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
if I should make slight of thee Then all thy Good would be a sting to me Then would my Bowe against me surely bend And all my Darts into my Body send And all the pointed Arrows of my Quiver Would sorely stick fast in my Heart and Liver Then would my Sword which on my loins is bound Fall sharp on me and leave a mortal wound Yea then the Teeth of this my Instrument Would flesh from bones and all my Intrals rent My Honey would become as Rue and Gall And heav'nly showres like snares of Fire would fall Upon my head yea then my pleasant Wine Would be as molten Lead and this streight Line VVould mark out all even as an equal due Which gives clear sight that God's most just and true The Oyl which burns within this Lamp of Gold Would also me in flames of fire fold For then would Shiloh all his currents make To me like as the fiery burning Lake Should I become like as a turning Vane Then this my Bread would be my deadly bane My Marrow would become like Pitch and Tar In dreadful flames yea then the Morning-Star Which hath reveal'd his glorious shining Light Would gird me in the hideous howling night But surely I to God's own Mercy have Committed all whose Grace doth freely save VVeakness is mine but strength 's in God's own hand By which alone in fear I live and stand In Baptism's fire exceeding John's who lead To Jordan's Deeps whom Herod did behead Ah! Babes most dear with you in that I am Which gives to see me as a patient Lamb In pure Content bearing the Yoak and Cross Esteeming mortal but as dung and dross In taste of Vertue of the heavenly Seed At God's own Table with you all I feed With each low worm in his proper measure I drink a dram of the sweet Wine of pleasure My soul in Ardency of Life doth say I am as near you as the Light the Day As firmly fixt like flesh unto your bones As in the Mountains solid Rocks and Stones As real in you though no flesh can see As is the Sap in the green Olive Tree I 've chosen you like as the Turtle-Dove To be dissolv'd in this most constant Love I want the words of Wisdom's Deep profound To shew how deep y' are planted in this ground What shall I say unto my heart within Where canst thou end but where thou didst begin And there the Rivers run exceeding measure What shall I say of this my Love 's vast treasure You have much more than this weak hand can write For all is yours which Spirit doth endite My Spirit 's also with and in you all Who by the same are saved from the fall Can I within me lesse Affection find Than Worms or Beasts who love their proper kind Nay Lambs ye know in living substance well That my Brooks current mortal doth excel For this my Stream towards the Deep doth run As doth my Flame ascend towards the Sun No wise Philosopher did ever know The moving Cause why Seas do ebb and flow Nor of them all which in their Tombs do lye E're saw the Love which moves the Sun to fly In course most swift round Heav'ns widest wheel But God's Host now the Cause and Life do feel The lesser to the greater is well known And each true Nature moves towards its own Here 's Fire below the greater Flame 's above Till twain are joyn'd they do yearn both in Love Th'ore-whelming Floods which on the Earth were sent In Noah's day dropt from the Firmament Besides you see how rainy Clouds do bring Refreshing Showres in pleasant time of Spring And fills the Fountains which are here below And still the Streams unto the Seas do flow And all their Tides wherein they alwayes move Shew they 've affection to the Floods above Now read me and my Love which tongue can't speak To you my Life which Death nor Hell can break Yet still I pray in fear that God defend Me from the ill and save me to the end And O ye Branches of the Olive Tree Your leaves are shades and Fruit is life to mee God's Wisdom which surpasseth man's devices Hath built you as a Bowre of fragrant Spices Your Walks are Joyfulness and Peace your Seat Your Life is Bread and Wine and Love is meat My soul is planted in your holy ground And here your flames of Love do me surround And on your substance which distills as drops Of heav'nly Dew I feed like Honey-sops Partaker with you in Community Of good in God's House in the Unity And in the Stem my Branch with you reposes Which bears the Buds and all the Damask-Roses You are the Bed compos'd of heavenly pleasure Unto my soul yea God's peculiar Treasure How purely run these most refreshing streams In daily Visions and Nocturnal Dreams The Fulness verily is in the Father Who doth our Minds into his Bosom gather Like tender Chickens by the Clucking Hen Whose Name be prais'd by Life by Voyce and Pen. Let me descend from Sion's glorious Mountain To shew a Seed the Vale wherein 's the Fountain For surely I could freely lay down Life With Blood to buy a stranger for my Wife For what 's so purchased by joynt-consent Is as the Seed of