making Jars LIII My Soul enlabyrinth'd in Grief spend Years In Sackcloth chamleted with Tears Retir'd to Rocks dark entrals court unwitnest Fears LIV. There passe with Heraclite a gentler Age Free from the sad ACCOUNT of Rage That acts the toilsome World on its tumultuous Stage LV. There sweet RELIGION strings and tunes and skrues The Souls Theorb ' and doth infuse Grave Dorick Epods in th' Enthusiastick MUSE LVI There LOVE turns trumpets into Harps which call Off Sieges from the gun-shot Wall Alluring them to HEAV'N her Seat Imperial LVII Thence came our Ioy and Thence HYMNS eas'd our Grief Of which th' ANGELICAL was chief Glory to GOD Earth Peace Good Will for Mans Relief LVIII Quills pluckt from Venus Doves impresse but shame Then give your Rimes to Vulcans Flame Hee 'l elevate your badger Feet He 's free though lame LIX Things fall and Nothings rise Old VIRTUE fram'd Honour for WISDOM WISDOM fam'd Old VIRTUE Such Times were Wealth then Arts Page was nam'd LX. Lambeth was Oxfords Whetstone Yet above Preferments Pinnacle they movâ— Who string the Vniverse and bracelet It for LOVE LXI Virtues magnifick Orb inflames their Zeal By high-rais'd ANTHEMS Plaguâ—s they heal And threefork'd Thunders in HEAVNS outstretcht Arm repeal LXII Shall Larks with shrill-chirpt Mattens rouze from Bed Of curtain'd Night Sols orient Head And shall quick SOULS lie numb'd as wrapt in Sheets of Lead LXIII Awake from slumbring Lethargie The gay And circling Charioter of Day In 's Progress through the azure Fields sees checks our Stay LXIV Arise and rising emulate the rare Industrious Spinsters who with fair Embroid'ries checker-work the Chambers of the Air. LXV Ascend Sol does on Hills his Gold display And scatt'ring Sweets does spice the Day And shoots delight through Nature with each arrow'd Ray. LXVI The Opal-colour'd Dawns raise Fancie high Hymns ravish those who Pulpets fly Convert dull Lead to active Gold by LOVE-CHYMIE LXVII As Natures prime Confectioner the Bee By her Flow'r-nibling Chymistrie Turns Vert to Or So VERSE gross Prose does rarifie LXVIII Pow'rs cannot Poets as They Pow'rs up-buoy Whose Soul-enliv'ning Charms Decoy Each wrinkled Care to the Pacifick Sea of Joy LXIX As where from Iewels sparkling Lustre darts Those Rayes enstarre the duskie Parts So Beams of Poesie give Light Life Soul to Arts. LXX Rich POESIE Thy more irradiant Gems Give Splendor unto DIADEMS And with coruscant Rayes emblazest HONOURS Stems LXXI Thee MUSE Arts ambient Air Inventions Door The Stage of Wits both Rich and Poor Do court â—A PRINCE may glory to become thy WOOER LXXII POETS ly'entomb'd by KINGS Arts Gums dispence By Rumination bruis'd are thence By VERSE so fir'd that their Perfume ENHEAV'NS the Sense LXXIII It s The'ory makes All wiser yet Few better Practise is Spirit Art the Letter Vse artlesse doth enlarge Art uselesse does but fetter LXXIV Sharp Sentences are Goads to make Deeds go Good Works are Males Words Females show Whose Lives act Presidents prevent the Laws and Do. LXXV So far We know as we obey GOD and HE counts We leave not his Command When as our Interludes but 'twixt our Acts do stand LXXVI Honours brave SOUL is in that Body shrin'd Which floats not with each giddy Winde Fickle as Courtly Dress but WISDOMS Sea does find LXXVII Steering by GRACES Pole-star which is fast In th' APOSTOLLICK Zodiack plac't Whose Course at first four EVANGELICK Pilots trac't LXXVIII The THEANTHROPICK WORD That mystick Glasse Of Revelations That masse Of Oracles That Fu'el of Pray'r That Wall of Brass LXXIX That Print of HEAV'N on Earth That Mercies Treasure And Key That Evidence and Seisure Faiths Card Hopes Anchor Loves full Sail Abyss of Pleasure LXXX Such SAINTS high Tides n'ere ebbe so low to shelf Them on the Quicksand of their self Swallowing Corruption Sin 's the Wrack They fly that Elf. LXXXI Gloomier than West of Death than North of Night Than Nest of Triduan Blacks with Fright Which Egypt scar'd when HE brought Darkness WHO made Light LXXXII Compar'd to whose Storm thund'ring Peals are calm Compar'd to whose Sting Asps yield Balm Compar'd to whose loath'd Charm Death is a Mercy-Psalm LXXXIII Her Snares escap'd soar Muse to HIM whose bright Spirit-illuminating Sight Turns Damps to glorious Dayes turns Fogs to radiant Light LXXXIV RELIGION's Wisdoms Study That display LORD countermand what goes astray And smite the Ass rude Flesh when it does start or bray LXXXV Soul thou art lesse than MERCIES least Three ne're Depart from Sin Shame Guilt and Fear Fear Shame Guilt Sin are Four Yet All in One appear LXXXVI Crest-faln by Sin how wretchedly I stray Me thinks 't is Pride in me to pray HEAV'N aid me strugling under this sad Load of Clay LXXXVII No Man may merit yet did ONE we hold Who most do vant their Zeal are cold Thus Tin for Silver goes with these and Brasse for Gold LXXXVIII Renew my Heart direct my Tongue unseal My Hand inspire my Faith reveal My Hope encrease my Love and my Backslidings heal LXXXIX Let Language Mans choice Glory serve the Minde Thy SPIRIT on Bezaliel shin'd Help BLOUD by Faith apply'd Thy Spittle cur'd the Blinde XC Turn Sense to Spirit Nature's chang'd alone By GRACE THAT is the Chymick-stone And thy all-pow'rful WORD is pure Projection XCI TRUTHS Touchstone surest Rule that ere was fra'md Tradition Mans dark Map 's disclaim'd The Paper burns me not yet I am all inflam'd XCII For as I read such inward Splendor glowes Such Life-renewing Vigour flowes That All what 's known of thy most righteous WILL It showes XCIII Whose Spells make Enochs walk with THEE withhold Corruption and translate e're old All Vaticans are drosse THIS Magisterial Gold XCIV Thus poor numm'd Tartars when th' are brought into Warm Persias Gem-pav'd Court are so Reviv'd that then They live till then half dead w th Snow XCV Good Thoughts from THEE infus'd I do derive Good Words effus'd THOU dost me give Good Works diffus'd by THEE in THEE do live thrive XCVI Nerve-stretching Muse thy Bow 's new strung shoot then Hymns to the BEST from worst of Men Make Arts thy Tributaries twist Heart Tongue Pen. XCVII But how can Eves degenerate Issue bent To Sin in its weak Measures vent Thy PRAISE Unmeasurable and Omnipotent XCVIII Shrubs cannot Cedars nor Wrens Eagles praise Nor purblinde Owls on Sols Orb gaze What is a drop to Seas a Beam to boundlesse Raies XCIX Yet Hope and Love may raise my drooping Flight And Faith in THEE embeam my Night Great LOVE supply Faiths Nerves with winged Hope I WRITE C. My Spirit LORD my Soul my Bodie all My Thoughts Words Works hereafter shall Praise THEE and Sin bemone JESU how lov'dst THOU me Me blessed thy LOVE make Me raised Thy LOVE take JESU my pretious ONE May This LOVES OFFERING be My Heart Tongue Eye Hand boweâ— Knee As All came from let All return to THEE NVnc sacra primus habet Finem mea Cura Libellus IÃ m
