and its sad Warrant bear Date upon this my joyous Birth-day How Shall Lun-snarle my Promise and contrive That both mine Honor and the Saint may live 161. Both cannot live I see O that I were Some private Man that so I might be free Of my repute but Princes Honors are The Peoples too and by Community I should make all the Body perjured If I my selfe prove so who am their Head 162. And must John die Bear witnesse All how loth This Word doth fall from my constrained Lip To recompence the too too hasty Oath Which from Imprudence not from Me did slip Then take his Head Yet never say that I Issu'd this Warrant but Necessitie 163. Thus strove the Tyrant by a comely Lie To veile the Visage of his hideous Hate For fear the Damsell by his privity Might seeme to have contriv'd the Baptists fate Whil'st dreading his unlawfull Vow to break Adultery He doth with Murder back 164. Was it not plain that his outragious Vow Did prostitute but halfe his Realm and why Must the blood thirstie Hypocrite bestow More than the Whole What Prodigalitie Is this mad Herod For Johns Head alone Is worth more than thy Kingdome or thine own 165. Loe there the last Dish of great Herods Feast The Martyrs Head in a faire Charger laid He smiles within though clouds his face o'r-cast And feeds his soul on it But the proud Maid Knowing her Mother by this Death would live In triumph takes the Dish and takes her leave 166. The Royall Beldame in suspence did wait To reape her spightfull Stratagems event But when she saw the bloody Present straight Grown young with Salvage Joy hir high Content She to her dancing Daughter does display In her own tripping and lascivious way 167. Then much like some she-Bear whose long-wish'd Prey Is faln at last into her hungry Paws She tears the sacred Lips and rends a Way Unto the reverend Tongue which our she draws And then with peevish Wounds and scornfull Jests Her Womanish Revenge on it she Feasts 168. But mark that Convoy of illustrious Light Which seems from this low World to make such haste The better part of John there takes its flight Unto a greater Kings than Herod's Feast That Goale his Body and this World were three Prisons to Him who now from all is free 169. The Patriarks and Prophets all gave way When they this greater Saint approaching saw Who now his blessed Harbour doth enjoy For those fierce Storms he grappled with below And sweetlier rests in Abrahams bosome then In the adulterous Kings the lustfull Queen 170. This is the Story which the Virgin Mother Hath round about thy Girdle made to live But mark this well my Psyche 't is that other Selected Jewell which thy Spouse did give To crown the rest and tie up all the story In one divine Epitomie of glory 171. Divided 'twixt amazement and delight The Virgin read the strange Embroyderie But when on that last Gem she fix'd her sight Immortall Joyes so swell'd her soul that she Runs over with delicious Teares and cries Come Phylax come gird me with Paradise 172. Content said He but then be sure to shrink And hugg your self alone within your selfe The Girdle's wonderous strait nor must you think That any supernumerary Pelf Can finde a room in this rich mansion where The outward Walls of solid Jewells are 173. This said before her self was well a ware He closely buckled it about her Heart Straight she complains Oh spare me Phylax spare My squeased soul least from her self she start O loose the Buckle if the time be come That I must die at least afford me roome 174. Must I be girt to death and not have space To fetch one parting sigh before I die O me whose sins have made my Spouse imbrace Me with imbroidered Tortures so that I The riddle of unhappy Maids must goe In travell with more than a Mothers Woe 175. And so shee did indeede Such matchlesse Throws And Pangs did sting her in her straitned Heart Till at the length she bringeth forth and shows Her wondering selfe the reason of her smart Whil'st from her labouring Breast she pressed sees A shapelesse Lump of foule Deformities 176. Imperfect Embryo's unformed Lust Pin-fethered Fancies and halfe-shap'd Desires Dim Dawns of Fondnesse doubtfull seeds of Rust Glimmering Embers of corruptive Fires Scarce something and yet more than Nothing was That mystick Chaos that dead-living Masse 177. O how tormenting is the Parturition Of tender souls when they unload themselves Of their blinde night-conceiv'd Bratts of perdition How doe the peevish and reluctant Elves Mad with their own birth viperously contend The labouring bowells of the Heart to rend 178. This makes Faint-hearted Mortalls oft preferre The sad Reversion of eternall Pain Before this Conflicts Pangs So they may hear A quiet Truce with all their sinnes maintain They are content though Hell must with their Grave Set ope its Mouth and Them as sure receive 179. Psyche deliver'd of that monstrous Birth Now findes her Girdle fit and easie grown Affording roome for all the Train of Mirth With which her Bosome now was over-flown She view'd the Newborn Thing and viewing smil'd Not out of love but hate unto the Childe 180. As one from blinde Cimmeria newly come Beyond his own ambition into Arabia's blessed Fields and finding room Both for his eyes and joyes doth wondering goe Over those spicely Paths and thinks that hee Doth now no lesse begin to live then see 181. So overjoyed she admired now The glorious Day new risen in her Breast Where carnall Clowds before would not allow A constant beam to dwell but over-cast Her so that labouring she had much adoe To spie her Heav'n and see which way to goe 182. For now her soul was clearer than the face Of faire Aurora wash'd in Eastern streams Unspotted Thoughts flock'd in to take their place In her pure Heart which now a Garden seemes Of Lilies planted on warm Bedds of Snow Through which Gods Spirit doth gales of Odours blow 183. All Sublunary Sweets she has forgot Nor thinks this bitter World can breed such things All Beauties to her Eye are but one Blot The Bees to her are nothing else but stings All Loves are Hate all Dalliance Vexation All Blandishments but Poyson in the Fashion 184. For by this Girdle she his Pris'ner is In whose alone she reads the Name of Love And in the Languishments of softest Blisse By dainty Torments doth her patience prove Crying at every sigh O Jesu when Shall I have liv'd this Death and Life begin 185. What further businesse have I here below With flesh and Blood whose joyes I relish not Who is the Conquerour of my Heart but thou And since thy love this Victory hath got Why must thy Captive not permitted be To wait on thy triumphant Coach and thee 186. Though for thy Royall Scorn I fitting be Yet why wilt thou thine own Choise disallow If I had still neglected been
Wherefore thou must spare Some of thy Locks which I am sent to throw About that Deserts now devoted Aire Where they shall lash the Rebells till they see What 't is to kick at God and Waken Me. 107. Me whom soft Mercie long a-sleepe had kept Upon a Bed which She her selfe had made Me who for ever might in Peace have slept Did Mortals not take pleasure in this Trade Of sending up their shamelesse sinnes to teare By their bold cry my most unwilling Eare. 108. Me who did never move this Hand in vain Nor knew what 't was or Stroke or Aime to lose Me who cannot be charmd a-sleep again But by the dying Groans of my proud foes Me whose sure Power it selfe full deep did seale On Lucifer and ramm'd him downe to Hell 109. Erynnis glad to heare this Message tore Two handfulls of her Tresses from her Head Which Vengeance forth with to this Desert bore And through the trembling Aire their volumes spred First having breathed on them warlike fire Which all their breasts fill'd with mischeivous Ire 110. No sooner were they tossed up but they Perceiv'd themselves increased round about Their Tails reach'd out themselves an hideous way And from their sides a pair of Wings burst out Whose motion puffed and encreas'd the flame Which over all their monstrous Scales did stream 111. Their owne Instinct taught them the readiest way To the rebellious Camp of Israell Where seizing strait upon their helplesse Prey Their fierie Poyson they so thick did spill That all the Hoste had their Burnt-offring been Had seasonable Mercie not stepp'd in 112. Mercie stepp'd in and by a Contre-plot Rearing a Brazen Serpent up did heale All that were stung with fire if they would put Trust in the Medicine of that Spectacle They gaz'd and saw their Helpe but could not prie Into the bottome of that Mysterie 113. That crucified Serpent did present Thy Spouse who raigning on his Crosse did by His potent Dying gallantly prevent The Plot of Death which more than He did dye And crush the old red Dragon who had hurl'd His monstrous Venome all about the World 114. And now thou knowst the Pedigree of this Feirce Portent which enflames and taints the Aire His fierie Looks and smoking flight confesse Of what Progenitors He is the Heire Thinke now how sweet a Pilgrimage it was When thy young Lord did through such Monsters pass 115. Yet ev'n this Passage Psyche shall appear So pretious unto future Saints that They Will seeke their Habour no where else but heer And make these Sands the Shore where they will lay Their Vessells safe from all those storms which rage Upon a secular Lifes unfaithfull Stage 116. This Passage they will judge a Dedication Of all this Tract to holy Privacie Where they in undisturbed Contemplation Of Heav'n shall sweetly live and sweetlier die Fearing no longer other Monsters when They once have reskewed themselves from Men. 117. Here will they build so strongly-mean a Cell As shall no Tempest nor no Plunder fear Here they with Health and Industry will dwell With Pains and Providence but not with Care Here they will importuned Earth intreat With Herbs or Roots to recompense their Sweat 118. For neither stub born Flint nor arid Sand Their Barrennesses Priviledge will dare Strictly to urge against the painfull Hand Of pious Poverty Those Charters are Of Natures giving and must needs give place Unto the grand Prerogative of Grace 119. Here will their Eyes not interrupted be With fond Allurements of the newest Fashions Whose Commendation speaks their Vanity It being onely built upon Mutations Their simple Sackcloth in one cut and guise To hide their Dust and Ashes will suffice 120. Here shall no noise of chincking Money be Rebounded by their Hearts inchanted strings That Noise which with such charming Melody Through all the Worlds unhappy Quarters rings And gains more Altars far for Mammon than Will unto Heav'n allowed be by Men. 121. Here shall no glancing Eye no mincing Pace No sporting Locks no dainty Red and White No wanton Dresse no Tongues melodious Grace No bidding Coynesse no inviting Flight Prevail upon their manly Hearts to brook The tickling Slavery of a Womans Yoak 122. Here no Ambition shall puffe up their Breast And in their Soule a foolish dropsie raise Who by themselves are freely dispossest Of all those Gardens which can bring forth Bayes And live upon a Soil which nothing bears But Poverty and Roots and Sighs and Tears 123. Here shall they by no care of Wife and Child Be call'd away in Conscience from their Prayers But shall by Virtues daily Progrese build Unto the Top of Heav'n their mystick Stayers By which they once again the World shall leave Nobly rebounding upward from their grave 124. But now this long Discourss devoured had The longer Way and Egypt did draw neer Thebai's Fields and Woods and Towns were glad That to the Desert they next Neighbours were And to these Strangers might the first afford Kinde Entertainment as once to their Lord. 125. When Loe said Phylax now the World grows tame And a milde hospitable Prospect yeilds These are the outmost skirts of populous Ham Tufted with Woods and lac'd with flowrie Fields A welcome Harbour to those Pilgrims who Have labour'd through this Deserts Sea of Woe 126. At the last Furrows end thus Rest doth stand And gently leads the Weary Plowman home So hangs the Garland at the Race's end Smiling upon the Runners as they come So Summer cheers the pined Earth when she Has run through Winters totall Tyrannie 127. Hither this Joseph came and brought with Him Far more Salvation then the Other though From Famins Jaws he Egypt did redeem And fed seav'n starved years with Corn enough Hither He came and brought with him the Bread By which the World eternally is Fed. 128. How glad was hee to see his Charge was here Arrived safe through all those perillous Wayes Upon the Childe he look'd but through a Tear Of Love and Joy and paid their Safeties Praise To him whose Providence had in that wide Region of Dangers to his Guides been Guide 129. Then passing to that Town thou seest there Which from old Hermes borrowing its Fame The title of Hermopolis doth wear Neer unto that Religious Tree he came The Natives call it Persea and with high Esteem its Leaves and Apples magnifie 130. Observe them well Each Leafe presents the true Shape of a Tongue which talks its whispering part To every Winde The dangling Apples shew The perfect feature of a panting Heart O that the World would learn this of the ree That with the Tongue the Heart should joyned be 131. Blinde Superstition had hallowed it To Isi's honour but the honest Tree Made bold that fond Relation to forget When thy great Spouse drew neer for instantly With orthodox Devotion pliant grown Unto the Earth her Head she bowed down 132. Where she with all her Hearts the Childe ador'd And as she could
