bin For souls of Men nor Devils but through sin 'T is that which lays them there heap upon heap Sin was the cause 't was made so large and deep Sin is the fuel that augments Hell-fire Wer 't not for sin Hell-flames would soon expire And wilt thou dandle sin still on thy knee Wilt make a mock of it wilt jolly be Wilt sin and say alas I am in sport Ah! see thy folly ere thou pay'st dear for 't Is sin God's foe and is it so to thee Then part with sin break that affinitie Dissolve the knot with speed do thy endeavour Which will destroy thee otherwise for ever Nay what is Sin it is a Leprosy When Scripture so compares it may not I Call it a sickness or a loathsom sore That quite covers the Soul and spreads all o're Like to an Ulcer or infectious Biles That do corrupt that poisons and defiles The Soul afflicted and all others too That dwell with him or have with him to do Oh how
do men fly from the Pestilence And wilt not thou learn wisdom Soul from thence Sin is a plague that kills eternally All souls of men unless they swiftly fly To Jesus Christ no Med'cine will do good Nor heal this plague but this Physicians Blood What blindness is there then in thy base heart 'T is not the plague th' Physician must depart Thou shutst the door wilt not let him come in Whose purpose is to heal the plague of sin Nay what is sin 't is poison in a Cup That 's gilt without and men do drink it up Most earnestly with joy and much delight Being pleasant to the carnal appetite Sin 's sâ—cet to him whose soul is out of taste But long alas its sweetness will not last Sin 's sweet to th' flesh that dos it dearly love But to the Spirit it dos poison prove Hast hast thou suck'd this deadly poison in And dost not see thy vital parts begin To swell art poison'd Soul look look about To get an Antidote to work it out Before it is too late The poison 's strong Don't stay a day twelve hours is too long One dram of Grace mixt with repenting tears The grace of perfect love that casts out fears Mixt with that Faith which kills all unbelief Took down with speed will ease thee of thy grief Will purge thy soul and work by vomit well And all vile dregs of venom 't wil expel Unless thou vomit up each dreg be sure No hope of life one sin will Death procure Unto thy soul Repentance is not right Till sin nay every sin 's forsaken quite Not only left but as a poisonous Cup They greatly loath what e're they vomit up No evil like the evil called Sin Which thou dost love which thou tak'st pleasure in Again what 's sin it is an horrid Thief Or a Deceiver nay it is the chief Or grandest Cheater too that e're was known He has rob'd thousands nay there is but one That lives or e're has liv'd but rob'd have bin By this great Thief by this Deceiver SIN No petty Padder his ambitious Eye Doth search about he subtilly does spy Into the place where all the Jewels lie The first he seizes is the Jewel Time He 〈◊〉 robs each Soul of all their prime And chiefest days which mercy doth afford Which should be dedicated to the Lord. And more then this not one good thing they have But them of it does this curst Thief deceive Sweet Gospel Grace nay and the Gospel too And all that glory which they also do Confer on us Souls are deceiv'd hereby And yet they know it not they don't espy The way it works it 's done so secretly Sin robs the soul of its sweet Jewel Peace And in its room do's grief and anguish place Who ever doth this grievous loss sustain Can't have it made up unto him again By Treasures of all Kingdoms here on Earth No valuing it no knowing of its worth Another thing this Thief has in his Eye And lays his Fingers on then by and by Doth bear away it is the Jewel Soul A loss which mortals ever shall condole For had a man ten thousand worlds to lose The loss of them far better had he chose Than lose his soul why would you think it strange What shall a man for 's soul give in exchange There 's one rich Jewel more and 't is the chief That is aim'd at by Satan and this Thief Ah! 't is a thing more worth than all the rest How how can then the value be exprest It is a precious Stone that shines so bright It doth the heart of the great God delight He loves it dear 't is that his eye 's upon And nought he prizes like this precious Stone This Stone poor Soul he offers unto thee What sayst thou to 't canst thou no beauty see No worth in that which God accounts so rare Strange ' t is shall I the cause of it declare Sin blinds thine eyes and dos beguile thee so Thou for a Pepple lets this Jewel go This stone know thou is the Pearl of great price Let not this base Deceiver thee entice To slight dear JESVS wilt be such a fool To lose thy time thy Christ peace and thy soul Be thou more wise and more considerate Thou dost alas thy pleasures over-rate Let 's go to th' ballance prethee Soul let 's weigh The Pearl of price make hast and quickly lay Into the scales the flesh and loads of pleasure For honour all the acts of mighty Cesar And cast whole mines in too whole mines of treasure Add world to world then heap a thousand more And throw them in if thou canst find such store And see which ballance of them is too light Lo it is done and thine 's such under-weight It seems as if thy scale was empty quite Let 's take the Pearl out and then le ts put in An airy bubble now let 's weigh agin See see fond Soul thy scale aloft dos fly There 's nothing in 't 't is less than vanity What folly was 't to make the first compare What weigh the world with Christ no need is there To run that parallel thou now mayst find Thy self deceiv'd thou labour'st for the wind For sin 's compos'd of nought save subtil wiles It fawn's and flatters and betrays by smiles It 's like a Panther or a Crocodil It seems to love and promises no ill It hides its sting seems harmless as the Dove It hugs the Soul it hates when vow 's tru'st love It plays the Tyrant most by gilded pills It secretly insnares the Soul it kills Sin 's promises they all deceitful be Does promise wealth but pay us poverty Does promise honour but dos pay us shame And quite bereaves a man of his good name Does promise pleasure but does pay us sorrow Does promise Life to day pays Death to morrow No evil like to th' evil called Sin Which thou dost love which thou tak'st pleasure in Again what 's Sin a second Dalilah Which in the bosom lies does tempt and draw The Soul to yield unto its cursed ways And resteth not until it quite betrays It's Life into the proud Philistines hands Who take and bind it with base churlish bands Nay and most cruelly puts out its eyes Makes it grind in their Mill. Devils devise All this and more then this when they do get The poor deluded Soul into their net Lastly what 's Sin read thou the former Part Of this small Book O view the bitter smart Thy Saviour bore it pierc'd his very heart Think thou upon his bloudy Agony 'T is that opes best its hellish mysterie And shews the venom which in it dos lie No evil like the evil called Sin Which thou dost love and tak'st such pleasure in Had evil man's fool-hardiness extended No further than himself and there had ended 'T were not so much but O! I do espy Another is much injured thereby Ten thousand times more excellent in worth
