Take hold of him wâ—o Heav'n Earth Commands He 's taken Prisoner and strongly bound Who in one moments time could quite confound send The Universe and all that him offend Down to Hell's bottom quick with vengeance Yet like a Lamb he 's to the slaughter led And as a Malefactor suffered Most dreadful sorrows did his Soul indure That peace and Joy for her he might procure To bring his purpose to an happy end He manifests himself indeed a Friend A bounteous Friend who thinks his Life not dear But freely lays it down doth freely bear The stroke of Justice that he might recover Her forfeit Life again Oh! Sacred Lover Oh! Matchless Love and Grace Let every Eye Open its Sluces draw its Fountains dry If he for us such bitter sorrows felt Then let the thoughts of his strong Passion melt Our sin-congealed hearts our hearts of stone What was the reason why this Sacred One Did bear all this Were not our sins the cause He suffers but 't was we had broke the Laws Is he betray'd to Death Weep o're his Herse who only di'd our Death for to reverse You Sin-sick Souls think on his bloody Passion And then take up this bitter Lamentation Dear God! I sin'd and did a Saviour need And must the Lord of Life and Glory bleed Ah! must his dear and precious blood be spilt To free me from my vile and horrid Guilt Didst thou sweet Lord my heavy burthen bear And shall not I lament nor shed a Tear Shall not my hard and flinty heart dissolve To think how nought but thy own blood could salve My fester'd wounds What heart is so condens'd That cannot by these thoughts be influenc'd And mov'd unto remorse and great Contrition I' th sense of the Lord Jesus's Crucifixion They hal'd him bound unto the High Priests Hall Where Priests and Council did for witness call They search'd about for such but none could find Who did agree together in one mind They us'd him like a Thief put him to shame Who bore it with great patience like a Lamb. They blindfold him in a disgraceful sort And ignominiously made him their sport They smote him on the face pluckt off his hair And bid him prophesy then who they were That did him strike that so they might thereby His Office of a Prophet vilifie His own dear Servants in this dismal Day Did him forsake and from him fly away They they in whom his Soul took sweet delight His cursed Foes did so amaze and fright That they disown'd him too and left him all To stand alone or otherwise to fall Yea Peter who would have his Lord confide In him above the rest stoutly deny'd He ever knew him nay and furthermore To put it out of doubt he curst and swore Ah! What is man when God withdraws his hand A Peter then one moment cannot stand This doubtless did add grief unto his Heart To see his own Disciples to depart And leave him thus in his Adversitie When in their stead it was he came to die He after this bore much rebuke and shame Scoffs blows reproaches stripes oh who can name The many Cruelties he underwent Before his painful Death and not lament They cru'lly smite him on his precious Cheeks Which he with patience bears and never seeks To free himself from this their Insolence Although he knew his spotless Innocence O gracious Lord how how wast thou abus'd Unjustly judg'd and falsely too accus'd Accus'd as guilty of some grievous fact Who thoughtst no Evil none didst ever act No stain nor spot of sin was found in thee Though thus thou suffer'st for Iniquity The Injuries which thou that Night did'st bear How great my God! how numberless they were When he had past away that tedious Night Early next morning they with Hellish spight Like some great Malefactor him present To Pontius Pilate where with innocent And pleasant Countenance he then did stand To know what 't was of him they did demand Then with an humble Silence held his peace Which made the sury of his Foes increase Next was he unto wicked Herod sent Who at his presence seemed much content Hoping he might some Miracle behold Because he had been of strange Wonders told But he that knew the secrets of all Hearts Who tries the Reins and views the inward parts Knew well his curious but presumptuous mind Was only unto wickedness inclin'd Christ Answer'd not when he lookt for Replies Which made King Herod and his men despise Our precious Lord the Prince of Peace whilst he Became the pattern of Humilitie Thus Sinners contradict and dare reprove The Lord of Life who quickly could remove The lofty from their Seats and them confound But nought but Love and Mercy doth abound This was the Day of his Humiliation He 's first abas'd then comes his Exaltation But oh that ever men should be so vile To smite those Lips that never utter'd guile He at whose great Command the Seas were still Is now commanded by each Tyrant's will Heâ—s sent to Herod then sent back again Unto the Judgment-Seat But oh what pain Did he indure there by most wicked men Pen What Heart can think what Tongue express what Can set it forth Their sacrilegious Hands Bound him about with strong and cruel bands They mock'd and did deride him shamefully And then aloud set up a cursed Cry Hold hold him fast deliver Barabbas Who a notorious Malefactor was A Barabbas is now prefer'd before Him whom the glorious Angels do adore A Murderer shall spared saved be When JESVS shall be hanged on a Tree With torturing whips they scourged him most sore Until his flesh was dy'd with Purple Gore O dreadful dismal Cup what heart can think On what he underwent and 's flesh not shrink The Blood that once run through his sacred Veins Is now let out by Soul-tormenting pains And all the blushing Pavement gilds not stains Ah! don't you see how it fell trickling down Yet unto him was no compassion shown The Blood that issued forth from every wound Descends in pearly drops unto the ground Oh Earth that didst receive that holy Blood Nor fruitful Nile nor Tagus golden Blood Could ever yield like Vertue or such good Neâ—re such a stream did water thee before Nor shall again refresh thee any more Nor were these cruel barb'rous scourgings all That he endur'd in that remorsless Hall For after this they clothed him in scorn With Purple when his flesh was lasht and torn And in derision of his Princely State Their impious hands a Crown of thorns did plate Pressing it on his gracious Head with pain Till Sacred Drops did issue forth again In ruful sort as they had done before Spreading his precious Neck and Face all o're Thus like a Lamb amongst those Wolves he stood From head to foot besprinkled o're with blood His Kingly Office further to debase ' Stead of the Scepter due to Judah's Race They put a Reed in 's hand then kneel
the Bar art cited And for high Treason there dost stand Indicted Committed by thee 't was in antient time When thou didst dwell in Eden in thy prime When thou hadst flourisht there but a short season Thou didst contract that guilt of horrid Treason Against thy Soveraign in whose Princely Eye Was Grace and favour mixt with Majesty Gracious to pardon many great Offences And yet severe to punish Insolences But thou both Grace and Justice didst despise And in thy Heart didst evil things surmise Against thy Soveraign Lord and secretly Join'st with his Foes in close Conspiracy 'T was with the King of Darkness thou didst close Obeyd'st his will and didst thy God oppose A dreadful Sentence then against thee past Which ne're by humane Art could be reverst Thy Sentence was in Prison long to lie And for thy fact at last Condemn'd to die And Death on thee did seize the self-same time When thou commitst that high and fearful Crime The sad effects of it I this Day see Thou still ly'st dead in thine Iniquity Ah! I may preach untill my heart doth ake And it on thee will no Impression make Thou art depriv'd of Life and Light of God And long hast thou in this estate abode But a worse Death doth in thy Sentence lie Though very few on it will cast an Eye Condemn'd to suffer everlasting pains And on thee then were fastned heavy Chains And though thy Execution be delay'd Yet 't is by means of Jesus only stay'd His precious Grace preserves thee from that fire Whose torments once begun shall ne'r expire That Soul-amazing Sentence who