The Glorious Lover, Book 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
Shewing what joy there was in Heaven amongſt the Angels, upon the great Victory obtained over the black King. Shewing alſo how affectionately in a ſweet heavenly manner, the Prince of light after this ſaluted the Soul he came to ſave, for whoſe ſake he had paſſed throw all theſe ſorrows. And how the ungrateful blind & deluded wretch ſlighted and diſpiſed him in her Heart; chooſing rather to hearken to, and ſide with Apollyon, King of Darkneſs, and to entertain the Monſter of pollution, ſenſual Luſts, than to become a Spouſe to ſo glorious a Prince; pretending ſhe knew him not, neither would ſhe believe he was the ſon of God, the bleſſed and eternal Potentate; demanding ſigns of him. Shewing upon this what ſtrange and wonderful Miracles he wrought amongſt the people, who notwithſtanding all, went about to kill him. And how he was forc'd to fly from one Country to another, to preſerve his life. And what hardſhips and difficulties he paſſed through, for love he bore to the poor Creature.
NO ſooner had this Overthrow been given,
But Troops of Angels did deſcend from Heaven,
Unto this Prince with great Congratulation,
Yeilding to him all humble Adoration.
Ah! how the glorious Seraphims did ſing,
Bringing freſh Bayes of Triumph to their King.
They come to ſerve him, as was juſt and right,
Becauſe his En'emy he hath put to flight.
Let Heaven rejoyce, and Earth reſound his praiſe,
For victory or'e him, who did always
Diſturb the Earth, and whom none could withſtand;
Such was his ſtrength and force in ev'ry Land.
Now might one hope the Prince from trouble's freed
And quickly will in his Affairs ſucceed,
Wherein he hath ſuch great obſtructions met,
Since firſt his feet upon the Earth were ſet.
Kindly he now doth the poor Soul ſalute,
And with ſuch fervency begins his ſuit;
And in ſuch ſort he did himſelf declare,
That none in Woing could with him compare.
No Orator on Earth like him could ſpeak,
So powerfully, and ſweet enough to break
And melt a breaſt of Steel, or heart of Stone,
If well his words be weigh'd and thought upon.
He to this purpoſe doth ſalute her Ears
Some times with ſighs, ſometimes with bitter tears.
Prince of Light.
Look unto me, dear Soul! behold 'tis I,
Who lov'd thee deeply from Eternity;
Who at at thy doors do ſtand, oh let me in,
And do not harken to that Monſter, SIN.
Refuſe me not, becauſe my thoughts deſcend
Below themſelves, ſo far to recommend
My deareſt Love to thee; although that I
No Beauty can at all in thee eſpy:
I love not as your Earthly Lovers doe;
'Tis Beauty that engages them to woo,
Or the great Portion, or the Vertuous mind:
There's none of theſe in thee that I can find.
Yet my Affections burn, and Love's ſo much,
No mortal ever did experience ſuch.
Why doſt thou frown? Ah doth thy hardned Brow,
Not made at firſt to wrinkle, wrinkle now?
I am a Perſon of no mean Degree,
Although my heart is fixt and ſet on thee.
My Father, who hath ſent me, is moſt high;
He rules above, and all beneath the Sky.
All Kingdoms of this World they are his own,
Whether inhabited, or yet unknown.
To this great Monarch (Soul) I am moſt dear,
What ere he has is mine, I am his Heir,
His choice Delight, his Joy, and only Son,
Moreover, He and I am only one.
My Father is in me, in him am I,
And was with him from all Eternity.
There's many Manſions in his Houſe, and there
Of all Delight thou ſhalt enjoy thy ſhare.
I'le raiſe thee unto Honour and Renown,
And arch thy Temples with a radiant Crown:
In Robes of State I'le clothe thee every day,
All glorious within ſhall thy Array
Be wrought of fineſt needle-work ſo bright,
As ſhall tranſcend and dazle mortals ſight.
Then clear thine Eyes, and purifie thy Mind,
Accept my Love, and to thy ſelf be kind,
All theſe Advantages thou ſure ſhalt find.
But oh! ſuch ſtubborn dulneſs who can bear?
This Soul ſeem'd not to mind, or lend an Eare
To any thing the Lord did thus declare;
But lay like one a ſleep or rather dead,
Being by other Lovers falſely led.
