as at a stand I stand amazed That I a dust-borne Babe poore weake and crazed Of stammering tongue a childe in vnderstanding Of heart oft subiect vnto sinnes commanding Should vndertake Worme that I am to prie Into the depth of so great Mysterie That to describe which askes an Angells skill A Soules which of that sight hath had its fill And yet all too-too-little to declare The beautie infinite the splendor faire Of great IEHOVAH'S Palace Crystaline All full of heau'nly glorie all diuine Which to describe the more I doe contend I more admire and lesse doe comprehend And whose rare Fabrique and coelestiall 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 helpe impart That nought may be misse-done misse-thought misse-said O Lord I craue thy sacred Soueraigne aide Giue me a voice now O Voice all Diuine With heau'nly fire inspire this brest of mine And since thou Lord art able to declare By th'mouthes of Babes which weake and tender are Thy might and power Lord though vnworthy I Into my heart infuse abundantly The soueraigne Graces of thy holy Sprite That my weake Pen thy wondrous Praise may write That thy Enthousiasme of Propheticke skill May on my Laies like Honney sweet distill That by Diuine-Diuine Iohns godly guide I from the Truth may not once step aside But by his true Propheticall direction May methodize Ierusalems perfection That all that reade it may enflamed bee With hearts desire therein to raigne with thee To make great haste and speedie properation To this blest Citie with due preparation As God th' e'reliuing all-good-giuing King The First that moues of euery mouing thing When vnto Moyses he vouchsaft to show The Land of Canaan which did ouer-flow With Milke and Honney which he vow'd to giue To Iacobs off-spring wherein they should liue On top of Pisgah Mountayne did him place That Moses might from thence behold the grace The pleasure wealth and riches of that Land Which they should haue by power of his right-hand Euen so the Darling of Christ Iesus Iohn Rap't in the Spirit was also plac't vpon A high-topt Mount in Pathmos whence he might Contemplate this great Cities glorious fight A sight more glorious farre then that the Deuill That subtill Serpent fire-brand of euill Shew'd to our Sauiour in his great Temptation When he with Satan fought for our Saluation Thou well-beloued of thy Sauiour deere Saith a blest Angell vnto Iohn draw neere With ioy come hither stand a while by mee And thou the heau'nly Canaan shalt see The Churches glorifi'd spirituall state Thou shalt behold and sweeâ—ly contemplate The spotlesse Spouse th' immaculate chaste Bride With which the I am he Christ Iesus will abide The ioy in God and godlies consolation Th' elected Saints most holy Habitation Prepared for them by the Trinitie Where they shall raigne remayne eternally Call'd the great Citie holy Canaan Great whose Inhabitants none number can Holy because no putrifacting Sin Nor least impuritie can there creepe in Call'd Canaan or New-Ierusalem A Place of peace Saints rest Soules Diadem Now this most holy heau'nly Habitacle This most magnificent Saints receptacle Was beautifi'd adorn'd and decorated Was richly fill'd was rarely illustrated With glorie which did from the Lord proceed Whose most refulgent splendour did exceed The lustre of all precious stones most bright They all came short of this most glorious Light Yea as a faire transparent Iasper greene So shall his Saints felicitie be seene For ere to waxe most fresh and alwaies flourish Because Gods power and prudence shall it nourish It being pure as any Crystall cleere Where by nor blot nor spot can there appeere No staynes of foule terrestriall vncleannesse No grosse pollutions of impure obsceannesse Shall this their ioy obnubilate make dim Or once eclipse their beautie fram'd by him Gods gracious presence and great Maiestie Shall it so decke decore and glorifie Here 't is no triuiall question why the Light Of this blest Cities lustre exquisite Is to a precious Iasper stone compared And why 't might not haue beene as well declared By th' Sunne or Moone or Starres most excellent Or Artificiall Lights which men inuent All these are Lights true but too-light they bee Compar'd with Light it selfe i' th'highst degree First in regard the Sunnes farre piercing rayes With its bright beames the eye-sight much decayes If the beholder thereon fixtly looke Nor can his sight the brightnesse thereof brooke But precious stones haue no obnoxious might But with their splendor rarely doe delight The eyes of their beholders so that they The more on them they looke the more they may Whereby egregiously they intimate And to vs point the sweet and delicate Delight we shall in heau'nly knowledge find So to affect and recreate the mind As that the more we thereof doe possesse The more our Loue thereof we shall expresse Againe the Artificiall Lights men make As Torches Tapers Lamps and Candles â—lake Are soone burnt-out extinct and therefore need Some fomentarie adiunct them to feed But as for precious stones their sparkling light Is genuine by Nature shineth bright And glisters in the most obscure-darke place Alwaies retayning their resplendent grace And therefore doe most liuely represent The splendor faire and beautie excellent Of th'euer-selfe subsisting Deitie Alwaies the same One-same eternitie This Citie is inuiron'd bounded round With a great high-topt Wall thicke strong and sound Which vnto vs doth thus much intimate That though i' th' Churches-Militant-estate The Congregations of Christs faithfull Saints Were still molested full of wofull plaints Tost to and fro with stormes Tyrannicall With persecutions most Satanicall And like Noes-Arke were ne're in peace or rest With worldly-billowing-waues dasht and distrest Yet in this Church-Triumphant they shall bee From all heart-hurting feare of danger free Surely Securely kept from least annoy In heau'nly saf'tie