Rime Who like transformed Acteon range about And beat the Woods to find Diana out Is 't this you 'ld have then hence here 's no content For you my Muse nere knew what Venus meant But stay I may subvert your rude conceit And every Verse may prove a heavenly bait O that ye were such Captives then you ld be Thrice happy such as these are only free Leave leave your wanton toyes and let alone Apollo sporting at his Helicon Let Vulcan deale with Venus what 's to thee Although she dandle Cupidâ— on her Knee Be not inchanted with her wanton charms Let her not hug thee in her whorish arms But wisely do as Nâ—ptune did in spight Of all spew out the Lady Aphrodite Come come fond lad what wouldst thou behold A visage that wil make thy Vâ—nus cold If this be all He gâ—ve thy eye delight Come see that face that lends the sun his Light A Caeâ—e iâ—ll glorious sight I did espie No earthly object for thy wandring eye I saw a face that made the Heavens to shine Oh seek that glorious face that lends thee thine Looke and behold that light which if thou see Aright wil make the earth a heaven to thee Come see that glistring face from which arise Such glorious beams that dazels angels eyes VVhat canst have more but dost thou think that such A comely visage wil not let thee touch Or dost thou think a Sun that shines so clear wil scorn to let a lesser Orb come neare No thou mistakest say dost thou truly thirst For him I dare avouch he lov'd the first Be not dismaid it needs no more dispute Come give that glorious face a kind salute THE Propheticall TRUMPETER Sounding an Allarum to Britaine I Do not wonder as I erst have done That when the Prophet Ionas should have gone To Nineveh Gods word He disobey'd And would Himselfe to Tharsus have convey'd For I have now a sense how flesh and blood The motions of the Holy Ghost withstood And feel me thinks how many a likely doubt The Devil and his frailty found him out He was a man though he a Prophet were In whom no little weakness did appear And thus he thought perchance VVhat shall I dâ— A strange attempt my heart is urged too And there is somwhat earnestly incites That I should hasten to the Ninivites And preach that if they alter not their wayes Their time of standing is but forty dayes My soul perswadeth God enjoyus me to it And sleep in peace I cannot til I do it But common Reason striveth to restrain This Motion and perswadeth me 't is vain It saith I am a sinner and so fraile That many times my best endeavours faile To rectifie my selfe How shall I then Be hopeful of reclaiming other men To Israel I have threatned many years Gods judgements yet no fruit thereof appears Although they have some knowledge of the Lord And are within his League they slight his word VVhat hope then is there that a heathen Nation VVill prove regardfull of my exhortation The stile of Prophet in this land I carry And such a Calling here is ordinary But in a forraigne State what warranty Have I to publish such a Prophesie How may the King and people take the same I shall in the open streets defame So great a City and condemn for sin A place wherein I never yet have bin If I shall the Lord commanded me Then they perhaps will answer What is he For they profess him not Nay some suspition They may conceive that I to move sedition Amsent among them Or if otherwise They shall suppose how can they but dispise My person and my counsel who shall from So farre a place so meere a stranger come That no man knows or what or who I am Or from what countrey or from whom I came Such thought belike delay'd and foar'd him so And so the Spirit urg'd him to go For Niniveh that not to go nor stay Could he resolve but fled another way From which rebellious course God fetcheth him back VVith such a vegeance that he did not lack Sufficient proofes how Reason did betray him And in his calling causlesly affray him Yea mark heav'ns providence though Ionas went Another way it crost not Gods intent But furthered it For doubtless e're he came To Nineveh the miracle and fame Of his Deliverance was sent before And made his preaching work on them the more Now though I do not arrogate nor dare My selfe except in frailttes to compare With blessed Ionas yet I may behold To say our causes a resemblance hold My heart and when that moves as one avers It more prevails than many Counsellers My heart I say perswaded me e're while To read a warning Lecture to this I le And in such manner moved that to say It came from God me thinks behold I may Yet my own nat'rall frailty and the world Among my thoughts so many doubtings hurld That every step had rubs I levell'd some In my last Canto Yet I could not come To even ground till I had overtopt Some other Mountains which my passage stopt Beware said Reason how thou undertake This hazardous adventure which to make Thou hast resolv'd for this wise age denies That God vouchsafed any Prophesies Concerning them or that the application Of ought foretold pertaineth to this Nation She saith my constancy is no true signe That God first moved this intent of mine Since Hereticks and Traytors oft are seen As bold in all their causes to have been As Martyrs be And that for what they do They can pretend the holy Spirit too And she perswades t is likely I shall pass At best for one that much deluded was She sayes moreover that if these times be Indeed so wicked as they seem to me I shall in stead of moving to repent Nought else but stir their fury and be rent Perhaps in pieces by their hasty rage For what 's more likely in a wicked age When people in their sins grow hardned once She sayes I may as wel go talk to â—ones As tell them ought For they are in the dark And what they see and hear they do not mark She urged that the Prophets in old times Did speak in vain against the peoples crimes And if in them their words begat no faith Much less will such as mine my reason saith She tells me also that this I le hath store Of Prophets and of Preachers never more She sayes that though their calling none neglect Their pains appear to take but small effect And if such men authorised as they Do cast their words without success away In vain my Muse whose warrant most contemn Doth seek to work more piety in them A thousand things unto the life effect Yea all and more than any can object Who shall peruse this Book my Reason brought before me and objected to my thought And as a Pilgrim who occasions hath To take some extraordinary path Arrival making at a double
