of Man Oh! let our Souls be arm'd with courage bold Whilst we this furious Battel do behold Before the Fight begins do you not hear How he doth cry unto his Father dear O let this Cup from me Lord pass away If it be possible Let it I pray Pass from me that of it I may not drink Until this time he never seem'd to shrink From any pain conflict or suffering This Combat is alas a different thing From what before he ever met withal From hence he did unto his Father call Once and again repeating of his cry It 'h sense of what was now approaching nigh Some may at this 't is likely much admire That our dear Saviour should so loud desire To be deliver'd from that bitter Cup Which was prepared for him to drink up It did not rise for his unwillingness But from the pain the anguish and distress 'T would bring him to this humane Nature's weak From thence he might such supplications make Ah! wrath Divine what humane Soul can beaâ— But of Divinity he hath his share Which doth again his fainting spirit chear And such support he needs Cast but an Eye See how the Combatants with fury fly Upon each other What a Battel 's here Enough to melt our Souls into a tear Lo the first blow that Sin and Wrath doth give It is the worst he ever did receive Behold how frightfully grim Wrath doth frown Nay more the Prince seems by their strength cast down Now Sin Wrath upon him both do lie Which makes him groan and bitterly to cry With panting breast and half-expiring Breath My Soul is sorrowful ev'n unto Death Can the great Prince of Earth and Heaven feel Such heavy strokes as thus to make him reel The dismal weight of Sin this doth declare None but a JESVS could it fully bear Happy are we as the blest Prophet said Our Help was upon One that 's mighty laid Could man or Angel ev'r have born all this And not have been cast down to th'deepst Abyss Nay of this mighty One Saint Mark hath rais'd Our Wonder higher He was sore amaz'd Nay more than this he fell upon the Ground No Soul before such anguish ever found To see the Lord of Life brought to the Earth Under the pressure of God's heavy Wrath And that he suffer'd all this in our stead May make our Souls to stand astonished Especially if to these Trials we Shall add his great and bloody Agony Wherein the sweat fell from him as he stood In Crimson dy like trickling drops of blood Ah! precious Lord this work was very sore But still thy Love and it s blest Vertue 's more Through all these Toils thou graspst at Victory And Captive lead'st at last Captivity If Sin that day had not receiv'd a fall Grim Death and Hell had quickly swallow'd all The race of Man we all had been undone No help no hope no life for any one Sin was condemn'd it had a fatal blow That now to Saints it little hurt can do But to proceed here I shall now relate Some things which very much do aggravate The sufferings which Christ in 's Soul indur'd When he this Conquest for our Souls procur'd No greater sorrows did he ever know Than those which then his Soul did undergo Several Circumstances which demonstrate the Greatness of our Saviours sufferings in his Soul in the Garden First They did not seize him with the least surprize From thence oft-times doth great Amazement rise Unto poor Mortals we are not aware Oft-times what 's nigh know nothing of the snare But thus 't was not with the blest Prince of Light What can be hid from Great Jehovah's sight He knew full well what would upon him fall Yet when it came so great surpassing all Were th' Griefs he felt he in amaze doth call Unto his Father dear most earnestly If 't were his will to let that Cup pass by Secondly It was the very thing he came to do And yet cry'd out in such sad sort O who Can then conceive what he did undergo He freely did his precious Life give up And yet he 's ready to refuse the Cup. He takes it as it were into his hand Most willingly but presently doth stand Pausing a while then puts it to his Lip And after he had took one bitter sip Looks up to Heav'n and cryes O may it be Thy will dear God this Cup might pass from me Thirdly He knew unless he drank it up that we Must perish All to all Eternitie And that his coming would prove all in vain If he refused for us to be slain And yet with sighs and groans how did he cry In sense of wrath and that extremity Which he beheld would quickly overtake him When once his blessed Father did forsake him Fourthly The Angels which did there to him appear Demonstrate plain how great his sorrows were For like as one distressed makes complaint Quite tired out and all his spirits faint Needs to be strengthned by some faithful Friend So God to him did Holy Angels send For to relieve and comfort him that Day When Sin and Wrath so heavy on him lay Fifthly But what 's Assistance from an Heavenly Host To the great Power of the Holy Ghost Some little measure of the Spirit hath Caused blest Saints to triumph over Death How have they sung with flames about their Ears Contemning pains regardless of all fears This Spirit rested on him bodily Without measure and yet how doth he cry As scarce well knowing which way to bear up Whilst he partakes of this most painful Cup. This greatly doth his suff'rings amplify To humane sense if weighed seriously Sixthly O Lord what means these melting sighs and Tears Why is thy Soul amaz'd why fill'd with Fears Ah! 't is enough to break our hearts to think Upon that bitter potion thou didst drink Thou knewst thy sorrows would be quickly o're And then thou shouldst ne'r sigh nor suffer more 'T was from thy worth both Wrath and Justice cryes We are appeas'd with this thy Sacrifice Might not the shortness of this Conflict yield Thee some Relief Besides thou knew'st the Field Thou shouldst obtain the Conquest was thine own And quickly too the Conflict would be gone I' th midst of Wars or anguish Men indure If any can them certainly assure That in short time their Troubles will be over They straight rouse up their spirits to recover And patiently resolve to bear the smart For this is like a Cordial to the Heart All this thou knew'st and more abundantly Yet Sins dire weight so heavily did lie That with strong groans horror thou didst cry The Torments Lord of Hell took hold on thee Our Souls from that devouring Wrath to free But why didst thou into a Garden go Thus to encounter with the hellish Foe Was it because there first began our woe Or was it Lord to have us call to mind When we in Walks and Gardens pleasures find What thou didst
For the great God who form'd the Heav'n Earth Doth look upon himself as wrong'd thereby For he that sins doth little less than fly I' th very face of his blest Majesty And when the Son of Glory hither came O how was he exposed unto shame It brought his Sacred Person in disgrace When Sinners vile spat in his Heavn'ly face They taunt him with base terms and being bound They scourged him he bled but the worst wound Was in his Soul occasioned by Sin And thou thereby woundst him most sore agin O wilt thou paddle in the pure stream Of precious Bloud contemn it O extream And hideous Monster dost thou hug the Knife Which wounded him yea took away his Life And will let out thy blood though now it be Delighted in and loved much by thee Of Wonders strange and Prodigies that are Amazing unto all who of them bear None can come nigh or be compar'd to this A Prodigie of Prodigies it is Of Love and Lover ne'r the like was known Nor was the like Ingratitude e're shown The one doth love beyond all admiration And suffer'd things beyond humane relation And he a King but she a filthy brute A beggar vile and yet denies his Suit Question From whence is it O why will she not close With this great Lord how can she still oppose His oft-repeated proffers how not yet Yield unto him pray what 's the cause of it Answer 'T is not in her own power to dispose Her self in marriage also here are those Who dwell with her and her Relations be Who spoil the match or the affinitie Which otherwise in all appearance might Be throughly made with Jesus Prince of Light Two proud Relations loftily stand off Who urge her to reject him with a scoff The one is Will a very