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
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
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
first mov'd Satan to ruine HEAV'NS Belov'd The Serpent Devil'd Eve She 's Dam to Adam prov'd XVI Both taste by tasting tastlesse Both became Who All would know knew nought but Shame They blush for That which They when righteous could not name XVII Still in our Maw that Apples Core doth stick Which they did swallow and the thick Rinde of forbidden Fruit has left our Nature sick XVIII Now serves our Guiltiness as winding Sheet To wrap up Lepers Cover meet While thus stern Vengeance does our Wormships sadly greet XIX Disloyal Slaves look out see Mischief revels Look in see your own Denne of Evils Look up see Heav'ns dread JUDGE Look down see Hells fierce Devils XX. Created in GODS Image to look high Corrupted like to Brutes you lie Perdition's from your selves No Cure for those will die XXI Your Beautie Rottenness skin'd o're does show Like to a Dunghill blancht with Snow Your glorious Nature 's by embasing Sin brought low XXII Hence you the heavy Doom of Death do gain Enforc'd unto laborious Pain And th' ANGELS flaming Sword doth you expuls'd restrain XXIII Thus She reproacht Yet more alas remain'd Mans Issue in his Loins is staind Sin set his Throne in Him and since o're all has reign'd XXIV Black Sin more hideous then green Dragons Claws Dun Gryphons Talons swart Bears Paws Then checquer'd Panthers Teeth or tawnie Lions Jaws XXV Forfeit to the CREATOR'S thus Mans Race And by the WORD withdrawn is Grace From him the SPIRIT of GLORY turn'd his pleasing Face XXVI Yet that this Second Race in fallen Plight Might not with th' First be ruin'd quite The WORD doth interpose to stop th' incensed MIGHT XXVII Then undertakes for Man to satisfie And the sad losse of GRACE supply That us He might advance to GLORIES Hierarchie XXVIII Then Peace is preacht i th' Womans SEED but then As Men increase So Sins of Men And Actual on Original heapt GOD's vext agen XXIX Till drencht they were in Deluge had no Shore And burnt in Sodom-Flames of yore Plagued in Egypt plung'd into the Gulf of Core XXX And gnawn by Worms in Herod Sin 's Asps Womb Plotter Theif Plaintiff Witnesse Doom Sledge Executioner Hells Inmate Horrors Tomb. XXXI Misgotten Brat thy Trains are infinite To ruine each intangled Wight Mischiefs nere rest in Men th' have everlasting Spite XXXII Spite wageth War then War turns Law to Lust Lust crumbles Faith into Distrust Distrust by causelesse Jealousie betrayes the Just XXXIII The Iust are plunder'd by thy Rage thy Rage Bubbleth from Envie Envie 's Page To thy Misdeeds Misdeeds their own Misfate engage XXXIV Thus linkt to Hell's thy Chain Curs'd be that Need Makes Sinners in their Sins proceed Shame to Guilts forlorn Hope leads left-hand Files Take heed XXXV GODS Fort the Conscience in the worst does stand Though Sin the Town keeps by strong Hand Yet lies it open to the Check at HEAV'NS Command XXXVI Hence Hell surrounds them In their Dreams to fall Headlong they seem then start groan crawl From Furies with excessive Frights which them appal XXXVII Ne're was more Mischief ne're was less Remorse Never Revenge on his black Horse Did swifter ride Never to GOD so slow Recourse XXXVIII The Age-bow'd Earth groans under Sinners Weight While guiltlesse Blood cries to HEAV'NS Height JUSTICE soon takes th' Alarm whose steeled Arm will Smite XXXIX Inevitable Woes a while may stay Vengeance is GODS Who will repay The desperately Wilfull nor will long delay XL. 