to each Sin-disdaining Soul THOU dost exhibit in an unexhausted Bowl XCI This Wine of EXTASIE by th' SPIRIT giv'n Doth raise the ravisht Souls to HEAV'N Affording them those COMFORTS are of Earths bereav'n XCII Thy UNION is as strict as large thy MERIT No HEAV'N but THEE which SAINTS inherit Thâ—ough Grace divinest Sap derivâ—d by th' HOLY SPIRIT XCIII When Souls enflamed by that highest LIGHT Fix on Thy glorifying SIGHT All Glories else compar'd to THAT are duskie Night XCIV When high'st INFUSIONS passe our highest Sense Amazement is high Eloquence Bove all Hyperboles which fall to Exigence XCV Blest TRINITY TH' art ALL Above All GOOD Beatitudes BEATITUDE Which swallows us yet swim we in this LIVING FLOUD XCVI TH' art KING of Kings of Lords LORD None like THEE Who for thy Style hast MAJESTIE And for thy Royal Robes hast IMMORTALITIE XCVII MERCIE for Throne for Scepter JUSTICE hast IMMENSITIE ' s for Kingdom plac't And for thy Crown such GLORIE as doth ever last XCVIII For Peace what passeth Understandings Eye Pow'r IRRESISTABILITIE For HOLINES All what 's most sacred pure and high XCIX For Truth thy WORD WISDOM for Counsellour OMNIPOTENCE does Guard Thy TOW'R Thou ministring Angels hast to act thy Soveraign POW'R C. OMNISCIENCE Thine Intelligencer is For Treasure Thou hast Endlesse BLISSE For Date ETERNITY O swallow me ABYSSE Ite pii Cantus Cantus quibus arduus Aether Est Portus Portum quem videt alma Fides Visuram Littus Navem sacra Serta coronent Serta per innumeros non perâ—tura Dies Gloria in excelsis DEO THEOPHILA'S LOVE-SACRIFICE CANTO VIII The Admiration ARGUMENT COELI trina MONAS TRIAS una faveto precanti PERSONAS unâ Tres DEITATE colo Sunt tria sunt idem Fons Flumen Gurges aquartum Sic tria sunt unum Sol Jubar at Calor Th' Elixir centuplies It self But ô Myriads of Myriads must She so T' express GODS ESSENCE which no Intellect can show STANZA I. PRojection to my Soul Thy SIGHT 's a Wreath Of GLORY Thou dost VIRTUE breath Thy Words like sacred Incense Fuel Flame bequeath II. THOU MAID of Honour in HEAV'NS Court to break Thy Gold-twist LINES shews Judgment Weak Yet deign to hear my Suit Of GODS hid NATURE speak III. Can Counters sum up INFINITE Fond Man Could'st grasp whole Oceans in thy Span And Phoebus could'st out-face in his Meridian IV. Tear Rocks of Adamant and scale the Wall O' th' glorious Empyraean HALL And Worms to Super-Eminence of SERAPHS call V. Yet THIS ev'n then thou could'st nor learn nor teach The World unravell'd cannot stretch To sound th' ABYSSE IT SELF alone It SELF can reach VI. Of all Intelligencies not all Light Mustred into one Optick Sight Can speak what each where is yet no where seen to th' He ight VII WHO out of Nothing all Things did compact Whose Will 's His Work whose Word his Act Of WHOM who say's the most must from His WORTH detract VIII How from the ESSENCE the CREATOR flowes Or how the WORD what Creature knowes How th' SPIRIT All in 't All from 't do's Heav'ns Assembly pose IX Here they who leave the Churches Ship are tost Till irrecoverably lost Whose Rudder is GODS Word Steersman th' HOLY GHOST X. ARCHESSENCE THOU Self-full Self-Infinite Residing in approachlesse LIGHT In the INCOMPREHENSIBILITIES of HEIGHT XI Thy peerlesse uncreated NATURE is The SUPER-EXCELLENCE of BLISSE Where Holiness Pow'r where Truth Goodness kiss XII WHO only in THY SELF subsists without Or Form or Matter yet no doubt Inform'st the Matter of the Vniverse throughout XIII No Need compels THEE no Disasters sad Disturb thy STATE no Mirth makes glad Oblivion takes not from THEE nor can Mem'ry adde XIV With prudent Rev'rence Thus. What ere 's in GOD His ESSENCE is There 's His ABode Whose Will his Rule whose Heav'n his Court whose Hell his Rod. XV. He ' exists an active ENS uphoulding both IT SELF and every Thing that doth Exit without distinction or of Parts or