The Glorious Lover, Book 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Shewing how the people of that Land in a baſe manner uſed John the beloved ſervant of Jeſus, the Prince of Light, who (for his Maſter's ſake) was barbarouſly murthered; And how narrowly the Prince himſelf eſcaped. As alſo ſhewing how he again and again tendered his indeared love to the Soul, and how unkindly ſhe denied his Suit. Moreover, how Vicinius- (a Neighbor) hearing of this great News, enquired of Theologus concerning the Creature this Prince in ſuch a manner had ſet his affections upon. The miſerable and deplorable condition of the Soul diſcovered and laid open, being infected with a loathſome Diſeaſe full of Vlcers and Running ſores from head to foot, naked, wounded, and in her blood, her eyes alſo being put out; and this the Prince knew before he came from Heaven, his own Country: ſhewing, that as ſhe was in her fallen ſtate, ſhe was the object of his love and deſire.
BEfore this Prince did in that Land appear,
His ſervant came his way for to prepare.
Such an Ambaſſadour he was indeed,
That we of him in Sacred Story read;
That of all thoſe that born of Women are,
None was ſo great, nor with him might compare.
Yet was the King of that ſame Land ſo bold,
As on this gracious Perſon to lay hold,
And into a vile Priſon caſt is he,
For witneſſing againſt Iniquity.
Herod would marry one moſt near of Kin,
But John affirms that 'tis an horrid ſin.
For him to have his Brother Philip's Wife:
And for aſſerting this, he loſt his Life.
To pleaſe a wanton Harlots Dancing pride,
The Prophet's head from's body they divide.
This doubtleſs did his Maſter greatly grieve,
To ſee they ſhould him thus of John bereave;
His ſervant John, whom all the people own
To be a Prophet, yea a mighty one;
Though the chief work that he was ſent about,
Was to deſcribe and point this Saviour out.
He faithful was, and ſhow'd his conſtant Love,
Told them his Prince deſcended from above:
So Great, in pow'r, the Latchets of his ſhoes
He was not worthy to unty, or looſe.
The loſs of ſuch a Servant needs muſt be
Great ground of ſorrow. But, alas! If we
With care do mind what after came to paſs,
We ſhall conclude with him much worſe it was.
For Herod now, like to his Predeceſſor,
Proceeds from ſin to ſin, until no leſſer
A Crime he does attempt, than for to kill
The Prince of Light himſelf; Thereby to fill
His meaſure up, as ſome before had done,
For ſeeking the dear Life of this Juſt one.
But of this Plot he had ſuch Information,
As quite defeated their black Combination.
Ah! to and fro, how was he daily hurld,
Whilſt he abode in this ungrateful World.
His perſecutions were ſo great, that He
Was often forced for his Life to flee,
To flit from Town to Town, from place to place;
For, Blood-hound like, they did him daily chaſe.
From Jury to Samaria he did go,
And down from thence to Galilee below.
From Nazareth he fled to Capernaum,
And long he ſiaid not when he thither came:
For he was toſt about continually,
And found no Harbor nor ſecurity.
Sometimes quite beyond Jordan he would get,
Yet even there with dangers was beſet.
Small Reſt, alas, he had in full three years,
His days were fill'd with ſorrow, ſighs and tears▪
Oft may we read he wept, but never find
He laught, or was to merriment inclin'd.
The Prophet ſaid, with grief he was acquainted,
When long before he forth his Perſon pointed.
And few there were did him at all regard,
So blinded were their Eys, their Hearts ſo hard.
He was deſpis'd almoſt by every one,
Rejected ſcornfully and trod upon.
And the poor Soul, for Love of whom he came,
Expos'd him daily to the greateſt ſhame
No countenance would ſhe to him afford,
Although ſo high a Prince, ſo great a Lord.
She bid him hold his peace, his Suit deſiſt,
And all's indearing proffers did reſiſt.
No more would ſhe vouchſafe his face to ſee,
But hid her ſelf from him continually.
