The Glorious Lover, Book 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Shewing how the Judgment of the Soul comes to be enlightened, and the effects thereof.
Theologue.
MY patience's not yet tyr'd, my bowels move,
With bended knees ſhall I now gain thy love
To Jeſus Chriſt? how ſhall I leave thee quite,
When I behold ſuch terrors, which afright
My trembling Soul? wch ſoon will thee o're-take,
Unleſs thou doſt with ſpeed this Contract make.
Thy Judgment 'tis which I would fain convince.
Thy danger's great, I do perceive from thence:
When Conſcience had almoſt (in truth) perſuaded
Thee to repent, it was ſtraightway invaded
By thy blind Underſtanding, and dark mind,
From whence thou art to evil ſtill inclin'd.
Thou ofen-times hadſt liſten'd unto me,
And left thy ſin: but they deceived thee,
And chang'd thy thoughts (as Conſcience doth relate)
Till thy condition's grown moſt deſperate.
Wilt thou once dare to harbour ſuch a thought;
Becauſe with bloud thy Soul by Chriſt was bought,
Thou mayeſt ſin, and take thy pleaſure here,
And prize the world as equal, nay, more dear
To thee than him? How canſt thou be ſo dark
This to imagine, Soul? I prethee hark;
Did he not bleed, and die upon the Tree
Thee to redeem from all iniquitie,
And that to him thou ſhouldſt eſpouſed be?
Should a great Prince love a poor Virgin ſo,
As for her ſake ten thouſand ſorrows know,
And be content at laſt when all is done,
Another ſhould enjoy her for his own?
Oh! ope thine eyes, imbrace the chiefeſt Good;
Let him be dear to thee, who with his Bloud
Hath thee redeem'd from Sin, the chiefeſt ill,
Be not unto thy ſelf ſo cruel ſtill,
And void of Reaſon, fooliſhly to chuſe
The greateſt Evil, and chief'ſt Good refuſe.
The good in Chriſt with every ſtate agrees,
It ſuits the Soul when troubles on it ſeize.
When thou art ſick, he'l thy Phyſician be,
He all diſtempers cures. Nay, it is He,
And he alone, that heals the precious Soul,
And with a word can make the Body whole.
Art dark? O, he can ſtraightway make thee ſee;
Nay, if born blind, he can give eyes to thee.
If thou art weary, he alone's thy reſt.
Or, art thou ſad, and grievouſly depreſt?
He is thy comfort, and thy joy will be,
Like to the deep and overflowing Sea.
If thou an hungry art, he is thy food.
O taſt and ſee, and thou wilt find him good.
The Fatling's ſlain, and all things ready are;
Thou'…t welcome too; O come, and do not ſpare,
But freely eat, and drink his ſpiced Wine,
Wch will make glad that drooping heart of thine,
The Father calls, the Spirit ſays, O come;
And Chriſt doth ſay, here's in my heart yet room,
O Sinner! come to me: hark, he doth cry,
O come to me, poor Soul, why wilt thou die?
Art thou in Priſon, he will ope the door,
He'l pay thy debts, and wipe off all thy ſcore.
If thou a Widow or an Orphan be,
Husband and Father both he'l be to thee:
A Husband that does live, yea, live for ever:
Match here, poor Soul, where Death can part you never.
Or, art thou weak, & canſt not go alone?
He is thy ſtrength, O thou mayſt lean upon
His mighty Arm; for that is thy ſupport.
Art thou beleaguer'd? he's thy Royal Fort.
In times of danger and of trouble great,
Unto his holy Name do thou retreat:
Which is a Tower ſtrong to all that fly
With care and ſpeed from all iniquity.
Under his wings he'l hide his purchas'd One,
Till theſe calamities are paſt and gone.
Or, art thou dying, and doſt fear the grave?
He is thy life, from Death he will thee ſave;
They cannot die, who ſuch a Husband have.
Or, art a Sinner? he's thy Righteouſneſs;
He's more than I can any ways expreſs.
The good in Chriſt is ſo exceeding ſweet,
None underſtand until they taſt of it.
He is a Good which none can comprehend,
He is a Good which doth all others ſend;
The chiefeſt Good, good of himſelf alone,
When carnal joys and pleaſures all are gone.