can bear The thoughts of it and not let fall a tear What Malefactors are Condemn'd to die But on the sense of Death's approaching nigh Contracts not horrour on thier Souls thereby What then to suffer Death for evermore Where Torments neâ—re abate nor will be o're To be a thousand tedious Ages Rackt Not Dead yet always in the dying Act. A fiery Furnace with a sevenfold heat We read of yet its flames were not so great But that they soon would languish and grow cold Whereas these Tortures still increasing hold If e're thou shouldst be cast into that place Before thou dost take hold of Love and Grace There 's this will then thy sorrows aggravate None will thee pity in that wretched state Never was Malefactor in distress But met with pity either more or less And though it do not take away the grief Yet where there 's pity there 's some small Relief But if thou dost this fearful Sentence bear There 's none to pity none to shed a tear O think of this alas thy wretched Eyes Are blinded now thou basely dost despise The best of Comfort Joy and Consolation For love to Sin horrid Abomination Thou swell'st in pride unmindful of thine end And seest no need of comfort from a Friend But what wouldst thou for such a Friend then give And for those Comforts thou mayst now receive Dost not thou tremble at this frightful news Tremble at least at that which next ensues Three things there are three Circumstances great Which much thy final woe will aggravate Which severally unto thee I 'le relate That thou mayst think upon thy future state First from thy high Descent thy birth did crown Thee with the greatest Honour and Renown That ever any had upon the Earth Thou being own'd a Soveraign Queen by Birth Yet that which did so much advance thy fame Was not alone the Honour of thy Name As the rare properties of thy sweet Nature A most transcendent and accomplisht Creature An Heav'n-composed frame as if thou'dst bin Deriv'd from some Celestial Seraphim When great Jehovah's fruitful Word had made The whole Creation touching thee he said This Creature shall alone our Image bear Whom all things else shall reverence and fear Our Sacred Portraiture we solely place In this sweet Creatures Heaven-erected face And when he sent his first begotten down No other form or Image must he own The Angels Nature wholly he refuses And rather Humane Soul and flesh he chuses Alas there 's not a greater aggravation Than for a person of the highest station To be thrown down into the deep'st Abyss Of woe and sorrow oh how sad is this Thy self caus'd change a miserable Creature Will surely make thy Torments far the greater The second Circumstance of Aggravation Is worthy of thy serious observation And that I may more fully make it known Under two Heads I 'le briefly lay it down First from the timely notice that was given By thy most Soveraign Lord the King of Heaven When with his glorious Image he had grac'd thee And in fair Eden's fruitful Garden placâ—d thee Ordain'd thee Mistress of that famous Bower Where thou mightst see his Glory every hour Granting whatever might accommodate Thy pure perfect spotless Virgin state Excepting one reserved Fruit alone Which did indeed of Right belong to none But to himself that hidden Mysterie Which in the midst of Paradise did lie To know what Evil was as well as Good Which never could by men been understood But by an Art of the most horrid Evil And hearkning to and siding with the Devil The dire effects to thee were told most plain The danger and the loss thou shouldst sustain The loss of Life the loss of Eden's Glory The loss of God a lamentable Story Warning was giv'n God strictly did require On pain of Death thou shouldst not once desire Nor tast nor touch nor cast a longing Eye Upon this fatal Fruit which certainly Would straight procure thy final overthrow This timely notice shall augment thy Woe Fore-warn'd fore-arm'd you know we use to say Thou wast fore-warn'd and yet didst go astray Contemptuous Soul alas how couldst thou think The mighty God would at Rebellion wink Though he is said to wink at Ignorance Presumption is a different Circumstance Thou knew'st before-hand if thou didst trangress Assured Death would follow and no less The Lord had said it he that gave us breath Said thou shouldst die yet thou feardst not Death This is the height as well as spring of Evil To doubt and mistrust God yet trust the Devil Against God's sacred Truth to shut ones Eyes And credit blindfold th' Father of all Lies Ah Soul 't was listning to a wanton lust That was the cause thou didst at first distrust The glorious Lord and falsely to surmise He was unwilling that thou shouldst be wise Afraid that thou shouldst know as much as He And grow a Rival to his Deity This blasphemous Conceit the Devil first In thine already wicked fancy nurst 'T is saith this Prince of Darkness God's inten In this unjust Restraint but to prevent Thy being like himself for he doth know If once thou taste this Fruit it will be so Do thou but try and taste and presentlie Thou 'lt find thy dim dark Eye shall open'd be This hidden Secret will be understood And thouâ—â—t know Evil as thou now
and jointly satisfy To save her now from the infernal pit I have a Ransom found a Ransom fit Divine Justice I cannot hold I 'le strike the fatal Blow Hell she deserves with vengeance let her go Unto the place appointed for all them Who do God's holy Laws and Grace contemn Jesus Prince of Light O who is this What Traitor 's at the Bar That is condemn'd and Justice wo'nt defer The Execution speak hold up thy head Hast any thing to say What canst thou plead Methinks methinks I should this Creature know Ah! Soul is 't thee What shall I for thee do I told thee what thy state would be i' th end When first my Love to thee I did commend Soul Speak 't is I why dost thou not look up I 'm sorely griev'd to think upon the Cup That is prepar'd for thee What dost thou say Shall I step in that Justice may delay To strike the stroke for then too late 't will be To show my Love and pity unto thee Hast any kindness for me in thine Heart I doubt that still thou the same Creature art Thou wast before and hast no love at all Why speakst thou not shall vengeance on thee fall Ah! how can I see Execution done And Tears not from mine Eyes like Rivers run Divine Justice Lord be n't concern'd she is thy bitter Foe Oh let me therefore freely strike the blow There 's nought in her but Sin and poisonous Evil To God a Foe and Friend unto the Devil JESVS I know not how to let this stroke be given For I am come on purpose down from Heaven To make Atonement and to satisfy For all her sins and foul Iniquity Though she to me doth no affection bear Yet her I pity and do love most dear Justice Blest JESVS hold 't is my just Master's sense Abused Mercy must have recompence There is no other way but she must die Unless thou wilt be her Securitie If in her stead thy life thou wilt give up Then mayst thou save her from this bitter Cup. The price which thou on that account wilt pay Will make a Compensation and defray All her vast Debts yea plenarily God's wrath appease and Justice satisfy What must be done Who is 't the stroke must bear Is 't not most fit such should who guilty are I cannot hold my hand nor longer stay Law must be satisfy'd what dost thou say Thou wretched Soul behold the knife and spear Can'st thou dost think God's fearful vengeance bear Now Soul look to thy self this Spear I 'le run Into thy Bowels ere I it return JESVS Stay Justice stay withold thy furious Dart And let its glitt'ring point first pierce my Heart Her guilty state aloud calls for relief It wounds my Soul and fills my Heart with grief My Bowels yearn my inward parts do move Now now 's the time to show her my great Love Let Law and Justice be suffic'd in me 'T is I will die to set the Sinner free Behold me Soul my life shall go for thine I will redeem thee with this Blood of mine Although most Precious Sacred and Divine CHAP. VII Shewing what Consultations there were amongst the infernal Spirits to bring Jesus Prince of Light under the power of Death a Council called in Hell the Princes of the fallen Angels