sempiternall ioy For why the Doctrine Apostolicall Shall as a firme inuincible strong Wall Debarre and keepe-out heart-deluding Errors All vncleane Creatures Lyers and the terrors Which their abominations might effect For this Wall Doctrinall doth them reiect And thus the Prophet Ieremie doth call A Constant Preacher a strong â—razen Wall Now this strong Wall is made more admirable By stately Ports and Ground-worke solid stable Twelue Gates are 'bout it plac't conueniently Which thus much doe vnto vs signifie That all her Friends and Citizens shall see The way to th' Citie easie plaine to bee Plaine to the Iust to th' vn-iust Narrow straight Easie to those to these most intricate And on these Gates were Charact'red most faire The Names of Isrâ—els twelue Tribes to declare Their good assurance and their readie way That none might wander erre or goe astray There needs no vse of a conducting Guide
Trine-one Sitting in glorie in his glistring Throne With blessed Saints and Angels comitated With all the heauenly Hoast of Soule-beáted Prophets Apostles Patriarchs of old The noble band of Martyrs stour and bold Our Parents Wiues our Children Kindred Friends Yea all to whom Christs sauing health extends All of them clad in blisse coelestiall All shining bright in ioy Angelicall Where in the presence of their heau'nly King They Halleluiah Halleluiah sing To him that sitteth on the Throne most high Making a most harmonious Melodie With sacred sugred Notes and heau'nly Songs Singing the praise which to the Lambe belongs This being their especiall exercise Their pleasant practice customarie guise Still to behold the Lords most beautious face Burning with Loue of his most louely Grace Their mouthes still fill'd with praises of his name In magnifying his immortall fame Without all tediousnesse or intermission Protected alwayes by his blest tuition O there is infinite vn-vttered ioy Mirth without Mourning blisse without annoy Health without Sicknesse or pernicious humours Perfection without all Soule-tainting tumours Peace without Warre and Light without darknesse Loue without Hate beautie without palenesse Sweetnesse without all fulsome surfeiting Life without Death life ere continuing There are no sighes no sobs no penurie No hunger thirst but with saturitie No chilling killing frosts or least extremes No parching Sun-shine with hot piercing beames No will to Sinne no power to offend No enemie least mischiefe to intend Good Paul hath there no need to watch and pray To labour in the Word both night and day And good old Ierome then may cease t' afflict Himselfe so often by a life most strict To conquer his spirituall Enemie To ouerthrow th' old Serpents subtiltie For there 's all peace securitie and rest That peace which can by no meanes be exprest There 's all perfection sacred Light excelling All sorrow care darknesse and dread expelling O Life eternall holy Habitacle Heau'nly Ierusalem Saints Receptacle O amiable Citie of the Lord How should my Soule thy prayses due record What excellent rare things are said of thee What things are writ are hop't are found to bee In thee thou hast the seate of glorie sure That Good-Best Good-God ioy and solace pure Which farre exceeds the science and deepe sense Of humane reason and intelligence For which euen Legions of Professors good And godly Martyrs haue not spar'd their blood But with vn-daunted valiant courage haue Made Lyons Tigres Fire and Sword their Graue That after Death they might enioy that Crowne Those Palmes of peace of honour and renowne Wherewith thy Saints O blest Ierusalem Are happisi'd in happinesse supreme Walking as Kings in those most gorgeous streets Where each-one nought but perfect pleasure meets In streets I say more precious than pure gold Glistring with glorie wond'rous to behold The Gates of which most holy Habitation Are Pearles of peerlesse price and valuation Whose Wall is all of precious stones most pure Incomparably rich and strong t' endure There is that glorious Paradise coelestiall Surpassing Adams Paradise terrestriall Wherein are fluent Oily Riuers currents Faire Brooks of Butter and sweet Honny Torrents Replenished with Garden-walks and Bowers With Beds all wrought and fraught with fragrant Flowers Whose odoriferous rare varietie Affoord most various sweet amenitie Whose curious colours and whose louely greene Are alwaies fresh are alwaies springing seene There Hearts-ease Saffron Lillies and the Rose Doe sauour sent spring spire with sweet repose There are all spices Aromaticall T' affoord delight and cheere the Heart withall There is that soueraigne Balsum med'cinable For sent and salue most precious amiable All these in thee flourish without defect With these the Garlands of the Saints are deckt Without corruption they continue still And sprout and spring about this Sion Hill In thee 's that Peace of God which doth exceede Mans vnderstanding and faith-wauering Creede There is that glorie which doth all aduance Obnoxious neuer vnto Change or Chance There 's that eternall Light as sure as pure That Sunne of Righteousnesse for e're t' endure That white and bright blest Lambe of God most hie Who shewes and shines most cleere incessantly Which no time euer shall once terminate Nor no disastrous Chance extenuate There 's Day which neuer darknesse doth admit There in their Bowers of pleasure Saints doe sit There also is certayne Securitie There shalt thou find secure Eternitie There all rare Comforts from Heau'ns glorious King Successiuely successefully doe spring What e're the Soule can wish request desire Is there at hand without the least enquire What e're thou louest there is to be found Only what 's Ill comes not in this blest ground Oh then my Soule what pleasure infinite Oh what an Ocean of most sweet delight Yea what a most profound and pure Abysse Thus to behold the Lord of Lords is this Thus to behold with rauisht admiration The Lords