That's not the good that fills not the deſire,
That can't be chief, if there be yet a higher.
God is ſo good, noughts good if him we want;
Small things, with him, will ſatisfie a Saint…
He is ſo good, that nought can bitter make him
Unto that Soul, who chearfully does take him,
And his ſweet love and precious grace enjoys;
Yet this rare Good ne'r gluts, nor ſweetneſs cloys.
The beſt of earthly ſweets, which fools do prize,
By ſin and ſickneſs doth much bitter riſe.
They loath them ſtraight, and can't abide to hear
Of that which lately they eſteem'd ſo dear.
That, that's the Good on which thou ſhouldſt depend,
That is deſired for no other end
Than for it ſelf! O taſt of him, and try,
And thou'lt be filled to Eternity.
That's not the Good which ſuddenly doth leave us,
That's not the Good of which Death can bereave us,
Chriſt is a Good that's laſting, and abides;
All other Good, alas, will fail beſides.
Make him thy choice, dear Soul, O do but try
How ſweet it is in Jesu's Arms to lie.
Make him thy joy, and thou'lt ſee cauſe to ſing,
Whatever days or change may on thee bring.
Soul.
Sad times, alas! here is a ſudden change;
Nought can I hear of now but rumors ſtrange,
Of Wars and Tumults, with perplexity,
Which do encreaſe and ſwell moſt vehemently
Within the regions of my inward man,
Which cauſes tears, and makes my face look wan.
Croſs workings in me clearly I diſcover,
I am diſtreſt about this glorious Lover.
The counſel which my heart did lately give
I cannot take, I dare not it receive.
Great ſlaughters there will be in my ſmall Iſle,
For without bloud be ſure this fearful broil
Will never ceaſe; which ſide now ſhall I take?
I tremble much, yea all my bones do ſhake.
Some of my ſins which I have loved dear,
Are forc'd to fly, and others can't appear,
Leſt Conſcience ſhould upon them fall: for he
Crys out, Kill all, let not one ſpared be.
Nay, Judgment too is all-moſt at a ſtand,
Which doth amuſe me much o'th other hand.
Yet Will and Old-man, are reſolv'dly bent
To hinder me from granting my conſent.
Yet if I could but have ſome glimm'ring ſight
Of this great Prince, I know not but it might
Work ſtrange effects in me: for I do find
My Eyes are out, my Underſtanding blind.
Lord, pity me: for I a wretch have bin,
To ſlight thee thus, and love my curſed ſin.
Thus whilſt God's Word was preacht, and ſhe alſo
Began to cry; I did obſerve, and lo,
A Friend was ſent from the bleſt Prince of Light,
The glory of whoſe Face did ſhine ſo bright,
That none were able to behold, for he
Seem'd not infer'our to the Majeſty
Of the great God, and his eternal Son:
For they in Eſſence are all three but one.
His Power's great, and Glory is his merit;
His nature's like his Name (moſt holy Spirit.)
Who to the Soul did preſently draw near,
And toucht her heart, and then unſtopt her ear;
And from him ſhone ſuch glorious rays of light,
Some ſcales flew off, and ſhe recover'd ſight.
Which ſtraitway did her judgment rectifie,
Who to this purpoſe did himſelf apply
Unto the Soul whom he had led aſtray.
I muſt confeſs my faults to thee this day.
Judgment.
For want of light falſe judgment I have given,
And treacherouſly conſpired againſt Heaven;
And 'gainſt thy life and happineſs have I
Been drawn into a vile conſpiracy
Of th' higheſt nature: for I did conſent
With thy baſe Foes, who helliſhly are bent,
To tear thee into pieces, quite undo thee,
Whilſt smilingly they proffer pleaſures to thee.
And now though not t' extenuate my ſin,
I'le tell thee how I have been drawen in.
Thy heart's corrupted, and from it proceeds
The curſed Old-man, with his evil deeds.
They with Apollyon jointly did unite
To draw a Curtain 'twixt me and the light.
And thus though I ſometimes was half inclin'd
To judge for God, they b…ſely kept me blind.
They've me corrupted with thy wilful Will,
Who, I do fear, remains moſt ſtubborn ſtill:
Which if't be ſo, and he's not made to bend,
Conclude the match thou canſt not wth thy friend
And I, poor I, can't make him condeſcend:
Some higer Power 'tis muſt make him yield,
Or he'l ſtand out and never quit the Field.