from future moan and plaints Yea with such grace and forcible perswasion He seems to countermand all frail evasion Of doubting or demurring in this kind As if he should have said Man be not blind Let it not seem an intricate hard thing That I the Lord these things to pass should bring I which of nothing all things did create I which but breath'd and made each animate I the arch-mover of what ere did move Shall ought to me so difficult then prove As not my beck and how streâ—ght to obey O no be wise do not my power gainsay Be not incredulous to fear or doubt For I the Lord this thing wil bring about Not only for my power but Promise sake And the great care which ore my Saints I take To crown them all with promised salvation Their foes to fel to hel with dire damnation That true believers then may find me true Athiests their Infidelity may rue Yea with a tripple firm ingemination Hath heaven confirm'd this faithful Protestation And what so scornfully scoffâ—ing Cham so bold VVhat impious athiest dares it untrue hold What fearfull faultfull or unfaithfull Cain Doth dare this truth deride doubt or disdain Doubtless the simplest peevish Grammatist The rudest rustick who yet never wist What t is to sound heav'ns depth of prudencie Would soon condemn them of absurditie O the great wisdome and indulgent Grace Of heav'ns great King himselfe so to debase Precept on Precept thus to us to teach His wil so oft t'inculeate and to preach Line after line yea now and then a little Our faith more soundly to confirm and settle Us to inform in his pure veritie Us to reform from infidelity Therefore such faithless and incredulous Such graceless godless irreligious As do deny or wil bely this truth Shall be rejected to their endless ruth Shall ne're have part nor portion in this joy But he obtruded unto â—iâ— annoy And their too-light too-late beliefe shal rue When they receive their meed and merit due When with the damned sin-co-operators They shal of wo and horror be partakers Read then with faith and what thou readst desire And that thou canst not comprehend admire But here as at a stand I stand amazed That I a dust-born babe poor weak and crazed Of stammering tongue a child an understanding Of heart oft subject unto sins commanding Should undertake worm that I am to pried Into the depth of so great mysterie That to describe which asks an angells skil As Souls which of that sight hath had its fil And yet all toâ— too little to declare The beauty infinite the splendor fair Of great Jehovahs Palace Chrystaline All full of hev'nly glory all divine Which to admire the more I do contend I more admire and less do comprehend And whose rare fabrique and coelestial sight I rather could stand wondring at than write Pardon oh therefore pardon Lord I pray My great presumption let thy grace alway Illuminate my sin-caecated heart And to my layes thy sacred help impart That nought may be mis-done mis-thought mis-said O Lord I crave thy sacred soveraigne ayde Give me a voice now O Voice all divine With heav'nly fire inspire this brest of mine And since thou Lord art able to declare By th mouthes of babes which weak and tender are Thy might and power Lord though unworthy I Into my heart infuse aboundantly The so soveraigne graces of thy holy sprite That my weak Pen thy wondrous praise may write That thy Enthusiasme of Prophetick skil May on my layes like honey sweet distil That by divine divine Iohns godly guide I from the truth may not once step aside But by his true Propheticall direction May methodize Jerusalems perfection That all that read it may enflamed be Wth hearts desire therein to reign with thee To make great hast and speedy properation To this blest Citie with due preparation As God th' ereliving all good giving King The first that moves of every moving thing When unto Moses he vouchsaft to show The Land of Canaan which didoverflo With Milk and honey which he vow'd to give To Iacobs off-spring wherein they should live On top of Pisgah Mountain did him place That Moses might from thence behold the grace The pleasure wealth and riches of that land Which they should have by power of his right hand Even so the Darling of Christ Jesus Iohn Rapt in the Spirit was also plac't upon A high-topt Mount in Pathmos whence he might Contemplate this great Cities glorious sight A sight more glorious far than that the Devil That subtil Serpent fire-brand of evil Shew'd to our Saviour in his great temptation When he with Satan fought for our Salvation Thou wel-beloved of thy Saviour deer Saith a blest angel unto Iohn draw neer With joy come hither stand a while by me And thou the heavenly Canaan shalt see The Churches glorifi'd spirituall State Thou shalt behold and sweetly contemplate The spotless Spouse th' immaculate chast Bride With which the Lamb Christ Jesus wil abide The joy in God and godly consolation Th' elected Saints most holy habitation Prepared for them by the Trinitie Where they shall reign remain eternally Call'd the great Citie Holy Canaan Great whose inhabitants none number can Holy because no putrifacting Sin Nor least impuritie can there creep in Call'd Canaan or new Jerusalem A place of peace Saints rest Souls Diadem Now this most holy heavnâ—ly Habitacle Was most magnificent Saints receptacle VVith glorie which did from the Lord proceed VVhose most refulgent