'T is darkest neer Day-break HE will o'return Th' Implacable who Mercie spurn Superlative Abuses in th' Abysse shall burn XLI Deaths Hell Deaths Self out-deaths Vindictive Place Deep under Depths Excentrick Space Horrour It self than Thee wears a lesse horrid Face XLII Where Pride Lust Rage Sin treble-pointed dwell Shackled in red-hot Chains they yell In bottomlesse Extreams of never-slaking Hell XLIII Riddle Compell'd at once to live and die Frying they freez and freezing frie On helplesse hopelesse easelesse endlesse Racks they lie XLIV And rave for what they hate Cursing in vain Yet each Curse is a Pray'r for Pain For cursing still their Woe they woo GODS Curse again XLV Devils and Shreeks their Ears their Eyes affright There 's blazing Fire yet darkest Night Still paying ne're discharg'd Sins Debt is Infinite XLVI Angels by one Sin fell So Man How then May Sinners stand Let 's quit Sins Den This Moment's Ours Life hasts away Delayes gangrene XLVII Conviction ushers Grace Fall to prevent Thy Fall Times Fore-lock take Relent Shall is to come and Was is past then Now repent XLVIII Before the Suns long Shadows span up Night E're on thy shaking Head Snowes light E're round thy palsy'd Heart Ice be congealed quite XLIX E're in thy Pocket thou thine Eyes dost wear E're thy Bones serve for Calender E're in thy Hand 's thy Leg or Silver in thy Hair L. Preventing Physick use Think now ye hear The Dead-awakening Trump Lo there The queazie-stomackt Graves disgorge Worms fatning Chear LI. Sins Sergeants wait t' attach you Then make haste Lest you into Despair be cast The JUDGE unsway'd Take Dayes at best count each your Last LII Time posts on loose-rein'd Steeds The Sun ere 't face To West may see Thee end thy Race Death is a Noun yet not declin'd in any Case LIII The Cradle's nigh the Tomb. That Soul has Woe Whose drowzie March to HEAV'N is slow As drawling Snails whose slime glues them to Things below LIV. Anathema to luke-warm Souls Lo here THEOPHILA'S unhing'd with Fear Clamm'd with chill sweat when as her ranckling Sins appear LV. Perplext in Crimes meandring Maze GODS Law And Guilt that does strict Iudgement draw And her too carnal yet too stonie Heart She saw LVI Yet Rocks may cleave she cries Then weeps for Tears And grieves for Grief fears want of Fears She Hell HEAV'NS Prison views Distress for Robe She wears LVII Deprav'd by Vice depriv'd of GRACE with Pray'r She runs Faiths Course breaks through Despair O'retakes Hope Broken Legs by setting stronger are LVIII Shame native Conscience views That HOLY ONE Who came from GOD to Man undone Whose Birth produc'd a Star Whose Death eclips't the Sun LIX She sees Man-GOD in Stamp Of Him who shakes but does not cramp The bruised Reed Snuffs puts not out the sputtring Lamp LX. She sees for Creatures the CREATOR came To die The SHEPHERD prov'd the Lamb For Sacrifice when Jews releas'd a spotted Ram. LXI She sees defamed Glory wronged Right Debased Majestie crusht Might Virtue condemn'd Peace robb'd Love slain And All by Spite LXII She streaming sees like Spouts each broached Vein With Gore not to be matcht again Her Grief thence draws up Mysts to fall in weeping Rain LXIII Vast Cares long dumb thus vent Flow Tears Souls Wine Iuice of an Heart opprest Encline LORD to this heart-broke Altar cemented with Brine LXIV Romorsefull Clouds dissolve in Showr's 'T is Blood Turns rocky Hearts into a Flood Eyes keep your Sluces ope HEAV'N
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
And quit from Clay I did attain Swift as a glancing Meteor to th' Aerial Plain XLIII Where passing through I did perfume the Air With sacred Spice and incenst Pray'r While grateful Clouds their liquid Pearl as Guift prepare XLIV I spare tâ—unlock those Treasuries of Snow Or tell what paints the rainy Bowe Or what cause Thunders Lightnings Rains or whence Windes flow XLV Those Regions pass'd where bearded Comets light The World to fatall Woes a bright Large Orb of harmless Fire enflam'd my Heav'n-ward Flight XLVI To azure-arched Skie ascends my Soul Thence view I North and Southern Pole Where Globes in Serpentine yet order'd Motions rowl XLVII Thence by the changing Moons alternate Face Vp through unweari'd Phosphors Place I mount to