For he's a churliſh piece, and thou wilt find
To what is evil, he is moſt enclin'd:
But hath no will at all to what is right,
A very Traytor to the Prince of Light.
But as for me, my thoughts are clearly now
Thou oughtſt forthwith to yield, and meekly bow
To the great King, thy mi…hty Lord and Lover.
And more then this to thee I muſt diſcover;
Now, now I know thy Soveraign Lord will pry
Into thy very heart, his piercing Eye
Will find that … amongſt the Company
Who wants the Wedding-garment, and will ſever
That unprepared man in Wrath for ever
From his ſweet preſence: Soul, his Word doth ſhew
Nothing will ſerve but univerſal new.
He is a jealous God, will not endure
To ſee thee only counterfeited pure;
O now I ſee he will not take a part,
But claims both ears, eyes, hands, yea, the whole heart.
Now, now I ſee 'tis pure ſimplicity
That is alone accepted in his Eye.
That ſin which has been like to a right hand,
For profit ſweet, thou muſt at his command
Cut ſtraight-way off. Nay, Soul, look thou about;
For Right-eye ſins muſt all be pulled out.
Though they for pleaſure have to thee bin dear,
Yet muſt they have no room, nor favour here.
Of every ſin thou muſt thy ſelf deny;
One ſin will damn thee to Eternity,
If thou to it doſt any love retain.
Nay, hark to me, Soul, liſten once again;
The Law muſt alſo unto thee be dead,
And thou to it, or never canſt thou wed
With Jeſus Chriſt. If thy firſt Husband live,
Who to another Husband can thee give?
The ſmalleſt ſin thou ever didſt commit,
The Law's ſo ſtrict, it damns the Soul for it.
Let this divorce thee from it, 'tis ſevere,
No life nor help (alas) canſt thou have there.
And therefore unto Jeſus come with ſpeed,
For ſuch a Bridegroom 'tis which thou doſt need.
And th' glory of the bleſſed Bridal-ſtate,
Will far exceed the greateſt Potentate.
What's he? Ah Soul! what grace and favor's this?
Where dwels that Queen, nay where that Empereſs,
Whoſe ſplendent glory can e're equal thine,
When thou canſt ſay, I'm his, and he is mine?
… Conſultation held between the Prince and Powers of Darkneſs, hearing how the Judgment was rectified, and the underſtanding of the Soul ſomewhat enlightened.
Apollyon.
Moſt mighty Pow'rs, who once from Heav'n fell,
To raiſe this Throne and Monarchy in Hell;
Do not deſpair, rouſe up, all is not gone,
The Conqueror han't yet the Conqueſt won.
'Tis far below your noble extract thus
To ſtand amaz'd; is there no pow'r in us,
For to revive our ſcattered force? let's try
What may be done, we can at laſt but fly.
Ne'r let us yield that ſhe ſhould raiſed be
To ſuch a height, to ſuch great Soveraigntie.
What, ſhe, whoſe birth and pedigree was mean
To what our's was, ſhall ſhe be crowned Queen,
Whilſt we are made the Objects of her ſcorn,
Hated of God and Man? This can't be born.
What, ſhall eternal Arms embrace the Soul,
Whilſt we in chains of Darkneſs do condole
Our former loſs? in ſpite of Heaven let's try
Yet once again to ſpoil th' Affinity.
Satan.
Bravely reſolv'd! and if in Hell there are
A legion of ſuch Spirits, never fear
But we the Conqueſt yet o're Heaven ſhall gain,
And all the hopes and pride of Mortals ſtain.
We venture very little, yet ſhall win
All at one blow, if we prevail agin.
And there's great hopes methinks; for ev'n ſucceſs▪
Makes foes ſecure, and makes our danger leſs.
Lo! don't you ſee how the fond Soul doth lie▪
Ope to our Arms in great ſecurity?
And though ſome ground is loſt, yet ſeek about,
View well our force within, and that without.
We in her houſe have a ſtrong party yet,
Who in our bands keep her unwary feet.
Let's make a ſearch, and now more careful be,
For ſad it is the wretch ſuch light ſhould ſee.