splendour did exceed The lustre of all precious stones most bright They all come short of this most glorious Light Yea as faire transparent Iasper Green So shall his Saints felicitie be seen For ere to was most fresh and alwaies flourish Because Gods power and prudence shall it nourish It being pure as any Crystall clear VVhereby not blot not spot can there appear No stains of foul terrestriall uncleanness No gross pollutions or impure obsceanness Shall this their joy obnubâ—late make dim Or once eclipse their beauty fram'd by him Gods gracious presence and great Majestie Shall it so deck decore and glorifie Here t is no triviall question why the Light Of this blest Cities lustre equisite Is to a precious Jasper Stone compared Tnd why 't might not have been as wel declared By th' Sun or Moon or Stars most excellent Or artificiall Lights which men invent All these are Lights true but too light they be Compar'd with Light it self i' th' highest degree First in regard the Suns far piercing rayes VVith its bright beams the eye-sight much decayes If the beholder thereon fixtly look Nor can his sight the brightness thereof brook But precious stones have no obnoxious might But with their splendour rarely do delight The eyes of their beholders so that they The more on them they look the more they may VVhereby egregiously they intimate And to us point the sweet and delicate Delight we shal in heav'nly knowledge finde
eleventh and twelf foundation Were both of them two Gems of Indian nation Call'd hyacinth and ametist both which Are of a purple colour faire and rich And now of all that hitherto is said Of these rich precious Stones whereof was made This twelve-fold Solid Glorious Strong Foundation This is the scope true use and application Namely that as a careful architector Who of a Princely building is Director And chiefe Ore-seer sends with expedition His Quarrions Masons gives them this commission In every quarter to search out and dress To hiew and cut to have in readiness The choicest Stones that might be got for gold For strength to build and beautious to behold Or as Wit-wondrous Solomon is said When he would have the Lords great temple made To send his Princes to provide each thing Which might decore the seat of heav'ns great King With Hiram his kind Neighbor did compact For necessaries to that sacred act Who sent both men and all his choicest Stuff Of every thing aboundantly enough Even so the Lord this Cities Master-builder Earths globy Universals strong hand weâ—lder To th' build in got this blessed habitation Sent his apostles into every Nation To India Aegypt Aethiopia Arabia Europe and Armenia Through every course itâ— worlds circumference To reach and preach with care and diligence To congregate and bring into his â—old His precious people who like perfect Gold Should gorgeously adorn this sacred frame Some Prophets Martyrs Preachers of great same Some with one gift some with another graced That in this Sancture they might thus be placed To frame and build this everlasting palace Of everliving Stones and endless solace Who as th' had built his Church once Militant Now should they thus build up his Church triumphant And as they had converted souls to Christ Their souls should shine like Stars in glory high'st Thus then the citie wall and groundwork past To th' gates with joy we now are come at last Twelve Gates most rich and precious did belong To the wall apostolike most firm most strong Which Gates were all of pearls most orient Yet all were but one Pearl most excellent Even Jesus Christ who is the only Port Through whom th' Elect must into bliss resort Through whom alone by saith we here are fed Through whom at last we all shal tast that bread That bread of Life never to hunger more Which for his Saints Christ hath laid up in store He only is the Dore by which I say We shal go in and out feed Live for ay And as on twelve foundations did arise A VVall as we did formerly premise But One in Matter and in Lustre bright Even God the Father Father of all Light So these twelve Ports are all one Pearl most rare Even God the Son whence they derived are But here this one objection may accrew How it may come to pass a pearl should shew And represent this Man-God Christ our King To which Objection I this answer bring That as the Shel wherein the Pearl doth grow Which Pliny plainly in his work doth snow Doth at a certain season gape and yawn And without any generating spawne Draws into it a dew from forth the ayre Which by the Sea i' th' shel grows Orient fair And of this dew doth more coagulate Than t is of earthly stuff coaugmentate Even so the Holy Ghost from heav'ns high frame Upon the blessed Virgin Mary came And Gods eternall power whose breath all made Did so Christs Virgin-Mother over-shade That without any humane copulation Christ in her womb took on him incarnation Yet so as that his powerfull Divinity Was stil assistant unto his humanity Which subject was to mans infirmitie But not to sins even last impurity Being thus most perfect God and Man indeed Knowing our wants to help us at our need Thus then we see that these twelve Pearly Gates Consisting of one Pearl this intimates That we in heaven or earth none oâ— her have To invocate our sinful souls to save But Jesus Christ true God and man alone Who sits our advocate in heav'ns high throne Oh then the wilful madness of our Foe That monstrous beast of Rome who though he know This our Position most authenticall Both he and his besotted shavelings all Vet they unto their Saints appropriate And unto angels dare accommodate The honour only due to Christs blest name Angels themselves having refus'd the same And since nor Saints nor angels know out state Nor have in them power us to consolate But Christ hath will'd us come to him alone Who can and wil ease and appease our moan Therefore that they dare add and thus diminish From