Growth XVI Not made by Nothing Nothing Nothing makes Nor Birth from any Thing HE takes For what gives Birth precedes Springs usher in their Lakes XVII Were HE Material then HE local were All Matter be'ing in Place So there Th' INCIRCUMSCRIPTIBLE would circumscrib'd appear XVIII HE 'S so diffusive that HE 'S All in All All in the Universall Ball All out of It The only WAS the IS the SHALL XIX To help thy Reason think of Air there see Vbiquitieâ— unseen and free From Touch Inviolable though it pierced be XX. Meer Air corrupts not though conveigh'd unto All Lungs for thither It does go To cool them Quickneth All as the Worlds Soul doth show XXI Moysture and Heat its Qualities are Cause Of all Production yet because This Element's a Creature GOD CREATOR pause XXII SELF-LIFE the Attribute of 's BEING is His WILL of Governing and His COMMAND of Execution and his LOVE of Blisse XXIII All 's ty'd in this Love-knot JEHOVAH's LOVE Times Birth the TRINITIE do's prove CREATOR made WORD spake SPIRIT of GOD did move XXIV Let us in our own Image Man create Which Salomon do's explicate Remember the CREATORS in thy youthful State XXV The FATHER spake the SON i' th' Stream did move At his Baptizing from Above The HOLY GHOST descended in the Form o' th' DOVE XXVI Of HIM to HIM and through HIM all Things be Of through and to declare the THREE And in the HIM the UNITY of GOD we see XXVII Thus HOLY HOLY HOLY'S nam'd to show A TERNION we in UNION know The Notions issuing from the TRINE in t ' ONE do flow XXVIII Whil'st that I think on THREE I am confin'd To ONE while I have ONE in Minde I am let forth to THREE Yet THREE in ONE combin'd XXIX O Inconceivable INDENTITIE In ONE how may a PLURAL be COAEQUAL both in ATTRIBUTES and MAJESTIE XXX The FATHER is true GOD i' th TERNION The WORD unborn yet after SON The SPIRIT GOD Coessential THREE cause THREE from ONE XXXI The FATHER WORD are ONE ONE shews their Power Are distinct PERSONS ONE does shour On Tritheits Vengeance Are does Arrians devour XXXII ONE yet not One The FATHER and the SON In PERSONS two from FATHER one By th' SPIRIT SON is one by Resignation XXXIII The WORD is what HE was yet once was not What now HE is for HE hath got A NATURE more then once HE had to cleanse our Spot XXXIV For ne're had Man from Earth to Heav'n attain'd Had GOD from Heav'n to Earth not deign'd His SON now unto GOD Mans way by MAN is gain'd XXXV EQUAL and SON the form of Servant takes The World unmade by Sin new makes EQUAL SON Servant All are Mysteries not Mistakes XXXVI Thus by free GRACE is Mans Defection heal'd Behold the Mysterie reveald WORD Aequal shado'wing SON Unction is Servant seal'd XXXVII Because GODS AEQUAL Serpents Tempts are quell'd Yet HE as SON to Death must yeeld For us by Resurrection to
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
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
Greatness and the strict Account to be given for All O then give me an undaunted Fortitude an elevated Course of Contemplation a Resignation of Spirit and a sincere Desire of thy Glory Adde O LORD to the Cheerfulness of my Obedience the Assurance of Faith and to the Confidence of my Hope the Joyes of Love O THOU who art the Fountain of my Faith the Object of my Ioy and the Rock of my Confidence guide my Passion by Reason my Reason by Religion my Religion by Faith my Faith by thy Word be pleased to improve thy Word by thy SPIRIT that so being established by Faith confirmed in Hope and rooted in Charitie I may be only ambitious of THEE prizing THEE above the Delights of Men Love of Women and Treasures of the World Nothing being so pretious as thy Favour so dreadfull as thy Displeasure so hateful as Sin so desirable as thy Grace Let my Heart be alwayes fixt upon Thee possessed by Thee established in Thee true unto Thee upright toward Thee and entire for Thee that