For the great God who form'd the Heav'n Earth Doth look upon himself as wrong'd thereby For he that sins doth little less than fly I' th very face of his blest Majesty And when the Son of Glory hither came O how was he exposed unto shame It brought his Sacred Person in disgrace When Sinners vile spat in his Heavn'ly face They taunt him with base terms and being bound They scourged him he bled but the worst wound Was in his Soul occasioned by Sin And thou thereby woundst him most sore agin O wilt thou paddle in the pure stream Of precious Bloud contemn it O extream And hideous Monster dost thou hug the Knife Which wounded him yea took away his Life And will let out thy blood though now it be Delighted in and loved much by thee Of Wonders strange and Prodigies that are Amazing unto all who of them bear None can come nigh or be compar'd to this A Prodigie of Prodigies it is Of Love and Lover ne'r the like was known Nor was the like Ingratitude e're shown The one doth love beyond all admiration And suffer'd things beyond humane relation And he a King but she a filthy brute A beggar vile and yet denies his Suit Question From whence is it O why will she not close With this great Lord how can she still oppose His oft-repeated proffers how not yet Yield unto him pray what 's the cause of it Answer 'T is not in her own power to dispose Her self in marriage also here are those Who dwell with her and her Relations be Who spoil the match or the affinitie Which otherwise in all appearance might Be throughly made with Jesus Prince of Light Two proud Relations loftily stand off Who urge her to reject him with a scoff The one is Will a very churlish piece Who all along for Sin and Satan is The other's Judgment once most grave and wise But now with Will both cursed Enemies To God and Christ true Piety oppose And lead the Soul with evil ways to close 'T is they who must dispose of her if she E're yield to Christ his dearest Spouse to be But Sin has so by craft corrupted them And drawn them to its party they contemn This glorious Lover and will not consent The Soul should yield to him or should repent And so break off with other Lovers who She yet doth love and loth is to for-go Besides them in her house doth also dwell An Enemy call'd Old-man known full well To be a grand and horrid Instrument To keep the Soul from granting her consent O! he 's the cause of all the inward strife And hates the thoughts she should become his Wife And will prevent it if he can find out Meet ways and means to bring the same about Nay such a Foe this Old-man is indeed That till he 's slain by th' Spirit or does bleed Or weakned in his power ne'r will she With the Lord Christ firmly united be Slight wounds wo'nt do he must be slain out-right Such is his rage his subtilty and spite Against this happy match till he 's near dead It cannot be in truth accomplished Therefore expect to hear of his black doom Before the sweet espousal Day doth come There 's also yet another Inmate I Perceive dwells in her house which by and by You 'l hear much of who all her secrets knows And can her very inward thoughts disclose His name is Conscience whose Power 's so great That in her house he hath a Regal Seat These three Allies by Old-man so corrupted Have all along the business interrupted They naturally are opposite to Grace And are far more inclined to give place To sensual Objects and the Prince o' th Night And so betray the Soul for want of light Into their hands of whom you heard before Who secretly design for ever-more To take away her life and quite undo her Whilst flatteringly they promise peace unto her The Soul 's deprav'd and captivated so It chuses Evil and lets Jesus go The chiefest good and takes the chiefest evil Being by nature acted by the Devil This well consider'd may the cause discover Why she denies to entertain this Lover The Soul is dead and cannot see nor hear 'T is sensless as a stone a stone can bear The greatest weight and neither break nor melt Souls dead to God ne'r love-sick passions felt Unto this day nor can they love until They are convinc'd of sin and all the ill They have committed ' gainst his holy Will Being sensible hereof then with strong cryes They fly to God for salve to o'pe their Eys The Eys affect the Heart when thou canst see Christ will be dear and not till then to thee The Conscience first is always wrought upon Which never is effectually done But by the Spirits Pow'r and operation Which sets it equally against transgression But lest I should be tedious I 'le forbear Craving attention to what follows here CHAP. III. Shewing Christ's Heavenly and admirable Beauty Riches Bounty Power and Wisdom Theologue WILT thou be cruel to so dear a Friend Upon thy self 't will fall poor Soul i th' end Did not Rebeckâ— yiel'd and chuse to go With Abram's servant and wilt thou say no What was an Isaac unto him whom I Desire thee to fix thy tender Eye Upon was Isaac fair and wealthy too Or was he great Ah Soul will such things do If beauty wealth or honour thou dost prize I do present one now before thine Eys That is the Object this alone is he None none like him did ever mortals see He is all fair in him 's not one ill feature Ten thousand times more fair than any Creature That lives or ever lived on the Earth His Beauty so amazingly shines forth Angelick Nature is enamor'd so They love him dearly and admire him too His Head is like unto the purest Gold His curled Tresses lovely to behold And such a brightness sparkles from his Eys As when Aurora gilds the Morning skies And though so bright yet lovely like the Doves Charming all hearts where râ—â—is diviner Loves Look on his beauteous Cheeks and thou 'lt espy The Rose of Sharon deckt in Royaltie His smiling Lips his speech and words so sweet That all delights and joy in them do meet Which tends at once to ravish ear and sight And to a kiss all heavenly Souls invite The Image of his Father 's in his face His inward parts excel he 's full of grace If Heaven and Earth can make a rare Complexion Without a spot or the least imperfection Here here it is it in this Prince doth shine He 's altogether lovely all Divine 1. His Beauty is so much desirable No Souls that see it any ways are able For to withstand the influ'nce of the same They 'r so enamour'd with it they proclaim There 's none like him in Earth nor Heav'n above It draws their hearts and makes them fall in love Immediately so that they cannot stay From
stable Moths can't corrupt them nor can Thieves be able To rob us of them Nay yet further-more He that hath them what e're comes can't be poor His Riches can't be spent his Treasury Cannot exhausted be nor yet drawn dry These Riches will rejoyce thee make thee glad Revive thy heart and God will never add Sorrow with them whilst thou dost live on earth They 'l quiet thee and fill thy Soul with mirth They 'l be a breast of such sweet Consolation That when all other dwellers in the Nation Shall be perplext through loss of earthly gain Thou shalt be satisfied and remain In perfect peace nought shall distress thy mind When they shall nought save horrid anguish find Though Gold and Silver will not satisfie The Soul of Man yet this I do espy The loss of them and other earthly things It grief and sorrow to the Spirit brings And so uncertain are things of the world Though here to night e're morning all are hurlâ—d Away from him who now possession hath Like to a bubble are all things on Earth He that on wordly Riches sets his mind Strives to take hold on shadows and the wind But if Christ's Riches once thou dost obtain