in a deep combination against him for fear their Kingdom should fall and the poor Creature be delivered The grand Counsel of Old Satan is taken He enters into Judas Judas's sin discovered Jesus is apprehended A terrible battel or Christ's Agony before his Passion Sin and Wrath combine together shewing the Prince's Conquests over them both Seven aggravations of Christ's sorrows in the Garden and a Dialogue between the Devil King of Darkness and Death the King of Terrors HEre let 's a while reflect with careful heed What! doth the guiltless for the guilty bleed This may astonish all here 's Love indeed Do Mortals ever greater love extend Then to lay down their lives for a dear Friend But for a Prince a mighty Prince to die Not for a Friend but for an Enemy Convicted and condemn'd for horrid Treason Thus to step in at that most Critick season When just the fatal blow was to be given This Love 's above our Reach higher than Heaven Deeper than Ocean Seas so Infinite As well deserves our wonder day and night What Was the Father free his Son to give His dear and only Son that she might live And doth the Son i' th midst of Enemies Yield up himself to be a Sacrifice Yet who can be so bold to lay their Hands Upon this Prince that Heaven Earth commands How shall this thing be now accomplished And by what means shall his dear Blood be shed Let 's now inquire who is 't that will consent To be the grand and chiefest Instrument To execute this precious spotless Lamb Who for this purpose down from Heav'n came Has he on Earth any such spightful Foe As dare's attempt this ' mazing thing to do You heard before he daily was beset And with what Enemies he often met But now his hour is drawing very near Great Consultations ' mongst his Foes there were How they might take his blessed Life away Who seem'd himself impatient of delay He long'd until his work were finished Which could not be until his blood were shed And though he had most raging Enemies Yet knew they not what project to devise To bring this bloody traiterous deed to pass Which long before by them designed was Until Apollyon finding by his Art The dire Intentions harbour'd in their Heart Doth rouse them up and first the matter start To the Infernal powers to wake them â—l A second time upon this Prince to fall Then Belzebub Satan and Lucifer Consult afresh how to renew the War And to this purpose wee 'l suppose they spake Apollyon Shake off your fears and speedily let 's make The strongest Head that possibly we can Against this strong this Devil-amazing man Now now 's the day let 's bring him to Death's sting And then with shouts of Triumph we may sing For over Death 't is we the power have And we may sure secure him in the Grave 'T is he alone who frights us in our station And puts us all into great Consternation Our Kingdom by this means is like to fall And we thereby be ruin'd great and small I have engag'd him once but could not stand I know his strength he has a pow'rful Hand Belzebub My Sentence is for War this Enterprize Well managed will make our Kingdom rise And re-inthrone us in our Antient Skies To a great Height and flourish as before When he is down we 'l let him rise no more Can we but once deprive him of his Life 'T will put an end to all our fears and strife Lucifer Dominions Pow'rs and Principalities You all in danger are awake and rise From off your Seats and lazy Beds of Down Sleep you secure or
of Man Oh! let our Souls be arm'd with courage bold Whilst we this furious Battel do behold Before the Fight begins do you not hear How he doth cry unto his Father dear O let this Cup from me Lord pass away If it be possible Let it I pray Pass from me that of it I may not drink Until this time he never seem'd to shrink From any pain conflict or suffering This Combat is alas a different thing From what before he ever met withal From hence he did unto his Father call Once and again repeating of his cry It 'h sense of what was now approaching nigh Some may at this 't is likely much admire That our dear Saviour should so loud desire To be deliver'd from that bitter Cup Which was prepared for him to drink up It did not rise for his unwillingness But from the pain the anguish and distress 'T would bring him to this humane Nature's weak From thence he might such supplications make Ah! wrath Divine what humane Soul can beaâ— But of Divinity he hath his share Which doth again his fainting spirit chear And such support he needs Cast but an Eye See how the Combatants with fury fly Upon each other What a Battel 's here Enough to melt our Souls into a tear Lo the first blow that Sin and Wrath doth give It is the worst he ever did receive Behold how frightfully grim Wrath doth frown Nay more the Prince seems by their strength cast down Now Sin Wrath upon him both do lie Which makes him groan and bitterly to cry With panting breast and half-expiring Breath My Soul is sorrowful ev'n unto Death Can the great Prince of Earth and Heaven feel Such heavy strokes as thus to make him reel The dismal weight of Sin this doth declare None but a JESVS could it fully bear Happy are we as the blest Prophet said Our Help was upon One that 's mighty laid Could man or Angel ev'r have born all this And not have been cast down to th'deepst Abyss Nay of this mighty One Saint Mark hath rais'd Our Wonder higher He was sore amaz'd Nay more than this he fell upon the Ground No Soul before such anguish ever found To see the Lord of Life brought to the Earth Under the pressure of God's heavy Wrath And that he suffer'd all this in our stead May make our Souls to stand astonished Especially if to these Trials we Shall add his great and bloody Agony Wherein the sweat fell from him as he stood In Crimson dy like trickling drops of blood Ah! precious Lord this work was very sore But still thy Love and it s blest Vertue 's more Through all these Toils thou graspst at Victory And Captive lead'st at last Captivity If Sin that day had not receiv'd a fall Grim Death and Hell had quickly swallow'd all The race of Man we all had been undone No help no hope no life for any one Sin was condemn'd it had a fatal blow That now to Saints it little hurt can do But to proceed here I shall now relate Some things which very much do aggravate The sufferings which Christ in 's Soul indur'd When he this Conquest for our Souls procur'd No greater sorrows did he ever know Than those which then his Soul did undergo Several Circumstances which demonstrate the Greatness of our Saviours sufferings in his Soul in the Garden First They did not seize him with the least surprize From thence oft-times doth great Amazement rise Unto poor Mortals we are not aware Oft-times what 's nigh know nothing of the snare But thus 't was not with the blest Prince of Light What can be hid from Great Jehovah's sight He knew full well what would upon him fall Yet when it came so great surpassing all Were th' Griefs he felt he in amaze doth call Unto his Father dear most earnestly If 't were his will to let that Cup pass by Secondly It was the very thing he came to do And yet cry'd out in such sad sort O who Can then conceive what he did undergo He freely did his precious Life give up And yet he 's ready to refuse the Cup. He takes it as it were into his hand Most willingly but presently doth stand Pausing a while then puts it to his Lip And after he had took one bitter sip Looks up to Heav'n and cryes O may it be Thy will dear God this Cup might pass from me Thirdly He knew unless he drank it up that we Must perish All to all Eternitie And that his coming would prove all in vain If he refused for us to be slain And yet with sighs and groans how did he cry In sense of wrath and that extremity Which he beheld would quickly overtake him When once his blessed Father did forsake him Fourthly The Angels which did there to him appear Demonstrate plain how great his sorrows were For like as one distressed makes complaint Quite tired out and all his spirits faint Needs to be strengthned by some faithful Friend So God to him did Holy Angels send For to relieve and comfort him that Day When Sin and Wrath so heavy on him lay Fifthly But what 's Assistance from an Heavenly Host To the great Power of the Holy Ghost Some little measure of the Spirit hath Caused blest Saints to triumph over Death How have they sung with flames about their Ears Contemning pains regardless of all fears This Spirit rested on him bodily Without measure and yet how doth he cry As scarce well knowing which way to bear up Whilst he partakes of this most painful Cup. This greatly doth his suff'rings amplify To humane sense if weighed seriously Sixthly O Lord what means these melting sighs and Tears Why is thy Soul amaz'd why fill'd with Fears Ah! 