churlish piece Who all along for Sin and Satan is The other's Judgment once most grave and wise But now with Will both cursed Enemies To God and Christ true Piety oppose And lead the Soul with evil ways to close 'T is they who must dispose of her if she E're yield to Christ his dearest Spouse to be But Sin has so by craft corrupted them And drawn them to its party they contemn This glorious Lover and will not consent The Soul should yield to him or should repent And so break off with other Lovers who She yet doth love and loth is to for-go Besides them in her house doth also dwell An Enemy call'd Old-man known full well To be a grand and horrid Instrument To keep the Soul from granting her consent O! he 's the cause of all the inward strife And hates the thoughts she should become his Wife And will prevent it if he can find out Meet ways and means to bring the same about Nay such a Foe this Old-man is indeed That till he 's slain by th' Spirit or does bleed Or weakned in his power ne'r will she With the Lord Christ firmly united be Slight wounds wo'nt do he must be slain out-right Such is his rage his subtilty and spite Against this happy match till he 's near dead It cannot be in truth accomplished Therefore expect to hear of his black doom Before the sweet espousal Day doth come There 's also yet another Inmate I Perceive dwells in her house which by and by You 'l hear much of who all her secrets knows And can her very inward thoughts disclose His name is Conscience whose Power 's so great That in her house he hath a Regal Seat These three Allies by Old-man so corrupted Have all along the business interrupted They naturally are opposite to Grace And are far more inclined to give place To sensual Objects and the Prince o' th Night And so betray the Soul for want of light Into their hands of whom you heard before Who secretly design for ever-more To take away her life and quite undo her Whilst flatteringly they promise peace unto her The Soul 's deprav'd and captivated so It chuses Evil and lets Jesus go The chiefest good and takes the chiefest evil Being by nature acted by the Devil This well consider'd may the cause discover Why she denies to entertain this Lover The Soul is dead and cannot see nor hear 'T is sensless as a stone a stone can bear The greatest weight and neither break nor melt Souls dead to God ne'r love-sick passions felt Unto this day nor can they love until They are convinc'd of sin and all the ill They have committed ' gainst his holy Will Being sensible hereof then with strong cryes They fly to God for salve to o'pe their Eys The Eys affect the Heart when thou canst see Christ will be dear and not till then to thee The Conscience first is always wrought upon Which never is effectually done But by the Spirits Pow'r and operation Which sets it equally against transgression But lest I should be tedious I 'le forbear Craving attention to what follows here CHAP. III. Shewing Christ's Heavenly and admirable Beauty Riches Bounty Power and Wisdom Theologue WILT thou be cruel to so dear a Friend Upon thy self 't will fall poor Soul i th' end Did not Rebeckâ— yiel'd and chuse to go With Abram's servant and wilt thou say no What was an Isaac unto him whom I Desire thee to fix thy tender Eye Upon was Isaac fair and wealthy too Or was he great Ah Soul will such things do If beauty wealth or honour thou dost prize I do present one now before thine Eys That is the Object this alone is he None none like him did ever mortals see He is all fair in him 's not one ill feature Ten thousand times more fair than any Creature That lives or ever lived on the Earth His Beauty so amazingly shines forth Angelick Nature is enamor'd so They love him dearly and admire him too His Head is like unto the purest Gold His curled Tresses lovely to behold And such a brightness sparkles from his Eys As when Aurora gilds the Morning skies And though so bright yet lovely like the Doves Charming all hearts where râ—â—is diviner Loves Look on his beauteous Cheeks and thou 'lt espy The Rose of Sharon deckt in Royaltie His smiling Lips his speech and words so sweet That all delights and joy in them do meet Which tends at once to ravish ear and sight And to a kiss all heavenly Souls invite The Image of his Father 's in his face His inward parts excel he 's full of grace If Heaven and Earth can make a rare Complexion Without a spot or the least imperfection Here here it is it in this Prince doth shine He 's altogether lovely all Divine 1. His Beauty is so much desirable No Souls that see it any ways are able For to withstand the influ'nce of the same They 'r so enamour'd with it they proclaim There 's none like him in Earth nor Heav'n above It draws their hearts and makes them fall in love Immediately so that they cannot stay From
stable Moths can't corrupt them nor can Thieves be able To rob us of them Nay yet further-more He that hath them what e're comes can't be poor His Riches can't be spent his Treasury Cannot exhausted be nor yet drawn dry These Riches will rejoyce thee make thee glad Revive thy heart and God will never add Sorrow with them whilst thou dost live on earth They 'l quiet thee and fill thy Soul with mirth They 'l be a breast of such sweet Consolation That when all other dwellers in the Nation Shall be perplext through loss of earthly gain Thou shalt be satisfied and remain In perfect peace nought shall distress thy mind When they shall nought save horrid anguish find Though Gold and Silver will not satisfie The Soul of Man yet this I do espy The loss of them and other earthly things It grief and sorrow to the Spirit brings And so uncertain are things of the world Though here to night e're morning all are hurlâ—d Away from him who now possession hath Like to a bubble are all things on Earth He that on wordly Riches sets his mind Strives to take hold on shadows and the wind But if Christ's Riches once thou dost obtain The loss of them thou never shalt sustain Nor will they leave thee when thou com'st to die But cleave unto and thee accompanie Beyond the Grave ev'n to Eternitie What dost thou say canst make a better choice Than close with Christ O hearken to his voice And don 't with fraud the proffer made to thee If any good thou dost in Riches see Christ's Bounty What sayest thou what hast thou in thine eye Will not Christ's Riches move thee then I 'le try To gain thee by some other property He 's bountiful and of a generous heart Most free and noble ready to impart What e're he hath unto the Soul he loves O see how his Heroick Spirit moves In him whose generous whose bounteous hand Holds forth to thee what e're thou canst demand 'T is thine for asking do but speak the word Thou hast it done O! none like this dear Lord Some mens great Riches seem to overflow Who do a base ignoble Spirit show They treasure up their bags lay heap on heap Yet with a narrow covetous spir't keep All from the poor Nay their own Wives can get But now and then a little in a fit In a good mood sometimes perchance they 'l be Kind unto them though but unfreely free But Christ's rich Bounty does to all extend He stretches forth his hand to Foe and Friend Refined Gold Eye-salve and Rayments white Ev'n all choice things for profit and delight Sweet Frankincense Spicknard Calamas fine Myrrh Saffron with all choice of spiced Wine He freely gives to all O come who will He 'l bid you welcome and your Treasures fill O what doth he then to his Friends impart Unto his Spouse the Soul who has his heart Come eat O Friends and drink abundantly Beloved ones 't was for your sakes that I This Banquet made There 's nought says he too good For those that I have purchas'd with my blood Take Grace and Glory all I have I give you And to my self I will e're long receive you Ask that your joy may now be full for I Can't any thing that 's good your souls deny The Soveraign Power and Dignity of Christ What can I now do more if still thou art Resolved to deny Jesus thy heart If Beauty will not move thee to incline To close with him who longs till he is thine Strange Beauty oft prevails great Conquests gains