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A Prospective Glass to Look into Heaven

John Vicars (1579 or 80-1652) · 21,180 words · 94 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A14380.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

A PROSPECTIVE GLASSE TO LOOKE INTO HEAVEN, OR The Coelestiall CANAAN described.

Together with the SOULS sacred Soliloquie, and most ardent desire to be invested into the same.

Sung in a most heavenly Hymn, to the great comfort of all good CHRISTIANS, by the MVSES most unworthy, JOHN VICARS.


REVEL. 21. 1. And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth.

1. COR. 13. 12. Here, we see as through a Glass.

LONDON Printed by W. Stansby for John Smethwicke, and are to be sold at his Shop in Saint Dunstanes Church-yard in Fleet-street. 1618.

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SOCIETIE OF THE GOVERNOVRS OF Christ's Hospital, I. V. Dedicateth all his poor endeavours, and wisheth the Kingdom of Grace here, and the Kingdom of Glory hereafter.

YOur Worships favors, from my Birth still found;
Have me in all my best Endeuours bound:
And, since I Owe more then I Know to Pay;
I rest your Worships, to my Dying-day.

Your Worships in All, always to be commanded, JOHN VICARS.

To the Right Worshipful, Sir JOHN LEMAN, Knight, President of Christ's Hospital, and Alderman of LONDON, I.V. wisheth all earthly Prosperity, and the Real fruition of this Ideall description.

R Eligions Rules and Natures Bonds bind All,
To keep account and true memorial
Of favors past or present; lest with shame,
Ingratitude should Cracke their Credits fame.
Since then ( Right worshipful ) these Bonds All bind,
This Duty needs to Mee must be assigned;
Who, from your Worships undeservedly
Have found much favor and great courtesy:
Whose sweet Effects have my good so effected,
As Black Obliuion may not make neglected.
And since your Worship worthily is made
The President, chief Pillar, Prop and Aide
Of Government in that blest Hospital
Of Christ's poor members, Orphans poor and small;
I, therefore joy, thus to Congratulate
Your Worships hap, their Help so fortunate.
As also that I may express, in part,
Some sincere Fruits of my most grateful Heart :
By Dedication of this my poor Mite,
To your good Worship ; due to you by right.
Which, hoping you ( Right Worshipful ) will take
With kind acceptance: Heavens great King you make,
A blest Partaker, of that Majesty,
Which my weak Pen can here but Typisie.

To your Worship in his Power and Prayers duly and d • tifully Deuoted, JOHN VICARS

To the Godly Reader.

S Ince, for the most part, all men take delight,
Of novelties to hear, to write, to tell
Of treasures and of pleasures, which excel,
Which best may please their itching ears and sight.
And for that cause have many Captains stout
By Sea and Land (to find out and discover
The admirable works of Heavens Arch-mover )
Trauail'd the Globes-circumference about,
Yea, many wise Cosmographers have spent
Much time and travail, cost and care to write
The Nature, Manners, Riches, and Delight
Of famous Kingdoms in Earths Continent.
But I, the most unworthy of the most,
Have vnderta'ne by Heavens all-blest direction,
To contemplate th' unspeakable perfection
Of New Jerusalem's most sacred Coast:
In which Survey (lest I, with Icarus
Should soar too-high; or, lest with Uzzah, I,
Should touch God's Ark, into Heavens-Secrets pry;
Or question what God doth inhibit us:)
Prophetick-John I here have made my Guide,
And by his Plat-form drawn this Map of mine,
And heereto Barnards, Napiers help Divine,
And Brightmans bright assistance have applide.
Wherein (good Christian Reader ) thou mayest find
Things admirable, glorious, sweet and rare;
Treasures and pleasures, matchless, past compare,
Such as transcend the reach of human mind:
And such indeed, as, though I had the skill
And Tongue of wisest men and Angels bright,
Yet were I most unable to Indite
The true perfection of this Zion-hill.
Wherefore, as old Historians testify
A wise Geometrician once tohave found
The foot of Hercules cut in the ground
Of high Olympus-hill apparently,
Did by the length of's foot delineate
The whole Proportion of Alcides great:
So, though the Fabrique of Heavens supreme Seat
In its perfection none can demonstrate,
Yet by some things expressed in sacred writ,
And circumstances suiting to the same,
We may thereof in mind conjecture frame,
Although (alas) we come far short of it.
No man's Imagination can conceive,
No Understanding comprehend the same,
No Tongue can tell the majesty and same,
But those (as Christ saith) which do it receive.
And therefore, He, Hid-Manna doth it call,
Hidden, because unsearchable, unknown,
Manna, because more sweet than Honey-comb,
Manna delightful, meat Angelical.
O then, auaunt, thou fond Poetic fiction
Of Greeks supposed (but false) Elysean fields,
Which they do dream, such sovereign solace yields,
Which they to get, have suffered much affliction.
Why boast th' Egyptians of their high-topt Spheres?
Cloud-kissing pinacled Pyramids?
Ahasuerus, his pompous Palaces?
Of these and more than these, what now appears?
What talk we of East Indian Marchandize?
What of West-Indies Mines of massy Gold?
What of the richest Jewels to behold?
What of most precious Pearls of rarest price?
Here's work of wonder, worthy admiration,
Here is a Structure, which out-lasts Times date;
Here is a Country rare, fair, fortunate,
Here's to be viewed the Land of sure-Salvation.
Wouldst thou be Rich? ô, here's true Wealth indeed:
Wouldst thou Live-ever? here's Eternity,
Wouldst thou Live-merry? here's Festiuity,
And perfect Joy, which doth Earths joy exceed.
Here, in this Heavenly Canaan, thou mayst find
Rivers, which flow with Milk and Heny sweet,
Here, as Companions, Angels shall thee greet,
Here's joy to fill Soul, Body, Hart, and Mind.
Since then, the Subject whereof now I treat
So Holy is, ( kind Reader ) me excuse,
That I, profane Poeticke Phrase refuse
In this discourse of Heavens supernal Seat:
For, tis not Fame, nor hope of worldly wealth
That I desire; The Golden Age is past.
But that I wish, Thine as mine own Souls-Health,
For which, I pray, and shall while breath doth last:
For Love, I only look for Love again,
This, if repaid, repayes my greatest pain.

Thine in Christ Jesus, JOHN VICARS.

To the Author, in praise of his Prospectiue Glass.

THy Verse contains pure language in true measure,
Thy View descries the Best blest Zion-hill,
Thy vow discovereth thy religious Will,
Thy Drift is to disclose to all this treasure:
Thy Verse, thy View, thy Vow, thy Drift declare
Thy Wit, thy Skill ; thy Will, thy Zeal, all rare.

Thine in the truth of a friends affection, I.H. of Cambridge M. in Arts, and Preacher of God's Word.

A loving LOOKING GLASSE, sent to his friend, M. JOHN VICARS, in return for his Heavenly PROSPECTIVE GLASSE.

MY looks can show me Heaven through Thine,
My love can show thee, but his Hart, through Mine,
Love, looks, Heaven, and my Hart best part of friends,
Thy Glass, Grace, Friendship and thy Zeal commends.

NATHANIEL CHAMBER, of Grayes-Inn, Gent.

A Prospectiue Glass to look into Heaven, Or, The celestial CANAAN described.

