Unto those Beauties only Thought can reach Thought which but dully dictates to the Speech Yet Thought must here its Poverty confess You need not blush should my enlightned Eyes Behold that charming Dress Your Soul put on when it came cloath'd to view The Garment must its Innocence express And like your Lines inspire With Love and Rev'rence too A Love without a bold Desire A Lambent Flame Such as gives Light and Warmth but ne're consumes The Light of Heav'n from whence it came Here none t' approach presumes With Fire less hallow'd than he lays Upon the Altar when he prays Incense more pure t' a sacred Poetess is due Than from the Heathen-world their chast Diana drew V. Heav'n seems to open Angels to come down In lovely Vehicles of thick'ned Air And with a Glory ' stead of Lawrel crown The Azure Temples of the teaching Fair While Men with Extasy attend her Lays Divinely set to the Almighty's Praise As Grace on Earth of endless Bliss Your happy Verse the Incoati'on is Of that in which you shall with Angels join When you above the Stars shall shine Free from Pain and free from Fear With ev'ry Object of your Care Where only Love and Harmony appear The Love and Harmony Immortal and Divine VI. Sense of your own Pity of others Wrong Shall give no Interrupti'on to your Song The ways of Providence so dark Not to be toucht by Hand prophane Lest we with Uzza's Guilt have Uzza's Pain Who fondly thought to help the tottring Ark You there will see the Clouds away In that bright everlasting Day Worthy of God and of that Love With which he cherishes frail Mortal Race Whom of the do's with temp'ral Evils prove Tries and Refines them in Afflicti'on's Fire Until they 're fitted for his Grace And thrô'ly taught beyond this lower World t' aspire ADVERTISEMENT THrô the Printer's Mistake the Verses from pag. vii are misplac'd having been intended to come in at the end THE IDEA OF Christian Love. PROEM TO Mr. WALLER THE Taper shining with diminisht Rays While Noon-day Sun swallows its feeble Blaze Not valu'd as consider'd for its Light But what it shadows to th' internal Sight May be my Emblem who the most obscure Of all who follow you their Cynosure Within your Province and at your Command As a dim Taper on the Altar stand Tho small 's my Portion of Poetick Fire I shew to others how they should aspire Love lights my Lamp and gives it all its Flame 'T is Love I breath and seek Love I proclaim To think t' enlighten you when I have done Would be to light a Candle to the Sun If your Affections I can but excite I have my end nor can you miss Delight CHrist his Disciples with effect to move To draw in the soft Yoak of Mutual Love Did to his Precept and Example join The happy Fruit By this 't is known ye 're mine To love 't is certain a Command requires The Ardor of its self quickly expires As much it does a great Example need Its glim'ring Light in others few will heed Nor less Incitement wants the sluggish Mind To climb to the Ascent of Love enjoyn'd Let 's see the charming nature of this Love Which does the Character of Christians prove What in its self to what our Hearts 't would move This his Command our Saviour marks for new Not that its first Foundations there we view But as a Sanction it from him obtains And in each Age from him new Vigor gains Men's Tempers and their Manners this require Tho Love is the most natural Desire Mixt with our Beings and refreshing found In all the Exigencies Life surround The gratefull'st Passion and most friendly Pow'r The Minds serene the Bodies verdant Flow'r The Spirits poize the Harmony o th' whole And when its opposite takes the controul Disturbance Torment and Decay succeed Tho mutual Aid common occasions need And a Foundation of firm Union lay Whence for united Hearts and Souls we pray To this our publick Vows and Reason tend Nature to this seems with full course to bend Yet Sin and Satan Nature's dangerous Foes With such Impediments its way oppose That rare 's the Love which long continues fair Time and slight Accidents its force impair Wear off the Paint and drive the Smoak to Air. Self-Flatt'ry keeps to narrow Banks confin'd What to enrich the neigh'bring Plain's design'd The Mind's Propensions sweetning in a Stream Stagnate within and send forth noxious steam How oft on Love does gnawing Envy prey Whose Arbitrary Laws while Men obey Against their dear Self-Love they blindly act And wast those Bowels which they thus contract How oft does he whom Benefits have bound Think the meer owning them would Honour wound How oft Suspicion breeds ill-natur'd Leav'n How oft an Injury receiv'd or giv'n To hurt one whom you hate 's thought less unjust Than one who in your Friendship places trust And thence to colour 'ore the wrong you do Your injur'd Friend is held for constant Foe But only vulgar Dreggs thus meanly fail These Blemishes can't o're great Souls prevail Yet these alas incur too often blame For crim'nal stifling Lov 's enobling Flame Diff'rence of Manners makes divided Minds Of Ierom and Ruffinus this one finds Opin'ions disagreeing do the same These tarnish Cyprian's and Stephen's Fame Study of Parties fatal oft to Love 'Gainst Chrysostom did Epiphanius move A Point of Ceremony unexprest To Greg'ry drove his Basil from his Breast Ev'n Paul and Barn'bas striving for controul Parted in Body not to say in Soul. Great Names ye see I on this Head produce Specious Apologies for Love's abuse Yet ought not they to serve for an Excuse Tho they 're great Instances that Love is frail Yet ought our Saviour's Precept to prevail Who from his Brother does his Love withdraw In that 's a Traytor to the Christian Law. The Lord commands and wilt thou Wretch dispute Wilt thou resist Command so absolute Command good Lord effectually command And grant I be not able to withstand Atthy Command from the rude formless heap Beauty and pleasing Order forth did leap From Void came Solids and from Nothing All The Winds and raging Seas obey thy call Thou dost the madness of the People quell So tame my Heart that there sweet Love may dwell With his Example Christ this Precept binds To imitate his Love would raise our Minds Under the Jewish Institutes we see Provision made for Love's Sincerity Yet much the Duty wanted of its weight When self-Self-Love only was to set the rate Who makes in loving others this his bound To come far short of Duty will be found Themselves indeed all Men sincerely love Blind and imprudent yet that Love does prove Fondly indulging unrestrain'd Desires Men think they answer what that Law requires Flatter themselves and blow up Nature's Fires And this they think is justice to their Friend When nothing's more perfidious in the end Nothing more dangerously insinuates Vice To which