Children or I die LOVE rest Thy Head upon the Pillows of my Breast When me THOU shalt impregn'd with Vertues make 50. A fruitful Eden All the Frutage take Thy Passion Ionathan below did move Rapt SPIRITS in high Excess flame with intensest Love 51 My Life is hid with THEE in GOD Descry THY SELF ô THOU my plighted SPOUSE that I May ever glorious be That my joy'd Soul 52. With THEE may make up Marriage and my whole Self THEE for Bridegroom have My Hope still sends Up Come that I may enter with thy feasted Friends 53. O That long-long'd for COME ô COME mine Eyes LOVES Sentinels watch like officious Spies Strike Sparks of JOY t'enflame LOVES Tinder make 54. The Exile view her Home the Dreamer wake Tears raise the Fire of LOVE Ease Sighs of Air Fires Passion watry Tears and earthy self Despair 55. My Sighs condens'd to Drops compute Hours spent Cancell the Lease of my Clay-Tenement Which payes deer Rent of Groans ô grant a Writ 56. Of Ease I languish out not live Permit A Passe to SIONS MOUNT But I resigne My green-sick Will though sick of LOVE to that of Thine 57. Waitings which ripen Hopes are not Delayes Presence how great how true's LOVE Absence saies While Lungs my Breath shall organ I 'l press still 58. Th' Exinanition of my o'regrown Will Behold I quickly come O're-joyd I'm here O Come Till then each Day 's an Age each Hour a Year 59. JESU That NAME' 's Ioyes Essence hasten on Throng amorous Sighs for Dissolution Fastidious Earth avant With Love-plumes soar 60. My Soul to meet thy SPOUSE Can'st wish for more Only Come give a RING Re-eccho then O Come Even so LORD IESV Come Amen Amen LXI Who 's this Inamor'd VOT'RESSE Like the Morn From Mountain unto Mountain born Who first with Night-drops dew'd seem'd Turtle Dove forlorn LXII But now e're warped Body neer Decay Stands Bow-like bent to shoot away Her Soul Ere prone Looks kiss her Grave e're her last Day LXIII She LOVE-fill'd wants no Mate has rather one Body too much I' th' SPIRITS Throne CHRISTS Peace is fullest Quire Such Loneness least alone LXIV When soft-flying Sleep Deaths Sister Wings do's spread Over that curtain'd Grave her Bed Then with prophetick Dreams the HIGHEST crowns her Head LXV Behold a comely PERSON clad in white The all-inlightning Sun lesse bright Than that illustrious FACE of HIS which blest her Sight LXVI To Her in MAJESTIE His Way HE broke And softly thus to Her HE spoke Come Come away My JESUS saies She. So She woke LXVII Her Pray'rs more passionate than witty rise As Sols Postilion bright her Eyes Wrastling with GOD for GRACE bedew Loves Paradise LXVIII Betimes when keen breath'd Winds with frosty Cream Peri'wig bald Trees glaze tatling Stream For May-games past white-sheet peccavi is Winters Theme LXIX Those Day-breaks give good Morrows which she takes With Thanks so doubly Good them makes Who in GODS Promise rests in GODS Remembrance wakes LXX SAINTS nothing more SAINTS nothing lesse regard Than LOVES SELF than self-Love unscar'd Though rackt into an Anagram their Souls being spar'd LXXI Through Vertuous Self-mistrust They acted move Like Needle toucht by th' Stone of Love Blest Magnet which attracts and Souls directs ABOVE LXXII Were She but mortal She were satisfy'd So GOD liv'd in Her till She dy'd His WORD her Deed his WILL her Warrant BOTH her Guide LXXIII Thus this DEVOTA breaths out yerning Cries Let not Dust blinde my sensual Eyes When as my Spirits Energie transcends the Skies LXXIV VIRTUES raise Souls All 's FILIAL to ABOVE Low'st Step is Mercenary Love Fraternal are the Sides that SAINTS Ascent improve LXXV Manna to my enamour'd Soul art THOU The SPIRIT of Heav'n distill'd do's flow From thy ASPECT By That from Brutes we ANGELS grow LXXVI Had I ô had I many Lives as Years As many Loves as Love hath Fears All All were THINE had I as many Hearts as Hairs LXXVII From THEE my JOY-EXTENSIONS spreading flow Dilating as Leaf-gold be n't slow O THOU my All and more Love-lorn THEE still I woo LXXVIII The Widow press'd till THEE to grant She bound The VIRGIN sought THEE till she found The Publican did knock till opening knocking crown'd LXXIX Though nought but dross I in my self can spie Yet melted with THY beaming EYE My Refuse turns to Gold by mystick Alchymie LXXX Then whet thy blunt Sythe Time and wing thy Feet Life not in Length but Use is sweet Come Death the Body brought a bed o' th' SOUL Come fleet LXXXI Be Pulse my passing-Bell be Skin my Herse Nights sable Curtains that disperse The Rayes of Day be Shroud Dews weep my funeral Verse LXXXII Pittie me Love-sick Virgins Then She swound O'recome with Zeal She sunk to th' Ground Darts of intolerable Sweets her Soul did wound LXXXIII She lay with flaming LOVE empierc't to th' Heart Wak't As She bled She kist the Dart Then sigh'd Take all I am or have All All THOU art LXXXIV Then sunk again Reviv'd LOVES BOW She bent And marry'd String to Shaft and sent Ejaculations which the Skies like Lightning rent LXXXV Piercing Them through feather'd with Sighs to show She little pay'd yet much did owe The Feathers sung and fir'd as they did upward go LXXXVI No ice-fring'd Cloud may quench LOVES soaring Flame LOVE is more strong then Death or Shame Grown up all Soul the Flesh sinks in a triple Qualm LXXXVII I charge ye SION VIRGINS let Her still Enjoy her disencloystred Fill In These high Extasies of UNION and WILL. LXXXVIII Do not with Claps of Hands or noise of Feet Awake Her from what is more sweet Till the bright rising Day-star light Her to HEAV'NS Street LXXXIX Yeeld Her what her unfetter'd Rapture gives Since She 's more where She loves than lives Transanimations scaling HEAV'N break carnal Gyves XC In LOVES triumphant Chariot plac't She is Concentrick are her JOYES with HIS Encharioted in Fire her Spirit HEAV'N-ripe for Blisse XCI They 're only sound who Thus are lost in Trance Transported to the High'st Advance With Him who was in Spirit rapt to ' expreffeles Glance XCII Return'd She cry'd O slay me thus again Ne're lives she who thus ne're is slain How sweet the Wounds of LOVE No Pleasure to LOVES pain XCIII In furnac't Pyrausta-like I fry To live is Faith 't is Gain to die One Life 's enough for Two THOU liv'st in me not I XCIV How mid'st Regalios of LOVES Banquet I Dissolve in Sweets Extremitie O Languors Thus to live is in pure Flames to die XCV Three Kings three Gifts to th' KING of Kings did bring Myrrhe Incense Gold to Man GOD King For Myrrhe Tears Incense Pray'rs Gold take Loves Offering XCVI O take Loves Hecatomb Then through her Eyes Did LOVE inamoring Passions rise HIGH'ST GLORY crowns THEOPHILA's Love-Sacrifice XCVII Not She Mortality alone did die Death's but Translation to the Skie All Virtues fir'd in her pure BREAST their Spicerie