Without all doubt there has been ſome neglects,
Which has produc'd ſuch undeſir'd effects.
Could none keep out the light? or has her heart,
Always ſo true to us, play'd a falſe part?
Sure Will and Old-man both do ſtand and pauſe,
Or ſome grand Foe hath quite betray'd our cauſe.
We muſt be-ſtir us, and give new directions,
And by all means keep faſt the Soul's affections.
Affection's ſtill by Old-man is directed;
And Will to us does yet ſtand well affected.
Let us purſue our preſent enterprize,
With all the craft and pow'r we can deviſe.
Our Prince, I ſee, is very much offended,
And thus in ſhort the Conſultation ended.
Apollyon with whole troops of helliſh Fiends
Immediately into the Soul deſcends,
To raiſe ſad ſtorms and tempeſts in her breaſt,
Who being curſt, hates any ſhould be bleſt.
And that he might the better have his ends
Accompliſhed, he thus beſpeaks his Friends:
The Fleſh with all its luſts, to whom he ſaid,
Old-man, my grand Ally, I am afraid
…y tottering Kingdom has not long to ſtand,
… to my aid thou doſt not lend thy hand.
'Tis thou (old Friend) that muſt my cauſe maintain.
Or otherwiſe thou wilt thy ſelf be ſlain.
Hark! doſt not hear that fleſh-amazing cry,
" Kill the Old-man, O kill, O crucifie
" The Old-man with his deeds, riſe up and ſlay,
" Let not that Foe ſurvive another day?
" It is that curſed Old man works our bane,
" Then let him die, let the Old-man be ſlain.
Be ſtir thy ſelf, and try thy utmoſt skill,
Undoubtedly thou muſt be kill'd, or kill.
'Tis not a time to pauſe, or ſlack thy hand,
Negligence will not with thy int'reſt ſtand.
Tell, tell the Soul, in vain thou doſt deny
Thy ſelf of that which ſatisfies the Eye;
Adorn thy ſelf with Pearl, be deckt with Gold,
Such pleaſant things are lovely to behold;
Avoid all thoſe penurious Nicities,
That makes thee hateful in thy Neighbour's eyes;
Delight thy ſelf in that the world 'counts brave,
And let thy ſenſes have what e're they crave.
Say to the Soul, let not thine Ears and Eyes
Be ſatisfy'd alone, but pleaſe likewiſe
Thy Appetite, grant all the Soul deſires.
And if it chance to kindle luſtful fires,
Tel her the earth was fil'd with boundleſs treaſures▪
That ſhe thereby might take her fill of pleaſures.
And for that end the ſenſes are united
In one fair body, there to be delighted.
And tell her, if ſhe do reſtrain one ſenſe
Of what it craves, ſhe offers violence
Unto her ſelf, and doth her ſelf deny
Of the beſt good, and chief'ſt felicity.
The Old-man's Reply.
This Helliſh Lecture paſt, the Old-man breaks
His Silence; and, half Angry, thus he ſpeaks:
Renowned Father! let thy Servant borrow
A word or two to mitigate my ſorrow.
This Counſel might have done ſome time ago,
But now enlighted Judgment lets her know
All theſe are painted pleaſures, and their date
Ends with her life: dread Prince! it is too late
To mind this Counſel, ſhe will not receive it,
Her Underſtanding now will not believe it.
I by thy Aid have oft endeavoured
In …itter times ſuch kind of things to ſpread
Before her eyes; but now of late we find
There is an alteration in her mind▪
Could you have took the Goſpel quite away,
'Twould not have been as 'tis, you do delay.
Apollyon.
No more of that—Old-man, take my direction
Improve thy int'reſt now with her affection,
I know Affection ſtill's inclin'd to love
That which the Underſtanding doth reprove.
This being ſo, if we improve our skill,
And can but keep firm unto us the Will,
If he's not over-powr'd, thou maiſt gain,
Thy former ſtrength, and long thou mayeſt reign.
For Conſcience thou may'ſt once again hereby
Lul… faſt aſleep, and then alſo her Eye
Will grow ſo weak, her light diminiſhed,
That Judgment by Affection ſhall be led.