Like to a mighty Victor binds in chains Those wch would not by other means e're yield Such is the nature of his pow'rful Shield Triumphantly it has obtain'd the Field No standing out against its piercing Darts It hath a secret way to wound those hearts Whose constitution leads them naturally To steer that course and on it cast an Eye To search the sweet which Fancy says doth lye Hid in the same For human Beauty's vain Which some have sacrific'd their lives to gain But Christ's sweet Beauty is a real thing And doth substantial joys and pleasures bring Such pleasures also which will still abide For evermore like Rivers by thy side Shall Beauty which is spotless without slain Nor Riches neither sweet Imbraces gain Nor generous Bounty win thy purer love Then let Ambition thy affections move Is Greatness barren quite of solid joys Are all her Merchandize but empty toys If it be earthly 't is an Airy thing Though 't were to be a Spouse unto a King But let it not be so lookâ—d on by thee To be espous'd to that great Majestie From whom alone true Honour dos descend This Greatness lasting perfect ne'r will end Come Soul let us most seriously now pry Into Christ's Pow'r and regal Soveraignty And next let me his glorious Pow'r show By which he works and all great things can do Some have a Pow'r whereby they can command But to accomplish things do want a hand But Christ in both excels 't is he alone Hath regal Pow'r and what he will have done He can effect i' th twinkling of an eye Though all combine against him far and nigh He 's over Angels as thou heardst before They gladly him do rev'rence and adore The Head o' th Church makes Laws and governs it According as he sees 't is best and fit His regal Pow'r also doth descend And over all the Devils doth extend The Keys of Hell and Death to him are given 'T is he alone can shut and open Heaven Power to Rule to command to forbid To punish or deliver they 'r all hid In him alone 't is he can bind or loose To damn or save 't is all as he doth chuse He 's King of Kings all mighty men below To him their Princely Crowns Kingdoms owe. Yea such an universal Monarch's he Commands the mighty Winds and stils the Sea 'T was by his hand the glorious Heav'ns were made And wondrous Earth's foundations first were laid The Sun the Moon and Stars receivâ—d their light From him at first to rule both Day and Night His Power 's absolute without controle He governs all the World from Pole to Pole His Soveraign Pow'r was not gain'd by fight Or Usurpation but a lawful Right As he is God 't is his essentially Born Heir of it from all Eternity And as he 's Mediator th' God of Heaven This glorious Power unto him has given His Pow'rs Infinite it hath no bound No ends or limits of it can be found He made the World which by him doth subsist Nay he can make ten thousand if he list He can do more than we can think or know Can kill and make alive save or o'rethrow The Conquests he has gain'd demonstrate The matchless Pow'r of this dread Potentate Sin is ore-come the Devil 's forc'd to fly Nay 〈◊〉 hath obtain'd a perfect Victory O're Death o're Hell o're Wrath
The Wise and Prudent and the Courtly Spark Will they direct thee so such counsel give That thou an Hermits life on Earth shouldst live What marry one that in possession hath Not one small house or foot of Land on Earth When Wealth and Honour Dignity and Power Are offer'd to thee as a present Dower Thou may'st be deckt with Bracelets rich and rare And live on Earth free from perplexing care If thou dost look about and take advice And suffer Men nor Conscience to entice Or thee allure such a choice to make Those joys to leave and utterly forsake Which most men do nay all accounted wise Pursue amain esteem and highly prize But if thou hast a thought to change thy state Be wise and stay don't holy Writ relate He that believes doth not make hast O why Shouldst thou have thoughts to mind it presently Come pause a while be not so hot alas By inconsiderateness it comes to pass So many Souls are spoil'd and ruined Be wary then not rashly be misled Nay furthermore I 'le speak to thee again Thou mayst love him and yet mayst thou retain Respect and love to other Objects too Love thy God well but why shouldst thou let go This world with all the precious joys therein But don't mistake thou must leave off thy sin For Holiness I must tell thee is right And very pleasant in Jehovah's sight But know O Soul yet over and above Thy Soveraign Lord and Prince hath set his love So much upon thee that his gracious Eye Will overlook thy smaller vanitie Ne'r doubt but thou shalt have his favour still Though in some things thou satisfie thy will Dost think that he who came down from above And dy'd for thee will ever quite remove His dear affection from thee or e're hate And leave the Soul he bought at such a rate It is enough and happy wilt thou be If thou escap'st all gross impurity Thus the base heart be'ng inflam'd by the Devil Vndoes the Soul No Enemy's more evil Than that curst Foe we harbour in our breast Which all enlighten'd ones have oft exprest Corrupted Judgment blindly would inform her Christ having dy'd her sins can never harm her Alas saith Reason do not all men sin Nay more than this the very best have bin To blame in many things and yet esteem'd As righteous ones and as the Lord 's redeem'd If famous Men of old offenders were What needst thou be so nice what needst thou fear The glorious King is filled with compassion Besides he sees in thee great reformation Thy love to sinful lusts is but in part To what it was and thou must know thou art Plac'd in this world and therefore must comply In some respects with smaller vanity When Reason to the vicious Will gives ear How can the Vnderstanding then be clear When vile Affection thus corrupteth Reason All works and thoughts are turn'd to perfect Treason O see how blind poor Souls by Nature are How vain their thoughts how ready 〈◊〉 insnare Themselves are they with false Imaginations With earthly toys and idle speculations To learn and understand all humane Arts Most apt they are they 'l magnifie their parts How very quick and dext'rous are they when They talk of things that appertain to men But things of God are quite above their sphere Can 't them discern nor do they love to hear Of God or Christ they count that man a fool That daily goes to learn at Jesus's School Vnto the blindness of the natural mind Add this besides most evident you 'l find It doth resist the Truth 't will not receive it Nay 't is incredulous 't will not believe it Apt to believe false tales and stories vain Nay like to Eve 't will quickly entertain Suggestions of the cursed Prince o' th Night But what God says seems evil in their sight Nay more than all this treach'rous faculty Is so deprav'd St. Paul doth plain descry Much enmity to God therein to lie Vnto God's Law it will not subject be For in the mind is great malignity But I must not the Reader here detain Because that our old Friend is come again CHAP. V. Shewing how the Judgment of the Soul comes to be enlightened and the effects thereof Theologue MY patience's not yet tyr'd my bowels move With bended knees shall I now gain thy love To Jesus Christ how shall I leave thee quite When I behold such terrors which afright My trembling Soul wch soon will thee o're-take Unless thou dost with speed this Contract make Thy Judgment 't is which I would fain convince Thy danger 's great I do perceive from thence When Conscience had almost in truth persuaded Thee to repent it was straightway invaded By thy blind Understanding and dark mind From whence thou art to evil still inclin'd Thou ofen-times hadst listen'd unto me And left thy sin but they deceived thee And chang'd thy thoughts as Conscience doth relate Till thy condition 's grown most desperate Wilt thou once dare to harbour such a thought Because with bloud thy Soul by Christ was bought Thou mayest sin and take thy pleasure here And prize the world as equal nay more dear To thee than him How canst thou be so dark This to imagine Soul I prethee hark Did he not bleed and die upon the