Far from his preſence with delight ſhe rouls
In filthy Puddles, and in Loathſom holes:
Nay, did combine with his moſt Cruel Foes,
To lay upon him ſtripes and bitter Blows;
To break his heart with often ſaying Nay;
Or by ſurprize him bloodily to ſlay.
Object.
But ſome may ask, Why th' people of that Land
Did riſe againſt him thus on every hand?
Why ſhould they manifeſt ſuch cauſeleſs hate,
When he'd not injure them at any rate,
But ſought their peace and everlaſting good?
'Tis pity ſuch a Prince ſhould be withſtood.
Anſw.
One Reaſon, Sirs, of this their baneful ſpight,
Was meerly 'cauſe he was the Prince of Light.
'Twas from that bitter enmity you read
Between the Serpent's and the Woman's ſeed.
Another cauſe of the Contempt they ſhow,
Is 'cauſe they neither him, nor 's Father know.
But that which moſt of all their Hatred breeds,
Is his reproving of their Evil deeds:
Becauſe he did expoſe each horrid Sin,
Yea, and ript up their filthineſs within:
Through each Religious Mask, and trim diſguiſe,
Their canker'd Breaſts lay open to his Eys.
He knew their Hearts, & them he would not ſpare,
And thence to him ſuch Malice they did bear.
But 'twas Apollyon, (whoſe deceit and Lies
Abroad amongſt the people did deviſe)
Moſt of theſe Troubles which on him did riſe.
No ſtone that Monſter left unturn'd, that he
Might bring this Soveraign Prince to miſery,
Though all in vain: For he miſcounts his ſum,
Alas! the fatal hour's not yet come.
Chriſt ſtill perſiſts the ſtubborn Soul to woo,
Intreats her, not her ſelf thus to undo.
He is not gone, behold, he's at her door,
And patiently Admiſſion doth implore.
He knocks, he calls, and doth his Suit renew,
Until the Heavens his gracious Head bedew,
Until his Locks with drops o'th Night are wet,
And yet from her can no kind Anſwer get.
Oh! hark I pray unto his melting words,
Enough to pierce ones heart, like ſharpeſt ſwords.
Prince of Light.
Soul! Harken to me or thou art undone,
I cannot leave thee thus, nor yet be gone,
I ſee thy ſtate; thy ſtate I pity too,
Thy treacherous Lovers ſeek thine overthrow.
It is in vain for me to ask thy Love,
Until thou breakſt with them, and doſt remove
Thy Heart from thoſe that thy Affections have,
Who to vile Luſts thy Faculties inſlave.
What doſt thou think I can have in mine Eye?
What ſelf-advantage will accrew thereby?
What gain I, if thou granteſt my requeſt?
All that I beg's thy greateſt Intereſt.
I ever happy was, and ſo ſhall be,
Although at preſent thus diſtreſt for Thee.
How can'ſt thou, cruel Soul, thus let me ſtand,
Barr'd out of Doors, whilſt others do command
The choiceſt Room within thy yielding Breaſt,
Lodgings too good for ſuch deſtructive Gueſts.
Believe me, poiſonous Toads and Serpents lurk
Within thine Arms, which will thy ruin work:
Thoſe Lovers which thou keep'ſt ſo cloſe within
Are Murderers. Truſt not that Monſter SIN,
Nor any of his Helliſh Company;
For though no harm thou doſt at preſent ſpy,
But wantonly preſum'ſt to ſport and play,
And canſt not ſee the fatal ſnares they lay:
Soul! o'pe the Door, and I'le diſcover all
The ſecret Plots, deviſed for thy fall;
Or, puſh the Window back, let in ſome light,
And I will ſhew thee a moſt diſmal ſight:
Thy ſelf I'le ſhew thee, which couldſt thou behold,
Thou'dſt ſee thou art undone, betray'd and ſold
To ſlavery, from whence there's no Redemption,
Torments, from wch ther's not the leaſt exemption.