being thus inebriated with the sweet and pure streams of thy Sanctuary I may serve Thee to the utmost of each Faculty with all the Extension of my Will and Intension of my Affections till my Love shall ascend from Earth to HEAVEN from small Beginnings to the Consummatiâ—n of a well-regulated and never ceasing Charitie O GOD who art no lesse infinite in Wisdom than in Goodness let me where I cannot rightly know Thee there reverently admire Thee that in Transcendencies my very Ignorance may honour Thee Let thy Holy SPIRIT inflame my Zeal inform my Judgement conform my Will reform my Affections and transform me wholly into the Image and Imitation of Thy Onely SON Grant that I may improve my Talent to thy Glory who art the Imparter of the Guift the Blesser of the Action and the Assister of the Designe So that having sowen to the Spirit I may by thy Mercies and Thy SONS Merits who is the SON of thy Love the Anchor of my Hope and the Finisher of my Faith reap Life everlasting And now in his only Name vouchsafe to accept from dust and ashes the Oblation of this weak yet willing Service and secure the Possession to THY SELF that Sin may neither pollute the Sacrifice divide the Guift nor question the Title Fill my Mouth with Praises for these happy Opportunities of Contemplation the managing of publick Actions lesse agreeing with my Disposition and though my Body be retir'd yet let my Soul be enlarged like an uncaptiv'd Bird to soar in the Speculation of Divine Mysteries O be praysed for that in this general Combustion of Christendom THOU hast vouchsafed me a little Zoar as Refuge in which my Soul doth yet live to magnifie Thee But above All for my Redemption from the Execution of thy Wrath by the Execration of the SON of thy Love having made Innocence to become guilty to make the guilty innocent and the Sun of Righteousness to suffer a total Eclipse to expiate the Deeds of Darkness Be THOU exalted for the Myriads of thy Mercies in my Travells through Europ as far transcending my Computation as Compensation But chiefly for the Hope Thou hast given me that when I have served Thee inhumbly-strict Obedience to the Glorie of thy Name THOU art pleased that I shall enter into the GLORY of my LORD to all Eternitie where I shall behold THEE in thy Majesty CHRIST thy SON in his Glory the SPIRIT in his Sanctity the Hierarchy of Heaven in their Excellencie and the Saints in their Rest in which Rest there is perfect Tranquillitie and in this Tranquillity Ioy and in this Ioy Variety and in this Variety Security and in this Security Immortality with Thee Who reignest in the Excellencies of Transcendencie and in the infinite Durations of a blessed Eternitie To WHOM with the IMAGE of thy GOODNESSE and the BREATH of thy LOVE ô most glorious TRINITY and ineffable UNITIE be all Sanctitie and Adoration sacrificed now and for evermore Amen Amen INto the most Holy TREASVRIE Of the ever-glorious PRAISES Of the MEDIATOR between GOD Man CHRIST JESUS The Empyraean Flame of the DIVINITY Indefinible Interminable Ineffable The Immaculate Earth of the HUMANITY Inseparable Inconfusible Inconvertible Mysterious in an Hypostaticall UNION WHO is The true LIGHT enlightning the World The ETERNAL WORD By ENERGIE Incarnated Embrightning our knowledge Enlivening our FAITH Quickning our HOPE Enflaming our LOVE Prostrated dust and ashes With an adoring Awfulness trembling Veneration To his INFINITE MAJESTIE Doth humbly cast this Mite Acknowledging from GOD all Opportunities of Good to be improved by His GRACE to His GLORY THEOPHILAS LOVE-SACRIFICE CANTO II. The Humiliation ARGUMENT Vnde superbit Homo cujus Conceptio Culpa Nasci Poena Labor Vita necesse morâ— Totus homo pravus Caro Mens Natura Voluntas Coelicus act Hominis Crimina tollit AMOR. The Deiform'd Soul deform'd by Sin repents In Pray'rs and Tears her Grief She vents And