Tree Thee to redeem from all iniquitie And that to him thou shouldst espoused be Should a great Prince love a poor Virgin so As for her sake ten thousand sorrows know And be content at last when all is done Another should enjoy her for his own Oh! ope thine eyes imbrace the chiefest Good Let him be dear to thee who with his Bloud Hath thee redeem'd from Sin the chiefest ill Be not unto thy self so cruel still And void of Reason foolishly to chuse The greatest Evil and chief'st Good refuse The good in Christ with every state agrees It suits the Soul when troubles on it seize When thou art sick he 'l thy Physician be He all distempers cures Nay it is He And he alone that heals the precious Soul And with a word can make the Body whole Art dark O he can straightway make thee see Nay if born blind he can give eyes to thee If thou art weary he alone 's thy rest Or art thou sad and grievously deprest He is thy comfort and thy joy will be Like to the deep and overflowing Sea If thou an hungry art he is thy food O tast and see and thou wilt find him good The Fatling's slain and all things ready are Thou'â—t welcome too O come and do not spare But freely eat and drink his spiced Wine Wch will make glad that drooping heart of thine The Father calls the Spirit says O come And Christ doth say here 's in my heart yet room O Sinner come to me hark he doth cry O come to me poor Soul why wilt thou die Art thou in Prison he will ope the door He 'l pay thy debts and wipe off
mourns Ah! how she weeps she crys And water runs like fountains from her â—ys Now her whole Souls dissolved into tears By Love-sick passions yet she 's fill'd with fears Lest Christ should now with angry frown deny To give her one sweet aspect of his Eye Because his love she had so long refus'd And wondrous patience shamefully abus'd Oh! now she spends whole days nights in prayer She sighs and grieves but canâ—t see Christ appear The panting Hart ne'r long'd for Water-brooks More than does she for some reviving looks From the great Prince the God of Love Grace But he at present seems to hide his face But stop my Musâ— hark how the Winds do roar All storms i' th Soul alasâ— are not yet o're No sooner did the Old-man cast his Eyes And view'd this change but in great wrath did rise For to renew the War he joins afresh With scatter'd force of Will and Lusts of th' flesh To make what strength they can with hellish spite The Devil 's with these conquer'd pow'rs unite Arm'd with despair and like to Lamps wch make The greatest blaze at going out they take Their blunt and broken Weapons in their hand Resolving Christ in her shall not command Nor she desert their cause nor break her Vows With Sin and Self and so become Christ's Spouse But now I find in vain they do resist True Grace is come the Spirit doth assist Sin World the Flesh nor Devil can long stand Before the Spirits strong and pow'rful hand See how the Spirit now doth search about To find each Sin and cursed Darling out Did you never behold in what dread sorâ— The wide-mouth'd Canon plays upon the Fort And how by whole-sail it doth batter down The shattered walls of a besieged Town Even so the Spirit with his powerful Sword Makes glorious slaughter will no Truce afford Kills all before him will no Quarter give Nor will he suffer any Lust to live The Strong-man Satan quakes good reason why A stronger's come a stronger he doth spy Is enter'd in O therefore he 's much pain'd All all is gone and he himself is chain'd The Old-man trembling likewise thinks to fly Into some lurking-corner secretly To hide himself but th' Spirit 's piercing Sight Discovers him and now with heavenly might Laid on such strokes and gave him such a wound Wch with dire vengance brought him to the ground Now the Affections's chang'd and Will doth yield Being willing made says Grace shall have the Field O happy season and thrice long'd-for hour This is the day of God's most mighty Power Upon the Soul But hark methinks I hear Most bitter sighs and groans sound in mine Ear. The Soul 's afflicted it is she doth mourn To think what sorrows for her Christ hath born She hates nay loaths her self to th' very dust And seeks to mortifie each former Lust And something more doth still perplex her mind Him whom she dearly loves she cannot find Her heart I fear will quickly burst asunder If any long time she should be prest under This heavy weight no grief like hers is there Who can alas a wounded Spirit bear She 's almost swallow'dâ— up in deep despair You next shall hear if you attention lend How she bewails the absence of her Friend Soul Ah me I faint my Spirits quite decay And yet I cannot die O who can stay My sinking Soul whilst I these sorrows feel My feeble knees under their burden reel Infâ—rnal deeps black gulphs where horror lies Open their ghastly mouths before mine Eys O wretched Soul curs'd Sin I might have been The Lamb's fair Bride and a Celestial Queen Had I imbrac'd my Lord my King my Love Who was more faithful than the Turtle Dove O had I then receiv d him in mine Arms He would have sav'd me from eternal harms But now I fear those happy days are past And I poor wretch shall into Hell be cast Bound up in fetters and eternal chains Of burning Wrath and everlasting pains O sinful Soul I who have lightly set By the blest Prince who would have paid my debt O he that would have freely quit my score Ah! Now I fear I shall ne're see him more Could I but once more hear his Sacred Voice I would make him my joy and only choice But 's Wooing-time I fear is out of date 〈…〉 but dread it is too late I mâ—lt Lord into tears whilst thou the Sun Of precious Light art hid where shall I run For Light and comfort in this dolesom hour Whilst I lie drenched in this brinish shower More would she speak but her great passion stops Her mournful speech whilst her eys stood-gates opeâ— Smote with despair so faint she scarce appears To breath or live but by her sighs and tears A Friend amidst this passion straight arriv'd Whose shining beams and lustre much reviv'd The troubl'd Soul on every side that she Cry'd out O heavenly Spirit it is thee Who with Diviner and mysterious Art Did such illustrious beams of Glory dart Which did not only tend to joy and peace But much inflam'd her heart made love increase And lo before her Eys she doth behold The Prince to stand whose Glory to unfold Is 'bove the reach of Man or Seraphim And thus had she a blessed sight of him Like as the Sun breaks forth beneath a Cloud Whose conqu'ring light cast off each envious shroud And round about his beauteous beams displays Making her Earth like Heav'n with his bright rays This glorious Aspect of his lovely Eye Which she through Faith beheld did by and by With such transports or Raptures on her seize And from her former sorrows gave her â—ase Yet could she not be fully satisfy'd Until the Marriage-knot was firmly ty'd A Promise she endeavours to procure To make Christ's Love and Pardon to her sure She to this purpose does her self address To him she loves with sweet composedness Of heart and mind tho thinking what she 'd bin She 's under fears and oft distrest again Much questioning for want of Faith how he Could e're forget past wrongs and injurie Soul Life of my life alas Lord what am I A wretched Creature who deserves to die A thousand deaths nay and a thousand more For wounding thee within without all o're In every part O this doth make me mourn It melts my heart to think what thou hast born For a vile worm But wilt thou view the wound That 's made in me Lord I am drench'd drown'd In bloud and brinish tears my wasting breath And sighing Soul will period soon in Death Unless thou seal and dost confirm to me Thy Love by promises O! shall I see Thy hand stretch'd out or shall I hear thee say Come come to me poor Soul O come away 'T is thou that wilt not bruise the broken reed Hurt not my sores nor crush the wounds that bleed O let my chilled Soul feel the warm fires Of thy sweet Voice that my dissolv'd