Gods firm truth they do but strive to finish And measure up to th' ful their own damnation Threatned to all such in the Revelation The Gates thus entred now we may behold The streets within all pav'd with purest Gold Which gave allustre like the clearest glass Even every street through which the Saints shall pass And customarily walk up and down Like glorious Kings in pomp and great renown Which streets and patent passages imply Amongst their other joyes the liberty And perfect freedome which those sacred Saints Shall fully there possess without restraints Of being unto any one place tyde For why wheres'ere they go God is their guide They walk in God and God in them alwayes Their beautious paths shining with his bright rayes Thus have we seen th' essential Majesty This Cities glorious frame and Symmetry The most magnificent and blissful State Of those which are in Christ incorporate But yet whiles here we see 't no otherwise Then as we had a Myst before our eyes Then as we were i th' bottome of a vail Whence of a perfect sight we needs must fail By reason that cloud-kissing Mountaines hie And lofty trees are interpos'd to th' eye And hereby hinder our more clear aspect Of this most glorious heavenly architect So that but Aenigmatically we As through a glass this sacred City see Whiles in the Flesh we live by lively faith As blessed Paul in his Epistle saith Yet let it joy our hearts our souls delight That though but thus we may admire this sight That though but with the Prophet Daniel we May ope the window and look toward thee O Dateless Fateless Restful Blissful Citie Where Hallelujah is the angels Ditty Now let it not be O! how can it be Tedious to us to contemplate and see What majesty and dignity compleat Is accessary to the glory great Of that externall beauty of this place Fill'd with the glory of the Lords bright face Making this City most magnificent An abstract Common-weale most permanent First there shall be no Temple in the same Wherein to worship God all-glorious name No sacrificing no peculiar place To worship in or be this Cities Grace Nor no externall Paedagogie shall Be useful there no Service Ritual Like that under the Law amongst the Jews When they did their old sacrifices use But
infuse Thy Poets brest with a Prophetick Muse And know that he this author did prefer To be from him this Iles Remembrancer If thou I say oh Britain shalt retain Thy crying sins thou dost presume in vain Of Gods protection If thou stop thine eare Or burn this Rowle in whice recorded are Thy just Inditements it shall written be VVith new additions deeply stampt on thee With such Characters that no time shall race Their fatal image from thy scarred face Though haughtily thou dost thy self dispose Because the Sea thy borders doth inclose Although upon the Rocks thy nest is plac'd Though thou among the Stars thy dwelling hast Though thou encrease thy ships and unto that Which is thine own with King Iehosaphat Joyn Ahabs forces Though thou watch and ward And all thy Ports and Havens strongly guard Although thou multiply thy inland forces And muster up large troops of men and horses Though like an Eagle thou thy wings display'st And high thy self advancing proudly say'st I fit aloft and am so high that none Can fetch me from the place I rest upon Yea though thou no advantages didst want Of which the glorious Emperies did vaunt Yet sure thou shalt be humbled and brought low Ev'n then perhaps when least thou fear'st it so Till thou repent provisions which are made For thy defence or others to invade Shall be in vaine and stil the greater cost Thou shalt bestow the honour that is lost Shall be the greater and thy wasted strength Be sink of a Consumption at the length Thy treaties which for peace or profit be Shall neither peace nor profit bring to thee Or if thy Counsels prosper for a while God wil permit it onely to beguile Thy foolishness and tempt thee on to run Some courses that will bring his Judgements on Yea all thy winnings shall but fuel be To feed those follies that now spring in thee And make with vengeance those the more enrag'd Who shall for thy correction be engag'd What ever threatned in Gods Book hath bin Against a wicked people for their sin Shall come on thee His hand shall be for ill On every Mountain and high-raised hill Thy lofty Cedars and thy sturdy Oaks Shall feel the fury of his Thunder stroake Upon the Ships thy Havens and thy Ports Upon thy arms thy armies and thy Forts Upon thy pleasures and commodities Thy Crafts mechanick and thy merchandise On all the fruits and Cattel in thy fields On what the ayre or what the water yeilds On State and people on both weak and strong On Priest and Prophet or both old and young Yea on each person place and every thing The Plague it hath deserved God shal bring What ever thou dost hope he frustrate shall And make what e're thou fearest on thee fall This pleasant soyle wherein such plenty grows And where both milk and honey overflows Shall for thy peoples wickedness be made A Land as barren as what never had Such plenties in it God shall drive away Thy pleasant Fowles and all those Fish that play Within thy waters and for whose great store Some other Nations would have prais'd him more Those Rivers that have made thy vallies rich Shall be like streams of ever burning Pitch Thy dust as Brimstone fields as hard and dry As iron is the firmament on high Like Brass shall yeild thee neither rain nor due The hope of wasted blessings to renue Aleanness shall thy fatness quite devour Thy wheat shall in the place of wholsome flowre Yeild nought but bran In stead of grass and corn Thou shalt in times of harvest reap the thorn The thistle and the bryar Of their shadows Thy Groves shall robbed be thy flowry Medows shal steri e wax there shal be seldom seen Sheep on thy downs or Shepheards on the Green Thy walks thy Gardens and each pleasant plot Shall