Sols Diurnal and his Annual Race XLVIII By whose propitious Influence Things are Quickned below this Monarch Star Making his Progresse through the Signes unclouds the Air XLIX And eight-score Times out-bulks the Earth whose Race In four and twenty Howers space 'Bove fifty Milions of Germanick Leagues do's pace L. This Giant with as many Tongues as Rayes Speaks out so oft as He displayes His Beams which gild the World that Man his LORD should praise LI. Through Sphears I pass'd to Stars that nail HEAV'NS Court My Stay was with Skie-wonders short Which by first Movers Force are whirl'd about their Fort. LII Through the blew-spangled Frame my psalming Tongue Made th' Orbs suspend their usual Song To hear Coelestial Hymns the glist'ring Quires did throng LIII Chime out ye Crystal Sphears and tune your Poles Skies sound your Base ere ye to Coals Dissolve and tumble on the Bonfire World in Shoals LIV. The Primum Mobile do's seem immense And doth transfused Influence Through all inferiour Orbs as swift as Thought dispense LV. Suppose a Milstone should from thence be hurl'd Vnto the Center of this World 'T would make up sixscore Years ere it could down be whirld LVI Now entred I HEAV'NS Suburbs 〈…〉 No orient Jewels cast such 〈◊〉 O might this Verse be wreath'd but with 〈◊〉 Diadems LVII Sols radiant Fulgence in meridian Skies Seem'd Shade unto those CLARITIES Where Beauties Self might beautifie her fairâ—st Eyes LVIII 'T is 'bove high'st Verge where Reason dares be bold That HEAV'N of GOD is of such Mold That Eyes till glorify'd cannot the same behold LIX 'T is purely Spirit'al and so must be Above compare in all Degree With Ought that draws its Line from th' six Dayes Pedigree LX. 'T is immaterial 'bove the highest Sphear Doth brighter then the rest appear Than Orbs of Fire Moon Sun or Crystaline more clear LXI 'T is Space immense from whence Apostates driv'n Their Rooms might so to Men be giv'n With Those confirmed SONS th' Indigenae of HEAV'N LXII Absurdly some Philosophers did dream That HEAV'N's an uncreated Beam Which forth eternally from GOD HIMSELF did stream LXIII 'T is but a Creature though its Essence be To change unsubject standing free On never shaken Pillars of INFINITIE LXIV Ocean of JOYES Who can THEE fully state For clearer knowledge Man must wait First shoot Deaths Gulf thy Soul may then arrive thereat LXV For no One enters There till He hath trod Deaths Path then from that Period Elected Souls ascend to Heav'n to BLISSE to GOD LXVI Zeal through me fir's its way to speak that I Would thither like wing'd Lightning flie Were my Flesh-curtain drawn that clouds my Spirits Eye LXVII What Heights would Souls affect could they undress Themselves of Rags that them depress How beautiful ' s the Form of naked HOLINES LXVIII New Light Life Love Joy Bliss there boundless flow There shall my Soul thy GLORY know When She her Robe of Clay shall to Earths wardrobe throw LXIX Fond that I am to speak Passe on to BLISSE That with an individual Kisse Greets Thee for ever Pardon this Parenthesis LXX Faith 's the Souls Eye As nothing were between They that beleeve see Things unseen Close then thy carnal thy spiritual Eyes unscreen LXXI For my transplanted Spirit shall emblaze Words may make Wonder stand at Gaze Vnboundless Bliss doth ev'n the sep'rat Spirit amaze LXXII O Fleet of Intellectuals Glory-fraught Inestimable Arras wrought With Heart-orecoming Colours how ye pass all Thought LXXIII THOU All-comprizing uncompriz'd WHO art Ever yet never made impart THOU Loves Abyss without or Ebbe or Shoar an Heart LXXIV Of WISDOM to attempt proceed and end what never Was Is Can be penn'd May Spots in Maps dumb Teacher Empires comprehend LXXV The Skie-enchased Diamonds lesser show Than Julie's hairy Worms that glow Sampled with those Rebounds unbounded GLORIES throw LXXV That Vessel of Election rapt to th' Soil Of highest BLISSE did here recoyl