The loss of them thou never shalt sustain Nor will they leave thee when thou com'st to die But cleave unto and thee accompanie Beyond the Grave ev'n to Eternitie What dost thou say canst make a better choice Than close with Christ O hearken to his voice And don 't with fraud the proffer made to thee If any good thou dost in Riches see Christ's Bounty What sayest thou what hast thou in thine eye Will not Christ's Riches move thee then I 'le try To gain thee by some other property He 's bountiful and of a generous heart Most free and noble ready to impart What e're he hath unto the Soul he loves O see how his Heroick Spirit moves In him whose generous whose bounteous hand Holds forth to thee what e're thou canst demand 'T is thine for asking do but speak the word Thou hast it done O! none like this dear Lord Some mens great Riches seem to overflow Who do a base ignoble Spirit show They treasure up their bags lay heap on heap Yet with a narrow covetous spir't keep All from the poor Nay their own Wives can get But now and then a little in a fit In a good mood sometimes perchance they 'l be Kind unto them though but unfreely free But Christ's rich Bounty does to all extend He stretches forth his hand to Foe and Friend Refined Gold Eye-salve and Rayments white Ev'n all choice things for profit and delight Sweet Frankincense Spicknard Calamas fine Myrrh Saffron with all choice of spiced Wine He freely gives to all O come who will He 'l bid you welcome and your Treasures fill O what doth he then to his Friends impart Unto his Spouse the Soul who has his heart Come eat O Friends and drink abundantly Beloved ones 't was for your sakes that I This Banquet made There 's nought says he too good For those that I have purchas'd with my blood Take Grace and Glory all I have I give you And to my self I will e're long receive you Ask that your joy may now be full for I Can't any thing that 's good your souls deny The Soveraign Power and Dignity of Christ What can I now do more if still thou art Resolved to deny Jesus thy heart If Beauty will not move thee to incline To close with him who longs till he is thine Strange Beauty oft prevails great Conquests gains Like to a mighty Victor binds in chains Those wch would not by other means e're yield Such is the nature of his pow'rful Shield Triumphantly it has obtain'd the Field No standing out against its piercing Darts It hath a secret way to wound those hearts Whose constitution leads them naturally To steer that course and on it cast an Eye To search the sweet which Fancy says doth lye Hid in the same For human Beauty's vain Which some have sacrific'd their lives to gain But Christ's sweet Beauty is a real thing And doth substantial joys and pleasures bring Such pleasures also which will still abide For evermore like Rivers by thy side Shall Beauty which is spotless without slain Nor Riches neither sweet Imbraces gain Nor generous Bounty win thy purer love Then let Ambition thy affections move Is Greatness barren quite of solid joys Are all her Merchandize but empty toys If it be earthly 't is an Airy thing Though 't were to be a Spouse unto a King But let it not be so lookâ—d on by thee To be espous'd to that great Majestie From whom alone true Honour dos descend This Greatness lasting perfect ne'r will end Come Soul let us most seriously now pry Into Christ's Pow'r and regal Soveraignty And next let me his glorious Pow'r show By which he works and all great things can do Some have a Pow'r whereby they can command But to accomplish things do want a hand But Christ in both excels 't is he alone Hath regal Pow'r and what he will have done He can effect i' th twinkling of an eye Though all combine against him far and nigh He 's over Angels as thou heardst before They gladly him do rev'rence and adore The Head o' th Church makes Laws and governs it According as he sees 't is best and fit His regal Pow'r also doth descend And over all the Devils doth extend The Keys of Hell and Death to him are given 'T is he alone can shut and open Heaven Power to Rule to command to forbid To punish or deliver they 'r all hid In him alone 't is he can bind or loose To damn or save 't is all as he doth chuse He 's King of Kings all mighty men below To him their Princely Crowns Kingdoms owe. Yea such an universal Monarch's he Commands the mighty Winds and stils the Sea 'T was by his hand the glorious Heav'ns were made And wondrous Earth's foundations first were laid The Sun the Moon and Stars receivâ—d their light From him at first to rule both Day and Night His Power 's absolute without controle He governs all the World from Pole to Pole His Soveraign Pow'r was not gain'd by fight Or Usurpation but a lawful Right As he is God 't is his essentially Born Heir of it from all Eternity And as he 's Mediator th' God of Heaven This glorious Power unto him has given His Pow'rs Infinite it hath no bound No ends or limits of it can be found He made the World which by him doth subsist Nay he can make ten thousand if he list He can do more than we can think or know Can kill and make alive save or o'rethrow The Conquests he has gain'd demonstrate The matchless Pow'r of this dread Potentate Sin is ore-come the Devil 's forc'd to fly Nay 〈◊〉 hath obtain'd a perfect Victory O're Death o're Hell o're Wrath
all thy score If thou a Widow or an Orphan be Husband and Father both he 'l be to thee A Husband that does live yea live for ever Match here poor Soul where Death can part you never Or art thou weak canst not go alone He is thy strength O thou mayst lean upon His mighty Arm for that is thy support Art thou beleaguer'd he 's thy Royal Fort. In times of danger and of trouble great Unto his holy Name do thou retreat Which is a Tower strong to all that fly With care and speed from all iniquity Under his wings he 'l hide his purchas'd One Till these calamities are past and gone Or art thou dying and dost fear the grave He is thy life from Death he will thee save They cannot die who such a Husband have Or art a Sinner he 's thy Righteousness He 's more than I can any ways express The good in Christ is so exceeding sweet None understand until they tast of it He is a Good which none can comprehend He is a Good which doth all others send The chiefest Good good of himself alone When carnal joys and pleasures all are gone That 's not the good that fills not the desire That can't be chief if there be yet a higher God is so good noughts good if him we want Small things with him will satisfie a Saintâ— He is so good that nought can bitter make him Unto that Soul who chearfully does take him And his sweet love and precious grace enjoys Yet this rare Good ne'r gluts nor sweetness cloys The best of earthly sweets which fools do prize By sin and sickness doth much bitter rise They loath them straight and can't abide to hear Of that which lately they esteem'd so dear That that 's the Good on which thou shouldst depend That is desired for no other end Than for it self O tast of him and try And thou 'lt be filled to Eternity That 's not the Good which suddenly doth leave us That 's not the Good of which Death can bereave us Christ is a Good that 's lasting and abides All other Good alas will fail besides Make him thy choice dear Soul O do but try How sweet it is in Jesu's Arms to lie Make him thy joy and thou 'lt see cause to sing Whatever days or change may on thee