Then wake, look now, behold thy wretched plight,
Or ſtraight thou r't ſeized with eternal Night.
The Soul is deaf, or certainly ſhe's dead,
Or by ſome pow'rful Magick Charms miſled:
For ſhe no Anſwer in the leaſt doth give:
Sad 'tis with them whom Satan doth deceive.
How blind are Creatures in their natural ſtate?
Oh! how inſenſible and deſperate!
They ſleep ſecurely, and will never hear,
Till direful Thunder bore their ſtupid Ear:
Boldly they frollick on Hell's ſmoaky Brink,
And never on its gaping dangers think,
Till ſwallow'd down, to endleſs flames they ſink.
But ſilence now! Here comes a Reverend Friend,
A Servant to the Prince, pray, Sirs, attend:
He's ſent about the Buſineſs that's depending,
Oh! that it might obtain an happy ending:
He is a man his Maſter loves moſt dear,
And he to him doth like Affection bear:
His int'reſt he will now be ſure t' improve,
That all obſtructions he may quite remove,
Which in the way of the poor Soul doth lie,
For whoſe ſad ſtate, lo! tears ſtand in his Eye:
His Heart is full, his Spirit greatly griev'd,
To think how ſhe by crafty Sin's deceiv'd;
And ſeeing what his glorious Maſter bears,
His Soul…s almoſt diſſolved into Tears.
Theologue.
I from the Great and mighty Prince am ſent,
To ſee, vile Soul! If thou wilt yet repent,
And o'pe thy Eyes to view what thou haſt done▪
In piercing the dear heart of ſuch an one,
As is that Soveraign Lord thou doſt abuſe,
And all his offers ſhamefully refuſe.
Two things conſider throughly: firſt of all,
Thy ſad and wretched ſtate under the Fall,
Which thou receivedſt many years ago,
When Eden's Groves bewail'd thine overthrow.
Ah! Didſt thou know thy loſt undone Condition,
Sure it muſt move thee unto great Contrition;
'Twould make thee roar, and mightily condole
Thy woful ſtate, O! thou condemned Soul!
The ſecond thing is this, O! mind with ſpeed,
The worth of him whoſe Soul for thee doth bleed!
Didſt thou but know his Dignity and Birth,
Soon wouldſt thou ſay, none's like him upon Earth.
Nor is this all: for further I declare
No other help thou haſt, far off, or near;
'Tis he who is thy choice and only Friend;
Reject him ſtill, and ſad will be thine end.
Shall he ſuch grief and ſorrow undergo?
And unto him wilt thou no kindneſs ſhow?
Would he thy guilty Soul from Treaſon free,
By making of a marriage-League with thee?
Shall not his Love, nor thy diſtreſſed Caſe,
Court thee in prudence to his ſafe Embrace?
Will nothing work upon thee to Relent,
Nor be a means to bring thee to Repent?
I pray thee, Soul! theſe things lay to thy heart,
And unto me thy true Reſolve impart.
Soul.
What mean you thus to vex and grieve my mind?
My Heart…s to other Lovers more inclin'd.
It lies not in your power, to command
Againſt my will: and well I underſtand
What's beſt for me; I am for preſent caſe:
He ſuits not my Conditions, doth not pleaſe
My curious fancy; I…le content mine Eye.
Will you the liberty of Choice deny?
You muſt indeed have ſome myſterious Arts,
To change the ſecret ſympathies of Hearts:
If that you ever make me to comply,
So as to loath the Jewel of mine Eye.
What! force Affection? who can violate
The Law of Nature? weigh my preſent ſtate:
Can Earth forget her burthen, and aſcend?
Or yet, can Flames aſpiring downward bend?
For if Fire ſhould deſcend, and Earth aſpire;
Earth were no longer Earth, nor Fire, Fire.
Even ſo, dear Sir! I find it is with me;
Conſenting, I no more my ſelf ſhall be.
As Love is free, ſo are its bonds as ſtrong
As Death; to break them is a grievous wrong.