till Faith cheer her by CHISTS Love Life Death laments STANZA I. ALMIGHTY POWER Who did'st All Souls Create Who did'st Redeem their faln Estate Who still dost Sanctifie and them Redintegrate II. Sourse River Ocean of all Blisse instill Spring-tides into my low-ebb'd Quill Each graceful Work flowes from what works all Grace Thy Will III. LORD Thou before Time Matter Form or Place Wast All E're Natures mortal Race Thy SELF Host Guest and Palace Natures total Space IV. When yet though not discern'd in that Abysse CREATOR WORD and SPIRIT of Blisse In UNITY the TRINE one GOD adored is V. E're THOU the Chrystal-mantled HEAV'N didst rear Or did the Earth Sols Bride appear First Race of Intellectuals mad'st THEE to revere VI. Praise best doth Inexpressibles expresse Soul Th' ARCHITECT of Wonders blesse Whose All-creating WORD embirth'd a Nothingnesse VII Who brooding on the Deep Production Dispos'd then call'd out Light which on The formless Worlds rude Face was all dispers'dly thrown VIII When callow Nature pluckt from out her Nest Of Causes was awak'd from Rest Her shapeless Lump with fledg'd effects He trimly drest IX Then new-born Day HE gilt with glittering Sun Contracted Light with changing Moon He Night adorn'd and hung up Lamps like spangled Bullion X. The Earth with Water mixt HE separates Earth Plants brought forth and Beasts All Mates The Waters Fowl and Fish to yield Man delicates XI Then did of th' El'ements Dust Mans Bodie frame A perfect Microcosm the Same He quickned with a sparkle of Pneumatick Flame XII More Heav'nly specify'd by Life from th' WORD That Nature doth This Grace afford And Glory from the SPIRIT design'd as threefold Cord. XIII Man ere a Childe by ' Infusion wise though He Was of yet not for Earth though free Chanc'lour install'd of Edens Universitie XIV His Virgin-Sister-Wife i' th Grove He woo'd Heav'ns Nursery new Fruit his Food Skin was his Robe Clouds washt Winds swept his Floor All good XV. Envie that GOD should so love Man
much Honoured AVTHOR THe winged Intellect once taught to fly By Art and Reason may be bold to pry Into the Secrets of a wandring Star Although its Motions be irregular And from the Smiles and Glances that those bright Corrivals cast that do embellish Night Guesse darkly at though not directly know The various Changes that fall here below And perching on the high'st Perimeter May finde the Distances of every Sphere Which in full Orbs do move tunicled so That the lesse Spheres within the greater go As Cell in Cell spun by the dying Flie Or Ball in Ball turn'd in smooth Ivorie Each hath a Prince circled upon a Throne In a refulgent Habitation Only the Constellations seem to be Like Nobles in an Aristocrasie Their milkie Way like Innocence and thus Should all great Actions be Diaphanous But the great Monarch Light disposes All His Stores are Magazine and Festivall And by his Pow'r Earths Epicycle may Move in a silver Sphere as well as They. Else her poor little Orb appears to be A very Point to their Immensitie Thus strung like Beads They on their Centers move But the great Center of this All is LOVE Though the brute Creatures by the height of Sense Foretell their calm and boystrous Influence Yet to finde out their Motions is Mans part Not by the help of Nature but of Art Which rarifies the Soul and makes it rise And sees no farther than that gives it Eyes And by that Prospect will directly tell What Regions stoop to every Parallel Which Cities furred are with Snow which lie Naked and scorcht under Heav'ns Canopie How Men like Cloves stuck in an Orenge stand Still upright with their Feet upon the Land And where the Seas oppos'd to us do flow Yet quench they not that Heat where Spices grow It sees fair Mornings rising Neck beset With orient Jems like a rich Carcanet Who every Night doth send her Beams to spie In what dark Caves her