to the Glory of the King Oh travel full of travel my soul cryes out in pain When shall I see Worm Jacob's rise from loss to gain The time of Trouble 's come I 'm overwhelm'd with Grief Till Jacob's time doth come Redemption and Relief The feeling of my sorrows who 's set to see mine hours Of Lamentations streams like Brooks falling like showres Oh blessed yet that I have feeling for to see For Jacob's sake my travel like a little Bee Here I would dwell if happily to see his birth Rather than feast in Dive's house t' enjoy his mirth Oh SEED thou' rt his Redeemer when wilt thou his life raise That he unto thy Name may be ev'rlasting praise And give him a Possession as his perpetual right T' inherit in the Land of Life thy ' ternal Light My head be thou lift up like a fiery Cloud To Judgment and to Slaughter of all the high and Proud Oh! bend thy Bow and shoot thine Arrows and thy Dart And pierce the Wicked sore and wound even to the heart Send forth thy dreadful Voices by Lightning and by Thunder Astonish all the Heathen and make the Nations wonder Feed them with Terrors as thou dost thine own with Bread And let the Nations feel thy Vengeance and thy Dread Oh! my right hand draw out thy shining glitt'ring Sword Smite all the Shepherds of the Earth with thy pure Word Gather thine own Remnant from East West North and South From all the Sluggards and the slumbring Shepherds mouth And bring thy Seed from Death and Darkness to the Day And from the Voice of such as have made them a prey Let nothing hinder now but work and let none let Set Gins set Snares set Traps to catch them in thy Net They 've slain and led thy Seed into Captivity Reward them double the Wages of Iniquity Cut off destroy The SEED Cryes utterly confound Pluck up spare not a branch nor leave a root in ground That we the least who are thine own thine own Creation May sing much Praise of Thee the LORD of our Salvation Let all the Heavens shout for BABYLON's undone Let all the Earth now fear for her just Judgment 's come Her End is Misery broken are her Childrens bones For GOD hath seen it Just to dash them all ' gainst stones To BABYLON THou that didst sit as Queen and couldest not then think Of this thine hour and portion the Cup which thou must drink Thou then wert merry in thine heart couldest sup Idolatry but now the dregs of Wrath's thy Cup. Thou didst not think when in thy Lusts thou wert full hot The sealing up of Veng'ance to be thy last lot To the Man of Lust YE sons of men that live in Sin and Lust That is your Canker it will eat like rust You that are ignorant of the Serpent's seed Of Enmity and what in you 't will breed Hear this and read the nature and the ground That you in the true Wisdom may grow sound To see the windings of the Serpent's path To flee his snares and so escape the wrath Which on th' ungodly cometh as a flood To sweep them all from all which they call Good And bring the end of sore perplexity Upon all workers of Iniquity O man encline thine ear to me and read The fruits of that corrupted ground and seed Which as the plant of Satan forth doth spring Pride Lust and Drunkenness and all that 's sin Whoredoms Adulteries Theft and all Evil Oaths cursed Speeches Lyes works of the Devil All flattering Titles smooth deceitful words Which wounds the Innocent even as with Swords These are the fruits of that plant of corruption Which doth deceive the soul and bring destruction Read this the Issue when that GOD at last Blows over Fruit and Trees with his strong blast That is the SEED which in thine heart doth spring Telling thee what advantage Lyes do bring Of the corrupted Mammon to thy store And how false Oaths encrease thee more and more Still that 's the Seed which tells thee sure thou must Have pleasure in this life in Wine and Lust In these and all perswasions unto Evil Working thy mind that 's the seed of the Devil And yet if thou wouldst wisely further know Thy heart 's the ground in which that seed doth grow Which seed must dye through breaking of the ground Else thou to Endless WO and WRATH art bound And now I'nquire of you what are your hopes Which draw Iniquity as with Cart-ropes What is the fruit of Hope Life and Salvation And what 's the ground in which is seal'd Damnation And you that live in Lust and full of mirth Declare your gladness by your life and birth And tell me what 's the Kingdom you possess As Heirs and Lords your own you may confess Tell me the end of all your Vanity Feasts Sports Games Mirth Musick and Melody What is your Love affected hearts