broken Consort of Hearts and Spirits the Will there accepted for the Work and the Desire for Desert Behold here in an Original is presented an Example of Life with Force of Precepts happy who coppy them out in their Actions Indeed Examples and Precepts are as Poems and Pictures for as Poems are speaking Pictures and Pictures are silent Poems so Example is a silent Precept and Precept a speaking Example And as Musick is an audible Beauty and Beauty a visible Musick So Precepts are audible Sweets to the Wise and Examples silent Harmony to the illiterate who may unclasp and glance on these Poems as on Pictures with Inadvertency yet He who shall contribute to the Improvement of the Author either by a prudent Detection of an Errour or a sober Communication of an irrefragable Truth deserves the venerable Esteem and Welcome of a good ANGEL And He who by a candid Adherence unto and a fruitful Participation of what is good and pious confirms Him therein merits the honourable Entertainment of a faithful Friend But he who shall â—â—â—duce him in Absence for what in Presence he would seem to applaud incurres the double Guilt of Flattery and Slander and he who wounds Him with ill Reading and Misprision does Execution on Him before Iudgement Now He who is the Way the Truth and the Life bring those to everlasting Life who love the Way and Truth in Sincerity The severall Cantos The Humiliation Restauration Inamoration Representation Association Contemplation Admiration The Recapitulation Praelibation Translations Abnegation Disincantation Segregation Reinvitation Termination Be pleased Reader first to correct these Typographical Errours Acres circumfert centum licèt Argus Ocellos Non tamen errantes cernat ubique Typos AT the bottom B4 Line 20. Read Ecstasies Pag. 1. Stanza 1. Strains p. 54. St. 23. Condescent p. 76. St. 71. Vnbounded p. 84. St. 25. Thee p. 106. St. 86. doth most 132. 31. non p. 144. rectifie the Figures p. 169. St. 60. repurgat 173. 90 eversis 203. 82. For. 214. l. 12. exanimes 217. l. 7. splendet 239. 29. didst 268. l. 25. Nectare c. PNEVMATO-SARCO-MACHIA OR THEOPHILA'S Spiritual Warfare THE Life of a true CHRISTIAN is a continual Conflict Each Act of the good Fight hath a Military Scene and our Blessed SAVIOUR coming like a Man of War commands in Chief under the FATHER who hath layed Help upon One that is Mighty by anointing him with the Holy GHOST and with Power This World is his pitched Field his Standard the Cross his Colours Blood his Armour Patience his Battle Persecution his Victory Death And in mystical DIVINITY his two-handed Sword is the Word and Spirit which wounds and heals and what is shed in this holy War is not Blood but Love his Trumpeters are Prophets and Preachers his Menacies Mercies and his Arrows Benefits When he offers HIMSELF to us He then invades us His great and small Shot are Volies of Sighs and Groans when we are converted we are conquer'd He bindes when He embraceth us In the Cords of Love He leads us Captives and kills us into Life when He crucifies the Old and quickens in us the New Man So then here is no Death but of inbred Corruptions No Slaughter but of carnal Affections which being Mortified the Soul becomes a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable unto GOD. WHEN that great Gen'ralissimo of all Infernal Ianizaries shall His Legions of Temptations raise enroul And muster Them 'gainst Thee my Soul And Ranks of Pleasures Profits Honours bring To give a Charge on the right Wing And place his dreadful Troops of deadly Sins Upon the Left with murth'ring Gins And draw to his main Bodie thousand Lusts And for Reserve wherein he trusts Shall specious Sanctities Brigade provide Whose Leader is spiritual Pride And having treacherously laid his Trains In Ambush under Hope of Gains By sinning as so many Scouts to finde Each March and Posture of thy Mind Then Soul sound an Alarm to FAITH and presse Thy ZEAL to be in Readinesse And leavie all thy Faculties to serve Thy CHIEFE Take PRAY'R for thy Reserve Under the Conduct of his SPIRIT See Under the Banner that they be Of thy SALVATIONS CAPTAIN Then be sure That all thy Out-works stand secure Yet narrower look into th' indenting Line Of thy ambiguous Thoughts Designe With constant Care a Watch o're every Part Ev'n at thy Cinque-ports and thy Heart Set Centinels Let FAITH be Captain o're The Life-Guard standing at the Dore Of thy well-warded Breast Disloyal Fear That corresponds with Guilt cashear Nor let Hypocrisie sneak in and out Thy Garrison with that Spie Doubt The Watch-word be IMMANUEL Then set Strong Parties of thy Tears and let Them still to salie forth prepared stand And but expect the Souls Command Waiting until a blest Recruit from HIGH Be sent with GRACES free Supplie Thus where the LORD of Hosts the Van leads there Triumphant Palms bring up the Rere TO MY FANCIE UPON THEOPHILA FLy FANCIE Beauties arched Brow Darts wing'd with Fire thence sparkling flow From Flash of Lightning Eye-balls turn Contracted Beams of Chrystal burn Wave Curls which Wit Gold-tresses calls That golden Fleece to Tinsel falls EVade Thou peach-bloom Cheek-Decoies Where both the Roses blend false Joyes Presse not the two-leav'd Rubie Gates Which fence their Pearl-Portcullis Grates Suck not the Breath though it return Fragrant as Phoenix spicie Urn. LOck up thine Ears and so disarm The Magick of inamoring Charm The lily'd Breasts with Violets vein'd Are Flow'rs as soon deflowr'd as gain'd Love-loâ—ks Perfume Paint Spots dispraise These by the Black-Art Spirits raise GArnish no Bristows with rich Mine Glow-worms are Vermin though they shine Should one Love-knot All Lovelies tie This One These All soon cloy and die Cupid as lame as blinde being gone Live One with HIM WHO made Thee One AVoid exotick Pangs o' th' Brain Nor let thy Margent blush a Stain With artful Method Misc'line sow May Iudgement with Invention grow Profit with Pleasure bring to th' Test Be Oar refin'd before imprest PAsse Forge and File be Point and Edge 'Gainst what severest Browes alledge Mix Balm with Ink Let thy Salt heal T' each Palate various Manna deal Have for the Wise strong Sense deep Truth Grand-Sallet of choice Wit for Youth CUll Metaphors well-weigh'd and clear Enucle'ate Mysteries to th' Ear. Be Wit Stenography'd yet free 'T is largest in Epitome Fly through Arts Heptarchie be clad With Wings to soar but not to gad THy Pineons raise with mystick Fire Sometimes 'bove high-roof't Sense aspire So draw THEOPH'LA that each Line Centring in HEAV'N may seem Divine Her Voice soon fits Thee for that Quire W' are cindred by intrinsick Fire MAgnetick VIRTUE' 's in her Brest Impregn'd with GRACE the noblest GUEST Who in LOVES Albo are enrol'd Unutterable Joyes behold Geographers Earths Globe survey Fancie HEAVN'S Astrolabe display SIx hast thou view'd of Europs Courts Soon as Idaeas pass'd their Sports Sense canst thou perse and construe Blisse Only