't is enough to break our hearts to think Upon that bitter potion thou didst drink Thou knewst thy sorrows would be quickly o're And then thou shouldst ne'r sigh nor suffer more 'T was from thy worth both Wrath and Justice cryes We are appeas'd with this thy Sacrifice Might not the shortness of this Conflict yield Thee some Relief Besides thou knew'st the Field Thou shouldst obtain the Conquest was thine own And quickly too the Conflict would be gone I' th midst of Wars or anguish Men indure If any can them certainly assure That in short time their Troubles will be over They straight rouse up their spirits to recover And patiently resolve to bear the smart For this is like a Cordial to the Heart All this thou knew'st and more abundantly Yet Sins dire weight so heavily did lie That with strong groans horror thou didst cry The Torments Lord of Hell took hold on thee Our Souls from that devouring Wrath to free But why didst thou into a Garden go Thus to encounter with the hellish Foe Was it because there first began our woe Or was it Lord to have us call to mind When we in Walks and Gardens pleasures find What thou didst
for us in a Garden bear To take our Hearts from slitting pleasures here But stop my Muse look back and let us sâ—e What did succeed Judas his Treachery O mind what Joy's amongst th' Infernal Crew In hopes of what is likely to ensue Not once but many times this makes me quake We are undone should he refuse to take Part now with us in this Extremity When all we have and are at stake doth lie To this Advice the Devils all consent And call for Tyrant Death who doth present His gastly face and boldly do's demand What 't was they would have him to take in hand Then soon Apollyon King of Darkness breaks Silence and to this purpose gravely speaks Apollyon Dread King of Terrors if thou stepst not in Down goes our Hell-bred Monarchy of Sin We now can walk the spacious Earth about And have we Friend or Foe we find him out Where e're we see a person that 's upright We seek his ruin with the greatest spight When we by fraud or craft can't him intice To yield to Pride or Lust or any Vice But that he 'l watch us with a wary Eye And persevere in all true Piety Then on him do we bring outward distress To make him lose or leave his Holiness Our Kingdom by this practice is made strong Potent and large and so has prosper'd long But now thy help we need for much we fear The downfal of our Kingdom draweth near Upon the Earth there now appears in sight A mighty Foe one call'd The Prince of Light 〈…〉 And for what end should he from Heaven come If not to execute on us that Doom Which Heav'n long since decreed To end which strife We are resolv'd to take away his Life Already he 's betray'd if things hit right And then we 'l yield him up unto thy Might For thy Assistance Death we do implore Else to these mischiefs this will happen more That Creature we so long have captivated Will in her Pomp again be re-instated The thoughts of which there 's none of us can bear Speak speak pale Monarch for we long to hear What 's thy Advice Thou mighty art in pow'r And canst we know whole Nations soon devour The King of Terrors Great Prince of Darkness you must understand We are not wholly at your proud Command For there 's a mighty Pow'r in Heaven high Which you are subject to as well as I 'T is true from him I cannot say at all That I derive my strange Original Yet by his pleasure am circumscrib'd And ' gainst his Will cannot be forc'd nor brib'd Wherefore if he this Prince of Light protect In vain at him shall I my shafts direct Besides in this Exploit methinks I find Some strange foreboding ills possess my mind As if engaging thus against your Foe I should but hasten mine own overthrow Take mine Advice then meddle not at all Better sit still you know than rise to fall 'T is true indeed as you have well observ'd Your threatned Judgment has been long deferr'd But if your Execution-Day be come You can't escape but must abide your Doom Prince of Darkness Thou pale-fac'd Traytor shan't we have thy Aid Then all our Hellish Projects are betray'd How oft have we stood by thee sent thee forth To do our will and pleasure on the Earth The first that ever thou hadst in thy hand Committed was by me at my Command I caused Cain to slay his godly Brother And so taught thee how to bereave the Mother Of her most dear of her most hopeful Son And shall not now my will in this be done 'T was I which did thy being to thee give How many Subjects dost each day receive From me and mine who do in every Land Promote thy State and lend their helping-Hand Therefore consent and show thy angry Brow And make this Conqueror to thy Scepter bow Yielding himself to thee strike him with speed And pierce his very Heart until it bleed Then some dark Cave near the Earths Centre find Where Light ne're pierc'd nor Phoebus ever shin'd There there the vanquisht Foe do thou retain Close Prisn'er with an Adamantine Chain When e're thou strik'st be sure strike home thy blow Lest he revive and work our overthrow Be bold attempt and let thy pow'r be known Thy Glory of this Deed shall be thine own King of Terrors I must confess I have been often sent By Hellish means unto the Innocent To satisfy your Envy Pride and Lust Some thousands I have turn'd into the Dust Yet never did I strike but on Condition As Heaven did permit in my Commission And though by Thee and by that Monster Sin The Child of Hell I first of all came in Yet am I not subservient still to thee But bounded by Jehovah's own Decree For had I wholly been at thy Command Poor Job had fell before thy pow'rful hand Where my dread Sovereign Lord do's give me charge To stay my hand though my Commission 's large I must forbear But if he once permit The Just and the Unjust alike I hit Apollyon King of Darkness Wilt thou eclipse my Glory and Renown Destroy my Pow'r and tread my Kingdom down Fy Death for shame forbear thy Insolence And do'nt dispute the Mandates of thy Prince Strike I conjure thee do not vainly think 'T will be thy Int'rest from this work to shrink That hand that powerful hand that conquers me If he prevail at last will vanquish thee Though now on Earth thou dost in triumph dwell If he o'recome he 'l cast thee down to Hell Thou fro'n thy Monarchy shalt then be driven And shalt abide in no place under Heaven Thou that hast been a Conqueror heretofore Shalt conquer'd be and never conquer more Ah! lend thy Hand shew forth thy mighty pow'rs 'T is for thy Int'rest Death as well as ours If Arguments and Reason may convince Thee try thy weapons on this dangerous Prince King of Terrors Say say no more If you find things agree In order to his downfall I will be His Executioner do you not fear I tremble at the thoughts of what I hear Damned Spirits Bravely resolv'd At last they all Reply'd Swelling in Wrath in Malice Envy Pride Wee 'l now proceed and craftily prepare All things in readiness to end this War Apollyon Though Judas has a party for our turn Yet we have more to do e're we adjourn If we should bring this Enterprise to pass Yet when all 's done I shall be where I was We must seek out some persons to defame His so much honour'd and unblemish'd Name He 's Just and Virtuous and esteem'd so high Who dares charge him with th' least Impurity Satan At this an envious Devil strait jumpt in I 'le lead the people on let me begin I 'le stir them up to Envy more and more Such Envy that he shall not stand before Belial These are but sparkles from an hasty Fire Which will for want of fuel soon expire His Glory