I' th' same Attempt 't is Honour to confess a Foyl LXXVII Sense knowes not 'bove Court-Triumphs Thrones or Kings Gems Musick Beauties Banquetings Without such Tropes it can't unfold Spiritual Things LXXVIII O how That most unutterable BLAZE Of HEAV'NS all-luminating RAYES Do's Souls disrob'd of Flesh both brighten amaze LXXIX That boundless Solstice with transparent Beams Through HEAV'NS triumphant ARCHES streams And gliding through each Spirit with intrinsick Gleams LXXX Pierceth to th' little World and doth dispell The gloomy Clouds of Sin that swell The Soul decoying it to ever-burning Hell LXXXI By GLORY how are SPIRITS made divine How super-radiantly They shine From th' ever-flowing SPRING of the refulgent TRINE LXXXII Beyond Report of high'st Discourse They dart Their Radiations 'bove all Art This cath'like BLISSE ore-flowes the most capacious Heart LXXXIII Conceive a Court where all Joyes domineer Where Seas of Sweets oreflow and where GLORIES exhaustless Mines Sports endless Springs appear LXXXIV Where infinite Excesse of Sweets ne're cloyes Where still Fruitions Feast employes Desire where Who enjoy the least can't count their Joyes LXXXV One may t' a Glimps None to a Half can rise Had He more Tongues than HEAV'N has Eyes Such nothing see as would in Words this SIGHT comprize LXXXVI Can Measures such UNMEASURABLES hold Can Time INFINITIE unfold Superlative DELIGHTS may be admir'd not told LXXXVII When GLORIES Heav'n is all one Sunny Blaze That flowing RADIANCE doth amaze While on That inconceivable RESULT we gaze LXXXVIII What King would not court Martyrdome to â—old In Capite a Citie ' of Gold Where look how many Gates so many Pearls are told LXXXIX The Structure's Square A firm Foundation Twelve-fold for Each a precious Stone The LAMBS APOSTLES Names engraven therupon XC There sparkles forth the verdant Emerald The blew-ey'd Saphyr therein wall'd The Topaz too with that Stone which from Gold is call'd XCI There Jasper Chaloedon Chrysoprase shine There Sardonix and Sardius joyn There Beryl Hyacinth and Amethyst combine XCII No sympathizing Turkise there to tell By Palenesse th' Owner is not well For Grief 's exild to Earth and Anguish groans in Hell XCIII The Streets with Gold perspicuous are arrai'd With blazing Carbuncles inlaid Yet All seem Night to GLORIES from the LAMB desplay'd XCIV For
sort Want Solidnesse when gain'd they are as false as short LXXXVIII While Fooles like silly Larkes with Feathers play And stoop to th' Glasse are twitcht away Amidst their pleasing Madnesse to Hels dismall Bay LXXXIX O could embody'd Soules Sinnes Bane view well Rather in Flames they 'd choose to dwell Not so much Ill as Sin have all the Paines of Hell XC A smiling Conscience wrong'd does sweetly rest Though starv'd abroad within doth feast Has HEAV'N It self for Cates has GOD HIM SELF for Guest XCI May call HIM FATHER â—His Vicegerent be An Atome of DIVINITIE Redeem'd by 's SON by the SPIRIT inspir'd blest by ALL THREE XCII His JUDGE becomes his ADVOCATE hath Care To plead for Him The ANGELS are His Guardians from his GOD Him Heights nor Depths may scare XCIII O Blest who in His COURTS their Dayes do spend And on that SOVERAIGN GOOD depend His WORD their Rule his SPIRIT their Light HIM SELF their End XCIV While Pride of Life and Lust o' th' Eye do quite Dazle the World SAINTS out of Sight Retire to view their BLISSE On which some Canto's write XCV For Souls sincerely good in humble Cell Encloystred neer Devotions Bell By Contemplations Groves and Springs neer HEAV'N do dwell XCVI Bright-gifted soaring MINDES though Fortune trod Are carelesse of dull Earths dark Clod Enricht with higher Donatives their PRIZE is GOD XCVII Farewell As vanisht Lightning then She flies O how in Me did Burnings rise The only Discord was Farewell Hearts out-reach Eyes XCVIII The Air respires those quintessential Sweets From whence She breath'd and who