delight To all this if you can answer the LIGHT And give Accompt How comes the Encrease with Curse In Field in House in Basket Store and Purse Answer the SEED what is the End of all Which live and dye in sin even in the fall And thou that liv'st in sin whilst thou hast breath Consider well thy last end when comes death Come all you Sects and answer What 's the ground In which Iniquity is alwayes found Put all your Worships forth in your best order And I will shew how you joyn and border As Brethren Neighbours Nations under one Power Of Satan's Kingdom DARKNESS in one hour All link't in Sin together in a Chain Which is the substance of the Devil's Raign To that of GOD in Gentile and in Jew This savoureth as Salt this thing is true For what if you to all your forms are bound Of Worship yet you standing in one ground Of Lust of Sin and Nature of Transgression That binds in Unity beyond Confession In substance there 's but two that 's NIGHT and DAY Sin DARKNESS the broad one LIGHT the true way And you in whom is love and not of GOD You are to drink his Wrath and feel his Rod. If you 've another love then GOD's forgotten Then the Affection 's lost the Heart is rotten And that 's not sound which wanteth any part For GOD requires whole Man Mind Spirit Heart So this in Man is the Iniquity Where 's fleshly love that 's the Idolatry For all that stands brought forth in the first nature Sticks only fast to the Lust of the Creature Here GOD's unknown for in man's heart he'th set The World with which he 's snar'd as in a Net So that GOD's Work Man knows not not his Way All which GOD brings to pass in his own Day Nor can find out although his dayes he spend In seeking from beginning to the end So all you that are in the History Read if you can and reach this Mystery The Life that 's hid in bottom of the Deep What 's that and
A SEA OF THE SEED'S Sufferings Through which Runs A RIVER OF Rich Rejoycing Thick Darkness girds the hours of Death's black day A Mourning Seed weeps over her wry Way Damosels yet shall their Dowries large possess And dance at Marr'age in the Lamb's Wifes Dress But whilst the Earth Blood as a Garment wears Upon her Face I 'le drop my trickling Tears In this my Sea that Soul which wadeth deep Shall know my Flood-sluce and apart shall weep Filling his measure under Pharaoh's frown His End shall be to wear a weighty Crown Written in the Year 1659 in Rome-Prison of Mad-men By the extream Suffering Servant of the Lord JOHN London Printed for Robert Wilson at the sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Windmill in Martins Le Grand 1661. To the Congregation in the Valley of Megiddon which are come to the Mourning as it was in the Dayes of Hadadrimmon I Am a Worm poor and low which in the Earth doth creep Hid as the tender Plant with Snow in time of winter deep So saith the Seed grievous Oppressions long have bin My weighty burthens ages spreading clouds of sin Have wrapt me up and roul'd me under trouble I stand the same they perish'd as a bubble Hills Mountains Rocks have cover'd me procelsive swelling Seas Weights raging waves I feel and see my burden's without ease In Egypt's Land wherein like as a slave I 'm bound And made the subject of her Rulers arrows wound And in my bleeding state am made the stock Which ev'ry heart therein doth hate and mock I as the innocent Turtle-dove that 's left without a mate Do mourn in secret full of love whilst all flesh doth me hate And in the Wilderness like as a helpless Lamb Doth lie bleating out grief at side of a dead dam And like a Babe at a dead Mothers breast Strugling for Milk so am I without rest Doth Vi'lence in the Land flow and am not I opprest I would that all Nations did know how they have dispossest Me of th' Inheritance to which I was Heir born And shut me out of doors and left me as forlorn Subject to Sufferings in a Sea of danger In all the Earth a Pilgrim and a Stranger Hunger Thirst Nakedness and Cold yea pangs of pain I eat To which Oppression doth me hold Tears are my drink meat Sighs in the deeps do gird me as a swadling-band The Night 's black womb of wrath 's my bondage in the Land Oh! where 's the Eye that doth my Suff'rings read Who am of Jacob's loyns that Worm and Seed Nations Hosts mighty Powers as one in Battle array are set Kings Princes Multitudes unknown their Spears and Swords have whet The alienated Jew and Gentil's fallen Will Vnited are design'd mine innocent blood to spill Gog and Magog's great Host have thus decreed To cut down ev'ry branch of Abraham's