jeer 212. May Heav'ns propitious eye for ever dwell On him who best deserves its care may all The clouds which with the fattest blessings swell Upon his Head let their best riches fall As freely as these drops rain down on it And at this Word they all upon Him spit 213. On the brave Romane Birds imperial wing May thy illustrious Name and Glory ride And may Tiberius to this nobler King Thus yeeld his mighty Throne this said a wide And massie Chair full at his head they throw Which grav'd its foot-steps deep upon his brow 214. Then after three low bowings on his knee One a Petition brings and having pray'd Him to accept his suit He instantly Hings it upon his face Another play'd 〈◊〉 and told Him what strange things He had in charge to Him from 〈◊〉 Kings 215. Most excellent Sir my Bus'nesse is said He Of such immediate consequence that it Can no delay digest which urgeth Me To this unwonted and uncivill Fit Of craving present Audience and here He boxed both his ears to make Him hear 216. A third came with a golden Goblet in Crying My Liege the Queen to you hath sent This Mornings Draught and prayes You to begin That She may pledge your Highnesse Here he bent His cursed brows at Jesus and threw out Upon his face the Urine He had brought 217. A fourth his Reed did from him snatch and cri'd Your Scepter Sir to heavy is I fear Let not your Majecty your Servant chide If he offend in too much loyal Care Your Selfe shall judge how grievous is its Weight Which said Him with the sturdy Cane he beat 218. A fift with ernest supplication su'd But for the honor to support his Train Then snatching up his Robe behinde with rude Unseemly Peevishnesse he kick'd amain Bruising thy Spouses naked Body till His weary Toe stay'd his unwearied Will 219. A sixt came crying Treason Treason Sir Treason against your sacred Majesty The Iewes your Subjects all Conspiring are Against your Honor and your Life O fly And save your Royal Selfe This made Them all Seeing Him bound so fast a laughing fall 220. O Psyche I cannot describe how they Did mock and grin and gurn and sneer and pout How they did wring their Mounthes what antick play They us'd their gentle Saviour to flout Imagine all the worst thou canst conceive And infinitely worse than that beleeve 221. This Sceen thus acted Pilate brings him out In this strange habit to the Peoples view Telling them He had sifted Him but nought He could discover which did bear the shew Of capital Demerit Yet said He Behold how his light faults revenged be 222. If this ridiculous Garb be not enough With Shame to clothe Him yet consider well In what exuberunt Streams his Blood doth flow And guesse what favour I have shew'd Him Tell Me if you think a new room may be found In all his Body but for one more Wound 223. Behold the Man this torn and worried Thing Is He however Comely heretofore Sure he has for his foolish Name of King Paid dear enough and had not I had more Regard unto your Credits than mine own Such proofs of Cruelty I had not shown 224. O Spectacle of most Commanding Sorrows How would all Hearts but Jewish melt to see These ghastly Torrents and these gasping Furrows Upon the harmlesse Back of Purity How would a Tygers thirsty Wrath relent How would the Soules of hungry Bears repent 225. Had these unhappy Jews had any Eyes But those of rancorous Malice they might here Have seen how their own Griefs and Miseries To patient Jesus all transferred were And scor'd upon his Back They might have found A salve for all their Sores in every Wound 226. They might have seen his innocent Temples wear That Malediction which to them was due The stinging Briars he was pleas'd to bear And leave the fragrant Flowers to them which grew Both in their mortal Gardens here and which With endlesse Sweets did Paradise enrich 227. At least that Lesson of Compassion They As well as Pilate might have plainly read Which in red capital Letters written lay And to the Eyes of all Spectators spread So fair a Challenge that no generous Breast Could their strange Importunity resist 228. But loe the barbarous Priests unsatisfied With all that Blood which was already shed Because some more behinde remained Cried O ease the Earth of that blasphemous Head Before Heav'n vindicate it selfe and We Involved in the Flood of 〈◊〉 be 229. It is no Boyes Fault his that you should deem A 〈◊〉 is sufficient Punishment O rather square your own by Heav'ns Esteem And joyn with ours your righteous Consent A Crosse a Crosse Heav n cannot pleased be Untill this Monster Crucifi d it see 230. This most unreasonable Madnes made The Judge as loude as They In vain said He You hope by Roaring to make Me afrayd The Man is guiltlesse 〈◊〉 Eyes if yee Resolved are that Innocence must Die Goe Murder Him your Selves and cease your Crie 231. Harsh was this Word and on their Plot did grate So hard that they enforced were to flie Unto the Refuge which They most did hate As knowing it was an old-answered Lie That Law They now pretend to which long since The Pris'ner justified his Innocence 232. Nay They repli'd it is not We but Law Our Law more dear to Us than are our lives Calls loude for Him to Death Be pleas'd to know That our great God no grace nor pardon gives Unto the least Blaspheemers and shall He Who makes himself the Son of God goe free 233. If Thou Protector of our Laws wilt be Break not our greatest for this Varlets sake Should He intrude into the Familie Of Caesar and his Sons great Title take Sure Thou wouldst think a Crosse his due and is Wrong to Heav'ns Emperour a less Crime than this 234. Blood-thirsty Hypocrites For well they knew How they their Law in urging it denyed For though this Accusation had been true 〈◊〉 must not Jesus by the Crosse have dyed The Law an heap of Stones ordein'd to be The Death and Monument of Blasphemie 235. 〈◊〉 this new Plea did startle Pilate so 〈◊〉 again retires and tries again 〈◊〉 Examination might doe 〈◊〉 he many Queries put and fain some Pretence have found with them to joyne 〈◊〉 all Slander did out-shine 236. But when He tels the Multitude his Minde Onely new Oile upon their Flames He threw For in their loudest Fury all combin'd Upon Him with this bold replie they flew If Jesus you dismisse We must have leave Great Caesar to acquaint with this Repreive 237. Did not the Traytors Head contrive to wear A Crown of Gold where now those Thorns are set And Who We pray more dangerous Enemies are To Caesars right than They which thirst for it He says his Realm is not on Earth And what Should Traytors being Taken plead but that 238. But were He free again and had proud He New
Thousands at his Heels which might assist His Wills Carreir Might his Designe not be True to our Fears And must He be dismist Dismisse Him If you will yet know that We Must hold you then for Caesars Enemie 239. Pilate had with their Malice grappled long But now his Place and Credit lay at stake He who before was so upright and strong Degenerously turn'd Unjust and Weak Firm stood his Chair upon the Pavement but His Heart and Conscience soone fell flat on it 240. For as He'ginns to name their King again Away with him they Crie We have no King But Caesar Caesar over Us shall reign And He alone As for this Cursed Thing 'T is more than time that to his Cross He goe And every one that is his Favourer too 241. Alas this Blast did on his faint Breast did blow So thick a Storm of Ielousie and Dread That now he fancied all the Town did draw Their mutinous Swords against his single Head And that the Priests had with their specious Lie Dispatched unto Rome an Embassie 242. Thus toss'd and baited by the Tempest He His Faith and Truth the dearest Wares he had Throws over bord and to their Crueltie Joyns his Consent which yet appear d so mad And full of foul and odious horror that He calls for Water to wash off its Blott 243. Why dost thou ravish Foolish Hypocrite The virgin Nymph What Water wilt thou get To wash this clean which cannot make Thee white But onely is by this thy Touching it For ever made impure Should all the Sea Flow on thy Hands they still would Bloody be 244. The Leopards Spots which fix their Feet so sure Upon his skin shall sooner melt away The AEthiop's Face shall sooner learn a Cure And turn its swarthy Night to beauteous day The Ravens with Swans in White shall sooner vie Than thou be purg'd from thy ingrained die 245. Yet Pilate flatter'd by his own Device Will needs be dabbling in the Water and Behold ye Priests and People all he cries Of Iesu's Blood I wash my guiltlesse Hand Although my Tongue the sentence passe yet ye Extorted it and yours the Act shall be 246. Content said They since you will have no share Ours let the Actions Glorie wholly be Both Heav'n and Earth will thank us for our Care And Caesar praise our zealous Loyaltie So will your self when you have weighed well What kinde of Monster you have sent to Hell 247. As for his Blood which frights your timorous Hand It is to us the Brightest Paint of Gloxie And will to all Successions commend Our pious Loyall Resolutions Storie For our ambitious Wish it is that It May On Heads and on our Children sit 248. Unhappy Wish had this been rightly fram'd No Prayer had flam'd with purer Piety Nor pull'd more Blessings down then would have streamd In this rich Blood upon Them all But see The fatall Power of Malice which can thus Make Zeals sweet Dialect turn venomous 249. For'twas not long e'r Titus came to poure This Blood upon Them and their Wish fulfill Them and their Seed its Streams did then devour With such full Veng'ance did the Torrent swell Their Town and Temple too this Deluge found Which in their Wishes Surplusage were drown'd 250. For never yet did Warr so riot in The Blood of any helplesse Wights as here Nor fatall Misery hunt out any Sin With so seveer a Quest as that So 〈◊〉 They found their Wish and bloody Exclamation Which prov'd the funerall Knell to all their Nation 251. And now the Judge within whose Breast the fear Of Men vile Men more than of God did reign Those Bonds of generous Right himselfe did tear From which he woo'd the People to refrain And gives his owne unhappy tongue the Lie Iudging the Lord of Innocence to die 252. O monstrous sentence were the fell Decrees Which ever yet from Tyrants Mouths did breake With the Descriptions of their Cruelties All writ in one black Roll they would not make So hideous a show as this alone Of Barbarousnesse the dire Perfection 253. All Injuries in this triumphant are Being skrued to the highest pitch of Spight Injustice but a Suckling was till heer She on the sudden grew to her full height Herod had nurs'd her well but Pilate now With the Iews help taught her compleat to grow 254. For could Hell mould so horrible a Doome As might send every Infant who did see Lifes morning Light strait from his Mothers Wombe To his Death 's Ev'n that Sentence yet would be Lesse barbarous than this which doth at once Condemne more than the whole Worlds Innocence 255. Alas unfortunate Pilate how hast Thou Condemn'd thy Self whilst Thou didst sentence Him The time draws nie when Caius will not know Thee for a Freind of Caesars Thy Esteem And Office too unto their Evening draw And foure Years more will make Thee feel the Law 256. The Law of Bannishment when France shall see Thee to Vienna ti'd that fatall place Where Hell shall to thy Soule displayed be And thy black Conscience warr against thy face Mustring the Guilt of this unhappy Day Before thine Eyes in terrible Array 257. There thy wives message shall again resound And sting thine heart thine own Professions there Of Jesu's innocence shall all rebound Upon thy breast and thy foule bosome tear There shall that water bubble up and boile Upon thine Hands which did its streams defile 258. There shall thy whips their lashes turn on thee There shall the thorns grow thick upon thy Head There shall the Buffettings and Mockings be Unto 〈◊〉 self in fail tale numbered There 〈◊〉 prodigious sentence back shall flie And point out Pilate as one fit to die 259. Then shall the cruel Crosse the Nailes the Spear Walk through thy thoughts and murder thee alive Till Crucifi'd by thine own fatall fear Thine hand due vengeance to thy self shall give And from thy Hell above by cursed death Send thy dispairing soule to Hell beneath 260. So shall thine hand thou thoughtst thou washst so white 〈◊〉 imbru'd in thine own horrid gore 〈◊〉 to all following Judges write Of what sure vengeance righteous Heav'n doth poure On them who warp Laws rule to Peoples lust And make the throne of Justice be unjust 261. But when the Lamb of Heav'n was sentenc'd thus Unto the Shambles Streit upon their prey The rampant Soldiers fly His gorgeous Attire they from him snatch and him array In his own simple fleece yet suffer still The torturing thorns upon his head to dwell 262. This rubb'd and wounded all those Wounds again In which the clotted blood began to rest This op'd the weary Mouth of every vein As if it would have had them now confest The utmost drop they knew yet though this loss Went deep they kept enough to paint the Cross. 263. 〈◊〉 delay then unto Calvarie 〈◊〉 hurry Him ev'n though their Senates Law 〈◊〉 that no Execution be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by ten dayes Thoughts the Judge
ward whether He is gone Who stamp'd them heer their Eys will know no Lid But make the Beams recoil the Rafters run Aside and suffer no Concameration To damm the way of Jesu's Exaltation 291. Thus Psyche have I made thee trace thy Lord To his last footsteps through a thousand ways All set with Mercie and made good my Word Thou seest how He a countermure doth raise Against Sinns Battery and thou needst not fear Hells Spight now Heav'n for thee doth take such care 392. Nor durst I doubt but thine owne Heart will say This thy long Pilgrimage is well requited Which hath presented thee a full Display Of that wherewith all Angells are delighted Whose Souls then with sublimest Joy do leap When on these Mysteries of Love they peep 293. Their Harness heer upon his Steeds he threw Who all this while were feeding on the Hill The meaning of that warning Psyche knew And on her knee prayd him to tarry till She gave the Reins to her Devotion As other Pilgrims unto theirs had done 294. He smil'd and stayd But She flat on her face Innumerable Kisses heap'd upon The venerable Stepps and long it was Before her amorous Sighs and Tears had done At length her Bosome with the Dust she fill'd And cri'd Go thou and my foul Body gild 295. Then casting up to Heav'n her zealous Eye After her Spouse a thousand Thoughts she sent To whom her panting Soul strove hard to flie Upon the Wings of her high Ravishment But when she felt her self stick still to Earth Fresh Tears at first and then these Words brake forth 296. Why may my Heart not be where most it is O Thou my dearest Life ô Jesu why Since Thou art mounted to the Topp of Bliss And leav'st Me Dead have I not leave to Die Never was any Ghost but I till now In its own Body bound and chaind below 297. I by thy Cross and Death was wholly slain And by thy Resurrections Life I grew Alive and safe and vigorous again But thy Ascension doth my Death renew Since nothing of my Life poor I can finde But these bare footsteps left Me heer behinde 298. Sweet Lord by these thy Psyche cannot live Though for thy Sake they pretious are to Me O no! their Worth doth but more reason give To long for most inestimable Thee If any footstepp Me can satisfie It must be that which next thy foot doth lie 299. Hast Thou not said that Earth thy Footstool is As well as Heav'n thy Throne O mighty Lord 'T will be thy Handmaydes most accomplish d Blisse If thou but unto Me make'st good that Word Loe I thy Dust the Footstool crave to be Of thy now Heav'n-enthroned Majesty 300. High my Petition is and bold I know And yet the worthlesse Dew must needs aspire To Heav'n it selfe when once it gins to glow With Phoebu's sweet and most attracting Fire Nor can the Spark in its dull Ashes lie But must have leave to venture at the Skie 301. Alas what is this weary World to Me What are the silver Sphears and golden Sun Could I reign Queen of every Thing I see At my sole Nod would all Earths Kindreds ran What were this Empire worth now Thou art gone Whom Psyche must esteem her Crown alone 302. 