be as those where men inhabit not Thy Villages where goodly dwellings are Shal stand as if they unfrequented were Thy Cities and thy Palaces wherein Most neatness and magnificence hath bln Shal heaps of rubish be and as in those Demolisht Abbies where in Dawes and Crowes Now make their nests the Bramble and the Nettle Shal in their halls and parlours root and settle Thy Princes houses and thy wealthy Ports Now fillâ—d with men of all degrees and sorts Shal no inbabitants in them retain But some poor Fisherman or Countrey Swain VVho of thy glories When the marks they see Shall wonder what those mighty ruins be As now they do who old foundations find Of towns and Cities perisht out of mind The places where much people meetings had Shal vermine holes and dens for beasts be made Or walks for sprights who from those uncouth rooms Shall fright the passenger which that way comes In stead of mirth and laughter lamentation Shall there abide and loathsome desolation In stead of company Where once was heard Sweet melody men shall be made afeard With hideous cryes and howlings of despaire Thy very Climate and thy temp'rate ayre Shall lose their wholsomness for thy offences And breed hot Fevers Murraines Pestilences And all diseases they that now are trained In ease and with soft pleasures entertained In stead of idle games and wanton dances Shall practise how to handle guns and launces And be compell'd to leave their friends embraces To end their lives in divers uncouth places Or else thy face with their own blood defile In hope to keep themselves and thee from spoile Thy beautious Women whose great pride is more Than theirs whom Esay blamed heretofore In stead of paintings and of costly sents Of glittering gems and precious ornaments Shall wear deformitie about their faces And being rob'd of all their tempting graces Feele wants diseases and all such like things Which to a wanton Lover lothing brings Thy God shall for thy overflowing vices Scourge thee with Scorpions Serpents Cockatrices And other such whose tailes with stings are armed That neither can be plucked forth nor charmed Thou shalt not be suffiz'd when thou art fed Nor shalt thou suffer scarcitie of bread And temporall food alone but of that meat Whereof the faithfull soul desires to eat That curse of Ravenous Beasts which God hath said Upon a wicked Kingdom shal be laid He will inflict on thee For though there be No Tygers Lyons Wolves or Bears in thee By beastly minded men that shall be far More cruel than those bloody spoylers are Thou shalt be torn for each man shall assay His fellow to devour as lawfull prey In stead of Lyons tyrants thou shalt breed Who not of conscience nor of Law take heed But on the weak mans portion lay their Paw And make their pleasures to become their Law In stead of tygers men of no compassion A furious and a wilful generation Shall fil thy borders Thieves and outlaws vile Shal hunt the waies and haunt the woods for spoyle As Bears and Wolves A subtile cheating crew That wil with tricks and cozenages pursue
So to affect and recreate the minde As that the more we thereof do possess The more our love whereof we shall express Again the artificial lights men make As torches tapers lamps and candles slake Are soon burnt out extinct and therefore need Some fomentarie adjunct them to feed But as for precious Stones their sparkling light Is genuine by Nature shineth bright And glisters in the most obscure dark place Alwayes retaining their resplendant grace And therefore do most lively represent The splendor fair and beauty excellent Of th' ever selfe subsisting Deitie Alwaies the same one-same eternity This citie is inviron'd bounded round With a great high-topt wall thick strong and sound Which unto us doth thus much intimate That though i' th' Churches Militant esrate The congregations of Christs faithful Saints Were stil molested ful of wofull plaint Tost to and fro with storms Tyrannicall With persecutions most satanicall And like Noes-ark were ne're in peace or rest With worldly billowing-waves dasht and distrest Yet in this Chuch-triumphant they shal be From all heart-hurting fear of danger free Surely securely kept from least annoy In heav'nly safetie sempiternall joy For why the Doctrine apostolicall Shall as a firm invincible strong wall Debar and keep out heart deluding errors All unclean creatures Lyers and the tortors VVhich their abominations might effect For this wall Doctrinall doth them reject And thus the Prophet Ieremie doth call A constont Preacher a strong brazen wall Now this strong wall is made more admirable By Stately Ports and ground-work solid stable Twelve Gates are about it plac't conveniently VVhich thus much do unto us signifie That all her friends and Citizens shall see The way to th' city easie plain to be Plain to the just to th' unjust narrow straight Easie to those to these most intricate And on these Gates were charactred most fair The names of Isr'els twelve tribes to declare Their good assuâ—ance and their ready way That none might wander erre or go astray There needs no use of a conducting guide Their way lying ope ' to them on every side But here by th' names of Israels twelve tribes The sacred spirit unto us describes They being once Gods sole peculiar Vine Til they did from his Love and Lure decline That by a figure are in them included The elected Gentiles once from grace secluded Even people of all Nations under heaven To whom Salvation God in Christ hath given Are here all ta'ne for sp'rituall Israelites Whom Christ the Corner-stone to th' Jews unites At these twelve Gates twelve angels there did stand But not like Edens-angels in their hand Holding a sword a sword like fiery flame To daunt and drive what ever thither came But here these angels stand like Porters kind That Abr'ams faithfull Sons access may find Unto the tree of life and sacred spring VVhich grows and