Harvest-Home, Postscript
Poſtſcript.
I finiſht have
The firſt part of this quickning Text,
Preſenting to all good men death and grave,
Paſſing deſirable: the next
Part, I muſt crave
Leave to delay
The preſentation of it, till
More ſtrength of ſpirit, body gain I may
Which when God granteth; then I will
make an Eſſay.
The illuſtration
Of what's there promis'd to unfold
Humbly commend it to your meditation,
And for a cloſure ſhall make bold
ſome Conſolation
To annex, by
Mentioning a doctrine which
Hath in it truth in probability,
Containing treaſure very rich
(Pray lend the eye)
Gives hope to all
Who vertuous, pious, patient are
That they in the firſt reſurrection ſhall
Have part, with bleſſedneſs moſt rare.
Holy withall,
Tranſcendently
Their ſouls, and bodies both ſhall be
Theſe raiſed, from the dead primarily;
Thoſe to them reunited by
Omnipotency:
And live in bliſs
A thouſand years; during which ſpace
They ſhall bleſs Chriſt their head with Emphaſis
For merit, mercy and free grace
vouchſaf'd them: this
Work of thankſgiving
Will be the onelyonly, or the chief
Employment of the raiſed Saints, who living
Shall all thoſe years find freſh relief:
together ſtriving,
Who ſhall outſtrip
Another in this glorious work
Of praiſing Jeſus with one joyful lip
For treading down the Pope and Turk;
Smiting thigh, hip,
They all ſhall joyn,
In ſinging Hallelujahs to their King,
From whom none ſhall dominion purloin;
Nor from his Saints, whom he ſhall bring
With him: conjoyn
Co-heirs in face
Of all the World, who ſhall behold,
Each of them Kings over the total maſs
Subdu'd unto them uncontrol'd
And in th'end as
Commiſſioners
Of Oyer and of Terminer
With him: Apoſtles; Goſpel-Miniſters
Shall higheſt ſit; much ſtatelier
Each one appears
Than Earthly Lords;
Next theſe to pious private men
A power of Judging alſo Chriſt affords
ill ſpirits; their carnall off-ſpring; when
Of death the cords
Are looſed which
detain'd in grave, till the laſt day
Of generall judgement poor and rich
Who wicked were; all caſt away
into the ditch,
And Lake of fire
Burning with Brimſtone; ſentenc'd hither
By them whom then the whole world ſhall admire
Aſſeſſors with their King together,
Here counted mire.
O then rejoyce
At thoughts of reigning upon Earth
A thouſand years; which ended with great noiſe;
Yea who have had a ſecond birth
While here; a choice
Tranquillity
More Millions of years th…ſands,
On ſhores of Seas, even to Eternity
You ſhall enjoy ſafe in his hands,
Who did both dye
And riſe again,
Aſcended, ſits, and reigns above,
Hath purchas'd for them freedom from all pain,
Embraceth you with arms of Love;
By him you'l gain
A Kingdom that
Is apthartal, amiantal,
Amarantall beyond the reach and hate
Of perſecuting enemies all,
Who at no rate
Without, within,
Shall neves vex them more; mutations
There ſhall be none in heav'n; nor unto ſin
any the leaſt temptations
as firſt have been.
Shall er'e be there
But fellowſhip with God and Chriſt
Uninterrupted; not the ſmalleſt fear
of ever having loos'd the twiſt
Of grace made here
This doctrine of
The raiſed, reigning Saints of God
A thouſand years, hath proof enough
In holy writ, and their abode,
By Earthly ſtuff.
Inheritance.
Of the whole earth is frequently
Promis'd unto them, and as now all France,
is Englands Kings titularly,
who ſeem to dance
After't alone,
Poſſeſſing not a foot of ground
Of that fair Realm: but as they ſhall anon
Poſſeſſors of it all be found;
really own
That wholly; as
They have done, do, theſe kingdoms three:
Thus it in time ſhall probably come to paſs:
Though haply our eyes ſhall not ſee
ſave in a glaſs.
This wiſh'd event
Right ſo, though Saints at preſent have
Little or nought beſides bare aliment
And rayment; both too far from brave,
yet well content;
They, ere't be long
As Abraham, Iſaac, Jacob ſhall
Inherit actually (as by faith ſtrong
Thoſe did, while living) Canaan all:
which did belong
To them and theirs
By Gods donation: ſo with them,
We being (as they were) of this world heirs,
(which plain appears.)
Shall really
Poſſeſs a thouſand years together
This Earthly Globe with each commodity
It doth produce, and ſerene weather,
Lets then leap for joy.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Bryan, Harvest-Home (1674)