'T is not thy heav'nly Paradise that I Ambitious am to see 't is not thy Court Of Angels though by Phylax's company I guesse their Worth 't is not the Pomp and Port That flows about thy throne Nor doe I long To dance unto thy Quires eternal Song 303. My Heart doth pant for Thee and onely Thee And could'st Thou be in Hell I never more Would loose a Looking up to Heav'n but be Inamored of that Abysse and poure My Longings and my Labours downward till I at thy Feet my Vows and Soule could spill 304. O why art Thou so infinitely sweet Or rather Why must We that Sweetnesse know If Thou deer Jesu dost not think it meet Unto our Fires their 〈◊〉 to allow Away Thou flyest and Forsaken We Ev'n by thy sweets and Blisse tormented be 305. How can I help this my excessive Passion Or how can it deserve these Torments Since Thine own Love doth professe Immoderation And guilty is of boundlesse influence In which soft Sea of Fire whilst drown'd I am What can I doe but burn with answering Flame 306. Blame Me not blessed Lord it is not I But Thou thy Selfe rebounding from my Heart Who beat'st Heav'n with this Importunity And call'st for Ease for my mysterious Smart Had'st Thou by Love not stampd thy Selfe upon My Soule now Psyche had let Thee alone 307. Remembet Jesu what it is to be Forsaken ô remember thine own Crie When in thy Desolation on the Tree Thy Father Thou didst challenge May not I Use thine own Words My God my God why now Dost Thou thy desolate Psyche leave below 308. Upon this Olivet my Calvary I finde and to my Crosse am nailed here Ten thousand Torments in my Bosome lie And full as many Thorns as planted were Upon thy Tempels in my Heart doe stick Where all the Bowels of my Soule they prick 309. O Love why must thine onely Tyranny The Bounds of other Cruelties exceed Why will it not allow the Courtesie Of Death unto thy Vassals who are Dead By its reviving Slaughters and desire To be free Holocausts in thy sweet Fire 310. Her Passion here beyond expression grew Yet though She with her Tongue no more could speak With her resolved Eyes to Heav'n she flew And there a long Oration did make Both long and fluent in th' exuberance Of Tears the streams of strongest Eloquence 311. But Phylux having to Her tender Heart Thus far indulg'd thought fit to stop Her here Psyche said He imagin not Thou art Inamored more than the Disciples were Of thy Ascended Lord yet desolate They Warn'd by the 〈◊〉 meekly went away 312. I in their room that Warning give to Thee On Heav'n why dost Thou naile thine eyes in vain Thy Saviour is too high for Thee to see Till on a Cloud He posteth back again Then shalt Thou look thy Fill of Blisse and be To all thy Loves Extremities let free 313. Mean while thine Adorations and Imbraces On his dear Name and Memory thou mayst poure Come le ts away that by these signal places Of Mercies Triumphs thy soft Heart no more May tortured be Here on her hand he laid His own and raised up the heavie Maid 114. Then in his Chariot gently Her he set Who on the Footsteps kept her hankering eye But instantly he mov'd his reins to let His Coursers know he gave them liberty Forth with their goodly mains in answer They Shook in proud hast and gallopped away PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO XV. The Poyson ARGUMENT LEaving his Psyche carefull Phylax arms With whole some sage Advice her tender breast Yet shee the Venome of Heretick Charms And Spurious Reasons wiles could not resist Phylax returns and in his
this sayes she so fair so bright He smiling cries My Dear for Chastity It was erected Look and thou shalt see What kinde of Princes here the Dwellers be 154. Loe there comes One Observe his royall Gate Majestick yet not proud about his brows A glittering Coronet wreaths his princely state As in his Hand a Palm his triumph shows Large is his Roabe and after him below A Train imperiall on the ground doth flow 155. This Pavement is lesse white lesse sweet are those Perfumed Lillies than that roab of His Th' Eternall Lamb from his owne fleece did choose The richest Wooll where with to cloath and dresse His spotlesse friends and fellow-lambs for the Goe all invested with this bright Array 156. Those gracefull Eyes in which Love's throne is set Are they which did Potiphera defie Thou know'st the story since I told thee it This is that Joseph though advanced high In Pharaohs Realm yet now more glorious grown And can a fairer Kingdome call his owne 157. The next's a Female in the same Array For Sexes here no outward difference show But all like Angells live since noble they Strove to forget their He and She below And though then earthly Pilgrims overtake That Purity which Us doth equall make 158. Susanna is her Name That radiant Face Which none but chaste and holy beams did shed Two lustfull Elders made their daily Glasse And with the Antidote invenomed Their shamelesse Hearts So bold is Lust that she Dares hope to finde a Blot in Purity 159. Cancer then scorch'd the World when tender she Into her Garden went there in a spring Almost as clear as her own Chastity To coole her selfe But they straight issuing Out of their ambush in their Clothes expresse More shame than did Susanna's Nakednesse 160. We too are hot cry they but none but thou Can quench the furie of our mighty Flames Thou art the Fountain where all Sweets do flow And We must bathe and coole Us in thy streams Yeild as thou lov'st thy Life else We will swear That in Adulterie We caught thee heer 161. Then welcome Death said she thy face will be Fairer than is the Count'nance of this sin Here she cri'd out aloud and instantly Her startled Hand-mayds all rush'd shreeking in Whom both the full-mouth'd Elders hastened To catch th' Adulterer who said they was sted 162. Then haling her unto the Barre their own Guilt upon her they throw and she must die But straight a Miracle crowds in to crown The truth of her unconquer'd Chastity And turn the Sentence on the Elders who Whil'st she to Triumph must to Stoning go 163. There comes the second Joseph but as farre Before in honour as in time behind Little thought Men what kinde of Carpenter Was this whose noble Art a way could finde To frame a life and raise the building high Both of Heroik Worth and Poverty 164. Mine and my Brethrens Office though it be Both sweet and glorious yet must stoope to His Who was the Guardian of Divinity And of the Mother of all sweetnesses And yet no Angell envy'd him his place Who ever look'd upon his wonderous face 165. What Gravity sits there and what Delight What Tendernesse and what Austerity How high and humble are his looks how bright And modest are his eyes how sweetly He Ev'n in this Glory seems not to forget That Cloud which upon Him in earth did sit 166. But look and see thou start not at the sight Those Rays though more than Sun-like lovely be Here comes of Heav'n and Earth the choise Delight The Queen of Softnesse and of Purity Millions of Loves come tripping in Her way Flown from her Eye in a fore-running Ray. 167. Behold Her face and read all Paradise And more in Flesh and Blood In vain we seek For flow'rs for Gemms for Starrs to equalize The gallantry of Her illustrious Cheek At whose sweet Composition every Grace Came running in for fear to loose its place 168. All Cherubs and all Seraphs have I seen In their high beauties on Heav'ns Holy-dayes But yet the gratious Glories of this Queen Sweetly out-glitters their best tire of Rayes What studied scorn would Pagan wits have thrown Upon their Venus if they this had known 169. This Mother of Divinest Love as pure As is that other putid Noblest Tongues When they triumphant are and would be sure With life and blisse and joy to grace their Songs First chant the Son and then the Mother He Begins and she makes up the Harmony 170. Her Crown is full Imperiall yet not deckt With orientall Diamonds but thick set With purer Jewells for the most select Virtues because her own doe garnish it And yet all those but the faint Copies be Of her rich Hearts Originall Treasurie 171. I need not tell thee Mary is her Name Who teacheth Majesty to be so milde This cold dead Pavement lively doth proclaim Whose feet with new-born Lillies it have fill'd Whose but the Virgin-Mothers steps could blesse A Soil so barren with such Fertilnesse 172. Turn Psyche and behold Here comes the King The King himselfe of Royall Chastitie She turn'd But as He forth was issuing Intolerable Beams from His did fly Upon her face she started at the stroke And rubb'd her dazeled eyes and so awoke PSYCHE OR LOVES MYSTERIE CANTO III. The Girdle or Love-Token ARGUMENT HEr Spouse in Token of His royall Love A Girdle unto Psyche sends wherein The accurate works Historik Beauty strove The radiant Materialls to out-shine The Rich Embroiderie Phylax doth expound And with the Token then the Mayd surround 1. SHort Taste of Pleasures how dost thou torment A liquorish Soul when once inflam'd by Thee The edge of all Desire would soon be spent Did'st Thou not whett it to that keen degree That nothing but compleat Fruition will The longing of its wakened stomack fill 2. The pined Man on whom a thinner She Insatiable Famine long hath fed Desires no Heav'n or Paradise to see But onely what lies moulded up in Bread One glimpse of this bids Hope return and light Life in those Eyes which were bequeath'd to Night 3. But if that Morn of Comfort damped be And his young Joys snatch'd from his Eyes again The fugitive Blessing mocks his Miserie And by rebound exalts it to a strain Of higher Punishment his Fancie more Does gnaw him now than Hunger did before 4. So Psyche famished with strong Desire Of her dear Spouse no sooner fed her eyes On his first Lustre but that mystick Fire Turn'd all her Heart into Joyes Sacrifice She 'gan to scorn all other Dayes but this Whose Dawn had broach'd such golden Floods of Blisse 5. But when immensitie of Beams had cast That cloud of Weaknesse on her Mortall Eye And she the long'd-for light it selfe had lost In too much light her Longing swell'd so high That did not sighs unload her Heart and it Th' impatient Tumor would her bosome split 6. She sighs and thinks and then she sighs again For
poisnous Misery 13. Your scorn by wretched Me so deeply ern'd My wronged Freinds at length let me obtein O Charis my all guilty Soule is burn'd By those fair Flames which in thine Aspect reigne How can such Night-birds as vile I endure The holy Lightning of a Look so pure 14. And Yoa deare Phylax lose your Pains no more Upon an undeserving hideous Thing Why should proud Psyche dwell as heretofore Under the shelter of thy scorned Wing O let it free it self and take its flight Why should black I defile an House so white 15. The odious Bat with more decorum will Flutter about a Thing as dark as she And lend her sooty Wings to make a veil For correspondent Ouglines in me The ominous Raven will fitter be to spread Her swarthy Plumes on my polluted Head 16. Let me enjoy the sad Inheritance Of my deep-stained Birth Was I not born Apparent Heir to an entayld Mischance Did not my wretched Beings lowry Morn Dawn with eternall Night Dwelt not Death in The fatall Spring of my Parentall sin 17. Why must my breath defile the Virgin Air Why must I load the harmlesse Earth with Guilt Why must I stain the World which would be fair If I were gone My Tombe is ready built In any place where Filth and Dunghils lie Let Justice have her course and let me die 18. My due Home is where Arrogance and bold Rebellion dwell O Let me thither goe May worthy Eys behold the Sunns fair Gold And view their way to Heav'n I have to doe With nought but Pitch and Darknes which may hide The equall Horror of my wilfull Pride 19. My heav'nly Spouse ô why doe I blaspheme That Spouse who long desired to be mine Me thinks from Heav'n doth with a piercing Beam Full on my face and faithlesse Bosome shine And by that Light read all that Treason I Have wrought against his loving Majesty 20. O it will scorch Me up I my Sinnews crack My Bones are burnt and all my Marrow fries My Bosome melts the Flame devoures my back My Heart flows down and wofull Psyche dies I die and yet I breath My Death lives still No kinde of Slaughter e'r like this did kill 21. Surely the Flames which make all Hell so black Are cool and gentle if compar'd with these Why goe I not to take my Kinder Rack And in th' infernall Torments finde some Ease Have done fond fruitlesse Tears you are too weak The greater Torrent of this Fire to slake 22. Here Phylax here loe I my selfe ungird This Token can no treacherous Heart befit Return it back to my abused Lord And beg my Pardon who have stayned it What will it not unbuckle Must I be Still Pris'ner to his wronged Courtesie 23. And must this Girdle now besiege Me round With an indissoluble Check of my Disloyaltie Must I thus close be bound Up in my Selfe and not have room to flie From what I hate far more than Death and Hell The sinfull Blots of which this Breast is full 24. So strait upon my griped Soul the Chains Of deep Damnation can no Torments tie As this sweet Cincture bindes me to the Pains Of self-confusion O Me Here her Crie Did with her Spirits faint and down she fell Griefs totall Prey and Pitties Spectacle 25. Pitty was neer For Charis stood close by Whose yearning bowells all this while did move But rous'd more by herfall she instantly Obey'd the nimble Violence of Love Love mov'd her Heart and that her Hand by which To fainting Psyche she reliefe did reach 26. She took her up and with a sweet Imbrace Instilled gentle Warmth into her Breast Whose never-failing Virtue did displace Griefs vast Plethora which had her opprest And by delicious degrees restore Her ship wrack'd Thoughts to their composed shore 27. So have I seen a wise Physition New spirits to his swowning Patient give Who though his Heart before were sunk and gone Doth by the Potion it again receive Whil'st in the cheerly salutiferous Cup A draught of liquid Life he drinketh up 28. Awakened Psyche with amazed Eyes Beheld her Friends but wonder'd more to see Her stout Disease made a tame Sacrifice Unto that heav'nly Cordiall which she Felt reigning in her breast and which did seize Her Heart both with Astonishment and Ease 29. Ambiguous Fancies toss'd her up and down Uncertain whether some Dreams Flattery Into a vain Elysium had thrown Her cheated Soul or whether truely she Was by some courteous Gale snatch'd from the Billows And on the Bank laid safe on Peace's pillows 30. Which Charis seeing You may trust said she Your sudden Happinesse which wears no Cheat. But see that you misplace no thanks on Me Which all are more than due unto your great And constant Spouse who though forgot by You Could not his Love away so quickly throw 31. Those life-renewing Sweets I brought you down Were none of mine He sent both me and them He knew your Wants and counted them his own Who longs to have you be all one with him Then by these Comforts which have cur'd your Smart Learn who it is that most deserv's your Heart 32. O'r-powred with unweildy Thanks and Praise At this vast Tide of her obtruding Blisse Here Psyche strove her labouring Breast to ease Yet neither Thanks nor Praise she could expresse For what she had conceived was so great She neither could contain nor utter it 33. But Phylax seeing her sweet Agonie Cri'd 't is enough Heav'n can hear mute Desires Come Psyche you shall travell now with me To finde full fuell for your amorous Fires It will be worth your voyage when you see What Balm did grow to heal your Miserie 34. The God of Goodnesse by his powerfull Eye Reaching those Things which yet were short of Being Did in the Volumes of Eternity Read all the future World where clearly seeing What mischiefe would be done by foolish Pride A potent Remedie He did provide 35. Indeed had no Redemption invited Thy Spouse to Feast the World with his dear Blood Yet to Mans Nature hee would have united His own that the Creation might have stood Fast ti'd unto its Maker and by this Conjunction been neer sharer in his Bliss 36. But seeing by Hereditarie Stains The Stream of Humane Blood runs foule and black It found work for the virtue of his Veins The Poyson of the tainted Flood to check Which nobly he perform'd as thou shalt see When I have led thee through his Historie 37. As she now cheer'd her heart and count'nance up A radiant Chariot caught her wondering Eye The winged Steeds foam'd at that little stop And though their Wings were down their thoughts did fly Speed was the Chariots Mettall and each Wheel Composed was of never-tyring Zeal 38. Come Psyche come this Couch for haste doth call Cri'd Phylax fear not 't is no cheating one Nor like thy last will bear thee to thy Fall I mean to hold the Reigns Come let 's be one If you