She rather entertains him with a ſcoff,
And frames ſlight Anſwers for to put him off;
Would not believe he was of ſuch deſcent;
His ſighs, nor Tears, could move her to relent,
But joyns in League with other bitter Foes,
Who did contemptuouſly his Grace oppoſe.
Signes they demand, and tokens to be given,
To make it known that he was ſent from Heaven.
He graciouſly to this did condeſcend,
That from Reproach he might himſelf defend,
To manifeſt he no Deceiver was,
Strange things in ſight of all he brought to paſs.
The Miracles he wrought did all amaze,
And higheſt wonder in the People raiſe.
The Lame and Impotent he made to walk,
The Blind he caus'd to ſee, the Dumb to talk;
Nay, ſuch as were born blind, he made to ſee;
Which never any did, nor could, but he.
His Love was ſuch, he daily went about
To find the Sick, and the Diſtreſſed out
All kind of ſad Diſeaſes he did heal;
No Friend like him unto the Common-weal.
The Feaver, Phrenſy, and the Leproſy,
Were all remov'd by him moſt ſpeedily;
Yea, Bloody-fluxes too by him were cur'd,
When all the Doctors could no help afford:
Though all they had were on Phyſicians ſpent,
Yet whole by him they all were gratis ſent.
'Twas meer Compaſſion, Bowels, and ſweet Love,
And not Reward, did this Phyſician move.
By theſe bleſs'd deeds he ſoon obtain'd a Name,
And all the Country Eccho'd with his Fame;
So that vaſt multitudes did daily croud
After Him, and implore his Help aloud.
Poor wretches who with Devils were poſſeſt;
And ſorely griev'd, could ſee no hopes o… reſt,
Were all deliver'd by his mighty Hand.
Such Pow'r had he Hell's power to Command,
That if he ſaid, Satan, come out, ſtraight-way
He forced was this Prince for to obey.
Thus as with ſmalleſt touch he heal'd their Evils,
He with a word caſt out the fouleſt Devils.
Nay, more than this, that he might quite remove
All doubts from her he did ſo dearly love,
That ſhe might know he power had to ſave,
He rais'd the dead to Life, though in the Grave
The Corps had buried been full four days;
This very thing muſt needs his Glory raiſe.
He ſtill went on, and more ſtrange things did do,
Though very few to him did kindneſs ſhow.
Is it not plain he can do what he liſt,
Who holds the mighty Winds as in his fiſt?
He that gave bounds unto the Sea and Land,
What is not in his Power to command?
He that doth ſuck the Clouds out of the Seas,
And makes them fall again where e're he pleaſe;
He that doth brake th' amazing Thunder-Crack,
And bid the raging frightful Seas go back;
That doth the dreadful angry Ocean ſtill,
And call Heavn's Meteors to obey his Will;
That counts the Sands, and doth the Stars ſurvey,
And Hills and Mountains in a Ballance weigh;
No other Name for him can be Aſſign'd,
But God moſt high, Jehovah unconfin'd.
The precious Name, which to this Prince is given,
Shews who he is; he's call'd The Lord from Heaven.
Another Title doth the ſame expreſs
He is Jehovah, our Righteouſneſs.
Do not his Works, and his moſt glorious Name,
His bleſſed Nature unto all proclaim?
Shall not the Soul this gracious Lord receive?
Who worketh Wonders, that ſhe may believe.
Sure if the Soul did doubt of his deſcent,
She now has cauſe with ſorrow to repent.
The vileſt Atheiſt it might ſatisfie,
Touching his glorious Birth and Dignity;
But notwithſtanding this thoſe Evil men
In moſt baſe ſort did this great Prince contemn:
Him impiouſly they grand Impoſtor call,
And with foul Blaſphemies upon him fall.
Though in his life there was no ſtain nor ſpot,
Yet they would needs his Converſation blot:
Behold, ſaid they, a perſon gluttonous!
You ſeldom read of any charged thus.
But that's not all, Drunkenneſs next did they
Unto the charge of this Juſt Perſon lay.
They did him often a Wine-bibber call,
That odious they might render him to all.
His holy Doctrine too they did deſpiſe,
And horrid things on that Account deviſe,
As if he taught all men to violate
God's holy Law, and thereby tolerate
All kind of ſin, pollution, and offence;
Though of the Law he had ſuch reverence,
As none had more, and daily ſhew'd his Love
Unto the ſame, in ſtriving to remove
Thoſe falſe and evil Gloſſes, whereby they
Its purer ſpiritual part had thrown away.
His Company and Country they upbraid,
Yea, and the Education which he had.