Can the kind Heavens do a damage greater,
Than to deſtroy and ruin their poor Creature?
Or, ſhall I think the Righteous God will fill me
With ſuch ſtrange Joys, which if enjoy'd, will kil me?
Can I believe things 'bove my ſenſe and reaſon?
And ignorant be when guilty of high Treaſon?
How can I think my ſelf a Criminal,
When of the fact I nothing know at all?
My preſent ſtate is good, I know no cauſe
To blame my ſelf for breach of unknown Laws.
Why ſhall injurious Friends ſuch things alot,
To have me place my Heart where I love not,
And break the League with thoſe I love ſo dear?
Theſe hardſhips are too great for me to bear.
Thoſe Joys therefore in which I have delighted,
Shall not for fancied ſweetneſs e're be ſlighted.
He whom you call The glorious Prince of Light,
Is not a perſon lovely in my ſight;
He's not ſo modiſh, pleaſant, Debonair,
As thoſe brisk Gallants, whom my Fancy ſhare.
I muſt have other Eys wherewith to ſee,
Before he can be countenanc'd by me.
This ſaid, away the fooliſh Soul doth …ly;
Will hear no more, but with a ſcornful Eye
Neglects her Bliſs, & Deaths dark paths doth trace.
Rather than ſaving Truths of Life imbrace.
Who being gone, a Neighbour does appear,
That would be glad fully her Caſe to hear;
And that he clearly might have it expreſt,
He thus himſelf to Theologue Addreſt.
Vicinus.
Grave Sir! Since in your Reverend face I read
All works which do from Curteſy proceed,
I am emboldned to deſire of you
Some ſatisfaction in a point or two.
I late have heard ſome Rumours of ſuch News,
As puts my wondring ſpirits to a muſe:
'Tis of a Prince unparallel'd for Love,
That took a Journey down from Heav'n above
To ſeek himſelf a Spouſe; and as I hear
She unto him will no Affection bear;
Though for Deſcent, Riches and Beauty too,
Never the like did mortal Creatures know.
This Soul-amazing, Senſe-bereaving ſtory,
Has fill'd my raviſht Ears: What matchleſs Glory
Is his, whoſe Love is far beyond Expreſſion?
And what Creature is this muſt have poſſeſſion
Of ſuch a glorious Heart? Sure ſhe's no leſs
Than one of High Deſcent, ſome Empereſs,
Or Virgin Queen at leaſt, whoſe Beauty's rare,
Mixt with choice Vertue, both beyond compare:
The total ſum doubtleſs of every Grace,
Makes a compoſure in her Heav'nly Face;
And there all true Perfection is united,
To make one Phoenix, that has thus invited
This mighty Prince to do her ſo much Honour,
As ſeek her Love and ſet his Heart upon her,
To ſue ſo earneſtly, and undertake
Mighty Atchievements only for her ſake;
For to encounter with a wrathful Foe,
That ſought an univerſal overthrow
Of mortal Creatures, and in every Land
Subjected all unto his proud Command.
The ſtrangeneſs of it ſets me all on fire,
And kindles in my heart a ſtrange deſire,
Impatient of delay, till you diſcover
The Creature that has got ſo rare a Lover.
Theologue.
To put a period to thy Admiration,
Come let thy Wonder-ſmitten Cogitation;
Now give attention, and I ſoon will ſhow
The truth of what thou doſt deſire to know.
The Creature whom this mighty Prince doth grace
With Love, lives very near unto this place.
We all do her as our next Neighbour own;
Much is ſhe talkt of, yet but ſeldom known.
You ſure have heard before, ſhe was by Birth
Of high deſcent, the ſplendor of the Earth,
Unblemiſht Beauty, neither ſpot nor ſtain,
Whilſt in her Virgin ſtate ſhe did remain.
To ſpeak her pedigree, in Truth ſhe ſprings
From no leſs Root than from the King of Kings:
Whom Scriptures call The Father of all Spirits;
And none but he that Bleſſed Name inherits.