refin'd it doth It self abroad display IV. Mount Fancie then through Orbs to GLORIES Sphere Wilde is the Course that ends not there You who are VIRTUES Friends lend to her Tongue an Ear. V. Let not the wanton Love-fights which may rise From vocal Fifes Flame-darting Eyes Beauties Munition Hearts w th Wounds unseen surprize VI. Whose Basilisk-like Glances taint the Air Of VIRGIN purenesse and ensnare Entangled Thoughts i' th' Trammels of their Ambush-hair VII Loves Captive view who 's Daies in warm Frosts spends On 's Idol dotes to Wit pretends Writes blots rends nor heeds where he begins or ends VIII His Stock of Verse in Comick Fragments lies Higher than Ten'riffs Pique He flies Sols but a spark Thou outray'st all Diamonds of the Skies IX Victorious Flames glow from thy brighter EYE Cloud those twin-lightning ORBS They 'l â—rie Anice-vein'd Monk cloud Them or PLANET-struck I die X. Indians pierce Rocks for Gems Negro's the Brine For Pearls Tartars tohunt combine For Sables Consecrate all Off'rings at HER SHRINE XI Crouch low -O Vermeil-tinctur'd CHEEK for thence The Organs to my Optick Sense Aredazled at the Blaze of so bright ANGELENCE XII Does Troy-bane Hellen Friend with ANGELS share All Lawlesse Passions Idols are Frequent are fuco'd Cheeks The Virtuosa's rare XIII A Truth authentick Let not skin-deep white And red perplex the nobler Light O' th' Intellect nor mask the SOULS clear piercing Sight XIV Burn Odes Lusts Paperplots Fly Playes its Flame Shun guileful Courtisms Forge for Shame No Chains Lip-traffick and Eye-dialogues disclaim XV. Hark how the frothy empty Heads within Roar and carouse i' th' jovial Sin Amidst the wilde Levalto's on their merry Pin XVI Drain dry the ransackt Cellars and resign Your Reason up to Riot joyn Your Fleet sail by Sugar-rocks through Floods of Wine XVII Send Care to dead Sea of Phlegmattick Age Ride without Bit your restive Rage And act your Revel-rout Thus on the tipling Stage XVIII Swell us a lustie BRIMMER more till most So Vast that none may spie the Coast Wee 'l down with ALL though therein sail'd LEPANTO'S Host XIX Top and Top-gallant hoise We will out-rore The bellowing Storms though shipwrackt more Healths are than tempting'st Syrens did inchant of yore XX. Each Gallon breeds a Ruby Drawer score'um Cheeks dy'd in Claret seem o' th' Quorum When our Nose-carbuncles like Link-boyes blaze before'um XXI Such are their Ranting Catches to unsoul And out-law Man They stagger rowl Their â—eet indent their Sense being drunk with Circes Bowl XXII Intombed Souls Why rot ye thus alive Melting your Salt to Lees and strive To strangle Nature and hatch Death Healths Health deprive XXIII The sinlesse Herd loaths your Sense-stifling Streams When long Spits point your Tale Ye Breams In Wine and Sleep your PRINCES are but Fumes and Dreaâ—s XXIV I 'd rather be preserv'd in Brine than rot In Nectar Now to Dice they 're got Their Tables snare in both Then what can be their Shot XXV Yet Blades will throw at Aâ—l sans Fear or Wit Oaâ—hâ— black the Night when â—ice do'nt hit When Winners lose at Play can Losers win by it XXVI Egypts Spermatick Nurse when her spread Floor Is flow'd 'bove sev'nteen Cubits ore Breeds Dearth And Spend-thriâ—ts waste when they enflame the Score XXVII Tell me ye pybald Butterflies who poise Extrinsick with intrinsick Joyes What gain ye from such short-liv'd fruitless empty Toys XXVIII Ye Fools who barter Gold for Trash report Can Fire in Pictures warm Can Sport That stings the mock-sense fill How low's your HEAV'N how short XXIX Go chaffer BLISSE for Pleasure which is had More by the Beast than Man the Bad Swim in their Mirth CHRIST wept nere laught The Best are sad XXX Brutes covet nought but what 's terrene HEAV'NS Quire Do in eternal Joyes conspire Man 'twixt them Both does intermediate Things desire XXXI Had we no Bodies we were ANGELS and Had we no Souls we were unmann'd To Beasts Brutes are all Flesh all Spirit the Heav'nly BAND XXXII At first GOD made them One thus by subjecting The Sense to Reason and directing The Appetite by th' Spirit But Sin by infecting XXXIII Mans free-born Will so shatters Them that They At present nor cohabite may Without â—Regret nor without Grief depart away XXXIV Go cheating World that dancest ore thy Thorns Lov'st what undoes hat'st what adorns Go idolize thy Vice and VIRTUE load with Scorns XXXV Thy luscious Cup more deadly then Asps Gall Empoys'neth Souls for Hell Thou all Times Mortalls dost enchant with thy delusive Call XXXVI Who steals from Time Time steals from him the Prey Pastimes passe Time passe HEAV'N away Few like the blessed Thief do steal SALVATIONS Day XXXVII Fools rifle Times rich Lott'rie Who mispend Lifes peerlesse Gemme alive descend And Antidate with Stings their never-ending End XXXVIII Whose vast Desires engrosse the boundlesse Land By Fraud or Force Like Spiders stand Squeezing small Flies Such are their Nets such their Hand XXXIX When Nimrods Vulture-Talons par'd shall be Their Houses Name soon chang'd you 'l see For their Bethesda shall be turn'd to Bethanie XL. Better destroy'd by Law than rul'd by Will What Salves can cure if Balsams kill That Good is worst that does degenerate to Ill. XLI Had not GOD left the BEST within the Power Of Persecutors who devoure We had nor MARTYRS had nor yet a SAVIOUR XLII SAINTS melt as Wax Fools-clay grows hard at Cries Of that scarce-breathing Corse who lies With dry Teeth meager Cheeks thin Maw hollow Eyes XLIII GOD made Life Give 't to Man By opening Veins Death's sluc'd out and Pleuretick Pains Make GOD thy Pattern Cure thy self Alms are best gains XLIV HEAV'NS GLORIE to atchieve what scantling Span Hath the frail Pilgrimage of Man Which sets when risen ends when it but now began XLV Who fight with outward Lusts win inward Peace Iudgements against Self-Iudges cease Who face their Cloaks with Zeal do but their Woes increase XLVI The Mighty mighty Torments shall endure If impious Hell admits to Cure The best Securitie is ne're to be secure XLVII Oaks that dare grapple with HEAV'NS Thunder sink All shiver'd Coals that scorch do shrink To Ashes Vap'ring Snuffs expire in noysom Stink XLVIII Time strip the writhel'd Witch Pluck the black Bags From off Sins grizly Scalp the Hags Plague-sores shew then more loathsom than her leprous Rags XLIX 'T was She slew guiltlesse Naboth 't was she curl'd The painted Iezabel she hurl'd Realms from their Center She unhing'd the new-fram'd World L. Blest then who shall her dash 'gainst Rocks her Grones Our Mirth and wash the bloody Stones With her own cursed Gore repave them with her Bones LI. By Salique Law She should not reign Storms swell By her which Halcyon Dayes dispell Nought's left that 's good where she in Souls possest does dwell LII 'T was her Excesse bred Plagues Infecting Stars Infesting Dearth Intestine Wars Surfeit with Graves the Earth 'mongst Living