that mask of Friendship does entice Sin in self-Self-Love thus propagates the Sin Hence was a nobler Rule justly brought in How to love others ask not Flesh and Blood Too often leading you from what is good But let Christ's Love to you your Pattern be Contemplate that for Manner and Degree Let your Affections in that order lye By that the Errors mend Defects supply See what Christ's Love to us does recommend The Choice he made the Measure and the End. Choice did I say 't was rather without Choice In that both High and Low All may rejoice Tho weak and indigent ungrateful too He lov'd nor doubt my Soul but he lov'd you Ye love O Men but with a Love so nice Unjust or cunning that your Love 's a Vice. Ye seek the Great the Rich the apt to lend The chearful courteous and facetious Friend On these the Offices of Love ye spend Advantages ye with each other shift And that is made a Trade which should be Gift Pleasure or Profit at the bottom lye Without that Sauce your Appetites soon dye Can this a Vertue be or Duty thought Or th' imitation of what Christ has taught Th'innate Propensions while they thus do flow Meer Artifice and Baits for Pleasure grow Under Christ's Banner they that would be found Him always for their Pattern must propound He lov'd the poor and destitute of Aid Their want the only Obligation laid Those who nor sought nor merited he lov'd The motive to their Cure thâ—ir Sickness prov'd Those who resisted the blest Aid he brought Tho strugling in his saving Arms he caught No other Charms or Shadows of Delight Did his warm Love to Human Race invite This Christian should thy sole inducement be That Love 's thy Duty as thy Head lov'd thee This Reason will to all Mankind extend But if for grounds you cautiously suspend For causes which Reason and Fancy weigh Faction to Sides Lightness to new will sway And thus for Love you take its meer disguise You labour for the Shadow of a Prize Our Lord lov'd with an equal constant Mind No Age shall see his Love from his disjoin'd But what is yours which wavers with the wind Whom now into your greedy Arms you take The subject of your Raill'ry soon you make One for a Friend you out of Conscience chuse This in regard to Glory you refuse You envy this Man's good this Man's consult Here at a loss you grieve there you insult To one you give another's Fame you take That Man you free a Snare for others make What means this double Dealing double Heart As much as may be Sir act the same part Be but one Man either be wholly wise Or wholly Wisdom's sacred Lore despise If as delightful 't is to play the Fool As glorious to improve in Wisdom's School If you 'd have praise act always by one Rule St. Peter when he would an Abstract show O' th' Life of Love incarnate while below Says his whole business lay in doing good The bound the end of Love's thus understood They 've felt no spark of this Celestial Fire Who in their Love but gratify desire Who trafficks with Affections sells good turns Little the end of Sacred Love discerns That doing good its sole reward obtains And this endears to us our Saviour's pains Who gave himself to his of his free Grace No Caution no Reserve with him had place He lov'd through Midnight watchings wasting Toil Loss of Life's Comforts and ev'n Life's despoil To thee O Christian Death Life Damage Gain Leasure Turmoils Disgrace Fame Quiet Pain Are all to be past by without regard When you 're from doing good by either barr'd Does this seem difficult 'T will less appear If you consider what 's the Fruit 't will bear Than Fame more fair than Peace more void of Strife Than Gain more gainful Life has less of Life And with this Thought support your sinking Mind That he 'll in 's Trade sufficient profit find Who has for Temporal Loss Eternal Goods consign'd But what in Love does so much pains require Does the ignoble part draw forth desire That which our Eyes discern and Fingers feel Must this be cultivated with such Zeal This can't deserve all that is squandred thus The Soul 't is evident is all of us These Offices he wofully mispends Who ought beyond the Soul in Love intends Does it in meeting talking laughing lye This they may do who ne'r its force did try Is 't the same Studies Counsels Joys t' approve Ill Men do this yet who can say they love Is 't liberally to give of Fortun 's store Their Love 's as rich who beg from door to door What 's all Men's duty they at home may view Souls are Love's Subjects and its Objects too To guide the Deiform immortal Souls Whose sinful Wandrings Satan here controuls This is a work which truly Love becomes The best Account of our entrusted Sums Christ who twice sent the Crowd well fed away With Bread of Life feasted their Souls each day Shewing by an Example disesteem'd That those should the least benefits be deem'd Which turn to Fat to Wealth or pompous Train Vain in themselves in their Effects as vain Those are the noblest instances of Love Which cure Affections Men's minds improve They cannot love I 'le own who'r giv'n to spare For 't is attended with the Body's care Nor can the Wicked who neglect the Mind Their cost on Bodies they will useless find The Gift is lost which ha'nt good counsel join'd True Love and Probity are always Twins Neither alone encreases or begins Leave loving and your Probity is gone Leave Probity and what is Love alone In proper Offices how can it shoot Which thus lies wither'd at the very Root The bad t' each other Pleasures may endear Chearful and entertaining they appear But soon the Sky is clouded now so clear In Love ill-founded and maintain'd with Sin Soon Weariness and then Contempt begin True Love 's more permanent a Ray Divine Shot down from Heav'n moves thither there shall shine Thither delights to lead the happy Friend Afraid of all things that to ill may tend Each Day improves the Solace of this Love An Incoation of the State Above O happy end of Love worthy our pains When thus Inhabitants for Heav'n it gains But Art is needful here as well as Will If we 'd the Laws of Christian Love fulfil When Christ to draw Men to this Love did seek Come learn of me he says for I am meek Meekness the gentlest Art sweetest of Charms All Pow'r t' oppose insensibly disarms Ill Vessels make most gen'rous Wines decay And good turns lose their value by their way The manner of the doing gives the taste A Gift giv'n sourly but runs out to waste Who without Temper the best Counsel give But irritate those they 'd from ill retrieve If Pride or Sharpness thus the Office blend Who can expect to see a better end If therefore well