flows from Christ this Edens King VVith most commodious decent scituation Are these twelve gates plac ' 'bout this heav'nly station And good Ezechiel doth them thus digest Three East three North three south and three by west These three tribes names Dan Ioseph Semamen Orethe three Eastern Gates were to be seen Orethe three Ports set on the Northern side Iude Levi Reubens names might be discride Ore the three southern gates th' inscription Of Simeon Isachar and Zabuâ—on Also the three gates on the VVest part had The name of Aser Napthalem and God Of which most decent triple distribution Of these twelve Gates this is the resolution Namely that all the Saint-elected souls VVhose names are written Heav'ns eternall rowles From whatsoever quarter of the earth They had their first originall and birth Yet had but one especiall means t' ascend Unto this Citie their hopes happy end To wit the blest profession of the trinitie Hereby to Christ th' are joynd in neer affinitie And that they thus professing three in one Shall finde the way wide ope to heav'ns high throne Shall find the path more parent plain and straight And at the Gates twelve angels for them wait A twelf fold Ground-work and Foundatoin strong Did also to this mighty wall belong I mean not to the Citie but the VVall For of the Citie Christ is all in all Upon which twelve Foundations glorious rare Christs twelve apostles names were graven faire Who here are said to be this Walls foundation By their apostolique administration For having by their blest Ministry Christ Jesus Doctrine preached publikely Unto the World as the first instruments Are therefore thus the twelve strong Firmaments Not that they are the Principall Foundation But having first place in this Fabrication Are as I so may say the first stones laid On which the building of this wall was made For no man is so silly as to say That the Foundation doth it self down lay But that 's the office of the architector Which is Christ Jesus this great works director This Cities Soveraign whose un-shrinking shoulders Are this most glorious Cities firm upholders Who laid his twelve disciples as Supporters Of this Quadrangled walls most spacious quarters As those in whom his Churches doctrine pure Did most consist and constantly endure Thus are th' apostles grounds of ministration But Christ the only Basis of Salvation But what sayes Rome to this that man of Sin Who proudly reignes and rules as Lord and King Peters supremacy superiour State Is here me thinks quite torn worn out of date For though our Saviour call'd his Faith the Rock Whereon hee 'd build his Church his Love his Flock And his and all th' apostles Doctrine pure To be his Churches ground-work grounded sure Yet neither is St. Peter here exprest To be in dignity above the rest Nor yet to be the principall Foundation But one with others have their Station Then surely hence 't is most apparent plain That antichrist of Rome doth not maintain His proud priority from Peters Faith But from his Person whom he falsly saith T' have been Romes Bishop which nor he nor 's crue Shall ere be able to approve as true His person 't is I say not Doctrine pure Oh this it is the Pope can worst endure Therefore since he mis-deems Christs blest foundation He ne're shall have least part in Christs Salvation But now return we whence we have digrest The Light-bright Angel which did manifest Unto S. Iohn this glorious sacred sight Now like some noble Pers'nage Princely wight Like to another prudent Neâ—emie Or like good Ezra ful of prudencie By th' Symbole of a Golden Reed in ' his hand Did represent that he with that Met-wand The Cities spacious round should measure out The height length breadth and compass all about Entries and wall environing the same All under line and measure truly came All most exactly form'd with due respect By the arch-artist of this architect Yea with a Golden Reed he meets the same Most fit to measure such a glorious frame By which externall gesture the angel here As else-where
in the Prophets may appear In their Prophetick visions us'd to show The Lords intent by thus descending to Our weak capacity which ne're can keep A verball document in mind so deep As actual gestures evermore we find Examples more than precepts teach the mind And here by th' angels meeting with a reed We are advis'd to take a speciall heed And deeply to imprint in mind and heart The subsequent discription and rare art The stately symmetry worth admiration Of this coelestiall sacred habitation Containing in 't an heav'nly harmony With the chiefe grounds of christian verity This Citie lay in form quadrangulare By which firm cubique plat-form here we are To understand and note the stable state Of this Mount-Sion free from hostile hate Not to be stirr'd by tempests violent Immoveable most constant permanent Which being square the Gates are opposite To the four corners of the earths-globe aright From every part whereof to let in those Whom Christ the Lamb to reign with him hath chose The four Evangelists the pattern are By whom this edifice was fashion'd square By Matthew Mark Luke and Christ tendred Iohn Was fram'd I say this constitution And since the twelve apostles as foresaiâ— Were by their short and present doctrine made The strong foundation of the holy wall Is 't not a concord most harmonicall That these Evangalists most excellent By their long-lasting-written testament Should the four corners of that square build out And it to ful perfection bring about The angell then with 's reed the Citie meeted Which by juss Measure was thus computated Twelve thousand staâ—es whereof eight makes a mile Which fifteen hundreth miles do just compile The length height breadth being of all equal space Do make almost infinite room and place Within the wall as Christ himself hath said In my dear heavinly Fathers house are made Many fair Mansions fit to comprehend