and trie How He from Juda's bosome might remove Intruding Hells pernitious monarchie For Heav'n forbid that Pitties Lord should fashioa A way to plunge Him deeper in Damnation 60. O no! may those black Mouthes for ever be Damm'd up with Silence and with Shame which dare Father the foulest deepest Tyranny Upon the God of Love And busie are In pleading it from his own Word although By it they make Him Contradictious too 61. But all the rest were faithfull Soules who stood True to their Lords Cause which they strove to write As He in His had done in their own blood And never started at the sharpest Fight But by their own Deaths studied as they Were able His great Death how to repay 62. James was the first old Zebedees elder Son To whom proud Herods Sword the way cut ope And gave Him leave that noble Race to run Which leadeth straight to Heav'ns illustrious Top. How little dream'd the Tyrant that He did Put on his Crown when He took off his Head 63. The next was Philip who with noble Heat Flew to the North and hunted out the Ice From those dull Hearts which ne'r with Heav'n did beat But with congealed stupid Ignorance freeze For his large Sceen was snowie Scythia where December takes his Walk through all the year 64. When He that Winter all on fire had set With Christian Flames He bent his Course into A Clime which should have been much warmer but At his lifes price He found it was not so For soon He saw that more than Scythias Ice Bound up the Heart of Hierapolis 65. Joves Name had left no room for Jesus there And when He tells the People of the shame The Nails the Crosse his Lord for them did bear He his own Torments did aforehand name Enough of Jesus now said They for We Will quickly make as good a God of Thee 66. Then with a thousand Taunts they pierce his ear And next with nails his sacred Hands and feet And so his Crosse with acclamations rear Where like a Mark to fury being set Flints neer as hard 's themselves they poure upon Him And from their World thus into Heav'n did stone Him 67. Thomas whose Doubts did fix his Faith so Fast That neither Life nor death could make it shake With Jesus in his Mouth through Parthia past And charm'd what Rome could never pliant make The AEthiop's too did hear his Voice but He Resolv'd to reach the Worlds Extremity 68. He had observed how the greedy West Into the East was drawn by thirst of Gold Which had the Suns and Natures Courses crost And into Jndu's Mouth the Ocean roll'd And will none goe a richer prize to win Than that fair Ore said He the Soules of Men 69. Sure Indians Soules of purer Metall are Than that which Avarice doth so far adore Thomas will thither trade though India were More Worlds off than it is from Jordans shore For in his Zealous Sails Gods Spirit blows And not to fetch but carry Gold He goes 70. If Gold be not too poor a Name to set Upon the forehead of his royall Wares Loves Joyes Peace Glory Blisse and every Sweet Of sweetest Paradise He thither bears For these and more than these inshrined be In Jesu's Name Heav'ns best Epitomie 71. With this He traded to make India rich And not Himselfe who now could not be poor As having more than All though not so much As any thing layd up in provident Store He knew his Lord was Plenties King and He Did as his own account His Treasury 72. Close to his work without all further care He falls and having op'd his Merchandize Come Buy saies He for though these Wares be far Above your glittering Ore's adored price Yet you on Trust may goe for all this Blisse Give but your Faith and yours the Treasure is 73. The Brachmans wonder'd at the generous Man So did the sage Gymnosophists untill A barbarous unmoved Faction Pass'd a blinde Act of Spight to seize and kill The noble Merchant who as ready stood To poure it forth as they to suck his Blood 74. Arm'd with their Kings Consent and with their spears Unto his Heart they ope their cruell way Whil'st He with sweet content their Madnesse bears And for his Doubting Hand returns this Pay This finall Pay for that now faithfull Hand Which deep in debt to 's Masters Side did stand 75. The younger Jame's whose noble Family Advanc'd Him to be Brother to his Lord Much neerer grew of Kin by Piety No man with stouter fervor Him ador'd Nor with more resolute Constancy than He Witnesse his reverend Forehead and his Knee 76. His Knee all plated with Austerity Which on the Temples Pavement night and day Did naked dwell till it arriv'd to be Hard as the Marble which beneath it lay There never grew on painfull Camels Knees So stiffe a Proofe of Patience as on His. 77. His Forchead which was sealed with the same Stamp of Severity for by Prostration Its fleshie Tendernesse hee overcame O sacred Impudence of Humiliation Whil'st wicked 〈◊〉 armed were with Brasse His prous Front in Brawn immured was 78. A Brawn which shall hereafter check their Pride And foolish Superstition who by new Coyned Devotion will the Old deride And think no worship from the Body due But in pretence their Conscience tender is Maintain their dainty Fleshes Tendernesse 79. His dearest Meat and drink was to fulfill His Masters Pleasure Ne'r did dangerous Grape Its blood on his abstemious Palate spill Nor stain his sacred Cup for mean and cheap His Liquor was the virgin Fountains were His onely Cellars and his onely Beer 80. Ne'r did the rampant flesh of Birds or Beasts Reek in his Kitchin nor sweat on his Board Chaste Moderation cooked all his Feasts And well she knew how to content her Lord His highest Fare were sober modest Fishes Where Water serv'd for Beer the aptest Dishes 81. Ne'r did perfumed Oiles his Body dew With their soft Flattery of delicious Sweat Unmanly Bathes his skin did never brew Nor cheat his Vigour with effeminate Heate His Limbs in active Linnen us'd to dwell Being never muffled up and lost in Wooll 82. Nor was that Linnen though full course and plain Contemned in the Peoples Eye for they On bended knees were Suiters to obtain His leave their offrings on its Hemm to lay That as hee through the Streets was passing by Their Lips and Kisses they might sanctifie 83. O how imperious is meek Piety Whether it will or no commanding All Spectators into Love and Reverence hee Who counts Blisse by true Honor must let fall All other Plumes and wisely learn to dresse Body and Soule in humble Holinesse 84. Nay now the surly Priest among the rest Of James his matchlesse Worth convinced is And finding him to be the holier Priest Grants him into the Oracle free Accesse Of which mysterious Place he had the glory And none but hee to make his Oratory 85. He was the holier
them kinde welcome with his vocall cheer He smiles he bowes he fawns he knows the Name Of all the Guests and in he ushers them 95. The Hall with silken Carpets all is spred To court the Strangers feet with soft delight The dainty Roof is arched over head With checker'd Roses red and Lilies white Delicious Odours roule about the room Sweet entertainments unto all that come 96. But at the upper end upon a Throne Of moderate Height sits crafty Treachery A Feind more old then Hell it self and one Whose face would of her age clear witness be Had not Art interven'd and taught her how To make false spring upon true Winter grow 97. Old Jezabells lank and wrinckled Cheeks were not So out of shape as hers yet she had found A Paints hypocrisie for her faces Blot Which with a youthfull verdure cloth'd it round No Vallies did appear but either Cheek With beauteous Politure was plump and sleek 98. And though a thousand envious Frowns lay hid Her outward Aspect wore a gentle Guise Loves Joyes and Smiles weare sweetly marshalled About her Lips her Forehead and her Eyes Brave Judiths glances less alluring were Which conquered her Countries Conquerer 99. Her Tresses which indeed were Knots of Snakes She overlay'd with soft and dainty Hair Whose waving circling Net of Amber takes Spectators Hearts as well's the sporting Aire And works as many valiant Wonders as The mighty Locks of Samson brought to passe 100. An olive Branch in her right Hand she hel'd And in her left a wreath of Roses but The wreath within was all with Nettles fill'd The smiling Branch with lurking shorns beset For this was she who could teach Peace to fall To Massacres and make Sweets flow with Gall 101. Her Robe of state flow'd low beneath her Feet For such they were esteem'd while they lay hid But she had neither Feet nor Legs a great And knotty Taile was sweeping in their stead A taile which she about her round could winde And hug and kisse the sting she ware behinde 102. The Siren thus above the Water is As soft and smooth and cleer a Nymph as she But her Catastrophe of Monstrousnes Lurks un derneath with wise Hypocrisie For though not all the Sea can serve to wash It off each Wave can hide the ougly Fish 103. When e'r she speaks a flood of honey flows And with her breath a cloud of Odours breaks Yet in her Mouth a Crop of Poyson grows Under her Lips a Nest of Adders makes Its curs'd abode her Tongu's a mortall Spear And all her Teeth invenomed Arrows are 104. But in her desperate bosome treasured lies The fatall Pith and Marrow of all Hell Distractions Tumults Wars Spights Injuries Confusions Tortures Deaths O who can tell The Monsters of that black Abysse wherein There is full Room for the whole Sea of Sin 105. Her choise Attendants stood about her Throne Fair-faced Peace and buxome Courtesie Free-hearted Friendship milde Compassion Neat Complement and golden Flattery Nimble Officiousnesse large Promises Deep Oaths false Truthes deceitfull Faithfulnesse 106. Sweet angel-faced Things restored Lawes Reform'd Religion rescued Liberty For such the fondly-credulous World which knows Not what a Vizard means takes Them to be Admiring for an heav'nly Spirit of Light The masked Monarch of Infernall Night 107. But at her back behinde a Veil did lie A 〈◊〉 which she esteemed more than these Thefts Rapines Scoffs Reviling 〈◊〉 Plots Poysons Covenants and Conspiracies Right-down Rebellion Murdering of Kings And all that Ruine and Subversion brings 108. Beyond this Veil an Iron Door did lead Through a long Entrie stuff'd with fire and smoak Into a Dungeon replenished With every Shape of Horror whose fell Look With everlasting fright tormented all The Pris'ners which into that Pit did fall 109. Griefe liv'd in triumph there and all the Pains Profest Excesse the language of the Den Was Signs and Groans and noise of tumbled Chains Cries Yellings Curses Blasphemies of Men And God eternall Seizzing raised by The Soules and Bodies which in it doe frie. 110. There might you see upon Cains guilty face A deeper Mark than God upon it set His innocent Brothers Blood which scallt the place On which it lay His treacherous breast He beat And now with truer Reason cri'd my Pain Is greater than my Patience can sustain 111. No longer now He feared to be slain But wish'd to meet another Lamech who Might rid him of this dying Life In vain He gnash'd his teeth In vain he curs'd his Woe And Him who chain'd Him in it For his Griefe Sung now beneath the region of Reliefe 112. There 〈◊〉 lay tearing off her Hair To think of Samsons which her Falsehood cut The Withes and Ropes not halfe so sturdy were As those which now her Treason on her put Those Chains which bound her to her endlesse Rack Stronger than Samsons sinewie Arms could break 113. There lay fierce Joab with his woefull hand Upon his fift Rib for the treacherous Wound He thought he seal'd so sure on Abner and On Amasa did on himselfe rebound Just Davids legacie and his Sons Command Sent him this Veng'ance by Benaja's Hand 114. Insidious Rechab and Baanah there With everlasting Horror seem'd to see The righteous Head of Ishbosheth appear And check them with their trayterous Villany How gladly would They to buy off their Pain Give both their Heads that His were on again 115. There hung rebellious Absalom by the Head Not on an Oak but on a fierie Tree Whose Boughs of Torture round about him spred And shaddow d him with flaming Misery Three Darts stuck in his double Heart and made Way for the stinging Worme which there doth feed 116. His Tongue its Popular Blandishments forgets by which it stole the Peoples Loyalty And nothing now but pois nous Curses spits This made great David whose religious Eye Descri'd his desperate State be so extream In pittying and in lamenting Him 117. There Ziba detestation heaps upon That fawning Lie by which He did obtain Upright Mephibosheths Possession From which he reaps this crop of endlesse Pain There Shimei railes on his own Railing who Had pour'd his Curses on his Sove raigns Woe 118. The Pride of ready Wit Ahithophell With all his Plots about his Halter ti'd Hangs there and now the famous Oracle No Answers gives but hideous Roars and wide Yellings that He who had betrayd his King Himself more madly to these Flames did bring 119. There Zimri howl'd for greif that He was more With Treason drunk then Elah was with Wine And now more raging flaming Tortures bore Then when his Palace all one fire did shine For Zacharies death there Shallum waild in vain Who in his Soveraign his own self had slain 120. These and ten thousand Traytors more were there For deep and large the woefull Dungeon was Having for all their Heirs full Room to spare Choise Room for Those to whom the highest place Of most profound Damnation was due The Christian-seeming