still encreases ours decays Words without Actions are but faint delays The rarest Wit amongst us must look out With wariness to bring this thing about I 'le tell you what I newly have contriv'd Let my Lord Lucifer the King of Pride Make one amongst their Rulers in the Seat Of seeming Justice Tell them they are Great And Prudent men yea Learned ones likewise And in their Breasts alone true Wisdom lies Yea tell them that the Soveraign Lord of Heaven To them the name of Gods on Earth hath given Tell them both God and men have though it fit That they like Gods should in this Grandeur sit And answerable to this lofty station The people have them in great veneration Thus when h' has put their Honours in a Heat And swell'd them up with Pride and self-conceit Tell them 't is much below their high Degree That such a low inferiour Man as he Should be their Prince or 〈◊〉 them bear sway Who rather ought their 〈◊〉 to obey Then when the uncontrouled â—reath of Fame Has spread abroad the Glory of his Name And fill'd each Eye and Ear with Admiration Giving to him Applause and Veneration Then let our envious Friend once more take's place And sit as pale as Death in every Face And let him tell them if they do not take Some speedy course their Honours lie at stake He grows so famous in the peoples Eyes They shortly will their Soveraignty despise Satan Nay I can tell them yet another thing The people seek by force to make him King Which if the Roman Pow'r should understand They 'd quickly come and take away their Land This sure will work or other ways I 'le find Good Mariners can sail with every wind Thus these Infernals seeking to prevent Their future but deserved punishment Far swifter than the lofty Eagle flies Did set upon their Hellish enterprize The King of Pride threw forth his poisonous Darts Which did not miss to pierce the yielding Hearts Of those that sat at Stern who should delight To do the thing that 's equal just and right But disregarding great Jehovah's Laws They sought poor Souls for popular Applause Puft up with Pride and swoln with vain Ambition That Tympany of th' Soul They had suspition That if the Prince of Light were once affected They by the people soon should be rejected For first they saw his Miracles were great His Vertues rendred him still more compleat And made him so illustriously to shine He gain'd the Appellation of Divine Nay furthermore they heard now some did sing Hosanna in the Highest to the King Of Israel the fragrant Flower of Jess The Root of David Oh! who can express The depth of Envy which in them did burn With-raging flames almost at every turn Close Consultation in their Courts appears And i' th mean while strange Rumors fill their Ears The Miracles which he before had wrought Into the minds of people fresh are brought Those wond'rous things did much encrease the strife He rass'd said some the Dead again to Life Gave sight unto the Blind who from their Birth Had never seen the Light that guilds the Earth The Dumb the Deaf the Lepers and the Lame In all Distempers whosoever came Had perfect Cure in every Disease Nay he could hush the Winds and calm the Seas Could dispossess the black Infernal Rout And cast whole Legions of fierce Devils out Of five mean Barly loavs and two small Fishes He made above five thousand plenteous Dishes Thus many talkt what he before had done Grieving to think what now was coming on His gracious words and vertuous Life commended Him to the Multitude but much offended Th' inraged Rulers yet his Innocence Was still so sure a Guard and strong defence That they could not their wicked ends obtain Yet from their malice would they not refrain How often did they in clandestine way Endeavour their blood-thirsty hands to lay Upon this Sacred Prince yet still through fear The people would rise up they did forbear Sometimes they thought to trap him in his words That Law Justice then might draw their Swords And cut him off And then again devise Another course charg'd him with Blasphemies Against the God of Heaven by which way They surely thought they might his Life betray But never could they over him get pow'r Untill his time were come Now now 's their hour The work must needs be carried on with speed When Heaven and Hell about it are agreed Though different ends in these great Agents are Yet in the thing they both consenting were That Christ should be of his dear Life depriv'd Though Hell alone the guilty Act contriv'd Yet God indeed from all Eternitie Knowing what rage and curs'd malignity Would be in their base Hearts resolved then He would permit and suffer these vile men To bring his Purpose and Decree to pass Which for our Good and his own Glory was CHAP. VIII Shewing how the Lord Jesus died in the Sinner's stead Such was his love and yet the Soul an Enemy at that time to him and hated him A full discovery of Christ's bloody Passion enough to make a heart of stone to melt The Prince gives up the ghost Death the King of Terrors insults over Jesus Prince of Light Death is threatned with Death shewing also what fear there was amongst the Devils lest the Prince should rise again and overcome Death A second Council held in Hell the Devils tremble Death subdued Heathen Oracles cease The Devil 's destroyed upon the Prince's resurrection and put to open shame Joy in Heaven Angels sing Saints rejoyce The end of the First Part. BUT to proceed Will you lift up your Eyes And view the Rage of Hellish Enemies The final troubles of the Prince of Light Are coming on Behold a frightful sight A multitude with Clubs and Swords and Spears About his Sacred Person now appears This wretched Rabble's come on a design Which wounds and breaks this stony heart of mine To think upon 't behold they are conducted By the grand Traitor and by him instructed How to proceed on this great Enterprise Which he by Hellish power did devise Arm'd as you heard they seiz'd on him as if He had indeed been some notorious Thief Fond men If you this Prince's Nature knew Your Weapons are too many or too few As Man so meek you need no rescue fear As God so strong he can in pieces tear A thousand Troops that should approach him near Of which a present Instance did appear Some little rays of his dread Deitie He caused to break forth and suddenly They stagger'd and fell backwards on the ground That they might see he quickly could confound Them utterly and lay them at his feet But that he saw it better to submit Unto his Father's Will and take the Cup Which was prepared for him to drink up But they recov'ring strength got up again Regardless of all dread and now amain Resume their purpose and with wicked hands
before him And in Derision feignedly adore him Thus thus did they the Sacred Prince abuse Crying in scorn All hail King of the Jews Then in Disdain they spit in 's his lovely Face Could Devils offer God a worse Disgrace Oh depth of Love alone that knows no bounds To suffer such dire stripes such mocks wounds 'T was we that sin'd 't was thou that sufferst shame To free us from the guilt Oh let thy Name Thy Sacred Name for ever honour'd be Who thus wast us'd to set poor Sinners free But yet alas these sufferings were not all More bitter things did unto him befall Off next they took the Robe his own put on And now as if their malice fresh begun Not satisfy'd their God for to deride They loud cry'd out Let him be Crucify'd His Blood they thirst for Pilate gives consent Though Conscience told him he was Innocent And had deserved neither Death nor Bands Yet up he gives him to the Rabbles hands He knew of malice they had brought him thither Yet he and they at last combine together 'T imbrew their guilty hands in guiltless Blood Who never did them harm but always good Rather than Pilate will displease the Jews Hee 'l stifle Conscience utterly refuse All Admonitions though his bosom Friend A timely warning unto him did send Uses Intreaties urges Arguments But nothing would prevail nothing prevents Their wicked purpose Sentence being past Unto his Execution now they hast Though he was wounded very much before His flesh his Virgin flesh with stripes made sore Yet they upon his Martyr'd shoulders