Th' increase of Gods elect to th worlds last end Now then the totall body of this place Doth to us represent the beautious grace The great felicitie admired joy Which in this Citie we shall sure enjoy In the united glorious Deitie Th' incomprehensible Trine-Unitie The three distinct dimensions as foreshew'd Of Latitude Longitude Altitude Present the severall measures of delight Which in the Father Son and Holy-sprite We shall possess and this felicitie To be alike of equall quantitie There shall we three in one most clearly see There shall we also worship one in three And of this joy we shall have full fruition Alike of all without all intermission Even as the Persons are one in the Deitie And one in substance in the unite trinity The Premises thus re-obscur'd afford To us a most harmonious sweet accord Twixt God and this his holy Habitacle The Lambs sweet spouse caelestial tabernacle God the Worlds most admired artizan When first he fashion'd and created man Like his own perfect Image did him make God would man should his Makers likeness take Even so this Cities Specious Symmetrie Is shaped like heavens sacred Deitie As God himself in trinitie is one So by this Citie his true Church is shown As of the God-head there be persons three And Father Son and Spirit co-equal be So those dimensions length height Breadth are all By the angel measur'd to be just equal As neither person in the Deity Is seperable from their Unity So none of these dimensions being three May from a citie separated be Or other solid body otherwise It were not sound but Line or superfice The persons three and their three offices Are not confounded and no more are these For neither is the length the breadth and so The height is neither breadth nor length we know And even as Athanasius in his Creed As wittily as wisely doth proceed And sayes the father son and holy sprite Though three in persons are one God unite So Longitude Latitude Altitude Must one sole citie evermore include The doctrine also of the deitie Is witnest in the four-fold verity Writ by the four Evangelists so here This New-Jerusalem as doth appear Is in a quadrate or square form set down Most like a strong immoveable firm town The twelve apostles were disperst and sent To every quarter of earths continent To preach to all our Saviours doctrine sound Whereby al nations heav'ns rightrode way have found On twelve foundations so stands this great frame And by twelve Gates all go into the same Lastly the God-head universall is And infinite in glory and in bliss Infinitely extended over all So in Jerusalem coelestiall Is infinite tranquillity and peace Aboundant roome for all the great encrease Of Gods dear Saints who were predestinate To this Jerusalems most happy state Thus having heard this sacred Symphonie Twixt God and 's Church proceed we orderly The angel now here measuring the wall The mighty bulwark apostolicall Of this angelick State of sanctitie Found it to be rais'd up in cubits high Even by a twelve-fold-high-ascending course By th' twelve apostles rais'd to mighty force But this though spoken in a humane sort Yet hath a heav'nly sence of great import Namely that though the Church here Militant Was evermore distrest with wo and want Being by worldly obstacles kept low And never could to ful perfection grow Yet now in her triumphant dignity To plenary perfection springs on high Yhis being by twelve courses signifi'd Which twelve times so much more being multiply'd T'an hundreth forty four courses of height Do make the wall to rise direct upright By Jews and Gentiles mighty multitude VVhom grace by faith wil in this frame include Thus now we having seen the stately stature The spacious compass of this heaven-built structure Let us with our divine divine behold The matter substance and most precious Mold VVhereof the wall citie and firm foundation The twelve great gate of this heav'ns habitation Were form'd adorn'd yea with what pavement rare The Streets were pav'd all which is to declare The wonderfull unspeakable delight VVhich Gods dear Saints in presence of his sight Shall in that life to come to th' ful possess And thus the Prophet Isay did redress And consolate the Jews disconsolation Declaring in his true vaticination The glory of this New-Jerusalem VVhich God would once re-build re-make for them O happy are they which are interested And whose blest souls are there into invested Now then the building of this fencive wall This sincere Doctrine apostolicall Of precious stones most gloriously did shine VVith bountie and with beauty most divine Having a lustre like the Jasper green VVhich evermore to flourish shall be seen Hence then this Note is set before our eyes That this rare fabrique pompous edifice Is all most precious specious round about As bright within as it is light without But in this wall this one thing is most rare Is most regardable beyond compare That though those twelve foundations firm strong Were so by courses set and laid along As that course after course th' are