And if thou canſt but once this way perſuade her,
Will and Affection quickly will invade her
To pleaſe her ſenſes; and for thoſe intents
Affection may uſe weighty Arguments;
And thus being overcome, ſhe will be more
Intangled in our fetters than before.
Luſts of the eyes, and pride of life, theſe be
My Agents both, they are employ'd by me.
Old-man, therefore proceed, the Intreſt's mine;
But be victorious, and the Conqueſt's thine.
Once loſe the day, and thou be ſure muſt die.
Which being loſt, thou'lt ſuffer more than I.
Old-man.
Moſt dread Apollyon! thou muſt underſtand,
As I have ever been at thy command,
And am thy Servant, ſo I will remain;
And fight until I ſlay, or elſe am ſlain.
Yet let me lodg this ſecret in thy breaſt,
Canſt thou be ignorant, how ſhe's poſſeſt
With ſuch a Soul-convincing beam of light,
That I do ſeem a Monſter in her ſight.
I ſhall not overcome her now, unleſs
I do appear to her in ſome new dreſs.
Time was indeed when I have been reſpected,
But now, alas, I greatly am ſuſpected
Of being thy great favourite; nay, ſhe
Affirms that I am wholly led by thee.
Theſe things conſider'd, I muſt be advis'd,
Fear leſt I ſhould be unawares ſurpriz'd.
Apollyon.
Thou hit'ſt the caſe, and I agree thereto;
Thou ſhalt be clothed new from top to to:
And I'le transform my ſhape, and will appear,
For thy aſſiſtance; haſte, and nothing fear.
With ſpecious ſhews of love, do thou pretend,
Thou com'ſt to reaſon with her as a Friend,
Not meaning to perſwade her to remove,
Or to withdraw in any caſe her love
From her great Soveraign, whom thou maiſt confeſs
Can only her advance to happineſs;
Yet tell her ſhe's too ſtrict, ſhe's too preciſe,
She'l never hold it; bid her to be wiſe:
Soft pace goes far; an over-heated zeal
Ruins the Soul, and ſpoils the Common-weal.
Go bid her carry 't in her Princes ſight
With Saint-like ſweetneſs; bid her to delight
In his preſence, and there demurely ſtand;
But when ſhe's abſent, let both heart and hand
Be ſtill delighted, as they were before,
With senſe-deluding Objects. Furthermore,
Tell her he's not ſo ſtrict as to debar
Her of theſe joys below, for her's they are:
Of which Paul rightly ſpeaks, this is the ſum,
All things are yours, both preſent and to come;
Thus we'l combine, and all our pow'rs unite,
And in this mode and curious dreſs incite
Th' enligten'd Soul to play the Hypocrite.
The fleſh being thus with th' pow'rs of Hell agreed,
The inward Foe beſtirs himſelf with ſpeed;
Vile Traytor like, a Panther doth become,
To work about the Soul's eternal doom.
A cruel Serpent, in a Saint-like guize,
The better to trapan the long'd-for prize.
As Balaam, once, and Balak, ſo do they
Seek to find out ſome curſt infidious way,
The poor unwary Soul for to betray
To the laſt Death's dark and eternal ſhade.
Balaam adviſes Balak to invade
God's Heritage, 'twas by the beauteous train
Of Moabite Damſels, who he thought might gain
The Israelites affections, and thereby
Make them offend againſt the Majeſty
Of God All-mighty, by whoſe powerful hand
Jacob prevails, and Moab could no wiſe ſtand.
Ah! ſee how the wiſe Fowler lays his ſnare
To catch the poor enlighten'd Soul. Beware,
And do not cloſe thy new-inlighten'd Eyes;
Under the Golden clew the Panther lies.
The Eye-intangled Creature ſtands to gaze
Upon the lovely Panther in a maze,
Till the deluded Beaſt doth by his ſtay
Unwillingly become the Panther's prey.
Juſt as you ſee ſometimes the nimble fly,
Dancing about the flame, advance ſo nigh,
Until it's taken and doth burn its wings.
Thus from it ſelf its own deſtruction ſprings.