for us in a Garden bear To take our Hearts from slitting pleasures here But stop my Muse look back and let us sâ—e What did succeed Judas his Treachery O mind what Joy's amongst th' Infernal Crew In hopes of what is likely to ensue Not once but many times this makes me quake We are undone should he refuse to take Part now with us in this Extremity When all we have and are at stake doth lie To this Advice the Devils all consent And call for Tyrant Death who doth present His gastly face and boldly do's demand What 't was they would have him to take in hand Then soon Apollyon King of Darkness breaks Silence and to this purpose gravely speaks Apollyon Dread King of Terrors if thou stepst not in Down goes our Hell-bred Monarchy of Sin We now can walk the spacious Earth about And have we Friend or Foe we find him out Where e're we see a person that 's upright We seek his ruin with the greatest spight When we by fraud or craft can't him intice To yield to Pride or Lust or any Vice But that he 'l watch us with a wary Eye And persevere in all true Piety Then on him do we bring outward distress To make him lose or leave his Holiness Our Kingdom by this practice is made strong Potent and large and so has prosper'd long But now thy help we need for much we fear The downfal of our Kingdom draweth near Upon the Earth there now appears in sight A mighty Foe one call'd The Prince of Light 〈…〉 And for what end should he from Heaven come If not to execute on us that Doom Which Heav'n long since decreed To end which strife We are resolv'd to take away his Life Already he 's betray'd if things hit right And then we 'l yield him up unto thy Might For thy Assistance Death we do implore Else to these mischiefs this will happen more That Creature we so long have captivated Will in her Pomp again be re-instated The thoughts of which there 's none of us can bear Speak speak pale Monarch for we long to hear What 's thy Advice Thou mighty art in pow'r And canst we know whole Nations soon devour The King of Terrors Great Prince of Darkness you must understand We are not wholly at your proud Command For there 's a mighty Pow'r in Heaven high Which you are subject to as well as I 'T is true from him I cannot say at all That I derive my strange Original Yet by his pleasure am circumscrib'd And ' gainst his Will cannot be forc'd nor brib'd Wherefore if he this Prince of Light protect In vain at him shall I my shafts direct Besides in this Exploit methinks I find Some strange foreboding ills possess my mind As if engaging thus against your Foe I should but hasten mine own overthrow Take mine Advice then meddle not at all Better sit still you know than rise to fall 'T is true indeed as you have well observ'd Your threatned Judgment has been long deferr'd But if your Execution-Day be come You can't escape but must abide your Doom Prince of Darkness Thou pale-fac'd Traytor shan't we have thy Aid Then all our Hellish Projects are betray'd How oft have we stood by thee sent thee forth To do our will and pleasure on the Earth The first that ever thou hadst in thy hand Committed was by me at my Command I caused Cain to slay his godly Brother And so taught thee how to bereave the Mother Of her most dear of her most hopeful Son And shall not now my will in this be done 'T was I which did thy being to thee give How many Subjects dost each day receive From me and mine who do in every Land Promote thy State and lend their helping-Hand Therefore consent and show thy angry Brow And make this Conqueror to thy Scepter bow Yielding himself to thee strike him with speed And pierce his very Heart until it bleed Then some dark Cave near the Earths Centre find Where Light ne're pierc'd nor Phoebus ever shin'd There there the vanquisht Foe do thou retain Close Prisn'er with an Adamantine Chain When e're thou strik'st be sure strike home thy blow Lest he revive and work our overthrow Be bold attempt and let thy pow'r be known Thy Glory of this Deed shall be thine own King of Terrors I must confess I have been often sent By Hellish means unto the Innocent To satisfy your Envy Pride and Lust Some thousands I have turn'd into the Dust Yet never did I strike but on Condition As Heaven did permit in my Commission And though by Thee and by that Monster Sin The Child of Hell I first of all came in Yet am I not subservient still to thee But bounded by Jehovah's own Decree For had I wholly been at thy Command Poor Job had fell before thy pow'rful hand Where my dread Sovereign Lord do's give me charge To stay my hand though my Commission 's large I must forbear But if he once permit The Just and the Unjust alike I hit Apollyon King of Darkness Wilt thou eclipse my Glory and Renown Destroy my Pow'r and tread my Kingdom down Fy Death for shame forbear thy Insolence And do'nt dispute the Mandates of thy Prince Strike I conjure thee do not vainly think 'T will be thy Int'rest from this work to shrink That hand that powerful hand that conquers me If he prevail at last will vanquish thee Though now on Earth thou dost in triumph dwell If he o'recome he 'l cast thee down to Hell Thou fro'n thy Monarchy shalt then be driven And shalt abide in no place under Heaven Thou that hast been a Conqueror heretofore Shalt conquer'd be and never conquer more Ah! lend thy Hand shew forth thy mighty pow'rs 'T is for thy Int'rest Death as well as ours If Arguments and Reason may convince Thee try thy weapons on this dangerous Prince King of Terrors Say say no more If you find things agree In order to his downfall I will be His Executioner do you not fear I tremble at the thoughts of what I hear Damned Spirits Bravely resolv'd At last they all Reply'd Swelling in Wrath in Malice Envy Pride Wee 'l now proceed and craftily prepare All things in readiness to end this War Apollyon Though Judas has a party for our turn Yet we have more to do e're we adjourn If we should bring this Enterprise to pass Yet when all 's done I shall be where I was We must seek out some persons to defame His so much honour'd and unblemish'd Name He 's Just and Virtuous and esteem'd so high Who dares charge him with th' least Impurity Satan At this an envious Devil strait jumpt in I 'le lead the people on let me begin I 'le stir them up to Envy more and more Such Envy that he shall not stand before Belial These are but sparkles from an hasty Fire Which will for want of fuel soon expire His Glory
before him And in Derision feignedly adore him Thus thus did they the Sacred Prince abuse Crying in scorn All hail King of the Jews Then in Disdain they spit in 's his lovely Face Could Devils offer God a worse Disgrace Oh depth of Love alone that knows no bounds To suffer such dire stripes such mocks wounds 'T was we that sin'd 't was thou that sufferst shame To free us from the guilt Oh let thy Name Thy Sacred Name for ever honour'd be Who thus wast us'd to set poor Sinners free But yet alas these sufferings were not all More bitter things did unto him befall Off next they took the Robe his own put on And now as if their malice fresh begun Not satisfy'd their God for to deride They loud cry'd out Let him be Crucify'd His Blood they thirst for Pilate gives consent Though Conscience told him he was Innocent And had deserved neither Death nor Bands Yet up he gives him to the Rabbles hands He knew of malice they had brought him thither Yet he and they at last combine together 'T imbrew their guilty hands in guiltless Blood Who never did them harm but always good Rather than Pilate will displease the Jews Hee 'l stifle Conscience utterly refuse All Admonitions though his bosom Friend A timely warning unto him did send Uses Intreaties urges Arguments But nothing would prevail nothing prevents Their wicked purpose Sentence being past Unto his Execution now they hast Though he was wounded very much before His flesh his Virgin flesh with stripes made sore Yet they upon his Martyr'd shoulders lay His heavy Cross till fainting by the way By reason of th' intolerable pain His bleeding wounds procured they constrain A Country-man of Cyrene who did pass Along that way to bear his pond'rous Cross And coming up to dismal Golgotha Without remorse of Conscience dread or awe They still persist in putting him to