seed I lodg in Deserts under boughs which thorny trees have spread When I would rise then Hell in Vows moves on this worm to tread Who am that Grain against which all the World stands In wilful Enmity and Wrath in Troops and Bands As thus as desolate involv'd in grief Left languishing in Earth without relief I speak of flesh the flesh of Son of Man Which past not flaming Sword nor fiery Fan. Though I do pant all flesh is as an Adamant My trickling drops man's spirit doth not move Of sweating blood encreasing on me as a flood Ah! how each day doth he gain-say my love My Virtue pure his Lust abhors which doth allure God's host of Angels in the Heav'ns to wed Though I descend yet mark man's desperate cursed end In Oath he 's bound deadly to wound my head What shall I say Blood is the travel of my day Earth's thundring rage blown forth by Lightning's breath Doth post and fly pursuing Life Ah! hear my Cry What! shall I weep in Oceans deep to Death I could not hope but that each sigh and groan With ev'ry tear is dropt before God's Throne A Song for that Assembly HEaring the Seed's fore cryes my heart did think How bitter is the Cup given thee to drink And pond'ring well mine Eye did plainly see That like spread-nets sorrows have compast thee Whilst in the shallow waters I did wait Like as the least I saw thee made the bait The little Dolphin's spaun in ev'ry hour Pursu'd by Fishes which would thee devour And whilst I waited the Deeps did me cover Wherein I saw where thou swim'st swift to hover The Whale the Shark the Porpos and the Hake In scools do chase thee fierce a prey to make Holes then in Rocks thou mak'st thy hiding-place To save thy Life from their most cruel chase Thou swim'st in Deeps the longest course of fears There 's not another which such Suff'ring bears When unto shore I came with lift-up head Thy many Woes on Earth I plainly read And then in secret said Sure few do wey Thy Suff'rings great hunted as for the prey Of Wolf Fox Lion Tigar and of Bear Which houl and roar thy Lamb-like flesh to tear Wild-Asses snuff up Wind fed-horses rush All against thee Bashan's black Bulls do push With all their force and might with strong-set horns Pointed like Spears as sharp as pricking thorns The Cockatrice hid in a secret place His Jaws hold venom to spit in thy face The Crockadile with Man's voice feigns his cry To slay thy life he weeps in subtilty If that in pity thou shouldst haste to see What should the cause of such sore mourning be Thus as a snare in secret he doth watch Thy tender Life his deadly mind to catch Whilst standing still and lifting up mine eye Flocks of devouring Birds I did espy In th' Air with watching eyes soaring aloft At which I suddenly conceiv'd the thought And in the secret closet of my mind I said They seek the little Wren to find Which in much fear in Thickets hid doth lie Whilst Hawks and Vultures over thee do fly Their Bills and Tallants all prepared are Watching thy rising at thy Life to sparre The Eagle flyeth with a fixed will To tear thy tender flesh with her strong Bill The Ostrich great which Iron can digest Prepares her appetite on thee to feast The cruel Dragon of the Wilderness Pursues thee fierce in time of thy distress With clashing wings and scales flying most swift As if to find thee Heaven and Earth would sift He spues out deadly venom as a fluction Restless in life whilst seeking thy destruction The fiery-flying Serpent's flaming breath Spreads burning in the Earth seeking thy Death Many a subtil twist with tayl and wrench With head and body he works to entrench Upon the borders of thy Liberties Thereby to catch thee as a prey and prize He stretches Wings in Elements most high Burning in flames as he his course doth fly Aloft ascending shining in the Air As if he were a blazing-star most fair And as the Polisher of Hell's wombs snares In sort most subtile