lay His heavy Cross till fainting by the way By reason of th' intolerable pain His bleeding wounds procured they constrain A Country-man of Cyrene who did pass Along that way to bear his pond'rous Cross And coming up to dismal Golgotha Without remorse of Conscience dread or awe They still persist in putting him to Death A Death the worst that e're stopt humane Breath The cruel Death oâ—th Cross matchless for pain And by God's Curse most liable to shame To cause the Just to die was crueltie But Crucifixion's more than 't is to die Prodigious Rage strange metamorphos'd mind What kill the Lord who was to you so kind What was his Crime what his so great offence That not contented to remove him hence By violent Death but you must look about Whereby to find exquisite torments out The vilest wretch that ever did draw breath Or in the strictest sense deserved Death Could never meet with more severitie From barb'rous Foes and brutish Tyranny He meets with no compassion every heart And every hand is set to throw a Dart. So far from shame in this their villany They chuse for time to act the Tragedy Their chiefest Feast when to Jerusalem From every part thousands of people came Then then they chose this cursed work to do That he the greater shame might undergo When Priest and Pilate finisht had their Court. Dear Jesus must be fetcht to make them sport And now behold if yet thy delug'd Eyes Can stay to see so sad a Sacrifice Behold him lift up on the cursed Tree Expos'd to Torture Death and Infamy His Arms spread wide as ready to imbrace His bitter'st Foes if they 'd accept his Grace Quite through each hand foot sharp nails they drive And fix him there to wait for Death alive Hanging betwixt two Thieves Numbred among Transgressors by the giddy partial Throng For passers-by did rail on him with scorn Wagging their heads who ought rather to mourn With taunts and scoffs the vulgar him abuse Prompted by the Chief Priest and barb'rous Jews And when he thirsts through his excessive pains Behold what favour at their hands he gains All they afford to quench his drought withal Was Vinegar mixed with bitter Gall. Was ever such a perfect hatred known No Dram of pity but all malice shown He that for them had Water turn'd to Wine And shown his Pow'r and Charity Divine Now Wine nor Water now could be allow'd T' asswage his thirst from this ungrateful Croud But into 's tender side they thrust a Spear From whence there came both blood water clear Thus hand and foot and head and every part They pierce and wound for to encrease his smart Ah! see that stream wch from his Heart-blood flows The precious Balm and Cure of all our woes Each pious Soul which truly doth believe It s Soveraign Vertue freely may receive One drop of that most Sacred Blood is worth Ten thousand Thrones Kingdoms of the Earth When you by Sin do see your selves undone Think on that Blood which from his Side did run Those cordial Drops apply'd unto thy heart Will heal thy Soul and cleanse thy inward part Ah! canst thou of Christ's dismal passion hear And not dissolve thy Soul into a Tear But to return There 's something still behind Which makes strange meltings in my grieved mind That 's worse than all the rest oh hear his moan And how his poor distressed Soul doth groan His Father hides his face that gracious Eye Casts forth an angry frown which made him cry After he had these bitter torments felt From cruel hands and found his Soul to melt His spirits fail and wounded heart to break Why why my God Oh why dost thou forsake Me in this needful hour Hard is the case When thou my God from me shalt hide thy face My Servants who forsook me are but Dust Poor flesh and blood alas what stay what trust Is there in man the best of men are frail Such as conside in them their strength will fail But ah My Trust my Hope my Confidence Thou thou that art my Rock and safe Defence Even thou my God! O thou O thou hast left me And this at last has of all Peace bereft me Whilst Souls can see their Interest in their God They can bear up under the sharpest Rod But when thy face is hid as 't is from me They sink they die they die Eternally Thus thus the Prince of Peace in sore distress His bitter moan doth unto God express Great depths of sorrow did oppress his Soul When his sad portion thus he did condole He saw himself forsaken and forlorn When in our stead this anguish great was born That which was due for our Iniquity Did heavy on our gracious Saviour lie For Justice spar'd not but laid on her Hand Whilst in the room and stead he seeks to stand Of the poor Soul he came from Heaven to save Justice alas will the last farthing have The torments Saints have born's another thing From what befel their Soveraign Lord King His Spirit 's gracious great magnanimous Yet ne're was any Soul distressed thus That much renowned holy Martyr Stephen He had so glorious a prospect from Heaven As fill'd his Soul brim-full of Consolation And by that means with joy he bore his passion Should I attempt to walk the spacious Field Of instances how many would it
doth affirm and I Esteem above what e're Antiquity Hath left recorded or most curious Eyes Can view in best approved Histories Relating to the matter we have stated Which follows thus as 't is by him related About the period of Tiberius's Raign Who at Christ's Death was Rome's proud Soveraign Strange hideous Cries shriekings and howlings be Heard with amazement in the Grecian Sea Complaining that their great God Pan was fled From whence great Conâ—â—ernations followed No sooner did the louder Trump of Fame This news of their great Pan â—s Retreat proclaim But it was brought unto the Emperours Ears And unto him a certain Truth appears Who being startled at the strange Relation Falls with his Wisemen into Consultation Who sought by Magick to resolve the doubt Which all their Art and Skill could not find out Yet Christians in those days could quickly spy The way to open the whole Mysterie Comparing times they found this strange Relation Did just fall out upon Christ's Death and Passion And then concluded straightway bâ— the â—all Of their great Pan which signifieth All All Spirits by Christ's Death were so afflicted Their utter Ruin thereby was pâ—â—â—icted Yea others of their own Reconâ—â— still do Confirm the truth of this their overthrow How one of them constrain'd sometime before By God himself their fall did thus deplore An Hebrew Child that shall be born will be The final downfal of our Dignity All our usurpt Dominions by that Child Shall come to nought and utterly be spoil'd He strikes us dumb and nonplus's our Art Henceforth in vain no further Questions start But sad and silent from our Shrines depart Thus God doth force Devils sometimes to speak That which doth much against their Int'rest make But stay my Muse the Cherubs chant again O listen to this more melodious strain The glorious Angels do sweet Triumphs sing Upon the Conquests of our Heav'nly King They clap their wings and leap for joy to see This total Rout and happy Victorie Shall Heav'n rejoyce and more concerned Earth Not sing aloud Jehovah's praises forth O happy Day blest hour the best of all Poor Mortals ever saw since Adam's fall Christ of a truth is risen from the Grave No Pow'rs of Hell could keep him in the Cave Yet are there some in these in these last evil days Deny that he from Death himself did raise The Jews also with their Forefathers say 'T was a Deceit for he was stoln away Whilst drousy Soldiers fell into a sleep Who the Sepulchre had a charge to keep A thing themselves no doubt could not believe But was forg'd by the Devil to deceive And blind mens Eyes who wanted that inspection They might have had touching his Resurrection 'T was the last game the Devil could devise To hinder Christ's most glorious Enterprise They knew that if his Resurrection were Received for a truth no hope was there But all that they had done it tumble must So the last Evil would exceed the first But if they had believ'd it certainly The Souldiers had with great'st severity Been punished for being so remiss About a thing so weighty as was this Besides were they asleep how