Highpriests Crown Ask Cesars mighty Scepter and his Throne 147. Ask all the Silver of the glistering Starrs Ask all the Gold that flames in Phebu's eyes Ask all the Jewells of Aurora's Tears Ask all the Smiles and Beauties of the Skies Ask all that can by any Thing be given Ask Blisse ask Life ask Paradise ask Heav'n 148. Trade not with these the worst of Chapmen who So fouly under-rate thy Merchandise To John to Peter or to Andrew goe Who better are acquainted with the price Of their unvaluable Lord and see What They will for their own Blisse offer Thee 149. Trie what the Virgin-Mother will bestow For Him whom She holds dearer than her Heart Proclaim thy Market unto Heav'n and know Whether the Angells will not gladly part With more than Thirty silver Peeces for Him whom with prostrate faces They adore 150. Alas though every Sin be Blindnesse yet Hell knows no Crime so full of Pitch as this Nor doth the Sun of humane Reason set In any Night so black as Avarice A thicker than Egyptian Darknesse now On Juda's intellectual Eyes did grow 151. Urge Him no more with Sense and Reason He Resolves to traffique with the Priests for now No other God but Money he can see He nothing sees at all and cares not how He makes his Bargain with them so he may Have but this wretched Summe in ready Pay 152. Thus Jesu's Wisdome did contrive to shew The mighty Patience of his Goodnesse who Though from Heav'ns Glory his bright Selfe he threw Into the Arms of Dust and Shame that so Mans cursed Seed He might Redeem to Blisse By false ungratefull Man betrayed is 153. And now the Chinck of his adored Coin Sounds in his Purse the Traytor hasts to be As good 's his wicked Word and is in pain Till He bring forth his hired Treachery He thinks it an unworthy odious Crime To cheat the Priests who thus had trusted Him 154. O aenigmatick Wickednesse That He To whom his Heav'nly Masters pretious Love Could seem no Bond of Faithfulnesse should be By this so vile obliedgment Bound and prove Faithfull unto his Foes This Psyche this Ev'n to thy Phylax a dark Riddle is 155. So strange a Thing is Mans mysterious Heart No Angells eyes can through its secrets run To sound this Bottome is the Soveraign Art And priviledge of God himselfe alone A certain proof that the Hearts hidden frame Onely from his immediate Fingers came 156. The Caytiff therefore least his Plot should fail And Hells long expectation be prevented Begg'd some Assistance that he might assail His Prey with surer Treason and indented For a full Band of Men The Priests were glad To see the Man so resolutely mad 157. A Troop they had all of Commanded Men Whose hearts were Iron and their foreheads Brasse No Boars or Tygers ever could out-run Their furie when their aime at Mischief was They might have pass'd for Soveraign Monsters but For their fell Masters and Iscariot 158. Some armed were with churlish Clubs and some With keen and thirsty Swords but all with Spight With these at 's heels did Captain Judas come Resolv'd to slay but yet afraid to fight Treason was evermore a Coward and By Number not by Valour doth contend 159. The Ensignes which before the Troop did goe Were wary Lanthorns or bold Torches which Their glaring and unnatural Beams did throw About the Midnight Aire whose shades by such Unlook'd for Apparitions frighted fled Behinde the Hills and Trees to hide their head 160. Thus having marched over Cedron They To yonder Garden came too sweet a place To be this Mischiefs Sceen but yet his Prey The Serpent as thou knowst of old did chase In sweetest Eden and Iscariot who Follow'd his Steps could none but this way goe 161. Thy blessed Lord with his Disciples there Retired was and set himselfe to Pray When loe a Spectacle of greater fear March'd full against his single Face than They Whose arm'd impatient Spight was drawing nigh To sacrifice Him to all Cruelty 162. A black and labouring Cloud hung o'r his head In which his Father veild his gratious Eyes Yet through that Blacknesse his great Arm He spred And reach'd it down to Earth From angry Skies The Lightning never with such terror broke Nor Thunders Trump the hills and valleyes shook 163. For in his Hand a mighty Cup He held In which all Monstrous Things did boile and flame Up to the brimms vast circle it was fill'd With all the Worlds excrementitious Stream Which Veng'ance kindling with her fiery breath Had turn'd into the Ocean of Death 164. That universal Poyson whose black flood From Adams veins through all his Race did run Met in this Sink and joyned with the Brood Of every singular Transgression All which to fit the Cup were blended in The several Pains due to each several Sin 165. Had 〈◊〉 had Phlegeton had all that Wit Has fain'd and all that Justice made in Hell Had all the Flames which Etna's mouth doth spit Had all the Stincks which in the Dead Sea dwell Had all the Poyson of each Serpents Tongue Which Lybia breeds into the Cup been wrung 166. T had been a Draught of Nectar unto this Yet loe the monstrous Mixture to the lip Of thy sweet Lord by Heav'ns Hand reached is O Psyche how shall He digest this Cup Which had all Adams Sons been forc'd to drink It would have drown'd them in its fatall Sink 167. But well He knew the Hand which lov'd his Cheek When in all Blisses Bosome He did lie And though so strange an Offer it did make 'T was still the same and how can he deny To entertain what that presents him though The Cup with Horror 's own heart-blood did flow 168. Were it as wide and deep and full again This Thought alone commands it to be sweet And till He drink its Pangs He is in pain So large is his Obedience and so great His Love to Man who otherwise must be Drunk from this Bowl with endlesse Miserie 169. But then this Thought was justled by another For He himselfe was passive Flesh and Blood His proper Natures Voice how shall He smother For She now pleads aloud for her own good And would not willingly choose to be hurl'd Into that Gulfe which would devoure the World 170. O how he strugled in this mighty strait Being Himselfe with his own Selfe to fight Had all the Centres most compacted Weight Been pitch'd upon his Heart it had been light And easie unto this which woefull He Endur'd in this heroick Agonie 171. The Contestation grew so hot within That all his Bosome fell on flaming fire And from melting Fornace through his Skin Thick Proofs of that strong Fervor did transpire For at the Mouth of every labouring Pore Not Watery Sweat but Blood broke ope its Door 172. O matchlesse Combat whose mysterious Power Without the edge of Sword or point of Dart Could cloth this Champion round about with Gore And wound
Tell Him I thank Him for his Courtesie It made Me merry as You all have seen I will not rob his Lordships Pleasures by Keeping this Idiot from Him When I mean To play with Fools I hope my Galile With one such Sheeps-head more may furnish Me. 160. Thus Jesus in a gorgious Robe is clad That more conspicuous his shame might be And so through fresh Disdains and Scoffings led To be the Game of further Tyranny Pilate admir'd to see his splendid Hue Knowing what Garb was to Delinquents due 161. For Pris'ners when their Lives presumed were Forfeit to Law and Death were wont to be In funeral Black array'd which might prepare Them to the thoughts of their Catastrophe And intimate the Colour of that Sin Whose horrid Darknesse cloth'd their Soules within 162. But so did Providence correct their Spight That He whose Breast was purer than the Day Did in his Vesture wear no guilty Night But by his Foes own Hands in an Array Of Glory was attir'd and quitted when They hal'd Him to his Condemnation 163. So oftentimes when a Conspiracy Of Windes their puffing labouring Wrath doe blow About the World in hopes to damp the Skie With swarthie Clouds and Storms they onely throw All Vapors out and with a full and fair Serenity array the purged Aire 164. But Pilate pondering what had hapned now And feeling Moral Honesty beat high Ev'n in his Pagan Heart could not allow His Conscience to be Slave unto the Crie Of the importunate Jews who roaring stood And set their Mouths wide ope for guiltlesse Blood 165. My duty I have fully done said He Him and your Accusations have I Unto the bottome sifted As for Me I hope I never gave you reason why You should presume that any Clamors may Fright Pilate out from Justice's High-way 166. Neither your Temple nor your Altars be More venerable unto you than is My most unspotted Judgement Seat to Me For all Hells yellings and impatient Cries I trust Mine shall as valiantly resist As Mino's or as Rhadamanthu's Breast 167. What I to Caesar owe and what to Right I long have known and must not now forget My Heart is Romane and the dearest Light Of Heav'n is not so pretious to it As spotlesse Honor which can never be Cohabitant with Wrong and Tyranny 168. Mine own Heart-blood I rather would let flow And let your Thirst carouse in it then I From any guiltlesse Veins their Streams will draw To quench the loudest Importunity Mine is mine own but what have I to doe To give Anothers Life when Law sayes No. 169. Law takes no hold of Jesus nor must I Nor did the Tetrarch and why then will you He that he is a King doth not deny But adds withall His Kingdomes not below No harm to Cesar by this Man is done Who doth his Kingdome fancy in the Moon 170. There let his Fancy rule and reign But yet 'T is pitty for his Follie He should Die. It never yet was heard that Want of Wit Pass'd for a Capital Offence Nay I Have been inform'd that in the Tribute He Has witnessed sufficient Loyalty 171. For by his Doctrine He did it maintain And by his Practise too though Calumnie Hath your Beliefe abus'd and cast a Stain Upon his Innocence Come therefore I Will for your Credits Him Chastise and so Give Him Dismission without more adoe 172. And this the rather since by Custome I Ingaged am to honor this your Feast In granting some Offendors Liberty Who in your Judgement shall deserve it best And who can you think lesse deserveth Death Then He whose Innocence him acquitted hath 173. Thus strove the Judge that He might not condemn Both Jesus and himself When loe the Priests His gracious offer shamelesly contemn And spur the People in whose furie rests Their finall Hope to beg with all the Strise Of stoutest throats none but Barabba's life 174. Prodigious Priests is not Barabbas He Whom all the Town knows guilty of the fact You fain would fasten upon Iesus yee Your selves beheld what tumults he did act And how his desperate riot he pursued Untill in Murder he his hands imbrued 175. And is the Murderers life so dear that He Must live with you whilst Innocence does die Does foule Barabbas his curs'd Company Suit better with your reverend Sanctitie Or can you think both God and Man so blinde As not to see and hate your bloody minde 176. Strange Psyche strange it was with what loud cryes The mad-brain'd vulgar heav'n and earth did tear Barabba's Name through all their clamour flies And they for none but for Barabbas care He is their Darling and they cannot live If Pilate will not grant them his Reprieve 177. Thus hellish Hate op'd Providences door To heav'nly Love and made Barabba's be The whole Worlds type which from the fatal Pow'r Of endlesse Death and equall Miserie Was to be snatch'd to day whil'st in its place A Lamb all white and guiltlesse sentenc'd was 178. Mean while the Judges Lady sent her Page In posting speed to pray her troubled Lord Not to be mad because that Rout did rage Nor venture to prophane the Roman sword With innocent blood for certainly said she Jesus is just and they seditious be 179. For my good genius as I lay asleep Appear'd unto me hand in hand with thine Thine beat his Breast and bitterly did weep And toll'd the reason of his griefe to mine He said and deeply sighed as he said Pilate with Jesus now will be betrai'd 180. Pilate will be betrai'd to take away The Life of Jesus and his own withall For Jesus blood will crie another day And unto Pilats veins and heart will call His veins and heart must answer that strong cry I started here and out the Dream did flie 181. Thus heav'n admonish'd Claudia strove to drive Her husband from his Precipices brow And did withall miraculous witnes give What wrongs the Jews at Jesu's life did throw For Heav'n was pleas'd that his integritie By either sex should now asserted be 182. No sooner had the trembling Page delivered His ominous Message but the Judges heart With fatall jealousie and horror shivered His joints unbuckled and his eyes did start His hair stood staring up his blood flew back And left his lips and all his visage black 183. But when the Scribes and Priests had learn'd this news Behold they cry how He by Magick art Hath sent some 〈◊〉 Spirit to abuse The honest thoughts of noble Claudia's heart That by this trick the Judge might frighted be Our Truthes made slanders and himself set free 184. Then all the People with fresh clamors roard Thundring Barabbas in the Judges ear That violent storm quite blew away the Word His Lady sent Him and through sudden fear Of insurrection He returns to treat About the Busines which himself did hate 185. Friends ask your second thoughts said He and see If they upon Barabbas needs will dote I would not that your too much