bring Soul Sad times alas here is a sudden change Nought can I hear of now but rumors strange Of Wars and Tumults with perplexity Which do encrease and swell most vehemently Within the regions of my inward man Which causes tears and makes my face look wan Cross workings in me clearly I discover I am distrest about this glorious Lover The counsel which my heart did lately give I cannot take I dare not it receive Great slaughters there will be in my small Isle For without bloud be sure this fearful broil Will never cease which side now shall I take I tremble much yea all my bones do shake Some of my sins which I have loved dear Are forc'd to fly and others can't appear Lest Conscience should upon them fall for he Crys out Kill all let not one spared be Nay Judgment too is all-most at a stand Which doth amuse me much o' th other hand Yet Will and Old-man are resolv'dly bent To hinder me from granting my consent Yet if I could but have some glimm'ring sight Of this great Prince I know not but it might Work strange effects in me for I do find My Eyes are out my Understanding blind Lord pity me for I a wretch have bin To slight thee thus and love my cursed sin Thus whilst God's Word was preacht and she also Began to cry I did observe and lo A Friend was sent from the blest Prince of Light The glory of whose Face did shine so bright That none were able to behold for he Seem'd not infer'our to the Majesty Of the great God and his eternal Son For they in Essence are all three but one His Power 's great and Glory is his merit His nature 's like his Name most holy Spirit Who to the Soul did presently draw near And toucht her heart and then unstopt her ear And from him shone such glorious rays of light Some scales flew off and she recover'd sight Which straitway did her judgment rectifie Who to this purpose did himself apply Unto the Soul whom he had led astray I must confess my faults to thee this day Judgment For want of light false judgment I have given And treacherously conspired against Heaven And ' gainst thy life and happiness have I Been drawn into a vile conspiracy Of th' highest nature for I did consent With thy base Foes who hellishly are bent To tear thee into pieces quite undo thee Whilst smilingly they proffer pleasures to thee And now though not t' extenuate my sin I 'le tell thee how I have been drawen in Thy heart 's corrupted and from it proceeds The cursed Old-man with his evil deeds They with Apollyon jointly did unite To draw a Curtain 'twixt me and the light And thus though I sometimes was half inclin'd To judge for God they bâ—sely kept me blind T hey've me corrupted with thy wilful Will Who I do fear remains most stubborn still Which if 't be so and he 's not made to bend Conclude the match thou canst not wth thy friend And I poor I can't make him condescend Some higer Power 't is must make him yield Or he 'l stand out and never quit the Field For he 's a churlish piece and thou wilt find To what is evil he is most enclin'd But hath no will at all to what is right A very Traytor to the Prince of Light But as for me my thoughts are clearly now Thou oughtst forthwith to yield and meekly bow To the great King thy miâ—hty Lord and Lover And more then this to thee I must discover Now now I know thy Soveraign Lord will pry Into thy very heart his piercing Eye Will find that 〈◊〉 amongst the Company Who wants the Wedding-garment and will sever That unprepared man in Wrath for ever From his sweet presence Soul his Word doth shew Nothing will serve but universal new He is a jealous God will not endure To see thee only counterfeited pure O now I see he will not take a part But claims both ears eyes hands yea the whole heart Now now I see 't is pure simplicity That is alone accepted in his Eye That sin which has been like to a right hand For profit sweet thou must at his command Cut straight-way off Nay Soul look thou about For Right-eye sins must all be pulled out Though they for pleasure have to thee bin dear Yet must they have no room nor favour here Of every sin thou must thy self deny One sin will damn thee to Eternity If thou to it dost any love retain Nay hark to me Soul listen once again The Law must also unto thee be dead And thou to it or
thy breast Canst thou be ignorant how she 's possest With such a Soul-convincing beam of light That I do seem a Monster in her sight I shall not overcome her now unless I do appear to her in some new dress Time was indeed when I have been respected But now alas I greatly am suspected Of being thy great favourite nay she Affirms that I am wholly led by thee These things consider'd I must be advis'd Fear lest I should be unawares surpriz'd Apollyon Thou hit'st the case and I agree thereto Thou shalt be clothed new from top to to And I 'le transform my shape and will appear For thy assistance haste and nothing fear With specious shews of love do thou pretend Thou com'st to reason with her as a Friend Not meaning to perswade her to remove Or to withdraw in any case her love From her great Soveraign whom thou maist confess Can only her advance to happiness Yet tell her she 's too strict she 's too precise She 'l never hold it bid her to be wise Soft pace goes far an over-heated zeal Ruins the Soul and spoils the Common-weal Go bid her carry 't in her Princes sight With Saint-like sweetness bid her to delight In his presence and there demurely stand But when she 's absent let both heart and hand Be still delighted as they were before With sense-deluding Objects Furthermore Tell her he 's not so strict as to debar Her of these joys below for her 's they are Of which Paul rightly speaks this is the sum All things are yours both present and to come Thus we 'l combine and all our pow'rs unite And in this mode and curious dress incite Th' enligten'd Soul to play the Hypocrite The flesh being thus with th' pow'rs of Hell agreed The inward Foe bestirs himself with speed Vile Traytor like a Panther doth become To work about the Soul 's eternal doom A cruel Serpent in a Saint-like guize The better to trapan the long'd-for prize As Balaam once and Balak so do they Seek to find out some curst infidious way The poor unwary Soul for to betray To the last Death's dark and eternal shade Balaam advises Balak to invade God's Heritage 't was by the beauteous train Of Moabite Damsels who he thought might gain The Israelites affections and thereby Make them offend against the Majesty Of God All-mighty by whose powerful hand Jacob prevails and Moab could no wise stand Ah! see how the wise Fowler lays his snare To catch the poor enlighten'd Soul Beware And do not close thy new-inlighten'd Eyes Under the Golden clew the Panther lies The Eye-intangled Creature stands to gaze Upon the lovely Panther in a maze Till the deluded Beast doth by his stay Unwillingly become the Panther's prey Just as you see sometimes the nimble fly Dancing about the flame advance so nigh Until it 's taken and doth burn its wings Thus from it self its own destruction springs Or like two Men who running in a Race With hopes the Golden Diadem shall grace The Victor's Temples in the way doth lie A Golden Ball one of them casts his Eye Upom the same makes but a little stay To take it up the other hasts away And never turns aside to fix his Eyes On this or that but runs and wins the prize The other he the Ball espies is loth To let it lie in hopes to get