Who Loves most warmly is the truest Christian. Mr. Waller He to proud Potentates would not be known Of those that lov'd him he was hid from none Till Love appear we live in anxious Doubt But Smoak will vanish when that Flame breaks out This is the Fire that would consume our Dross Refine and make us richer by the Loss XX. The Great Men's Favour or Applause Christ sought not but contemn'd their Noise Did for Disciples take Men of low Fortunes but exalted Minds Where Love the heartiest welcome finds Their Love in them the Object of his Love did make Proud Potentates with all their Train Did unsuccessfully pursue While Curiosity or Hate Did their Enquiries animate Which better than themselves he knew But th' humble Lover never sought in vain Love gives assurance to the pious Mind And do's the Clouds of Doubts dispel From the glad Heart which was a Smoaky Cell Our Dross is by this Fire refin'd And how much more of that we lose The well-try'd Soul the richer grow's How great 's the Price when nought but Love is left behind Mr. Waller Could we forbear Dispute and practise Love We should agree as Angels do Above Where Love presides not Vice alone do's find No Entrance there but Vertues stay behind Both Faith and Hope and all the meaner Train Of Moral Vertues at the Door remain Love only Enters as a Native there For Born in Heav'n it do's but sojourn here Paraph. XXI How blessed were our Earthly State How like to Angels should we be If we could lay aside Debate And in Celestial Love agree Love which do's ev'n in Heav'n preside And there flow's in with Glory's constant Tide From whence not Vice alone must fly But all the meaner Train Of Vertues must behind remain Both Faith and Hope must dye While Love for ever lives in Extasy It do's but wander here from home Not having where to rest its Head ' Ere since the Son of God was dead When fair Astraea truly fled A Native 't is of Heav'n mourns till there it come Mr. Waller He that alone would wise and mighty be Commands that others Love as well as he Love as he lov'd How can we soar so high He can add Wings when he commands to fly Nor should we be with this Command dismay'd He that Example gives will give his Aid For he took Flesh that where his Precepts fail His Practice as a Pattern may prevail His Love at once and Dread instructs our Thought Aâ— Man he suffered and as God he taught Will for the Deed he takes we may with ease Obedient be For if we Love we please Weak tho we are to Love is no hard task And Love for Love is all that Heav'n do's ask Paraph. XXII Our God bears no Competitour In Wisdom or in Pow'r But is so kind to make our Duty lie In rivalling that Love Which do's from him its Fountain flow Whose Streams in us he will improve Till we with him one Ocean grow Perfection he would have in Love And tho our Mortal Pow'rs can't mount so high To reach the Nature of the Deity Yet he sufficient Strength inspires Out of our Selves enabling us to move Himself trac'd out the Paths he 'd have us take Suffer'd as Man while yet as God he spake To shew that Man may do what God requires Where he Commands he gives the Pow'r t' obey And if to him he bids us rise He readily with Wings supplies And guides us on our way Nothing is Man's but his Free Will He of himself is impotent to Good When our Good Will is understood Assistnces Divine our Faculties will fill We may obedient be with ease For if we love we please Love is the whole of us desir'd We 're Objects which the Godhead move When once our Hearts with that are fir'd And sure 't is no hard Task to render Love for Love. Mr. Waller Love that would all Men just and temp'rate make Kind to themselves and others for his sake 'T is with our Minds as with a fertile Ground Wanting this Love they must with Weeds abound Unruly Passions whose Effects are worse Than Thorns and Thistles springing from the Curse Paraph. XXIII Love is a Deity in Mortal Breast Working it up to full Perfection Nor can the Sacred Inmate rest Till it the Man divest Of ev'ry surly Passion It makes us temp'rate makes us just Raises from groveling in the Dust Through that we are afraid To violate what God has made We hurt not others not defile God's Image stamp't on our own Souls But that Alas too fertile Soil Unless sweet Love controuls The other Passions Earthy in allay In their Effects much worse Than Thorns Thistles springing from the Curse Will run up too too fast and bear a fatal Sway. Mr. Waller To Glory Man or Misery is born Of his proud Foe the Envy or the Scorn Wretched he is or happy in extream Base in himself but Great in Heav'ns esteem With Love of all created things the best Without it more pernicious than the rest For greedy Wolves unguarded Sheep devour But while their Hunger lasts and then give ' ore Man's Boundless Avarice his Want exceeds And on his Neighbours round about him feeds His Pride and vain Ambition are so vast That Deluge-like they lay whole Nations waste Paraph. XXIV Man of a middle Nature is And trembling stands betwixt two vast Extreams Ready to fall to Hell or rise to Bliss As Love withdraws or yeilds its quick'ning Beams That to the envy of our Spiritual Foe Array's us in pure Robes of Light If that forsake us we 're a dismal Sight And into Scorn and a meer By-word grow The Div'l can scarce vouchsafe a Look so low But yet how vile soe're we are If Love but shoot its gen'rous Flame Through our complying Frame We in the Eye of Heav'n are Great and Fair. Of all the Creatures here The Human Nature's nighest the Divine While Love 's within the Shrine Without it the remotest do's appear When Savage Beasts pursue But while they 're hungry or their Prey in view And never hunt about for more than Food Man boundless in his Appetite Ev'n in the Mischief do's delight And frames unto himself a Good Which Nature never understood In laying Plots but to destroy What he himself cannot enjoy The ruine of the weeping Neighbours round To Avarice or the Ambitious Thought Is a too narrow Bound A Deluge of Destruction brought To take whole Nations in And swallow up the publick Peace With them 's a glorious Sin They hugg themselves in such Contrivances as these Mr. Waller Debauches and Excess tho with less Noise As great a portion of Mankind destroy's The Beasts and Monsters Hercules opprest Might in that Age some Provinces infest These more destructive Monsters are the Bane Of every Age and in all Nations raign But soon would vanish if the World were bless'd With Sacred Love by which they are repress'd Paraph. XXV Love clears