may know 〈◊〉 he has not in some passi nate haste Without sufficient grounds his Sentence Past. 264. The Priests had mony that commanding Spurr Which fires all Soldiers with impatient Speed And Pilate now can cast in no Demurr The Jews assure him that he has no need But need or not his thoughts in vain doe beat The Soldiers now were bought to doe the Feat 265. But being Martiall generous Spirits they Must not debase their armed Backs to bear The servile ignominious Cross nor may The Jews who now all purified were To celebrate their Paschall Supper be Stain'd by the Touch of that accursed Tree 266. On JESU'S Wounds his Death the Soldiers lay And He must ern his Crosses Service by Bearing its tedious Weight before he may Be born by it Thus with a barbarous Crie Of Tongues and Trumpets which the Welkin rent Through the cheifstreets this sad Procession went 267. But He whose Springs so drained were before Both of their Blood and Spirits now grew faint In vain they kick'd him and in vain they tore Him forward by his Hair for no Constraint Can make weak Nature her own Power exceed Nor finde out Firmnesse in a broken Reed 268. What Heart but seared by the fire of Hell Could now Compassions courteous Tears forbear But yet the Soldiers bosomes by the fell Contagion of the Iewish Malice are So deeply tainted that what might invite Tigres to Pittie does but whet their Spight 269. For meerely in prevention of the Loss Of that choise Sport they hoped for when He Was once set fair and sure upon his Cross As the full Mark at which all Scoffs might be Directly aim'd Him from this Load they spare And force Cyrenian Simon it to bear 270. Nay Live you shall say they till you may Die As you deserve mean while this Ernest take Of that full Summe which We will by and by On Golgotha without abatement make With this they beat Him and so much the more As with his Blood he no Complaints would poure 271. Indeed the softer Sex who upon Him And on his Woes did wait with tenderer Eyes In his own Blood could not behold Him swim But with their Sympathetick Tears and Cries Confess'd that they had Bowells still although Remorseless Stone Mens hearts did overgrow 272. But Jesus who did all this grevious while Encourage by his patient Silence those Most insolent Jeers and Blasphemies the vile And spightfull Jews could frame doth now oppose These Womens loving Tears and upon them With nobler Pitty turn their pittying Stream 273. For 't was his brave Ambition to engross All Greifs and Sorrows to Himself to day Esteeming every Groan of theirs his Loss And all his Woes discredited that they Should seem to need Assistants when stout He To his own Shoulders woo'd all Miserie 274. Weep not ye Daughters of Jerusalem Weep not for Me who have set ope my Breast To every Greif which into it can stream And thither mean to welcome every Guest Weep not for Me said He whose Sorrows are Not to be quenched by a mortall Tear 275. If you will broach your Bottles let them run For your own selves and your unhappy Seed For loe those fatall Days are posting on Which all your Brine and more than all will need The Days when Blessing shall no longer spred Its joyous Complement on Mothers Head 276. For then the Barren Womb shall praised be As fertile in the choisest Happiness Then everie Tongue those Papps ariditie Which never brought up Babe to Woe shall bless Then shall the dearest pledges of your Love Your Sonns and Daughters living Torments prove 277. Then in impatient longing for a Grave Despairing Men shall to the Mountains call And everie neighbour Hills Compassion crave Beseeching them upon their Heads to fall And hide them though in Death from seeing how Calamitie about the World doth flow 278. For if in me a young and verdant Tres The flames of Veng'ance thus prevailing are What shall the Refuge or Condition be Of Stumps and Trunks all withered and sear Which are already dri'd and fit alone For feuell for their own Combustion 279. In a fresh Cursing and Blaspheming fitt This set the mad-braind Rout who ask'd Him why When they of late so humbly begged it He would not condescend to Prophesie And why He who could others Woes so well Discern could nothing of his own foretell 280. And see good Prophet yonder Hill said they Take your own Counsell now before it prove Too late Come let Us heare what you can say Both it and its Compassion to move Set out your Throat if hard and loud you plead Perhaps 't will bow its own to hide your Head 281. Then having star'd a while upon Him all Whose Fists or Toes or Spittle him could reach With thick and peevish indignation fall Upon his bruised bloody Body Which Triumphant scorns He meekly vanquish'd by His Silence and march'd up to Calvarie 282. Ev'n to this Calvarie We stand on heer This Mount which from a Scull hath gain'd its Name For in this solemn Place the Sepulchre Of reverend Adam stood which carefull Fame Told to Posteritie and so the Hill Wears in its Title that old Story still 283. With such Decorum did thy prudent Lord Order his meritorious Passion that The second Adam might his help afford Unto the First where He lay chain d and shut Up in Deaths Prison the remorseless Grave Which to Corruption did Him enslave 284. Iesus on that drie Dust resolv'd to shed His most enlivening purifying Blood That He might wash and cure the tainted Head Of Mortalls Miserie by the soveraign Flood Of his own Life that Life which onely can Restore true vitall vigor unto Man 285. Here 〈◊〉 here the Crosse its foot did set When it sustaind the Worlds Redeemer here Is that renouned Soile which once was wet With richer Drops than ever shoured were From kindest Heav'n for by that fertile Dew Salvations Harvest to perfection grew 286. But yet this Hill wears not that onely Name Of Calvarie 't was call'd Moriah too Of old when zealous Abraham hither came His most renouned Sacrifice to doe And by unparalleld Obedience prove The valourous Bravery of faithfull Love 287. Brave Abraham hither came his Altar heer He built and prepossess'd the Crosses place So Isaac did thy Lords a while But there An hamperd Ram strait substituted was Thus Isaac scap'd but now there was no Ram Which might supply the place of heav'ns dear Lamb. 288. Jesus himselfe must sacrificed be Not by but to his Father Psyche now That fatal Houre was come when Tyrannie Held the free Reins and did its freedome know When purest Innocence was abandond quite Unto the Luxurie of proudest Spight 289. For loe the Souldiers thy torn Saviour stretch And fit Him unto his tormenting Tree His blessed Hands unto the Topp they reach Those Hands whose workmanship all creatures be His Feet unto the bottom those pure Feet Which no Bloud but their
own did ever wet 290. These Hands and Feet with cruell Nailes they make Sure to the Crosse and fasten Him unto His Pains and Death What heart-strings would not crack To see these tender Veins broke open so What Tears could keep at home and not gush out With those dear Streams which now flowd all about 291. Sure none who dare the Name of Christian wear Can with such stony Hearts this story read As not to feel these Nails their Bosomes tear And 〈◊〉 their tender Contemplations bleed For how can living genuine Members be Not wounded with their Heads calamity 292. But these inhumane Torturers shouting loud In desperate applause of their own Sin Rear up the Crucifix and then grow proud To see this Trophe of their Rage So when Harpies on heaps have heap'd their butcher'd Prey They smile and clap their Wings with cursed Joy 293. Then on each hand a Theife they 〈◊〉 For when they on his Person no more shame Could heap they labour by this Companie To make the World suppose Him one of Them Alas He knew no other Theft but this To steal his Torturers to heav'nly Blisse 294. For whilst between these Bryars like the Rose Or like fair Virtue twixt her foule Extreems He fastned is He plots against his Foes And projects how to pay Them Diademes For these his Tortures unto Heav'n he flies On Loves stout wings and to his Father cries 295. Father By all the Sweets of that dear Name Regard the Prayer of thy Dying Son By this my Crosse and all its noble Shame By these four Wounds which with full Current run By all these Thorns which grow upon my Head And those which in my Heart are fastened 296. Remember not the Sin of these poor Men Who through blinde Zeal perceive not what they doe Though foolish yet they are my Bretheren O spare Them then Let not their Error who Occasion all the Worlds most Soveraign Blisse Make their own Soules their proper Portion misse 297. Thus for the rav'ning Wolves the Lamb doth pray The Partridge for the Hawks O mighty Love Which all the Injuries of this cruel Day Cannot supprefle The more the Torturers strove To wreak upon Him their elaborate Spight The more his Mercy tries on Them it s Might 298. Thus when Arabian Odours 〈◊〉 be Their sweet revenge they on their 〈◊〉 take By pouring out to them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of pure Perfumes whole 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 speak Of Griefe or Anger but is 〈◊〉 In the kinde language of 〈◊〉 Sent 299. Thus when the tender Vine is nailed fast Unto the Propp and by the Pruning Knife Robb'd of her Branches She takes no distaste At all those deep entrenchments on her life But with a bounteous Vintage strives to cheer The Heart of Him who thus had wounded Her 300. But what care salvage They who scorn to be Softned by Kindenesse Wax indeed may run At the warm Touch of High-noon's Charity But for did Mud and Clay although the Sun Doth with his kindest Rayes about them flow Instead of Melting onely harder grow 301. They think that Jesus has more need to pray For his own Selfe than them and with disdain 〈◊〉 at his unask'd-for Kindenesse They 〈◊〉 themselves how to divide their Gam This was his Clothes the Lambs poor plunder'd Fleece The simple prize of their high Villanies 302. His other Garments they divide and share But finding that his seamlesse Vesture was All of one Texture they contented are To offer the decision of the Case To Fortunes Sentence and conclude by Lot To give that whole they thought too good to Cut. 303. Too good they thought this Common Web to be Mangled and torn yet with the self-same heart Abhorred not his pretious Flesh to see All gash'd and rent by Hatreds utmost Art The Butcher thus thinks fit the Skin to keep Intire although He quarter out the Sheep 304. Mean while arrayed in his naked Gore Sweet Jesus hangs betwixt the Heav'n and Earth Like one of Both rejected and does poure The Worlds red Price at four wide Flood-gates forth An Object of more Pitty never yet Was seen nor one which reaped lesse of it 305. All Passengers without Regard went on And turn'd their unkinde backs upon his Woes Yet well it were if this Neglect alone Made Warr against his Patience but from those Who to this pitch of Sorrows rais'd him He Feets new assaults of positive Misery 306. For not contented with their Nails and Thorns To digg his pretious Body now they strive To pierce his Soule with ignominious Scorns To wound his Meeknesse and his Sufferings grieve As if his Pains and Crosse would not suffice Unlesse he mocked and reviled dies 307. They point their fingers and their heads they shake And then their crueller Tongues and thus they crie Remember what your Pride once pleas'd to speak You in three Dayes yon' Fabrick could destroy And rear it up again yet mighty Sir The Temple stands and You are hanged here 308. For shame make good your boasted Power and now Command those Nails to leave your Hands and Feet Command your Crosse before your face to bow Command your lost Blood to return and meet Your gaping Wounds Is 't not high time to save Your Selfe if you resolve to scape your Grave 309. O no the Elders Scribes and Priests replie Though many Seeming Wonders He has done Though he has cured many a Maladie Though he has conjur'd up Salvation For others yet We know for certain He Cannot unto himselfe a Saviour be 310. No lying Prophet ever yet was known Who once into the hands of Justice brought Could by his power of Witchcraft reach his own Deliverance and work his Carcase out Of Chains or Tortures for if this might be How could we know Heav'ns Truth from Forgery 311. Now it appears by Whose Assistance He Mix'd with his bare Word that miraculous Strength Which charm d the Peoples fond Credulity But Belzebub is wise enough at length To leave his Instrument to Iustice when His utmost Mischiefe He has done to Men. 312. Now it appears what small cause Pilate had To shake his Head at our importunate Crie Had not our Zeal that 〈◊〉 Onset made On his abused Lordships Lenity This rank Impostor then repreeved might Have still pass d for a Wonder-working Wight 313. Yet if the potent King of Israel now Will but vouchsafe to Step down from this Tree And to his Subjects doubtfull Hearts allow This Proof of his divine Supremacy For our parts We are ready here and will Beleeve his Pow'r and his Commands fulfill 314. What can he more expect of Us who here Attend upon him in his deepest shame Waiting till He will please Clouds to clear Which damp the lustre of his glorious Name So fain would We unto our King to day Would He assert Himselfe our homage pay 315. But silly King he cannot stir you see No though his Kingdome lieth at the Stake He talk'd as if the Clouds his Coach should be
And that he ment upon the Aires high back To shew himselfe in State to Us but now His Crosse is all the Chariot he can show 316. He often bragg'd that God was his great Sire How is it then his Father owns Him not Sure were He worth the owning all the Quire Of Heav'n would hither Flock to hide this Blot Of his broad Shame with their pure Wings bear Him hence in triumph to his native Sphear 317. Shame on your Blasphemies you shamelesse Rout Of Priests and People Jesus aimeth not To save Himselfe but You who sting and flout His noble Patience He has not forgot That in his Soveraign Hands and Fingers still The whole Train of Omnipotence doth dwell 318. For those Almighty Hands he stretcheth out And busie is in working your Salvation He could Come down but stayes till he has wrought That mighty Act of his victorious Passion He could come down but stayes till he may draw Up after Him this groveling World below 319. He could come down did you not fix Him there Not with your Nails but with your stronger Sins He could come down were his own Life as dear To him as yours But on his Wrongs he winns And by all resolute Love strives to prevail Against all Spight and Rage which him 〈◊〉 320. O Psyche cruell were those Scoffs but yet More stinging Scorn then this is still behinde For now the very Theeves upon him spit Their odious Taunts and seem in Him to finde What their vile Soules amidst the Miseries Of their own cursed Crosses dare despise 321. Ink scorns the Snow foule Night accuseth Day The dirty Puddle mocks the virgin Spring Dark Shades contemn the Suns meridian Ray Black Night-ravens call the Swan a swarthy Thing Ignoble Bats revile the Eagles Eyes And Hell it selfe insults o'r Paradise 322. Art thou that mighty Christ said they and yet Hang'st here the Game of all Contempt and Spight Can Heav'ns great Son his Selfe so far forget As rather to endure to Die then fight Discredit not by yeilding cowardly The Lord of Hosts if he thy Father be 323. Come justifie that royal Title there Which now but laughs at thine ignoble Head Approve thy Selfe King of the Jews and fear Not to redeem thy Fame and Life But spread Thy Favour too on Us that under Thee The Soveraign We may glorious Nobles be 324. For since in these thy deep Misfortunes We Of all thy World thy sole Companions are We well in your restor'd Prosperity May promise our Desert the deepest share So spake the Theeves and then they roar'd for Pain But quickly fell to scoffe and curse again 325. And shall not Heav'ns Artillery now attend Its wronged King and vindicate his Cause Can Earth hear this and not in sunder rend Snatching these Elves into her deepest Jaws No Jesus now no Veng'ance doth approve But that of patient and Silent Love 326. Sweet Veng'ance which so strongly wrought upon One of this loud blaspheming Pair that he Converts his Curses to Devotion And prompts his Fellow unto Piety Rebuking sharply his malitious Tongue Which still persu'd his Lord with shameless Wrong 327. Then like a wise and sober Theif indeed He seeks to steal into his Saviours grace O King of Heav'n he cries I plainly read Thy Majesty though in thy clounded Face Sure Thou hast taught mine Eyes this skill ô then Compleat this Mercy which Thou hast begun 328. When in thy Kingdome Thou shalt mounted be Upon thy Throne of Glory ô forger Those Wrongs which ignorant I did poure on Thee On Thee the God of Innocence but yet Forget not Me who must for ever die Unlesse repreived by thy Clemencie 329. Jesus whose Goodnesse never did disdain 〈◊〉 hear and answer a meek Sinners Crie Though his provoked Lips he did refrain Amidst those thick Storms of loud Blasphemie With gracious Sweetnes doth Assurance give Unto the Dying Theif that he shall live 