precor impellat sanctior Aura ratem I felix rapidas diffindas Caerula Syrtes Te Divina regit DEXTERA Sospes abi NON NOBIS DOMINE THEOPHILAS LOVE-SACRIFICE The Summary of the Poem THEOPHILA or Divine Love ascends to her BELOV'D by three Degrees By Humilitie by Zeal by Contemplation In the First She is Sincere In the Second Fervent In the Third Extatical In her Humiliation She sadly condoles her Sin in her Devotion She improves her Grace In her Meditation She antidates her Glory and triumphantly congratulates the Fruition of her SPOUSE And by three Wayes which Divines call the Purgative Illuminative and Vnitive She is happily led into the Disquisition of Sin by Man of Suffering by CRIST as SPONSOR of Salvation by HIM as REDEEMER In the Purgative Way she falls upon Repentance Mortification Self-denial helpt in part by the Knowledge of herself which breeds Contrition Renuntiation and Purpose of Amendment In the Illuminative she pursues Moral Vertues Theological Graces and Gospel-promises revealed by CHRIST as the Great APOSTLE which begets in her Gratitude Imitation and Appropriation In the Vnitive she is wholly taken up with Intuition of supercoelestial Excellencies with beatifical Apprehensions and Adherencies as to CHRIST in Bodie to the Holy GHOST in Spirit to GOD the FATHER in a bright Resemblance of the Divine NATURE All which are felt by the Knowledg of CHRIST as MEDIATOR whence flow Admiration Elevation consummated in GLORIFICATION And were Mysteriously intimated in the Symbolical Oblations of the Star-led Sophies Who by their Myrrhe signify'd Faith Chastity Mortification the Purgative Actions by their Incense implied Hope Prayer Obedience the Illuminative Devotions by their Gold importing Charity Satiety Radiancie the Vnitive Eminencies And it is the only Ambition of THEOPHILA to offer these presents to her BELOV'D by whom her Sin is purged her Understanding enlightned her Will and Affections enflamed to the Communion of all his GLORIES Thus She by recollecting past Creation present Corruption and future BEATIFICAL VISION endeavors to rowze us up from Hellish Security Worldly Solicitude and Carnal Concupiscence that being rais'd we may conform to the will submit to the Power and sympathize with the SPIRIT of CHRIST by a total Resignation of Self-comforts Abilities Ends and by the internal Acts of Love Devotion Contemplation She makes Sense subservient to Reason Reason to Faith and Faith to the written Word By Faith she beleeves what he has reveal'd and yields him up all her Vnderstanding By Hope She waits for his Promises and refers to Him all her Will By Charity she Loves his Excellencies and resignes to him all her Affections And by all these She triumphs over Sin Death Hell in the sensual World and by his Virtue Grace Favour enjoyes an eminent Degree of PERFECTION in the Intellectual THE AVTHORS PRAYER O THOU most High distinct in PERSONS undivided in ESSENCE Eternal PRINCIPLE of all Substances essential BEING of all Subsistencies CAUSE of all Causalities LIFE of our Souls and SOUL of our Lives Whose DEITIE is as far beyond the Comprehension of our Reason as thy OMNIPOTENCIE transcends our Impotencie We wretched Dust acknowledge that Adams Fall as it depriv'd us of all Good so hath it deprav'd us with all Evil for from our production to our Dissolution our Life if strictly discussed will be found wholly tainted alwayes tempted with Sin We discover our Condition to be more corrupt than we can fully discover The Sense of our Sin stupifies us the Sight of it reveals our Blindness and the Remembrance thereof doth put us in Minde of our forgetfulnesse of THEE The Number of our Transgressions surpasseth our Skill in Arithmetick their Weight is insupportable depressing us even to the Abysse their Guilt more extense than any thing but thy MERCIE O LORD we have loved Darknesse more than Light because our Deeds were evil therefore THOU hast shew'd us terrible Things We have sucked out the Dregs of deadly Wine Our National Crimes have extorted from thy JUSTICE National Iudgements Our hellish Sins enflame thy WRATH and thy WRATH enflames Hell-fire against us We want so much of Happinesse as of Obedience our Beatitude consisting in a thorough Submission of our Determinations unto thy Disposings and our Practise to thy Providence which causeth us with humbly-pressing Importunitie to implore thy GOODNESSE for HIS SAKE who of mere Love took upon Him a Nature of Infirmities to cure the Infirmities of our Nature that THOU would'st give us a Sense of our Senselesness and a fervent Desire of more Fervency and true Remorse and Sorrow for want of Remorse and Sorrow for these our Sins O Steer the mysticall Ship of thy CHURCH safe amidst the Rocks and Quicksands of Schism and Heresie Superstition and Sacriledge into the fair Havens of PEACE and TRUTH Give to thy disconsolate Spouse melting in Tears of Bloud the Spirit of Sanctitie and Prudence May the Light which conducts her to thy Coelestial CANAAN be never mockt by new false Lights of apostatizing Hypocrisie nor extinguished by Barbarism Thou our FATHER art the GOD of Peace thy SON our SAVIOUR the Prince of Peace Thy SPIRIT the Spirit of Peace thy Servants the Children of Peace whose Dutie is the Studie of Peace and the End of their Faith the Peace of GOD which passeth all Vnderstanding Let All submit to thy SCEPTER adore thy JUDGEMENTS revere thy LAWS and love THEE above All for thine OWN SAKE and others ev'n their Enemies for THY SAKE having THEE for our Pattern thy PRECEPTS for our Rule and thy SPIRIT for our Guide And now in particular I throw my self who have unmeasurably swarved from thy Statutes upon thy Mercies beseeching THEE to give me a deep Sense of my own Vnworthiness and yet withall sincere Thankfulnesse for thy Assistancies Grant that my Sorrow for Sin may be unfeigned my Desires of Forgiveness fervent my purpose of Amendment stedfast that so my Hopes of HEAVEN may be advanced and what THOU hast sowen in thy MERCIE THOU mayest reap from my Duty Let Religion and right Reason rule as Soveraign in me and let the irascible and concupiscible Faculties be their Subjects Give me an Estate balanc'd between Want and Waste Pity and Envie Give me Grace to spend my Wealth and Strength in thy Service Let all my Melancholy be Repentance my Ioyes spiritual Exultations my Rest Hope my Peace a good Conscience and my Acquiescence in THEE In THEE as the Principle of Truth in thy Word as the Measure of Knowledge in thy Law as the Rule of Life in thy Promise as the Satisfaction of Hope and in thy Vnion as the highest Fruition of Glory O Thou Spring of Bountie who hast given thy SON to Redeem me Thy Holy SPIRIT to sanctifie me and Thy SELF to satisfie me give me a generous Contempt of sensual Delusions that I may see the Vanity of the World the Deceitfulnesse of Riches the Shame of Pleasures the folly of Sports the Inconstancie of Honours the Danger of