T H' Armi-potent, All-seeing All-Creater,
Th' All-mighty Artisan of Earths Theater,
Having inclosd in his vn-clasped Book,
Whē Heaven & Earth their first foundation took,
And therein registered this firm Conclusion,
An Universal end, and All-Confusion
Of all the World, which when once discreated,
Should be refined, renewed and re-created,
This great Decree will doubtless ratify,
And for th' Elects -sake doeit more speedily,
As Sybells, Prophets, and Apostles wise,
Yea Christ himself did truly Prophetize.
Then pallid Death, whose Ash-pale face did fright
The stoutest Champion, most vn-daunted Sprite,
Having at Length with strength enough displaide,
His All-Tryumphant Trophies, having made
A massacre and havoc of all flesh,
Thinking to Nimrodize it still afresh,
Like proud disdainful Pompey at the last
Shall meet our Caesar, and at his feet shall cast
The Glory of his Mortall-wounding might,
Shall lose his fatal Sting which did so bite
And pierce the Hearts of every Mortall Creature,
T' reduce to Dust each Wormelings Dusty feature.
Death being then Mans fatal final foe,
Him, Christ victoriously shall overthrow,
From forth his Clawes shall strongly wrest the conquest,
And fell All-felling Death at his feet thus vanquished.
But as the Corner-creeping Thief doth watch
With sure advantage unawares to catch
The careless Servants left the House to keep,
Whom when he findeth snorting fast asleep,
Suddainely sets upon them, thus doth prey
On's hopt-for Booty, and then hastes away.
Or as it fares in a fair Summer morning,
When the Great-Light the azure Sky's adorning,
And new-now risen from th' Antipodes,
His radiant Raies displaies the world to please:
At whose sweet Sight the pretty Lark doth rise,
Wi • h warbling noates wau'ring ith lofty Skies,
Earth having opit her Shop of sweet Perfumes
Of fragrant flowers, herbs, plants, and pleasant blooms,
A gentle Wind fannes coolenesse through the Air,
The Suns increasing heat thus to impair,
Each Creature much delighted at the heart,
To see this Sight ; now ready to take part
Of pleasure, in this pleasant Day begun,
When as upon a sudden, over the Sun
A mighty Rain-swollen-Cloud begins to spread,
And furious Winds through th' Air are nimbly fled
From forth their Stations, blustering up and down,
The angry Heavens upon the Earth' gin frown,
And frō their Spouts pour down great streaming Showers,
Dashing and washing Trees, Plants, Herbs and Flowers,
With Light-heeld Lightning, and such Cannon-Thunder,
As Heaven and Earth were rest and cleft in sunder,
Damping the former hope of sweet delight,
By this so sudden Change amazing sight:
Even so this Second-Comming of Christ Jesus
From Sins most heavy hateful Yoke to ease us,
To Purge the World of its Impurity,
To Plague the Atheists Incredulity,
T' Auenge the Blood of his dear slaughtered Saints,
To Give an End to their sad sighs and plaints,
Shall Sudden be, will come at unawares,
When Worldly-men are plunged in worldly Cares,
When Lust-full-men are most a Sensualizing,
When fawning Guathoes most are Temporizing,
When as Voluptuous-Vain-lings sport and play,
When they do least expect, suspect this Day,
Then shall this Vnsure-Certain Doomes-Day come.
To Some most well-come, woe-full unto Some,
Unto the Wicked terrible and fearful,
Unto the Godly, comfortable, cheerful,
Unto the Bad a day of Lamentation,
Unto the Good a day of Consolation,
Sharp to the Wicked, joyful to the Just,
God's wrath the Sinner scattering as the dust,
Then, as ith' days of Noah, with wondrous change
Shall dire destruction int'all places range.
As, that, with waters woeful inundation:
So, this, with fires all-spoiling conflagration.
As, that, with water, coold the heat o • Sin,
Wherewith the World had then inflamed been:
So, this, with fire to burn the rotten sticks,
Of want of Love (combustible dry li • ks)
Our Globy-Gran-dame Earth, shall then all flame,
Like a huge Bon fire, and about the same
The bound-less ground-less Sea, bright Fishes station,
Shall b'exciccated with strange admiration:
And that great-little, nimble-scale-armed host,
No longer shall through the watery-Region coast.
Yea, then that huge Leviathan (Sea's wonder,)
Shall cease his sport, and roaring voice like Thunder.
Then Heaven and Earth, shall variated be,
To pure perfection in the high'st degree;
Then all the Spheres, the Stars and heau'nly Motions,
Which seru'd for Time-distinctions, certain Notions,
Planets and Plants which Man on Earth did use,
Their Power in Man and Virtue then shall lose.
Yea, all vicissitudes, all alternations
Of Heaven and Earth, shall leave their antique Stations,
Shall be dissolved, cease, and have an end,
Mountaynes shall melt, and to low Dales descend.
The Creatures then, which groan and moan in pain,
Freed at the least, if not renewd again:
Then shall be heard a loud heart-daunting voice,
A heavenly Trump shall sound with ecchoing noise,
By God's all-pot • nt power and providence,
Shall all flesh of this vast circumference
Hear and appear by that loud Trumpets summon,
At this Grand Sessions all the world in common.
Then rattling, roaring thunder shall be heard,
Whereby the wicked shall be frighted, feared,
Then all the world shall be as flaming fire,
Christ our Just-gentle Judge with love and ire
Shall come with all the host of winged Legions,
Soaring about the bright-star-spangled Regions.
With whom, Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs fly
In complete glory in the glistering Skye.
Mercy and Justice marching cheek by iowle,
Shall his Divine triumphant Chariot roll,
Whose wheels shall shine with Lightning all about,
With b • a • es of glory each-where blazing out.
Who shall in's hand a Book in folio bear,
Wherein man's faults and follies written were.
Then shall the wicked Sin-polluted Goats
Ingu •• t in sorrow, roar with hideous noates,
Howle, groan, and grieve, and lamentably moan
At God • •••• nall and tribunal Throne,
Holding their hands at his Barre with grief and horror,
Shall beme the Judges sentence to their terror,
Their se • se-accusing Conscience telling them
That they are Guilty, and will them condemn.
And Satan's Sergeants at their elbows stand,
To bear their souls and bodies out of hand
To his infernal Iay • e, with fiery chains
To bind them fast to Hells never ending pains.
Their Sins, I say, will stand at their right hand,
And at their left will damned Devils stand:
Within, th'accusing Conscience crying shame,
Without them, all the World a burning flame:
Under their feet, Soul-frying, gaping Hell,
And ore their head • , their Judge most fierce and fell.
Too late they then weep for vn-wept-for Sin,
Too late they wish they never borne had been,
Too late ashamed at Heavens most glorious light,
They wish, but vainly wish, that mountains might
Them cover, smother, from heart-searching Judge,
Thus rest of comfort, up and down they trudge,
And then the just chief Justice wrathfully,
On's left hand, says to th'wicked, Stand you by,
You awe-less, lawless, wicked, hence, depart
Into eternal terror, pain and smart,
Depart, I say, you Cursed, go, begun
Into the depth of Hells deep dungeon.
That Prison where your damned souls must lie,
And die a thousand deaths, yet never die.
Where shall be weeping, wailing, schreekes and groans,
Gnashing of teeth, Hell-howling, sighs and moans,
Devils tormenting you in flames eternal,
With fearful frights, by hellish Fiends infernal,
For ere to be sequestered from all joy,
In end-less, rest-less, mercy-less annoy.
O woeful Wages for their works of Sin!
O how much better they never borne had been!
O that when they were borne, they then had dyde,
Then thus for Sin, Hells horror to abide!
But, as we see after a mighty Storm,
The Sun shines out with beams bright, fair and warm:
So, the God-fearing, and Sin-flying Sheep,
Which did Christ's Laws and Heasts sincerely keep,
Which his distressed Members clothed and fed,
Which to their power the Poor had comforted,
To these blest Saints (I say) at his right hand placed,
Who shall be with celestial glory graced,
Whom he elected to be Angelized,
Whose souls in joy shall be immortallized ;
With sweet aspect to these will Christ thus say,
Come, come you blessed of the Lord for ay.
Come, dear adopted Brethren, come to me,
With me you all shall glorified be,
Receive the Kingdom for you all prepared,
Ere Earths foundation was to th'Earth declared.
For your good-service under my Faiths banner,
You shall be crowned with my chief Champions honner.
Since for my sake you once lived in annoy:
Now with me come into your Masters joy,
Into that joy, whereof none shall be able
You to deprive, it is so firm and stable.
Thus then the Lord-Chief-Justice having driven
The rout of damned Reprobates from Heaven,
And having with the Fan of his Decree,
The Chaff from's Wheat thus cleansed and made free:
Thus in a bundle having bound the Tares,
The con-corrupted heap of hellish wares:
And by the power of 's ireful Iron rod,
His Foes beat down and under foot thus trod:
His Church from all uncleanness purifi'de,
His sacred Sons enthroniz'd Saintifi'de:
Now, shall they all with joy inexplicable,
With great content and comfort amiable,
Behold and see the New-Jerusalem :
The City of the Lord, vouchsafed to them.
That sole Metropolis, that sacred Seat,
Wherein our Trine-One Lord most good, most great
Had long time promised, and now means to dwell,
With all his Saints in virtue that excel.
This being that sweet Spouse spiritual,
That blotlesse, spotless Bride celestial,
To whom the Lamb Christ Jesus is contracted:
Now ready that the Nuptials be enacted,
Who being in her Militant estate,
Was then with blemishes contaminate,
Was often Sin sick, by Her Sinful Course,
And as it were in danger of Diuorce ;
By Re-re-la • ses and her oft offense,
Though still protected by Heavens indulgence.
But now being in her pure and glorious state,
In Heaven triumphant, vn-contaminate,
Conform'd unto, confirmed in purity
All-Chaste, now placit in sweet security,
Now vn-diuorceable, Louely and sweet,
Is new, prepared Her Bridegroom thus to meet.
Her Eyes like Orient-Pearls, her Cheekes with dimples,
Most amiable, fair, free of least Pimples,
Her Lips like threads of Scarlet, Currall red,
Her Temples fair, her Haire like golden thread:
Het Breath more savory then mellifluous dew,
Her Breasts like two young Twin-Roes white of hiew,
Araide in fine pure linen, clean and white,
In Vestures wrought with gold which glister bright,
And cast an odoriferous fragrant sent,
Of Spikenard, Saffron and most pure ointment,
Attended on by Virgins virtuous, chaste,
To mere her Bridegroom, thus She forth doth haste.
Oh sacred fight, sweet show, souls sovereign bliss,
When thus the Bridegroom his dear Spouse shall kiss,
Marriage of Manna and of Mel compacted,
Whereby our souls with Christ are aye contracted!
Prefigur'd in the sacred Sacrament
Of Christ's last Supper, given to this intent.
Thus Christ (I say) his Love, his Dove shall meet,
Thus they each other kindly then shall greet:
Thus shall this glorious City then appear,
Wherein the Just shall reign with joy and cheer.
But now ere we behold this blest Theater,
Let me herein be th' Angels Imitater,
T' each godly Reader here to signify
This observation, of importancie:
That since in this great Cities model rare,
We are to meet with wonders past compare,
We shall behold inimitable Art,
Such as may quickly wonder-strike the heart,
And seem to Reason's Sin-blear'd, flesh-blind eye,
T' exuperate the bounds of Veritie:
Therefore a Winged-Messenger from Heaven.
To th'blest Evangelist this charge hath given,
To register in Time-concluding scrowles,
To write this Truth in Scriptures sacred rowles,
That heau'ns All-seeing, All-fore-seeing King,
Truth's spotless Fountayne, Faiths ore-flowing- Spring,
That Alpha and Omega, First and Last,
Who was, is, shall be, when all Times are past,
Who is as powerful to perform his Will:
As ready-pressed his Mercies to full-fill ;
Whose Promises are all Yea and Amen :
Hath promised (and what's he among all Men
Hath ever known the Lord to falsify
His Cou'nant made, or from his Word to fly?)
Hath vowed (I say) that he'le all things renew,
All imperfections bring to perfect hiew,
And make the joy of's glorified Saints,
Endless and free from future moan and plaints.
Yea, with such grace and forcible persuasion
He seems to counter-maund all frail evasion
Of doubting or demurring in this kind;
As if he should have said; Man, be not blind;
Let it not seem an intricate hard thing,
That I, the Lord, these things to pass should bring,
I, which of Nothing, All things did create,
I, which but breathed and made each Animate,
I, the Arch-Mover of what ere doth move,
Shall ought to me so difficult then prove,
As not my beck and bow straight to obey?
O no, be wise, do not my power gain-say.
Be not incredulous to fear or doubt,
For I, the Lord, this thing will bring about:
Not only for my Power, but Promise sake,
And the great care which ore my Saints I take,
To crown them all with promised Salvation,
Their Foes to fell to Hell with dire damnation,
That true Believes then may find me true,
Atheists their Infidelity may rue.
Yea, with a triple-firm ingemination,
Hath Heaven confirmed this faithful protestation.
And what so scornful, scoffing Cham so bold?
What impious Atheist dares it vn-true hold?
What fear-full, fault-full, or vn-faith-full Cain,
Doth dare this Truth, deride, doubt or disdain?
Doubtless the simplest peevish Grammatist,
The rudest Rusticke, who yet never wist
What 'tis to sound Heavens depth of Prudencie:
Would soon condemn them of Absurditie.
O the great wisdom and indulgent Grace!
Of heau'ns great King, himself so to debase;
Precept on Precept thus to us to teach,
His Will so oft toinculcate and to preach.
Line after line, yea now and then a little,
Our Faith more soundly to confirm and settle.
Vs to inform in his pure Veritie,
Vs to reform from Infidelity.
Therefore such faith-less and incredulous,
Such grace-less, god-less, irreligious,
As do deny or will besie this Truth ;
Shall be rejected to their endless Ruth,
Shall never have part nor portion in this joy,
But be obtruded unto dire annoy.
And their too-light, too-late belief shall rue,
When they receive their meede and merit due;
When with the damned Sin-co-operators
They shall of woe and horror be partakers.
Read then with Faith, and what thou read'st, desire,
And that thou canst not comprehend, admire.
But, here as at a stand, I stand amazed,
That I a dust-borne Babe, poor, weak, and crazed,
Of stammering tongue, a child in understanding,
Of heart oft subject unto sins commanding:
Should undertake ( Worm that I am) to pry
Into the depth of so great Mystery.
That to describe, which asks an Angels skill,
A Souls which of that sight hath had its fill;
And yet all too-too-little, to declare
The beauty infinite, the splendor fair
Of great JEHOVAH'S Palace Crystaline,
All full of heau'nly glory, all divine;
Which to describe, the more I do contend,
I more admire, and less do comprehend:
And whose rare Fabrique and celestial sight,
I rather could stand wondering at, than write.
Pardon, oh therefore pardon (Lord) I pray,
My great presumption, let thy Grace always
Illuminate my Sin-caecated heart:
And to my Lays thy sacred help impart.
That naught may be miss-done, miss-thought, miss-said,
O Lord, I crave thy sacred Sovereign aide.
Give me a voice now, O Voice all Divine!
With heau'nly fire inspire this breast of mine,
And since thou, Lord, art able to declare
By th'mouths of Babes, which weak and tender are,
Thy might and power: Lord (though unworthy I)
Into my heart infuse abundantly
The sovereign Graces of thy holy Sprite,
That my weak Pen, thy wondrous Praise may write.
That thy Enthousiasme of Propheticke skill,
May on my Laies like Honney sweet distill:
That by Divine-Divine John's godly guide,
I from the Truth may not once step aside.
But by his true Prophetical direction,
May methodize Jerusalem's perfection,
That all that read it, may enflamed be
With hearts desire therein to reign with thee,
To make great haste and speedy properation,
To this blest City with due preparation.
As God, th' e'reliuing, all-good-giving King,
The First that moves of every moving thing,
When unto Moses he vouchsafed to show
The Land of Canaan, which did over-flow
With Milk and Honney, which he vowed to give
To Jacob's offspring, wherein they should live;
On top of Pisgah Mountayne did him place,
That Moses might from thence behold the grace,
The pleasure, wealth, and riches of that Land,
Which they should have by power of his right-hand:
Even so, the Darling of Christ Jesus, John,
Rapit in the Spirit was also placit, upon
A high-topt Mount in Patmos, whence he might
Contemplate this great Cities glorious fight;
A sight more glorious far, then that the Devil
(That subtle Serpent, fire-brand of evil)
Shew'd to our Savior in his great Temptation,
When he with Satan fought for our Salvation.
Thou well-beloved of thy Savior deer,
(Saith a blest Angel unto John ) draw near,
With joy come hither, stand a while by me,
And thou the heau'nly Canaan shalt see.
The Churches glorified spiritual state,
Thou shalt behold and swee • lie contemplate
The spotless Spouse, th'immaculate chaste Bride,
With which the I am he Christ Jesus will abide:
The joy in God, and godly's consolation,
Th' elected Saints most holy Habitation:
Prepared for them by the Trinity,
Where they shall reign, remain eternally,
Call'd the great City, holy Canaan:
Great, whose Inhabitants none number can,
Holy, because no putrifacting Sin,
Nor least impurity can there creep in;
Call'd Canaan, or New-Jerusalem,
A Place of peace, Saints rest, Souls Diadem.
Now this most holy heau'nly Habitacle,
This most magnificent Saints receptacle
Was beautifi'd, adorned, and decorated,
Was richly filled, was rarely illustrated
With glory, which did from the Lord proceed,
Whose most refulgent splendor did exceed
The luster of all precious stones most bright,
They all came short of this most glorious Light.
Yea, as a fair transparent Jasper green,
So shall his Saints felicity be seen:
For ere to wax most fresh and always flourish,
Because God's power and prudence shall it nourish:
It being pure as any Crystall clear▪
Where by nor blot, nor spot can there appear;
No staynes of foul terrestrial uncleanness,
No gross pollutions of impure obsceannesse,
Shall this their joy obnubilate, make dim,
Or once eclipse their beauty, framed by him;
God's gracious presence and great Majesty
Shall it so decke, decore and glorify.
Here 'tis no trivial question, why the Light
Of this blest Cities luster exquisite
Is to a precious Jasper stone compared;
And why 't might not have been as well declared,
By th' Sun, or Moon, or Stars most excellent,
Or Artificial Lights which men invent?
All these are Lights, true; but too-light they be,
Compar'd with Light it self, i' th'highest degree.
First, in regard the Suns far piercing rays,
With its bright beams the eye-sight much decays,
If the beholder thereon fixtly look,
Nor can his sight the brightness thereof brook:
But, precious stones have no obnoxious might,
But with their splendor rarely do delight
The eyes of their beholders, so that they
The more on them they look, the more they may.
Whereby, egregiously they intimate
And to us point the sweet and delicate
Delight, we shall in heau'nly knowledge find,
So to affect and recreate the mind,
As that the more we thereof do possess,
The more our Love thereof we shall express.
Again, the Artificial Lights men make,
As Torches, Tapers, Lamps, and Candles, • lake;
Are soon burnt-out, extinct, and therefore need
Some fomentarie adjunct, them to feed:
But as for precious stones, their sparkling light
Is genuine, by Nature shineth bright,
And glisters in the most obscure-dark place,
Always retaining their resplendent grace:
And therefore do most lively represent
The splendor fair and beauty excellent
Of th'ever-self subsisting Deity,
Always the same, One-same eternity.
This City is inuiron'd, bounded round,
With a great high-topt Wall, thick, strong and sound:
Which unto us doth thus much intimate,
That, though i' th' Churches-Militant-estate,
The Congregations of Christ's faithful Saints
Were still molested, full of woeful plaints,
Tost to and fro with storms Tyrannicall,
With persecutions most Satanical :
And like Noes-Ark were never in peace or rest,
With worldly-billowing-waves dashed and distrest:
Yet in this Church-Triumphant, they shall be
From all heart-hurting fear of danger free.
Surely, Securely kept from least annoy,
In heau'nly saf'tie sempiternall joy.
For why, the Doctrine Apostolical
Shall as a firm invincible strong Wall
Debarre and keep-out, heart-deluding Errors,
All unclean Creatures, Liars, and the terrors,
Which their abominations might effect;
For, this Wall Doctrinal doth them reject:
And thus the Prophet Jeremiah doth call
A Constant Preacher, a strong, • razen Wall.
Now, this strong Wall is made more admirable,
By stately Ports and Ground-work solid, stable,
Twelue Gates are 'bout it placit conveniently,
Which thus much do unto us signify:
That all her Friends and Citizens shall see,
The way to th' City easy, plain to be;
Plain to the Just, to th' vn-just Narrow straight,
Easie to those, to these most intricate.
And on these Gates were Charact'red most fair,
The Names of Isr • else twelve Tribes ; to declare
Their good assurance and their ready way,
That none might wander, err, or go astray.
There needs no use of a conducting Guide,
Their way lying ope' to them on every side.
But here by th' Names of Israel's twelve Tribes,
The sacred Spirit unto us describes
(They being, once, God's sole peculiar Vine,
Till they did from his Love and Lure decline)
That, by a figure, are in them included
Th' Elected Gentiles, once from Grace secluded.
Even People of all Nations under Heaven
(To whom, Salvation, God in Christ hath given)
Are here all ta'ne for sp'ritual Israelites,
Whom Christ the Corner-stone to th' Jews unites.
At these twelve Gates, twelve Angels there did stand.
But, not like Edens-Angels, in their hand
Holding a sword, a sword like fiery flame,
To daunt and drive, what ever thither came;
But, here these Angels stand like Porters kind,
That Abr'ams faithful Sons access may find
Unto the Tree of Life, and Sacred Spring :
Which grows and flows from Christ this Edens King.
With most commodious decent Situation
Are these twelve Gates placit 'bout this heau'nly Station;
And good Ezekiel doth them thus digest,
Three East, three North, three South, and three by West.
These three Tribes names Dan, Joseph, Benjamin,
Ore the three Eastern Gates were to be seen.
Ore the three Ports set on the Northern side,
Iud', Levi, Reuben's names might be descride.
Ore the three Southerne Gates th' inscription
Of Simeon, Isachar, and Zebulon.
Also the three Gates on the West part, had
The names of Aser, Napthalim, and Gad.
Of which most decent triple distribution
Of these twelve Gates, this is the resolution;
Namely, that all the Saint-elected Souls,
Whose names are written: Heavens eternal Rowles,
From whatsoever quarter of the Earth,
They had their first original and birth:
Yet, have but one especial means toascend
Unto this City, their Hopes happy end.
To wit, the blest profession of the Trinity,
Hereby, to Christ th'are joined in near Affinitie.
And, that they thus, professing Three in One:
Shall find the way wide ope' to heau'ns high Throne
Shall find the path most patent, plain and straight,
And at the Gates twelve Angels for them wait.
A twelfe-fold Ground-work and Foundation strong,
Did also to this mighty-wall belong.
I mean not to the City, but the Wall,
For, of the City, Christ is All in All.
Upon which twelve Foundations glorious, rare,
Christ's twelve Apostles names were graven fair:
Who, here are said to be this Walls foundation,
By their Apostolic Administration,
For, having first by their blest Ministry,
Christ Jesus Doctrine preached publicly
Unto the World: As the first Instruments
Are therefore, thus, the twelve strong Firmaments:
Not that they are the principal Foundation,
But having first place in this Fabrication,
Are (as I so may say) the first stones laid,
On which the building of this Wall was made.
For, no man is so silly, as to say,
That the Foundation doth it self down lay:
But, that's the office of the Architector,
Which is Christ Jesus, this great works Director.
This Cities Sovereign, whose vn-shrinking shoulders,
Are this most glorious Cities firm upholders.
Who laid his twelve Disciples as Supporters
Of this Quadrangled Walls most spacious Quarters,
As those in whom his Churches Doctrine pure
Did most consist and constantly endure:
Thus are th' Apostles Grounds of Ministration,
But Christ the only Basis of Salvation.
But what says Rome to this? that Man of Sin,
Who proudly reigns and rules as Lord and King,
Peters supremacy, superior State,
Is here (me thinks) quite torn, worn out of date.
For, though our Savior called his Faith, the Rock,
Whereon he'd build his Church, his Love, his Flock,
And his and all th' Apostles Doctrine pure,
To be his Churches Ground-work, grounded sure:
Yet, neither is St. Peter here expressed,
To be in dignity above the rest:
Nor yet to be the principal Foundation:
But One with others have their pointed Station.
Then (surely) hence, 'tis most apparent plain,
That Anti-christ of Rome doth not maintain
His proud priority, from Peters Faith ;
But from his Person (whom he falsely faith,
T'have been Rome's Bishop, which, nor he, nor's crew
Shall ere be able to approve as true)
His Person 'tis, I say, not Doctrine pure,
Oh this it is the Pope can worst endure:
Therefore since he mis-deemes Christ's blest Foundation,
He never shall have least part in Christ's Salvation.
But now return we whence we have digrest,
The Light-bright Angel (which did manifest
Unto S. John this glorious sacred Sight )
Now like some noble Pers'nage, Princely wight,
Like to another prudent Nehemie,
Or like good Ezra full of prudency,
By th' Symbole of a Golden Reede in's hand,
Did represent, that he with that Met-wand,
The Cities spacious round should measure out
The height, length, breadth, and compass all about,
Entries and wall, enuironing the same
All under line and measure truly came:
All most exactly formed with due respect,
By the Arch-Artist of this Architect.
Yea, with a Golden Reede he meats the same,
Most fit to measure such a glorious frame.
By which external gesture, th' Angel here,
As else-where in the Prophets may appear
In their Prophetick Visions us'd to show
The Lord's intent, by thus descending to
Our weak capacity: which never can keep
A verbal document, in mind so deep,
As actual gestures evermore we find,
Examples more than precepts teach the mind.
And here, by th' Angels meating with a Reede,
We are aduiz'd to take especial heed,
And deeply to imprint in mind and heart,
The subsequent description and rare Art,
The stately Symmetry, worth admiration,
Of this celestial sacred Habitation :
Contayning init an heau'nly harmony,
With the chief grounds of Christian verity.
This City lay in form Quadrangulare,
By which firm Cubiq, plat-form, here we are
To understand and note, the stable state
Of this Mount-Zion free from Hostile hate:
Not to be stir'd by tempests violent,
Immoueable, most constant, permanent.
Which being square, the Gates are opposite
To the four Corners of Earths-Globe aright,
From every part whereof to let in those,
Whom Christ the Lamb to reign with him hath chose.
The four Euange • sts the pattern are,
By whom this edifice was fashioned square:
By Matthew, Mark, Luke and Christ tend'red John,
Was framed (I say) this Constitution.
And since the twelve Apostles, as foresaid,
Were, by then short and present doctrine, made
The strong Foundation of the holy Wall:
Isit not a Concord most harmonicall?
That these Evangelists most excellent,
By their Long-lasting-written Testament ;
Should the four Corners of that square build out,
And it to full perfection bring about.
The Angel then, with's Reede the City meted;
Which by just Measure was thus computated,
Twelue thousand Stades, whereof eight makes a Mile,
Which fifteen hundredth Miles do just compile:
The Length, Height, Breadth, being all of equal space,
Do make▪ almost, infinite room and place.
Within the Wall : As Christ himself hath said,
In my dear heau'nly Fathers house, are made
Many fair Mansions: fit to comprehend,
Th'increase of God's elect, to th' worlds last end.
Now then, the total body of this place,
Doth to us represent the beauteous grace,
The great felicity, admired joy,
Which in this City we shall sure enjoy
In the united glorious Deity,
Th'in comprehensible Trine-Unity.
The three distinct dimensions, as foreshow'd,
Of Latitude, Longitude, Altitude,
Present the sever all measures of delight,
Which in the Father, Son, and Holy-Sprite,
We shall possess: and this felicity,
To be alike, of equal Quantitie.
There shall we Three in One most clearly see,
There also shall we worship One in Three,
And of this joy we shall have full fruition,
Alike of all, without all intermission,
Even as the Persons are One in the Deity,
And one in substance in the Unite Trinity.
The premises thus re-observed, afford
To us a most harmonious sweet accord,
Twixt God and this his holy Habitacle,
The Lambes sweet Spouse, celestial Tabernacle.
God, the Worlds most admired Artisan,
When first he fashioned and created Man,
Like his own perfect Image did him make;
God would Man should his Makers likeness take:
Even so this Cities specious Symmetrie,
Is shaped like heavens sacred Deity.
As God himself in Trinity is One:
So by this City his true Church is shown.
As of the God-head there be Persons Three,
And Father, Son and Spirit co-equal be:
So those dimensions, Length, Height, Breadth, are all
By the Angel measured, to be just equal.
As neither Person in the Deity,
Is separable from their Unity :
So none of these dimensions, being Three,
May from a City separated be,
Or other solid body, otherwise
It were not found, but Line or superfice.
The Persons Three and their three Offices,
Are not confounded: and no more are these;
For neither is the Length, the Breadth, and so
The Height is neither breadth, nor length we know,
And even as Athanasius in his Creed,
As wittily, as wisely doth proceed,
And says, the Father, Son and Holy-Sprite,
Though three in Persons are one God Unite :
So Longitude, Latitude, Altitude,
Must One sole City evermore include.
The Doctrine also of the Deity,
Is witnest in the Four-fold Veritie,
Writ by the four Evangelists : so here
This New-Jerusalem, as doth appear,
Is in a Quadrate, or square form set down;
Most like a strong immovable firm Town.
The twelve Apostles, were dispersed and sent
To every quarter of Earths continent,
To preach to all our Saviors doctrine found;
Whereby all Nations Heavens right rhode-way found:
On twelve Foundations, so, stands this great frame,
And by twelve Gates all go into the same.
Lastly the God-head vniuersallis,
And infinite in glory and in bliss,
Infinitely extended over all:
So in Jerusalem celestial,
Is infinite tranquility and peace,
Abundants room, for all the great increase
Of God's dear Saints, who were predestinate
To this Jerusalem's most happy state.
Thus having heard this sacred Symphonie
Twixt God and's church: proceed we orderly.
The Angel now here measuring the Wall,
The mighty Bulwark Apostolical,
Of this Angelicke Seat of sanctity,
Found it to be raised up in Cubits high,
Even by a twelve-fold high-ascending Course,
By th'twelve Apostles raised to mighty force.
But this though spoken in a human sort:
Yet hath a heau'nly sense of great import.
Namely, that though the Church, here, Militant
Was evermore distrest with woe and want;
Being by worldly obstacles kept-low,
And never could to full perfection grow:
Yet now in her Tryumphant dignity,
To plenary perfection springs on high;
This being by twelve Courses signifi'd,
Which twelve times so much more being multipli'd,
T'an hundredth forty four Courses of hight,
Do make the Wall to rise, direct upright,
By Jews and Gentiles mighty multitude,
Whom Grace by Faith will in this frame include.
Thus now, we having seen the stately Statute,
The spacious Compas • e of this Heaven-built structure:
Let us with our divine Divine behold
The Matter, substance and most precious Mould,
Whereof the Wall, City and firm Foundation,
The twelve great Gates of this Heavens Habitation,
Were Form'd, Adorn'd, yea with what pavement rare,
The Streetes were pau'd, all which is to declare
The wonderful unspeakable delight,
Which God's dear Saints in presence of his sight,
Shall in that life to come, to th' full possess:
And thus the Prophet Isaiah did redress,
And consolate the Jews dis-consolation,
Declaring in his true Vaticination,
The glo • ie of this New-Jerusalem,
Which God would once re-build, remake, for them.
O happy are they, which are interested.
And whose blest Souls are there into invested!
Now then, the building of this fenciu • Wall,
This sincere Doctrine Apostolical,
Of precious Stones, most gloriously did shine,
With bounty and with beauty most divine.