golden Treasures lie And there they brood and hatch the callow Race Till they take wing and fly in every place It sees the frozen Firre shrouding its Arms While Cocus Trees are courted with blest Charms That swell their pregnant Womb whose Issue may Sweeten our World but that they die by th' Way It sees the Seasons lying at the Door Some warm and wanton and some cold and poor And knows from whence they come both foul fair And from their Presence gilds or soils the Air. It sees plain Natures Face how rude it looks Till it be polished by Men and Books And most of her dark Secrets can discover To open View of an industrious Lover What ever under Heav'ns great Throne we prize Or value in Arts Chamber-practise lies But when before the ALMIGHTY JUDGE he come To speak of HIM my Oratour is dumb Go then thou silent Soul present thy Plea By the fair Hand of sweet THEOPHILA Hap'ly thy harsh and broken Strains may rise In the Perfume of her sweet Sacrifice And if by this Accesse thou find'st a Way To th' highest THRONE alas what canst thou say What can the Bubble though its Breath it bring Upon the gliding Stream say of the Spring Can the proud painted Flow'r boast that it knows The Root that bears it and whereon it grows Or can the crawling Worm though ne're so stout With its Meandrings finde the Center out Can INFINITE be measur'd by a Span And what art thou lesse than all these ô Man Man is a thing of nought yet from ABOVE There beams upon his Soul such Raies of LOVE As may discover by Faiths Optick where The burning Bush is though not see HIM there The meekest Man on Earth did only see His Shadow shining there it was not HE. And if that great Soul who with holy Flame And ravisht Spirit to the Third Heav'n came Saw Things unutterable What can We Expresse of those Things that we ne're did see The Senses strongest Pillars cannot bear The Weight of the least grain of GLORY there No more then where to bound or comprehend INFINITIE they can Begin or End Since then the Soul is circumscrib'd within The narrow Limits of a tender Skin Let us be Babes in Innocence and grow Strong upwards and more weak to things below By sacred Chymistrie the Spirit must Ascend and leave the Sediment to Dust. This Cordial is distilled from the Eyes And we must sprinkle it on th' Sacrifice Offered i' th Virtue of THEOPH'LAS Name Which must be to it Holocaust and Flame Then wing'd with Zeal we may aspire to see The hallow'd Oracles exprest by THEE Who art LOVES Flamen and with Holy Fire Refin'st thy Muse to make her mount the Higher ARTH. WILSON For the Renowned COMPOSER APOETS Ashes need nor Brass nor Stone To be their Ward-robe Since his Name alone Shall stand both Brass and Marble to the Tomb. Nor doth he want the Cere-cloths balmy Womb T' enwrap his Dust until his drowzie Clay Again enliv'ned by an active Ray Shot from the last Day 's Fire shall wake and rise Attir'd with Light No When a POET dies His Sheets alone winde up his Earth They 'l be Instead of Mourner Tomb and Obsequie And to embalm It his own Ink he takes Gumme Arabick the richest Mummy makes Then Sir You need no Obelisk that may Seclude your Ashes from Plebeian Clay For from your Mine of Fancie now we see Y' have digg'd so many Iems of Poesie That out of them you raise a glorious Shrine In which your ever-blooming Name will shine Free from th' Eclipse of Age and Clouds of Rust Which are the Moths to other common Dust. Then could we now collect th' all worshipt Oar With which kinde Nature paves the Indian Shore And gather to one masse that Stock of Spice Which copies out afresh old Paradise And in the Phoenix od'rous Nest is pent All would fall short of This rich Monument About the Surface of whose Verge You stick So many fragrant Flow'rs of Rhetorick That Lovers shall approach in Throngs and seek With their rich Leaves t' adorn each Beauties Cheek