could they tell What things there came to pass or what befell Or if awake why did they not prevent Those men who came with such a strong intent And can one think if the Disciples durst Attempt that thing they should have stript him first Would they not take the body in the cloaths Lest e're they 'd done the Sould'ers should have rose And caught them doing it and then be sure Great sufferings for it they must endure Nay had these men been guilty of such evils They 'd been no better than seducing Devils The worst of Mortals and how was it then That God should own and witness to such men By aiding them Would Heavens Pow'r have gone To prove a Cheat when Miracles were done Again they were of such Integrity As none could brand with the least infamy And they 'i th face of Foes without least dread Declare that he was risen from the Dead That they convers'd with him full forty days Whilst he instructed them in all his ways Before he did ascend And then agen In Galilee at once five hundred men Saw him with joy and in their witness gave That he indeed was risen from the Grave Here stop again my Pen Time calls away Upon this Theme thou must no longer stay Leave them to perish let them fall and die That this blest Resurrection do deny Shall God his Saints and Angels witness bear Unto this thing and yet shall Mortals dare To call the same in question or deny What is confirm'd by such Authority No firm as Earth or Heav'ns more stable poles Let this great Truth be fixt in pious Souls Without it Faith 's a Fancy and the best Of men more wretched than the vilest Beast But now awake my Muse no longer slumber The Day doth dawn and joys which none can number Are rushing in upon the Prince of Light This sorrow 's gone nought now but Glory bright Shines forth in him now is he rais'd on high Far out o' th reach of all malignity Nor men nor Devils can annoy him more He 's safely landed on the long'd-for shore Go Turtles go whilst thousand Joys betide The glorious Bridegroom and his purchas'd Bride That Sun is risen who will ne're go down Who will his Spouse with light of Glory crown But where 's the Soul O where alas is she For whom he dy'd and hung upon the Tree What greeting O what Joy when they do meet There will abound the thoughts thereof are sweet He that was Dead is come to Life again And ever shall in bliss Eternal raign Thrice happy is that Soul which he hath chose To be his Love his Dove his Sharon's Rose But where is she and what is her Estate For nothing of her we have heard of late Doth she not wait doth she not long to see His lovely Face and to embraced be In his dear Arms O do'nt she greatly crave One sight of him one visit more to have Doth not her Soul dissolve then into tears With thoughts of him who freed her from all fears Read the next Part and you will quickly find The Fruit of Sin and nature of the mind That is corrupt and fill'd with carnal Love How nothing can those vile Affections move Oh how unkind to Christ do Sinners prove The End of the First Book Behind this Curtain 〈◊〉 suppose to be such Glory which 〈…〉 can see Besides the Day being 〈…〉 too If wee 〈…〉 yet more 〈◊〉 dare not 〈◊〉 see Death and Devils sin World cast down Whilst Heaven doth the glorious Victor crow◠〈…〉 BOOK II. The Glorious Lover A Divine POEM CHAP. I. Shewing how Christ renews his Suit again and again which is done either by the ministration of the Gospel or by his various Providences and yet the Soul refuses to receive him THUS have you
do men fly from the Pestilence And wilt not thou learn wisdom Soul from thence Sin is a plague that kills eternally All souls of men unless they swiftly fly To Jesus Christ no Med'cine will do good Nor heal this plague but this Physicians Blood What blindness is there then in thy base heart 'T is not the plague th' Physician must depart Thou shutst the door wilt not let him come in Whose purpose is to heal the plague of sin Nay what is sin 't is poison in a Cup That 's gilt without and men do drink it up Most earnestly with joy and much delight Being pleasant to the carnal appetite Sin 's sâ—cet to him whose soul is out of taste But long alas its sweetness will not last Sin 's sweet to th' flesh that dos it dearly love But to the Spirit it dos poison prove Hast hast thou suck'd this deadly poison in And dost not see thy vital parts begin To swell art poison'd Soul look look about To get an Antidote to work it out Before it is too late The poison 's strong Don't stay a day twelve hours is too long One dram of Grace mixt with repenting tears The grace of perfect love that casts out fears Mixt with that Faith which kills all unbelief Took down with speed will ease thee of thy grief Will purge thy soul and work by vomit well And all vile dregs of venom 't wil expel Unless thou vomit up each dreg be sure No hope of life one sin will Death procure Unto thy soul Repentance is not right Till sin nay every sin 's forsaken quite Not only left but as a poisonous Cup They greatly loath what e're they vomit up No evil like the evil called Sin Which thou dost love which thou tak'st pleasure in Again what 's sin it is an horrid Thief Or a Deceiver nay it is the chief Or grandest Cheater too that e're was known He has rob'd thousands nay there is but one That lives or e're has liv'd but rob'd have bin By this great Thief by this Deceiver SIN No petty Padder his ambitious Eye Doth search about he subtilly does spy Into the place where all the Jewels lie The first he seizes is the Jewel Time He 〈◊〉 robs each Soul of all their prime And chiefest days which mercy doth afford Which should be dedicated to the Lord. And more then this not one good thing they have But them of it does this curst Thief deceive Sweet Gospel Grace nay and the Gospel too And all that glory which they also do Confer on us Souls are deceiv'd hereby And yet they know it not they don't espy The way it works it 's done so secretly Sin robs the soul of its sweet Jewel Peace And in its room do's grief and anguish place Who ever doth this grievous loss sustain Can't have it made up unto him again By Treasures of all Kingdoms here on Earth No valuing it no knowing of its worth Another thing this Thief has in his Eye And lays his Fingers on then by and by Doth bear away it is the Jewel Soul A loss which mortals ever shall condole For had a man ten thousand worlds to lose The loss of them far better had he chose Than lose his soul why would you think it strange What shall a man for 's soul give in exchange There 's one rich Jewel more and 't is the chief That is aim'd at by Satan and this Thief Ah! 't is a thing more worth than all the rest How how can then the value be exprest It is a precious Stone that shines so bright It doth the heart of the great God delight He loves it dear 't is that his eye 's upon And nought he prizes like this precious Stone This Stone poor Soul he offers unto thee What sayst thou to 't canst thou no beauty see No worth in that which God accounts so rare Strange ' t is shall I the cause of it declare Sin blinds thine eyes and dos beguile thee so Thou for a Pepple lets this Jewel go This stone know thou is the Pearl of great price Let not this base Deceiver thee entice To slight dear JESVS wilt be such a fool To lose thy time thy Christ peace and thy soul Be thou more wise and more considerate Thou dost alas thy pleasures over-rate Let 's go to th' ballance prethee Soul let 's weigh The Pearl of price make hast and quickly lay Into the scales the flesh and loads of pleasure For honour all the acts of mighty Cesar And cast whole mines in too whole mines of treasure Add world to world then heap a thousand more And throw them in if thou canst find such store And see which ballance of them is too light Lo it is done and thine 's such under-weight It seems as if thy scale was empty quite Let 's take the Pearl out and then le ts put in An airy bubble now let 's weigh agin See see fond Soul thy scale aloft dos fly There 's nothing in 't 't is less than vanity What folly was 't to make the first compare What weigh the world with Christ no need is there To run that parallel thou now mayst find Thy self deceiv'd