Having a luster like, the Jasper green,
Which evermore to flourish shall be seen.
Hence then, this Note is set before our eyes:
That this ra • e Fabrique, pompous Edifice,
Is all most precious, specious, round about,
As Bright within, as it is Light without.
But in this Wall, this one thing is most rare,
Is most regardable, beyond compare:
That, though those twelve Foundations firm and strong,
Were so by Course, set and laid along,
As that Course after Course, th'are placed all,
And strangely ord'red clean throughout the Wall :
Yet is the Wall, as here we plainly see,
Thus wholly said of Jasper for to be.
Which is indeed to show and signify,
That, though those Ground-props of the Ministry,
Whose rare and diverse gifts in everyone,
Are by rich Jew • l • afterwards here shown:
Yet that the Matter and the Luster bright,
Of this great Wall, are said (and that most right)
T' arise from One, which is the Lord alone,
Designed here by this rare Jasper stone.
He only is the Churches Bulwark strong,
For, though to these Apostles did belong
Diuersitie of gifts of heau'nly grace:
Yet each of them in his peculiar place
Did ever build one and the self same thing,
And not themselves did preach, but Christ their King.
The Cities model was of perfect Gold,
Most delectable, glorious to behold.
Which Mettle, for its ex'lent properties,
This Cities glory rarely amplifies:
It being of all other chief and best,
For these fine reasons in pure gold expressed.
First, that the burning fire consumes it not.
Next, that it takes no canker, stain or spot.
Again, for use it longest doth endure,
As also that the Fire makes it more pure.
Lastly, nor Salt, nor Vinegar can spoil,
Nor any such liquiditie defile
The fair corruscant beauty of the same:
And therefore from the rest it bears the fame.
O! must not then this City needs be stable?
Isit not most strong, invincible, dureable?
Being so free from staynes of all corruption,
Being so far from fear of Foes irruption.
Nay, here's not all, there's one more property
Of rare respect, of precious ex'lencie;
Namely, that it like clearest glass doth glistre,
And thereby casts a more admired Luster:
Whereby, is thus much to us intimated:
That 'tis not with foul spots contaminated,
But doth with such a radiant splendor shine,
That All may always clearly cast their eyne
With most sweet contemplation, on the face
Of God's great beauty and most bounteous grace,
By re-percussion of those glorious beams
Which from his God-head, on his Saints forth streams.
Therefore this glorious City of the Lord,
Which inwardly such beauty doth afford,
Is far unlike the seat of Rome's great Whore ;
Which She doth gild and gorgeously daub-over.
In her external parts; so to delude
The simple and besotted multitude.
Whereas, within She's wholly inquinated,
With filthy beastlinesle all-vitiated,
And by her cup of poisonous fornication,
Would all d • file with her abomination:
Being beast like drunken with the blood of Saints,
Which to Heavens Throne do send up Abel's plaints.
But, this celestial sacred Architecture,
Like Solomon's fair Brides most Princely vesture,
Is precious, curious, beautiful w • thin,
Admits no soil, or smallest touch of Sin ;
Within, without, all spotless purity,
And inter-mixed with boundless Majesty.
Thus having viewed the City and the Wall,
And what rare substance they are framed withal:
Now let's behold, and that with admiration,
The sumptuous substance of the strong Foundation.
All which, though of themselves they are most precious,
Yet are they made more gorgeous, gay and specious,
Being embost, enamelled and dight,
To make them give a more resplendent sight,
With Patriarchs, Prophet • , and Professors good;
With valiant Martyrs, who, not spared their blood
In Christ's just quarrel, with Interpreters,
A • d Soul -converting holy Ministers:
All these do garnish, decke and decorate,
The twelve Foundations of this blis • efull state.
Which here the Angel fitly doth compare
Unto twelve Gems, or precious stones most rare,
Whose virtues, colors, places where they grow,
Is worth our labor severally to know.
The first Foundation is of Jasper stone,
An Indian Gemme, as is by Pliny shown;
Whose specious splendor, and whose beauty rare,
'It is easier to admire, than to declare.
For, a confuse promiscuous multitude
Of Noble virtues, it doth init include:
In which, a pleasant multiplicity
Of Excellencies rare variety
May be perceived: but, which is chief or best,
Cannot be easily seen, or soon expressed:
For, it, as hath been showed, doth represent
God's blest similitude most excellent,
Therefore this stone (and that most worthily)
Hath in this building chief priority.
The second was a precious Saphyr stone.
Which is reported 'mongst the Medes tohave grown,
Faire goldey spots, this precious stone doth garnish,
With a remarkab • e and beauteous burnish.
The third was of a Chalcedonie clear,
Found 'bout the Chalcedonian waters; near
The Rocks Semplegad's or those Isles in Thrace:
This stone being named after that foresaid place,
'It is of one color glist'ring like a flame,
And with the Carbuncle doth seem the same.
Which with good reason, well may signify,
Of burning zeal an ardent fervency.
The fourth an Em'raude, or Smaragdes rare.
Which stone 'tis said doth grow in the' Scythian Lare,
Of color green, glistering most clear and bright,
Which hiew indeed doth most content the sight;
And is internally as admirable,
As for external beauty delectable:
For, it by too-intentiue contemplation
The sight grow dim, this stones rare delectation
Doth soon refresh the lassitude of th'eye,
And gives the sight perfection speedily:
Whose beauty green, found Knowledge intimates,
Which th'eye of understanding highly rates,
"Therefore 'tis next the Chalcedonie set;
"To show, that where Zeal hath with Knowledge met,
"And are conioyn'd in the' heart their supreme seat:
"Then are they both most pure and most complete.
For, Knowledge without Zeal brings proud Ambition,
And Zeal without true Knowledge, Superstition.
A Sardonixe is for the fifth Foundation,
Which is a Gemme found in the Indian Nation,
Whose superficial face is red and white,
Like a Mans nail of's hand, and shines most bright.
And this doth also to us signify,
A certain show of chaste Humanity.
A Sardius, Carbuncle or Rubie rare,
Doth this most sacred sixth Foundation rear.
A precious stone, which specially is found
By Sardis City, in the Lybian ground:
Of color red like blood, to intimate,
" Seueritie on Clemency should wait;
And •• lie's wi • h the Sardonix here placed,
Because the foresaid fleshly color's graced,
And cannot fade, but fresh viuisicate,
By being joined with this associate.
The seventh Foundation is a Chrysolite :
An Ethiopian stone which glisters bright,
Of golden hiew, and this doth demonstrate
Much dignity, and great Maiesticke state.
The eightth a Beryl, which (as Pliny saith)
Is found in Indie: this, for color hath
Sea water-green, betokening Lowlinesse:
For, water as experience doth express,
Yeelds and gives place to each interposition,
Which is against it set, or makes inscission.
"Set with the Chrysolite to signify,
" Meekness with Greatness should keep company:
A virtuous mean thus ever to retain,
And rash extremes still wisely to refrain.
The ninth a Topaze, which was first found out
By Arabian Rouers, ranging all about,
Call'd Troglodyt's: this stone's of color green,
And yet not simply so, for init is seen
Much yellownesse, glistering like perfect gold,
Giving a luster pleasant to behold.
A precious stone called Indian Chrysoprase,
Doth this great Walls tenth firm Foundation raise.
Which also gives a certain golden glistre,
But therein is a Scallion juice commixture.
This Fortresses eleventh and twelft Foundation,
Were both of them two Iems of Indian Nation,
Call'd Hyacinth and Ametist: both which
Are of a purple color fair and rich.
And now of all that hitherto is said,
Of these rich precious Stones, whereof was made
This twelve fold s •• d glorious strong Foundation,
This is the scope, true vie and a • plication:
Namely, that as a careful Architector,
Who of a P •• nc • lie building is Director ;
And Chief Ore- •• er ; sends with expedition
His Quarrions, Maso •• , gives them this commission,
In every quarter to search our and dress,
To hew and • ut, to hau • in readiness
The choicest stones that might be got for gold,
For strength to build, and beauteous to behold:
Or, as Wit-wondrous Solomon is said,
When he would have the Lord's great Temple made,
To send his Princes, to provide each thing,
Which might decore the seat of Heavens great King:
With Hiram his kind Neighbor did compact,
For necessaries to that sacred Act:
Who sent both men and all his choicest stuff,
Of everything abundantly enough:
Even so the Lord, this Cities M • ster Builder,
Ear • hs -globy Vniuers • s strong-hand Weilder,
To th'building of this blessed Habitation
Sent his Apostles into every Nation,
To Indie, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Arabia, Europe, and Armenia,
Through every Coast ith' worlds circumference,
To teach and preach with care and diligence,
To Congregate and bring into his fold,
His precious people; who, like perfect gold
Should gorgeously adorn this sacred frame,
Some Prophets, Martyrs, Preachers of great fame;
Some with one gift, some with another graced,
That in this Structure they might thus be placed,
To frame and build this ever-lasting Palace
Of ever-living stones, and endless • olace.
Who as th'had built his Church once Militant:
Now should they thus build up his Church Triumphant.
And as they had converted Souls to Christ :
Their Souls should shine like Stars in glory high'st.
Thus then the City, Wall, and Ground-work past,
To th' Gates with joy we now are come at last.
Twelue Gates most rich and precious did belong
To th' Wall Apostolic, most firm, most strong,
Which Gates, were all of Pearls most Orient:
Yet all were but One Pearl most excellent,
Even Jesus Christ, who is the only Port,
Through whom th' Elect must into bliss resort.
Through whom alone by Faith we here are fed.
Through whom at last we all shall taste that bread,
That Bread of Life never to hunger more,
Which for his Saints Christ hath laid up in store.
He only is the Door, by which (I say)
We shall go in and our, feed, live for ay.
And as on twelve Foundations did arise
A Wall, as we did formerly premise;
But One in Matter and in luster bright,
Even God the Father, Father of all Light:
So these twelve Ports, are all One Pearl most rare,
Even God the Son whence they derived are.
But here, this one Objection may accrue,
How it may come to pass, a Pearl should show
And represent this Man-God Christ our King?
To which Objection, I this Answer bring:
That as the Shell wherein the Pearl doth grow.
(Which Pliny plainly in his work doth show)
Doth at a certain • eason gape and yawne,
And without any generating Spawne,
Drawes into it a Dew from forth the Air ;
Which, by the Sea, in the' Shell grows Orient fair,
And of this Dew doth more coagulate,
Than 'tis of earthly stuff coaugmentate:
Even so, the Holy Ghost from Heavens high frame,
Upon the blessed Virgin Marie came;
And God's eternal power, whose breath All made,
Did so Christ's Virgin-Mother over-shade:
That without any Human copula • ion,
Christ in her Wombe took on him Incarnation.
Yet so, as that his powerful Divinity
Was still assistant unto his Humanity,
Which subject was to Mans Infirmitie:
But not to Sins even least Impuritie;
Being thus most perfect God and Man indeed,
Knowing our wants, to help us at our need.
Thus then, we see, that these twelve Pearly Gates
Consisting of One Pearl, this intimates,
That we in Heaven or Earth none other have
To invocate, our sinful Souls to save,
But Jesus Christ, true God and Man alone,
Who sits (our Advocate ) in Heavens high Throne.
Oh then, the willful madness of our Foe!
That monstrous Beast of Rome, who though he know
This our Position most Authentical,
Both he and h • s besotted Shauelings all,
Yet, they unto their Saints appropriate,
And unto Angels dare accommodate
The honor only due to Christ blest Name,
Angels themselves having refused the same.
And since nor Saints, nor Angels know our state,
Nor ha • e in them, power, us to consolate,
But Christ hath willed v • come to him alone,
Who can and will ease and appease our mone:
Therefore, that they dare add and thus diminish
From God's firm Truth; they do but strive to finish
And measure up to th' full their own damnation,
Threatned to all such in the Revelation.
The Gates thus entered, now we may behold
The Streets within, all pau'd with purest gold,
Which gave a luster like the clearest glass,
Even every Street through which the Saints shall pass,
And customarily walk up and down,
Like glorious Kings in pomp and great renown:
Which Streets and parent passages, imply
(Amongst their other joys) the Liberty
And perfect Freedom, which those sacred Saints
Shall fully there possess; without restraints
Of being unto any one place ty'de,
For why, wheres'ere they go, God is their Guide,
They walk in God, and God in them always:
Their beauteous paths shining with his bright rays.
Thus have we seen th' Essentiall Majesty,
This Cities glorious frame and Symmetrie,
The most magnificent and blissful State
Of those which are in Christ incorporate:
But yet, whiles here, we seeit no otherwise,
Then as we had a Mist before our eyes.
Then as we were ith' bottom of a veil,
Whence of a perfect sight we needs must fail,
By reason that cloud-kissing Mountaynes hie,
And lost • e Trees are interposed to th'eye:
And hereby hinder our more clear aspect
Of this most glorious heavenly Architect:
So that, but Aenigmatically, we
As through a Glass, this sacred City see;
Whiles in the Flesh we live by lively Faith,
As blessed Paul in his Epistle saith:
Yet let it joy our hearts, our Souls delight,
That though but thus, we may admire this sight.
That though but with the Prophet Daniel, we
May ope' the window and look toward thee,
O Date-less, Fate-less, Rest-full, Bliss-full City ;
Where Halleluiah is the Angels Dittie.
Now let it not be (O! how can it be?)
Tedious to us, to contemplate and see
What Majesty and Dignity complete
Is Accessory to the glory great
Of that external beauty of this place,
Fill'd with the glory of the Lord's bright face;
Making this City most magnificent,
An abstract Common-weal most permanent.
First, there shall be no Temple in the same,
Wherein to worship God's all-glorious Name,
No Sacrificing, no peculiar place,
To worship in, or be this Cities grace,
Nor no external Paedagogie, shall
Be useful there, no Service Ritual,
Like that under the Law amongst the Jews,
When they did their old Sacrifices use.
But, God the Father, and the Lam • e Christ Jesus,
Shall of such heavy yokes then clearly ease us.
And be a Temple unto his, most fair,
To whose blest sight Saints with delight repair.
His worship, then, shall be most plain and pure,
And shall forever constantly endure,
Without all Legal Rites or Ceremony,
Adoring God in Christ in Sanctimonie.
Whose looks to them a • Lessons shall appear,
His only Name be'ng Music in their ear.
And such indeed is this great Cities State,
So admirable, so inexplicate:
That gold and precious stones being too too base,
T'express the glory of that glorious place,
If Nature did more precious things bring forth,
More amply to describe this Cities worth:
I therefore know not, what terrestrial thing
We may with due proportion hereto bring,
To have a fit and true Analogy
Unto this Temple of eternity,
But God himself and Jesus Christ alone;
In whom it may most properly be shown.
Again, this City hath no need of Light,
Neither of Sun, or Moon, or Stars most bright.
For, as the Prophet saith, When God again
Shall his dear Church restore and over it reign;
The glorious Light thereof so clear shall shine,
By the blest presence of the Unite-Trine:
That even the Sun and Moon shall seem most dark,
And in comparison but like a spark,
To that ineffable, refulgent light
Of God's blest countenance and sacred sight.
Whereby alone the Saints shall all possess
Such perfect joy and hearty cheerfulness,
As that all earthly comfort, though it seemed,
And were as bright as Sun and Moon esteemed,
Shall be superfluous, needless, most neglected,
And (unto this compared) not least respected.
Also, the Heirs and Sons of this Salvation,
Even all th' Elected People of each Nation,
Kings of the Earth whom Euphrates did bar,
And once sequester from Christ's Kingdom far;
So many as are sau'd (as many shall)
Shall in Jerusalem celestial