Passion 's sway Use Reason but to progg for Appetite And carry'd on with warm Delight Make the poor Captive Soveraign obey Till Scripture working on our Passions too Prevailing on our Hope or Fear Those Tyrants which so domineer Laying the Misery and Bliss in view As we the broad or narrow Path pursue Charm's us into an happy State To which for all Mankind it opens wide the Gate Mr. Waller For tho Heaven shows the Glory of the Lord Yet something shines more glorious in his Word His Mercy this which all his Works excells His tender Kindness and Compassion tells While we inform'd by that Celestial Book Into the Bowels of our Maker look Love there reveal'd which never shall have End Nor had Beginning shall our Song commend Describe it self and warm us with that Flame Which first from Heav'n to make us happy came Paraph. VIII God's Glory Heav'n that does his Love declare Love which is God does open lye Exhibited to Mortal Eye Within th' instructing Pages there That Attribute which was our God's Delight Before he made the Sons of Light While the Immense Three One Did entertain Himself alone And shall for ever with him stay When there 's no Change of Night and Day That Essence of the Deity Which in a Living Flame From Heaven to bless us came Shall be the Subject of my Poetry That shall it self describe warming my Verse Me. Mr. Waller The fear of Hell or aiming to be bless't Savour's too much of private Interest This mov'd not Moses nor the Zealous Paul Who for their Friends abandon'd Soul and all A greater yet from Heav'n to Earth descends To save and make his Enemies his Friends What Line of Praise can fathom such a Love Which reach'd the lowest Bottom from Above Paraph. IX They 're narrow Souls who seek their private ends Without regard to Relatives or Friends Not so did Moses and the Zealous Paul Who of th' Extent of human Kindness stand Examples to us all Meek Moses was content to see the Land To'ards which his murmuring Friends he led And then laid down his Aged Head Singing his Requiem for his Work was done As soon as Israel's Rest begun But as'tis thought this humble Soul Much farther yet did reach While he by Love was carryed on And tho by Faith he knew Of an Immortal Roll Where he stood Enter'd with the chosen few Ordain'd to be transported o're From off this horrid Shore 'Gainst which so many Tempests roar Unto a Land of endless Life and Bliss Yet trembling on the naked Beach Under a careless Preterition Contented was to lie Left destitute of more than common Aid To struggle for that blest Eternity Which the Decree of Heav'n to him had certain made X. St. Paul a Man of warmer Temper was Yet this degree of Love he could not pass Finding his Brethren shut without the Pail Depriv'd of that peculiar Grace Which ne're th' inclos'd within the Church can fail In pious Rant he wisht with them to change his Place But how much greater was that Love Which the Eternal Word did move Quitting the full Possession Of all the Glories of his Father's Throne To take our Flesh and suffer Pain That he his Enemies might gain And all their Obstacles to Bliss remove Who can his Thoughts to height sufficient raise Or what Expressions can he find To sute th' Ideas floting in his Mind When he this unexampl'd Act of Love would praise Mr. Waller The Royal Prophet that extended Grace From Heav'n to Earth measur'd but half that space The Law was Regnant and confin'd his Thought Hell was not Conquer'd when that Poet wrote Heav'n was scarce heard of until he came down To make the Region where Love triumphs known Paraph. XI The antient Prophets that Seraphick Tribe Who did Divine Benignity describe While the Dominion of the Law did last And Clouds the Sun of Righteousness o're cast Had more contracted Theams To influence their Holy Dreams Through Heav'n and Earth God's Grace it self had shown But Heil its Power had never known And Heav'n it self was darkly drawn Till the bright Day did dawn Which shew'd on Earth God's only Son He a free Prospect of that Region brought Where Light and Joy and Love do far exceed all Thought Mr. Waller That early Love of Creatures yet unmade To frame the World th' Almighty did perswade For Love it was that first created Light Mov'd on the Waters chac'd away the Night From the rude Chaos and bestow'd new Grace On things disposed to their proper Place Some to Rest here and some to shine Above Earth Sea and Heav'n were all th' Effects of Love. And Love would be return'd but there was none That to themselves or others yet were known The World a Pallace was without a Guest Till one appears that must excel the rest One like the Author whose capacious Mind Might by the glorious Work the Maker find Might measure Heav'n and give each Star a Name With Art and Courage the rough Ocean tame Over the Globe with swelling Sails might go And that 't is round by his Experience know Make strongest Beasts obedient to his Will And serve his Use the fertil Earth to Till When by his Word God had accomplish'd all Man to create he did a Council call Employ'd his Hand to give the Dust he took A Graceful Figure and Majestick Look With his own Breath convey'd into his Breast Life and a Soul fit to command the rest Worthy alone to celebrate his Name For such a Gift and tell from whence it came Birds sing his Praises in a wilder Note But not with lasting Numbers and with Thought Mans great Prerogative Paraph. XII Love in the Bosom of the Godhead lay Before the Creatures into Being rose Through this to frame the World he chose He spake and passive Matter did obey That Spirit which did on the Waters move And with its brooding Wings hatcht Vital Heat Which spreading o're the formless Deep Did the Worlds outward Lines compleat Was nothing else but mighty Love Whence charming Symmetry did smiling leap And through the gloomy heap Diffus'd a grateful Light That Banisht Chaos with its horrid Night When the Proportions finisht were Love then the Features and the Graces drew About the rising World it flew Distinguisht and adorn'd the Waters Earth and Air. A Stately Pallace it did build And furnisht to amazement every Room Curious Plantations round about it made With Grassy Walks which ever Greens did shade And Fruit-Trees interspersed were Enricht with Fruit or gay with Bloom Each Herb and Plant and Flow'r was there With many an Avi'ary 't was fill'd And Entertainments for the Eye Of all the Beasts that move or Birds that fly And Creeping things in vast variety As if to Court some great Inhabitant were laid XIII This glorious Scene with more than Verse can sing Being prepar'd by the Eternal King Man newly cast i' th' Heav'nly Mold From off his flowry Bed do's rise He casts