all his Compounds new create one Flower VVhich of Earth's substance shall partake and feed And flourish yeelding perfect seeding Seed Can he the nature of the Lilly's Seed Change into an offensive hurtful Weed Or else the Virtue of the Primrose-plant And Violet by all his Wisdom scant How knows he when the virtu's more or less Hath he to Curse and have not I to BLESS Knows he that Plant which grows in Woods obscure Whose root of Pestilence is perfect cure I 've seen Physicians Herbals large which want Description of that fragrant Root and Plant Doth he know which of ev'ry Seed shall grow Whilst yet in hope he spreads his hand to sow Or when in blade sprang up new-shot in ear Is he assur'd which Reed shall encrease bear Who dwells in Deeps where Virtues life reposes Hid in the Root which odours gives to Roses VVho knows where Pleiades hath built his Bowre Of Spices deck't with ev'ry fragrant Flower VVho in the Earth hath digg'd so deep to see Him cloath'd with Sap of ev'ry fruitful Tree VVho spreads the Vine-leaf as a Summer-shade And as with Jewels doth her branches lade She prospers pleasant in the Valleys low In Vintage making Fat 's to overflow Can Man whose Study's but as mudled mire Make Plants in Eden spring of sparks of fire Whilst vertuous Shiloh which in flames reposes Of burning Coals makes sprout forth Damask Roses Which Mortals know not with which hand to handle Whose Light 's thick Darkness spread by Shiloh's Candle To whom all souls must come by Transformation To know the Work mysterious of Salvation He 's full possest which in his right hand reads His Line of Life unto Perfection leads Which seals the doom of his most woful state Whom death cuts off in sin's chains captivate Who answers me in word of Visitation Which perfect tryal brings on ev'ry Nation Who can set bars by strength of his right hand To bolt out famine sent to smite a Land Where is that King which on the Earth doth reign Which fire sword and plague can bind and chain And who can say but those and many more My Judgements yet a little held in store Shall quickly sweep the earth and in this wise Cut off all lovers of their lusts and lies VVho numbred hath the arrows of my quiver Prepar'd for battle Jacob to deliver Have I not said there is for him a day At hand and am I yet to seek the way In which mine own unsearchable Decree In all earth's compass perfected shall be Can man's frail life and strength on his back bear The weight of my sheild buckler sword and spear Let vain man answer in his pride and lust VVho made all Nations in ONE of the dust Or who gave Counsel or materials brought To assist me in all that I have wrought VVill he not understand amid'st his joy That he which made can ALL at once destroy Kings Princes Nations all degenerated Have they more strength than what 's of dust created To David's sling what is Goliah's spear If I strike Dread who 's he that shall not fear I could yet question man time without end VVhilst in a word all things I comprehend But that in folly he himself may know I 'll sum up all in ONE of what 's below Can man whose contract in death's-day stands dated Create a work of what 's not yet created VVorm where wert thou before the sun ascended Or e're that I my first days work had ended Or where when the first fixed Stars did sing A joyful Song of Praise to their high King Moreover I demand vain man to prove Can he yet answer me in Heav'ns above Can man the Storms rebuke or can he check The moving Winds are Whirlewinds at his beck Can He the Heavens Influences sweet Turn back and cause that in the season meet Nor Heat nor Cold times tepid Dews nor Rain Shall be in all succeeding dayes again Can Man Heav'ns bright Clouds in his weak hand hold Or all the moving Constellations fold And roul up in a secret place to hide Them where they never more shall be espied Or is He such a Powerful Commander That at his beck all fixed Stars shall wander Can mortal Man in his corrupted will Stop the Moon 's course or make the Sun stand still Can he the Morning spot or the Sun stain Or can he Thunders bind or Lightnings chain Can Man his hand to the third Heav'ns streatch And therewith violently make a breach Through bars of Brass which bolt fast doors of Steel Much more in substance than Earth's Orb or Wheel And so lay waste in his fond will and pleasure What 's there contain'd of Jacob's certain treasure Could he do all these still I 'm far above The Heav'n of Heav'ns where nought besides doth move Can Man cut off Strong-fire-all's renting Claws Or draw his Teeth out of his burning Jaws Doth Man's Eye make him tremble with a look Or can he tear his heart out with a hook Each of his Joynts are as an Iron hill His Teeth grinds Carcasses as in a Mill His Nostrils flames seeth in his Cauldron Whales And fryes the flesh of Kings in his cast Scales He gapes like Gulphs as if he hungry were Thirsting for Blood he roars the Prey to tear His Furnace fire in Brain-pan of his head Boyls Cauls and Blood of every heart fat fed Can Man his brazen skin rent as a rag Or joynt his tayl which Ocean 's deeps do drag He waves his Wings over his Steel-barr'd Cage And Storms impetuous move in roaring rage The