With perfect joy, enjoy the full fruition
Of this m • st infinite and heau'nly Vision,
And thither shall their pomp and honor bring,
Even unto God and Christ their heau'nly King.
But here's not meant their worldly wealth and state,
Their Gems and Jewels, Gold or Silver plate,
For, since this sacred City needs no light
Of Sun or Moon, which shine on Earth so bright:
Much less shall there be need of worldly pelf,
In this most sacred sumptuous Common-wealth.
But this is hereby understood and meant,
That those good Princes which were eminen •
For virtuous gifts of Grace and Piety,
Shall lift up all their whole felicity,
Their glory and their Princely estimation
From earthly unto heau'nly contemplation:
And only fixe their joy upon the same,
And glory thus to glorify God's Name.
The Gates, moreover, of this City, shall
Be never shut, but stand wide ope' to all.
None shall from this felicity be staid,
Nor be shut up, as frighted or afraid.
For there shall be no Enemy to fear them,
No doubt of danger, then shall once come near them,
All spite of former Adversaries cease,
For there shall be perpetual rest and peace.
And which is more, there shall be here no Night,
For why, an everlasting splendor bright
From God's all-glorious presence shall proceed,
A Light more pure than Light it self indeed,
Shall so incessantly shine forth always,
Making an endless everlasting Day.
But here this Night may further intimate,
A twofold meaning L •• ' • all, Figurate:
The Literall sense that there no Night shall be,
Is, that indeed the Saints no Night shall see.
For why? as hath been said all Times distinctions
Of Day and Night, Summer and Winter seasons
Shall then quite cease and be superfluous:
The Figuratiue sense and meaning, thus
May be explain'd, that no obscurity
Of Error or of sly Hypocrisy,
No unclean thing foul or abominable,
No filthy Creature, Liar detestable,
No murthering Cain's, no Judas impious,
No • ham's, nor Achams sacrilegious,
No cruel, faithless, friendless envious Elfe
That hu • ts his Neighbor, but much more Himself,
"No Auaricious armed in hooking Tenters,
"And clad in Bird-lime catching all aduenters,
Nor ought that may contagiously infect,
Or once eclipse the joy of Christ's Elect,
Or violate the glorious state and bliss
Which Christ the Lamb hath purchased for His:
Nor in the least degree shall hurt or wrong
The flourishing estate, which doth belong
To th' Saints rare dignity, and perfect Light
Of sincere-worship of the Lord of Might:
Which is his Angels glory and chief grace,
And shall forever in them keep fir • e place.
But those shall hither come with joys most rise,
Whose Names are registered in the' Book of Life,
For whom the Lamb Christ Jesus did ordain
This glorious Kingdom, with him thus to reign;
Who were predestinate to this Salvation,
Before the Worlds original Foundation.
To these alone the Gates stand open wide,
These shall forever with the Lamb abide.
Lastly, to make this City most complete,
In every part to be as good as great,
The Holy Ghost having at large declared
The Churches glory, being thus compared
Unto a sumptuous City, full of State,
Now finally proceedeth to relate,
That, both this City and its Citizens
Are furnished and replenished with all means
For conservation of their endlesie joy,
Sufficient to protect them from annoy:
They have, I say, spiritual lively meat,
Divine Angelike Mann ' to drink, to eat,
The sovereign Balsum to conserve always
Their health, in health, from fall or least decay.
The holy Spirit as erst, here using still,
These earthly terms t' expresie Heavens sacred Will.
And all to show Heavens great benignity,
Descend • ng thus to our capacity,
This honor'd City hath in it also
A sacred River, which doth over-flow
With pure and precious Water of blest Life,
Whose st • eames do issue from its Fount most rife.
A current River, not a Poole with soil,
Not • oul • or troubled like Egyptian Nile ;
Or bill • wing Euphrates ; but sweet and fair
With delectable streams, smooth, clear and rare.
A River, for its great aboundancie,
Pure, in respect of its sweet Sanctitie,
Of Water of God's Sp'rits rare gifts of Grace,
Of Life, whose Tasters live an endless space,
And • leere as Crystall from all • pisfitude,
From all unclean corrupt amaritude.
This River shall from God's great Throne proceed,
And from the Lambs, gliding with pleasant speed.
And thus this River here may signify,
The Holy Ghosts gifts, third in Trinity.
Which is not • le • ghtly ratifi'd, indeed,
In that 'tis said here, that it shall proceed
From God's and from the Lambs most sacred Throne,
Which John's shown Prophecy hath clearly shown.
Yea, and ith' midst of this great Cities street
Pau'd all with go • d, as mould under their feet,
Through all the pleasant passages most fair,
Whe • e to and • ro the Saiated Souls repair:
On either side this River (rare to see)
Doth fluorish fairly a Life-giving Tree.
Which Tree of Life, doth • hus much to us show,
That to those gracious Waters, which do flow
To all the Graces of God's sacred Spirit,
Christ Jesus is conioyn'd, by whose just Merit,
His Church hath Life, true Peace, and sure Salvation,
Thus having with the Sp'rite Co-operation :
And still residing with his Saints Elect,
Continually doth guide and them direct,
Exhibiting to all, by his tuition,
Easie partaking and a full fruition
Of all the Benefits and heau'nly Graces,
Which in and 'bout this River he thus places.
Whereon they all shall spiritually feed,
Always desiring, yet never stand in need.
Which Tree of life, twelve sorts of fruit doth bear,
Whereby the Holy-Spirit doth declare,
First that the Lord, who is the God of Order,
Doth much detest Confusion or Dis-order.
In still retaining as he first begun,
The number twelve, which hitherto is done:
And also to express that there shall be,
In Numb'r and Measure full Sufficiencie,
To saturate the longing appetites,
Of all the twelve Spiritual Israelites,
Even of all those that so have run their race,
The twelve Apostles doctrine to embrace,
T'observe and keep (Maugre the rage and spite
Of Pope or Pagan, foes to Truths pure light.)
Thus then, we see the Angel here observing
An exquisite Decorum, thence not swerving:
Who, since the City, Entries, Roomes, Foundations,
And Symmetrie of these blest Habitations,
To th' Number-twelve have been accommodated;
And orderly thus still continuated:
Therefore with decent correspondency,
The Angel to this Number doth apply
The spiritual Food, and Furniture most meet,
Making a Consort most harmonious sweet,
Conformably agreeing thus in one,
With those whence they had their comparison.
Now as twelve sorts of Fruit grow on this Tree,
The Saints to satisfy: so shall they be
For Delicacie, sweet Content and Pleasure.
As every Saint shall have abundant measure:
So shall this pleasant Plenitude of Grace,
No Nauseous Surfet cause, in any case.
For, as Christ Jesus is that Drink and Meat,
Whereof each Sainted-Soul shall taste and eat:
So is he Sweet, Pleasant and Delicate,
Whereon they feed their fill, yet moderate,
Taking sufficient for their Contentation,
And their beautitudes firm Conseruation.
Which Truth is farther illustrated here,
In that tis said this Tree of life doth bear,
Doth every Moneth bear fruit, green, ripe and fair,
Which with delights their appetites repair.
Not that the Times shall then alt •• ate be,
By years, months, days, as now-a-days we see,
For then the Seasons cease, Time 's termined,
Sun, Moon, and Stars, are then quite vanished,
As formerly was touched: but here is meant,
That all things then shall give such rare Content,
Shall be so full of rich Varietie,
Shall yield such Cordial sweet Sa • ietie,
And with such Fullness all the Saints shall feed,
As that to store and hoard-up shall not need.
In that the Harvest there shall ever last,
Their pleasant Spring-time then shall never be past.
Also the Leaues of this most blessed Tree,
Shall Salutiferous and most Sovereign be,
To help, to heal, to cure all Maladies,
Which 'mongst the Gentile Nations do arise.
So that this Tree not only makes them live:
But to the Elect a healthful Life doth gi • e.
Yet here's not meant the Churches final state,
But that, when Anti-christ is ruinate,
When God shall th'unbelieving Nations 〈◊〉 ,
And faithless Jews, who once from Grace did fall.
But by these Leaues is chiefly intimated,
That all the smallest gifts, accommodated
By th' Lamb Christ Jesus to the Saints Elect,
Shall serve Some • way their Soul • with joy t' affect.
T' exh • lerate and cheer their sacred mind,
In's meanest blessings they shall comfort find.
But now behold, now followeth indeed,
That which doth all the former joys exceed:
The absolute accomplishment of all,
The Accessory blessings, which befall
The Citizens of this rare Domicill,
Th' Inhabitants of God's great Zion-Hill.
Namely, that in it there no Curse shall be,
It shall be from destruction firmly free.
It shall be subject to no execration,
But strongly stand, fearless of alteration.
Which is a Symbole, and a certainty
Of this blest Cities perpetuity,
A most infallible strong argument,
That tis eternal and most permanent.
A three-fold reason hereof may be given,
First, that (as is foresaid) this Seat of Heaven,
This holy Habitacle shall contain
No unclean thing, which may its beauty stain. [ 1]
Again, the glorious Throne and sacred seat, [ 2]
Whereon Omni-potent Iohouah great,
Whereon the blessed Trinity will reign,
Shall here abide and evermore remain.
Lastly, in that all these his Servants shall [ 3]
With sincere Love and Zeal Angelical,
For ever invocate his sacred name,
And his due praises constantly proclaim:
Seruing the Lord in singleness of heart,
Not once to will from's worship to depart.
But Curses are (we know) for gross Transgressours,
For dis-obedient stubborn Male-factors,
Not for th' obedient, faithful and sincere:
Thus then, is their perennitie most clear.
More-over, all the Saints of this blest race,
Shall see th' all-beauteous, Light-bright shining face
Of that Arch-Essence of eternity,
To walk and talk with him familiarly:
And with inexplicable sweet delight
Have full fruition of this sacred sight,
Not as he is, Immense and infinite,
For so even Angels see not his bright light,
Who are described covering their face,
With their Angellike wings: in any case
Not able to behold his glorious sight,
He Infinite, they being Definite.
Is certain, Yet that we shall have his full contemplation
Is certain, but with this just limitation,
First, in respect of us, we shall possess
[ 1] A perfect sight of God's great Holynesse.
The Lord in us, and we in him shall dwell
In such full measure, as no tongue can tell;
He will replenish every faculty
Of Soul and Body most abundantly,
With his most precious presence: by his sight
He'le fill our Minds, from da • knesse freed quite,
Our Hearts he'le quicken, there shall be no deadness,
Our whole Affections free from gloomie sadness.
What man is capable to comprehend,
Even so great glory God will then extend?
[ 2] Again, of that blest sight, which we shall have,
No inter-mediums shall our sight deprave.
Here, we as through a glass, or veil, him see,
By mediate Revelations : then, shall we
Of him immediate perfect Sight possess,
Which, none but those that have it, can express
A measure running over, heap • and pressed,
Will Christ bestow upon his Saints most blest.
His Name shall also in their Fore-heads be.
That is, they shall with such bold Constancy,
[ 1] And vn-revolting Zeal profess his Name,
That nothing shall obliterate the same;
Or cause them once neglect their pure profession,
By least relapse or indiscreet transgression.
They shall be so conformed, confirmed therein,
To persevere as they did first begin,
Constant, courageous, evermore the same,
Professing still Jehovah's glorious Name.
Again, his Name is said (as here we see)
Upon their Fore-heads Caractred to be,
[ 2] Because the Lord will publicly agnize
Them, by this Cognizance : and Patronize
(By his All-saving and All-sovereign power)
Them and their states, as in a fenced Tower.
And in this City there shall be no Night,
No need of Candle, Sun or Stars most bright,
That is, there shall be no obscurity,
Or darkness of adverse Calamitie,
No Night of obumbraticke cloudy Error,
No frighting Fear, nor no heart daunting Terror,
No sly bi-fronted close Hypocrisy,
Shall vitiate their intact Integrity,
No need of earthly comforts more or less,
No seeking, suing there, wrongs to redress,
By Temp'rall Laws, or Ecclesiastical,
For, there the Trinity is All in All :
And is this glorious Cities great Lord-Keeper,
Most vigilant, and watchful, he's No-sleeper.
And, which (as was premised) is the perfection,
And consummating of this benediction,
This glorious Kingdom, where God's Saints shall reign,
Shall doubtless sempiternally remain:
Like glorified Kings most gloriously,
Their bliss shall last, past all eternity.
Now as a bounteous hearted King doth use,
When he a Fau'rite unto him doth choose,
On whom he meaneth largely to bestow
His golden gifts, like Rivers to ore-flow;
What he doth promise or by words proclaim,
By's Letters-Patents ratifies the same:
Thus, O even thus our bounteous hearted King,
The Heart of Bounty, Love's ore flowing Spring,
Having his Church his Fauorite elected,
And promised She shall be by him erected,
Richly endowed, gorgeously beautified,
Rarely be royalliz'd, and sanctified,
Her head adorned with a Crown of gold,
A fragrant Garland which shall never wax old,
Triumphantly in endless joy shall reign,
And see her subject, abject foes in pain;
The Lord (I say) this promise having given,
That all these joys they shall possess in Heaven:
To verify his promise, and confirm
What he hath said, beyond Times endless term,
Hath given his Letters-Patents, his Broad-Seal
I'th' sacred Scriptures, which he'le never repeal;
Seal'd by an Angels testimony pure,
And as his Act and Deed given and made sure,
To blessed John, in the behalf and right
And to the use of all the Saints of Light.
Which being done, makes thereof Proclamation,
With most Emphaticall Asseueration,
That He, the Lord of Lord's, and King of Kings,
Hath power to do, and will perform these things.
And surely, Heaven and Earth shall pass away,
Yea, all things shall prepost'rously decay,
Ere his pure Word in one least jot or tittle,
Shall fade or fail, or alter never so little.
Which, though some Wretches Atheistical,
Some Nauseous Neuter, Satan's Tennis-Ball,
Some execrable Sadducees (I say)
Which do the Resurrection denay,
Though some vile Sectists Pythagoricall,
Or Infidels most Diabolical,
Which have supposed the Spirits Trans-migration
From one toanother in Lifes consummation;
Which do with devilish dotage them persuade,
That there's no God which e're the World hath made;
Nor that the World e're had a Prime beginning,
And think and hold that it shall never have ending,
Although such Nullifidians past all grace,
May entertain a thought, with brazen face,
And heart of flinty Infidelity,
To think or say that the rare Symmetrie
Of this Jerusalem celestial,
Seemes as a thing mere Hyperbolicall,
Incredible to their besotted sense,
And past the reach of their intelligence:
Yet let the rabble of such Miscreants know,
That there's 'gainst them pronouncit a fearful woe;
Their No-belief or wavering Vn-belief,
Shall fill their Souls with Never-ending grief:
And what they erst would not conceive in mind,
Their heart with smart shall then both feel and find.
Nor shall they have least part or portion here,
Of this great Cities pleasure, joy, and cheer,
But from God's presence shall be separated,
Which is the Second Death never terminated.
As for good Abraham's faithful Generation,
Who waver not in tottering hesitation,
Who have a Heartie-thirst, and thirsting-heart
Of these rare pleasures once to have their part:
Whose Hope past Hope doth cause their souls aspire,
By Faith in Christ this Kingdom to acquire,
Wherewith, in the' warfare of this Life, they Fight,
Fencit with the Bulwark of a zeal upright,
Arm'd at all points, with Christ's blest furniture,
Wherewith they may most constantly endure
The Fight Spiritual, their Loynes to tie
With the strong Girdle of Christ's Veritie ;
Having the Brest-plate on of Righteousness,
To quench the Darts of Hells outragiousnesse,
And on their Head the Helmet of Salvation,
True Perill-Proof, 'gainst Hells most hot Temptation,
The Sword o' th' Spirit, brandisht in their Hand,
Wherewith they may courageously withstand
That Broode of Hell, Satan, the World, the Flesh,
Which evermore assault the Soul afresh
With hot encounters, hellish Stratagems,