so meets With Such the tuneful Orbs He in that Zenith greets XCIX Dwell on This Ioy my Thoughts re-act her Part Such Raptures on thy shuddering Heart Make Thee all Ecstasieâ— by Spirit-seizing Art C. Chewing upon those HEAV'N-enchanting Strains My Soul Earths giddy Mirth disdains Fleet Ioy runs Races in my Blood through thousand Veins Contingit gratam victrix Industria Metam Et mea nunc Portu fessa potire Ratis Est Opus exactum Cujus non poenitet Acti Me juvat at Caepti Summa videre mei OMNIA in UNO in OMNIBUS UNUS MIra mihâ— inter Authorem Opus occurrit Symphonia Ille Caelebs Hoc Virgineum â—lle Philomusicus Hoc ipsum Melos Ille Dilectus Hoc 〈◊〉 Dilectâ—o Quis enâ—m ad â—im Amoris explicandum vel copiosiùs dixit vel impensiùs Opere perfecit quà m Autor hîc in sua THEOPHILA quae tantâ Florumâ—â—rietate â—â—rietate conâ—â—ersa est ut quid priùs legam aut laudem vix mihi post 〈◊〉 Lectionem constare possit Quid etiam Jucundiùs Animi Oculis quà m sitiâ—ntem tam coelesti Nect are Animam adimplere Sine me Deliciis igitur istis inebriari me Epulis hisâ—e Mel Amorem spirantibus jugiter accumbere Moâ—us amandi DEUM non habet modum nullus planè in hoc Genere Excessus daturâ— Scripserunt De Arte Amandi Varii sed imperfectè admodum impurèâ—ac si non tam Amandi quà m Peccandi Artem edocere profesâ— essent Quia hujusmodi illecebrae dum sensìm sine sensu Venenum hauriunt Morbo sine Medelâ afficiunt Hîc autem sunt Dictu honesta Lectu jucunda Scitu utilia Observatu digna Factu praestantissima Eximium ergo hoc felicis Ingenii Specimen propter Multiplices Aculeos in Legentium Animos suavitèr penetrantes penitiorem aeâ—ternae Veritatis Cognitionem instillatam Auresque harmonice demulcentem in Lucem emitti non possum non laetari M. G. S. T. D. I am satìs expertus Briticum Mare contraho Vela Naviget Ausonio Musa Latina Salo. Falloâ— an externo venit Aura secundior Orbe Portus in Latios versa Triremis eat Ad piae Poesios Cultum Invitatio VOS Eruditionis Candidati quibus Crux DOMINI Gloriae Religio Cordi Integritas Honori Doctrina Ornamento Poesis sacra Oblectamento qui Cupiditates Rationi Rationem Religioni ut Christiani subjugâstis cum Musis convivamini devotioribus ut perpetuâ Posterorum vigeatis Memoriâ— Non ad Mundi deliria VOS Animae piè anhelantes sed fulguris more ad Sublimia nascimini Credite Vosmetipsos DEâ—I Filios respondete Generi vivite Coelo PATREM Similitudine reâ—erte Quid enim evidentius coelestis Originis Indicium quà m humano Corpore Mentem Angelicam circumferre Vosmetipsos ergo erigite Dictatores Magna loquimini Magna viuite Caeteros ad inferiora depressos Quadrupedes non esse natos paeniâ—â—eat O quà m divina Res est Mens variis ornata Disciplinis Acquisitio Sapientiae Carbunculos pretiosissimas Orientis Gazas antecellit Nihil Vobis â— Animae DEI insignitae Imagine desponsatae Fide dotaâ—ae Spirâ—â—u redemptae Sanguine deputatae cum Angelis capaces Beatitudinis aequè sit Curae quám ut omnes altiores Animi vestri Vires in summum Illius Honorem qui primum Illum Vobis inspiravit Aestum exâ—ratis Tanti enim est Quisque quanti Mens quae praeter DEUM nihil excelsius in Terris Seipsâ— complecti potest Ad Se igitur revocetur Secum versetur in Se abeat Sibi tota intendat deque sua Sublimitate Autore semper adorando cogitet Hoc autem praestare non possit nisi Vitia Corporis ableget nisi Avaritiae Ambitioni renuntiet nisi sui Juris sit nisi Se denique a Sensibus separata penitiùs perfruatur tunc enim ad DEUM Objectum suum libera assurgat Haec autem ipsius in Seipsam Conversio aâ— Defixio â—antae est Voluptatis ut excogitari nulla in hac Vita possit quae vel ad aliquam ejus particulam accedat Ut igitur ad summum hoc Bonum summis Ingeniis Propositum perveniatis Votis Vocibus cohortamur Imo DEUS in Vobis velle persicere operetur Ipse Autor Ipse Remunerator Ipse Cansa effectiva finalis Cui soli Nobilissimi incumbite Vnum Hoc agiteâ— ut vos