But that which may all perſons moſt amaze,
Was thoſe Reports which they of him did raiſe,
As if that he ſome curs'd Familiar had.
They cry, he hath a Devil, and is mad:
When he the unclean ſpirits does caſt out,
By th' Prince of Devils he brings it about;
Thoſe ſtrange and wondrous things we ſee are done,
Are all perform'd by Belzebub alone.
Thus did Apollyon ſhew his helliſh ſpight,
And them to coyn Black-ſlanders ſtill invite,
Againſt this glorious Prince of Peace and Light.
But though they did blaſpheme, and him diſdain;
He bore it all, reviling not again;
But ſtill retains his kindneſs, hopes to find
The Soul hereafter in a better mind.
For now he ſaw ſhe was of ſenſe bereav'd,
And by the Devil grievouſly deceiv'd.
But oh! conſider what a Lover's here,
Who all theſe oft-repeated wrongs would bear,
And not be gone in fury and diſdain,
Leaving her ſubject to Eternal pain.
To ſuffer thus in's Perſon, and his Name,
And undergo all this Reproach and Shame,
And yet continue conſtant in his Love,
This from her breaſt might ſure all ſcruple move;
Nor was this all, for ſtill he's toſt about,
And Malice daily finds new projects out,
How to torment and grieve his tender heart,
Yet nothing could from her his kindneſs part.
They now with ſlie temptations on him ſet,
To draw him in, and ſome Advantage get.
This with kind Anger curled his bleſt Blood,
To ſee how ſtoutly they withſtood their good.
It fill'd his Heart with ſorrow, made him grieve,
They ſo hard-hearted were not to believe;
Tho he moſt mighty works among them wrought,
Yet to enſnare him they occaſions ſought.
Their tempting him, I find did grieve him more,
Than all the vile Affronts he met before.
Here might I ſtop, to reaſon with the Jews,
Who him deny, and ſlight the Goſpel news.
May not his Miracles convince you quite,
He was the true Meſſias, Prince of Light;
How dare you to deny matter of Fact,
That he thoſe great and mighty things did act?
For they were not in private Corners done,
But before all, in open face 'oth Sun.
Your Fathers might with eaſe laid o'pe the cheat,
Shame the Impoſture, and the plot defeat,
If any grounds they had for to decry,
The Man himſelf, or his ſtrange works deny.
Beſides (you know) Joſephus he doth own,
There was at that ſame time ſuch a bleſt One,
And for him had ſo great a veneration,
That thus I find of him he makes Relation:
In the time of Tiberius's Reign (ſaith he)
One JESVS liv'd, a Man (if't lawful be
To call him ſo) For He strange things did do,
Yea mighty Miracles—This Records ſhow.
But you perhaps in your forefathers ſtead,
Are apt to think he by the Devil did
Thoſe great and wondrous things of which we read.
Now this is ſo abſurd, ridiculous,
And vain, 'tis ſtrange men ſhould be cheated thus.
Can any think the God o'th Univerſe
Would be unfaithful, as to change the courſe
Of Nature, meerly to aſſert a Lye?
What Odium here is thrown on's Majeſty!
Could Satan all theſe real Wonders do,
He all Religion quickly might o're-throw:
The fouleſt Errors make the world believe;
And him for the …ue God men would receive.
This is to ſet the Devil in God's place,
And bring the Holy One into Diſgrace;
T' aſcribe his glorious Attributes to one
That fain would be exalted in the Throne.
What Help or Touchſtone then can Mortals have,
Their precious Souls from Satan's wiles to ſave,
If real Miracles perform he can?
This too would ſhow God mindleſs were of Man:
And Moſes who in Egypt Wonders wrought,
Might into Shame and great contempt be brought;
If this once granted be, which you would have,
Moſes of old your Fathers might deceive.
Why might not he by th' Devil's power do
Thoſe mighty Miracles, which Scriptures Show
He wrought in Egypt, and at the Red-Sea?
Againſt your Law 'twould be as ſtrong a plea,
And thus both Teſtaments 'twould throw away.
To the Magicians could the Devil have given
Such power as Moſes had receiv'd from Heaven,
He would ſuch equal works have made appears;
None ſhould have cry'd, The singer of God is here.
But now as Moſes did this way confute
His faithleſs foes, who did with him diſpute,
By greater deeds, and all their Arts o're-throw,
The ſelf-ſame thing did JESVS alſo do.
