The Glorious Lover, Book 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
The Excellencies and Perfections of the glorious King, the Lord JEHOVAH, diſcovered: Shewing how he had but one Son, the expreſs Image of the Father, the delight and joy of his Heart; and of the glorious and eternal Deſign of this moſt High and Everlaſting JEHOVAH to diſpoſe of his Son in Marriage. Moreover, how the matter was propounded by the Father, and whom he had choſe to be the intended Spouſe. Shewing alſo how the Prince readily conſented to the Propoſal; and of his firſt grand and glorious Atchievements in order to the Accompliſhment of this happy Deſign.
IN the fair Regions of approachleſs Light,
Where unmixt Joys with perfect Love unite;
Where youth n'ere waſts, nor Beauty ever fades,
Where no diſeaſe, nor paining-grief, invades;
There reigns, and long hath reign'd, a mighty King,
From whom all Honours, and all Riches ſpring;
His vaſt Dominions reach from Pole to Pole,
No Realm nor Nation but he could controul;
So great his Pow'r, there never yet could be,
An abſolute Monarch in the World but he.
What e're ſeem'd good to him, he freely did,
And nothing from his piercing Eye was hid.
To him the mighty Nimrods all did Bow,
And none durſt boldly queſtion, What doſt Thou▪
Juſtice and Wiſdom waited on his Throne,
And through the World his Clemency was know▪
His Glory ſo Illuſtrious and Bright,
It ſparkled forth, and dazled Mortals ſight.
Immenſe his Being; for in every Land
He preſent was, and by each Soul did ſtand.
No Spies he needed for Intelligence
In Foreign parts, to bring him Tydings thence.
And vain to him was Court-diſſemblers Art,
He ſaw each corner of the ſubtleſt heart,
View'd acts unborn, and plain diſcoveries wrough▪
E're labouring Fancy once could mould a Though▪
Beheld mens minds clearly, as were their faces,
And uncontain'd, at once did fill all Places;
His awful frown could make the Mountains ſhak▪
And Stouteſt hearts of Haughty Princes quake.
All things were his, who did them firſt compoſe,
And by his wiſdom doth them ſtill diſpoſe;
To ſerve his Friends, and to deſtroy his Foes.
His Azure Throne with Holineſs is ſpread,
The pure in heart alone his Court may tread;
No vitious Gallant, Proud, Imperious, Vain,
In Court, nor Kingdom will he entertain.
He's th' eſſence of true Vertue, ſpotleſs, pure,
And no ungodly one can he endure.
No wicked perſon to him dares draw nigh,
Though ne're ſo Rich, ſo Mighty, or ſo High;
'Tis Righteouſneſs his bleſſed Throne maintains,
Who all Injuſtice utterly diſdains;
Nay, Holineſs doth this great Soveraigne cloath,
And ſuch as weare it not, his Soul doth loath.
But above all the Glories which did wait
Upon this High and Peerleſs Potentate:
His Pity did the moſt tranſcendent prove,
Matchleſs his Power, but greater ſtill his Love;
Such bowels of Compaſſion ne're were known,
Nor e're ſuch proofs of vaſt Affection ſhown;
His kindneſs beyond all that Pen can write,
Or Heart conceive, or nimbleſt Brain indite.
This Sovereign Love our wond'rous Subject brings,
Our Hiſt'ry from thoſe melting Ardours ſprings.
For this great King had a moſt lovely Son,
And had indeed no more ſave only one,
Who was begotten by him, and brought forth
E're Heav'ns blew curtains did ſurround the Earth;
Before the World's foundations yet were laid,
Times glaſs turn'd up, or the Sun's courſe diſplaid,
This Prince was brought up with him, and did lye,
In his dear Boſom from Eternity.
He was his only Joy, and hearts delight,
Who ever did behold him in his ſight.
And as he made his Father's heart moſt glad,
He was ſole Heir to all the Father had;
Who freely gave all things into his Hand,
And made him Ruler over every Land,
Deſigning ſtill to raiſe his Dignity
Above each Earthly Prince, or Monarchy,
And him intitle with a glorious Name,
Which none of all the Heav'nly Hoſt dare claim.
What glory is there in each Seraphim!
Yet muſt they all do Homage unto him;
The Cherubims likewiſe muſt all ſubmit,
And humbly worſhip at his Royal Feet,
With trembling Reverence; for he d…th bear
The expreſs Image of his Father dear;
And his Majeſtick Glory doth unfold,
Too… right for any creature to behold,
Untill transform'd into an Heav'nly mould.