them both He loses both for when he comes to try Doth â—â—nd the Golden Ball deceiv'd his Eye For when he thought to lay it up in store Finds it an Earthly Ball but gilded o're O! then he grieves but then it is too late His Eye 's the cause of his unhappy fate A fit resemblance for thus stands the case With every Soul This mortal life 's the Race A blessed Kingdom crowns the Victor's brow With endless glory but whilst here below We 're tempt by Earthly pleasures that 's the Ball Satan's the Sopister who lets it fall Now look about thee Soul thy time 's at hand Thine Enemies approach â—ay â—o they stand Ready prepared and resolv'd to try Both strength and craft to get the Victory Thy precious Lord is the eternal Prize Mind well thy Mark take heed of wanton Eyes If Pleasures thou or Honours shouldst espy Stop not to gaze run swift and pass them by Take no regard unto that painted Ball Which Satan to deceive thee has let fall The Old-man's near the flesh in a new dress And whose with him Ah! thou mayst eas'ly guess 'T is to deceive thee he appears so trim And thou mayst see the Devil plain in him The pow'rs of Hell in thee will try their skill For to insnare Affections and the Will Nay Satan has got them to take his side Thus treacherously thy heart they do divide Thus though the Soul obtains inlightned Eyes Whilst thicker darkness vanishes and flies Yet is she vex'd with sore perplexities 'Twixt two extreams and two contrary Laws Judgment is led by one Affection draws The other way she can't tell which to please She knows what 's best but strong temptations seize Upon her so that she 's at a great stand This way she goes then to the other hand Her faculties fall out they disagree O look methinks I in the Soul do see Four mighty Warriours draw into the Field To try their Valour and refuse to yield Unto each other here 's two against two Judgment with Conscience are united so That Will and the Affections do resolve The trembling Soul in Wars still to involve Will rouses up refuses to give way That his great opposites should have the day Apollyon also with him doth take part To hold his own and to beguile her heart They meet they strike blows exchange for blows Darts are let fly they with each other close The conflict's sharp 't is very hard to know Which will the other beat and overthrow Will 's hard put to 't nay had lost the day quite But that more Traytors join'd him in the Fight Th' Old-man rouses with rebellious flesh And these domestick Wars renew afresh They fight about the Soul would know who must Have th' heart and its affections Christ or Lust Satan by inward motions straight reply'd My sentence is we 'l equally divide And give alike both can't have the whole heart Christ take a piece and I the other part He 'd have the question by the Sword decided Knowing the Soul lies dead whilst 't is divided Thus 't is with many Ah! look well within Judgment convinc'd may be yet may thy sin In thy affections live and also thou Mayst not to th' pow'r of Grace and Jesus bow Thou mayst have light and speak as Balaam did Whose Eyes Jehovah so far opened That he cry'd out O happy Israel How goodly are the Tents where thou dost dwell He like to many Preachers did commend God's holy ways and wish'd that his last end Might be like his who righteously doth live And his whole heart doth unto
And no good thing from us will he deny But hark What saith the Flesh O Soul saith she In this give ear and harken unto me 'T is not unlawful here to lay up Treasure Provided thou therein tak'st no great pleasure The World thou seest disdains those wch are poor And if thou 'rt Rich thouâ—lt be ador'd the more Nay if thou once arrivest at the pitch Of being by the World accounted Rich Thy words will far the greater influence have And may'st thereby perchance more rich ones save Besides all this when Rich thou mayest feed With thy abundance such who suffer need And this also will take thee off from care Which is to some a most perplexing snare And thou for God may'st the more hours spare If thou art poor and of strict conversation That will not be a fit Accommodation To draw men by for some thereby are frighted Who might by temporizing be invited Accommodate thy selâ— to all become All things to all men that thou mayst gain some These subtil Covers doth the Flesh devise To hide those sins which in the bosom lies And by this crafty course perhaps a while The poor unwary Soul it may beguile And if Apollyon sees the Creature yield In this respect he 's Victor in the Field He glory's in the Conquest he has gain'd As if a Diadem he had obtain'd But now behold here comes her former Friend ' Christ's precious Love this once to recommend True Ministers are filled with compassion As their long patience's worth all commendation The preciousness now of the Soul you 'l hear And how things go within he will declare He 'l call her Conscience to examination For Conscience 't is must give a full Relation Of all false Covers Nay and will reveal Those secret Lusts the Flesh seems to conceal Theologue Conscience thou knowst and privy art to all The secret strivings and the words let fall To bring the Soul to join in bonds of love With Jesus Christ and finally remove Her heart from sin yea from the smallest evil One sin belov'd will send her to the Devil Speak therefore now her inward parts reveal What faith hath she what love and O what zeal What indignation care and what desire Is she inflamed is she all on fire In love to him who out of love did die Her to espouse and save Eternally Conscience She loves but who she sighs Sir shall I speak She 's doubtfull still she knows not which to take Some kind of love some faint desires do rise Within her breast but then the Enemies Immediately such great disturbance cause That she 's amaz'd and put into a pause Although she dos love Christ I must confess Some secret sin is favour'd ner'theless She wants some glorious Rays her eyes are dim She never yet had a true sight of him I must speak all e'en the whole truth impart Alas she has new Objects in her heart Her love is treach'rous her affections burn Chiefly to self loves Christ to serve her turn And such a Legalist she 's become now To her own drag she blindfoldly do's vow To offer Incense in her seeming grace She glory 's much nay sets it in the place Of Jesus Christ and on that Idol pores This is the Object now she most adores Theologue Wilt thou expose thy self to scoff and shame And bring a blot for ever on thy name A Monster thou in Nature wilt appear To all who of thy faults and folly hear Canst be so vile so impudent and base Disloval Soul how canst thou still give place To Jesus's Foes and up an Idol set What offer sacrifice to thy own Net I stand amaâ—'d â— what guilt is on thy head Remember that black Bill what crimes are spread Before thine Eyes already But now further 〈◊〉 to charge thee with another Murther Committed on a spotless Man nay worse Thou letst him be betrayed to the Curse Of a most shameful Death nay what exceeds His hands feet sides die and his Soul still bleeds And what is worst of all he is God's Son On whom this bloody Tragedy was done Thy Friend O Soul who came down from above To sue to thee for kindnesses and love And yet doth he whose blood thy hands have shed Sue unto thee nay his deep wounds do plead For mercy and he 's able to forgive He 's God as well as Man dead yet doth live What Object is 't thou hast got in thine eye Dost think the Law can help thee make hast fly For 't is by that thou stand'st condemn'd to die Seek a Divorcement stand'st thou still in doubt 'Twixt Law Grace strange canst thou not find out What Judgment told thee sure thou knowest better It is severe O! 