the Earthly Dreggs away Which would ferment within Making us eager with tumult'ous Sin Which brings our fretting Bodies to decay Debauches more destructive far Than livid Plague or bloody War In every Nation sway Tho Hercules might Monsters quell And the Augoean Stables clean From horrid Filth and Beasts obscene His Labours were much more confin'd Than Love's whose Task is all Mankind The Place less foul Monsters less fell Than what Love cleanses and subdues in Humane Mind Mr. Waller Impendent Death and Guilt that threatens Hell Are dreadful Guests which here with Mortals dwell And a vext Conscience mingling with their Joy Thoughts of Dispair do's their whole Life annoy But Love appearing all those Terrors fly We live contented and contented dye They in whose Breast this Sacred Love has place Death as a Passage to their Joy embrace Paraph. XXVI When the first Clouds o're Human Mind were spread And Vapours from the Earth press't Love Divine Which kept with Innocence a constant shine Man's humble Confidence and Courage fled Darkness and Terror seiz'd his Soul He felt within a gnawing Pain An Omen and an Earnest too Of Death and that ensuing Woe In which he must for ever rowl If Love resign him to a worse controul Leaving his rav'nous Lusts to raign Yet all the Anguish and Dispair Which here the Wretches Entrails tear But a faint prospect show Of what for him hereafter must remain All other Comforts do with Love retire 'T is that which keeps our Spirits up And sweetens the most bitter Cup And did not Grace renew its Fire After Man's Fall all Travellers Below would tire Nor can they mount Above But on the Wings of Love That do's with Comforts here supply And carry's us to Heaven when we dye Whither we oft before in Flames of Love did fly Mr. Waller Clouds and thick Vapours which obscure the Day The Sun 's Victor'ous Beams may chase away Those which our Life corrupt and darken Love The Nobler Star must from the Soul remove Spots are observ'd in that which bounds the Year This brighter Sun moves in a boundless Sphere Of Heav'n the Joy the Glory and the Light Shines among Angels and admits no Night Paraph. XXVII As the Sun Vapours Love do's us exhale Do's by Degrees refine And make us all Divine Melting away what e're was frail That which at first was cloud And did the Lightsome Body shroud Will turn into that active Orb Which never leaves its course till it the whole absorb Whatever Spots may in that Sun appear Which guides the Day and bounds the Year The Sun of Love in Heav'n its Sphere Is with unblemish'd Lustre bright It here but a weak Twilight keeps And Day through Cloudy Curtains peeps What thought can reach those Raptures of Delight Which do those blessed Souls await Who freed from every Earthly weight And all the Seeds of dull Mortality In an Eternal Sunshine lye Under great Love's transforming Eye Which works their Bodies to a Spirit'al Frame And guilds them over with that Flame Which do's th' Angelique Host array That Joy that Glory that perpetual Day Of which an adequate Ideae were Ev'n Heav'n it self Below Do's from the Beatifick Vision flow Of Everlasting Love smiling from 's Starry Chair Mr. Waller This Iron Age so fradulent and bold Touch'd with this Love would be an Age of Gold Not as they faign'd that Oaks should Honey drop Or Land neglected bear an unsown Crop. Paraph. XXVIII This Iron Age the very Dross of Time Love would with alterative touch sublime And bring again the Golden Prime Not such as lazy Poets idly feign In Phlegmatick Old Saturn's Raign While Nature prodigal o' th' beaut'ous store Requir'd no Courtship to unlock her Heart But like a Prostitute and easy Whore Did to each Comer all her Wealth impart But tho Dame Nature's more reserv'd and coy And looks for Labour and the utmost Care Of them who would her Favours share And many after all cannot the least enjoy Love which diffus'd is Charity Would all Mankind supply While he who did successful prove And here Success is all Be'ing taught Humanity by God-like Love Would think himself bound to divide To them whose Needs did call As much as to prevent his own Child's fall A Plank cast out to sinking Men Bore down ill Fortune's unresisted Tide With a rich Lading do's return agen What solid Joy what sober Pride From a good Act effective springs Nor Field nor Traffick such Improvement brings A charitable Man 's a God Below And with his raised Head do's touch the Sky While others turn'd to Beasts of Prey Upon the Ground in wait for Mischief lye Nor Pleasures more exalted know Than what a Wolf enjoys tearing a bleating Stray Mr. Waller Love would make all things easy safe and cheap None for himself would either Sow of Reap Our ready Help and Mutual Love would yeild A nobler Harvest than the richest Feild Famine and Dearth confin'd to certain parts Extended are by barrenness of Hearts Some pine for Want where others Surfeit now But then we should the use of Plenty know Love would betwixt the Rich and Needy stand And spread Heav'ns Bounty with an equal Hand At once the Givers and Receivers bless Encrease their Joy and make their Suff'rings less Paraph. XXIX 'T was want of Love which first gave price to Gold When they to whom kind Heav'n did lend More than their Families could spend And of the Overplus its Steward 's made The Sacred Trust betray'd And what they should distribute basely sold. This put the Scepter into Fortune's Hand And she who was despis'd before By Man's consent a Crown Imperi'al wore With Life and Death put under her Command Her Frown gave Ruin to whole Families Without her Favour none could rise While Men might takeout of the common Store And no Man treasur'd for himself alone Nor ought beyond his Needs esteem'd his own None were unfortunate or poor Nature is bountiful Man is not so But when her flatt'ning Streams would flow Enriching all the Plains below Men with their Damns divert her Course And into narrow Bounds diffusive Nature force XXX All things would easy be and cheap Did Love the Key of the great Store-house keep If here the Earth deceive the Lab'rers Toil Another meets with more returning Soil Famine and Dearth never from Nature came She always gave enough for all If to engrossing Hands it fall 'T is not the barren Land but barren Heart Which ought to bear the blame The Heart where Love did never shine Or one compassio'nating Ray impart Love would not suffer some for Want to pine While others Surfeit with excess And turn into a Curse what was ordain'd to bless Love like a Fav'rite Minister of Heav'n That ne're to execute its Wrath was sent But many 'a threatning Vial did prevent With Pow'r Divine of Blessing giv'n Betwixt the Scramblers of the Earth would stand And spread its Riches with an equal Hand He whose