The Luſ…re of his Face, the lovelineſs
Of compleat Beauty, and of Holineſs.
His Perſonal Sweetneſs, and Perfections rare,
No tongue of men, or Angels, can declare:
For, 'tis recorded by unerring Pen,
He fairer was than all the Sons of men.
Which in its proper place will more appear:
But mind at preſent what doth follow here.
This mighty King, whoſe Glories thus did ſhine,
Had long on foot a very great D…ſign,
Which was, in Marriage to diſp… this Son,
The bleſſedſt Work that ever could be done:
This Secret then to him he does diſcloſe,
And whom for him he had already choſe,
Tells him the way, and means, whereby to bring
About this ſtrange and moſt important thing;
What he muſt do; and all things doth declare:
To which the Son doth lend attentive ear,
Who never did his Father diſobey,
Nor him diſpleaſe, would not in this ſay nay;
But ſtraight-way ſhew'd with joy & chearful mind
He was that way himſelf long time inclin'd:
For with a Heav'nly ſmile he made reply,
This Creature is the Jewel of mine eye.
Great King of Kings, thy Sacred Sovereign Will
With greateſt Joy I'm ready to fullfil.
My heart's inflam'd with love, and will be pain'd
Till ſhe for my imbraces be obtain'd.
With ſecret tranſports long have I deſign'd
That happy Match in my Eternal Mind,
To people with a new and holy Race
Th' Immortal Manſions of this Glorious Place.
Such is the Love which unto her I have,
'Tis ſtrong as Death, and laſts beyond the Grave.
Where e're ſhe be (for well I underſtand
She's ſpirited of late to a ſtrange Land)
Winged with Love I'le ſearch the World about,
And leave no place unſought to find her out.
If any Foe doth Captive her detain,
I'lebe her Reſcue, and knock off her Chain:
Or, if half ſtifled, ſhe in Priſon lye,
I'le break the Bars, and give her liberty.
I will refuſe no Labour, nor no pain,
Thee (deareſt Soul!) into my Arms to gain.
Such was this Prince's love, and now tis fit
We tell you who the object was of it.
Within the Limits of the Holy Land,
Whoſe Glory once ſhone forth on every hand;
And near the Borders of rare Havelah,
Where Creatures of each kind firſt breath did draw
Where Piſon's ſtreams with Euphrates did meet;
Where did abound all Joy and Comfort ſweet,
Without the leaſt perplexity or wo;
Where Bdellium and the Onyx Stone did grow;
Did a moſt choice and lovely Garden lye,
Renowned much for its antiquity:
For Sacred Story has proclaim…d its name,
And rais'd up Trophies to its laſting fame.
Within that Garden dwelt in Ancient time
A very lovely Creature in her Prime,
Mirror of Beauty, and the World's chief glory,
Whoſe rare compoſure did out-vy all Story:
Fair as the Lilly, e're rude hands have toucht it:
Or ſnow unfal'n, before the Earth hath ſmucht it:
The perfectſt work which wondring Heav'n could ſee,
Of Nature's Volumn, bleſt Epitome;
Her glorious Beauty, and Admired Worth,
What mortal tongue is able to ſet forth?
True Vertue was the Object of her will,
There was no ſtain in her, no Feature ill,
No ſca…r, nor blemiſh, ſeen in any part;
Her Judgment uncorrupt, and pure her Heart;
Her thoughts were noble, words moſt wiſe, not laviſh;
Her natural ſweetneſs was enough to raviſh
All that beheld her; from her ſparkling Eye,
A thouſand Charms, a thouſand Graces fly:
No evill paſſion harbour'd in her breaſt,
Or with bold Mutinies diſturb…d her reſt;
For what's not borne yet, needs not be repreſt.
Her Lineage Noble, of ſuch high degree,
None e're could boaſt a greater Pedigree:
A Dowry too ſhe had, a fair Eſtate,
Conferr'd upon her at an eaſy Rate.
In brief, in all Indowments ſhe did ſhine,
Stampt with his Image, who is all Divine:
But that which moſt unto her bliſs did add,
Was the great Honour which ſome time ſhe had,
Of the ſweet preſence of a glorious King,
From whom alone true Happineſs doth ſpring;
He oft declar'd her his grand Favourite,
And that with her was his endear'd delight:
For precious love to her burn'd in his heart,
And nothing thought too dear for to impart,
Or unto her moſt freely to beſtow,
Of all the Treaſures he had here below.
This was her ſtate at firſt, none can gain-ſay;
But then, mark what befell her on a day.