To keep them from this New-Jerusalem's
Eternal bliss: In which most faithful fight
If they magnanimously stand upright,
Assisted by that All-Proof, fervent Prayer,
The Godlies Guard, Supporter, and chief Stayer,
If thus they get (as thus being armed, they shall)
The Conquest, over those Foes fierce Capitall,
Even from proud Satan their old Enemy,
When he shall Challenge them this fight to try,
(As oft he will) they never by fraud or force,
By terrors or by torments leave their course
Of constant Perseverance to the end,
But his Hopes frustrate, and their souls defend:
Then shall they like brave Victors have the Crown
Of immortality of blest renown,
Triumphantly to reign with Christ their King,
And all their Virtues as rich Trophies bring,
And lay before him, for which he will give
A Crown, a Kingdom wherein they shall live,
The Lord in them and they in him shall dwell,
As Christ's Co-heirs, whom he loves passing well,
And shall sit down with him as Children dear,
To Sup at 's Table with celestial Cheere,
And then their Thirst of this accomplishment
Shall satisfied be with full content.
Then shall the Holy, Happy, Faithful, see
The Structure of this sacred Frame to be
Far more illustrious, admirable, rare,
Than earthly things could possibly declare;
And that those Stones and Gold were too too base,
To serve toillustrate Heavens celestial place,
Whose boundless beauty all discourse transcendeth,
Whose infinite felicity never endeth,
Yea, that 'tis such as that no mortal Eye,
Could but as through a Glass the same descry:
Such as no Eare hath heard, no Tongue e're told
The Majesty which there they shall behold,
Yea such (I say) as never human Heart
Could e're conceive th' incogitable Part.
O then, my Soul, thou having contemplated
This City all with glory decorated,
Thou having viewed, with Heart-exulting pleasure,
The Majesty vnparalleld, the matchless treasure,
The most magnificent, Maiesticke state,
Whereinto Christ will his incorporate:
What wilt thou thereof with thyself conclude?
What wilt thou say of this Beatitude?
Oh this, even this, with Peter and with John
At Christ's admired Transfiguration,
'It is good to make thy Seat and Mansion there,
O there 'tis best to dwell and dwell for e're.
Never did Noble Greece so much affect
Their Poetiz'd Elysean fields aspect,
Never so much did wand'ring wise Ulysses
Desire his chaste Penelopes kind kisses:
Or rather, more divinely for to raise
My thoughts unto a more religious phrase,
Never did Noah more desire to see
Ararats Hills, where he of's Ark was free:
Nor Sheba's Queen to see wise Solomon,
Nor at Christ's birth more glad was Simeon,
Then doth my Soul desire these heau'nly fields,
Which perfect pleasure, joy, and comfort yields,
To see my Savior sweet on Zion Hill,
My senses with his sacred sight to fill,
To see him in his glorified state,
Therein to be with him associate:
Even in these Mansions of eternity,
To live in sure in pure felicity.
Which happiness, though yet I may not have,
Until my Soul receive my Corps from Grave,
Until I mortal be immortalized,
And with the sacred Angels Angelized,
Until in the' clouds my Savior come again,
To re-collect th' Elect with him to reign.
O yet, my Soul, thyself delight and solace,
To ruminate the joys of that sweet Palace,
To recapitulate the sacred pleasure
The Saints shall then possess in plenteous measure,
Even in th'eternal Palace Crystaline,
The sacred Seat of the Vnited Trine ;
The glorious Court and heau'nly Presence-Chamber
Of Heavens great Emp'rour, wonderful Commander,
That Alpha and Omega, First and Last,
Who Was, Is, Shall be, when all Times are past,
That mighty, powerful, One sole God most high,
Th'eternal King, nay, Self-Eternity,
Infinite, All in All, yet out of All,
Of Ends the End, of Firsts Original,
The Life of Liues, Bounties over-flowing Flood,
Cause of all Causes, Ocean of all Good,
Vn-Seene, All-Seer, Stars-Guide, Sight of Seeing,
That One-None which to Nothing gave a Being.
There, also shall my Soul behold and see
The most ineffable deep Mystery
Of that incomprehensible Trine-one,
Sitting in glory in his glistering Throne,
With blessed Saints and Angels comitated,
With all the heavenly Hoast of Soul -beáted
Prophets, Apostles, Patriarchs of old,
The noble band of Martyrs stour and bold,
Our Parents, Wives, our Children, Kindred, Friends,
Yea all to whom Christ's saving health extends:
All of them clad in bliss celestial,
All shining bright in joy Angelical.
Where in the presence of their heau'nly King,
They Halleluiah, Halleluiah sing
To him that sitteth on the Throne most high,
Making a most harmonious Melodie,
With sacred sugared Notes and heau'nly Songs,
Singing the praise which to the Lamb belongs.
This being their especial exercise,
Their pleasant practice, customary guise,
Still to behold the Lord's most beauteous face,
Burning with Love of his most lovely Grace,
Their mouths still filled with praises of his name,
In magnifying his immortal fame,
Without all tediousness or intermission,
Protected always by his blest tuition.
O there is infinite, vn-uttered joy!
Mirth without Mourning, bliss without annoy,
Health without Sickness or pernicious humors,
Perfection without all Soul-tainting tumours.
Peace without War, and Light without darkness,
Love without Hate, beauty without paleness,
Sweetness without all fulsome surfeiting,
Life without Death, life ere continuing.
There are no sighs, no sobs, no penury,
No hunger, thirst, but with saturitie,
No chilling, killing frosts, or least extremes,
No parching Sun-shine, with hot piercing beams,
No will to Sin, no power to offend,
No enemy least mischief to intend.
Good Paul hath there no need to watch and pray,
To labor in the Word both night and day;
And good old Jerome then may cease toafflict,
Himself, so often, by a life most strict:
To conquer his spiritual Enemy,
To overthrow the old Serpents subtlety.
For there's all peace, security and rest,
That peace which can by no means be expressed:
There's all perfection sacred Light excelling,
All sorrow, care, darkness and dread expelling.
O Life eternal! holy Habitacle!
Heau'nly Jerusalem, Saints Receptacle!
O amiable City of the Lord!
How should my Soul thy praises due record?
What excellent rare things are said of thee?
What things are writ, are hopit, are found to be
In thee! thou hast the seat of glory sure,
That Good-Best Good-God, joy and solace pure,
Which far exceeds the science and deep sense
Of human reason and intelligence.
For which even Legions of Professors good,
And godly Martyrs have not spared their blood,
But with vn-daunted valiant courage have
Made Lions, Tigres, Fire and Sword their Grave,
That after Death they might enjoy that Crown,
Those Palms of peace, of honor and renown,
Wherewith thy Saints, O blest Jerusalem!
Are happisi'd in happiness supreme,
Walking as Kings, in those most gorgeous streets,
Where each-one naught but perfect pleasure meets:
In streets, I say, more precious than pure gold,
Glistring with glory wondrous to behold.
The Gates of which most holy Habitation,
Are Pearls of peerless price and valuation,
Whose Wall is all of precious stones most pure,
Incomparably rich and strong toendure,
There is that glorious Paradise celestial,
Surpassing Adams Paradise terrestrial,
Wherein are fluent Oily Rivers currents,
Faire Brooks of Butter and sweet Honny Torrents.
Replenished with Garden-walks and Bowers,
With Beds all wrought and fraught with fragrant Flowers,
Whose odoriferous rare variety
Affoord most various sweet amenitie,
Whose curious colors, and whose lovely green
Are always fresh, are always springing seen.
There, Hearts-ease, Saffron, Lilies and the Rose,
Do savor, sent, spring, spire, with sweet repose.
There are all spices Aromatical,
T'afford delight and cheer the Heart withal.
There is that sovereign Balsum med'cinable,
For sent and salve most precious amiable.
All these in thee flourish without defect:
With these the Garlands of the Saints are decked,
Without corruption they continue still,
And sprout and spring about this Zion Hill.
In thee's that Peace of God, which doth exceed
Mans understanding and faith-wavering Creed:
There is that glory which doth all advance,
Obnoxious never unto Change or Chance.
There's that eternal Light as sure as pure,
That Sun of Righteousness for e're toendure.
That white and bright blest Lamb of God most hie,
Who shows and shines most clear incessantly,
Which no time ever shall once terminate,
Nor no disastrous Chance extenuate.
There's Day which never darkness doth admit.
There in their Bowers of pleasure Saints do sit.
There also is certain Security.
There shalt thou find secure Eternity.
There all rare Comforts from Heavens glorious King
Successiuely, successfully do spring.
What e're the Soul can wish, request, desire,
Is there at hand without the least inquire:
What e're thou lovest, there is to be found,
Only, what's Ill, comes not in this blest ground.
Oh then, my Soul, what pleasure infinite?
Oh what an Ocean of most sweet delight?
Yea, what a most profound and pure Abyss ;
Thus to behold the Lord of Lord's, is this?
Thus to behold with rauisht admiration
The Lord's bright face with sacred contemplation?
Yea, with thine eyes to see, what Faiths dim eye
On Earth was never able to espy,
Even that eternal Trinity most blest,
Which can by Man no sooner be expressed;
Than Augustine's seeming-Lad could pour or lade
The mighty Ocean, into th' Shell he made
Without a bottom, that his Shell to fill:
No sooner can (I say) Mans stupid Will,
(Till his Corruption In-corruption be)
This holy Mystery clearly know and see.
But when thou Mortall dost immortallize,
When Christ thy King, thy Soul once Happy-fies,
Then shalt thou taste that God is good and gracious,
Then shalt thou live in this his House most spacious,
Then shalt thou taste the Spring of Life most sweet,
Then in the Heavens thou shalt Christ Jesus meet,
Then shall thy Water of terrestrial grief
Be turned into the Wine of sweet relief:
Then shall thy Sobs be turned into Songs,
Then shalt thou triumph for thy worldly wrongs;
O then in that most sacred glorious sight
Is to be found the Fullness of delight,
Of wisdom, beauty, riches, knowledge pure,
Of happiness forever to endure,
Of goodness, joy, and true Nobility,
Of treasure, pleasure, and felicity,
Of all that merits love or admiration,
Or worketh comfort or sure contentation.
Yea, all the powers and powerful faculties
Of Soul and Body shall partake likewise,
Sall be sufficed with the full fruition
Of Heavens eternal ternall glorious Vision.
God unto all his sacred Saints shall be
Their Universal sweet felicity,
Contayning each particular delight
Which may affect th' aspect of their blest sight:
Infinite both for number and for measure,
And without end shall be their endless pleasure.
To th' Eyes he shall be as a Mirrour clear,
Melodious Music to delight the Eare:
to th' Palate he shall be Mellifluous Mel,
Sweetspiring Balm for to refresh the Smell.
Unto the Understanding he shall be
A Light most bright and pure in the' high'st degree,
To th' Will he shall be perfect Contentation,
To th' Memory e'relasting Continuation.
In him we also shall enjoy, possess,
What ever various Time could here express:
Yea, all the beauties of his rarest Creatures,
Which may our Love allure by their sweet features,
All joy and pleasure to content the mind,
Such as in the' Creatures selves we never could find.
This sight (I say) is th' Angels chiefest treasure,
The Saints repast, repose and Princely pleasure,
This is their everlasting Life, their Crown,
Their Meede, their Majesty, their high Renowne,
This their rich rest, their spacious specious Palace,
Their outward, inward joy and sovereign solace:
Their Paradise divine, their Diadem,
Their ample bliss, their blest Jerusalem,
Their Peace of God past all imagination,
Their full Beatitude and sweet Salvation.
To see him, who them made, re-made, made Saints,
Him seeing to possess without restraints:
Possessing him to love him as their King,
And Louing him to Praise him, as the Spring
And Fountayne of this All-felicity,
And Praising ever this blest Trinity.
O then, my Soul, cease not to like, to love,
These admirable, lovely joys above:
And though thy corrupt Flesh is th'obstacle,
And stays, delays from this blest Habitacle:
Although thy Flesh like Churlish Nabal frown,
Refuse the pains to seek this sacred Crown:
Yet let thy Spirit like good Abigail
Go forth to find this place Angelical.
Let Hagar never get her Mistress place,
Nor Ishmael good Isaac so disgrace;
But strive most strenuously, fight that good fight,
Subdue thy Flesh, withstand proud Satan's might:
And with the Eye of Faith believe, desire
To live with Christ, pray, seek, sue and inquire;
Pray earnestly to Christ thy King above,
In burning Zeal, firm Faith, and fervent Love.
For, what's this World? naught but a flouting fancy,
A Theater of vainnesse, pleasant Frensy.
A sink of Sin, a shop of all Deceit,
Iniquities chief Center and sure Seat,
A Map, a Mirrour of all Miserie,
A Dungeon of most dire Calamitie,
Louely to look on like the scarlet Whore,
But dangerous to deal with evermore:
A Mazie Labyrinth of impious Errors,
A Campe of Crueltie, of tears and terrors,
Constant in naught but in In-constancy,
And most Vnconstant in that Constancy:
In naught the same, save not to be the same,
And of a Being but a very name:
Still floating, fleeting, never at a stay,
Hates on the Morrow whom it loves to Day.
Yea, 'tis a Joab full of craft and guile,
Kills his Embracers with a traiterous smile.
A Wrastler 'tis and trippeth up the heels
Of many a man e're he its grasping feels:
Solomon wise, strong Samson so renowned,
It made their lengths to measure on the ground.
Therefore, to love the World, is naught else, sure,
Then to her Lime-twigs thy poor Soul toallure,
Which, so, the Feathers of thy Faith will mar,
Thy Soul ifit may be from Heavens joys to bar.
Why then (my Soul ) shouldst thou to th' Earth be thrall,
Which hast a heau'nly blest original?
Which hast a heau'nly-blest original?
Why shouldst thou pin thy thoughts on mortal things?
Who art immortal from the King of Kings.
And why shouldst thou, a Sp'rit invisible,
Be pleased with things, both gross and visible?
Striuing to pamper thy corrupted Body,
Whose definition is, indeed, that Both-Die:
Both Soul and Body, when the Flesh gives way
To Sin and Satan in their dire decay.
And hence it is that Latinists likewise
Thus Corpus fitly Etymologize:
Cor which was once the Heart of pure perfection,
Is thus made Pus, all filth and foul infection.
Why then shouldst thou thyself so low depress?
Who art of high celestial Noblenesse,
One of thy Fathers first-borne Children dear;
Whose name in Heavens blest Records may appear.
Why should the Worlds false promises delude thee?
Since Heaven with Grace and Goodness hath endu'de thee.
Wilt thou, a Princes Son, a heavenly Prince,
Let Satan's gilded Apples thee convince?
Wilt thou the Son of Heavens All-sacred King,
Offend thy Father for so vile a thing?
Wilt thou thy Birth right Esau-like forgo,
For one dire mess of Broth bewitching woe?
Oh, no, deceitful Delilah, a-dieu,
Thy Sirens Songs my Soul doth most eschew,
Thy Crocadile like tears which would betray me,
By Heavens preventing Grace shall never slay me:
For all thy Bitter-sweets, false Protestations,
My Soul esteems but hellish Incantations.
Wherefore, as Amnon being once defiled
With his own Sister, whom he had beguiled,
After the fact, did hate her ten times more
Then ever he had loved her before:
So I, whom thy false Friendship once defiled,
Whom thy deceitful ambush once beguiled:
I hate, abominate thy mischief more,
Than e're I loved or liked thee before.
As Sea-men, Rocks, as Children Scorpions fly:
So (Oh my Soul ) hate worldly Vanity.
And, oh, what's he? that would not leave most glad
Worlds Vanities, so finite, base and bad
For Pleasures infinite? What's he would take
Fraudulentioyes, and permanent forsake?
None doubtless, none, but Dastards void of Grace,
None but faint-hearted, fearful Cowards base.
The resolute courageous Christian bold,
Dares Deaths grim face confront, see and behold,
Dares Death defy, and his approach desire,
Because by Death he knows he shall acquire
The end of all his hopes, for, Death's the Key
Which opes the door to true felicity.
Yea, 'tis no pain but of all pai • es the end,
The Gate of Heaven and Ladder to ascend.
And Death's the Death of all his storms and strife,
And sweet beginning of immortal Life.
Therefore with smiling count'nance, merrily