Death A Death the worst that e're stopt humane Breath The cruel Death oâ—th Cross matchless for pain And by God's Curse most liable to shame To cause the Just to die was crueltie But Crucifixion's more than 't is to die Prodigious Rage strange metamorphos'd mind What kill the Lord who was to you so kind What was his Crime what his so great offence That not contented to remove him hence By violent Death but you must look about Whereby to find exquisite torments out The vilest wretch that ever did draw breath Or in the strictest sense deserved Death Could never meet with more severitie From barb'rous Foes and brutish Tyranny He meets with no compassion every heart And every hand is set to throw a Dart. So far from shame in this their villany They chuse for time to act the Tragedy Their chiefest Feast when to Jerusalem From every part thousands of people came Then then they chose this cursed work to do That he the greater shame might undergo When Priest and Pilate finisht had their Court. Dear Jesus must be fetcht to make them sport And now behold if yet thy delug'd Eyes Can stay to see so sad a Sacrifice Behold him lift up on the cursed Tree Expos'd to Torture Death and Infamy His Arms spread wide as ready to imbrace His bitter'st Foes if they 'd accept his Grace Quite through each hand foot sharp nails they drive And fix him there to wait for Death alive Hanging betwixt two Thieves Numbred among Transgressors by the giddy partial Throng For passers-by did rail on him with scorn Wagging their heads who ought rather to mourn With taunts and scoffs the vulgar him abuse Prompted by the Chief Priest and barb'rous Jews And when he thirsts through his excessive pains Behold what favour at their hands he gains All they afford to quench his drought withal Was Vinegar mixed with bitter Gall. Was ever such a perfect hatred known No Dram of pity but all malice shown He that for them had Water turn'd to Wine And shown his Pow'r and Charity Divine Now Wine nor Water now could be allow'd T' asswage his thirst from this ungrateful Croud But into 's tender side they thrust a Spear From whence there came both blood water clear Thus hand and foot and head and every part They pierce and wound for to encrease his smart Ah! see that stream wch from his Heart-blood flows The precious Balm and Cure of all our woes Each pious Soul which truly doth believe It s Soveraign Vertue freely may receive One drop of that most Sacred Blood is worth Ten thousand Thrones Kingdoms of the Earth When you by Sin do see your selves undone Think on that Blood which from his Side did run Those cordial Drops apply'd unto thy heart Will heal thy Soul and cleanse thy inward part Ah! canst thou of Christ's dismal passion hear And not dissolve thy Soul into a Tear But to return There 's something still behind Which makes strange meltings in my grieved mind That 's worse than all the rest oh hear his moan And how his poor distressed Soul doth groan His Father hides his face that gracious Eye Casts forth an angry frown which made him cry After he had these bitter torments felt From cruel hands and found his Soul to melt His spirits fail and wounded heart to break Why why my God Oh why dost thou forsake Me in this needful hour Hard is the case When thou my God from me shalt hide thy face My Servants who forsook me are but Dust Poor flesh and blood alas what stay what trust Is there in man the best of men are frail Such as conside in them their strength will fail But ah My Trust my Hope my Confidence Thou thou that art my Rock and safe Defence Even thou my God! O thou O thou hast left me And this at last has of all Peace bereft me Whilst Souls can see their Interest in their God They can bear up under the sharpest Rod But when thy face is hid as 't is from me They sink they die they die Eternally Thus thus the Prince of Peace in sore distress His bitter moan doth unto God express Great depths of sorrow did oppress his Soul When his sad portion thus he did condole He saw himself forsaken and forlorn When in our stead this anguish great was born That which was due for our Iniquity Did heavy on our gracious Saviour lie For Justice spar'd not but laid on her Hand Whilst in the room and stead he seeks to stand Of the poor Soul he came from Heaven to save Justice alas will the last farthing have The torments Saints have born's another thing From what befel their Soveraign Lord King His Spirit 's gracious great magnanimous Yet ne're was any Soul distressed thus That much renowned holy Martyr Stephen He had so glorious a prospect from Heaven As fill'd his Soul brim-full of Consolation And by that means with joy he bore his passion Should I attempt to walk the spacious Field Of instances how many would it
most lovely flesh are fed And with Corruption thou art covered Prince of Light Stay stay pale Death that thou canst nev'r do For I must not the least Corruption know King of Terrors Strange speech who 's this or how can this thing be What 's in the Grave shall not Corruption see Though with rich Spices thou imbalm'd dost lie Old hoary Time shall make thee putrify Kings fortifi'd by Lead and Searcloth's aid In precious heaps of fragrant Odours laid To stench and rottenness I soon betray'd None ever into these low Vaults do come Who can escape that sad and dismal doom Of being turned into Dust I will Thy mouth with filthy putrefaction fill The holiest man I e're depriv'd of breath I turned into loathsom stinking Earth And dost thou think thou shalt escape this fate No thou must share of all my Subjects state Prince of Light Is 't fit I should be threatned thus by thee Shall Death prevail and triumph over me Dost know grim Tyrant who 't is thou treadst down I am thy lawful Prince and thou shalt own My Soveraignty thou must O Death submit And yield thy self as conquer'd at my feet On me thou shalt not have thy proud desire No sooner shall three Days and Nights expire But I will make thy bonds and chains to fly And thereby spoil thy Principality But for thy insolence this thou shalt gain To be thy self o're-thrown vanquisht and slain The tidings which I bring will make thee quake For I resolve on thee Revenge to take O Death I 'le be thy Death 't is even so Thy utter ruin and great overthrow Is near at hand I 'le rouse up from the Grave And make the stone to fly that 's on the Cave Let Hell and Devils all combine to do What 's in their pow'r to save thee from this blow I mind it not I 'le tear and rend them all And cause them with great vengeance down to fall Captivity a Captive I will take And him a slave and Captive ever make The Devils fearing what would come to pass Great consternation straight amongst them was Their Chief amaz'd with envious horror cryes And to the rest with hast himself applies Lucifer Dominions Pow'rs of the Infernal Host Awake attempt with speed or all is lost Death's like to lose our great and hop'd for prey Secure him fast more Chains upon him lay Harklare there not strange tremblings under ground Mixt with a cry enough for to confound All the whole Host of this amased Lake Fear seizes me I quiver oh I quake What shall we do make speed let him not rise Help Satan help canst thou no way devise To hold him under ground now now or never Iâ— he awake we are undone for ever Should be the cords of Death to pieces burst Our 〈…〉 will far exceed the first 〈…〉 all the hellish Fiends do stand Agaâ—◠〈…〉 each holding up his hand Bewâ—â—â—ing 〈◊〉 sad fates their hearts grow cold With thoughts of what they fear'd they should behold Which was the Resurrection from the Dead Of him who for poor Mortals suffered Belzebub he cryes out to Abaddon Ah! what a day is this all will be gone Satan doth gnash his teeth perplext in mind Because they could no more Inventions find Their Kingdom to support cryes out alas We never were before in such a case Apollyon Ah! what a dismal day Great Lords is here The Grave doth o'pe that sight doth just appear Of which you talk of which you stand in fear Now all our hopes and expectation 's gone Ah! who is it has rould away the stone All proves in vain that ever we have done We