She did not long in this condition ſtand,
Before a curſed and moſt traiterous Band
Of Rebels, who ſhook off Allegiance,
And 'gainſt their Sovereign did bold Arms advance;
Intic'd her to their Party, and deſtroy'd
All thoſe rare Priviledges ſhe injoy'd.
Which grand offence did ſo the King diſpleaſe,
That ſhe his wrath by no means could appeaſe;
Nor had ſhe any Friend to ſpeak a word,
To ſtay the Tortures of the Flaming Sword.
No purpoſe 'twas, alas! for her to plead,
Why Sentence ſhould not againſt her proceed;
Who well knew in her conſcience 'twas but right
She ſhould thenceforth be baniſht from his ſight,
And his moſt glorious Face behold no more,
As ſhe with Joy had ſeen it heretofore.
The rightful Sentence paſſed, though ſevere,
Which might ſtrike dead the trembling Soul to hear,
Exil…d ſhe was from him with fearful Ire,
And laid obnoxious to Eternal fire:
Turn'd out of all her Glory with a curſe,
No ſtate of Mortal Creatures could be worſe.
And now ſhe's forc'd to wander to and fro,
Finding no reſt, nor knowing what to do.
A foreign ſoile, alas! ſhe muſt ſeek out,
And where to hide her ſelf ſhe looks about.
A wretched Fugitive ſhe ſtraight became,
A ſhame unto her ſelf, to all a ſhame.
Yet this vile wretched Creature, ſo forlorn,
The Subject of contempt and general ſcorn,
She, ſhe's the Object of this Prince's Love,
She 'tis to whom his warm Affections move.
'Twas in her fallen ſtate he caſt his eye,
Although he lov'd her from Eternity.
Who wandring thus into a Foreign Land,
Far off of him: he ſoon did underſtand
There was no other thing for him to do,
But muſt a Journy take, and thither go.
If he'l accompliſh this his great Deſign,
Of making Love, a Love that's moſt divine.
The Father now doth part which his dear Son,
Who's all on fire, and zealous to be gone:
And what though it a grievous Journy be,
Its bitterneſs he is reſolv'd to ſee.
His high Atchievements nothing ſhall prevent,
His mind and purpoſe is ſo fully bent,
That he in his own Kingdom will not ſtay
One Minute after the appointed Day.
But that you may more fully yet diſcover
The matchleſs flames of this moſt glorious Lover,
Permit us to preſent unto your view,
The Court he left, the Dungeon he went to.
The Kingdom, where this Hi…h-born Prince did dwell,
All other Countries vaſtly doth excel,
Its Glory ſplendid is and infinite,
It cannot be beheld with fleſhly ſight.
Ten thouſand Suns, ten thouſand times more bright
Then ours is, could never give ſuch light.
None ever there beheld a Cloud, nor ſhall;
Nor ever was there any Night at all.
No cold or heat did ever there diſpleaſe,
No pain nor ſorrow there, nor no diſeaſe.
No thirſt nor hunger there do any know,
Nor any foes to ſeek their overthrow,
Diſturb their peace, or them i'th leaſt annoy;
Nor is there any Devil to deſtroy.
And if one would that Kingdom ſearth about,
There is no finding of one poor Man out.
No ſooner any ſuch do thither get,
But on their Heads a glorious Crown is ſet.
Congratulating Angels round them wait,
And cloath them all in long white Robes of State.
They live in boundleſs Bliſs, with ſuch content,
It raiſes Joy unto a Raviſhment.
There's Rivers too of Pleaſures, fil'd to'th Brim,
In which the Prophets and Apoſtles ſwim.
There Beauty fadeth not, nor Strength decayes;
No weary old Age, neither end of Dayes.
Impoſſible it is for them to dye,
Whoſe Souls have taſted Immortality.
All there is Love, and Sempiternal Joys,
Whoſe ſweetneſs neither gluts, nor fullneſs cloys.
Friends always by; for abſence is not known,
Their loſs, or departure, none can bemoan.
Within the confines of this bliſsfull Land
There doth a ſpacious fourſquare City ſtand,
The nobleſt Structure 'tis that e're was rais'd,
By men admired, or by Angels prais'd.
The Founder of it was a mighty King;
Yet without hands t'was built, amazing thing!
As for th' Marterials, which did it prepare
From a good Author this deſcription hear:
The Luke-warm Blood of a dear Lamb being ſpilt,
To Rubies turn'd, whereof its parts were built;
And what dropt down in a kind gellied Gore,
" Became rich Saphire, and did pave her Floor.