To Heaven his place of rest he casts his eye:
And in his heart, these thoughts are oft reuolued,
Vnfeynedly I wish to be dissolved
To be with thee (O Christ my Savior sweet)
Thee my dear Eldest Brother for to meet.
I see thee Christ, I see thee heau'nly home,
I gladly would and quickly to thee come.
I see thee, oh thou Saints celestial Place,
I much desire I once had run my race.
But though I cannot with Elias run,
Ith'strength o'th' Spirit in this race begun
Unto the heau'nly Canaan: yet give Grace,
Though I with Jacob halt, to halt apace:
And if not so, yet that at least I may,
Like to an Infant learn to creep the way:
And grow from strength to strength, from grace to grace,
Until I come in presence of thy face.
For, I am weary of this Pilgrimage,
And long for thee my heau'nly Heritage.
How oft have I thee viewed with admiration?
How oft hast thou been my Souls meditation?
How oft have I been rauisht with desire,
That unto thee my Soul might once aspire?
How oft have I both scorned and vili-pended
Earths most unpleasant pleasures quickly ended?
Being compared to those joys above,
Which from my Heart, my Soul doth dearly love:
My Heart, my Life, my Bl • sse, my Joy, my Gem,
My Souls dear Soul is New-Jerusalem.
And now I come, my joys, I come to you,
For whom I •• d so often seek and sue.
I, pain and Death do heartily embrace,
So that my Soul amongst you may take place:
Yea, though even Hell it self were in my way,
And would my journey stop, disturb or stay,
I would it pass and hazard Hells annoy,
To live with Christ in his celestial joy.
And, surely, since Heath'nish Cleombrotus
Did seem (but desp'rately) so valorous,
Hearing his Master Plato, once, discourse
Of Immortal • tie: with furious force
(From an high Rock ) himself did head-long throw,
In hope to be Immortalized so:
O how much rather then, I pray, ought I,
Dying in the' Lord a thousand deaths to die,
To be invested in that perfect Glory,
Showne and assured in Truths most faithful Story?
He died • in bare opinion, Souls blind-Love,
I die in Faith and knowledge from above:
He only hopit to have immortal Life,
I, for immortal rest and glory rise;
He went vn • sent for, I am oft invited,
Even Christ himself my Soul hath oft incited:
Incited oft, I say, with Resolution,
And Paul's firm Faith, to wish for Dissolution.
Shall then his Pagan-courage mine excel?
Shall fear of death my Christian-courage quell,
Since my sure ground, than his, is much more firm,
And death to me is but my sorrows term?
And that my Soul in theend shall sure exult,
Although the way seem somewhat difficult?
O no, my Soul, be valorous and stout,
With constant courage persevere, hold out.
None fight but with a hope of Victory:
Thy fight well finished brings eternity.
If one should say unto a Captayne stout,
Go forward with bold courage, fight it out;
Do but thy utmost, fight and give not over,
For thou in the end, the conquest shalt recover;
Would any David his Goliath fly?
From whom he's sure to win the Victory.
Would any Gideon such a fight refuse?
Could any valiant Joshua, think you, choose
But enter combat with the proudest Foe?
Whom he with triumph surely shall over-throw.
My Savior sweet, even thus to me hath said;
Take courage, Christian Soldier, be not afraid,
Do thou thine utmost, Satan to withstand:
For I will be propitious at thy hand.
Fight valiantly, and though thy foes fierce might
May hap to bring thee on thy knees in the' fight,
May often foil thee by his crafty snare:
Yea, though his claws were ready thee to tare,
Yet I will raise thee up, I will thee defend,
And thou shaltsure be Victor in the end.
Who then (I say) what's he would be so base,
As not this proffer gladly to embrace?
Who could with vile pusillanimitie,
So free a Conquest Coward -like deny?
Shall doting Lovers for their Ladies fight,
And for their sakes account all danger slight?
Shall Merchants venture both their lives and goods,
For wealth and pelse through th' Oceans dangerous floods?
Yea, shall the Ship-Boy gladly under-go
All hazards which or Sea or Shore can show?
Only in hope to gain a Masters place:
And to obtain a cunning Pilots grace.
And shall my Soul turn Coward, fear and fly?
Shall not my Soul control that Enemy?
Whom Christ my General first over-threw,
And thereby all his subtleties well knew:
And knowing them, hath taught me how to fight,
Me to defend, him offend, put to flight:
Yea, and hath promised he'le assistant be,
And in my weakness cause my Foe to flee;
And under-neath my feet pull Satan down,
And me as Victor graciously will crown.
O then (my Soul ) stand stoutly toit and fear not,
Christ's sacred Arms in vain about thee bear not.
Fight this good fight, and let proud Satan know,
Christ being Captain thou wilt him overthrow.
For if Heavens King by Grace be on thy side,
Thou needest not fear what ere do thee betide:
No danger, sure, can in that Battle be,
Where thou for Christ, and Christ doth figh • for thee.
And here's my Comfort, this is my Souls stay,
That whether Satan wound, or do me slay,
Dye fleshly Body, so my Soul may live,
Christ to my Soul the Palme of Peace will give.
But as a mighty Emp'rour which proclaims
At some great feast Olympicke warlike Games,
Wherein to him which proves the Conqueror,
And doth the best exploits, this Emperor
Will give a Crown, his valor to reward;
And him with Kingly favor will regard.
But not the Emp'rour unto him descends,
But he to th' Emp'rours Gallery ascends,
There from his Princely hand to take the Crown,
The triumph, trophie, of his high renown:
Even so the Christian Soldier having gained
The victory, for which he long had strained
With all his power spiritual, to quell
The rage of rau'nous Sin, and Satan fell,
Must from the worlds Lists in a blessed end
By Death, Heavens glorious Gallery ascend,
There, from the hands of Jesus Christ himself
To take a Crown far passing worldly pelf;
A Crown of joy, even Glories plenitude,
A Crown of bliss, even Heavens beatitude.
Not as the Meede of his deserving Merit,
But as the free-gift of God's sacred Spirit ;
For, having done what ever I am able,
Yet my best service is unprofitable,
Only in Mercy he is pleased to crown
His own-good-gifts in me to my renown.
O! therefore Death, shall be my welcome-guest,
Death, which translates from Labor unto reff,
From worldly sorrow, to Heavens joys increase,
From woe to weal, from trouble to sweet Peace.
From Earth the Stage of instability,
To Heaven the Fortress of true Constancy.
Go then, you godless Heliogabolites,
You carnal Worldlings, proud Cosmopolites,
Go please yourselves in swearing, feasting, fighting,
And not what's just, but what's your Lust delight in.
Go please yourselves with rich and large extents
Of wealthy Mannours, stately tenements,
Grow proud to see your Vnderlings beslaued,
And by your Greatness wrongfully out-braued,
To see your Ward-robes stuffed with proud Apparel,
Your Mouthes with oaths, your thoughts with strife and quarrel.
To have variety of worldly pleasure,
Delicate Gardens, Coffers full of treasure.
Treasure (said I?) nay white and yellow Clay,
Bewitching Mammon, Sin-bane, Souls▪decay :
Or if there's ought that doth you more allure,
Or which you would with more content procure,
Use it, possess it, yet for all this know,
You shall it all with shame and smart forgo.
Yea God will take at Deaths disast'rous day,
Your Lands (your life ) your Goods (your gods ) away.
This, this (alas) did cause the Prophets cry,
This moved S. Paul with zealous ardency,
'Gainst Worldlings to cry out, and them accuse,
That they themselves, their Souls would so abuse,
Such lying vanities so to respect,
So sottishly their Souls-health to reject,
In Egypt, Straw and Stubble for to buy,
Yea Straw I say and Chaff, which finally
Would their own House burn-down and ruinate,
And head-long them to Hell precipitate
Whereas their Savior at a cheaper price
Would sell them gold, pure gold, rare Marchandise,
Even all the golden joys and sweet delight
Of Paradise celestial, sacred sight:
That Pearl of blest Salvation, which to buy
The wisest Merchant would most joyfully
Sell all his worldly treasure, earthly pelf,
With this rare Jewel to enrich himself.
And what's his price? O cheap, and naught else, sure,
But what thou mayest thyself with ease procure,
Only thy Heart, 'tis only this, he craves:
This given to God, both Soul and Body saves.
Not that thy God is better by the same,
But thou ma • e blest, to magnify his Name:
'It is only thine not his good, he desires,
And for this good he only thanks requires.
Oh therefore silly, simple, sinful Man,
What greater madness? tell me, if thou can?
Than such a proffer, fondly to refuse,
Than Death for Life, for Treasure, Straw to choose;
For precious Liquor, Fountayne-water good,
To hoose foul puddles stinking full of mud;
Oh more then mad-men thus to take more pain;
Head-long to run to Hell with might and main:
Then even the holiest Saints to go to Heaven,
Who oft with treats and threats are thereto driven,
But (O my Soul ) thy Saviors counsel take;
O do not thou his bounty so forsake!
Go buy of him, give Body, Heart and all,
To purchase this rare Gem Angelical.
And with that Royal-Shepherd David, say,
O thou my Soul trust in the Lord always:
Yea, in his Awe and Law take thou delight,
O like, love, look on this both day and night.
Let it be thy Arithmetic, always
To take account and number out thy days.
A Deaths-head let thy chief Companion be,
An Houre-glass, Remembrancer to thee.
Let thy chief study be continually,
How to live well, and blessedly to die.
So shalt thou (O my Soul ) most happy be,
When thou of that blest City art made free,
When thou, amongst that sacred Hierarchy
Shalt sing sweet tones and tunes melodiously;
With Heavens Psalmodicall harmonious Choir
Of Saints and Angels zealous, hot as fire,
The Diapason of whose heau'nly Laies
Doth warble forth Heavens due deserved praise,
Where thou being gracit and placit in heau'nly state,
In precious pleasure never to terminate,
Being sweetly rapit in heau'nly Extasie,
Christ's and his Churches Epithalamie,
My Sainted-Soul with sugared voice shall sing,
To God in Christ my Three One heau'nly King :
O happy Citizens enfranchis'd there!
O joyful Qu • risters singing so clear!
Victorious Soldiers thus to be trans-planted!
Where Peace for War, where Life for Death is granted.
Happy wert thou (my Soul ) most truly blessed,
If thou wert once of this rare joy possessed:
That then I might be filled, but never sated
With that rare sight, which once initiated,
Shall last for aye without Times dissolution,
Shall be most specious without all pollution.
Therefore my Heart (as Hart being chafte and chaced
By furious Houn • s most nimbly tract and traced)
Desires the Water-Brooks his heat toallay,
That so refreshed, he thence may scud away:
Even so my Heart (O Lord ) desires to see
Those Crystall streams of Life which flow from thee;
Sighes, sues, pursues, her Country to recover,
Here abject, subject, too too triumphed over
By my three fierce and furious Enemies:
Who seek my Soul toensnare and sin-su • prize,
Even Satan that old Hunter and his Hounds,
The World, the Fl • sh, which give my Soul deep wounds.
Who more like ravening Wolu • s would fain devour
And captivate my Soul in hellish power:
But thy preventing Grace (O Spring of Grace )
Prese •• e • my Soul, dis-nerves their horrid chace;
And as a Bird out of the Fowlers Grin,
Or as Noes Dove looking to be let-in,
Into the Ark of thine eternal Rest:
My tired Soul is unto thee addrest,
My Soul with worlds encumbrances oppressed;
Desires (O Lord ) to be by thee refreshed.
My Soul doth thirst and hasteth to draw near,
And longs before thy presence to appear.
O Tree of Life ! O ever-living Spring !
Whose laud and praise the heau'nly Hoast do sing!
O when shall I come and appear in sight
Of thee, the Sun of righteousness most bright?
When shall my Soul by thine All-saving hand,
Be led with joy from forth this Desert Land?
When shall I leave this Wilderness of woe,
Wherein my Soul is tossed to and fro?
I sit alone, as on a house the Sparrow:
I • h' Vale and Dale of Tears, fears, sighs and sorrow.
O lead (dear Christ ) my Love-sick Soul by th'hand,
From this vast Wilderness dry thirsty Land:
To thy •• ne-C • llers, that I there may taste
Of th • W • n • -fl •• ons thou prepared hast.
Comfort me with the Apples of thy Grace,
W •• h thy Hi • Manna strengthen my weak case.
With heau'nly Milk and Honny (Lord) make glad
My heart, which worlds afflictions hath made sad.
O let me once from Wisedomes sacred Lip,
Coelestiall Nard, and Rosean Liquor sip.
Yea, l •• me satiate mine in-satiate thirst,
With that sweet Milk wherewith thy Saints are nourcit,
I thirst, O Lord, I thirst, thou art the Well,
O quench my thirst, and let me with thee dwell.
I hunger, Lord, I hunger, thou art Bread,
Even Bread of Life, O let my Soul be fed.
I seek thee, Lord, yet still I go astray,
Through High-ways, By-ways, yet I miss the way:
Thou art (O Lord ) the perfect Way and Dore,
My Soul will follow, if thou go before.
Direct my feet to leave the paths of Sin,
Ope glories Gate, and let my Soul go in.
Let it be Riches to me to possess thee;
Let it be Glory to me to confess thee;
Let it be Clothes, Christ Jesus, to put on;
Let it be Food, his Word to feed upon;
Yea, let it be my Life, to live and die,
For Christ my King, and for his Verilie.
So shall my Riches be to me eternal,
So shall my Glory be with Christ supernal,
So shall my Clothing still be fair and new,
So shall my Food be Manna heau'nly Dew,
So shall my Life never fade, but ever Spring,
Being still preseru'd by Christ my Lord and King.
But, oh alas! when shall I see that day?
That Day of gladness never to decay,
That Day of Jubilee when all are glad,
That Day when all rejoice, none can be sad?
Whose endless time and never fixed date,
Eternity shall never exterminate.
That Saints blest Birth-Day, which shall never have Euening:
That Lasting Day to which no Night gives ending.
That rare Grand-Jubilee, that Feast of Feasts,
Sabbath of Sabbaths, endlesie Rest or Rests.
To which least Care shall never dare come near,
Wherein the Saints shall shake off palid fear.
O pure, O pleasant most desired Day
Of that eternal springing Moneth of May!
In which my Soul shall evermore rejoice,
In which my Soul shall hear that happy Voice:
Enter (blest Soul ) into thy Masters joy,
Enter into sweet rest without annoy;
Enter into the House of Christ thy King,
Where Peace and Pl • ntie, Mirth and Joy do spring,
Where thou shalt find things most to be admired,
Where thou shalt have what most thy Soul desired.
Ioyes infinitely numberless, I say,
And various pleasures infinitely gay:
Vnspyable, unspeakable by Man,
Immutable, inscrutable to scan;
Where I, thy Soul will feed, will feast, will fill:
Feede with spiritual food of my blest Will,
Feast with the dainties of delight most pure,
And fill with glory which shall e're endure.
Enter, I say, and hear that melody,
Which comprehends datelesse festiuitie.
Where is all good, no evil to abuse:
Where's all thou wishest, naught thou wouldst refuse,
Where's life e're-living, sweet and amiable,
Where is true fame and glory memorable,
Where is, I say, certain Security,
Securest Peace and peaceful Pleasancie ;
Most pleasant Joy, and joyful Happiness,
Happy Eternity, eternal Blessedness ;
The blessed Trinity in Vaitic:
The Vnities Trine-One rare Deity ;
The Deities Three-One's most blessed Vision,
Which is our Masters joy in full fruition.
O joy of ioves, O joy beyond all pleasure!
Far passing far transcending terrene treasure.
O joy without annoy, O true content!
O sovereign bliss and Souls sweet rauishment!
O everlasting Kingdom, supreme peace!
Where all the Saints enjoy such joys increase,
Where all the Saints are clothed with pure Light,
As with a Garment shining glorious bright:
Their Heads adorned with Crowns of purest gold,
And precious Stones most glorious to behold;
Whose only exercise is to rejoice,
To triumph, and to sing with sacred voice,
Sweet Halleluiah to their Sovereign King,
Which them to this felicity did bring.
Oh! when shall my poor Soul be made partaker
Of this great joy, O thou my Lord and Maker!
When shall I see Thee in it, It in Thee?
And therein dwell I in Thee, Thou in Mee?
Surely (O Lord ) I will make haste and fly,
I will make no stay, but post most speedily.
I will never cease to Seek, till I have found,
I will not leave Knocking, till my Soul be crowned.
I will never leave Asking, till thou hast me given
My Boone, thy Bounty, even those joys of Hea • en :
Since then, I say, such is Heavens Majesty !