DEO Davidicae Pietati consecratos Sedes in GLORIae Templâ— aeternae excipiant Sed quiaâ— Heroes alloquimur heroico nostram hanâ— Paraenesin Carniâ—e substringemus THEOPHILAE AMORIS HOSTIA HECATOMBE IX RECAPITVLATIO Animae piè anhelantis Descriptio Beato THEOPHILAE Virginis Incendio Quisquis flagrare gestis In quo felicior Salamandrâ triumphes Et instar Pyraustae nascaris instar Phoenicis moriaris Vt AEVITERNITATI resurgas Non tam vitam deserens quam conserens Sanctioris Ovidii Carmina Cordis Oculis Oculorum Corde perlustres Debuissent Incendia dia Adamantino Stylo In Tabula IMMORTALITATIS incîdi Sed quoniam pennae ductibus scribenda fuêre Pennas porrigat Scribenti Pietas pennatior Ave Et centum Oculos Legenti oculatior Argo PORTICUS Amor erga Magistrum Sodalem Languidiùs se movet quodamodo vegetat Erga Parentem Conjugem Expansiùs se exerit quasi sentit Erga Patriam Patriae Patrem Elatiùs se erigit Rationem
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
regain the Field XXXVIâ—I The SPIRIT is true GOD from Ever HE Did reign with BOTH The TRINITIE COEQUAL COETERNAL COESSENTIAL be XXXIX The FATHER 's full though th' SON hath All engrost Nor yet is ought of this All lost Though th' FATHER give HIM SELF to th' SON by th'Hâ—LY GHOST XL. For though HE freely thus give All his STORE Yet hath He INF'INITE as before Conceive for Glimpsâ—some â—some endless Spring or Mine of Ore XLI What Soul will have this TRIAD for his Book With Faith must on the Back-parts look For with HIS glorious FACE blind are ev'n SERAPHS strook XLII By Speculation from Sols Substanceâ— we The FATHER from its Splendor see The SON from 's Heat the HOLY GHOST Here One is Three XLIII The Intellect the Memory the Will Resemblance make o' th' TRINE These fill One Soul yet are distinct in outward Workings still XLIV Thus to restore from Fall we may descrie THE TRINITY in UNITY Inscrutable ABYSSE rebates our weaker Eye XLV Be Ever-Ever-Ever blest ô TRINE Ever UNITEDNESSE divine WHO dost as well in Ants as in ARCHANGELS shine XLVI The Principats Thrones Dominations all Archangels Pow'rs Coelestial Are Ministers attending on thy SOVERAIGN CALL XLVII The Government 'bove Star-embroidred Hall Thus truly is Monarchicall Where All are Kings and yet one KING does rule Them All XLVIII Lesse then the thousand Part I have exprest Mans Weaknesse cannot bear the Rest. For thy Expresselesse NATURE LORD be ever blest XLIX SOUL of all Sweets my Love Life Joy and Bliss To ' enjoy THEE'S Heav'n Hell THEE to misse What 's Earths Ev'n Heav'n hath its Beatitude from THIS L. Remove the Needle from the Pole-Star and 'T is still with trembling motâ—on fann'd Till it returns No Fixure but in GOD does stand LI. To Saints all other Objects prizelesse be In GOD the ALL of All we see Feast to the Taste all Beauty to the Sight is HE LII Musick to th' Ear and Those whom HE unites Partake with HIM in high'st DELIGHTS Spring-tides of Pleasures over-whelm their ravisht Sprites LIII But Contraries when opposite best show As Foils set Diamonds off we know See Hell where Caitives pine yet still their Tortures grow Lâ—V As Metals fierie Waves in Furnace swell That Founders run to cast each Bell This not endur'd more Rage ten thousand Times is Hell LV. Where Souls still rave adust with horrid Pain They tug they tear but all in vain For them from raging Smart HOPE never shall unchain LVI O that for trash these Esaus sold their BLISSE For Sin that worse than Nothing is This desperates their Rage How they blaspheme at This LVII This Viper clings corrodes 'gainst which no Ward GODS BEATIFICK SIGHT debarr'd Renders their Case 'bove all the Pains of Sense more hard LVIII O never-sated Worm unpity'd Woes Unintermitted what Sin owes Hell payes The Damn'd are Anvils to relentless Blowes LIX Fiends forfeit not their Energie There Cain Fries but for one Lamb by him slain O what Flames then shall Butchers of