" The Brighter flames that from his Eyebals ray'd,
" Grew Chryſolites, whereof her walls were made,
" The Milder glances ſparkled on the ground,
" And grounſild every Door with Diamond:
" But dying, darted upwards, and did fix
" A Battlement of pureſt Sardonix.
" Its Streets with Burniſht Gold are paved round,
" Stars lye like Pebbles ſcattered on the ground.
" Pearl mixt with Onyx, and the Jaſper Stone,
" The Citizens do alwayes tread upon.
Here he with's Father in great ſtate did ſit,
Whilſt millions bow'd themſelves unto his Feet.
Here 'twas he kept his Court, here was his Throne,
From hence through all the World his Glory ſhone.
And if ought could unto his Greatneſs add,
Mark what a rich Retinue there he had.
He Servants kept of very high Degree,
Who did bow down to him continually.
Though they were Nobles all, and far more high
Than proudeſt of the Roman Monarchy;
And mighty great in Power too are they;
For one alone did no leſs Number ſlay
Than near two hundred thouſand in one night,
Of Valaint Souldiers, trained up to fight.
Theſe Troops ſtill ready ſtood at his command,
To execute his will in every Land.
Of them he'd an Innumerable Hoſt,
Though ſome of them in ancient times were loſt:
Yet the ſelected number Millions were,
Who ſtill to him do true Allegiance bear:
True Love and Zeal burn'd in their breaſts, like fire▪
To do his Will's their buſineſs and deſire:
'Tis his gre… …'reſt which they wholly mind,
Aiding his Friends, … welfare they deſign'd:
And likewiſe evermore to fruſtrate thoſe,
Who did their Prince's Soveraignty oppoſe.
Their Nature's quick and clear, as Beams of light:
Creatures too pure for Mortals groſſer ſight.
And if we ſhall conſider well their worth,
Meer Empty Nothings are all Kings 'oth Earth,
When to theſe Servants they compared be;
So much excells their glorious Dignity.
What of their Sovereign Lord then ſhall we ſay,
On whom they do attend both night and day?
When they before his dazling Throne appear,
Their Heav'nly faces ſtraight way cover'd are;
As if not able on his Face to look;
Or elſe with glorious bluſhings, Heaven-ſtruck.
Such, ſuch his Court, ſuch his Attendants were:
Who could with this great Prince of light compare?
Oh what Celeſtial Glory didſt thou leave,
Almoſt beyond mans credence to believe!
That thou ſhouldſt thus thy Fathers houſe forſake,
And ſuch a tedious diſmal Journey make!
Could not that charming, Melody above,
Allure thy thoughts and, hinder thy remove?
Oh no! there's nothing can retard thy Love.
Hark how the glorious Seraphims do ſing,
Whoſe warbling notes do make the Heavens ring!
What Mortals ever did ſuch Muſick hear?
Spirits made perfect, are quite raviſht there.
Oh! how they liſten whilſt the Strains riſe higher,
And joyning gladly with th'All-charming Quire,
Sing forth aloud, inſpired with his flame,
All Glory, Glory, Glory to his Name.
One ſtrain of this Celeſtial Harmony,
Could Mortals hear, they ſoon would thither fly:
They ſtraight would ſhake off all their carnal ſhackles
And quit theſe dull and loathſom Tabernacles;
Like towring Larks, ſtill upwards would they ſoar,
And raviſhed, would think of Earth no more:
Or like to herds of Cattel, great and ſmall,
They…d leave their feedings, and run thither all.
But yet could not this lovely Paradiſe,
Theſe Honours, or this Melody intice
The love-ſick Prince unto a longer ſtay,
So much he longed for the Marriage day:
No thing could his Deſign divert, or move;
So conſtant was he in his Royal Love.
His Travels next will you be pleas'd to hear
Which raiſes wonder in me to declare.
Ten thouſand millions, and ten thouſand more
Of Angel-meaſur'd Leagues from th'Eaſtern ſhore:
Of Dunghil Earth this glorious Prince did come.
Did ever Lover go ſo far from Home
To ſeek a Spouſe? What brave Heroick Spirit
That e're did love of vertuous Princeſs merit,
Would not have found his trembling heart to ake,
So vaſt an Enterprize to undertake;
Such dangers to expoſe himſelf unto,
Such pleaſure, and ſuch glory to fore-go!
But ſome 'tis like may ask a queſtion here,
Unto what Parts or Region did he ſteer?
Or whither did he travel, whither go?
A very needful thing for all to know.
Was't to ſome Goſhen-Land, of precious Light?
Or in to ſome Elyſian Fields, which might
With Boundleſs Pleaſures thither him invite?