Judah's saved Tent VVhat Forreigner wouldst thou walk in in the Way Of Life and Peace in this God's saving Day Thy whole Affection must in substance bend To that which brings to flesh a final end And that from Darkness thou the Day mayst know The Proud must bow down to the poor and low For lo the Sun which gives the Day her light Remains below the Horizon all night Such is the Principle and Spark in thee Vail'd by Sin 's Clouds whereby thou canst not see To know the Poor th' Oppressed and his Cryes VVithin thy Self which in a Dungeon lies Wherefore draw near unto the Earth's short end To see the Day-star and the Sun ascend For know thou whilst that thou dost there remain Assuredly art bound in Death's black Chain And whilst thou dost from Mountain run to Hill Seeking a Stream to drink thy lustful-fill Arrive thou canst not unto Jacob's Well For so thou run'st to ring a broken Bell Stand still I 'll touch a Stone and thou shalt know That Waters in thee out of it shall flow In Conscience there 's a secret LIGHT within VVhich doth distinguish Truth from every sin That is of GOD which judgeth works of Evil And thoughts in Man mov'd of the tempting Devil The Soul which faithfully its Judgment keeps Shall know Salvation from the Darkness deeps Then follows Faith and Hope which gives alone Th' Internal Knowledge of the vertuous Stone Out of which Waters pure of Life do gush And in the same 's conceal'd the Burning-bush Then will his River run and Flames ascend Of heav'nly Vertue which shall never end Remember Man the LIGHT within 's the Way From Darkness dwelling to the Door of Day Which leads
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
to write Amen A Son of Sion which in ardour pants Unto Jerusalom's Inhabitants Provok'd in spirit greeting to transmit Doth of the same hereby himself acquit Upon the Sabbath day which God hath blest I waited in the Temple of his Rest Until I saw a little moving Stone To open as a Roll before the Throne Wherein was written Mysteries profound With many Prophecies which compast round My soul in deeps of Contemplations Oh! Immense Immense Revelations Though I 'm a Worm to speak unto an Host Of Heav'n yet mov'd in the Holy Ghost I stand up arm'd with Courage in Life bold In Fear and Trembling lest I should withhold To pay the Obligation as my due Discharged thus by spreading in your view There is an Orphant in the Wilderness VVhich wanting Bread languisheth in distress I cannot in a secret place repose To hide my self from the afflicted's Woes Most grievous Cryes the Ecchoes as a Dart And piercing Lance wounds me unto the heart Oh! you on whom the glorious Sun doth shine Unto my Voice your open ear encline Jerusalem a substance doth possess Which can remove that bleeding Worm's distress The Liberal Hand is this day meet to measure A Portion of the Consecrated Treasure For the Redemption of the Captivate From the Chains of his sore oppressed state Give ear ye Sons and Daughters to this WORD Unto Jerusalom Thus saith the LORD This WORD shall be his burthen which conceals and shuts himself up under Clouds and seals His Life and Portion in obscurity Starting from Zeal the flame of Purity Relinquishing Life's motion keeping back The thing which the oppressed Seed doth lack Remember ye the Antient Prophets race Whose life stood not at all in time or place But wand'red as Pilgrims and as Strangers In all the Earth without respect of Dangers Some dragg'd to Suff'rings and to Tortures hurl'd Some slain of whom worthy was not the World I 'm directed to him mov'd to partake Of Tryal's pledge whilst yet for the Seed's sake Like as a Lamb I bleat I bleed I roar Like as a Lion in the Gate and Door The entrance of the Palace of the King Blowing my breath on ev'ry living thing Stand up thou simple stagger not at all The Voice is GOD'S which secretly doth call Yeeld unto Him with whole affection bent The RACE is sure thou run'st as him that 's sent Ye called to the labour of the Day Take Instrument in hand and come away All Plowers Planters Pioneers and Miners With Reapers Threshers Fanners and Refiners Proceed in strength each one in his Vocation To see Redemption of the whole Creation You valiant Souldiers which the Weapons wear Of War the Javelin Dart the Sword and Spear Appear as Champions in Earth's open field With Ensign Standard Buckler Bow and Shield Unto the Battel let the Trumpet sound Avenge in Earth until the LOST be found Aim right and shoot the arrows of your Quiver To pierce Gog's Host unto the heart and liver And GOD Eternal with most high renown Of Victory all the Couragious crown Dear Brethren and Sisters in the Power Remembring You I 'm as a dropping showre Mine yearning bowels like to Wax do melt Ah! let me by you all be seen and felt My Life salutes you with an Holy Kiss Transmitted by the Lips of Heaven's bliss Love clasps Life with dear embraces Of Vertue 's arms