Endeavours did the best succeed Would think his Riches lay in helping others need Mr. Waller Who for himself no Miracle would make Dispens'd with Nature for the People's sake Paraph. XXXI The Lord of all things while he travell'd here Found the whole World was Canton'd out And nothing left for th' Universal Heir Besides a breathing Place i' th' open Air. Not having where to rest his Head Or Table for his Hunger spread With Pilgrim's Weed and Fare wandring about Yet Nature but his Handmaid was Nor could have disobey'd his Voice If of her Stock he had but made his Choice The Stewards must have let it pass Nay Stony Hearts or Doors of Brass Could not the winged Wealth have kept All things would to their Lord have gladly leapt Were the Earth's Fruits not fit for taste Ev'n at his Touch they 'd into Ripeness haste A Miracle was nothing more Than an exertion of his Natural Pow'r Yet freely did he rigid Chances bear And but for others wants would not a God appear Mr. Waller He that long Fasting would no Wonder show Made Loaves and Fishes as they eat them grow Of all his Pow'r which boundless was Above Here he us'd none but to express his Love. And such a Love would make our Joy exceed Not when our own but other Mouths we feed Paraph. XXXII When th' utmost Stress on 's Human Nature lay Through Fasting ready just to faint away While Satan o're him did insulting stand Hoping when spent he 'd fall his Prey He would not the least Miracle command But when desire of Spirit'al Food Drew to his Side the hungry Multitude Love soon engag'd his Pow'r Divine And then he was a God indeed When he created Food unto their need And did by wonderful Production Thousands dine What e're he did while here Below Came from the Principle of Love. Love was the Vertue which did from him flow His Meat and Drink were to fulfil His Heav'nly Father's Will Of doing good to Men. If his Disciples we 'd our Selves approve No Victory would yeild us so much Joy As taking from ill Fate Pow'r to destroy Those whom the Monster hurry'd to its Den Bringing most comfortable Aid To them were posting to th' Infernal Shade Worn out with wasting Woes yet still of worse afraid Mr. Waller Laws would be useless which rude Nature awe Love changing Nature would prevent the Law. Tygers and Lions into Dens we thrust But milder Creatures with their Freedom trust Devils are chain'd and tremble But the Spouse No Force but Love nor Bond but Bounty knows Men whom we now so fierce and dang'rous see Would Guardian Angels to each other be Such Wonders can this mighty Love perform Vultures to Doves Wolves into Lambs transform Love what Isaiah prophesied can do Exalt the Valleys lay the Mountains low Humble the Lofty the Dejected raise Smooth and make streight our rough and crooked ways Love strong as Death and like it levels all With that possest the Great in Title fall Themselves esteem'd but equal to the least Whom Heav'n with that high Character has blest This Love the Center of our Union can Alone bestow compleat Repose on Man Tame his wild Appetite make inward Peace And Foreign Strife among the Nations cease Paraph. XXXIII As Love decay'd Men sunk below their kind Thence to Humanity they 're Strangers found The Brutal part Superior to the Mind Where gen'rous Lions spare they meanly wound And their wild Lusts spread Death and Plagues around The Hopes or Terrors of a Future State Have with the most but little weight If they can solace here they 'l leave the rest to Fate Wherefore 't was needful sudden Pain And Punishment expected here Should the bold Head-strong Bruits restrain A Lion or a Bear i' th' way Would stop a Passion in its full Carier And what Temptation could prevail When all the Spirits sink and fail The Pleasure dissipated by the Fear This made the thinking part of Human kind Who had observ'd each turning of the Mind And could the Wilder into Tameness stroak Devise with Laws the stubborn Necks to Yoak With Spikes of Steel the Yoaks were set Mars did not struggle more in vain When caught in sooty Vulcan's Net Than they to break what they themselves ordain With Mulcts ill-Habits by degrees are broke But as poor Lunatick that feels his fit From lucid Intervals his Spirits alarm Do's to those welcom Cords submit Which may prevent his threatned Harm Yet at full-Tide of the Disease Whatever keeps from Mischief do's displease So 't is with Man in yeilding to the Law Which do's th' Impulses of depraved Nature awe XXXIV But Love all this would supersede That is a gentle Law within Which with sweet Force subdues the Law of Sin Love's Votaries no Rigors need All things are quiet where its Halcyons breed A smiling Calm do's smooth the Face Where Love sits brooding at the Heart Where e're it comes it scatters many'a Grace And do's a melting Warmth impart Which would dissolve the hardest Stone But with what Radiancy it shines When it has Female Wax to work upon Where it from little Coynesses refines And in one Will the Wife and Husband joyns All Ties but Love are laid aside Duty 's a Word that would divide What 's askt in Love was ne're by Love deny'd A pleasing Symphony each other charms As they go bound one in the others Arms While Div'ls are chain'd and Div'l like Men In loathsom Prisons lie confin'd And like fierce Tygers shut up in a Den With their vain Ravings spent sullenly grieve Where Love emancipates the Mind The Man 's as free as unpent Air Yet can no more Love's Object leave When he has chose the good and fair Than he to taste Joys unforbidden can forbear XXXV For working Wonders Love has mighty Pow'r Strange Transformations it can make They whose Delight was to devour A diff'rent gentle Nature take From Beasts to Men from Men t'Angellick kind By that we Changes in an Instant find Heav'ns winged Ministers sent out to guard The chosen few to Mansions there prepar'd Hardly more vigilant and tender prove Than they who Metamorphos'd are by Love. Love can Isaiah's Prophecy fulfil Exalt the Vale lay low the Hill Raise them that are Below and humble those Above No Man so high but would rejoice to fall To a great Soul who stands the Mark of Fate Yet spite of envious Fortune will be Great And God himself to th' Spectacle do's call To see him like an unmov'd Rock Stand the rude Billows empty shock And dash them back into the Face of Heav'n Until so well such brave Adventures please God smooths the Surface of the raging Seas And lets him reach Love's Haven then with ease Through Love alone our Happiness is giv'n Our Glory there and here our Peace And did this Rule Wars would amongst the Nations cease Mr. Waller No Martial Trumpet should disturb our Rest Nor Princes Arm tho to subdue the East Where for