The ſtrongeſt Arguments he then did uſe,
For to convince the unbelieving Jews,
Were the great Signs & wonders which he wrought,
And did this way refell what e're they thought,
Againſt his Perſon, or his Doctrine either,
And they thereby were ſilenc'd all together:
My works, ſaith he, to me do witneſs give,
And for their ſake you ought me to believe.
For if that I ſuch mighty works do'nt do,
As none e're did or can pretend unto,
Believe me not: but if they witneſs give,
How unexcuſable then will they you leave?
He alſo had a witneſs from Great John,
Beſides his works which were divinely done;
And God himſelf from Heaven witneſs bore,
So great a Witneſs ne're was heard before.
The written Word likewiſe this Truth did tell,
If they the ſame would have conſider'd well:
And therefore ſearch the Scriptures, Sirs, ſaith he,
For they are thoſe which teſtifie of me.
Thus every way you ſee the proofs are plain,
He was the true Meſſias you have ſlain,
Therefore repent you unbelieving Jews;
With fained ſcandals longer don't abuſe…
Your bleſſed Lord, nor's Goſpel more refuſe.
The dangerous troubles of the Prince of Light,
The ſcandals that he met with, and the ſpight;
The hatred by that Soul unto him ſhown,
Whom he deſign'd the Consort of his Throne;
Her weak pretences for this cauſeleſs ſcorn,
And with what wond'rous patience it was born!
How ſhe receiv'd him with a ſcornful Brow,
We have in part ſet forth, and alſo how
By mighty Signs and Wonders he did prove
Both his divine Aſcent, and matchleſs Love.
But now the Reader with attentive Ear,
And longing mind, deſires▪ 'tis like, to hear
How the poor blinded Soul behav'd her now:
Does ſhe not ſtraight unto his Scepter bow?
Doth ſhe not yield, and readily conſent
To cloſe with him, and heartily repent
She ever did his precious Love abuſe,
And ſuch a Proffer wilfully refuſe?
He ample proof and witneſs now hath given,
That he was ſent down to her out of Heaven;
His Noble Birth, and Sovereign Dignity
Sure now ſhe can't, nay dares not to deny:
What can ſhe further ſay, I pray what more
Hath ſhe to urge, to keep him out o'th Door?
Or, has he left her, and will come no more?
What Prince would ever put up ſo much wrong,
Or wait upon a ſtubborn Soul ſo long?
Or who would ever make another tryal,
That has ſo often had ſuch flat denyal?
Ah, no! he can't his Love's ſo great and ſtrong,
He hopes ſtill to obtain her Love e're long.
See how with tears and ſighs, and melting heart,
He woos, intreats, and doth his Love impart,
As one reſolv'd he'l no denial have:
True Lovers preſs their ſuit ev'n to the Grave.
Prince of Light.
'Tis not Ungratefulneſs which yet can change
My purpoſe, or my heart from thee eſtrange.
My ſtrong Affections on thee are ſo fixt,
That nought has them remov'd, or come betwixt
My Soul and thine; but had'I lov'd thy face,
And that alone, my kindneſs had giv'n place;
My ſlighted ſuit ſhould long e're this have ended,
And never more on thee had I attended.
Or, did I love thee for thine Heav'nly Eye,
I then might court Angelick Majeſty:
Or, if the ſmoothneſs of thy Whiter Brow
Could charm mine eyes, or mine affections bow
To outward Objects, polliſht Marble might
Have given as much content, as much delight.
No, no, 'tis neither brow, nor lip, nor eye,
Nor any outward thing I can eſpy,
That has or could ſurprize my tender heart:
I know thy Nature, who, and what thou art.
Nor is it Vertue a homely Caſe;
Wherein lies hid much rich and precious grace,
Together rarely mixt, whoſe worth doth make
Me love the Casket for the Jewels ſake:
'Tis none of this! My eye doth pierce within,
But nothing there can I behold but Sin.
The reaſon of my Paſſion wholly lies
Within my Self, from whence it firſt did riſe.
And though thou canſt not it at preſent ſee,
Thou ſhalt, if thou wilt hearken unto me.
O come, poor Soul! and give me but thy heart,
And unto thee choice Love I will impart.
I come to call thee, and do call again:
O ſhall I not of thee my Suit obtain!
Doſt not perceive what I for thee endure?
And may not all this thy Love to me procure?