bright face with sacred contemplation Yea with thine eyes to see what Faiths dimme eye On Earth was neuer able to espy Euen that eternall Trinitie most blest Which can by Man no sooner be exprest Than Austines seeming-Lad could powre or lade The mightie Ocean into th' Shell he made Without a bottome that his Shell to fill No sooner can I say Mans stupid Will Till his Corruption In-corruption bee This holy Mysterie cleerly know and see But when thou Mortall dost immortallize When Christ thy King thy Soule once Happy-fies Then shalt thou taste that God is good and gracious Then shalt thou liue in this his House most spacious Then shalt thou taste the Spring of Life most sweet Then in the Heau'ns thou shalt Christ Iesus meet Then shall thy Water of terrestriall griefe Be turn'd into the Wine of sweet reliefe Then shall thy Sobs be turned into Songs Then shalt thou triumph for thy worldly wrongs O then in that most sacred glorious sight Is to be found the Fulnesse of delight Of wisedome beautie riches knowledge pure Of happinesse for euer to endure Of goodnesse ioy and true Nobilitie Of treasure pleasure and felicitie Of all that merits loue or admiration Or worketh comfort or sure contentation Yea all the powers and powerfull faculties Of Soule and Body shall partake likewise Sall be sufficed with the full fruition Of Heau'ns eternall ternall glorious Vision God vnto all his sacred Saints shall bee Their Vniuersall sweet felicitie Contayning each particular delight Which may affect th' aspect of their blest sight Infinite both for number and for measure And without end shall be their endlesse pleasure To th' Eyes he shall be as a Mirrour cleere Melodious Musike to delight the Eare to th' Palate he shall be Mellifluous Mel Sweetspiring Balme for to refresh the Smell Vnto the Vnderstanding he shall bee A Light most bright and pure i' th' high'st degree To th' Will he shall be perfect Contentation To th' Memorie e'relasting
by Longitude Latitude and Altitude Napier A most excellent obseruation of all the praemised forms of this Citie Napier The Wall measured This is spoken Allegorically hauing reference to humane building * Note Thus farre of the forme or constitution of this Citie Now of the Matter or Substance wherof t is made Esa. 54.11,12 The Wall The Matter wâ—erof this City is made and â—â—st of the Wall which hath a two-fold consideration Fiâ—st in the whâ—â—e t is Iasper Secondly in the twelue â—â—undations eâ—preâ—â— by twelue Iew â—â—â— like the twelue in â—â—arons bresâ—â—plate * A very excellent and â—emarkable obâ—eruation in the Wall The Citie of pure gold Fiue excellent properties in good goâ—â— Plin. de Metal Like cleere Glasse The Synagogue of Rome Psal. 45. The matter whereof the twelue foundations consisted Iasper Saphyre Chalcedonie Emeraude Sardonixe Sardius Chrysolite Beryll Topaze Chrysoprase Hyacinth Ametist An obseruation of the Premises Simile Simile King Hiram a true type of the Vocation of the Gentiles 1. King 5.2 Dan. 12.3 Twelue Gates of Peaâ—le All of them but One Pearle which is Christ Iesus Iohn 10.9 Simile Octiection Answere Simile Christ compared to a Pearle Non ignarus mali miseriâ— succurrere possâ—t Heb. 4.35 No saluation but by Christ onely Romes praying to Saints touched Esay 63. The Streets all paued with Gold Glistering like Glasse Thus farre concerning the Essential Maiestie and glorie of this Citie 1. Cor. 13.12 Rom. 1 17. Dan. 6.10 The Accessaâ—ie beautie of this Citie No Temple A simple sincere worship of God without Ceremonies Nothing fit to represent the heauenly Temple but God himself who is the Temple No need of Sun Moone or Starres Esay 24.23 ☜ MagnificeÌ„ce and Princely state * Gentilâ— Note Vertue and Pietie are the riches of the heauenly Ierusalem Securitie No Night An euerlasting Day A double meaning of this Night Literall Figuratiue ☜ Zachary 14.20 Esay 52.1 Coelestiall Aliment or Foode The same is the meate drinke in heauen euen Christ. * Cant. 1.14 A Riuer of Water of Life Iohn 4. 14. ☞ Iohn 7. The Tree of Life Christ is the Tree of life The Tree of life beares twelue sorts of fruites 1. God is the God of order 2. Sufficiencie * The twelue Apostles Delicacie This Tree beares fruit euery Moneth The monthly fruit argues not times alternation but Saints contentation The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The spirituall meaning of the leaues No curse or malediction Zac. 14.11 A three-fold cause of the Cities perpetuitie The Saints coelestiall contemplation How wee shall see God In respect of our selues we shâ—ll see God perfectly This our sight of God shall be immediate The Saints Coâ—nizance How the name of the Lord is written in the Saints fore-head ☞ Zach. 14.20 Their perpetuall light and glorie inculcated The plenary perfection of this Citie is Perennity The conclusion of All. Simile The assuraÌ„ce of these most rich promises Atheists * Reuel 3.16 Neuters Sadduces Pythagoreans Nullifidians The reward of vnbeleeuers The second Death The faithfull Belâ—euers A briefe description of their spirituall warfare and weapons Their spirituall Enemies They that wil be crowned in Heauen must winne the conquest on Earth The triumphant inauguration of the Godly into Heauen The vnspeakable Maiesty and Glorie they shall liue in The Soules most sacred Soliloquie and most ardent desire to be inuested into this Glorie 1. Cor. 15. * Not become an Angell but bee like an Angell A briefe description of God The Citizens of the heauenly Canaan The admirable Comforts and vnspeakable happinesse of the heauenly Ierusalem * Summum bonum A briefe recapitulation of the glorious structure of the new Iâ—rusalem Riuers of Honney Gardens Bowers Flowers Spices Plants All these in their Vertues Graces to Man not Reall existences * Enquiriâ— The incomprehensible Trinitie August de Trin. ☜ ☞ All the Sences delighted in Heauen ☞ ☞ Nabal the Flesh. Abigal the Spirit * Ismael the Flesh. Isaac the Spirit What this World is ☜ The World is a strong and subtill Wrastler Amor rerum terrenarum est viscus spiritualium pennarum The Loue of the World is the Soules Bird-lime A most holy expostulation of the Soule concerning the World and the Flesh. * The Body As holy detestation of them The resolution of a good Christian. What deaâ—â— is tâ—â—he Godly A most â—oly Meditation of a sanctified Soule ☜ Sweâ—tsolace of the soule Cleombrotus hâ—â—â—â—peâ—â—te râ—â—oâ—miâ—â— to enioâ—â—â—mortalitie * Imposed by others not exposed to by my selfe * To desire dissolution nâ—â— effect it my selfe Braue resolution of a Christian Souldier ☜ Christ encourageth the Christian Souldier in his spirituall warfare Christ is our Generall Christâ— duce non vinceris imo vinces S. Bernard Simile Vincenti dabitur Why the Godly doe die T is not Merit but Mercy which crownes vs. Death a welcome Guest to the Godly ☜ A most holy disdayning of worldly Greatnesse Rich Merchandise A cheape price The wicked takâ— more paines to go to hell then the righteous to goe to heauen ☞ * Marriage-Song * Satisfied Simile Satan a Hunter The World the Flesh his Hounds The Soules thirst Cant. 2.4 Cant. 5. ◠☞ ☞ * The Martyrs Passion-Day was called of old Natalitium salutis ☜ Our Soules with Christ shall be fed feasted filled The most absolute and perfect ioyes of heauen Visio Dei beatifica summum bonum nostrum August de Trin. cap. 13. August Solilo cap. 36. Seeke Knocke. Aske Heauenly resolution ☜ The Soule here checketh it selfe for being offended at Gods tryals Simile God compared to a Gold-Smith Gods great care of his Children Matth. 6. ☜ Heauens ioyes set against Earths ioyes by way of Antithesis Da sacere quod iubes iube quod vis Simile Vita sine malis est sicut auis sine alis No Crosse No Crowne ☜ Nocumentâ— sunt Documenta Stephens Eagle-eye The Soules Prayer The Soule bewayleth her miserie in the flesh ☞ The Soule oppressed with worldly miseries prayeth The Lord loueth a pure heart Ve semperveniunt ad candida tecta Columba ingreditur sanctus candida corda Deus The Soule desires to be clothed with the Robes of righteousnes Blessed are they that die in the Lord. The Sea of the World The soule ofttimes in danger of shipwracke through ignorance and infirmitie * Remora's Fishes that though little yet can stay a Ship Leuiathan the Deuill The Soules Prayer Abyssus abyssum inuocat ☜ Gods diâ—ection must be our Pilot Protection Rocks of Persecution Simile ☜ Perieram ni sic periisseâ—â— The bloud of Christ only can clense vs from all our sinnes The Soule prayeth that Christ would be propitious to it * Properly a salue for sore eyes The Soule by Faith is encouraged to escape all the dangers of the Sea of this world Dangers Scylla Charibdis Despaire Presumption The Pharise Cain Remedies Humilitie Poenitencie The Publican The Prodigall The Anchor of Hope fastned with the Rope of Faith Christ takes the Will for the Deed. Christ bids the Soule welcome into Heauen The Song of the Saints
Their way lying ope ' to them on euery side But here by th' Names of Israels twelue Tribes The sacred Spirit vnto vs describes They being once Gods sole peculiar Vine Till they did from his Loue and Lure decline That by a figure are in them included Th' Elected Gentiles once from Grace secluded Euen People of all Nations vnder Heauen To whom Saluation God in Christ hath giuen Are here all ta'ne for sp'rituall Israelites Whom Christ the Corner-stone to th' Iewes vnites At these twelue Gates twelue Angels there did stand But not like Edens-Angels in their hand Holding a sword a sword like fierie flame To daunt and driue what euer thither came But here these Angels stand like Porters kind That Abr'ams faithfull Sonnes accesse may find Vnto the Tree of Life and Sacred Spring Which growes and flowes from Christ this Edens King With most commodious decent Scituation Are these twelue Gates plac't 'bout this heau'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 Beniamin Ore the three Easterne Gates were to be seene Ore the three Ports set on the Northerne side Iud ' Leui Reubens names might be descride Ore the three Southerne Gates th' inscription Of Simeon Isachar and Zabulon Also the three Gates on the West part had The names of Aser Napthalim and Gad. Of which most decent triple distribution Of these twelue Gates this is the resolution Namely that all the Saint-elected Soules Whose names are written Heau'ns eternall Rowles From what soeuer quarter of the Earth They had their first originall and birth Yet haue but one especiall meanes t' ascend Vnto this Citie their Hope 's happy end To wit the blest profession of the Trinitie Hereby to Christ th' are ioyn'd in neere Affinitie And that they thus professing Three in One Shall find the way wide ope ' to heau'ns high Throne Shall find the path most patent plaine and straight And at the Gates twelue Angels for them wait A twelfe-fold Ground-worke and Foundation strong Did also to this mightie-wall belong I meane not to the Citie but the Wall For of the Citie Christ is All in All. Vpon which twelue Foundations glorious rare Christs twelue Apostles names were grauen faire Who here are said to be this Walls foundation By their Apostolique Administration For hauing first by their blest Ministrie Christ Iesus Doctrine preached publikely Vnto the World As the first Instruments Are therefore thus the twelue strong Firmaments Not that they are the principall Foundation But hauing first place in this Fabrication Are as I so may say the first stones laide On which the building of this Wall was made For no man is so silly as to say That the Foundation doth it selfe downe lay But that 's the office of the Architector Which is Christ Iesus this great works Director This Cities Soueraigne whose vn-shrinking shoulders Are this most glorious Cities firme vpholders Who laid his twelue 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 