Was it a Kingdom ſomewhat like his own
For Bliſs and Glory? or what kind of one
Was this ſtrange Land, to which this Lover went▪
To find the Soul, forc'd into Baniſhment?
Alas! dear Sirs! this may you ſtill amaze,
And to a higher Pitch your wonder raiſe.
As far as Darkneſs differs from the Light,
Or doleſom Earth falls ſhort of Heaven ſo bright;
As Heavens higher are than Earth or Seas,
A thouſand times, ten thouſand of Degrees;
So far that place where this ſweet Prince did dwell
The other (to which he travel'd) did excel.
As that tranſcends for lovelineſs moſt rare:
So this in wickedneſs exceeds compare.
Egypt was once a dark and doleſom place,
When no one could behold his brother's face.
Though there the ſacred ſtories plainly tel't,
The darkneſs was ſo great, it might be felt.
Yet was that but a figure, you muſt know,
Of the black horror of this Land of Wo,
Whither the wretched wandring Soul was gone,
And whence her Lover now muſt fetch her home:
It was indeed an howling Wilderneſs,
A Region of diſpair, and all diſtreſs:
Where Dragons, Wolves, Lyons, and ravenous Beaſts
Had their cloſe Dens, and Birds of Prey their Neſts.
Beſides, throughout the ruinated Land
A Black and fearful King had great Command,
Who had revolted many years before
From his Liege Lord, and to him ſince has bore
Moſt cruel ſpight and curſ'd malignity,
Aſſuming to himſelf the Soveraignty;
The greatſt Uſurper that e're being had:
Sylla, nor Nero never were ſo bad.
For 'tis well known he was th'original Syre
Of Tyrants all, and taught them to aſpire;
Ambitious through the World to ſpread his Arms,
He fill'd the Earth with Blood and ſad Alarms:
And like a ravenous Lyon rang'd about
To ſeek his Prey, and find new Conqueſts out.
Full of State-Policies, and Subtil wiles:
Where's Force attempts in vain, his Fraud beguiles.
Moſt cruel to thoſe Slaves he can betray,
And yet the Fools, beſotted to his ſway,
Court their own ruine, and blindly obey.
His Antient Lord he hated moſt of all,
And ſuch as were his offspring, great and ſmall,
He was reſolv'd to be reveng'd upon,
And them for to deſtroy e're he had done,
From whence his name was call'd Apollyon.
A name which doth his Nature full expreſs,
And you of him thereby my further gueſs.
This greedy Dragon, hungry of his prey,
With wide-ſtretcht Jawes ſtood waiting for the day,
When this dear Prince ſhould come; nay for the hour,
That ſo he might him inſtantly devour.
Oh Tyrant Love! doſt thou no pity take!
Wilt thou the PHAENIX of both worlds thus make
A prey to ſuch a Fiend, who by ſome ſnare
Hopes to entrap this long expected Heir,
And then to take Poſſeſſion, and alone
Rule on an undiſturbed Helliſh Throne?
See how the Troops of his Infernal Power
Combine, this Sacred Perſon to devour.
Needs muſt that be a ſad and diſmal Land,
Where this damn'd Monſter hath ſo great Comand.
What Prince would come from ſuch a Mount of bliſs
Unto a Cave, where Poyſonous Serpents hiſs?
Come from his Father's Boſom where he lay,
To be the Wolves and Dragons chiefeſt prey?
To leave his glorious Robes and Cloth of Gold,
And clothed be with Raggs and Garments old!
From ruling men and Devils, now to be
Tempted by both of them, ſcarce ever free?
To leave a Paradiſe of all Delight,
And come into a Land as black as night?
A glorious Crown and Kingdom to forſake,
That he his bed might on a Dunghil make?
To leave a ſweet and quiet Habitation,
To come into a rude diſtracted Nation?
Where Wars, Blood, and Miſeries abound,
Where neither Truth, nor Faith, nor Peace is found?
To leave his Friends, who loved him moſt dear,
To dwell with ſuch as mortal hatred bear
To him, and to his bleſſed Father, and
All ſuch as do for them moſt faithful ſtand?
To come ſo many Millions of long miles
To be involv'd in Troubles and ſad Broils?
And all this for a Creature poor and vile,
A Traiterous Vagabond, and in Exile?
Yea, one that ſtill remain'd a ſtubborn foe,
…ating both him and his bleſt Father too?
Who ponders all in extaſy, can't miſs
To cry out, Oh! what manner of Love is this?
Sure this is Love that may our Souls amaze,
And to the height our wondring Spirits raiſe,
In grateful Hymns to celebrate its praiſe.