thou labour'st for the wind For sin 's compos'd of nought save subtil wiles It fawn's and flatters and betrays by smiles It 's like a Panther or a Crocodil It seems to love and promises no ill It hides its sting seems harmless as the Dove It hugs the Soul it hates when vow 's tru'st love It plays the Tyrant most by gilded pills It secretly insnares the Soul it kills Sin 's promises they all deceitful be Does promise wealth but pay us poverty Does promise honour but dos pay us shame And quite bereaves a man of his good name Does promise pleasure but does pay us sorrow Does promise Life to day pays Death to morrow No evil like to th' evil called Sin Which thou dost love which thou tak'st pleasure in Again what 's Sin a second Dalilah Which in the bosom lies does tempt and draw The Soul to yield unto its cursed ways And resteth not until it quite betrays It's Life into the proud Philistines hands Who take and bind it with base churlish bands Nay and most cruelly puts out its eyes Makes it grind in their Mill. Devils devise All this and more then this when they do get The poor deluded Soul into their net Lastly what 's Sin read thou the former Part Of this small Book O view the bitter smart Thy Saviour bore it pierc'd his very heart Think thou upon his bloudy Agony 'T is that opes best its hellish mysterie And shews the venom which in it dos lie No evil like the evil called Sin Which thou dost love and tak'st such pleasure in Had evil man's fool-hardiness extended No further than himself and there had ended 'T were not so much but O! I do espy Another is much injured thereby Ten thousand times more excellent in worth
mourns Ah! how she weeps she crys And water runs like fountains from her â—ys Now her whole Souls dissolved into tears By Love-sick passions yet she 's fill'd with fears Lest Christ should now with angry frown deny To give her one sweet aspect of his Eye Because his love she had so long refus'd And wondrous patience shamefully abus'd Oh! now she spends whole days nights in prayer She sighs and grieves but canâ—t see Christ appear The panting Hart ne'r long'd for Water-brooks More than does she for some reviving looks From the great Prince the God of Love Grace But he at present seems to hide his face But stop my Musâ— hark how the Winds do roar All storms i' th Soul alasâ— are not yet o're No sooner did the Old-man cast his Eyes And view'd this change but in great wrath did rise For to renew the War he joins afresh With scatter'd force of Will and Lusts of th' flesh To make what strength they can with hellish spite The Devil 's with these conquer'd pow'rs unite Arm'd with despair and like to Lamps wch make The greatest blaze at going out they take Their blunt and broken Weapons in their hand Resolving Christ in her shall not command Nor she desert their cause nor break her Vows With Sin and Self and so become Christ's Spouse But now I find in vain they do resist True Grace is come the Spirit doth assist Sin World the Flesh nor Devil can long stand Before the Spirits strong and pow'rful hand See how the Spirit now doth search about To find each Sin and cursed Darling out Did you never behold in what dread sorâ— The wide-mouth'd Canon plays upon the Fort And how by whole-sail it doth batter down The shattered walls of a besieged Town Even so the Spirit with his powerful Sword Makes glorious slaughter will no Truce afford Kills all before him will no Quarter give Nor will he suffer any Lust to live The Strong-man Satan quakes good reason why A stronger's come a stronger he doth spy Is enter'd in O therefore he 's much pain'd All all is gone and he himself is chain'd The Old-man trembling likewise thinks to fly Into some lurking-corner secretly To hide himself but th' Spirit 's piercing Sight Discovers him and now with heavenly might Laid on such strokes and gave him such a wound Wch with dire vengance brought him to the ground Now the Affections's chang'd and Will doth yield Being willing made says Grace shall have the Field O happy season and thrice long'd-for hour This is the day of God's most mighty Power Upon the Soul But hark methinks I hear Most bitter sighs and groans sound in mine Ear. The Soul 's afflicted it is she doth mourn To think what sorrows for her Christ hath born She hates nay loaths her self to th' very dust And seeks to mortifie each former Lust And something more doth still perplex her mind Him whom she dearly loves she cannot find Her heart I fear will quickly burst asunder If any long time she should be prest under This heavy weight no grief like hers is there Who can alas a wounded Spirit bear She 's almost swallow'dâ— up in deep despair You next shall hear if you attention lend How she bewails the absence of her Friend Soul Ah me I faint my Spirits quite decay And yet I cannot die O who can stay My sinking Soul whilst I these sorrows feel My feeble knees under their burden reel Infâ—rnal deeps black gulphs where horror lies Open their ghastly mouths before mine Eys O wretched Soul curs'd Sin I might have been The Lamb's fair Bride and a Celestial Queen Had I imbrac'd my Lord my King my Love Who was more faithful than the Turtle Dove O had I then receiv d him in mine Arms He would have sav'd me from eternal harms But now I fear those happy days are past And I poor wretch shall into Hell be cast Bound up in fetters and eternal chains Of burning Wrath and everlasting pains O sinful Soul I who have lightly set By the blest Prince who would have paid my debt O he that would have freely quit my score Ah! Now I fear I shall ne're see him more Could I but once more hear his Sacred Voice I would make him my joy and only choice But 's Wooing-time I fear is out of date 〈…〉 but dread it is too late I mâ—lt Lord into tears whilst thou the Sun Of precious Light art hid where shall I run For Light and comfort in this dolesom hour Whilst I lie drenched in this brinish shower More would she speak but her great passion stops Her mournful speech whilst her eys stood-gates opeâ— Smote with despair so faint she scarce appears To breath or live but by her sighs and tears A Friend amidst this passion straight arriv'd Whose shining beams and lustre much reviv'd The troubl'd Soul on every side that she Cry'd out O heavenly Spirit it is thee Who with Diviner and mysterious Art Did such illustrious beams of Glory dart Which did not only tend to joy and peace But much inflam'd her heart made love increase And lo before her Eys she doth behold The Prince to stand whose Glory to unfold Is 'bove the reach of Man or Seraphim And thus had she a blessed sight of him Like as the Sun breaks forth beneath a Cloud Whose conqu'ring light cast off each envious shroud And round about his beauteous beams displays Making her Earth like Heav'n with his bright rays This glorious Aspect of his lovely Eye Which she through Faith beheld did by and by With such transports or Raptures on her seize And from her former sorrows gave her â—ase Yet could she not be fully satisfy'd Until the Marriage-knot was firmly ty'd A Promise she endeavours to procure To make Christ's Love and Pardon to her sure She to this purpose does her self address To him she loves with sweet composedness Of heart and mind tho thinking what she 'd bin She 's under fears and oft distrest again Much questioning for want of Faith how he Could e're forget past wrongs and injurie Soul Life of my life alas Lord what am I A wretched Creature who deserves to die A thousand deaths nay and a thousand more For wounding thee within without all o're In every part O this doth make me mourn It melts my heart to think what thou hast born For a vile worm But wilt thou view the wound That 's made in me Lord I am drench'd drown'd In bloud and brinish tears my wasting breath And sighing Soul will period soon in Death Unless thou seal and dost confirm to me Thy Love by promises O! shall I see Thy hand stretch'd out or shall I hear thee say Come come to me poor Soul O come away 'T is thou that wilt not bruise the broken reed Hurt not my sores nor crush the wounds that bleed O let my chilled Soul feel the warm fires Of thy sweet Voice that my dissolv'd