onely Basis of Saluation But what sayes Rome to this that Man of Sinne Who proudly raignes and rules as Lord and King Peters supremacie superiour State Is here me thinks quite torne worne out of date For though our Sauiour calld his Faith the Rocke Whereon hee 'd build his Church his Loue his Flocke And his and all th' Apostles Doctrine pure To be his Churches Ground-worke grounded sure Yet neither is St. Peter here exprest To be in dignitie aboue the rest Nor yet to be the principall Foundation But One with others haue their pointed Station Then surely hence 't is most apparant plaine That Anti-christ of Rome doth not maintaine His proud prioritie from Peters Faith But from his Person whom he falsly faith T' haue beene Romes Bishop which nor he nor 's crue Shall ere be able to approue as true His Person 't is I say not Doctrine pure Oh this it is the Pope can worst endure Therefore since he mis-deemes Christs blest Foundation He ne're shall haue least part in Christs Saluation But now returne wee whence we haue digrest The Light-bright Angell which did manifest Vnto S. Iohn this glorious sacred Sight Now like some noble Pers'nage Princely wight Like to another prudent Nehemie Or like good Ezra full of prudencie By th' Symbole of a Golden Reede in 's hand Did represent that hee with that Met-wand The Cities spacious round should measure out The height length breadth and compasse all about Entries and wall enuironing the same All vnder line and measure truely came All most exactly form'd with due respect By the Arch-Artist of this Architect Yea with a Golden Reede he meates the same Most fit to measure such a glorious frame By which externall gesture th' Angell heere As else-where in the Prophets may appeere In their Prophetick Visions vs'd to show The Lords intent by thus descending to Our weake capacity which ne're can keepe A verball document in mind so deepe As actuall gestures euermore we find Examples more than precepts teach the mind And heere by th' Angels meating with a Reede Wee are aduiz'd to take especiall heede And deepely to imprint in mind and heart The subsequent description and rare Art The stately Symmetry worth admiration Of this coelestiall sacred Habitation Contayning in 't an heau'nly harmony With the chiefe grounds of Christian verity This City lay in forme Quadrangulare By which firme Cubiq plat-forme heere we are To vnderstand and note the stable state Of this Mount-Sion free from Hostile hate Not to be stirr'd by tempests violent Immoueable most constant permanent Which being square the Gates are opposite To the foure Corners of Earths-Globe aright From euery part whereof to let in those Whom Christ the Lambe to raigne with him hath chose The foure Euangeâ—sts the patterne are By whom this edifice was fashion'd square By Matthew Marke Luke and Christ tend'red Iohn Was fram'd I say this Constitution And since the twelue Apostles as foresaid Were by then short and present doctrine made The strong Foundation of the holy Wall Is 't not a Concord most harmonicall That these Euangelists most excellent By their Long-lasting-written Testament Should the foure Corners of that square build out And it to full perfection bring about The Angell then with 's Reede the Citie meted Which by iust Measure was thus computated Twelue thousand Stades whereof eight makes a Mile Which fifteene hundreth Miles doe iust compile The Length Height Breadth being all of equall space Doe make almost infinite roome and place Within the Wall As Christ himselfe hath said In my deare heau'nly Fathers house are made Many faire Mansions fit to comprehend Th' increase of Gods
elect to th' worlds last end Now then the totall body of this place Doth to vs represent the beautious grace The great felicitie admired ioy Which in this Citie we shall sure enioy In the vnited glorious Deitie Th'in comprehensible Trine-Vnitie The three distinct dimensions as foreshew'd Of Latitude Longitude Altitude Present the seuer all measures of delight Which in the Father Sonne and Holy-Sprite We shall possesse and this felicitie To be alike of equall Quantitie There shall we Three in One most cleerely see There also shall we worship One in Three And of this ioy we shall haue full fruition Alike of all without all intermission Euen as the Persons are One in the Deitie And one in substance in the Vnite Trinitie The premises thus re-obseru'd afford To vs a most harmonious sweete accord Twixt God and this his holy Habitacle The Lambes sweete Spouse celestiall Tabernacle God the Worlds most admired Artizan When first he fashion'd and created Man Like his owne perfect Image did him make God would Man should his Makers likenesse take Euen so this Cities specious Symmetrie Is shaped like heauens sacred Deitie As God himselfe in Trinitie is One So by this Citie his true Church is showne As of the God-head there be Persons Three And Father Sonne and Spirit co-equall bee So those dimensions Length Height Breadth are all By the Angell measur'd to be iust equall As neither Person in the Deitie Is separable from their Vnitie So none of these dimensions being Three May from a Citie separated bee Or other solid body otherwise It were not found 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 euen as Athanasius in his Creede As wittily as wisely doth proceede And sayes the Father Sonne and Holy-Sprite Though three in Persons are one God Vnite So Longitude Latitude Altitude Must One sole Citie euermore include The Doctrine also of the Deitie Is witnest in the Foure-fold Veritie Writ by the foure Euangelists so here This New-Ierusalem as doth appeare Is in a Quadrate or square forme set downe Most like a strong immoueable firme Towne The twelue Apostles were disperst and sent To euery quarter of Earths continent To preach to all our Sauiours doctrine found Whereby all Nations Heau'ns right rhode-way found On twelue