the Tomb so many Heros taught By those that guided their Devotion fought Thrice happy we could we like Ardour have To gain his Love as they to win his Grave Love as he lov'd A Love so unconfin'd With Arms extended would embrace Mankind Self-Love would cease or be dilated when We should behold as many Selves as Men All of one Family in Blood Ally'd His precious Blood that for our Ransom dy'd Paraph. XXXVI The Drums or Trumpets horrid sound Would not the boding Heart with Terror wound Nor would the Princes cloath themselves with Steel While they than that no more relentings feel Tho 't were to gain our Saviour's Monument And like the Ark from the curst Philistines To bring it unto Israel's happy Tent. Many brave Lives were lost in such Designs Whilst subtile Men wheadling the Heros in Did unobserv'd to Empire rise These did some useless Lawrels win But they enjoy'd the solid Prize How might we pity such misguided Zeal How much these Heros would behind us come If we like Transports of Desire could feel To gain his Love as they to win his Tomb. And if his Love could ours excite To labour at an equal height With that which would embrace Mankind And grieves to see so many lagg behind For want of Love to Wing them to his Arms. Did we that Pattern emulate Self-Love would wholly cease Or else it self o're Human Race dilate While each another Self in 's Neighbour sees Whose ev'ry Vein the same Blood warms That Blood which virt'ally was shed An Antidote as soon as Sin 's first Poyson spread Mr. Waller Tho the Creation so Divinely Taught Prints such a lively Image in our Thought That the first Spark of new created Light From Chaos struck affects our present Sight Yet the first Christians did esteem more blest The Day of Rising than the Day of Rest That every Week might new occasion give To make his Triumph in their Mem'ry Live. Paraph. XXXVII To make the World and in it Man Th' Almighty Architect t' Adore Do's less of Love Divine declare Than his decayed Image to repair And when with Sins 't was sullied o're It s former Luster to restore Tho the Description giv'n us from Above Of God's first Workmanship do's strongely move And 't is so lively drawn That ev'n the first Days dawn Seems to affect our present Sight As if we saw the new created Light Just out of Chaos raise its beamy Head While as the Hemisphere it smiling spread In haste the frightful Shadows fled And the approach of unknown Day Disperst the Doemons which here wall'wing lay Yet the first Christians justly chose To praise that Day when God from 's Grave arose Before his Rest when the great Work was done And thus each Week they celebrate the rising Sun. Mr. Waller Then let our Muse compose a Sacred Charm To keep his Blood among us ever warm And singing as the Blessed do Above With our last Breath dilate this Flame of Love. But on so vast a Subject who can find Words that may reach th' Ideas of his Mind Our Language fails or if it could supply What Mortal Thought can raise it self so high Despairing here we might abandon Art And only hope to have it in our Heart Paraph. XXXVIII Then let our Muse transported with his praise Unto his Memory an Altar raise And each Lord's Day offer devoted Lays Singing and spreading out the Flame of Love Until it touch the Flaming Seat Above Where in its Element the Soul shall rest With the Reward of Love for ever blest Love the Ambrosia at the Heav'nly Feast Who can those thronging Images express That fill the Mind intent on such a Theam We here must needs our Poverty confess Where what we think is less than what we feel An Angels Hand with a Sun Beam Might such a Subject trace While we poor Earth-born Race Despairing to describe its meanest Grace Contentedly may rest Having this Deity within our Breast Tho meanly lodg'd there it delights to dwell If we cherish it with care Th' Endearments passing there No Tongue can tell No Thought can reach The Mind 's confounded when 't would dictate to the Speech Mr. Waller But tho we find this Sacred Task too hard Yet the Design th'Endeavour brings Reward The Contemplation do's suspend our Woe And makes a Truce with all the Ills we know As Saul's afflicted Spirit from the sound Of David's Harp a present Solace found So on this Theam while we our Muse engage No Wounds are felt of Fortune or of Age. On Divine Love to meditate is Peace And makes all care of meaner things to cease Paraph. XXXIX Yet the Design the bare Endeavour brings Reward beyond the Crowns of Kings The Swan can feel no Pain that dying sings And he who thinks of Sacred Love Do's with that Contemplation tune his Mind Nor can what from without do's move Disturb the Musick he within do's find While that about the Soul do's play All Ills and Evil Spirits keep away Not David's Harp with sweeter ease Did charm the Furious Saul And make his ravisht Madness fall Than this suspends our raging Woes We know not how we lose The Thoughts of what we were before And while that Harmony takes up the Soul Nothing about us can displease Love to it Self converts the whole We just are knocking at Heav'ns Door Being with all the World at Peace Just just approaching to become meer Deities Mr. Waller Amaz'd at once and comforted to find A boundless Pow'r so infinitely kind The Soul contending to that Light to fly From her dark Cell we practise how to dye Emplying thus the Poets winged Art To reach this Love and grave it in our Heart Joy so compleat so solid and severe Would leave no Place for meaner Pleasures there Pale they would look as Stars that must be gon When from the East the rising Sun comes on Paraph. XL. With what surprize of Joy do we admire Infinite Love mixt with unbounded Pow'r The Flames all Lambent which might well devour Us who lay under the Almighty's Ire Till he the Image of his Love Divine Sent down on Earth to shine And be a Leading Light To them that groap'd in gloomy Night Where Spectres of Eternal Death affright And raise them to Love's Glorious Throne Whither the Soul may often fly Upon the Wings of Contemplation Abstracted from its sordid Cell And that blest Time anticipate When free from ev'ry Weight Nor subject more to Fate We shall to live for ever dye And leave our Inn Below in Heav'n to dwell The noblest Rise and boldest Flights That thitherward are made Are by the Muses Aid Verse softens and prepares for those Delights Which Angels do in Numbers sing Numbers which raise the Soul upon the Wing And to the Beatifick view Of Love's bright Face do bring Where Holy David singing to his Lyre Sits with the highest of the Heav'nly Quire Telling his Bliss in Verses ever new The thoughts of Joys so solid and severe Aim'd at in Verse by Mortal Poets here Make meaner Pleasures shrink away As the less Lights the Stars when Phoebus brings the Day FINIS 2 King. 2. 21. Iob. 38. 7.