are Hell-proof THEOPHILA'S Soliloquie STANZA 1. WHen Heav'ns LOVE Paramount HIMSELF reveals And to the suppliant Soul her Pardon seals At feard-Hopes doubtful Gate w th trembling fell 2. Who Heav'n-ward sails coasts by the Cape of Hell That Her HE deigns to take She joyes in Woes To have in Labour pass'd the Parturition Throes 3. All Travell-pangs all New-birth Heart-deep Groans All After-births of Penitential Mones Are swallow'd up in living Streams of Bliss 4. When as the Heav'n-born Heir the New-man is By th' quickning SPIRIT of the HIGH'ST reborn Time past hath pas'd her Night present presents her Morn 5. See Ioy in Light See Light in Ioy O see Poor worthless Maid Fruit brought thee from Lifes-Tree By th' SPOUSE SPIRIT Saints sole Supporters Rise 6. Then Hells Apostate and be Heav'nly wise THOU art Lets interpledge our Soul my ONE My ALL though not by UNITIE by Vnion 7. Ineffably mysterious Knot begun Saints mount as Dew allur'd by beckning Sun Loves faithful Friends what parallels your Guard 8. Where Truth is Sentinel and Grace the Ward The Way is Flow'r-strown where the Guide is Love His SPIRIT with you below your Spirit with HIM Above 9. Reciprocal Excesse of Ioy Then soar My Soul to HIM Who Man became Nay more Took Sin it self to cleanse thy fully'd Clay 10. But took it only to take it away O SELF DONATION peerlesse GUIFT unknown Now since that HE is Thine be never Thou thine own 11. O Prodigie of Great and Good Faith sound This LOVES Abysse that do's so strangly bound ALMIGHTINES IT SELF From Whose Veins see 12. Unsluc't LOVES purple Ocean when His Free Red-streaming Life did vanquish Death Hell That thou might'st live HE dy'd That thou might rise HE fell 13. GOD so lov'd Man that Naturalists may deem GOD to set Man before HIMSELFE did seem When Man with seeing blinde 'gainst GOD arose 14. And slew his only FRIEND GOD sav'd his Foes Sol mour'nd in blacks Heav'ns Vice-roy Nature swounded Excess Loves Reason was Immensitie Love bounded 15. Ye Twins of Light as Sun-flow'rs be enclin'd To th' SUN of RIGHTEOUSNES Let Taste refin'd Like nothing as LOVES Heav'nly Manna and 16. Let all but CHRIST feel rough as Esaus Hand Let nought like 's Garment smell Let Ears rejoyce But in expresles Dictates of LOVES whisp'ring Voice 17. HE 'S thy bright Sun 'twixt WHOM and thy Souls Bliss Thy earthie Body interposed is Whereby such dread Eclipses caused are 18. As fam'd Astâ—â—â—omers can ne're declare Yet oft HE shines Then vanish servile Fears Then Heav'n-ward filial Hopes dry up thy trickling Tears 19 Spiritual Light Spirituals clears In HEAV'N Thou 'lt view that full what now by Glimps like Steph'n Thou canâ—st but spy There shalt thou Face to Face 20. His Light His Ioy His Love His Pow'r His Grace And His ALL-FILLING GLORY clearly see In optick Emanations from ETERNITIE 21 I' th' RING of boundless LUSTER from whose Ray This petty World gleaneth its peep of Day Thou shalt be Crown'd with Wreaths of endless Light 22. Here oft's an Enterview in Heat and Might By Inter-lucidations from ABOVE Twining Embraces with 's ensphearing ARM of LOVE 23 Most blessed Souls to whom He do's appear Folded within your Arms chast Hemisphear O Condescend How 's LIPS shed Love Life Merit 24. He makes his Angels Court of Guard By 's SPIRIT HE crowns you with his Grace So with his BLOOD When HE Redeem'd you and consign'd His FLESH for Food 25 Meat came from th' Eater from the Strong did Dew Sweetnesse when as incomparably true OMNIPOTENCIES SELF did largely shed 26. His mystick Oil of Ioy upon thyâ— Head Then trample Sin in Babylons golden Cup Treasures away She trifles Trifles treasures up 27 Oyl of this Lamp obsequious Soul lights Thee To thine approaching HEAV'N In Sanctiâ—ie Be actuated then Being up assumâ—d 28. By this bright Sun with this rich Oyl perfum'd Th' art prepossest with Heav'nly Comforts which With their Soul-chearing Sweets both ravish and enrich 29 Poor panting Heart Loves Seat yearn for Ioys Pith To have thy highest Bliss Communion with The FATHER the SON one SPIRIT with CHRIST 30. And One in THEM as THEY are One Thou fly'st Through Grace to GLORY VISION shall sublime Thy Faith FRUITION Hope ETERNITâ— thy Time THEOPHILA'S LOVE-SONG STANZA 31. SELF ô how mean an Harmonie it breeds JESUS All Names this NAME of Names exceeds This Name 's GODS Mercie at full Sea 't is LOVES 32. High Tow'r Ioyes Loadstone This my Spirit moves Hark Rise my Love my Fair One Come away Lingring breeds Losse I am thy Leader Light and Way 33. What Speed Speeds self can make Soul flie withall GREATNES and GOODNES most Magnetical Shoot like a Flashof Fire to th' ruby Wine 34. His precious BLOOD transcendently Divine How poor those costly pearls were drunk by Some My LORD drink Blood to me Let It to th' Worlds Health come 35 All Hope 's unanchor'd but in THAT THOU art 'Bove Indies Womb rich to my Love-sick Heart Flesh-fair Endowments are but Skin-deep Brags 36. Varnisht Corruption Wealth is but Cares Bags The Bag impostom'd choaks Gold Beauty Fame Are sublunary Mysts to SAINTS Seraphick Flame 37 JESUS THIS fans my Fire which has at best But Grains of Incense Pounds of Interest Go Int'rest Take the Principal Thine own 38. Divine LOVE loves thy LOVELINES alone What Flames to THINE proportionable be LORD had'st not first lov'd Man Man could not have lov'd THEE 39 Why lov'st us but because THOU would'st O why For Lepers would the UNDEFILED die That Pen was dipt i' th' Standish of thy Blood 40. Which wrot th' Indenture of our termless Good O LOVE 'bove Wish Never such LOVE enroll'd Who think their utmost Flames enough for THEE are cold 41. Whose HIGHNES did not to be low disdain Yet when at Lowest Highest did remain Who bow'dst HEAV'NS Altitude refresh with Flowrs 42. With JESSES Sov'raign Flow'r my fainting Pow'rs Which sink as shaft-struck Hart embost twixt Grief And Ioy Grief for my Sin Ioy for thy free Reliefâ— 43. Wrackt is with bitter-sweet Extreams my Minde Shell'd sheath'd cag'd coffin'd in her treacherous friend Her always tempting mass of Flesh She bears 44. Her Hopes did they not sprout from Thee were fears HOPE Thou Perfume of LOVERS for thy Sake LOVE'S generous throws at All Life 's but a petty Stake 45 Scarce worth the Prize LOVE makes two Spirits but one Me Counterpart to thy Indenture own I active then as Light tread Air and Flame 46. Without or Wing or Chariot and disclaim All the faint Sweets of Earth Thy SPIRIT views How in Loves torrid Zone thy sweltring Martyr stews 47 Row me ye Dove-wingd Oars whom Hope do's buoy To wisht-for Hav'n flowing with Tides of Ioy Yet wish I not my Joy thy Ioyes Above 48. Meerly for Ioy nor Pleasures of thy LOVE Only for Love of Pleasure No let free Spiritual Languors teem Fruitful yet Virgins be 49 Give give me