Foundations so stands this great frame And by twelue Gates all goe into the same Lastly the God-head vniuersallis And infinite in glory and in blisse Infinitely extended ouer all So in Ierusalem coelestiall Is infinite tranquillitie and peace Aboundant roome for all the great encrease Of Gods deare Saints who were predestinate To this Ierusalems most happie state Thus hauing heard this sacred Symphonie Twixt God and 's church proceed we orderly The Angell now here measuring the Wall The mightie Bulwarke Apostolicall Of this Angelicke Seate of sanctitie Found it to be rais'd vp in Cubits high Euen by a twelue-fold high-ascending Course By th'twelue Apostles rais'd to mightie force But this though spoken in a humane sort Yet hath a heau'nly sence of great import Namely that though the Church here Militant Was euermore distrest with woe and want Being by worldly obstacles kept-low And neuer could to full perfection grow Yet now in her Tryumphant dignitie To plenarie perfection springs on high This being by twelue Courses signifi'd Which twelue times so much more being multipli'd T'an hundreth fortie foure Courses of hight Doe make the Wall to rise direct vpright By Iewes and Gentiles mightie multitude Whom Grace by Faith will in this frame include Thus now we hauing seene the stately Statute The spacious Compasâ—e of this Heau'n-built structure Let vs with our diuine Diuine behold The Matter substance and most precious Mould Whereof the Wall Citie and firme Foundation The twelue great Gates of this Heau'ns Habitation Were Form'd Adorn'd yea with what pauement rare The Streetes were pau'd all which is to declare The wonderful vnspeakable delight Which Gods deare Saints in presence of his sight Shall in that life to come to th' full possesse And thus the Prophet Esay did redresse And consolate the Iewes dis-consolation Declaring in his true Vaticination The gloâ—ie of this New-Ierusalem Which God would once re-build remake for them O happie are they which are interested And whose blest Soules are there into inuested Now then the building of this fenciuâ— Wall This sincere Doctrine Apostolicall Of precious Stones most gloriously did shine With bountie and with beautie most diuine Hauing a lustre like the Iasper greene Which euermore to flourish shall be seene Hence then this Note is set before our eyes That this raâ—e 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 twelue Foundations firme and strong Were so by Course set and laid along As that Course after Course th' are placed all And strangely ord'red cleane throughout the Wall Yet is the Wall as here we plainely see Thus wholly said of Iasper for to bee Which is indeed to shew and signifie That though those Ground-props of the Ministrie Whose rare and diuers gifts in euery one Are by rich Iewâ—lâ— afterwards here showne Yet that the Matter and the Lustre bright Of this great Wall are said and that most right T' arise from One which is the Lord alone Designed here by this rare Iasper stone He only is the Churches Bulwarke strong For though to these Apostles did belong Diuersitie of gifts of heau'nly grace Yet each of them in his peculiar place Did euer build one and the selfe same thing And not themselues did preach but Christ their King The Cities modell was of perfect Gold Most delectable glorious to behold Which Mettle for its ex'lent properties This Cities glorie rarely amplifies It being of all other chiefe and best For these fine reasons in pure gold exprest First that the burning fire consumes it not Next that it takes no canker stayne or spot Againe for vse it longest doth endure As also that the Fire makes it more pure Lastly nor Salt nor Vinegar can spoile Nor any such liquiditie defile The faire corruscant beautie of the same And therefore from the rest it beares the fame O! must not then this Citie needs be stable Is 't not most strong inuincible dureable Being so free from staynes of all corruption Being so farre from feare of Foes irruption Nay here 's not all there 's one more propertie Of rare respect of precious ex'lencie Namely that it like cleerest glasse doth glistre And thereby casts a more admired Lustre Whereby is thus much to vs intimated That 't is not with foule spots contaminated But doth with such a radiant splendor shine That
Church once Militant Now should they thus build vp his Church Triumphant And as they had conuerted Soules to Christ Their Soules should shine like Starres in glorie high'st Thus then the Citie Wall and Ground-worke past To th' Gates with ioy we now are come at last Twelue Gates most rich and precious did belong To th' Wall Apostolike most firme most strong Which Gates were all of Pearles most Orient Yet all were but One Pearle most excellent Euen Iesus Christ who is the only Port Through whom th' Elect must into blisse resort Through whom alone by Faith we here are fed Through whom at last we all shall taste that bread That Bread of Life neuer to hunger more Which for his Saints Christ hath laid vp in store He only is the Doore by which I say We shall goe in and our feed liue for ay And as on twelue Foundations did arise A Wall as we did formerly premise But One in Matter and in lustre bright Euen God the Father Father of all Light So these twelue Ports are all One Pearle most rare Euen God the Sonne whence they deriued are But here this one Obiection may accrew How it may come to passe a Pearle should shew And represent this Man-God Christ our King To which Obiection I this Answere bring That as the Shell wherein the Pearle doth grow Which Plinie plainely in his worke doth show Doth at a certayne â—eason gape and yawne And without any generating Spawne Drawes into it a Dew from forth the Aire Which by the Sea i' th' Shell growes Orient faire And of this Dew doth more coagulate Than 't is of earthly stuffe coaugmentate Euen so the Holy Ghost from Heau'ns high frame Vpon the blessed Virgin Marie came