about his wondring Eyes And do's with springing Joy behold Th' unsully'd Beauties on Earth's Bosom spread But as to Heav'n hâ—â—is'd his Head And saw that Orb of Light Which shot it self into his sight Unpractis'd Reason rose above that Sphear Then whereso'ere he look'd he found The presence of a God appear Who from his Holy Seat touch'd Adah's Heart And did Devotion 's warmth impart As Phoebus's Beams from Heav'n do strike the Ground What 's for Man's Use or his Diversion here From God's meer Word and careless Fiat came But Man his Image his own Hand did frame By the Idea he is Counsel wrought Th' Effect of calm Debate and deepest Thought He fill'd his working Breast With an Etherial Flame And with the Breath of Life he had himself impress't XIV Him his Vicegerent o're the World did make And Marks of Empire in his Face And Countenance erect did place Which also Monitors might prove To mind him of his Debt to praise that Love From whence he did what e're he is partake Next to the Angels Man alone Is fit to aim at Praises due To that bless't Pow'r who from his Starry Throne Surveys and blesses what through him we doe The Birds do warble out his Praise In pretty tuneful Notes They to his Glory strain their Throats And ev'n in us an Emulation raise Yet here 't is Man alone can Tribute bring Of lasting Numbers and of weighty Thought Unto the Altars of the Heav'nly King Who will no Service pay but what sound Reason brought Angels which struggle not with Flesh and Blood To whom it is their Nature to be good Can be but what they are While Man with Reason rises by Degrees Feels with his Love his Happiness increase And still comes nigher Heav'n till he at last be there XV. Man in his better part Little inferiour to the Pow'rs Above In full Fruition of Eternal Love Upon the Wings of Thought aspires To warm himself with the bright Heav'nly Fires And with a wond'rous Art Derives from thence Some knowledg of their secret Influence By Numbers sacred Magick views The Heights and Distances which each obtain And the Directions learns to use Of Laeda's Sons and Charles his Wain On the unbeaten Paths of the tempestu'ous Main XVI But when the Lamps of Heav'n enclos'd Within the Sable Curtains of the Night Afford no friendly Light But leave him to wide Seas expos'd Thrô Nat'ral Magick then succeeding to Divine The trembling Needle proves a steddy Guide As that does to its Pole incline He finds where 's shatter'd Ship does ride Thus Love the Loadstone of alluring Love Touching the tender Heart Glides with a gentle trembling thro each part And a safe Guide to Happiness does prove Where this Magnetick Force prevails There needs no Cynosure The Passage to secure As thrô Life's troubled Seas one sails Yet no true Harbour can be found Where all the Labours of the wand'ring Soul Can with Success be crown'd Until it ever rest fixt to its radiant Pole. Mr. Waller But above all His Grace abounds in his new Favorites fall If he creates it is a World he makes If he be angry the Creation shakes From his just Wrath our guilty Parents fled He curs'd the Earth but bruis'd the Serpent's Head. Amidst the Storm his Bounty did exceed In the rich Promise of the Virgin 's Seed Paraph. XVII That Love which takes the whole Creation in Strange Paradox chiefly abounds In the new Fav'rites shameful sin When Satan first began his Rounds Without a Fall Man ne're to Heav'n could rise 'T is from the Brink of Hell we reach the Skyes Had Man in Paradise continued still He never had unhappy been His Mind had always been serene Not taken up with care to live Or any Accident to make him grieve Yet this would not have given the Soul its fill That which brought Love to dwell on Earth And from a Virgin have its glorious Birth Did justly raise our Hopes to such Degree That we may say Bliss came from Miserie The Serpent's Poyson brought the Sp'rit of Life Nor could we ever have receiv'd a Crown Unless the fatal Strife Had brought the Son of God to Raise us when w'were down Mr. Waller Tho Justice Death as Satisfaction craves Love finds a Way to pluck us from our Graves Not willing Terror should his Image move He gives a Pattern of Eternal Love. His Son descends to Treat a Peace with those Which were and must have ever been his Foes Poor he became and left his Glorious Seat To make us Humble and to make us Great His Business here was Happiness to give To those whose Malice would not let him live Paraph. XVIII God's Image planted in the Human Breast Sin had defac'd and Misery oppress 't Nor could they look for less to come Than an Eternity of Woes Who of themselves were thus become To the Almighty Pow'r perpetual Foes Yet for their sake the Darling Son Who in his Bosom equal lay Through Love prevailing on his Choice was won Here to possess an House of Clay And bear all Incidents to Mortal State. To Pescue us from our deserved Fare Man's Sin did interrupt his Bliss As by Earth's Vapours Heav'n beclouded is Nor could the Throne of Glory please With all the Happiness Above Whilst us in Sin he weltring sees An Object which might well Divine Compassion move Himself he humbled to exalt Those who lay low through their own Fault When first they did from Heav'n and Him revolt His only Bus'ness while he sojourn'd here Was Happiness to give To those who would not let him live Nor the Reproach of his unspotted Life could bear Mr. Waller Legions of Angels which he might have us'd For us resolv'd to perish he refus'd While they stood ready to prevent his loss Love took him up and nail'd him to the Cross. Immortal Love which in his Bowels raign'd That we might be by such a Love constrain'd To make Return of Love. Upon this Pole Our Duty do's and our Religion rowl To Love is to believe to hope to know 'T is an Essay a Taste of Heav'n below Paraph. XIX In vain had all the Pow'rs of Earth and Hell Against his Life conspir'd Had he the Ministry requir'd Of the bright Troop made to Attend his Will He suffered Men his Blood to spill And for their Sins a willing Sacrifice he fell When from this Vale of Miseries He might have gone directly to the Skyes And th' utmost Regions of Eternal Day Love nail'd him to the Cross stop't him by the way Shall not such Love as this constrain To make Return of Love again Was Love for Love ever a Pain And shall our Saviour Love and dye for us in vain Hard-hearted Man who when his Duty lies In ans'ering Nature's most delightful Tyes Cannot be soft enough to Love and to be wise Love is the whole of Man 'T is Faith 't is Hope 't is Knowledg too 'T is an Essay of Heav'n below