Or like two Men, who running in a Race,
With hopes the Golden Diadem ſhall grace
The Victor's Temples, in the way doth lie
A Golden Ball; one of them caſts his Eye
Upom the ſame, makes but a little ſtay
To take it up, the other haſts away,
And never turns aſide to fix his Eyes
On this or that, but runs and wins the prize:
The other he the Ball eſpies, is loth
To let it lie: in hopes to get them both,
He loſes both: for when he comes to try,
Doth …nd the Golden Ball deceiv'd his Eye;
For when he thought to lay it up in ſtore,
Finds it an Earthly Ball, but gilded o're.
O! then he grieves, but then it is too late
His Eye's the cauſe of his unhappy fate.
A fit reſemblance: for thus ſtands the caſe
With every Soul. This mortal life's the Race.
A blessed Kingdom crowns the Victor's brow
With endleſs glory, but whilſt here below
We're tempt by Earthly pleaſures, that's the Ball;
Satan's the Sopiſter, who lets it fall.
Now look about thee, Soul, thy time's at hand,
Thine Enemies approach, …ay, …o they ſtand
Ready prepared, and reſolv'd to try
Both ſtrength and craft to get the Victory.
Thy precious Lord is the eternal Prize,
Mind well thy Mark, take heed of wanton Eyes,
If Pleaſures thou, or Honours, ſhouldſt eſpy,
Stop not to gaze, run ſwift, and paſs them by;
Take no regard unto that painted Ball,
Which Satan, to deceive thee has let fall.
The Old-man's near (the fleſh) in a new dreſs,
And whoſe with him? Ah! thou mayſt eas'ly gueſs.
'Tis to deceive thee he appears ſo trim,
And thou mayſt ſee the Devil plain in him.
The pow'rs of Hell in thee will try their skill
For to inſnare Affections, and the Will;
Nay, Satan has got them to take his ſide;
Thus treacherouſly thy heart they do divide.
Thus though the Soul obtains inlightned Eyes,
Whilſt thicker darkneſs vaniſhes and flies,
Yet is ſhe vex'd with ſore perplexities
'Twixt two extreams and two contrary Laws,
Judgment is led by one, Affection draws
The other way; ſhe can't tell which to pleaſe:
She knows what's beſt, but ſtrong temptations ſeize
Upon her ſo, that ſhe's at a great ſtand,
This way ſhe goes, then to the other hand.
Her faculties fall out, they diſagree.
O look, methinks I in the Soul do ſee
Four mighty Warriours draw into the Field
To try their Valour, and refuſe to yield
Unto each other: here's two againſt two:
Judgment with Conſcience are united ſo,
That Will and the Affections do reſolve
The trembling Soul in Wars ſtill to involve.
Will rouſes up, refuſes to give way,
That his great oppoſites ſhould have the day;
Apollyon alſo with him doth take part,
To hold his own, and to beguile her heart.
They meet, they ſtrike, & blows exchange for blows,
Darts are let fly, they with each other cloſe.
The conflict's ſharp, 'tis very hard to know
Which will the other beat and overthrow.
Will's hard put to't, nay, had loſt the day quite,
But that more Traytors join'd him in the Fight.
Th' Old-man rouſes with rebellious fleſh,
And theſe domeſtick Wars renew afreſh.
They fight about the Soul, would know who muſt
Have th' heart and its affections, Chriſt, or Luſt.
Satan by inward motions ſtraight reply'd,
My ſentence is, we'l equally divide,
And give alike, both can't have the whole heart;
Chriſt take a piece, and I the other part.
He'd have the queſtion by the Sword decided,
Knowing the Soul lies dead whilſt 'tis divided.
Thus 'tis with many. Ah! look well within,
Judgment convinc'd may be, yet may thy ſin
In thy affections live, and also thou
Mayſt not to th' pow'r of Grace and Jeſus bow.
Thou mayſt have light, and ſpeak as Balaam did,
Whoſe Eyes Jehovah ſo far opened,
That he cry'd out, O happy Iſrael!
How goodly are the Tents where thou doſt dwell!
He (like to many Preachers) did commend
God's holy ways, and wiſh'd that his laſt end
Might be like his, who righteouſly doth live,
And his whole heart doth unto Jeſus give.
He to this purpoſe ſpake, yet ne'r-the-leſs,
Lov'd beſt the wages of unrighteouſneſs.