And Gods eternall power whose breath All made Did so Christs Virgin-Mother ouer-shade That without any Humane copulaâ—ion Christ in her Wombe tooke on him Incarnation Yet so as that his powerfull Diuinitie Was still assistant vnto his Humanitie Which subiect was to Mans Infirmitie But not to Sinnes euen least Impuritie Being thus most perfect God and Man indeed Knowing our wants to helpe vs at our need Thus then wee see that these twelue Pearly Gates Consisting of One Pearle this intimates That we in Heau'n or Earth none other haue To inuocate our sinfull Soules to saue But Iesus Christ true God and Man alone Who sits our Aduocate in Heau'ns high Throne Oh then the wilfull madnesse of our Foe That monstrous Beast of Rome who though he know This our Position most Authenticall Both he and hâ—s besotted Shauelings all Yet they vnto their Saints appropriate And vnto Angels dare accommodate The honour only due to Christ blest Name Angels themselues hauing refus'd the same And since nor Saints nor Angels know our state Nor haâ—e in them power vs to consolate But Christ hath will'd vâ— come to him alone Who can and will ease and appease our mone Therefore that they dare adde and thus diminish From Gods firme Truth they doe but striue to finish And measure vp to th' full their owne damnation Threatned to all such in the Reuelation The Gates thus entred now we may behold The Streets within all pau'd with purest gold Which gaue a lustre like the cleerest glasse Euen euery Street through which the Saints shall passe And customarily walke vp and downe Like glorious Kings in pompe and great renowne Which Streets and parent passages imply Amongst their other ioyes the Libertie And perfect Freedome which those sacred Saints Shall fully there possesse without restraints Of being vnto any one place ty'de For why wheres'ere they goe God is their Guide They walke in God and God in them alwayes Their beauteous paths shining with his bright rayes Thus haue we seene th' Essentiall Maiestie This Cities glorious frame and Symmetrie The most magnificent and blissefull State Of those which are in Christ incorporate But yet whiles here we see 't no otherwise Then as we had a Mist before our eyes Then as we were i th' bottome of a vaile Whence of a perfect sight we needs must faile By reason that cloud-kissing Mountaynes hie And lostâ—e Trees are interpos'd to th' eye And hereby hinder our more cleere aspect Of this most glorious heauenly Architect So that but Aenigmatically wee As through a Glasse this sacred Citie see Whiles in the Flesh we liue by liuely Faith As blessed Paul in his Epistle saith Yet let it ioy our hearts our Soules delight That though but thus we may admire this sight That though but with the Prophet Daniel wee May ope ' the window and looke toward thee O Date-lesse Fate-lesse Rest-full Blisse-full Citie Where Halleluiah is the Angels Dittie Now let it not be O! how can it bee Tedious to vs to contemplate and see What Maiestie and Dignitie compleat Is Accessarie to the glorie great Of that externall beautie of this place Fill'd with the glorie of the Lords bright face Making this Citie most magnificent An abstract Common-weale most permanent First there shall be no Temple in the same Wherein to worship Gods all-glorious Name No Sacrificing no peculiar place To worship in or be this Cities grace Nor no externall Paedagogie shall Be vsefull there no Seruice Rituall Like that vnder the Law amongst the Iewes When they did their old Sacrifices vse But God the Father and the Lamâ—e Christ Iesus Shall of such heauie yokes then cleerly ease vs. And be a Temple vnto his most faire To whose blest sight Saints with delight repaire His worship then shall be most plaine and pure And shall for euer constantly endure Without all Legall Rites or Ceremonie Adoring God in Christ in Sanctimonie Whose lookes to them aâ— Lessons shall appeare His only Name be'ng Musike in their eare And such indeed is this great Cities State So admirable so inexplicate That gold and precious stones being too too base T' expresse the glorie of that glorious place If Nature did more precious things bring forth More amply to describe this Cities worth I therefore know not what terrestriall thing We may with due proportion hereto bring To haue a fit and true Analogie Vnto this Temple of eternitie But God himselfe and Iesus Christ alone In whom it may most properly be showne Againe this Citie hath no need of Light Neither of Sunne or Moone or Starres most bright For as the Prophet saith When God againe Shall his deare Church restore and o're it raigne The glorious Light thereof so cleere shall shine By the blest presence of the Vnite-Trine That euen the Sunne and Moone shall seeme most darke And in comparison but like a sparke To that ineffable refulgent light Of Gods blest countenance and sacred sight Whereby alone the Saints shall all possesse Such perfect ioy and heartie cheerfulnesse As that all earthly comfort though it seem'd And were as bright as Sunne and
Moone esteem'd Shall be superfluous needlesse most neglected And vnto this compar'd not least respected Also the Heires and Sonnes of this Saluation Euen all th' Elected People of each Nation Kings of the Earth whom Euphrates did barre And once sequester from Christs Kingdome farre So many as are sau'd as many shall Shall in Ierusalem coelestiall With perfect ioy enioy the full fruition Of this mâ—st infinite and heau'nly Vision And thither shall their pompe and honour bring Euen vnto God and Christ their heau'nly King But here 's not meant their worldly wealth and state Their Gems and Iewells Gold or Siluer plate For since this sacred Citie needs no light Of Sunne or Moone which shine on Earth so bright Much lesse shall there be need of worldly pelfe In this most sacred sumptuous Common-wealth But this is hereby vnderstood and meant That those good Princes which were eminenâ— For vertuous