XCVIII As when Arabias Wonder Spices brings Which fann'd to Flames by her own Wings She from the glowing Holocaust in Triumph springs XCIX So VIRTUES Pattern Priestesse Altar Fire Incense and Victime up did spire VICTORIA VICTORIA sung All HEAV'NS QUIRE C. She Ecchoing Eccho which do's all surpasse GODS Sight is GLORIES Looking-glasse MAGNIFICATS HOSANNAS HALLELUIAHS Pars Cursûs emensa mei Pars restat aranda Ex aequo Metam Vesper Ortus habent Ergo per immensos properent cava Lintea Fluctus Iactatam capiant Littora sancta Ratem Amans Animâ satiatur Amantis View See the Authors â—igâ— Designâ— His Book displaid â—is â—apers shine Is Aâ—honian Bird 〈◊〉 Dog and Cat 〈…〉 intimate TIEOPHLA doth before Him stand Amused witâ— erected Handâ— And like an Eagle upward flies 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 ANGELS to the SKIES THEOPHILA'S LOVE-SACRIFICE CANTO V. The Representation ARGUMENT Mundus Opes Animam COELUM Terramque resumpsit Terra DEVS Vitam cum tulit IPSE dedit Solus AMOR facit esse DEVM QUEM Mente capaci Si Quis conciperet posset esse DEVS The Authors Vision Her Ascent HEAV'NS Place Descry'd where reigns all glorious GRACE Where 's all-sufficient GOOD the Sum of BLISSE She has STANZA I. I 'M vile a thing impure Corruptions Son Earth-crawling Worm by Sin undone Whose suppliant Dust doth own its Shame and t' HEAV'N doth run II. GRACE intervene 'twixt Sin and Shame and tie A hopeful BLISSE to Miserie LORD pardon dust and ashes both yea worse am I III. Though dust thy Work though Clay Thy HAND did turn This Vessel and though ashes th' URN THOU art them to restore when Skie Earth shall burn IV. Whil'st that my Heav'n-allyed-Soul does stay Wholly on THEE not Europs Sway Can elevate my Wish like one Grace-darted Ray. V. Meet meet my prison'd Souls Address oh might She view through mouldring Earth thy SIGHT GRACE perfects Natures want Say here Let there be Light VI. Then though in Flesh my Spirit pris'ned be She may by FAITH ascend to THEE And up be rais'd till she shall mount to Libertie VII Clear-sighted FAITH point out the Way I will Neglect curl'd Phrases frizled Skill Humble DEVOTION lift Thou up my flagging Quill VIII Which faints at first Approach my Faith 's too light To move This MOUNTAIN reach This HEIGHT Can squeaking Reeds sound forth the Organs full delight IX I 'm mute for only Light can Light declare A Diamond must a Diamond square Yet where I dare not speak there yet adore I dare X. Ear has not heard nor Eye has seen nor can Mans Heart conceive vast Heart of Man The Riches treasur'd up in GLORIES Ocean XI Tomes full of mystick Characters enfense Those Seas of BLISSE To write to Sense HEAV'NS Chronicle wou'd ask a HEAV'ND Intelligence XII How then from Flood of Tears may an Arkt Dove try Its ventrous Pineons to descry That Land unknown to Nature Vast ETERNITIE XIII Fear Gulfs unfathomable nor desire Ere of GODS Court thou art t' aspire To be of 's Counsell Pry not but with Awe admire XIV Dwarf-words do limp do derogate do scan Nor Height nor Depth Since Time began What constitutes a Gnat was ne're found out by Man XV. Dares mortal Slime with ruder tongue expresse What ev'n CELESTIALS do confesse Is inexpressible Thou Clod of Earth first guesse XVI In like Degrees from Aequinoctial Track Why Men are tawny white and black Why Bactrias Camel two Arabs one Bunch on 's Back XVII Canst lead Leviathan with a silken String Canst cover with a Hornets Wing Behemoth Canst thou Seas into a Nutshell bring XVIII Canst Motion fix count Sands recall past Day Shew Height Breadth Length o' th' spreading Ray Discardinate the Sphears and rapid Whirlwindes stay XIX Tell tell how pond'rous Earths huge proplesse Ball Hangs poised in the fluent Hall Of fleeting Air how Clouds sustained are from Fall XX. How burnt the Bush when Verdure cloth'd its Fire How from the Rock Rod-struck in Ire Did Cataracts gush out How did the Sea retire XXI Canst thou take Post-Horse with the coursing Sun And with Him through the Zodiack run How many Stages be there ere the Race be done XXII Then tell how once He shot his Beams down-right From the same Zenith while for Night Mortals stood gazing at a doubled Noon-dayes-Light XXIII Tell how that Planet did in after-dayes Turn Cancer shooting Parthian Rayes Ten whole Degrees reverst which did the World amaze XXIV Poor thingling Man Propitious HEAV'N assign Some ANGEL for this high DESIGN HEAV'NS HISTORIE requires at least a SERAPHIN XXV O might some glorious SPIRIT then retire And warble to a sacred Lyre The Song of Moses and the LAMB in HEAV'NS full Quire XXVI 'T was at Nights Noon when Sleep th' Opprest had drown'd But sleepless were Oppressors found 'T was when Skies spangled Head in sable Veil was bound XXVII For theevish Night had stole and clos'd up quite In her dark Lantern starrie Light No Planet seen to sail in that dead Ebbe of Night XXVIII When lo all-spreading RAYES the Room surround Like such Reflections as rebound Shooting their Beams to th' Sun from Rocks of Diamond XXIX This to a Wonder summoned my Sight Which dazled was at so pure Light A FORM ANGELLICK there appear'd divinely bright XXX I wisht my Self more Eyes to view this Gleam I was awake I did not dream Too exquisite Delight makes true Things feigned seem XXXI Model of HEAV'N it was I floated long Twixt Ioy and Wonder Passion strong Wanting due Vent made Sight my Speech Eyes my Tongue XXXII Oft my rapt Soul ascending to the Eye Peept through upon ANGELITIE Whose Blaze did burnisht Plate of sparkling Sol outvie XXXIII If gratious Silence shin'd forth any where With sweet Aspect 't was in this Sphear The Soul of Sweetness and the SPIRIT of Ioyes mixt here XXXIV From out LOVES Wing He must a Pensil frame Who on Times cloth would paint this Flame None can pourtâ—ay this glorious Draft but who 's the same XXXV Vail then Tiâ—antes-like this guess'd at FACE The Curtain of That inward GRACE Whose Forehead with Diaphanous Gold impaled was XXXVI For starrie Knobs like Diamonds did attire That Front with GLORY and conspire To lavish out their Beams to radiate that Fire XXXVII Whose Amber-curling Tresses were unbound And like a glittering Veil spread round And so about the snowy Shoulders sweetly wound XXXVIII Whose Robe shot forth a Tissue-waving Shine Which seem'd loose-flowing far more fine Than any interwoven Silk with silver-Twine XXXIX With gratious Smile approaching neerer sate This glorious THING ô humble State Yet on the VISION inexpressive RAYES did wait XL. 'T was glorify'd THEOPHILA sat there I mute as if I tongueless were Till Her Voice-Musick drew my Soul into mine Ear XLI 'T was 'bove Lutes sweetest Touch or richest Air I bring Thee Things saies She are rare All subcoelestial Streams Drops to this OCEAN are XLII Hear first my Progresse Loos'd from Natures Chain