From him ſhe did at firſt derive her Name,
And Heaven and Earth eccho'd her glorious Fame:
Fair Cynthia, Illuſtrious Queen of Night,
With all her borrowed Rays, ne're ſhone ſo bright.
The King's true Image in her face did ſhine.
No Glory like to Glory that's Divine.
But that which doth the greateſt Wonder raiſe,
And may the quick'ſt profoundeſt Wits amaze,
Is the ſad change, and miſerable ſtate
She's in, ſince firſt ſhe did degenerate;
Her Luſtre tarniſht, and her Beauty faded,
Filth and Corruption every part invaded:
Oh! it was then on her this Prince did look,
When of her God and guide ſhe was forſook:
For though ſhe was indeed thus nobly born,
Her Blood is tainted, and her ſtate forlorn.
She that in ſplendor once appear'd ſo bright,
Is now deform'd, and blacker than the Night.
Foul putrifaction doth her Beauty cover,
She's full of Ulcers, and defil'd all over.
Th' infection ſpreads it ſelf in every part,
Her eyes, her hands, her head, but moſt her heart;
Her feet, whoſe loyal ſteps ſhe once divided
To follow the great God, have ſo backſlided,
That they moſt ſwiftly from him run aſtray
In every ſinful and forbidden way.
Her Arms are filled with unchaſt Embraces,
She's ſtain'd her Beauty, and loſt all her Graces.
Her Breath once ſweeter than Arabian Spices,
Whoſe rare Perfumes make Houſes Paradiſes,
Offenſive is to all that come but near her,
Her Tongue is ſo unclean, God loaths to hear her.
Which was her Glory in her youthful days,
When ſhe with joy ſung forth his bleſſed Praiſe.
But that which may ſound ſtranger in thine Ear,
And ſeem indeed too hard for Love to bear,
Is her Adult'ries, her unchaſt delights
Her Amorous Kiſſes, wherewith ſhe invites
Her wanton Lovers; nothing elſe can prove
So much diſtaſtful to unſpotted Love;
As when the Embers of Luſts raging fires
Burn in the Boſom of unchaſt deſires.
Vicinus.
But ſtay, Dear Sir! What Lover is't would kiſs
A Creature loathſom, and ſo vile as this?
And how came ſhe into ſo ſad a Caſe,
That once adorned was with ſo much Grace?
Theologue.
If you kind Neighbour, pleaſe to lend an Ear,
Theſe things in order I will fully clear.
Her Lovers are more loathſom far than ſhe,
With whom ſhe's joyned in Affinity.
From them ſhe took the foul diſeaſe at firſt,
And ever ſince remains vile and accurſt.
The Serpent did beguile her with ſuch fruit,
As did her Vitals poiſon, and pollute.
Not that the fruit in 'moral ſenſe was evil:
But 'cauſe ſhe took it, tempted by the Devil,
After on pain of Death it was forbid:
Ah! t'was from hence it ſo much miſchief did.
Beſides, ſhe's guilty of another Deed,
She's made a League with one that did proceed
From Hell's black Region, where her wanton Eye
Could ſee no Object but Deformity;
A Contract ſhe has made, I ſay, with one,
Begot by proud, but curs'd Apollyon;
Monſtrous by Nature, and as vile by Name,
Ah! ſhe has choſen him unto her ſhame:
His nature's poiſonous, his very Breath
Is ſo infectious, that it threatens Death
To every one to whom he is united;
Yet with this Monſter is her heart delighted:
Who to my Prince is a moſt deſperate Foe,
And to ſpeak plain, the cauſe of all his woe.
Since firſt the Soul was with baſe Luſt acquainted,
From Top to Toe all over is ſhe tainted.
She that was once ſo rare a comely Creature,
Sin has not left her now one lovely Feature.
The Splendid Beauty of the whole Creation,
Is thus become a meer Abomination.