330. Fear not said He thy Death is drawing nie But it shall prove the Gate of Life to Thee My Word the Pillar of all Certainty I freely pass Thou from that cursed Tree Shalt step this Day to Paradise and there Under the Bowers of Blisse with Me appear 331. The Preists and People laugh'd and scoff'd to hear Him talk of giving Blisse who hung in Pain Blinde Fools who could not now discern how clear His Power shin'd which thus its Prize could gain Out of Hells Mouth with Loves sweet constreint Make of a Cursing Theif a Praying Saint 332. By this deer Token He to every one Of them aforehand did their Pardon seal If they would doe what the meeke Theif had done And to his Grace with penitent hearts appeal But most unhappy They this deep Designe Of Love did obstinately countremine 333. Profoundly did this Scorn of Mercy tear Thy Spouses most compassionate Breast But He Observing now his dearest Followers there The Mother of Him and Virginitie With faithfull John a keen and double Dart Of fresh Greif shot quite through his bleeding Heart 334. For in his Mothers tender Soule he saw That cruel Sword stuck deep which Simeon Foretold so long agoe The Virgin now Who at the first brought forth her blessed Son Whithout all Pangs doth in hard Labour strein And pays her Debt of puerperiall Pain 335. O how the Bowels of her yearning Heart Are tent and torn her hands her feet her head All bear their proper Torments and no Part Can say To me these Sorrows doe not spread For from her Sons deer Body every Wound Doth on her sympathetik Self rebound 336. Her Temples are with thick-set Thorns hedg'd in Nail'd unto Tortures are Her dainty Feet Tatter'd and mangled is Her tender Skin Her Flesh plow'd up Her veins wide open set And all her modest Body to the view Exposed is of every shameless Jew 337. On Her those Jeers and Taunts and Blasphemies Their venome pour and swell with Greif her Breast That Breast which noble Love so straitly ties And coments to her Sons that not the least Division can interpose nor make This Double One themselves for single take 338. If She had in her other Self if she In Mary had been Crucifi'd the Crosse Had tolerable been but thus to be Destroy'd in Jesus is so vast a Loss That Mari's swallow'd up in it and this Calamitie becomes both Hers and His. 339. Her Hope her Joy her Life her Love her Blisse Her Heav'n her Son her God all these She now Beholds betrayed to her Enemies And what has Mary more How shall she row Through this vast Sea which in each gaping Wave Presents her ô how much more than a Grave 340. As oft as to the Crosse she opes her Eyes Death rusheth in Yet she as oft doth Die As unto their Compassion she denies That ruefull Spectacle If Psyche I Or Thou or any Seraph had been so Beseig'd with Soveraign Griess What could We do 341. What could we doe but sink Yet noble she Struggling amidst a
About them hither made a journey and Full in thy Spouse's face took up her Stand. 368. Lesse Terror from the Vulturs count'nance breaks When she her Tallons claps upon her Prey Lesse from the irefull High-priest when he takes His Cursing Aime at Jesus than to day Flash'd from this cruel Mayd in whose fell look Her dismal throne accomplish'd Veng'ance took 369. Immortal Dread star'd wide in either Eye Her forehead was plow'd up with furrows deep Sown with the Seeds of all Severity Which now for Jesus were grown fit to reap Her Lips were Fire her Cheeks were burning red And for a Tongue a flaming Sword she had 370. She never in such horrible Array Appear d till now on Earth not when she came With Water arm'd to wash the World away Or unto Sodome with a Flood of Flame Or when her fiery Serpents she did bring The Israelites Rebellion to sting 371. A Veil so hideously black that Night Is a 〈◊〉 beauteous thing to it Over her head was spred which though Day-light Were now at Liberty would not permit The stoutest Mortals sin-condemned Eyes Ever to reach the Comfortable Skies 372. On either side ten thousand Furies were With Millions of Pangs and Ejulations Woefull Eternity was also there Hugging each Horror Troops of Desperations Raving and riotting in their own Blood In the vast Armies Rear behinde Her stood 373. But in her Hand a sable Book she held Which now She opened unto Jesu's eyes When loe each dreadfull Page appeared fill'd With more intolerable Prodigies Than those transcendent Monstrous Shapes which were Marshall'd in her Hell-representing Rear 374. There that Rebellion painted was which grew In Paradise so huge and rank a Weed That it none but the World 's own Limits knew For through all Generations its Seed It scattered and made each poisnous Birth Bring full Assurance of its own Death forth 375. The Serpent which in Eden planted it Wears not such fatal Horror in his Face Nor stings so deep nor doth his Venome spit So far and wide nor e'r attended was With such a numerous Frie of Devills as this Old Beldame Sin by young Ones followed is 376. This was the fearfull Frontispice But now The cursed Leaves She opened one by one Pride had usurp'd the first and there did show Her swolln and blister'd Count'nance which did run With banefull Matter being bruised by A Fall she caught as she was climbing high 377. The next was Spight broad War close Calumnie Then Avarice besmeard with knawing Rust And putid Lying and foule Treachery With sneaking Theft and everstinging Lust Intemperance wallowing in a nastie Flood Of Vomit Murder in a Sea of Blood 378. That selfe-relying heav'n-distrusting Thing Foolish base-hearted Infidelity Grinding Extortion and self-torturing Because for ever jealous Tyranny Enchanting Error venomous Heresie Idolatry and right-down Blasphemy 379. But for their number it exceeds the skill Of Computation and all Figures reach Not all the Sparks whose glistering Armies fill The field of Heav'n not all the Atomes which Traffick about the Summer Air can tell Their mighty Total how to parallel 380. For each dwarf Fault and Gyant Crime did stand In martiall rank and file arrayed there Which any Humane Tongue or Heart or Hand Was ever stained with since Eve gave Eare Unto the charming Tempter and let in The fatal Torrent of contagious Sin 381. Nay more than so for every Stain and Blot Which through all Ages to the end of Time Shall taint the World Justice had thither got And in a black Appendix marshall'd them Thy proud Revolt and every Fault beside Psyche were there displayed full and wide 382. And if the least of Crimes as sure it is Be infinitely foule imagine then How strange a Masse of horridnesse was this Whose bulk did swell with all the Sins of Men What store of black 〈◊〉 were here For bleeding Jesus wounded Back to beat 383. For Justice heap'd them all upon his back That hee who did no sin might suffer all How would the Worlds establish d Pillars crack Should such a Load upon their shoulders fall How would the al-supporting centre faint And strive to shrink into a smaller point 384. How would the joynts of noblest Seraphs quake How would the Cherubs sinnews tremble at This Burden which all Natures Bones would break And lay Heav'ns highest stoutest Powers flat This Burden which all humane Soules would press Down to that bottom which is bottomlesse 385. Now Jesus groans and feels his heart-strings stretch For black upon his Soule the burden lies Those other torments hee forgetteth which The whips and nails and Jewish blasphemies Had multipli'd on him Thus rivers be Quite lost when swallow'd by the bitter Sea 386. Should all the tortures that did ever yet The Veins and Joints and Hearts of Martyrs tear In one fell Composition bee knit And then enraged to their full carrieer Lesse furious would their fury be than that Which now on Jesu's Soule in triumph sate 387. Some comfort it would be if Heav'n would now Vouchsafe a gentle looke upon its Son Who spies no consolations glimpse below But ô the sphears are not eclips'd alone By Phoebus absence no another Night Has thrown its Veil upon Heav'ns dearer Light 388. The Light which from his Fathers pleased eyes His whole Soule us'd to drink its streams did hide With earnest labouring looks he pleads and pries But is by sad obscuritie deny'd O blacknesse which no Parallel canst know To thee all Ink as Milk all Pitch is Snow 389. Long did he grapple which this mighty grief In patient silence But his Soule at length Snatching at least the desolate reliefe Of free complayning with the wofull strength Of his sad tongue this out-cry He did make My God my God why dost thou me forsake 390. Am I not still that Son in whom alone Thou wert wel-pleas'd Is not thy bosome still The same where once my habitation I did enjoy Why dost thou me expell Who am the image of thy blessed face From the least sight of its all-sweetning grace 391. Had every outcry every groan and shreik With which the air of Bethlehem was rent When Rachel saw how all the street did reek With an unheard of flood of innocent And infant blood met in one ejulation It s fragor had not match'd this exclamation 392. Never was such a Lamentable cry Wrung from the mouth of Griefe nor ever was Complaint more unregarded Clemencie Was deaf and Heav'n as well as Earth did pass By without any Bowels Never day Did such a Sceen of heavines display 393. Sorrow her self amazed at the sight Would have repented of her Tyranny But Jesus meant not to decline the fight Who could not conquer'd be though He could die O no He hugs his horrors and although His nature shrinks his courage loves his woe 394. Thus gallant Souldiers ' in the dreadfull wars With generous Pride their gushing blood behold Counting their glories onely by their scars And judging all their
dearest limbs well sold Yea and their Hearts and Lives if so they may Upon their Herses wear triumphant Bay 395. But now as in the Fornace of his Pain This helplesse Victor fries he cryes I thirst For sure He longed to drink up and drain The dregs of grief that none of the accurs'd And deadly draught he might behinde him leave His mortall Brethren evermore to grieve 396. Yet they unkindly on a Reed present Him Vinagre who broach'd the Wine for them The Wine of his dear Blood all which He spent To wash and cheer their hearts Does he not seem O salvage Jews without the help of this Your gift to have enough of bitternes 397. Is this your thanks to Him who every year Your stream of harvest-pleasures poures on you Who to compleat your Banquet doth prepare Those soveraign dainties which in Eden grow And who mean while hath with his bounteous hand Giv'n you your milk and honcy slowing Land 398. Yet Jesus takes it kindly Psyche He Knew well this knawing draught would best besit The dying King of greif whose miserie So dear and pretious on his Soule did sit That He their wine aromatiz'd with Myrrh Thought far lesse pleasant then this Vinagre 399. Besides that Poison he remembred well Which from th' enchanting apples sweets did flow By wholsome Bitternes he means to heal Ev's liquorish Luxury His Palate now Doth expiate Hers and nobly teacheth it That apples fatall rellish to forget 400. And now the Tragedie began to draw To its sad end for Jesus having by Immortall patience undergone the Law And curse and grappled with the monstrous frie Of all the Worlds Transgressions lifts his head In triumphup and cryes T is finished 401. O that it were said Mary who stood by So should my Soule live still with my dear Lord. If he has found a way how not to die Why does sweet Jesus not make good his Word By coming down So sighed pious she But he made haste to his Catastrophe 402. For Justice now had nothing more to say Since by the streams which down the Cross did slow All her Objections were wash'd away And every Page of her black book did grow As pure and faire as the serenest skies When rescued from the gloomy clouds disguise 403. Wherefore she straight dismiss'd her horrid train And then withdrew her self These being gone Jesus look'd up into his Heav'n again And saw the veil which dwelt till now upon His Fathers face remov'd O 〈◊〉 sight O cheerly morning after heavy night 404. He saw his everlasting Arms as wide Stretch'd out as his were on the Cross He saw His blessed bosome ope which seem'd to bid Him to his nest of bliss return and grow His happy self again He saw his eye Flaming in pittying Loves extremitie 405. An everlasting Laurell in his hand He saw designed to confute the shame Of his own thorny crown He saw the grand Cherubick quire ambitious to proclaim His Conquests in their songs And at the sight Resolv'd to die he cryes with all his might 406. Father into thine hands I here commit My Spirit which thou woo'st to come to thee Up flew that mightie word and after it Out brake his blessed Soule for strait way he Bow'd down his Head submitting sweetly to That will he came by life and death to doe 407. The holy Temple heard his dying cry And as it could its Clothes tore for loe Its veil in sunder rent and seemed by That ruptures mouth to say I must let goe My priviledge and Jewish rites must be Resigned unto Christianitie 408. Earth heard it too and quaked at the noise Her rocks did rend her sepulchres did ope And many sleeping Saints wak'd at the voice Russled their dust together and gat up Natures commotion was so great and strange That in the guard it strait begot a Change 409. The bold Centurion with the Earth did quake So did the Soldiers with the rocks and cry Surely the World slept in a deep mistake Whilst it perceiv'd not Jesu's Deitie His Father now has owned Him and He Did when himself was pleas'd in blisse to be 410. For still his vitals in their strength remain d And he had force enough a while to live Witnesse that finall Blast for which he strain'd When He that strong and thundering cry did give These wretched theives we see still in their Pain 〈◊〉 he in his own rest is gone to reign 411. Nay ev'n on salvage and obdurate Jews So far can guilty Fear prevail that now The danger-stricken People could not chuse But grant their Hearts did feel this Terrors Blow For though their sullen Tongue would not their Fist Confest their fright upon their beaten Breast 412. Here Psyche whose soft Heart had come and gone A thousand times as he the Story told Now yeilded unto Griefs Dominion And e'r her Guardian spi'd it down she roll'd Joyning her Passion to her Lords and trying To live with Him who di'd for Her by dying 413. But Phylax by his heav'nly tender Art Soon cheer'd and rais'd her up and told her She Must 〈◊〉 now unto the other Part Which of this Sadnesse made a Comedie She look'd and sigh'd and cri'd All Joyes are dead When Jesus dies and yet dear Sir proceed 414. Know then said He this Passion and Death Hath pu chas'd all the Joyes that Heav'n can breed And cancell'd every fatal Bond of Wrath Which Sin had drawn against old Adams Seed All Jesu's Wounds are Gates by which Man may Take freely into Paradise his way 415. All sort of Pains and Shames and Sorrows he With matchlesse valour did monopolize The spightfull Wit of all Hells Treachery He vanquished by being made its Prize And yeilding up his meritorious Breath Blew down the Power ev'n of prevailing Death 416. Which when fell Satan saw it him repented Of this great bus'nesse he had brought about And at his Den in Paxis he lamented His undermin'd Designe when Crying out Great Pan is dead he made confession how He had projected his own Overthrow 417. For this was Pan indeed the God of Sheep Who held his tender Flock so dear that He From Wolves and Lyons it secure to keep Expos'd Himselfe to all Extremity And for the Fold found a sure Rampart out When with his Blood He moated it about 418. But now a Soldier he whose onely Heart Was harder than those Rocks which Griefe did burst Boldly took on him Cruelties last Part For into Jesu's side his Sphear he thrust Deep in his Heart the Iron div'd and brought The finall Stream of Blood and Water out 419. That Water which the Pericardium bound About the Heart that Blood which in it dwelt Thus all that in thy Saviour was found To feed and feast his Friends He freely spilt The Pelican so with her dearest Blood Diets and fattens up her dearer Brood 420. This done the Sun unveild his Clouded Eye And joyed the Redeemed World to see Forthwith the monstrous Shades away