The Underſtanding may much light receive,
And yet may not the Soul rightly believe,
Nor be eſpous'd to Chriſt, may not rely
On him alone in true ſimplicitie.
But to proceed; with careful Eye let's view
What follows here, what 'tis doth next enſ…e.
As Combatants ſometimes a Parly beat
After ſome ſharp Encounter, or retreat.
And with each other do expoſtulate
About their riſing, or their ſinking fate.
Even ſo likewiſe do these ſtrong inward Foes,
They pauſe as 'twere, parly, then fall to blows.
Old-man.
The Old-man moves, and preſently he meets
With the poor Soul, and thus Affection greets:
Thou for my Int'reſt ever yet haſt been,
And ſweet (ſays he) Ah! ſweet's a boſom ſin;
Thou never yet deny'dst to yield ſubjection
Unto my will; and now, indear'd Affection.
Our Maſter, great Apollyon, doth command
That we unite our force, and faithful ſtand
Againſt our Fo…s▪ thy int'reſt is invaded,
Thou …eeſt by whom, thou knowſt who are inraged:
Hold ſafe thine own, ne'r let thoſe Objects go
Thou lov'ſt ſo dear, 'twill be thy overthrow,
And thereby too the Soul will unawares
… involv'd in more vexatious cares;
And thoſe delights which thou we…t wont to have
Will be obſcured in the darkſom Cave
Of black Oblivion, buried out of ſight,
Should once the Soul cloſe with this Prince of Light.
Not that we think thou canſt'ith' leaſt approve
Of thi…, whereby ſhe ſhould withdraw her love
Quite from thoſe things which we eſteem ſo dear;
For Heart and Will ſome ways do yet adhere
Unto our Int'reſt; yet baſely miſled
She is, … ſince ſhe's been enlightened.
We are content ſhe ſhould cry up the choice
She thinks to make, let her in that rejoice;
Yet there's a ſecret we would fain reveal,
She's blinded by her over-fervent zeal.
It i… enough ſince ſhe has made ſuch vows
To love him … to become his Spouſe,
Why ſhould ſhe not have yet ſweet senſual pleaſures,
To pleaſe the fleſh, to whom the greateſt treaſure;
Of right belongs that ever were poſte it?
How can her glory better be exprest,
Than to imbrace what is ſo freely given,
Joys here below as well as bliſs in Heaven?
Let her not fear to ſpend her days in mirth,
That's Heir of Heaven, and Lady of the Earth.
This think upon, and ſecretly impart
So ſweet a Meſsage to the yielding heart.
Affection hears, and willingly consented▪
And ſtrives with this to make the Soul contented,
Nay, with it too, the Soul began to cloſe,
Until poor Conſcience did them both oppoſe.
Affection, Will, and Conſcience talk a while▪
Apollyon ſtraight ſtarts up, and with a ſmile
Salutes them all, ſeeming as if he were
One unconcern'd with any matters there:
Who well obſerving how th…ſe three contended,
Begs leave to ſpeak a word, as he pretended,
In favour to them all, deſiring he
Might at this time their Moderator be.
At this they ſeem'd to pauſe, and ſtand all mute,
At length the Soul, but faintly, grants his Suit:
The Devil having thus obtain'd his end,
Salutes the Soul, Fair Virgin, I commend
Thy happy choice, almoſt, if not quite made;
Yet, if all matters were but wiſely weigh'd,
Thou'lt find Affection has advis'd thee right;
And 't can't be ſafe ſuch Counſel now to ſlight.
The greateſt honours oft, for want of care
In juſt improvements, have been made a ſnare.
What bount'ous Heav'n & Earth affords, refuſe not;
Be not ſo nice; ye 'buſe the things you uſe not.
What, is thy Soveraign willing to receive thee
Into Celeſtial Joys, yet quite bereave thee
Of preſent ſweetneſs? Tuſh! this cannot be;
He will ſure ne'r ſuch wrong do unto thee.
Reflect not what thy former ſtate hath been,
But what 'tis now, a Saint, more than a Queen.
Things preſent, and to come, nay, all are thine;
Come, merry be, drinkof the choieſt Wine.
Thine honour's great, and let thy joys abound;
Chant to the Viol, hear the Organ ſound;
Let the melodious Lute and Harp invite thee,
And each tranſcendent joy on Earth delight thee.