So that these sacred Trophies will become In After-times your Altar not your Tomb. To which the Poets shall in well-drest Laies Offer their Victimes with a Grove of Bayes For here among these Leaves no speckled Snake Or Viper doth his Bed of Venom make No Lust-burnt Goat nor looser Satyr weaves His Cabin out among these spotlesse Leaves A Virgin here may safely dart her Eye And yet not blush for Fear lest any by Should see Her read These Pages do dispence A Julep which so charms the Itch of Sense That we are forc't to think your guiltlesse Quill Did with its Ink the Turtles Blood distill T. Philipot Pietatis Poeticesque Cultori IGne cales tali quali cum Nuncius Ora Seraphicus sacro tetigit Carbone Prophetae Macte DEI plenum Pectus Te his dedito Flammis Sancte Poetarum Phoenix Reparabilis Ignis Te voret hîc Totum Quo plus
And Fruits of Glory bud A Glimps of HEAV'N the Place XXIII This the Spring-Garden to spiritual Eyes Which fragrant Scent of Gums out-vies Three Kings had thence their triple mystick Sacrifice XXIV O happiâ—â— Walks where CHRIST and none beside Is Journeies End and Way and Guide Where from the humble Plains are greatest Heights descry'd XXV Heav'nward his Gaze. Here does a Bower display His Bride-room and SCRIPTURIA Her self is Bride Each Morn presents his Marriage-Day XXVI What Ecstasie's in this delicious Grove Th' unwitnest Witnes of his Love What Pow'r so strongly can as flam'd Affections move XXVII The Larks wing'd Travellers that trail the Skie Unsoyl'd with Lusts aloft do fly Warbling SCRIPTURIA SCRIPTURIA on high XXVIII T' have been affected by a Virgin Heir Rich young and chast wise good and fair Was once his first Delight but HEAV'N restrain'd that Care XXIX Thou Providence dist both their Wills restrain Thou mad'st their Losses turn to Gain For Thou gav'st Heav'n to her on him dost Blessings rain XXX But stop pleas'd Thoughts A high'r Love 's here design'd Fit in each Breast to be enshrin'd Bright Angels do admit no Sex nor do's the Minde XXXI To all her Lovers thousand Joyes accrew And Comforts thicker than Mayes Dew Shour down on their rapt Souls as Infinite as new XXXII Her Oracles directing Rules declare Unerring Oracles Truths Square Her Soul-informing Light does Earth for HEAV'N prepare XXXIII All beatizing Sweets as in their Hive At her fair Presence do arrive Which are to drooping Spirits best Restorative XXXIV To whose Sight Eagles paralell'd are blinde Had Argus thousand Eyes he 'd finde Darknesse compar'd with her illuminating Minde XXXV The Sun does glean his Splendor from her Eyes Thence burn we ' in Sweets as Phoenix lies Glowing on Sols Ray-darted Pile of Spiceries XXXVI From pretious Limbeck sacred Loves distill Such Sublimations as do fill Mindes with amazed Raptures of their Chimick Skill XXXVII That such Soul-Elevations still might stay We'd bear and do both vow and pay And serve the LORD of Lords by her directive Way XXXVIII Soon as our Ear drinks in His Command Be 't acted by our Heart and Hand Under his Banner we shall Satans Darts withstand XXXIX May He accept the Musick of our Voice While on his Goodnesse we rejoyce And while each melting Psalm makes on His GRACE its Choice XL. On Feast-Dayes from that Bour to Church we haste Where HEAV'N dissolves into Repast When we Regalios of the mystick BANQUET taste XLI O Deliccaies infinitely pure To Souls best Nutriment and Cure Where Knowledge Faith and Love Beatitude ensure XLII Poor Solomons Provision poor to This Manna Heav'n-dewing Banquet is Who reigns in Heav'n becomes on Earth our Food and Bliss XLIII O Sacramental Cates divinely drest GOD the Feast-maker CHRIST the Feast The HOLY GHOST Inviter and the Soul the Guest XLIV All Ioyes await the blessed Convives knit All Excellencies are in It This overcomes our Spirits overpowr's our Wit XLV For us poor Worms that â—lories SOVERAIGN