And since this World is but mere Miserie:
What isit can hinder this my speedy pace,
Which I must run, till I have run my race?
Can Worldly power or Principalitie?
Can Kingly favors, wealth or dignity?
Can worldly pleasures, pleasant unto some?
Can height or depth, things present, things to come?
Oh no, with Paul I will all abominate,
E're they shall me from Christ's love separate.
I will cry, Auaunt you Soul-betraying joys,
Which Be-like bring the Sting of dire annoys.
Auaunt, I say, worlds momentary pleasure,
Worlds transitory toys, Earths trash • e treasure:
The love of Christ hath so enflam'd my Heart,
That as I trust, it never shall thence depart;
And, Lord, confirm, strengthen this Faith of mine,
O let it never faint, fa • le or decline.
But woe to me (poor wretch) who still am fain
Amongst the T • nts of Meshech to remain:
To have my habitation 'mongst the rout
Of Kedar most ungodly stubborn, stout.
The time, me thinks, is much procrastinated,
O that the date thereof were terminated.
Ay me, how long shall it be said to me,
Wait, wait, expect, and thou the time shalt see?
And shalt thou see? my Soul, thou art too blame,
I must accuse thee (O my Soul ) for shame
Think not the time too long, count it not much,
That w • th these trials God thy Faith should touch.
For, as a Gold-Smith waits most carefully
Upon his gold, which he in the' fire will try;
That when 'tis burned enough and purifide,
It may not in the fire, to waste, abide:
So God his Children dear attends upon,
When in the fire of dire affliction
He purposeth to purify and try them:
When thus enough refined he do • h spy them,
By no means will he suffer them to waste,
B •• for t ••• r comfort to them soon will haste.
As that most rare pair-Royal well did know,
Good Shedrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
Whom he in the' Babylonian fire did prove,
Yet so respected in his sacred love;
That not so much as one hair of their head
Was burnt or sindg'd, or once diminished.
O then, my Soul, if God have such a care,
As from thy head not one small simple hair
Can fall to th'ground, without his providence:
O then have thou assured confidence,
That he thy Soul will never pe • mit to perish,
But in due time will thee refresh and cherish;
And say with Job, that man of God most just,
Lord, though thou kill me, I will in thee trust.
Yea then confess (as 'tis) that all the woe,
Which in this Life for Christ thou under▪go:
That all Ear • h • torments or affecting toys,
Are most unworthy Heavens most blissful joys.
Heavens joys for weight and measure infinite,
Earths pains to death, but slender, small and slight.
Heavens joys most perfect, absolutely pure,
Earths choicest pleasures pain and grief procure.
Heavens joys are sempiternall, ever-lasting,
Earths joys mere toys, still fleeting, ever-wasting.
O then (my Soul ) have patience, do not grudge,
Left so thou make thy Christ thine angry Judge:
Give Patience (Lord) thy sacred Will to bear,
And then receive my Soul, How, When, or Where.
For, as no gold nor silver can be pure,
Until the fires burning it endure:
Nor Stones for Palace-work can well be fit,
Till they with Hammers oft be cut and smit •
No more, I say, isit possible that we
Vessets of Honor in God's house can be:
Till we be fin'd and melted in the fire
Of worldly crosses and afflictions dire.
Neither can we as living-stones have place,
Jerusalem's celestial Walls to grace;
Unless the Hammers of Earths tribulation,
Oft bruise the Flesh to work the Souls Salvation,
But though thy Servants (Lord) may oft be tempted,
Yet can they never finally be tainted:
They never can be surprised, though oft assailed,
For why, Heavens safeguard hath them never failed.
Christians and Persecutions join together,
Like Christ and's Cross, few calms much stormy weather.
E're th' Israelites to th' Land of Promise came,
Their temp'rall Canaan, Canaan of such fame;
Th'endured much danger, many Miseries:
And shall not I, most patiently likewise
Endure all dangers, all anxiety?
Shall I not under-go all misery,
In this my journey to Heavens holy Land?
O yes, with constant courage to it stand.
For why, I am sure the more I here endure,
My joys in Heaven shall be more glorious pure.
And who would not to Heaven go joyfully,
Though with Elias he in whirl-winds fly?
Grant therefore ( Lord ) I take Earths Nocuments
As precious Balm, as my Souls Documents.
Confirme my Faith with constant resolution,
To wait, and fit me for my dissolution:
To wait for thee my Savior, staff and stay,
Till thou shalt change my Bodies house of Clay ▪
That like thy glorious Body it may be,
That so thy power and glory I may see:
That I may hear and see, and bear a part,
In Heavens heart-charming Music sacred Art,
In that rare Consort of Mel-Melodie,
At Christ's rare Nuptials blest solemnity.
Come then, Lord Jesus (oh, I cannot cease,
To wish my Soul in thine eternal peace)
Give me (O Lord ) good Stephens Eagle-eye,
Through thickest Clouds Heavens glory to espy,
Give me (O Lord ) a Voice Angelical,
With Heart unfeigned on thee thus to call:
How long (O Lord ) how long wilt thou delay?
Lord Jesus, come, come quickly, do not stay;
Make haste, and tarry not, I thee entreat,
And draw my Soul from Earth to heavenly seat.
For why? I fear ( Lord, falsify my fear)
That Satan will 'gainst me such malice bear,
To cause my refractorie Flesh to stir
My Soul unto Rebellion: so toincur
Thy wrath and indignation for the same,
My stubborn Flesh, therefore ( Lord ) cu • be and tame,
O, free me from this fleshly Prison strong,
Wherein my Soul hath fettered lain too-long:
Fett'red I say, yea fest'red more's my shame,
More art thou flesh, and much more I too blame,
Who oft with Adam fondly have aspired,
And with vain glory led, have oft desired
The fruit o'th' Tree of Knowledge for to eat,
Not of the Tree of Life, more sovereign meat,
And to be red in any other Book,
Much pride and pleasure I have often took:
Than in my Book of Conscience, to behold
The woe whereinto Sin doth me infold.
With Wantons I oft viewed Pride's Looking-Glass,
But not Times-Dial, how my Days did pass.
Yea, on Earths follies I have fixed mine eyes,
Gazing on blazing worldly Vanities.
Yet Lord I know that as thou hast a Book,
Wherein my faults are writ on them to look:
So thou a Bottle hast, wherein to keep
My contrite tears, when I for Sin do weep.
And though myself vn-worthy I agnize
Unto thy Throne to lift my Sinful eyes:
Yet I myself vn-worthy do not find
To weep before thee till mine eyes be blind.
Lord then vouchsafe, vouchsafe I thee beseech,
An ear an answer to my Souls sad speech.
O come Lord Jesus, come I humbly pray,
Speak peace unto my Soul, ô do not stay:
Bind up my wounds, make whole my malady
With the Samaritans sweet Charity.
Into my sore, pour thou the Oil of gladness,
Reuiue my Soul from Sin-constrained sadness.
O bring my Soul out of this mire and mud,
This sink of Sin where I too-long have stood.
Smite off my Fetters of Iniquity.
As thou didst Peters in Captivity.
Stop in me all the Conduits of transgression,
Break Satan's weapons of my Souls oppression.
Yea, let my Eyes be as continual Lauers
To wash and cleanse Sins ulcers stinking savors:
For a clean Lord (I know) takes delectation,
To have a clean Heart for his Habitation.
Give therefore grace (ô Lord ) whiles here I live,
That I a Bill of due Diuorce may give
Unto that Harlot Sin, which too-too-long
Hath by false flattery done my Soul much wrong.
O, double, treble happy were I, sure,
If once I might put-off Sins rags impure,
Those Menstruous clothes wherewith I am disguised,
Whereby thine Image in me's not agnized:
Whereby in thy pure sight I am but loathed.
O therefore that my Soul might once be clothed
With thy most royal-Robes of righteousness,
Thy Seamelesse, spotless Coote of holiness,
And therein be presented to the sight
Of my great Lord, the Father of all Light,
And be engrafted and incorporate
Into this New-Jerusalem's blest state,
Into this Kingdom evermore existing,
Into this Kingdom all of joy consisti • g:
Where all thy Saints and sacred Angels reign,
By thee their mighty Lord and Sovereign,
Cloathed in Vestures of the purest white,
Still in the presence of thy sacred sight:
Their heads adorned with Crowns of purest gold,
Of precious stones, rich Pearls rare to behold.
Thou Lord alone being the Diadem
Of these thy Saints in this Jerusalem :
Whose only sight, is their beatitude,
Which dures for aye without vicissitude.
But Lord, it may be thou mayst say to me,
Alas, poor Soul, wouldest thou my beauty see?
None ere could see the glory of my face
And 〈◊〉 Earth, such is Mans mortal case.
Lord, thus I answer, and I this confess
That thy Coelestiall glorious holiness
Is so immense, so infinite, so rare,
So great, so glorious, gracious, specious, fair,
That no flesh living can it see, and live,
Yet to my Soul (ô Lord ) this mercy give,
That so it may behold thy sacred sight,
Let Death with thousand deaths my body smite;
So my poor Soul may see thy Majesty,
Let Death my breath, my life end speedily.
Oh then, I say, and never shall cease to say,
O three-fold, four-fold happy, sure, are they,
Who, by a pious life and blessed end,
By Christ, Heavens Ladder, to heau'ns joys ascend,
Who for the minutes of Earths Lamentation,
Enioy Heavens endless years of Consolation;
Who from this earthly Prison are set free,
And in Heavens Palace live, O Christ, with thee:
Yea, who being dead to Sin and Earthly joys,
Are there in plenitude of perfect joys.
But oh most wretched miserable I,
Who (in the Flouds of worlds mortality,
By huge Heaven-Mounting, Hell-Descending waves,
By Rocks, Syrts, Whirle-Pooles, all which seem my Graues )
Am still constrained to sails through dangers great,
Which Waters, Winds, Weather, together threat:
And, which is more, I most erroneously
Through ignorance, oft wander clean away;
I lose my way, and then am danger'd most,
Not knowing whither my poor Ship doth coast:
Being thus exposed to Seas all-ieopardies,
Like Jonah, when from Nineveh he flies,
Tost to and fro even into th' Maw of Hell,
By furious Flouds which 'gainst me rage and swell:
So that my way to th' Harbor of my Rest
Thus being lost, my Soul is sore oppressed.
But, which is worst, whiles thus to thee I sails,
I meet Sea-Monsters which do me assail:
Resistfull Remoraes do strive to stay me,
And huge Leviathan gapes wide to slay me;
Lifes, Toyes and Troubles, Satan's craft and Power,
Would stay my Voyage, and would me devour.
Restlesse, redresselesse thus I flote about,
And for thy heavenly help my Soul cries out.
Wherefore Sea-calming, Wind-controlling Lord,
To my perplexed Soul thine aide afford;
For if thou wilt (O Lord ) thou canst me cherish:
O therefore help, or else my Soul will perish.
One Depth (ô Lord) another in doth call,
As Waves break-out and on each other fall:
The Depth of my Calamity profound,
Doth invocate thy Mercies which abound.
I call and cry from many waters deep,
My Soul from sinking (Lord) preserve and keep.
O keep me from these dangers imminent,
Which have my silly Soul on all sides pent.
Let thine out-stretched- arm, upholding Grace,
Once bring my Soul unto her resting-Place,
From floods of worldly infelicity,
Into the Haven of aeternity.
How long (ô Lord) how long wilt thou prolong,
Thy wrath toappease and ease me, from among
These dire Death-threatening-dangers? ô direct
My way o thee, my hope to thee erect.
My Confidence re-plant in thee, I pray,
That so these tempests may me not dismay;
That so these floods, though flow, may not come near me,
That so these blasts, though blow, may not so fear me.
Thou being my vn-rocking Rock, my shield,
My fortress strong, which to no force can yield,
Most skillful Pilot, so my Sterne direct,
My weather-beaten Boat, so safe protect,
That it these dangers infinite may shun,
And, to my Harbor may the right-way run:
Commiserate, compassionate my case,
And in chine arms (ô Christ ) my Soul embrace.
Though I with Jonah Sea-men lose my wares,
My goods, my life, worlds pleasures, best affairs ;
Though Persecutions Rocks my Bark may batter,
M • 〈◊〉 •• iuen B •• re may spli • , may shatter;
Yet grant (ô Lord ) I may not Ship wrack make
Of my sure Faith • n thee ; but as the Snake
Is said toexpose his body to the blow
Of him that smites, to save his head: Even so
I willingly may undergo all Crosses,
And with content may bear the greatest losses,
That I may hold-fast Faith in Chri •• my Head,
So I may live by Faith, to Sin be dead.
With this Conclusion should my Soul be cherish,
I had been undone, had I thus not perished.
Yea with those Argo-Nautae willingly,
My Ship through straightest passages shall fly,
So that in the end I may with joy possess
The Golden-fleece of endless happiness.
Lord, though the Puddle of impurity
Hath my poor Soul polluted lothsomely,
The Ocean of iniquities foul flood
Hath me besmeard in stinking mire and mud:
O yet, sweet Christ, with Hyssop of thy Merit,
Clense and make clean my Sin-polluted Spirit ;
Wash me, ô Christ, with thy most precious Blood,
None, naught but thou, can do my Soul this good.
My well-nigh Ship-wracked Soul, ô Lord, assist,
Which too-too long the way to thee hath mist.
Contemne me not, Condemne me not for Sin,
But l • t my Soul to thy sweet Rest go in.
Remit (ô Lord ) what I have ill omitted,
Remooue (ô Lord ) what I have mis-committed.
And though I be to pass by th' Gates of Hell,
Grant power to pass them, and with thee to dwell.
To dwell I say with thee, ith' Land of Living,
Where to thy Saints thy joys thou still art giving
O thou my Souls sweet Soul, my Harts dear Hart,
In this distress do not from me depart;
Be to my Soul as a bright-morning- Star,
Which I may clearly see though somewhat far:
And be (as th'artindeed) the Sun most bright
Of Righteousness, that my flesh -dimmed sight
Being with Faiths Collyrium made more clear,
I speedily may see the way appear
To my Hart-cheering long desired Port,
Whereto my Soul hath longed to resort,
I may in time see and fore-see Sins charms,
And so prevent th' event of Sins great harms,
That on the Shore I may perceive thee stand,
Giving me aim with thy most sacred hand,
To keep the right-way to thine Habitation,
The Haven of happiness and sure Salvation.
That passing thus this Danger-obvious Ocean,
By thee the strong Arch-mover of each motion,
I may go forward with such circumspection,
And be so guided by thy good direction,
And with thy Grace be so corroborated,
And with Rock-founded Faith so animated,
That as twixt Scylla's and Charibdis fear,
My Bark in passage doth a full sails bear:
I mean proud Pharisaical Self-flation,
And Grace-les diffident Cain's Desperation,
By th'justified Publican's example,
I may the right regenerate paths trample
Of that true poenitent good Prodigal,
To thee (ô Lord ) for mercy'cry and call,
That by thy gracious guide and safe tuition,
I may escape Despaires and Pride's perdition,
And so with joy, with • oy unutterable,
Approching to the Shore most amiable:
Casting the Anchor of a constant Hope
On Christ my Savior, fast'ned with Faiths rope,
I may my Marchandizes bring a Land,
And put them into my sweet Saviors hand;
Even all the gains which I poor Soul had made
Of his good Talent lent to me to trade:
To whom, although I bring but one for five,
Yet will he not my Soul of Heaven deprive.
And though, that one (through mine infirmity)
Hath been much blemisht with impurity,
Hath been d • sgracit, defacit, and much abused,
Yet by my Christ it will not be refused,
But graciously he'le take my will for deed,
Will hold me by the hand, and thus proceed:
Well done (good Servant) worthy of my trust,
Well done (I say) thy Service hath been Just,
Since thou in little matters hast done well,
Thou shalt be Lord of things which far excel.
Since thou to do my Will hast done thy best,
Come, come with me into thy Masters Rest.
Even so Lord Jesus, come I humbly pray,
For thine Elects-sake haste that happy day.
I look, I long, that I might once descry
That happy Day, my Soul to happy-sie:
That I with thee (my Savior ) may rejoice,
That with Heart-cheering Music and sweet Voice,
In that blest Chorus sweet, Angelical
Society of Saints celestial,
I, Halleluiah, Halleluiah may
Sing cheerfully to God the • ord always;
To God the Father, Son, and holy Ghost,
Unto the Trine-One, mighty Lord of Host.
To this great God be given all thanks and praise,
For his sweet succor in these sacred Lays. Amen.
FINIS.
Omnis Gloria solius est Domini.
Thrice-happy Vision, more thrice-happy zeal, Thus flames us with God, Saints, Heavens Common-weal.

T. SALISBVRY, M r in Artibus.