God the Father and the Lamb Christ Jesus Shal of such heavy yokes then clearly ease us And be a Temple unto his most faire To whose blest Saints with delight repaire His worship then shal be most plain and pure And shal for ever constantly endure Without all legal Rites or Ceremonie Adoring God in Christ in sanctimony Whose looks to them as Lessons shall appear His holy name be'ng Musick in their ear And such indeed is this great Cities state So admirable so inexplicate That Gold and precious stones being too too base T' express the glory of that glorious place If nature did more precious things bring forth More amply to describe this Cities worth I therefore know not what terrestrial thing We may with due proportion hereto bring To have a fit and true analogy Unto this temple of eternitie But God himself and Jesus Christ alone In whom it may most properly be shown Again this Citie hath no need of Light Neither of Sun or Moone or Stars most bright For as the Prophet saith when God again Shall his dear Church restore and o're it reign The glorious Light thereof so clear shall shine By the blest presence of the Unite-trine That even the Sun and Moon shall seem most dark And in comparison but like a spark To that ineffable refulgent light Of Gods blest countenance and sacred sight Whereby alone the Saints shall all possess Such perfect joy and hearty cheerfulness As that all earthly comfort though it seem'd And were as bright as Sun and Moon esteem'd Shall be superfluous needless most neglected And unto this compar'd not least respected Also the Heirs and Sons of this Salvation Even all th' Elected people of each Nation Kings of the Earth whom Euphrates did bar And once sequester from Christs Kingdome far So many as are saved as many shall Shall in Jerusalem coelestiall With perfect joy enjoy the full fruition Of this most infinite and heav'nly vision And thither shal their pomp and honour bring Even unto God and Christ their heav'nly King But here 's not meant their worldly wealth and state Their Gems and Jewels Gold or Silver plate For since this sacred Citie needs no light Of Sun or Moon which shine on Earth so bright Much less shal there be need of worldly pelfe In this most sacred sumptuous Commwealth But this is hereby understood and meant That those good Princes which were eminent For vertuous gifts of grace and piety Shall lift up all their whole felicity Their glory and their princely estimation From earthly unto heav'nly contemplation And only fix their joy upon the same And glory thus to glorifie Gods name The gates moreover of this City shall Be never shut but stand widrope to all None shall from this felicity be staid Nor be shut up as frighted or afraid For there shall be no Enemy to fear them No doubt of danger then shall once come near them All spight of former adversaries cease For there shall be perpetuall rest and peace And which is more there shal be here no Night For why an everlasting splendour bright From Gods all-glorious presence shall proceed A Lightmore pure then light it self indeed Shal so incessantly shine forth alway Making an endless everlasting day But here this night may further intimate A two-fold meaning Lit'ral Figurate The Literal sense that there no night shal be Is that indeed the Saints no Night shal see For why as hath been said all times distinctions Of day and Night summer and winter seasons Shal then quite cease and be superfluous The figurative sence and meaning thus May be explain'd that no obscurity Of error of slye hypocrisie No unclean thing foul or abominable No filthy creature Lyer detestable No Murthering Cains no Iudas implous No Cham's nor Achams sacrilegious No cruel faithless friendless envious else That hurts his Neighbour but much more himself No Avaricious arm'd in hooking tenters And clad in Bird-lime catching all adventures Nor ought that may contagiously infect Or once eclipse the joy of Christs Elect Or violate the glorious state and bliss Which Christ the Lamb hath purchased for his Nor in the least degree shall hurt or wrong The flourishing estate which doth belong To th' Saints rare dignity and perfect Light Of sincere worship of the Lord of Might Which is his angels glory and chiefe grace And shall for ever in them keep firm place But those shall hither come with joyes most rise Whose names are registred i th' Book of Life For whom the Lamb Christ Jesus did ordain This glorious Kingdome with him thus to reign Who were predestinate to this salvation Before the worlds originall foundation To these alone the Gates stand open wide These shal for ever with the Lamb abide Lastly to make this citie most compleat In every part to be as good as great The Holy Ghost having at large declared The churches glorie being thus compared Unto a sumptuous citie ful of State Now finally proceedeth to relate That both this City and its Citizens Are furnisht and replenisht with al all means For conservation of their endless joy Sufficient to protect them from annoy They have I say spirituall lively meat Divine angelike Mann ' to drink to eat The soveraign Balsum to conserve alway Their health in health from fall or least decay The holy spirit as erst here using stil These earthly terms t' express heav'nâ— sacred wil And all to shew heav'ns great benignity Descending thus to our capacity This honour'd City hath in it also A sacred River which doth over-flow With pure and precious water of blest life Whose stream do issue from its fount most rife A current River not a pool with soil Nor foul or troubled Aegyptian Nile Or billowing Euphrates But sweet and fair With dectable streams smooth clear and rare A River for its great aboundancie Pure in respect of its sweet sanctity Of water of Gods Sp'rits rare gifts of Grace Of life whose tasters live an endless space And clear as Crystall from all spissitude From all unclean corrupt amaritude This River shall from Gods great throne proceed And from the Lambs gliding with pleasant speed And thus the River here may signifie The Holy Ghosts gifts third in a trinity Which is not sleightly ratifi'd indeed In that t is said here that it shal proceed From Gods and from the Lambs most sacred throne Which Iohns shewn Prophesie hath clearly shown Yea and i th' midst of this great Cities street Pav'd all with gold as mould under their feet Through all the pleasant passages most fair Where to and fro the Sainted souls repair On either side this River rare to see Doth flourish fairely a Life-giving tree Which tree of Life doth thus much to us show That to those gracious Waters which do flow To all the graceâ—s of Gods sacred Spirit Christ Jesus is conjoynd by whose just merit His Church hath life true peace and sure salvation Thus having with the Spâ—rite co-operation And