gifts of Grace and Pietie Shall lift vp all their whole felicitie Their glorie and their Princely estimation From earthly vnto heau'nly contemplation And only fixe their ioy vpon the same And glorie thus to glorifie Gods Name The Gates moreouer of this Citie shall Be neuer shut but stand wide ope ' to all None shall from this felicitie be staid Nor be shut vp as frighted or afraid For there shall be no Enemy to feare them No doubt of danger then shall once come neere them All spight of former Aduersaries cease For there shall be perpetuall rest and peace And which is more there shall be here no Night For why an euerlasting splendour bright From Gods all-glorious presence shall proceed A Light more pure than Light it selfe indeed Shall so incessantly shine forth alway Making an endlesse euerlasting Day But here this Night may further intimate A two-fold meaning Lâ—â—'â—all Figurate The Literall sense that there no Night shall bee Is that indeed the Saints no Night shall see For why as hath beene said all Times distinctions Of Day and Night Summer and Winter seasons Shall then quite cease and be superfluous The Figuratiue sense and meaning thus May be explayn'd that no obscuritie Of Error or of slye Hypocrisie No vncleane thing foule or abominable No filthy Creature Lyer detestable No murthering Caines no Iudas impious No â—ham's nor Achams sacrilegious No cruell faithlesse friendlesse enuious Elfe That huâ—ts his Neighbour but much more Himselfe No Auaricious arm'd in hooking Tenters And clad in Bird-lime catching all aduenters Nor ought that may contagiously infect Or once eclipse the ioy of Christs Elect Or violate the glorious state and blisse Which Christ the Lambe hath purchased for His Nor in the least degree shall hurt or wrong The flourishing estate which doth belong To th' Saints rare dignitie and perfect Light Of sincere-worship of the Lord of Might Which is his Angels glorie and chiefe grace And shall for euer in them keepe firâ—e place But those shall hither come with ioyes most rise Whose Names are registred i' th' Booke of Life For whom the Lambe Christ Iesus did ordaine This glorious Kingdome with him thus to raigne Who were predestinate to this Saluation Before the Worlds originall Foundation To these alone the Gates stand open wide These shall for euer with the Lambe abide Lastly to make this Citie most compleat In euery part to be as good as great The Holy Ghost hauing at large declared The Churches glorie being thus compared Vnto a sumptuous Citie full of State Now finally proceedeth to relate That both this Citie and its Citizens Are furnisht and replenisht with all meanes For conseruation of their endlesie ioy Sufficient to protect them from annoy They haue I say spirituall liuely meate Diuine Angelike Mann ' to drinke to eate The soueraigne Balsum to conserue alway Their health in health from fall or least decay The holy Spirit as erst here vsing still These earthly termes t' expresie Heau'ns sacred Will And all to shew Heau'ns great benignitie Descendâ—ng thus to our capacitie This honour'd Citie hath in it also A sacred Riuer which doth ouer-flow With pure and precious Water of blest Life Whose stâ—eames doe issue from its Fount most rife A current Riuer not a Poole with soile Not â—oulâ— or troubled like Aegyptian Nile Or bill â—wing Euphrates but sweet and faire With delectable streames smooth cleere and rare A Riuer for its great aboundancie Pure in respect of its sweet Sanctitie Of Water of Gods Sp'rits rare gifts of Grace Of Life whose Tasters liue an endlesse space And â—leere as Crystall from all â—pisfitude From all vncleane corrupt amaritude This Riuer shall from Gods great Throne proceed And from the Lambs gliding with pleasant speed And thus this Riuer here may signifie The Holy Ghosts gifts third in Trinitie Which is not â—leâ—ghtly ratifi'd indeed In that 't is said here that it shall proceed From Gods and from the Lambs most sacred Throne Which Iohns shewne Prophecie hath cleerly showne Yea and i th' midst of this great Cities streete Pau'd all with goâ—d as mould vnder their feete Through all the pleasant passages most faire Wheâ—e to and â—ro the Saiated Soules repaire On either side this Riuer rare to see Doth fluorish fairely a Life-giuing Tree Which Tree of Life doth â—hus much to vs show That to those gracious Waters which doe flow To all the Graces of Gods sacred Spirit Christ Iesus is conioyn'd by whose iust Merit His Church hath Life true Peace and sure Saluation Thus hauing with the Sp'rite Co-operation And still residing with his Saints Elect Continually doth guide and them direct Exhibiting to all by his tuition Easie partaking and a full fruition Of all the Benefits and heau'nly Graces Which in and 'bout this Riuer he thus places Whereon they all shall spiritually feede Alwayes desiring yet ne're stand in neede Which Tree of life twelue sorts of fruite doth beare Whereby the Holy-Spirit doth declare First that the Lord who is the God of Order Doth much detest Confusion or Dis-order In still retayning as he first begun The number twelue which hitherto is done And also to expresse that there shal be In Numb'r and Measure full Sufficiencie To saturate the longing appetites Of all the twelue Spirituall Israelites Euen of all those that so haue run their race The twelue Apostles doctrine to imbrace T' obserue and keepe Maugre the rage and spite Of Pope or Pagan foes to Truths pure light Thus then we see the Angell here obseruing An exquisite Decorum thence not sweruing Who since the Citie Entries Roomes Foundations And Symmetrie of these blest Habitations To th' Number-twelue haue beene accommodated And orderly thus still continuated Therefore with decent correspondencie The Angell to this Number doth applie The spirituall Food and Furniture most meete Making a Consort most harmonious sweete Conformably agreeing thus in one With those whence they had