foaming Seas like Mountains full of breaches His Motion turbulent her Womb's deeps reaches His glazed sparkling Eyes appear most fierce Nor Shot nor Weapon can his Body pierce Steel Brass and Iron unto him are straws Their strength sev'n times compos'd's not like his Claws He shakes his Back which makes his Scales to rattle Like shouts and clashings of a dreadful Battle Hath Man yet seen the measure of his Bow And Arrows length Or how came he to know His Golden Shrouds Six over ev'ry shade The Seventh shuts in the Mould that he hath made He walks in secret in the deepest dark And leaves his Relique it 's a fiery spark He marks his Path out by a Line obscure If two would walk therein one 's snar'd most sure Can he whose Fame spreads as Ahithophel Reach round that Sphear which is his lowest Cell All 's mean to me which in thine Ear I sound Heights reach not me nor Deeps the most profound VVorm where wert thou before Time did commence And what stood then against me as defence VVho then was with me counselling in decree Or what doth Man think Time hath alter'd Me Man's mighty Mountain's now to me no more Than 't was ere Light past through Heav'ns open dore I see the Counsels Leagues and Pow'rs of Hell Satan and his Angels in that black Cell The Divil had time with him that first did sin And before that
where 's the place that Virgins weep Because that of their own Affinity With them hath lost the Life of Unity Do you know what the swelling Seas devour On which the Heavens once did smile and showre Down drops of pleasant Rain and made it spring Like to a Lilly-flower for the King The Wilderness whereto the Woman fled What 's that how lodg'd SHE in a secret bed To keep her Innocency undefil'd That she the Lamb's Wife justly might be stil'd From all the unconverted and unheal'd The Myst'ries of GOD's Kingdom are all seal'd From Ignorant and learned in the World That in Invention to and fro are hurl'd The Parable is brought for all to see The Unlearned saith this is too hard for me The Learned saith to me it 's also seal'd By which I know they yet remain unheal'd Some in their time have swollen like the Seas And chose them paths even what their hearts did please Invention up did spring and they were bound In Chains of blackness and cast to the ground For they a work among them had begun BABEL to build to mount above the Sun To the Apostatized TO them which heard the sound of GOD's great DAY And came to see the straitness of the WAY And own'd the Testimony of the LIGHT Confessing it which gave them the true sight Of all Sin Evil and Ungodliness And saw some cleansing from their filthiness But turning to their Vomit like the Dog And to the Mire like to the unclean Hog Thy Judgment 's just to Wo and Misery Being double wrought under Iniquity Remember how thy heart and mind did grudge To give up Life and all which GOD will Judge For thou unto the World in their distrust Art joyn'd to crave and seek to feed thy lust And here thou say'st thou sin'st and 't is thy grief Hopeless of cleansing here in Unbelief But mark the end of all that live and dye in sin I tell thee their sad doleful doom Death is their sting Nations Professors all in sin bound in a bundle Like as the sheaf of Tares GOD in the Lake will tumble To the simple Seeker THou that dost pant as one in want and earnestly dost look Like as the Roe in places low to find the Water-brook In travel great in pain and sweat the River for to find To bath and cool in the fresh Pool like as the Hart and Hind I see thy face thou seek'st for Grace my Lilly Seed come prove Whilst it is day I 'll shew the Way the LIGHT 's my Joy and Love Oh he which hath trodden in this path hath seen the glorious Mountain Which from whose top Springs fall and drop this is the endless Fountain No longer think but come and drink refresh thee with the good It 's pleasant Wine of the true Vine the substance of all food Be no more tost as one that 's lost but come unto the LIGHT Which shews mens deeds to be but weeds which grow in time of Night And that within which shews thy sin if thou lov'st it sincere Awe and fear GOD and love his Rod from sin it will thee clear Be at a beck when LIGHT doth check the secrets of thy mind Let it reprove joyn thou in love and so true Peace thou 'lt find Do not gain-say but still obey the Motions of the LIGHT Through Fire to come as one that 's won against Deceit to fight And thou wilt rest as at the brest sucking the Milk of pleasure The Babe to nourish the Life to flourish this is th'everlasting