must our selves in Chains of darkness lie And be tormented to Eternitie Now from the Earth fresh Light doth gild the skies Thick darkness vanishes awake arise Ye Mortals and with joy open your Eyes Behold the morning of that long'd for Day The Grave doth o'pe whilst Devils fly away To hide themselves but cannot find a place For Vengeance hastens after them apace The first Day of the week is now come in The Glorious Prince has made an end of Sin See how he rouses up from the dark Grave The Soul from thence from Sin and Hell to save Ah! how the damned Spirits cry and houl Their fearful fall with anguish to condole Hell's Principalities are spoiled quite And all infernal Pow'rs put to flight See what an open show is made of them And how great JESVS doth their Pride contemn See how he doth triumph over them all He 's on his back who gave the Soul its fall See Death 's by Death destroy'd a wond'rous sight Which doth the hearts of Angels much delight They pâ—y into and wonder at this thing Accomplisht thus by our victorious King How like a sneaking conquer'd spoiled Foe That 's quite oâ—recome and brought to utter woe Doth Satan look Ah see the fatal Rout And how the â—rince doth drag these Dogs about He makes a show of them Come take a view O' th conquer'd bloody baffled Hellish Crew What a victorious Conqueror is here What Victor may with this great Prince compare All Warriours you admir'd heretofore Let them not be so much as thought on more CHSIST JESVS he is risen from the Dead Sin Wrath Death Hell Devils and all are fled This glorious Conquest o're th' infernal crew Is yet more plain by that which doth insue Some passages from ancient Records show The truth of this their final overthrow Upon this rising of the Prince of Light The Heathen Oracles were silencâ—d quite Although their Priests and Prophets cry and call Henceforth they 'r dumb and answer not at all Which Accident and unexpected change Amaz'd them all 't was so prodigious strange It made them look about to find the cause Of such their silence and surprising pause Surely saith Plutarch they are either dead Or else Wise men are risen in their stead Which in these days diviner Secrets know That Oracles before were wont to show Yet he knew better things and did deny That Spirits either could wax old or die Some higher Reason therefore must find out E're he resolve this sense-confounding doubt Had he conver'sd with John he might have known By whom and how those Gods were overthrown Christ was reveal'd saith he unto this End That he the works of every Hellish Fiend Might bring to nought destroy and ruine quite Confining them to their eternal Night That this is truth from Authors of their own Might be made good and evidently shown Sharp Juvenal to speak it out is pleas'd All Oracles at Delphos now are ceas'd And lofty Lucan long since did complain That they their Deities invok'd in vain The Gods saith he by whom this Empire stood Are from their empty Temples now remov'd Their Altars too they have abandon'd quite And left the places of their old delight But with one instance more I may conclude Though I indeed might urge a multitude 'T is that which Plutarch
doth affirm and I Esteem above what e're Antiquity Hath left recorded or most curious Eyes Can view in best approved Histories Relating to the matter we have stated Which follows thus as 't is by him related About the period of Tiberius's Raign Who at Christ's Death was Rome's proud Soveraign Strange hideous Cries shriekings and howlings be Heard with amazement in the Grecian Sea Complaining that their great God Pan was fled From whence great Conâ—â—ernations followed No sooner did the louder Trump of Fame This news of their great Pan â—s Retreat proclaim But it was brought unto the Emperours Ears And unto him a certain Truth appears Who being startled at the strange Relation Falls with his Wisemen into Consultation Who sought by Magick to resolve the doubt Which all their Art and Skill could not find out Yet Christians in those days could quickly spy The way to open the whole Mysterie Comparing times they found this strange Relation Did just fall out upon Christ's Death and Passion And then concluded straightway bâ— the â—all Of their great Pan which signifieth All All Spirits by Christ's Death were so afflicted Their utter Ruin thereby was pâ—â—â—icted Yea others of their own Reconâ—â— still do Confirm the truth of this their overthrow How one of them constrain'd sometime before By God himself their fall did thus deplore An Hebrew Child that shall be born will be The final downfal of our Dignity All our usurpt Dominions by that Child Shall come to nought and utterly be spoil'd He strikes us dumb and nonplus's our Art Henceforth in vain no further Questions start But sad and silent from our Shrines depart Thus God doth force Devils sometimes to speak That which doth much against their Int'rest make But stay my Muse the Cherubs chant again O listen to this more melodious strain The glorious Angels do sweet Triumphs sing Upon the Conquests of our Heav'nly King They clap their wings and leap for joy to see This total Rout and happy Victorie Shall Heav'n rejoyce and more concerned Earth Not sing aloud Jehovah's praises forth O happy Day blest hour the best of all Poor Mortals ever saw since Adam's fall Christ of a truth is risen from the Grave No Pow'rs of Hell could keep him in the Cave Yet are there some in these in these last evil days Deny that he from Death himself did raise The Jews also with their Forefathers say 'T was a Deceit for he was stoln away Whilst drousy Soldiers fell into a sleep Who the Sepulchre had a charge to keep A thing themselves no doubt could not believe But was forg'd by the Devil to deceive And blind mens Eyes who wanted that inspection They might have had touching his Resurrection 'T was the last game the Devil could devise To hinder Christ's most glorious Enterprise They knew that if his Resurrection were Received for a truth no hope was there But all that they had done it tumble must So the last Evil would exceed the first But if they had believ'd it certainly The Souldiers had with great'st severity Been punished for being so remiss About a thing so weighty as was this Besides were they asleep how could they tell What things there came to pass or what befell Or if awake why did they not prevent Those men who came with such a strong intent And can one think if the Disciples durst Attempt that thing they should have stript him first Would they not take the body in the cloaths Lest e're they 'd done the Sould'ers should have rose And caught them doing it and then be sure Great sufferings for it they must endure Nay had these men been guilty of such evils They 'd been no better than seducing Devils The worst of Mortals and how was it then That God should own and witness to such men By aiding them Would Heavens Pow'r have gone To prove a Cheat when Miracles were done Again they were of such Integrity As none could brand with the least infamy And they 'i th face of Foes without least dread Declare that he was risen from the Dead That they convers'd with him full forty days Whilst he instructed them in all his ways Before he did ascend And then agen In Galilee at once five hundred men Saw him with joy and in their witness gave That he indeed was risen from the Grave Here stop again my Pen Time calls away Upon this Theme thou must no longer stay Leave them to perish let them fall and die That this blest Resurrection do deny Shall God his Saints and Angels witness bear Unto this thing and yet shall Mortals dare To call the same in question or deny What is confirm'd by such Authority No firm as Earth or Heav'ns more stable poles Let this great Truth be fixt in pious Souls Without it Faith 's a Fancy and the best Of men more wretched than the vilest Beast But now awake my Muse no longer slumber The Day doth dawn and joys which none can number Are rushing in upon the Prince of Light This sorrow 's gone nought now but Glory bright Shines forth in him now is he rais'd on high Far out o' th reach of all malignity Nor men nor