The Soul ſeem'd not at all to mind this Friend,
Nor would ſhe yet to him attention lend:
She could not in him any beauty ſee,
Nor did ſhe know her own ſad miſery.
She bid him then depart, and ſaid to all,
He had no form nor comelineſs. And ſhall
I 'gainſt my fancy fooliſhly admire,
Where I no beauty ſee to tempt deſire?
Whilſt he was thus extending forth his Love,
And ſtudying all obſtructions to remove,
That ſo he might the Souls affections get,
Behold, his Enemies with malice ſet
Themſelves againſt him with ſuch horrid rage,
It ſeems no leſs than's ruin to preſage.
Ah! for this Prince methinks my heart doth ake,
To ſee what head againſt him they do make.
But that which doth the greateſt trouble bring,
Is to ſee th' Soul combine againſt the King.
Did ever creature deal thus by a Lover,
Or ever ſuch inhumaneneſs diſcover?
What hurt did this dear Prince unto her do.
That ſhe would ſeek his utter overthrow?
Is this to recompence his fervent Love?
What will ſhe now a Traitor to him prove?
If ſhe his Love will not accept, muſt ſhe
Expoſe him thus to ſhame and miſery?
Is love to Sin, and filthy Luſt ſo ſweet,
That Jeſus muſt be trodden under feet?
Becauſe he would that Contract break aſunder,
This ſurely is Earth's ſhame and Heavens wonder.
What? he that went about ſtill doing good,
And in the gap of danger always ſtood
Them to Defend from Ruin, ah! ſhall he
The object of their Rage and Malice be?
He that to them no harm did do or think,
And yet muſt he this bitter potion drink?
Ah, precious Lord! how doth my ſpirit grieve,
To think what wrong from them thou didſt receive:
So ſtrange their malice, and ſo fierce their ſpight,
That if God's Word did not the same recite,
Who thereunto would any Credence give,
Or the Relation of their Deeds believe?
But, how was he expos'd, what did they do?
'Tis that (ſay ſome) that we would have you ſhow.
Their hearts were fill'd with wrath, & up they riſe,
And thruſt him out o'th City: then deviſe
To get him up to th'brow of a great Hill,
And caſt him headlong down, from thence they will
Break all his bones, and kill him out o'th way;
This they deſigned Holy Authors ſay.
Not that their Cruelty performed was,
For through the midſt of them he free did paſs.
His Pow'r Divine did his Protector ſtand,
And reſcued him from all this treacherous Band.
Again, as he ſtood tendering his Love,
Striving their vain Objections to remove,
That ſo they might not all be ruin'd quite,
And blind-fold led to ſhades of endleſs night.
The common Rabble in a Tumult got,
Threaten to kill him on the very ſpot;
With hearts more hard than ſtone, up ſtones they take,
And throwing, vow they'l his Sepulcre make:
By which cruel ſhow'r of Flints he now muſt die,
Unleſs through them he's able to 'ſcape by;
Which by his mighty Power indeed he did,
And carefully from them himſelf he hid:
And yet all this was on no other ground,
But becauſe he their wiſdom did confound:
'Cauſe he ſtood up the Truth to teſtifie,
And witneſs to his own Divinity:
Becauſe he ſaid, he was ſent down from Heaven,
From Place to Place this Prince was daily driven.
No ſooner were his feet out of one ſnare,
But ten i'th room thereof deviſed were.
Of killing him in Jury was a talk,
To Galilee therefore he thought fit to walk.
But ſtaid not long, for to Jeruſalem
He quickly went to ſhew himſelf to them:
And though he knew his Life they daily ſought,
Yet in the Temple openly he taught,
And did again his Suit of Love renew,
Yet would the Soul no kindneſs to him ſhew.
Long had he not been here, but preſently
The Scribes and Phariſees did him eſpy,
And ſtraight agreed their Officers to ſend,
Him without any cauſe to apprehend:
But when they came, and did him ſee and hear,
Poor Souls! they all moſt ſtrangely ſmitten were
With awful Reverence, and trembling fear!
Untoucht, they leave him, and return again
To tell their Maſters, Violence was vain;
They highly ſpake in his juſt Commendation,
And told his Wonders, worthy Admiration.
Have you not brought him then? the Scribes do cry:
No Sirs, (alas) we ſee no reaſon why;
We never ſaw, nor heard the like: Who can
Lay hands on ſuch a bleſt and God-like Man?
Thus did the Prince eſcape their Rage that day,
But other Snares Apollyon ſtill did lay.