't is a killing Letter 'T is time to leave that Husband and for-go All hopes from him who seeks thy overthrow Christ has fulfill'd it he alone has life And if thou once art his espoused Wife Thou wilt receive a full discharge from all Those Debts those Deaths and dangers wch inthral The Souls of those whose blind deceived breast Seeks to self-righteousness for peace and rest Thou canst not Soul become a Virgin Spouse Until thou art divorced from all vows To that nay to Relations though they 're dear Must thou the lesser love and kindness bear Thy Fathers house and all thou must forsake If thou this happy Contract e're dost make Yield thy whole heart to Christ bend to his feet In pure simplicity there 's ground for it For he that lay within a Virgins Womb And who was buried in a Virgin-Tomb He that alone did lead a Virgin-Life Must have a chast and holy Virgin-Wife Needst thou more motives still what shall I say What shall I speak to move thee I will lay The nature of the Soul unto thy view Wouldst know its worth read then what dos ensue First 'T is capable such is its nature State On Great Jehovah's Pow'r to contemplate It searches prys and nicely looks about On Nature's frame and finds the former out David's amaz'd when he doth cast his Eye On all the glorious things beneath the skie He looked up and down above and under And stood astonish'd seeing cause of Wonder And then reflecting his own frame did see Nature's great Volume blest Epitome Fearfully am I made how canst tell His Answer is My Soul knows it full well We should have known no more of Earth or Heav'n Than the brutâ— beasts had not Jehovah given This precious Soul to us O then be wise And it secure as the chiefest Prize Secondly Nay more then this the Scripture makes relation 'T is capable of glorious Inspiration There is in Man a Soul a Spirit do's live And move in him to which the Lord doth give By Inspiration Wisdom Knowledg Fear That fools know more than the Philosopher The Soul's God's Candle a light of acceptation But from himself must come its Information Shall not this Candle pray you lighted be O let God's Spirit
And then I trust thou wilt with sacred Vows Contract thy self to him become his Spouse Whose left hand 's full of Treasure in his right Are Honours great and Pleasures infinite A Prince you know dispos'd to make Election Of a Consort before he 'l place Affection Will first enquire if the Virgin be In Person Parts Estate or Pedigree Equal unto himself but if in case She be of low descent of Parents base Compar'd with his or not so noble born Or has debas'd her self or is forlorn He thinks it is below him once to place Or fix his love on her he fears disgrace But if the Lady chance to equalize him She 's not so much oblig'd to love or prize him ' Yond common bounds because saith she I am No whit inferiour unto him my name Records the noble stock from whence I came But if a Prince should chance to set his love Upon a person that has nought to move So great a Lord to make that choice then she Amazed yields with all humilitie Can do no less than humbly give consent Yield up her self with great astonishment But she who doth reject such love is acted Like one bereav'd of sense nay quite distracted Misguided Soul and is not this the case What worth 's in thee to him O! vile and base Instead of love deservest to be hated Since from thy God thou hast degenerated And yet the blessed Jesus don't despise thee But from thy loathsom dunghil fain would raise thee But to proceed I now will give to thee Of Christ's sweet Love a short Epitome 1. 'T is a first-love as soon as he past-by And saw thee in thy blood he cast his Eye Whilst thou in that sad gore didst weltring lie Nay unto thee most precious love he had Before the fabrick of this World mas made 2. It is attracting Love its nature 's such 'T is like the Loadstone hadst thou once a touch 'T would make thy Iron-heart with speed to move Nay cleave to him in bonds of purest Love 3. 'T is a free Love there 's nought at all in thee Which can deserve his favour yet does he Not grutch thee his dear Love although so great The glorious King of Kings does oft intreat Those Souls to his imbraces who contemn His proffer'd grace and still love shews to them 4. 'T is ' bounding Love like Nilus overflows All banks and bounds his Grace no limit knows 5. 'T is a delighting Love there 's nought more sweet She found it so who washt his precious feet He takes delight and sweet complacency In those he loves his heart affects his Eye He resteth in his love and who can turn His heart away or damp those flames that burn In his dear breast none ever lov'd as he Who for his Spouse was nailed to the Tree 6. It is a Victor's Love he 'l wound and kill All Enemies who do oppose his Will Where he lays Siege he 'l make the Soul to yield By love he overcomes and wins the Field His Captive Soul thou certainly must be His love is such 't will have the Victorie 7. It is abiding and Eternal Love 'T will last as long as he nought can remove His love from such on whom he casts his Eye And for whose sake alone he chose to die The love which did appear to Saints of old Did graciously this glorious Truth unfold I with an everlasting Love saith he Have set my heart upon or loved thee And therefore I have drawn thee unto me Know he who thus doth his sweet love commend To his dear Saints loves them unto the end 8. 'T is a great Love most powerful and strong Hence 't is he thinks each hour and minute long Till he imbrace thee in his Sacred Arms Where he 'l secure thee from all the harms And dangers great by Men or hellish charms Fathers although they love their Children dear Yet never did from them such love appear David lov'd Absolom yet gives consent Nay he himself decrees his banishment A Mother may forget her sucking Child As some have done although of nature mild Yet forc'd by famine cruelly have shed Their Childrens bloud and of their flesh have fed But Ah! his Love 's so free so strong so great He gives his bloud to drink his flesh for meat Unto the Soul and those who it receive Shall never die and none but such can live 9. His Love is matchless 't is without compare Who neither flesh now bloud nor life did spare The love of Women which the World esteems Most strong in sweet affection their love seems An empty shadow and not worth regard When with his Sacred Love it is compar'd The Husbands Wives and Fathers may abound Yet no such love as Christ's was ever found Abraham and Isaac both lov'd their Wives Yet neither of them sacrific'd their lives Jonathan's love to David did exceed The love of Women 't was a Love indeed But what was Jonathan â—s great love to this Ah! less than nothing when compar'd to his Christ's love exceeds all natural Love as far As bright Aurora doth the smallest Star But Oh! in vain do we compare his Love With any thing below no 't is above Comparison 't is so immense so great We cannot find it out though Man's concert Is larger than expression though profound Yet Man's conception never yet could sound The depth of Love's unfathomable