in Joy and Pleasure Reading the sweetness of the Graces Wrapt up in Life Ah! heav'nly Treasure To Life as the Mate of a Dove I 'm bound in unknown endless Love Let ev'ry Lamb Of the true Dam Read how your Life my soul doth move Thoughts are fixt fast in my breast Deeply anchor'd in my heart May it be said LOVE hath opprest Then you 'r my wound ah piercing Dart. Sure had not He which doth reveal Your brightness giv'n a Leaf to heal My Maladies In counsel wise Death had on me set her seal Dear Salutation as Embassage I send to Heaven's blessed Host Though not as if I had made passage Relinquishing sweet Sion's Coast But with you for ever bound In God's Covenant profound And Glorious Day Which leads the way And saves out of the cursed ground Your smell is as a fragrant Flower Your tast more pleasant than sweet Wine I feel you in th' Eternal Power I see most clear your faces shine Your sound as Melody mine ear Of Cymbals Lutes and Trumps doth hear The piercing Voice Makes heart rejoyce And Love's clear eye to drop a Tear You 'r built upon an Holy Mountain A Glorious Palace for the King Your Foundation is Life's Fountain Angels beholding Praises sing To GOD uncessant all day long On David's tun'd Harp the Lamb's Song Let Nations prove Hell cann't you move The Wonderful hath built you strong Roses Spices Gems and Gold To see all no flesh can pry Sion's Treasure vast untold Unutterable in mine eye You 'r the sum which do possess The Sum in everlasting bless Most High Renown Your weighty Crown Shall Kings and Nations to death press I bless Him who gives to know Counsels deep in his own way Sion's streams shall overflow Earth's Wide compass in a day All shall yeeld encrease and store Creatures trav'ling in pain sore Shall then be blest And not opprest Curse remov'd for evermore Feel my yearning bowels moved Which Mortal cannot comprehend Towards You my Dear Beloved In that which never shall have end All which GOD'S own Image bears And the Lamb 's white Garments Wears With Virtue 's grace Behold my face As a ground of trickling tears Let me pierce the inward parts And provoke the souls of all In the flames of burning hearts Which on GOD the LORD do call Whilst sweet odours do ascend To the Father recommend Him of Man hated The LORD' 's created Whose Love alone doth Life defend That no tender Lamb may bleat After Me with other Voice GOD the Father I entreat Than which makes my heart rejoyce Rest you all in the pure Life As the Bride the Lamb 's own Wife To live or dye Given up as I For Truth a Sacrifice most rife JOHN To the Seed of the Kingdom Plants of the Paradise of God most purely and everlastingly beloved Brethren and Sisters in the Immortal Life Congratulation CAn I forget that Womb whose Travels were For me more grievous than which flesh could bear Or bury in Oblivion's Grave that Breast Which suckled me or Cradle of my rest Can I requite my Friends as deadly foes Or scorn the Bed of Heavenly Joys repose Or loath the Waters sweet of Jacob's Well Like Sulphury streams of the infernal Cell Can I forget that Hand and living Bread VVhich in sore Famine freely hath me fed Or drown in Deeps the thoughts of God's own breath To burst like Judas strangled unto death Nay for in GOD most merciful and just Abides my Confidence Faith Hope and Trust Ah! Sion Sion thy most glorious Life Is all to me my Joy I am thy Wife And therefore
to Fulness free from ev'ry doubt Obey'd within possest but lost without And therefore Wanderer at home retire Lest that thou sink and perish in the mire For that which leads Man from the LIGHT within Spurs on the Race to end the Life in sin And then of sin in which he lives and dyes Shall have his Wage for as he falls he lyes Yet still my Heart doth in my Body burn Towards the Doves to whose Door I return With Corn in hand to spread before their eye Upon the Stage whereto they daily flye Which is the place whereon they alwayes feed Amidst the house wherein their young they breed To all the Hungry and the Thirsty Lambs I 'm broken-Bread and Wine drawn out in drams And of a truth it is my soul 's sweet care That every Babe may eat and drink a share My life in Sion would be alwayes found Among the Seed a Salve to every wound And perfect Medicine to every grief And to th' Opprest an Arm of good relief Let not my Love's heart languish under sorrow For lo thy JOY approacheth with the Morrow The YOKE to Self and CROSSE to Flesh fly never That DEATH may Dye and LIFE may live for ever For suffering Sword contentedly to slay The Mortal thou in Battel win'st the Day Then Thine's the Standard and the Ensign spread And thou in Sion know'st the Ruling head Then Peace then Joy then Pleasures pure abound And Solace sweet as Walls do thee surround Then Sobs and Grief GOD from thy Land doth banish And Sighs and Sorrows as a shade do vanish Yea of thy Trouble whilst thou wert forlorn Remains not thought