dy'd O let our fleshly Barks still ride At Anchor in calm Streams of His empierced SIDE XLVI This is Heav'ns Antepast By Vnion He 's One to â—ll and All to One In Loves intrinsick Mystery to Souls alone XLVII Ecstatick Raptures loose our Hearts on high With Joyes Ineffabilitie Exub'rant Sweets orewhelm as Torrents Tongue Eye XLVIII Such Life-infusing Comforts from Above Our Souls with inward Motions move That totally for GOD we quit all Creature Love XLIX Should HE condemn us yet would Love compell Him down with us and we would dwell Rather than without HIM in Heav'n with HIM in Hell L. Soul of my Soul when I a Ioy receive Disjoyn'd from THEE let my Tongue cleave To 's Palate Me of All not of this Feast bereave LI. Not in the winter Solstice of my Years When shivering Snow surrounds deaf Ears And dreary Languishment Deaths gashly Vizard wears LII When they shall tremble that the House defend The Columns which support it bend The Grinders fail the Watch through Casements Objects blend LIII Then shine dear LORD when quivering Winter Dress Is icicled with hoary Tresse VVhen all Streams frozen are but Tears through Loves Excess LIV. VVhen periwig'd with Snow's each bald-pate VVood Bound in Ice-Chains each strugling â—lood VVhen North-Seas bridled are pris'ning their scaly Brood LV. Then let those freezing How're be thaw'd by Pray'r As VVells in VVinter warmer are By Circumsession of refrigerating Air. LVI That nipt with Cold or parcht with Heat resign We may our Will in each to THINE Be 't lesse or more be 't low or high be 't Storm or Shine LVII After Nights Soot smears Heav'n Day gilds its Face Wet April past sweet May takes place And Calm Air smiles when rufling Winds have run their Race LVIII Who hope for Mines scorn Dross Such only get Who lose a Game to win the Set Wordlings He 's rich who 's Above 's his Cabinet LIX To well-tun'd Tempers Things that disagree Have oft some Likenesse thus we see Winde kindles Fire Discord makes Concord Harmony LX. Affliction tunes the Breast to rise or fall Making the whole Man Musicall We may Affliction Christians second Baptism call LXI Who CHRIST for Spouse his Cross for Joynture has His Hand supports where 's Rod doth passe The LORD of Angels He the KING of Suff'rings was LXII Loves Life took Death that Death Loves Life might gain The Soveraign dy'd that Slaves might reign The World can't Books that should be writ of HIM contain LXIII Those have the greatest Cross who Cross nere bore They 'r rich in Want who GOD adore Who do's supply all Emptiness with His full Store LXIV Saint Paul the Gentiles Doctor rich 'bove Kings And high 'bove Oratories Wings Rapt up to HEAV'N had Nothing yet possest all Things LXV The Rav'n of Birds proves Caterer and feasts Elijah so the Lion of Beasts Was Samsons Purveyor Quails to murm'ring Jews were Guests LXVI Midst Thorns environ'd Love sweet Roses findes Steep wayes lie plain tâ—inamor'd Mindes Love gilds all Chains surpriz'd not thrall'd w th Comfort binds LXVII Then threaten World a Goal shall bolt me in He 's free as Air who serves not Sin VVho 's gather'd in Himself His self is his own Inne LXVIâ—I Then let fierce Goths their strongest Chains prepare Grim Scythians me their Slave declare My Soul being free those Tyrants in the Face I 'l stare LXIX Man may confine the Bodie but the Minde Like Natures Miracles the VVinde And Dreams do's though secur'd a free enjoyment find LXX Rayes drawn in to'a point more vig'rous beam Joyes more to Saints engoal'd did stream Linnets their Cage to be a Grove Bars Boughs esteem LXXI Burnisht to Glory from Afflictions Flame From Prison to a Scepterâ—came The lov'd and fear'd ELIZA-Titles vail t' Her Name HAving reformed Religion established Peace reduced Coin to the just value delivered Scotland from the French revenged domestical Rebellion saved France from headlong