bliss So great so deep so bottomless it is Betwixt his Love and ours the disproportion Is like one drop of Water to the Ocean Or as the smallest dust that 's fiercely driven To the whole Globe or like as Earth's to Heaven The Sun for clearness with his splendent face The Moon for swiftness in her Zodiack Race The Saâ—ds for nomber and the Heaven for height The Seas for depth the ponderous earth for weight Yet with more certainty and with less doubt Be weigh'd and measur'd than Christ's love founâ— out O depth O heigth O breadth O wonderous length Of this great Love O uncompared strength Of true affections Love that is Divine What 's natural love Lord when compar'd to thine Such a redundancy of Love is found Whoever dives into these depths is drown'd Ten thousand Sea ten thousand times told o're Add to these Seas ten times as many more Let all these Seas become one deep Abyss They'd all come short in depth compar'd to this The Moral Natural nor the Spiritual Man With all their Understanding never can Find out the Nature of Christ's Love alas It doth all Knowledg ' nfinitely surpass O may these Depths Heigths have pow'r to move On thee till thou art swallowed up in Love That that which cannot comprehended be By Men nor Angels may comprehend thee And thou being fill'd with it may'st sweetly lie In depths of Love unto Eternitie The Spir't with this let fly a piercing Dart Which wounded dreadfully her stubborn heart It pierc'd to th' very quick and made her smart Now now she
mourns Ah! how she weeps she crys And water runs like fountains from her â—ys Now her whole Souls dissolved into tears By Love-sick passions yet she 's fill'd with fears Lest Christ should now with angry frown deny To give her one sweet aspect of his Eye Because his love she had so long refus'd And wondrous patience shamefully abus'd Oh! now she spends whole days nights in prayer She sighs and grieves but canâ—t see Christ appear The panting Hart ne'r long'd for Water-brooks More than does she for some reviving looks From the great Prince the God of Love Grace But he at present seems to hide his face But stop my Musâ— hark how the Winds do roar All storms i' th Soul alasâ— are not yet o're No sooner did the Old-man cast his Eyes And view'd this change but in great wrath did rise For to renew the War he joins afresh With scatter'd force of Will and Lusts of th' flesh To make what strength they can with hellish spite The Devil 's with these conquer'd pow'rs unite Arm'd with despair and like to Lamps wch make The greatest blaze at going out they take Their blunt and broken Weapons in their hand Resolving Christ in her shall not command Nor she desert their cause nor break her Vows With Sin and Self and so become Christ's Spouse But now I find in vain they do resist True Grace is come the Spirit doth assist Sin World the Flesh nor Devil can long stand Before the Spirits strong and pow'rful hand See how the Spirit now doth search about To find each Sin and cursed Darling out Did you never behold in what dread sorâ— The wide-mouth'd Canon plays upon the Fort And how by whole-sail it doth batter down The shattered walls of a besieged Town Even so the Spirit with his powerful Sword Makes glorious slaughter will no Truce afford Kills all before him will no Quarter give Nor will he suffer any Lust to live The Strong-man Satan quakes good reason why A stronger's come a stronger he doth spy Is enter'd in O therefore he 's much pain'd All all is gone and he himself is chain'd The Old-man trembling likewise thinks to fly Into some lurking-corner secretly To hide himself but th' Spirit 's piercing Sight Discovers him and now with heavenly might Laid on such strokes and gave him such a wound Wch with dire vengance brought him to the ground Now the Affections's chang'd and Will doth yield Being willing made says Grace shall have the Field O happy season and thrice long'd-for hour This is the day of God's most mighty Power Upon the Soul But hark methinks I hear Most bitter sighs and groans sound in mine Ear. The Soul 's afflicted it is she doth mourn To think what sorrows for her Christ hath born She hates nay loaths her self to th' very dust And seeks to mortifie each former Lust And something more doth still perplex her mind Him whom she dearly loves she cannot find Her heart I fear will quickly burst asunder If any long time she should be prest under This heavy weight no grief like hers is there Who can alas a wounded Spirit bear She 's almost swallow'dâ— up in deep despair You next shall hear if you attention lend How she bewails the absence of her Friend Soul Ah me I faint my Spirits quite decay And yet I cannot die O who can stay My sinking Soul whilst I these sorrows feel My feeble knees under their burden reel Infâ—rnal deeps black gulphs where horror lies Open their ghastly mouths before mine Eys O wretched Soul curs'd Sin I might have been The Lamb's fair Bride and a Celestial Queen Had I imbrac'd my Lord my King my Love Who was more faithful than the Turtle Dove O had I then receiv d him in mine Arms He would have sav'd me from eternal harms But now I fear those happy days are past And I poor wretch shall into Hell be cast Bound up in fetters and eternal chains Of burning Wrath and everlasting pains O sinful Soul I who have lightly set By the blest Prince who would have paid my debt O he that would have freely quit my score Ah! Now I fear I shall ne're see him more Could I but once more hear his Sacred Voice I would make him my joy and only choice But 's Wooing-time I fear is out of date 〈…〉 but dread it is too late I mâ—lt Lord into tears whilst thou the Sun Of precious Light art hid where shall I run For Light and comfort in this dolesom hour Whilst I lie drenched in this brinish shower More would she speak but her great passion stops Her mournful speech whilst her eys stood-gates opeâ— Smote with despair so faint she scarce appears To breath or live but by her sighs and tears A Friend amidst this passion straight arriv'd Whose shining beams and lustre much reviv'd The troubl'd Soul on every side that she Cry'd out O heavenly Spirit it is thee Who with Diviner and mysterious Art Did such illustrious beams of Glory dart Which did not only tend to joy and peace But much inflam'd her heart made love increase And lo before her Eys she doth behold The Prince to stand whose Glory to unfold Is 'bove the reach of Man or Seraphim And thus had she a blessed sight of him Like as the Sun breaks forth beneath a Cloud Whose conqu'ring light cast off each envious shroud And round about his beauteous beams displays Making her Earth like Heav'n with his bright rays This glorious Aspect of his lovely Eye Which she through Faith beheld did by and by With such transports or Raptures on her seize And from her former sorrows gave her â—ase Yet could she not be fully satisfy'd Until the Marriage-knot was firmly ty'd A Promise she endeavours to procure To make Christ's Love and Pardon to her sure She to this purpose does her self address To him she loves with sweet composedness Of heart and mind tho thinking what she 'd bin She 's under fears and oft distrest again Much questioning for want of Faith how he Could e're forget past wrongs and injurie Soul Life of my life alas Lord what am I A wretched Creature who deserves to die A thousand deaths nay and a thousand more For wounding thee within without all o're In every part O this doth make me mourn It melts my heart to think what thou hast born For a vile worm But wilt thou view the wound That 's made in me Lord I am drench'd drown'd In bloud and brinish tears my wasting breath And sighing Soul will period soon in Death Unless thou seal and dost confirm to me Thy Love by promises O! shall I see Thy hand stretch'd out or shall I hear thee say Come come to me poor Soul O come away 'T is thou that wilt not bruise the broken reed Hurt not my sores nor crush the wounds that bleed O let my chilled Soul feel the warm fires Of thy sweet Voice that my dissolv'd