For ſince her ſelf to Luſt ſhe prostituted,
Her inward Faculties are ſo polluted,
That ſhe's become unto Jehovah's Eye,
The trueſt pourtraict of Deformity.
She that ſometimes no Evil underſtood,
Is now become an Enemy to Good:
For this vile Monſter by Apollyon's pow'r,
Did not only corrupt the Soul all ov'r,
But very cruel they did further prove,
Whilſt they pretended kindneſſes and Love;
For they moſt wickedly put out her Eyes,
She might not ſee her own Deformities:
And being thus both blinded, and defil'd,
Was alſo rob'd, and treacherouſly ſpoil'd
Of all the Jewels which her Soveraign gave her,
Whilſt ſhe remained in his Love and favour;
Of all her goodly Veſtments they bereft her,
And ſtript her naked, ſhe had nothing left her.
Nothing to hide her ſhameful nakedneſs,
But filthy Rags, how loathſom you may gueſs.
Beſides all this, they wounded her full ſore,
And left her ſadly weltring in her Gore,
Expecting Death each moment ſhe did lie,
A loathſom ſpectacle to paſſers by,
Unhelpt, unpitied too by every Eye.
Each humane Soul that is not born again,
In this ſad ſtate doth certainly remain.
The rich, the poor, the wiſe, the old, the young,
Though ne'r ſo high, ſo beautiful and ſtrong
They ſeem, or think themſelves, in truth they are
In as bad Caſe as we 've deſcribed here.
Vicinus.
Sir! You have fully anſwer'd my Deſire;
Yet let me be ſo bold as to inquire
One paſſage more, ſince happily I ſee
You can informall ſuch as ign'rant be
Of theſe weighty Affairs; bleſt be the Lord
That ſo much Wiſdom doth to you afford.
O! that there were more of you in our Land,
That to the Truth might always faithful ſtand.
But tell me, if it mayn't too tedious prove,
Whether this Prince that manifeſts ſuch Love,
Knew her ſad ſtate when he came from above?
Did he her filthy bad Condition know
Before he came from Heaven, or did ſhow
That precious kindneſs which his Breaſt retain'd
Unto her, even after ſhe was ſtain'd?
May be his Eye upon the Soul was plac'd,
Before God's Image in her was defac'd:
And as conſider'd ſo, then doubtleſs he
Might find ſome Cauſe to her ſo kind to be.
But, if as ſhe did in pollution lie,
And ſo conſider'd, he did caſt his Eye
Upon the Creature; then I muſt declare
It may aſtoniſh all that of it hear.
Theologue.
The Queſtion you propound is very good;
And would t' were throughly weigh'd and underſtood.
The Anſwer's eaſy; But I greatly fear
Some mind it not enough, who choſen are.
Before the World was made he fully knew
Ev'n what below would afterwards inſue:
He knew the Creature, Man, would ſin and fall,
And in ſad miſery himſelf inthral.
The time therefore when firſt he caſt an Eye
To be her Suiter, (our Security)
It was not when ſhe did her Grace inherit,
Then one would think ſhe might his favour merit;
'Twas not when ſhe was in proſperity,
But when ſhe in her Blood and filth did lie.
Her time of ſorrow, was his time of Love,
Her miſery did bring him from above.
Whilſt ſhe in actual bold Rebellion lives,
His Grace and offer'd Pardon then he gives.
Vicinus.
Sir! You have ſaid enough, I am amaz'd,
Strange wonderment within my Spirit's rais'd.
The nature of his Love who can conceive?
Such Love as this no mortal Creatures have.
I pray go on, and further now let's know
Concerning her eſtate, her Bliſs, or Woe.
Theologue.
You'l find it worſe and worſe; and what's behind
Will ſtrange Impreſſions make upon your Mind:
For now you'l hear what Juſtice has to ſay,
What horrid Crimes he to her charge will lay.
And though ſhe ſeems undaunted without fear,
Once more I'e try if ſhe will lend an Ear.