A ſweet is, (What?) a thing reproacht, call'd Sin;
It in the boſom lies, has harbour'd bin
By chiefeſt Saints: O then, do not deny
The preſent good, that's pleaſant to the Eye.
But it thou fearſt thou ſhouldſt thy Lord offend;
Obſerve this Rule, which I ſhall next commend:
Let all thy words be pleaſant, ſmooth, and ſweet,
When him thou doſt in daily Duties meet.
Seem to be chaſt, and let no Saints eſpy
The ſmalleſt ſign of Immoralitie.
Be …rave in ſpeech, and lowly when thou meetſt them.
And call them thy dear Brethren, when thou greetſt them.
And if thy Soveraign ſeek to have thy heart,
Let him have ſome yet muſt the World have part.
Call him thy Friend, thy Saviour, own him ſo;
And to poor Saints thou muſt ſome kindneſs ſhow,
Or elſe thy covetouſneſs they will eſpy,
And … be charg'd, (with what?) Idolatry.
Thus mayſt thou keep his love: but when thou go's
Amongſt thy old acquaintance, (yet his Foes)
Let them know nothing, let no ſentence fall
Which may diſcover this to them at all.
Thus having ſpoken briefly, be thou wiſe,
And with thy Friends, my Agents, now adviſe.
Thus ends the Old-man, and Apollyon's ſuit,
And the poor Soul in this aſſault ſtood mute,
Not well diſcerning who theſe thoughts did dart
Into her yielding and divided heart.
Nor hath ſhe got that grave and good inſpection
What's beſt to do, and where to take direction,
But goes to th' Fleſh, with that doth ſhe conſult,
Which quickly brings her to a ſad reſult.
I hitherto, ſaith ſhe, have been depreſt;
What ſhall I do, how may I be at reſt?
The Fleſh, or corrupt Affection.
What's the reverſion of a Prince's State,
When't muſt be purchas'd at ſo dear a rate?
'Tis but arriving at a ſeeming pitch
Of Honour, and to be c…nceited Rich.
If there's no way to get this promis'd Crown,
But to incur the world'ds vile ſcoff and frown,
With loſs of life, and all we call our own;
'Twould folly be to ſeek for ſuch a prize:
For what we have is pleaſant in our Eyes.
A real thing, and preſent, as 'tis dear,
To part with it, is more than fleſh can bear.
But by the way, mind what our Friends propound:
A Medium to enjoy them both, is found;
Wherefore 'tis beſt in this perplexing caſe,
For to unite, that Counſel let's imbrace.
Soul.
Haſt thou forgot, or knowſt thou not, mine eyes
Have been enlight'ned? let us firſt adviſe
With Judgment, leſt this over-raſh concluſion
Turn all our Conſultations to confuſion.
It would be well could we (I muſt confeſs)
Thoſe ſinful ſweets and preſent joys poſſeſs,
Without the loſs of thoſe tranſcendant pleaſures
That's in Jehova's unconfined Treaſures.
But what if Judgment ſays it muſt not be,
Nor Truth nor Conſcience with us will agree?
If ſo, what ſhall I do, what ſhall I chooſe?
Whilſt I ſecure one, I both may looſe.
The fleſh, or corrupt Affection's Reply.
One word I'le briefly drop, and ſpeak no more.
Thou'ſt put thy caſe to Conſcience hereſofore▪
And what redreſs pray had you, what didſt gain?
Did he not gripe thee ſorely for thy pain?
Wilt thou neglect ſo ſweet advice as this?
Judgment and Conſcience both may judg amiſs.
But if thou lik'ſt it, and canſt be contented,
By knawing Conſcience ſtill to be tormented,
Then I'le be ſilent, and improve thy skill,
Yet will I love and like where I did ſtill.
…adſt thou been counſel'd to forſake the Lord,
Would I, do'ſt think, have ſpoken the leaſt word,
Once to diſſuade thee from ſo juſt a thing?
Nay, Soul, thou oughtſt, nay muſt reſpect this King:
But whilſt he's abſent, whilſt he dwells on high,
Thou haſt no other Object for thine Eye
Then theſe—
Conſult with Conſcience, now do what you pleaſe,
But as for me I am for preſent caſe.