CHRISTS Flock sustain LX. Earths fatal Mischief prosp'rous Thief that Thunder Which tore the Nations all asunder Whom Just Fate flew i' th' Worlds Revenge that conqu'ring Wonder LXI That Ghost of Philips hot-brain'd Son may tell Heart-breaking Stories of his Hell Too late He findes one Soul did his whole World excel LXII There curs'd Oppressors dreadful Rackings feel Whose Hearts were Rocks and Bowels Steel O scorching Fire cryes Dives for one Drop I kneel LXIII Oblig'd is Man GODS Steward to supply Brethren in CHRIST Coheirs who lie Gasping in stiff'ning Frosts no Cov'ring but the Skie LXIV Whose wither'd Skins fear as the saplesse Wood Cleave to their Bones for want of food Seem Natures Monsters thrown a Shoar by Mis'ries Flood LXV Though all their Physick's but a Diet spare Have no more Earth than what they are Nor more o' th' World than Graves yet in Heav'ns Love they share LXVI Inestimable LOVE from None bereav'n HEAV'N sunk to Earth Earth mounts to HEAV'N Just JUDGE to Dives Hell to Laz'rus Heav'n is giv'n LXVII LOVE Disengage us of our selves LOVE has Nor Biâ— nor Reins Rich 'bove Earths Mass Fixt in Idaeas of LOVES Soul-inliv'ning GRACE LXVIII O LOVE ô HEIGHT above all Height to THINE Thy FAVOUR did to Foes encline Unmeasurable MEASURE endlesse END of Line LXIX LOVE darts all Thoughts to its BELOV'D doth place All BLISSE in waiting on His GRACE It languisheth with Hope to view HIM Face to Face LXX And ushers in that BEATIFICK LOVE Which so divinely flames Above And doth to VISION UNION and FRUITION move LXXI Ice is a thing distinct from th' Ocean wide But melted by the Sun does glide Into 't becomes one with 't and so shall e're abide LXXII Desire 's a Tree whose Fruit is Love the Show'rs That ripen it are Tears the Flow'rs Are Languors Leaves Afflictions Blossoms Pray'r-spent How'rs LXXIII O Mental PRAY'R thy Ioyes are high Resort By Thee 's to GOD Thou art the Port Of inward Peace from Storms The Path to SIONS Court LXXIV By Pray'r GOD's serv'd betimes Remember Who The Blessing got by Wrastling so Who early pray they healthy holy happy grow LXXV Then pray before Lights rosie Blush displayes I' th' Orient Sols enchearing Rayes When He from 's Opall East to West oblikely strayes LXXVI Before the Cock Lights Herald Day-break sings To 's Feathr'ie Dames ere roost Lark springs Morns Vsher when the Dawn its mungrell hour forth bringsâ— LXXVII PRAY'R Thou art Lifes best Act Souls silent Speech The Gate of GRACE Saints GOD beseech By Prayer but joyn'd with Alms Fasts they HIM besiege LXXVIII Fasting the Souls delicious Banquet can Adde Strength to PRAY'R feast th' inner Man And throw up to ETERNITY the Bodies Span LXXIX Fasts sackcloth ashes groveling on the ground SAINTS study'd have with Pain and found VVith Ioy that what degrades the Sense in HEAV'N is crow'nd LXXX Prize FAITH the Shield of Martyrs Ioyes Confection Souls Light the PROPHETS sure Direction Hopes Guide Salvations Path the Pledge of all Perfection LXXXI In Faiths mysterious EDEN make abode VVith Iacobs Staff and Aarons Rod Frequents its Grove where none are but the LOV'D of GOD LXXXII The Radiations of FAITHS Lamp excite Such a Colosse of sparkling Light That Saints through worldly Waves may steer Lifes Course aright LXXXIII Being in not of this World They Comforts rear Above the Pitch of servile Fear Terrestrial Blossoms first must die ere Fruit They bearâ— LXXXIV No clogging Fetters of impris'ning Clay No wry-mouth squint-ey'd Scoff can stay Their swift Progression soaring in their HEAV'NLY Way LXXXV Thoughts on the endlesse Weight of GLORY shall Render ev'n Crowns as Dung and all Afflictions light as Chaffe chas'd on Earths empty Ball. LXXXVI The Torch that shines in Night as Eye of Noon Is but as Darkenesse to the Sun Run after Shades they fly fly after Shades they run LXXXVII All worldly Gayes are Reeds without Support Fitly with Rain-bow gleames they