Devils can annoy him more He 's safely landed on the long'd-for shore Go Turtles go whilst thousand Joys betide The glorious Bridegroom and his purchas'd Bride That Sun is risen who will ne're go down Who will his Spouse with light of Glory crown But where 's the Soul O where alas is she For whom he dy'd and hung upon the Tree What greeting O what Joy when they do meet There will abound the thoughts thereof are sweet He that was Dead is come to Life again And ever shall in bliss Eternal raign Thrice happy is that Soul which he hath chose To be his Love his Dove his Sharon's Rose But where is she and what is her Estate For nothing of her we have heard of late Doth she not wait doth she not long to see His lovely Face and to embraced be In his dear Arms O do'nt she greatly crave One sight of him one visit more to have Doth not her Soul dissolve then into tears With thoughts of him who freed her from all fears Read the next Part and you will quickly find The Fruit of Sin and nature of the mind That is corrupt and fill'd with carnal Love How nothing can those vile Affections move Oh how unkind to Christ do Sinners prove The End of the First Book Behind this Curtain 〈◊〉 suppose to be such Glory which 〈…〉 can see Besides the Day being 〈…〉 too If wee 〈…〉 yet more 〈◊〉 dare not 〈◊〉 see Death and Devils sin World cast down Whilst Heaven doth the glorious Victor crow◠〈…〉 BOOK II. The Glorious Lover A Divine POEM CHAP. I. Shewing how Christ renews his Suit again and again which is done either by the ministration of the Gospel or by his various Providences and yet the Soul refuses to receive him THUS have you
And no good thing from us will he deny But hark What saith the Flesh O Soul saith she In this give ear and harken unto me 'T is not unlawful here to lay up Treasure Provided thou therein tak'st no great pleasure The World thou seest disdains those wch are poor And if thou 'rt Rich thouâ—lt be ador'd the more Nay if thou once arrivest at the pitch Of being by the World accounted Rich Thy words will far the greater influence have And may'st thereby perchance more rich ones save Besides all this when Rich thou mayest feed With thy abundance such who suffer need And this also will take thee off from care Which is to some a most perplexing snare And thou for God may'st the more hours spare If thou art poor and of strict conversation That will not be a fit Accommodation To draw men by for some thereby are frighted Who might by temporizing be invited Accommodate thy selâ— to all become All things to all men that thou mayst gain some These subtil Covers doth the Flesh devise To hide those sins which in the bosom lies And by this crafty course perhaps a while The poor unwary Soul it may beguile And if Apollyon sees the Creature yield In this respect he 's Victor in the Field He glory's in the Conquest he has gain'd As if a Diadem he had obtain'd But now behold here comes her former Friend ' Christ's precious Love this once to recommend True Ministers are filled with compassion As their long patience's worth all commendation The preciousness now of the Soul you 'l hear And how things go within he will declare He 'l call her Conscience to examination For Conscience 't is must give a full Relation Of all false Covers Nay and will reveal Those secret Lusts the Flesh seems to conceal Theologue Conscience thou knowst and privy art to all The secret strivings and the words let fall To bring the Soul to join in bonds of love With Jesus Christ and finally remove Her heart from sin yea from the smallest evil One sin belov'd will send her to the Devil Speak therefore now her inward parts reveal What faith hath she what love and O what zeal What indignation care and what desire Is she inflamed is she all on fire In love to him who out of love did die Her to espouse and save Eternally Conscience She loves but who she sighs Sir shall I speak She 's doubtfull still she knows not which to take Some kind of love some faint desires do rise Within her breast but then the Enemies Immediately such great disturbance cause That she 's amaz'd and put into a pause Although she dos love Christ I must confess Some secret sin is favour'd ner'theless She wants some glorious Rays her eyes are dim She never yet had a true sight of him I must speak all e'en the whole truth impart Alas she has new Objects in her heart Her love is treach'rous her affections burn Chiefly to self loves Christ to serve her turn And such a Legalist she 's become now To her own drag she blindfoldly do's vow To offer Incense in her seeming grace She glory 's much nay sets it in the place Of Jesus Christ and on that Idol pores This is the Object now she most adores Theologue Wilt thou expose thy self to scoff and shame And bring a blot for ever on thy name A Monster thou in Nature wilt appear To all who of thy faults and folly hear Canst be so vile so impudent and base Disloval Soul how canst thou still give place To Jesus's Foes and up an Idol set What offer sacrifice to thy own Net I stand amaâ—'d â— what guilt is on thy head Remember that black Bill what crimes are spread Before thine Eyes already But now further 〈◊〉 to charge thee with another Murther Committed on a spotless Man nay worse Thou letst him be betrayed to the Curse Of a most shameful Death nay what exceeds His hands feet sides die and his Soul still bleeds And what is worst of all he is God's Son On whom this bloody Tragedy was done Thy Friend O Soul who came down from above To sue to thee for kindnesses and love And yet doth he whose blood thy hands have shed Sue unto thee nay his deep wounds do plead For mercy and he 's able to forgive He 's God as well as Man dead yet doth live What Object is 't thou hast got in thine eye Dost think the Law can help thee make hast fly For 't is by that thou stand'st condemn'd to die Seek a Divorcement stand'st thou still in doubt 'Twixt Law Grace strange canst thou not find out What Judgment told thee sure thou knowest better It is severe O! 't is a killing Letter 'T is time to leave that Husband and for-go All hopes from him who seeks thy overthrow Christ has fulfill'd it he alone has life And if thou once art his espoused Wife Thou wilt receive a full discharge from all Those Debts those Deaths and dangers wch inthral The Souls of those whose blind deceived breast Seeks to self-righteousness for peace and rest Thou canst not Soul become a Virgin Spouse Until thou art divorced from all vows To that nay to Relations though they 're dear Must thou the lesser love and kindness bear Thy Fathers house and all thou must forsake If thou this happy Contract e're dost make Yield thy whole heart to Christ bend to his feet In pure simplicity there 's ground for it For he that lay within a Virgins Womb And who was buried in a Virgin-Tomb He that alone did lead a Virgin-Life Must have a chast and holy Virgin-Wife Needst thou more motives still what shall I say What shall I speak to move thee I will lay The nature of the Soul unto thy view Wouldst know its worth read then what dos ensue First 'T is capable such is its nature State On Great Jehovah's Pow'r to contemplate It searches prys and nicely looks about On Nature's frame and finds the former out David's amaz'd when he doth cast his Eye On all the glorious things beneath the skie He looked up and down above and under And stood astonish'd seeing cause of Wonder And then reflecting his own frame did see Nature's great Volume blest Epitome Fearfully am I made how canst tell His Answer is My Soul knows it full well We should have known no more of Earth or Heav'n Than the brutâ— beasts had not Jehovah given This precious Soul to us O then be wise And it secure as the chiefest Prize Secondly Nay more then this the Scripture makes relation 'T is capable of glorious Inspiration There is in Man a Soul a Spirit do's live And move in him to which the Lord doth give By Inspiration Wisdom Knowledg Fear That fools know more than the Philosopher The Soul's God's Candle a light of acceptation But from himself must come its Information Shall not this Candle pray you lighted be O let God's Spirit