Treasure So in this hour dwell in the Power which all the World doth chain Prosper in th' Light conquer in fight and in Dominion reign To the Babes of Blessing TO my dear pleasant Babes and Lambs Skipping like Rams over the Little Hills Like leaping Roes on Mountains high as Doves do fly whom Innocency fills My Life and Spirit doth you greet and with you meet in the sweet Fields of pleasure The Garden where the Roses grow and Waters flow the Husbandman's own Treasure When I beheld the lovely streams and the Sun beams which cometh from on high The shining Glory of the Sun which you have won unto the LORD so nigh I 'm fill'd beyond what words can measure with Virtue 's Treasure of Love to Virgins pure Who were in many Tempests tost and yet not lost which dwell in Sion sure Who knows the Ships path in the Sea So is your way where Lions cannot tread In which you witness strength and skill to wound and kill and bruise the Serpent's head Oh Lambs the fairest of all Flocks upon you drops all Blessing from above Fresh streams of Oyl upon your head lay'n in the Bed of Everlasting Love Myrrh Frankinsence and Aluice sweet Wine and Spice and all that the Earth yeelds Herbs Flowers Milk and pleasant Trees Honey of Bees is Yours in Woods and Fields Oh! holy Land full of the Seed's encrease which cannot cease multiplying to the store Being seal'd in Covenant and Band given under hand to this for evermore SION'S ORATION SAith Zion all the Gold which Mountains hide In all the compass of the World so wide And all the substance which the swelling waves Have swallowed in her Womb like as the Graves All precious Stones and Pearls cover'd with Rocks Hid under rotten roots of stumbling-blocks All pure Silver that lyes deep in ground The time approacheth it must all be found Arise fair Daughter gather quick and bring The Consecrated Substance to the King And all ye sons which Zion's womb did bear Take Instrument in hand work without fear Of Wolf Fox Tigre Bear or Lion For GOD is the Salvation of Sion Till that be finish't which GOD hath decreed The Restauration of his Holy SEED Come hunt the Wolves and Wild-beasts of the Wood Which slew the Lambs and feasted on their Blood For they 'r appointed in all times hereafter For starving restless pangs of death and slaughter Now GOD in Judgment comes to reprove Kings To shew their Counsels like as foolish things VVho seek with bryars and thorns to stop the way Which GOD by 's Breath will burn in a day Mark this your End ye Potsherds GOD will rent Your Kingdoms wherefore prize time and repent The Babe's breathing to his Brethren MY Sisters Sion's daughters joyn'd in hand In Unity in th' Heaven's swadling band Which binds the World with Clouds as under chains There stands your Glory where the Eternal raigns Our Mother bare her Children in much pain In th' house where Judgment separated twain Slaying the Seed of enmity and strife The Seed of Promise to inherit Life And brake the Covenant with Death and Hell Under which all the World the Seed did sell Shout shout ye Sons and fright the World which boast Themselves in the great number of their Host Oh! Heav'ns declare and let the World wonder Strike Terrour in the hearts of all their number Let all their Consolation fade and quail And let their strength in day of Battel fail You in whose mouth the Word of Judgment stands Lade all the World with WO and fill their hands Utter your Voice and let the Thunders rattle Through Elements and Air sound to the Battle The Trumpet of the dreadful LORD of Hosts Among the Nations throughout all their Coasts The DAY of God's at hand the LIGHT 's his Word GOD comes with Fire Plague Famine and with Sword To plead with all flesh living in Corruption Upon their heads to bring swift fierce Destruction Here I am set one of the living number A Sign in Egypt to Sodom's brood a Wonder GOD's Pow'r with His is like a Fort of Steel My Brethren in the Life you may me feel For I am with you all under your Deep Where all the Fishes swim and Worms creep Where Turtle-Doves do fly with out-stretch't wing And where you hear the little Lark to sing In that hid path which all the World's Line Can't justly measure to the End of Time Even in that Bed where every soul is blest I 'm wrapt in fold for ever for to rest With you in all conditions to hold fast That of the first in him who is the last From Venice Lazzaretta J. P. When the Fountains of the Deep were broken open I was in the Valley of the Mountain and then I was moved to make mention of the Streams thereof THE END