in the World or the least moâ—e in the Sun is of Force to make it true and very GOD For first It maketh it to be the first ESSENCE derived from none other 2. It maketh it to be but One because there cannot be two INFINITES where there are two there is Division where Division there is end of one and beginning of another and so no INFINITE 3. It maketh the Subject to be immaterial for no Matter can be INFINITE for a Body is contained and if contained not infinite being without Matter it is also without Passion for sola materia patitur and so becometh also immutable for there can be no Change without Passion 4. It maketh a thing to be immoveable for whatsoever moveth hath Bounds but in INFINITE there is no Bounds 5. The INFINITE THING is simple for in Composition there is Division and Quality and so by consequent Limits Thus INFINITENESSE distinguisheth from all Creatures and is first primary without Cause but existing absolutely in HIMSELF and of HIMSELF and is to all other Things the Cause and Beginning yet not diminishing HIM having all their Essence but no part of his ESSENCE from Him But ô here the most superlative Expressions of Eloquence are no other than meer Extenuations I tread a Maze and thread a Labyrinth on Hills of Ice where if I slip I tumble into Heresie I am with S. Peter in the Deep where without the Hand of POWER I should sink eternally and be swallowed up by the bottomlesse Gulf. The Prosecution of this Argument were fitter for the Pens of ANGELS than for the Sons of Corruption whereof we may say that if all should be written of INFINITENESSE not only the whole World but even Heaven It Self would not suffice to hold the Books which should be written I satisfie my Incapacitie with rejoycing in GODS Incomprehensibility And now descending from these amazing Heights know Reader that Divine Poesie is the internal Triumph of the Mind rapt with S. Paul into the third Heaven where She contemplates Ineffables 't is the sacred Oracles of Faith put into melodious Anthems that make Musick ravishing no earthly Jubilation being comparable to It It discovers the Causes Beginnings Progresse and End of Things It instructeth Youth comforteth Age graceth Prosperity solaceth Adversity pleaseth at Home delighteth abroad shortneth the Night and refresheth the Day No Star in the Sphear of Wisdom outshines It Natural Philosophy hath not any thing in it which may satisfie the Soul because that is created to something more excellent then all Nature but this Divine Rapture chains the Minde with harmonious Precepts from a divine Influence whose Operations are as subtle and resistlesse as the Influence of Planets teaching Mortals to live as in the Sight of GOD by whom the Coverts of the thickest Hypocrisie that white Devil are most cleerly seen thorough Now 't is Iudgement begets the Strength Invention the Ornaments of a Poem both These joyn'd form Wit which is the Agility of Spirits Vivacity of Fancie in a florid Style disposeth Light and Life to a Poem wherein the Masculine and refined Pleasures of the Vnderstanding transcend the feminine and sensual of the Eye From the Excellencie of Fancie proceed grateful Similies apt Metaphors c. Sublime Poets are by Nature strengthned by the Power of the Minde inflamed and by divine Rapture inspired They should have a plentiful stock to set up and manage it artfully their Conceptions should be choice brief perspicuous well-habited In Scripture Moses Iob David Solomon and others are famous for employing their Talents in this kinde S. Paul likewise cited three of the Heathen Poets whom he calls Prophets as evident Convictions of Vice and Demonstrations of Divinity viz. Epimenides to the Cretians Tit. 1. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menander to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15. 33. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Aratus to the Athenians Acts 17. 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From these Results I fell in love with our more divine and Christian Poesie observing that in the Sayings and Writings of our Blessed SAVIOUR and his Disciples there are no lesse than sixty Authorities produced from above fourty of Davids Psalms Hence from that high Love which hath no Weapons but fierie Rayes my Spirit is struck into a Flame to enter into the secret and sacred Rooms of Theologie and Reader if thou wilt not prejudice thine own Charity by miscrediting me I dare professe thou wilt neither repent of thy Cost or Time in reviewing these Intervall Issues of spiritual Recreation which may thus happily prove a pleasant Lure to thy pious Devotion May likewise thy Charity suggest to thy Belief that I have done my best to that End and if thou thinkest that I have wanted Salt to preserve them to Posterity know that the very Subject It self is Balsam enough to make them perpetual Delightest thou in a Heroick Poem If Actions of Magnanimity and Fidelitie advancing moral Vertue merit the Title of Heroick much more may THEOPHILA a Combatant with the World Hell and her own Corruptions gain an eternal LAUREL Whose Example and Precepts well follow'd will without Doubt bring Honour Joy Peace Serenity and Hopes full of Confidence The Composer hath extracted out of the even Mixture of Theorie and Action this cordial Water of saving Wisdom by distilling Them through the Limbeck of PIETY whereof they drink to their Souls Health who not only take it in as parched Earth does Rain but turn it into nourishment by a spiritual Digestion being made like It Divine This metrical Discourse of his serious Day to which he was led by Instigation of Conscience not Titillation of Fame inoculates Grafts of Reason on the Stock of Religion and wouldâ— have all put upon this important Consideration that the Life of Nature is given to seek the Life of GRACE which bringeth us to the Life of GLORIE the obtainment of which is his only Aim being fully perswaded that as every new Star gilds the Firmament and encreaseth its first Glorie So those who are Instruments of the Conversion of Others shall not only introduce new Beauties but when Themselves shine like other Stars in GLORY they shall have some Reflexions from the Light of Others to whose fixing in the Orb of HEAVEN they Themselves have been Instrumentall He would not run thee out of Breath by long-winded Strains for in a Poem as in a Prayer 't is Vigour not Length that crowns it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Taedia ut Ambages pariant nervosa Favorem Sic Brevitas Labor est non brevis esse brevem He wisheth it might be his Happinesse to meet with such Readers as discern the Analogie of Grounds as well as the Knowledge of the Letter and have as well a Systeme of Reason as the Understanding of Words yea such as have Iudgement and Affections refin'd and with THEOPHILA be Love-sick too which Love is never more eloquent than when ventilated in Sighs and Groans HEAVENS delighted Musick being in the