Judge for this his treacherous Love And sooner I said He my Self will burn Then Incense to an Idoll Could you prove Your favour would not surely me destroy I it would hug with humble Thanks and Joy 178. But Sir I am not now to learn that they On whom you thrust the Name of Deities Are weaker far than We poore things of Clay And that the Carpenter you so despise Is He who fram'd both you and me and all The Fabrick of this universal Ball. 179. And His revenging Arm it is which now Lasheth the World with those Calamities Which to the charge of our Religion you So freely lay your own Idolatries Force Him to Justice who had rather be Known unto all his World by Lenitie 180. If he thinks fit to rescue Me it is Not all your Power or your Queens can stand Against his Might Yet though I must by His Permitted be to your tyrannick Hand His Pleasure dearer is than life to Me I durst Die but dare not Apostate be 181. No Sea repulsed by a solid Rock E'r swell'd and foam'd and roar'd with more disdain Than now the Judge to heare the Prisner mock His Gods and Him His throat he wide did strain And cry'd then let Him Burn since He denies To offer make Him be Joves Sacrifice 182. The Souldiers who where much afrayd least He Should have accepted of the Judges Grace Rejoyc'd and clapp'd their cursed Hands to see That to their rage he now condemned was Away they hale him to the stake and there A Fort of Fagots round about him rear 183. Then with a Brand they from Joves Altar brought The Pile they kindle and blow up the flame Which as it rose they bellow'd out a Shout And cry'd May this Reward betide all them Who scorn the Gods and fondly trust in Him Who from the Crosse could not himself redeem 184. But milde Vranius having kiss'd the stake And every Fagot which his Lips could reach Strong supplications unto Heav'n did make For pardon for his raging Murderers which Blinded with spight and Superstition Perceived not at all what they had done 185. Then purer than the Flame and brighter far Which mounted from his Pile his Soule did fly Higher than that it flew and reach'd the Sphear Not of the Stars but of Felicity Where it was welcom'd to its final Home By the illustrious Crown of Martyrdome 186. So when brave Gold hath by the Cruelty Of the incensed Furnace been refined It s genuine Substance is allow'd to be With the Imperial Image fairly signed Free leave and full authority it has Current through all its Soveraigns Realm to passe 187. Psyche who with sweet Tendernesse attended 〈◊〉 is holy Tragick-Comedie No 〈◊〉 saw how gloriously it ended But 〈◊〉 with her pious Plaudit she Forgetfull of the furious Standers by Thus eas'd her Soules exultant Ecstasie 188. Goe valiant Saint thy Conquest is compleat Goe where immortal Laurel ready is With endlesse Triumphs thy brave Head to meet Goe and possesse thy Masters Realm of Blisse Thy Name and Fame shall reverend be beneath So long as Piety on earth shall breath 189. O may poor Psyche but obtain the Grace Though at the price of all the Worlds worst spight To kisse thy glorious Feet and win a place Where on thy Triumph I may wait O might I through thy hottest Flames climbe after Thee And from this mortal Drosse refined be 190. This pious Passion well beseemed Her And made good Musick in all holy Ears But like flat Discord it did grate and jar Upon the Soldiers whose most studious Cares Were how to tune their Curses to a Key Of wilde impetuous Importunity 191. And how intolerable unto Them Was this her Note they make her fully feel For running on her in a surious Stream With headlong haste they hurry her untill They come unto the Judge in Hopes that He Their bloody Hungers Caterer would be 192. Here they exclaim that this bold Woman was As manly as the Priest in wickednesse That she nor fear'd nor blush'd to make his Case Heav'ns Quarrel and his cursed Death to blesse That she must needs as guilty be as He Of Sins Perfection Christianity 193. Yea of the worst and foulest Part of it Witnesse the Sheltre of the Night and Cave In which they took them napping which could fit None but Lusts filthy Work And now you have Just Sir said they arreigned here before Your Judgment Seat a Christian and a Whore 194. But she commanded by the Judge to make Her own Apologie which best said he Will be evinc'd if you that 〈◊〉 take And by your Offring choak all Calumnie With elevated Eyes thank'd Heav'n for this Occasion to aspire unto her Blisse 195. Then spreading all her face with gallant Joy Like a brave Champion ready for the fight Or like a Bride dress'd on her wedding Day Or silver Venus smiling in the Night Or brisk Aurora garnishing the Morn Or goodly Ceres golden in her Corn 196. Or rather like that glorious Deacon who First op'd the rubie Gate of Martyrdome Whom sweet and princely Beams embellish'd so That Heav'n it selfe aforehand seem'd to come And pitch upon his Face which to his Foes An Angels Count'nance did in Mans disclose 197. She thus began No Confutation I But Thanks alone to my Accusers owe Who charge on Me no vulgar Piety But rank me with Vranius and allow That simple I deserve no lesse than he With Martyrdomes fair Crown adornd to be 198. Onely I must take leave to tell my Foes Their Spight in one thing much mistaketh Me For if I freedome had my Flames to choose I rather would for ever schorched be With all Hells burning Sulphure than give way That Lnsts black Fire should make my hearts its 〈◊〉 199. But how have I demean'd my Selfe that You Wise Sir should think this wretched Life to Me Can be more pretious than the Faith I owe To Him who can from Deaths Captivity Redeem his Subjects and a Course will take Uranius from his Ashes how to rake 200. If e'r this Tongue of mine was known to spill The least Consent or seeming Approbation Of You or of your Gods which sure my Will Was never privie to this Detestation May wipe it off and make my Guilt proceed As high as my Accusers it did plead 201. Jove is no more nay not so much to Me As you or as the meanest Wight that lives He to your Fancies ows his Deity And from your Superstition receives His livelihood and therefore well may you Be bold with him and what you please allow 202. Sometimes a Bull must serve sometimes a Swan For King of Gods Men sometimes a shoure Of Gold and when you kindest are a Man But such a Man as waste's his God-ships Power In Lust and Luxurie that prudent Yee May by your Gods Example wicked be 203. And must I offer Incense to perfume His Name the Name of Filth and Stinks must I Tempted by such a wretched Bait presume
which embroyderd stood Most dreadfully illustrious and fair His Arms imperial stained all with Blood For 't was his Cross encompass'd now with more Notorious Honour than with Shame before 79. As thus he sate triumphant on his Throne He lifted up his Face and look'd about Strait way the frighted Earth began to run From his intolerable Eys the stout And hardy Rocks felt their hearts split for Dread The proudest Hils and Mountains trembling fled 80. The Sphears above his Aspects Power felt And breaking off their losty Harmony In Dissolutions Tears began to melt The Sun and Stars abashed now to see There was no need of them by Day or Night Fell head-long down and choaked their own Light 81. Yet in this 〈◊〉 haste the Sea and Land Were inindefull of their Faith and honestly Resror'd the Pledges which into their Hand Were put by Fate Sin and Mortalitie Giving up punctually a true and just Account of every Drain of Humanc 〈◊〉 82. Forth with Corruption started from the Heap Of Ashes and fled after Earth and Sea When loe the Mass threw off its deadly sleep And waked into Lifes Activitie Each Peice awak'd and nimbly rose and shew'd For one cold Heap a vigorous Multitude 83. Adam and Eve the Springs of all the rest Stood in the Front on whom attended all The Senior World Then Noah forward prest Who reimpeopled this whole shipwrackd Ball And after Him the Tribes and Nations which Their Colonies through all the Earth did reach 84. Not one was missing who did ever draw The breath of Life and see the Face of Light But now the proudest bore his head as low As did the poorest and ignoblest wight This Day had rased such Distinctions out And all into one Size and Measure brought 85. Those whom their tedious Age had bowed down Unto their brisker years were called back And those who in their Bud were crop'd and thrown Into untimely Graves did nothing lack Of fulgrown and accomplish'd vigour which Fix'd all and every one in equal pitch 86. And yet so different their Conditions were That now the ready Angels who attended Their Soveraigns Beck with quick unerring Care Parted the croud which was together blended With his right-hand the harmless Sheep they graced But at his left the stinking Goats they placed 87. Psyche rejoye'd her Parents here to see Rank'd on the Dexter Wing But fuller was Her holy Exultation when she Perceiv'd her own 〈◊〉 had the grace There to be marshalled for though the slepe Her waking Soule at the sweet Omen leape 88. When loe as thus her Hopes and Joyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At this illustrious Spectacle before The Throne two Books of vast 〈◊〉 Were open flung No volumes ever bore So huge a bulk as these which written be With the where worlds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 89. The one was black as Horrors darkest Face The Book of Death writ with the Ink of Hell Wherein each Word some foule Transgression was Scor'd upon their Accounts who did rebell Against their Blisse and needs would labour to Attain Vexation and Themselves undoe 90. The other was as fair as this was foule The 〈◊〉 Book of Life whose Words did shine Clearer than those bright Notes which make the Scroul Of Heav'n appear so glorious and divine For here each Line doth part of God expresse Character'd in his Servants Holinesse 91. There blessed Leaves the King no sooner read But to the Right-hand Troop he turn'd his Eye Which with Majestick Sweetnesse prefaced Unto there Words Come Yee whose Piety Is by my 〈◊〉 Benediction grown Mature and of full Age to wear its Crown 92. Come take your full Possession with Me Of that fair Kingdome whose Foundations were Laid upon stable Perpetuity Long e'r the Earth sunk down beneath long e'r The Air and Fire grew light and upward fled Long e'r the Curtains of the Heav'ns were spred 93. For in this faithfull Register I see Your brave Deserts recorded full and fair When I exposed was to Misery Your pious Charity made Me your Heir The Debt I here acknowledge and to Day The Principal and Use. I must repay 94. Then turning to the gloomy Book and to The other Company which stood agast With frowns of killing Wrath He 〈◊〉 Goe Ye cursed Brood 〈◊〉 Evidence hath Cast You all these Leaves 〈◊〉 Witnesse bear For all your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 staring here 95. 〈◊〉 Eyes no 〈◊〉 would afford to Me When 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Nakedness Call'd for 〈◊〉 and strict Equity Now 〈◊〉 up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 your due 〈◊〉 Goe 〈…〉 for take 〈…〉 Lake 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 With 〈…〉 Pride Which flam'd 〈…〉 fight When 〈…〉 tri'd For you 〈…〉 Have 〈…〉 〈◊〉 The Adamantine Sentence thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The courteous Angels with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joy Upon the Saints their dear Imbrace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this their Coronation Day And joyned then their Tongues with them to 〈◊〉 〈…〉 to their gratious King 98. But as this Melody was sweet and 〈◊〉 So were the Yellings horrid which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The throats and bosomes of that Company 〈…〉 were For thousand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about them flew And in 〈…〉 threw 99. But dressed in more 〈◊〉 Array Than ever see infernal Hae deformed Their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on them did lay Their 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Wrath all 〈◊〉 With 〈…〉 their Breafts And 〈…〉 did 〈◊〉 100. When on the sudden the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Opening its Mouth and gaping for its Prey The first fruits of their flames on them old spit And warn'd the Fiends to hasten them away To their full Harvest O what Tongue can tell The Anguish which now on these Wretches fell 101. Upon their shreiking Throats and frighted Hair Damnations Serjeants clapp'd their flaming Paws Whilst other Officers who furnish'd were With Whips of 〈◊〉 Snakes and Harpies Claws Lash'd them so sore that they made haste to Hell In hopes that lesser Torments there did dwell 102. Down plung'd this mixed 〈◊〉 which almost 〈◊〉 The greedy 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Deep Loud was the Noise of this 〈◊〉 Fall but yet Far 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 Eternal 〈◊〉 still 〈◊〉 and 103. The hasty Fire soon flew upon this Feast And with unbounded Riot gormandised Resolving thenceforth never more to Fast Nor yet with all this store to be sufficed But oft it gap'd and belch'd whence upward broke Black volumes of contagious stink and smoak 104. About the Brink some Devils hankerd still So did two Monsters far more foule than they Thin gastly Death and poisnous Sin untill The King design'd an Angel them to slay Who threw them head-long down the Pit for this And this alone eternal Slaughter is 105. That done the Sentence firm and sure to make Upon the Caves wide Mouth his Seal he set A Seal which no reluctancy can break For his Omnipotence had temperd it Of such a Mixture that Eternitie It self as soon as that shall brittle be 106. The Saints and Angels seeing nothing now But Joy and Life and Bliss and Holines Themselves before the Conquerours Throne did throw Meekly ambitious joyntly to express Their Thanks