for joy a SON is born Wherefore O Plants wait in the Spirit meek And in the drouth from God the Showres seek In which sweet state you shall me witness bear God's fulness feeds each low heart full of fear Who doth exalt the Spirit of the Humble But the Exalted from his Seat doth tumble When as the Woods in Summer time are green The Thrustle's tune is heard though she not seen By any Mortal yet there is an Eye Which sees how she from Tree to Tree doth fly And doth perceive whence her sweet Notes aspire And what 's the thing her life doth most desire Which is the Book wherein I read your Race Beyond wide-Lands Seas Time and utmost Space And here with you I rest I live and dwell Like Silk-worms hid in one wrought case and shell Yea lodged in a secret suckling Breast Like as the young ones in the Turtles Nest Dear Lambs true number of the Shepherd's tale As one by one I hug and kisse you all Remembring you I drop like molten Marrow Yea rent like Fallow torn with the Harrow Ah! feel my Bowels which like Rain distills And runs like Rivers down the steepest Hills Yea touch my panting heart and thereby learn My soul most frequent after you doth yearn I 'm Ravished beholding Vertue 's graces Of Heaven's Glory to o're-spread your faces And cannot utter how my deeps abound Of love to you which in the Life are found You 'r at the Fountain pure I plainly see And so am I yet still remember me There in the Spirit of Life Joy and Peace Pray for your Brother pray and never cease For I am God's and Yours in every Tryal The which you know full well without denial So read me You We One through Life's infusion In the first Principle and last Conclusion Of JERUSALEM THy Beauty hath enamoured me in Vertue 's Lodge of Rest A flaming Torch thine eye may see of Love burns in my breast Thou art the Stone which doth my Spirit whet Like as the Razor which is newly set Ah! feed my Edge that 's ground exceeding sharp To sing thy Vertue 's praise to David's Harp For as an Host in Sion's Coast of much more strength than Nations Thou dost arise before mine eyes in all my Contemplations Here ends what was written in Rome-Prison of Mad-men To the Black Power OH Earth hear this Oh Earth thy doleful End and Doom God comes to sweep the Nations in dread as with a Broom His mighty Day 's at hand the World to fan and purge To visit all the Wicked with his sore Plagues and Scourge Oh Egypt Sodom thy Inhabitants must know The Wind and Breath of GOD over thy Land to blow To curse th' encrease of Cattle and all which thou call'st good Thy Corn and Wine and Oyl and all encrease of Food And what one Plague doth leave another shall devour Till seven Vials of Wrath God on thy Land doth pour Thy Fountains he 'l dry up like standing Pools of mud Thy Princes fairest Wells also shall become Blood The Flower of thy Field the Herb and Grass that 's green The Locusts come to eat that none in thee be seen God from thee all thy strength and praise will rend and tear And compass thee full sore with trembling and with fear Thou would'st not let the Holy Seed free for to go Therefore upon thee comes sore pangs of Wrath and Wo. Ye Pharaohs of the Earth saith GOD What is your Host Why say ye What is GOD Why do ye vainly boast For GOD in Righteousness to save his Seed hath sworn Throughout the Land to slay and cut off the First-born You 'r folded in the thickness of the cloudy night Yet GOD for Isr'el hath prepar'd a shining LIGHT Whose Seed he 'll lead by strength and pow'r out of your Land By his out-stretched Arm and mighty dreadful Hand WO then at last when you the SEED pursue and follow Saying within your hearts This Remnant we will swallow For there 's a Sea that 's set as Walls for their Salvation A Pit for Sodom's fall for Egypt thy damnation Read this your doleful Doom you that in darkness dwell The portion of the Wicked the burning Lake and Hell Your cursed wicked hearts have rob'd GOD of his Right In that you 've chosen Lust and hated the true Light To the Seed of the Kingdom BUt Thou O Holy SEED a flame art in my breast In whose sweet Life my soul hath its true Joy and Rest Thy Life 's a stream of Peace which Consolation brings And crowns with Glory more than Royalty of Kings What shall I liken Thee unto to shew thy love Which stands in Innocency like the spotless Dove Stronger than all that can be nam'd in which is breath Thy Love thy Light thy Life thy Love stronger than Death Oh SEED thou' rt Zion's Covenant and wedded Band Seal of Everlasting Marriage given under hand The Glorious Cloathing of the Lilly Field is thine Brighter than Sun or Moon thy Countenance doth shine The Nations of the Earth know not nor can discry The Diadem the depth of sight that 's in thine Eye With Thee I 'm fill'd I flow I 'm overcome with Love I 'm setled here in Thee whom Nations cannot move Saith Zion now which trav'ls her Children forth to bring That they may witness