All my soul 's to him united As Jonathaen's to David who delighted So much in him that in his greatest trouble Dear Jonathan did his affections double When David was in great distress and fear Then did his love and loyalty appear So when my dear Beloved is distrest My love to him shall chiefly be exprest But why said I distrest What can my Lord Who hath consuming power in his Word Be touch'd by Mortals what can he be harm'd Who with all strength of Heaven and Earth is arm'd No no I must recall that lavish strain No hand can touch him he cannot sustain The smallest injury from th' greatest Pow'r For in a breath he can his Foes devour But now methinks I presently espy Upon the Earth the Apple of his Eye Which are his servants nay his members dear Which wicked men do oft oppress O there My Lord 's distrest for if his Children smart O that doth pierce and wound his tender heart If cold or nakedness afflicts their souls He sympathizes and their state condoles It sick they be or if by cruel hands They are in Prison cast and under bands And there with hunger and with thirst opprest He feels their grief he is in them distrest What wrong soever they on Earth receive 'T is done to him for which my soul doth grieve To see th' afflictions of his servants here This is the fruit true loyal Love does bear Her sorrows are his woes for they alone Being his members are my flesh and bone And all make but one Body he 's the Head From whence all flows 't is he alone has shed His love abroad in this my love-sick â—eart Whereby I feel when any members smart My bowels move and tender heart does bleed VVhich makes me for his sake supply their â—eed Thus for my Christ and for his Children's sake I 'le suffer any thing yea I do take My life and goods and all into my hands To be disposed of as he commands But know for certain evermore that I For aid and help on him alone rely These pleasant Fruits O these delight the King And hereby 't is that we do honour bring Unto his Name all souls of the new birth VVho are sincere this precious fruit bring â—orth â—et not these things seem strange because to few Do bear such â—ruit believe the Maxim's true That as the Sun doth by its warm reflection Upon the Earth produce a resurrection Of all those Seeds which in the Earth do 〈◊〉 Hid for a time in dark obscurity Ev'n so the Sun of Righteousness doth shine Into this cold and barren heart of mine The precious seeds that have been scattered there Take root and blossom nay their branches bear Sweet fruit being the product of those Rays VVhich that bright Sun into my soul displays 'T is precious and most lovely in his Eye Both 〈◊〉 it Beauty and Veracity You Viâ—gâ—â—â— all who are by Love invited Into his 〈◊〉 where he is delighted With all his pleasant Fruits come come and see â—ow choice fâ—ir sweet and 〈…〉 they â—e One cluster â—ere's presented to thy view That thou mayst sâ—e and then believe 't is true Theâ—e be 〈…〉 which I 〈◊〉 nâ—w 〈◊〉 â—â—ve Joy and Peace â—ong 〈◊〉 Holiness â—aith Goodness Temperaâ—â—â— aâ—d Charity â—hese are the products 〈◊〉 th' Aâ—â—inity That 's made between me and my dearest Friend Nay moâ—e than these Eternal 〈◊〉 i' th' end But iâ— through sin thou canst not cast thine Eye On these 〈◊〉 Fruits then know assuredly VVhen th' Vintage comes and thou beginst to crave For one small taste one taste thou canst not have The â—ruitful Soul it is the King will â—â—own VVith th' Diadâ—m of Glory and Renown O let theâ—e things the Soul's affections raise In grateful Songs to celebrate the Praise Of great Jehovah who is King of Kings VVhâ—se glorious Praise the heav'nly Quire sings â—hen let us sing on Earth a Song like this 〈…〉 and I am his An Hyâ—â— of Praise to the Sacred Bridegroom PRaise in the Highest Joy betide The sacred Bridegroom and his Bride Who doth in spendor shine Let Heaven above be fill'd with Songs In Earth beneath let all Mens Tongues sing forth his Praise Divine 〈◊〉 sullen Man refuse to speak 〈◊〉 Rocks and Stones their silence break for Heaven and Earth combinâ— To tie that sacred Bridal Knot O let it never be forgot the Contract is Divine You holy Seraphims above Who do admire Jesus's Love O hast away and come With Men on Earth your joys divide Earth ne'r produc'd so fair a Bride nor Heaven a Bridegroom Another 'T is not the gracious lofty strain Nor record of great Hector's glory Nor all the conquering mighty Train Whose Acts have left the World a story Nor yet great Cesar's swelling fame Who only look'd and overcame Nor one nor all those Worthy Ninâ— Nor Alexander's great Renown Whose deeds were thought almost Divine When Vic'tries did his Temples crown But 't is the Lord that Holy One Whose Praises I will sing alone My Heart and Tongue shall both rejoyce Wâ—ilâ—t Aâ—gâ—ls all in Consort sing Aloâ—d with a melodious voice The praises of sweet â—ion's King O 't is his praise that Holy One I am resolv'd to sing alone My Heart indites whilst I proclaim The Praises of the God of Wonder My lips still magnifie his Name Whose Voice is like a mighty Thunder I 'le praise his Name and him alone Who is the glorious Three in One. Whose feet are like to burning Brass Whose Eyes like to a flaming Fire Who bringeth mighty things to pass 'T is him I dread and do admire Iâ—le magnifie his Name alone Who is the glorious Three in One. My Heart and Pen shall both express The Praises of great Juda's â—ion The sweet and fragrant Flower of Jess The holy I 〈◊〉 the King of Zion To him that sitteth on the Throne Be everlasting praise alone Whose Head is whiter than the Snow That 's driven by the Eastern Wind Whose Visage like a flame doth show 〈◊〉 all yet unconfin'd For ever prais'd be Him â—â—one Who is the glorious Three in One. I 'le praise his Name who hath revealâ—d To me his everlasting Love Who with his stripes my Soul hath heal'd Whose Foot-stool's here his Throne above Let Trumps of Praise be loudly blown To magnifie his Name alone This sacred Subject of my Verse Though I poor silly Mortal should Neglect his Praises to rehearse The ragged Rocks and Mountains would Make his deserâ—ed Praises known Who is the glorious Three in One. You twinkling Stars that Day and Night Do your appointed Circuit run Sweet Cynthia in her monthly flight Also the bright and flaming Sun Throughout the Vniverse make known The Praises of the Holy One. Let every Saint on Earth rejoyce Whom Christ hath chosen let him sing Whilst I to him lift up my Voice To sound the Praises of my King For He it is and He alone Hath made me his Beloved one FINIS There will be suddenly Publish'd another Treatise of this Author's intituled Zion in Distress or The Groans of the true Protestant Church * Sat. 6. Cessant oracula Delphis †Excessere omnes Adytis Arisque relictis Dit quibus Imperium hoc steter â—t c.